The city of Safed, in Upper Galilee, two hours ride from Haifa and from Tiberias, is in flames and the Jewish settlements in Northern Galilee face the danger of extermination, stated an appeal issued Friday morning by the Vaad Leumi, National Council of Palestine Jewry.
The Council requested the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency here to broadcast the following appeal to the Jewish communities throughout the world:
“The situation today throughout the country is still one of great danger.
“Acts of destruction and extermination by the Arabs are continuing.
“Safed is now in flames. Many were killed and wounded in that ancient city of Jewish learning during the attack Thursday night.
“Northern Galilee is just now facing the danger of extermination. The help of all Jewry is necessary to save the Jewish population of Palestine.
“Two things are essential: first, to urge the government to take strong measures for the cessation of destruction and safeguarding of the remaining life and property; second, urgent financial aid to feed the thousands of refugees.
“Rush help by cable. Funds may be addressed to the Anglo-Palestine Bank, Jerusalem.”
The message was signed for the Vaad Leumi by Rabbi M. Ostrovsky, Chaim Salomon, member of the Jerusalem Municipal Council, and Isaac Ben-Zvi.
Safed, located in Upper Galilee, two hours’ ride from Haifa and Tiberias, has a population of approximately 10,000, one-third of whom are Jews. It has been a seat of Jewish learning for hundreds of years, and the principal center of Jewish mysticism, having produced the greatest Jewish authorities on Caballa.
The Jewish population of Safed is mainly Orthodox and has not been known to be in sympathy with the modern Zionists.
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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.
