In the first real implementation of the U.S. Army’s avowed program of encouraging the displaced Jews to become self-sufficient, the Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Agency and the Central Jewish Committee today announced the establishment of a joint board to administer the large-scale employment and vocational, training program for Jewish DP’s.
The program will attempt to find employment for 15,000 additional DP’s now unemployed and to train 6,000 others in an expanded ORT program. Two thousand Jews will also be placed on training farms. The announcement pointed out that of 40,000 employable Jews, approximately 25,000 are already employed, chiefly in camp administration.
It also stated that henceforth extra food rations and luxuries such as cigarettes and chocolates will not be given to the DP’s automatically on a relief basis, but rather as an award for work accomplished. A point system for work will be established, and each item in the camp canteen will have a point value. DP’s will be able to exchange point currency for items which they desire, including the goods manufactured in DP workshops.
ESTABLISHMENT OF BANK FOR DISPLACED JEWS IS PLANNED
Ultimately, it is planned to establish a bank outside of Germany where American and British currency will be deposited for the DP’s against the time when they emigrate. The foreign currency will come from the sale of DP goods abroad. Products to be manufactured will be determined firstly by local needs. After these are met, goods will be produced for the occupation forces and, finally, for export. The Army will supply raw materials for items destined for sale to it.
The only persons who will continue to receive supplies on a relief basis will be children, nursing and pregnant mothers, the sick and the aged, the announcement said. The program includes a special occupational therapy project for 750 invalids who will turn out hand-manufactured items such as toothbrushes and handbags.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
