U.J.A. Nationwide Campaign Launched at Miami Conference; $10,150,000 Raised at Parley

A total of $10,150,000, the largest sum over given to launch a nationwide campaign of the United Jewish Appeal, was contributed here today at the final session of the U.J.A.’s national inaugural conference which met to initiate the 1951 campaign activity in more than 2,500 communities.

This outpouring of individual gifts set a new philanthropic record for the opening of a U.J.A. campaign and exceeded by close to $4,000,000 the sum contributed one year ago at a similar campaign conference when a like number of Jewish leaders gave a total of $6,400,000.

The action came in response to a plea by Edward M. Warburg, general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, who urged American Jews to advance before May 31, the major part of the U.J.A.’s 1951 requirement of $203,684,000. Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Abba Eban, who Joined with 500 nationally prominent Jewish leaders from 40 states in launching the drive, said that Israel can succeed in the race to become self-sufficient only if large-scale outside help is made available through the United Jewish Appeal and other sources.

Mr. Eban expressed gratification at the unprecedented support given the United Jewish Appeal at the outset of its 1951 campaign. He asserted that this and other actions could help achieve “a high standard of development” in Israel which in turn would be of the “utmost importance in the cause of defending world democracy.” Other speakers included Dr. Joseph Schwartz, U.J.A. executive vice-chairman, Morris W. Berinstein, chairman of the U.J.A.’s National Campaign Cabinet, who presided, and Joseph Mazer of New York, who announced that he and his family would help set the standard of generosity requested by Mr. Warburg with a gift of $300,000.

Other major contributors who responded to Mr. Warburg’s appeal included Abraham Levitt of New York who announced that his contributions along with those of his sons William and Alfred would be “substantially more than $250,000”; Robert and Saul Schiff of New York and Columbus, Ohio, who informed the conference that their gift would be “more than $150,000; Joseph Cherner and A.S. Kay, both of Washington, D.C. who contributed $150,000; and Mrs. Louis Altschul of New York who gave $150,000. Another contribution of $150,000 was announced in behalf of the Jacob Blaustein family group of Baltimore. A gift of $110,000 was made by Louis Holtz and Saul Reinfeld of Newark, and a contribution “of more than $100,000 was announced by Jack Weiler and Ben Swig of New York and San Francisco while Y.D. Markson of Los Angeles and Boston donated $100,000.

(A resolution pledging “unprecedented support” to the 1951 United Jewish Appeal campaign was adopted in Houston, Texas today by 1,000 Jewish leaders from Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Substantial cash gifts were brought to the conference by the delegates. Principal speakers were radio comedian Jack Bonny, Moritz Gottlieb, U.J.A. National Chairman for Regions, and Rabbi Charles Shulman of New York.)