President Truman today received twenty-eight Jewish leaders who participated in the launching of the $100,000,000 United Jewish Appeal drive yesterday. The President told the group that “neither the dictates of justice, nor that of love of our fellowman which we are bidden to practice, will be satisfied” until the needs of the surviving Jews of Europe are met.
“In the trial of war criminals at Nuremberg, the fact has been established that 5,700,000 Jews perished under the murderous reign of Hitlerian. That crime will be answered in justice,” the President said.
The group received by the President included Herbert H. Lehman, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., William Rosenwald, Sylvan Gotshal, Paul Baerwald, Edward M.M. Warburg, Mrs. David M. Levy, Rabbi Jonah B. Wise and Rabbi James G. Heller.
In a brief introduction of the group to the President, Gotshal expressed their gratitude for the President’s actions “to alleviate the plight of the suffering.” Declaring the $100,000,000 goal the largest in the history of private philanthropy, Gotshal said that “never before in history have the remnants of a people so urgently needed unprecedented generosity.”
The UJA, he explained, “is the all-embracing platform on which, whatever other diversities there may be among them, there is common understanding and common action. It is the intention of the Jews of America, through the UJA, to help the Jews of Europe live through this crucial transition period, when they are between despair and hope.”
Mr. Rosenwald told the President that this year will be “the most crucial one of all in our task” and “nowhere except from the United States can help come for those we wish to help.” Briefly outlining the work of the National Refugee Service, Rosenwald said that he has “peculiar opportunity to see at first hand the effects of the beneficent policy of our Government in admitting within the framework of our laws and regulations victims of the intolerance that swept Europe.” He expressed “unbounded gratitude” for the President’s “deep concern for the unfortunate.”
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