Rabbis Issue Appeal for Hias Campaign

Two hundred and twenty Orthodox rabbis have issued a manifesto appealing to American Jewry to contribute during Passover to the campaign of the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society, Hias, to raise $500,000 to facilitate the settlement in South America, Australia and South Africa of Jews who are unable to gain admittance to this country.

“While the Jews of America are celebrating Israel’s liberation from Egyptian bondage, it is our solemn duty to help liberate the thousands of Jews who are seeking escape from their bitter bondage in Europe,” the rabbis declare in their appeal.

“We dare not permit them to wander in the wilderness without guidance. We must help them to reach lands where they will find open doors and to establish themselves, create new Jewish settlements and communities. We must extend a helping hand to them, so that they may not perish.

“As you are aware, this task has been assumed by Hias, which for the past forty years has ever guarded the interests of the forlorn Jewish wanderers. In conjunction with the Jewish Colonization Association and the United Jewish Emigration Committees of Europe, it will prepare Jewish emigrants for life in South American countries, and when they arrive at their destination, will help them to become self-supporting.

“This is a task of the utmost and imperative importance, and to carry it out will require a half-million dollars. A campaign has been inaugurated to raise this sum as quickly as possible, because of the urgency of the situation. Every ship leaving Europe for South America is carrying Jews and Hias must be there, with ample resources, to meet and serve them.

“We appeal to all who will worship to during the Passover holidays to pledge special donations to this fund, when they are called to the reading of the Torah, and during memorial services, and to the officers of the synagogues to appoint committees to collect these pledges. Every Jew must regard it as his holiest duty to save the Jewish wanderer from disaster.”

A drive will be launched on May 1, by the 92nd Street Young Men’s Hebrew Association to raise $1,500,000 for a new building, according to an announcement made by Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, president. The director of the drive will be I. Edwin Goldwasser.

The new building, Judge Proskauer stated will be erected on a plot adjacent to the present building. The present building which was erected 27 years ago was presented to the association by the late Jacob H. Schiff. The land on which the new structure will be erected was purchased some time ago by Felix M. Warburg, former president of the Y. M. H. A., who is holding it for the association’s use.

“It is by deliberate design that we have decided to have our drive begin on May 1st.” Judge Proskauer declared, “because that is the date on which the drive by the Young Men’s Christian Association in this city to raise $9,000,000 for new buildings will start.