Jewish Reconstruction Fund Established in America

Preparations for the organization of the Jewish “Reconstruction Fund,” initiated by the Association of rht “Ort” Societies with a capital of one million dollars, are now under way. The articles of incorporation of the special body organized for this purpose in London have already been published.

In Paris and in Berlin subscriptions to the first series of shares have already been made. In America the preparatory work has been done with the participation of the representatives of the provisional European organizing committee of the “Reconstruction Fund,” Dr. Leon Bramson and Dr. Aaron Singalovsky, who are in America as the delegates of the Central Board of the “Ort.” They have visited numerous cities, and have acquainted Jewish social circles and social

workers with the problem of the “Reconstruction Fund.”

In view of the fact that now, with the Joint Distribution Committee and other relief organizations liquidating their activities, the Jewish colonists and artisans in Eastern Europe are 1st without any assistance, the need for a credit fund to provide them with seeds, tools, raw materials and live-stock is more Maeurgent than ever.

The newly planned “Reconstruction Fund” does not intend to make the Jewish farmer and artisan an object of charity. It intends to give him a loan on strictly business principles for a definite period and with the necessary guarantees that the loan will be repaid in due course.

The idea of establishing such “Reconstruction Fund” has met with a wide and warm response. In Chicago a group of people, who have been activie in raising relief funds in the last few years, have become interested in the “Reconstruction Fund.” The famous Chicago philanthropist, Mr. Julius Rosenwald, has expressed sympathy with the aims of the “Fund.”

Through the initiative of Mr. James Beck and Mr. James Davis, a meeting was held in Chicago on the 26th of February. Mr. A. G. Becker, General Abel Davis, Judge H. Fisher, S. Deutsch, Dr. L. Mann, H. Loeb, S. Rosenblatt and several others were present. The meeting firmly declared itself in favor of helping the “Ort” Association in establishing the “Reconstruction Fund.” The meeting considered the advisability of combing the campaign for the “Reconstruction Fund” with other drives now contemplated, assuring the “Reconstruction Fund” that it would receive its due share of the funds. Later negotiations have shown that such a joint drive would be inadvisable. A special conference in Chicago with representatives from other cities to inaugurate the campaign of the “Reconstruction Fund” is anticipated.

In Philadelphia, Judge Horace Stern, Morris Wolf, Professor Cyrus Adler and Jacob Billikopf, have promised their active participation. The leaders of the Cleveland Federation of Jewish Charities have declared that the Federation would help in raising the quota which the future Central “Fund” Organization of America will assign to their city.

Several meetings have already been held in New York at which the question has been discussed. Many prominent Jews, until now connected with the Joint Distribution Committee, have promised their co-operation, as have also many individuals of note who have hitherto had no connection with this work. Another meeting will soon be held in New York, and the first steps for the formation of the New York Committee for the campaign will be taken.