Jewish Congress Reduces Relief Activities; Will Concentrate on Political Rehabilitation

The American Jewish Congress which pioneered in sending relief shipments to destitute Jews abroad during the war is suspending certain administrative phases of this activity, it was announced today by Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of its executive committee.

“The need for assistance to Jews abroad has not diminished,” Rabbi Miller emphasized. The imminent dissolution of UNRRA, he said, would greatly increase the responsibilities of private relief agencies and members and chapters of the American Jewish Congress were being called on to intensify their participation in food and clothing collection campaigns throughout the country.

“The American and World Jewish Congresses filled a major need,” Rabbi Miller said, “in developing public awareness of the immense contribution that could be made to overseas relief through the shipments of clothing, food and medical supplies. However, machinery has now been established in the United States by several agencies operating exclusively in the field of relief. Accordingly, we no longer feel it imperative for us to maintain administrative machinery relating to the packaging, processing and direct shipment of relief supplies overseas.” This action was being taken, Rabbi Miller asserted, in order to enable the American Jewish Congress to devote its resources in even greater measure to “the political and cultural rehabilitation of our fellow-Jews throughout the world.”