Terror Bombings Have Not Deterred the Jews of London, J.d.c Official Reports

Donald B. Hurwitz, who has just returned from a 14-month tour of duty as a Joint Distribution Committee overseas representative, reported today that the Jews of England are prepared to undertake important campaigns for the rescue and rehabilitation of their less fortunate brethren in Hitler-oppressed areas. Mr. Hurwitz spent five months in North Africa, four months in Lisbon, and four months in London where he opened the J.D.C.’s offices to make more effective the close cooperation of British Jewry and the American Jewish community through the Joint Distribution Committee in their mutual programs for rescue and relief.

At a press conference today, Mr. Hurwitz emphasized the splendid cooperation exhibited by local committees in all three areas. In the time Mr. Hurwitz was in London, he was in contact with the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees, UNRRA, the Quakers, the Unitarians and numerous other agencies whose purposes are the aid and rescue of refugees. The terror bombings have not deterred the Jews of London; on the contrary, said Mr. Hurwitz, the added strain merely intensified their with to aid others. In the midst of this horror period the Jewish community of London has undertaken a reorganization of the Central British Fund for Jewish Relief and Rehabilitation, and is planning a major drive this Fall. This program will be coordinated very closely with the work of the J.D.C.

“Every organization in London which is connected with relief and rescue work,” detailed Mr. Hurwitz, “moved on its own initiative to seek our help, advise and well-established facilities in the disbursement of relief funds. The Jews of London recognize the J.D.C. as the world’s number one Jewish relief and rescue organization.”