Our Daily News Letter

(By Our London Correspondent)

A problem similar to that which confronted American Jews some months ago when it was decided to renew the activities of the Joint Distribution Committee arose here in connection with the newly created Federation for relief of Jews in Eastern Europe. The case, however, was reversed. Whereas it was thought at first that the activities of the J. D. C. would be concentrated primarily on work in the Ukraine and Crimea, a suggestion was made here that the Relief Federation should limit its activities to Poland only, to the exclusion of the Ukraine. But as in the case of America this suggestion has been rejected in favor of relief work for the Jews of both Russia and Poland.

This became known today at the meeting of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, held under the chairmanship of Mr. d’ Avigdor Goldsmid. Mr. Morris Myer, in moving a resolution that the Board of Deputies should be permanently represented on the new Relief Federation, announced that the Federation could not accept Mr. Prag’s suggestion to limit the relief activity to Poland only. The situation in the Ukraine, he declared, was still very bad and there was no justification for raising frontiers between Jews and Jews of Eastern Europe who were in great need. In the Ukraine there were thousands of pogrom orphans, and it was impossible for the Jewish community in England to divest itself of its duties with regard to them. If it was impossible for the Board to collect money, he hoped that it would be possible for them to give moral support which would perhaps secure as good results.

Mr. d’ Avigdor Goldsmid, speaking on the question of the Relief Federation, said that for the Board to send representatives to other bodies might present great difficulties. He was anxious to preserve the dignity of the Board, which was a responsible authority for particular duties. He welcomed a suggestion that the question should be referred to the Joint Foreign Committee. As for helping the Polish Jews politically, he thought that the Polish Jews were extremely well organized and as they had not asked for intervention there was no reason for it.

Deputy Dr. Leon Reich, ex-President of the Club of Jewish Deputies in Poland, who was specially invited to address the meeting of the Board, said that the Jews in Poland await with great anxiety the outcome of the deliberations and the decision of the Jews in Britain. In the name of the Polish Jews he thanked the Board for its great sympathy. He asked them to deal not only with Governments but to collaborate with the Jewish representatives on the spot in the alleviation of the conditions of starvation and misery which had befallen Polish Jewry.

Dr. Jochelman explained that the new Relief Federation had decided to approach more influential people on the precedent of the War Victims’ Fund which was formed out of the Polish Jews’ Relief Committee at the beginning of the war. The Committee of the new Relief Federation was ready to invite anyone with influence. He himself was ready to resign his position as chairman if anybody with an influential name should declare himself ready to take his place. The work of restoring Polish Jewry should be carried out with the utmost vigor.

Mrs. David E. Goldfarb, of New York City, was elected president of the New York State Federation of Temple Sisterhoods at its annual convention at Syracuse, New York. Mrs. Henry Nathan, of Buffalo was elected first vice-president; Mrs. Albert J. May, of Flushing, L. L, second vice-president; Mrs. Max Brandenburger, of Brooklyn, third vice-president; Mrs. Joseph Grody. of Syracuse, recording secretary; Miss Hannah Schmidt, of Brooklyn, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Edward N. Mayer, of New York, treasurer.

Mrs. Sallie Kubie Glauber, of New York City, retiring president of the organization, was elected honorary president. Mrs. Goldfarb is president of the Sisterhood of Mr. Neboh Temple, the largest Temple Sisterhood in New York City. She is also principal of the religious schools maintained by the New York State Federation of Temple Sisterhood in New York City, and is first vice-president of the Jewish Women’s Organizations of New York City.