Great numbers of Jewish students who, forced to flee because of anti-Semitic pogroms and semi-official discrimination from the universities of their native countries of Poland and Roumania, to seek higher education in French, Belgian and Italian universities, are suffering terrible privations and dire need, according to an article by S. Goldin, Polish correspondent for “Unser Zeit” of Roumania. “Few people,” writes Mr. Goldin, after completing a tour of the universities, “have the slightest knowledge of the sufferings of the Jewish students abroad, how they starve for many days and weeks, how their health is being ruined by lack of food.”
Sustained only by an intense love of learning and the desire to become self-supporting through qualifying for a profession, these Jewish students are obstinately pursuing their studies, hoping against hope that some means of assistance will be found. From their own families in Poland and Roumania they can expect no support whatsoever. “At this time,” states Mr. Goldin, “when ninety out of every hundred Jews in Poland are totally ruined, when Jewish parents have not even any food for their families, they are utterly unable to give any thought to helping their children studying abroad.”
This report is brought to the attention of American Jews by Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, National Chairman of the Fund Raiising Committee of the Joint Distribution Committee, which is endeavoring to raise $2,500,000 for the emergency relief and rehabilitation of suffering Jews in Eastern and Central Europe. “This generation of Jewish youth overseas is making every sacrifice to obtain an education, such as we take for granted in this country,” Rabbi Wise said. “If we do not help them, what will become of those of the students who survive in spite of the inhuman conditions in which they are now struggling along? Through the cultural program of the Joint Distribution Committee some measure of assistance could be given these students, but our reserve is completely exhausted. Every dollar contributed to the campaign for the Joint Distribution Committee now being held will be rushed overseas to continue the life-saving work.”
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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.
