A resolution pledging support to any supplementary campaign the national organization of the United Jewish Campaign may deem necessary to inaugurate was adopted and assurance that outstanding pledges to the U. J. C. will be collected in communities throughout the state was given at an all-day conference in the Y. M. H. A. building Sunday attended by 150 leaders throughout the state to consider ways and means of securing payment of pledges.
The new catastrophe that has come over the Jews in Eastern Europe makes it urgent on the part of Jewish citizens in America to redouble their efforts to secure immediate funds to despatch abroad, David A. Brown, national chairman, urged in his address.
“We cannot appease hunger with pledge cards,” Mr. Brown declared. He announced that the Joint Distribution Committee recently appropriated $310,000 for this emergency situation and he expressed his assurance that the money would be forthcoming.
“There are many millions yet outstanding, pledged to our campaign, which we in turn have pledged to our people across the seas,” said Mr. Brown. “All of us must continue until every pledge has been paid in full. This is a sacred task to which every Jew in America is solemnly committed. I assume the right to ask every community, through its leaders, speedily to collect the outstanding pledges. This can only be done by going into the high ways and byways. from office to office, from home to home, until every city and state in America will have reached its goal of 100%.”
The meeting was presided over by Michael Hollander. of Newark, acting chairman, who was chosen permanent chairman for the state in the election of officers during the day.
Mr. Hollander, in the morning session, reviewed the state campaign held under the direction of the late Felix Fuld, in which the state pledged $476,000, of which $301,000 has been collected.
Albert H. Lieberman of Philadelphia, Chairman of the Eastern Pennsylvania United Jewish Campaign, and David M. Bressler, Acting Chairman of the New York City United Jewish Campaign, described the methods employed in their respective communities in securing payment of subscriptions to the campaign fund. In Philadelphia the Jewish community, which pledged over $1,220,000, has already paid in over $1,000,000, Mr. Lieberman announced. In New York City, Mr. Bressler pointed out, $6,500,000 was pledged, of which sum $5,603,000 has already been collected.
Conditions in Russia and Eastern Europe were described by Joseph C. Hyman, secretary of the Joint Distribution Committee. He outlined the reconstruction work that is being done. Although a large number of people have been aided to independence, a still larger number, Mr. Hyman pointed out, are in need of financial assistance. The emergency situation in Poland, Bessarabia and other countries is of such a nature, he added, that extra appropriations will have to be sent abroad to care for them.
Others who addressed the conference were Morris Scheck of Newark, David Holzner of Trenton, Judge William Newcorn of Plainfield, Clarence B. Levy of Freehold, Philip Dimond of Paterson, M. S. Germansky of Paterson. Emanuel Weitz of Jersey City, Elias Reznikoff of Long Branch. A. Jacobson of Lakewood, Edward Firsichbaum of Lakewood and Jacob Rose of Montclair.
A resolution eulogizing the late Felix Field was adopted.
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