Disclosing that ninety-eight and one-half percent of the Jews who lived in Poland under the German occupation were exterminated, Dr. Emil Sommerstein, head of the central Jewish committee in Poland, has appealed for “energetic action” to curb anti-Semitism in Poland, and urged that emigration to Palestine of cause Jews who desire to go there be facilitated.
Addressing the national council of the Polish Provisional Government, Dr. Sommerstein said, according to the Lublin radio, that although the government has put into effect measures guaranteeing full political and legal equality for Jews, “energetic action is required to stop anti-Semitism.” He pointed out that the position of the Jews in Poland is very difficult, asserting that their physical condition is not very satisfactory, and their psychological state is even worse.
Recalling that in January, Premier Osubka-Morawski declared that Jewish emigation would not be hindered, Dr. Sommerstein said that “the time has come to resolve this problem; the democracies must take account of the Jewish people’s rightful claims to build a Jewish national home in Palestine.” He appealed to the new Polish government to use its influence to support the “just claims” of the Jews.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.