The Jewish Welfare Federation campaign for $101,000, with the United Jewish Appeal sharing in the funds raised, was launched by Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman of St. Louis last night in the presence of 700 workers.
Pre-campaign gifts approximating $40,000 were announced by George Oppenheimer, chairman of the special gifts committee. Bernard T. Hurwitz, prominent attorney and chairman of the campaign, who presided, expressed confidence that the drive will go over the top.
The Kansas City Star characterized the drive in an editorial as “an appeal to humanity,” commenting on the recent successful visit of Rabbi Jonah B. Wise, co-chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, who addressed the largest meeting in the history of local Jewry. The editorial declared, “The situation in Germany is a challenge to the world to help the victims until reason and enlightenment reassert themselves in Germany.”
George B. Longan, president of the Kansas City Star, accepted the chairmanship of the Christian committee. Other members of the committee are former Mayor Henry M. Beardsley; former Federal Reserve Bank governor Joe Zack Miller; Irvin D. Deer, secretary of the Kansas City Council of Churches; Joseph F. Porter, president of the Light and Power Company; Powell C. Groner, president of the Public Service Company, and J. C. Nichols, nationally known realtor.
Harry Friedberg, Zionist leader, introduced Rabbi Isserman. Among the other speakers were Michael H. Katz, who announced a contribution of $3,000 for the Katz Drug Company; Sig Harzfeld, who contributed $2,500; Louis H. Ehrlich, president of the Federation, Rabbi Samuel Mayerberg and Rabbi Gershon Hadas.
An intensive drive to raise $61,000 will continue for five days. The largest army in the history of local drives will begin a city-wide canvass today.
Officers are Louis Oppenstein, treasurer of the drive; Louise Hoffman, chairman of the Kansas division; Mrs. Michael H. Katz, chairman women’s division; Harry Friedberg, chairman speakers’ committee; Louis B. Greenberg, publicity; Max Bretton, secretary, and Mendel N. Fisher, St. Louis campaign counsellor.
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