Start Steps to Combat Pauperism in Jerusalem

(J. T. A. Mail Service)

The question of how to combat pauperism in Jerusalem was discussed at a meeting of the representatives of the communities in Jerusalem held at the offices of the Deputy District Commissioner.

According to the information supplied by the police, there are in Jerusaem about 100 families who are entirely destitute, 55 Jewish, 38 Moslem and 4 thristian. The Moslem and Christian eprsentatives undertook to assume charge of the paupers in their communities.

Mr. Meyuhas, President of the Council of Jerusalem Jews said that in his opinion the figures given by the police were an underestimate, as far as the Jewish community was concerned. Moreover, as the Jewish Community Regulations had not yet been put into effect, and as, in any case, a section of the Jews in Jerusalem deny allegiance to the Council, the Council has no power to levy taxes and to take charge of all the Jewish paupers, although it expends at present a sum of over two thousand pounds every year for charitable purposes. Most of the Jewish paupers belong to the Moroccan congregation, and as each ot the congregations constituting the Council of the Jerusalem Jews takes care of its own poor, it was doubtful whether they would agree to take charge of the poor of another congregation.

As a solution to this impasse, Mr. Meyuhas urged the Government to hasten the carrying into effect of the Jewish Community Regulations so that the Council in Jerusalem should be enabled to levy taxes.

The Deputy District Commissioner expressed his appreciation of the fact that the. Jewish community expends a sum of £E.2,000 for charitable purposes every year, and has promised to transmit to the Government the request of Mr. Meyuhas for the speedy enforcing of the Jewish Community Regulations.

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