Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York today opened the $50,500,000 Building Fund and Maintenance Campaign of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York, Addressing nearly 1,000 leaders of the campaign at the Hotel Astor, Mr. Dewey described the current drive of the Federation as the “most important expression of the things we believe in as free men and women.”
Governor Dewey quoted in his address from a Federation booklet calling for “action for this campaign.” He read the following excerpt: “Founded in the ancient faith of Judaism which commands concern for one’s neighbor and nurtured in the traditions of American democracy, the Building Fund has a perspective in history. Ancestors of today’s Jewish community came from other lands, victims of persecution and prejudice. But here in New York they found a dignity, even though sometimes violated by bigots, that enabled them to become a great and active community. Here, in common with their neighbors of all faiths, they built institutions to advance the welfare of the people. And they, our fathers, with far less wealth, built far more than we.”
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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.