How the Jews of Poland are attempting to contribute to the maintenance of their own institutions, is set forth in a report received by David A. Brown, National Chairman of the United Jewish Campaign.
Up to October 1, 1927 the Jews of Poland raised approximately $300,000 toward the work of the Jewish free loan associations in Poland, making a total of $475,000 raised since 1926, when the Joint Distribution Committee commenced the organization of free loan committees throughout Poland. The Joint Distribution Committee has contributed over $500,000 toward this work since 1926.
The Joint Distribution Committee furnished the initial funds for the Gemiloth Chessed Kassas, or free loan societies, which reach 76.9 percent of the Jewish population in Poland. In towns which have a total of about 1,900,000 Jews, there were, by December 1st of last year, 493 such kassas.
In 262 towns of Poland, the only institutions from which small loans can be secured by Jews are these Gemiloth Chessed Kassas, whereas in 205 other towns there are, in addition to the free loan societies, regular cooperative loan organizations.
During October 13,350 loans were granted totalling $110,800, or an average of a little over $8 per loan.
Dr. Bernhard Kahn, in charge of the Joint Distribution Committee work in Eastern Europe, in a recent report to Felix M. Warburg, chairman, declared that the moral as well as the financial cooperation and participation of the local population in the Gemiloth Chessed Kassas doubled the amount set aside for credits, and will triple and quadruple it in the future if the work and efforts are continued for some time.
“Our activity for the Gemiloth Chesed Kassas,” declared Dr. Kahu, “succeeded in increasing the former social and philanthropic energies, especially in the smaller towns. I consider this a very great achievement in this kind of work, and even more important than the fact that many thousands of Jewish families are receiving credits at a time of terrible shortage of money, which credits enable them to earn a livelihood.”
Mr. Brown pointed out that over $500,000 of the funds in cash raised to date by the United Jewish Campaign, had been spent on the Gemiloth Chesed Kassas and that it was a revolving fund which would not exhaust itself for many years to come. Mr. Brown said that only by contributions can the full effect of what had already been done be realized.
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.
