The three-day convention of the Jewish Labor Committee concluded here today after issuing a declaration stressing that the rebuilding of Jewish life in Europe after the war will have to be the concern of all the Allied nations.
“After the war the proud, determined Jewish people will come out of the ghettos of Europe and again take their fate in their own hands,” the declaration stated. “Jewish life in all Nazi-held lands will have to be rebuilt. This rebuilding must be part of the task of the general reconstruction of the world, which can-not be successful without the participation of the Jewish people. The Jews must be given full economic and political equality and the opportunity to develop their own national and economic life.” The convention pledged its readiness “not only to help rescue the Jews now, but to do everything possible to help Jews in all deva-stated countries to rebuild their life after victory has been achieved.”
In conclusion the declaration emphasized the delegates’ “unshaken conviction that the United Nations will emerge victorious” and their determination that “the peace as well as the war must be won.” It added that ” the world after the war must not be the same as the pre-war world. A new and better world must be built. There will be no true freedom unless economic and political democracy is secured to all.”
David Dubinsky, president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, revealed at yesterday’s session of the convention that the Jewish Labor Committee had distributed $328,000 for relief abroad and educational activities here during the first eleven months of this year. Mr. Dubinsky, who is treasurer of the Committee, stated that the funds were used to aid Russia, to help political refugees, to extend aid to the underground labor movement in Europe and to promote racial and religious tolerance in the United States.
Adolph Held, president of the Committee, addressing the convention, declared that “only the complete destruction of Hitlerism will bring relief to the millions of Jews in Europe today who are faced with complete extermination.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.