More than 4,000 delegates from New York’s 5,000 Jewish organizations, meeting at the Manhattan Center today at a Mass Conference of the Council of Organizations of the United Jewish Appeal, called upon the Jews in this country to observe April 12 as a day of mourning for the 6,000,000 Jews massacred during World War II, and of dedication to those who survived.
Highlight of the day was a candle-lighting ceremony in which six large candles–each symbolizing one million men, women and children who perished in the Nazi purge–were kindled by six former inmates of concentration camps.
The resolution unanimously adopted by the delegates urged every organization to arrange suitable meetings on April 12, as memorials to the 6,000,000 dead and, as a time to organize increased support of the worldwide work of the UJA, dedicated to the rescue and resettlement of the helpless survivors of Hitler’s “reign of terror.” The date chosen by the delegates for all groups coincides with the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising according to the Hebrew calendar.
Among the speakers who urged fullest support of the 1961 UJA campaign as a tribute to those who died and a source of aid for those who miraculously survived were: New York Senator Jacob K. Javits; Judge Jonah J. Goldstein, Judge Benjamin Shallek, of the New York City Court; Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Council; Dr. I. Schwarzbart, a member of the Polish Government-in-Exile in London during the war; and Judge J. Daniel Fink, of the New York City Court, who presided over the conference.
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