Flotation of a five hundred thousand dollar bond issue in America to provide capital for the Jews of Lithuania, was decided on at the second annual convention of the Federation of American Jews of Lithuanian Descent which was held Saturday and Sunday at the Mecca Temple.
At the second session, the constructive relief plan proposed by the Fact-Finding Committee, of which Herman L. Winer is chairman, was discussed and adopted by the Federation. The plan provides for the flotation of a $500,000 bond issue, by a corporation organized for the purpose, with the proceeds placed, on proper security, with the Jewish Folks-Banken in Lithuania, to provide capital necessary for the development of Jewish enterprises.
The convention was opened Saturday evening by Henry Hurwitz, president of the organization, who reviewed its major activities during the year. These, he declared, were the organization, for the first time, of American Lithuanian Jews throughout the country for the purpose of aiding the Jews of Lithuania, the relief campaign when crop failure caused a crisis, with the subsequent raising of $12,000 by the Federation itself, and approximately $50,000 raised and forwarded abroad by the landsmanschaften; political work for the betterment of Lithuanian Jewry, through interventions with the Government, and the sending of a delegation to study the situation, and the presentation of information regarding conditions to American Jews and central Jewish relief organizations.
Dr. Leo Bramson reported on the economic situation of Lithuanian Jewry, which he declared, is going from bad to worse, mainly because the Jews are finding themselves unable to adjust themselves to post-war conditions without external aid.
Other speakers at the session included Dr. A. Coralnik, president, Federation of Ukrainian Jews; Leo Wolfsohn, president, Federation of Roumanian Jews; Philip Wattenberg, president, Union Galician Jews; B. G. Richards, director, American Jewish Congress, and Benjamin Winter, president, the Federation of Polish Jews.
A resolution that the Federation become affiliated with the American Jewish Congress was passed, as was also a resolution expressing sympathy with the Jews in Russia. A number of resolutions bearing on the organization and expansion of the Federation and for the creation of a committee representing all Lithuanian Jewish organizations for the purpose of dealing with the Federation, were adopted by the convention.
Judge Lewis was chosen honorary president for the coming year; Henry Hurwitz, president; H. L. Winer, I. Matz, Edward M. Chase, Myer Kreeger, Levi Rokeach and A. B. Cohen, vice-presidents; Harry Kabat, treasurer and Dr. Mordecai Katz, secretary Samuel Kronick, of Toronto, Lyon Cohen of Montreal and A. J. Freiman of Ottowa, were elected vice-presidents of the Canadian branch. An executive committee of twenty-five was chosen in part.
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