A total of $4,311,050 had been raised by the United Jewish Campaign in Greater New York, by Thursday, according to an announcement by David M. Bressler, acting chairman of the campaign, at a meeting at the Hotel Biltmore.
One of the contributors was Cardinal Patrick J. Hayes who sent a check for $250 with the following letter:
“Will you permit me to enclose my personal contribution of $250 to the campaign you are conducting for relief work among the suffering members of your race in lands less favored than our own.
“Wishing the campaign every success, I am, Sincerely yours,
Patrick J. Hayes.”
The largest gift announced on Friday was one of $50,000 from Mr. and Mrs. Simon W. Straus. Emphasizing the purpose of the fund to relieve the suffering of Jews in Central Europe, Mr. Straus said:
“Today our hearts beat in sympathy for our brethren in those foreign lands for the suffering and distress that they are experiencing. The sympathy they call forth from us is an expression of the religion of humanity, the religion of the heart. Such work as you are doing is what makes for progress and civilization. Success measured in dollars and cents is not success. Real success is that success that you get through your heart, through your conscience and through your soul through helping other people.
“The Jew is successful. Why? Because he lives in a land of equal opportunity, because equality of opportunity is the foundation of American democracy, and equality of opportunity is all the Jew asks for in the struggle of life. The Jew asks for no special privileges. He is confident in himself and the qualities has inherited from his forefathers, and he presses on forever to increase his success. His success of today may be overtopped by his success of tomorrow, and perhaps some of our greatest statesmen of the future may today be living in some of our ghetto. That opportunity has been denied the Jew on the other side of the world. The United States of America is big enough for all of us here, and every one of us should be thankful for the greatest of opportunities which gives us American Jews the opportunity for our greatest advancement.”
Addressing the rally David A. Brown, National Chairman of the campaign, said: “The American heart is a sound heart. I know how Americans participated in every human call that has ever been made. When the San Francisco fire occurred, an avalanche of gold was poured out immediately. When a year or so ago, an earthquake occurred in Japan, the American people, notwithstanding they had been fed on ‘yellow peril’ propaganda, rushed to Japan’s assistance. We were the only country in the world to send gold quickly.
“You men in the industry know the part you played in the war. Liberty loans, Red Cross, United War Work campaign, Salvation Army, Jewish Welfare Beard. Knights of Columbus, everything–anything–as often as the call came. When Maxim Gorky cried out to the world to save Russia from famine we forgot our aversion to Bolshevism and rushed to the rescue-America was the only country to do that.”
Dr. Nathan Krass, rabbi of Temple Entanu-El, issued an appeal to the Jews of New York to utilize today which is designated as “Mother’s Day” as “Parents’ Day” to make contributions to the New York campaign in honor of their parents.
Dr. Krass’s appeal read: “American Israel is organized today into a great salvation army for the purpose of saving not sinners but sufferers. This day is observed by many as ‘Mother’s Day.’ It has been earnestly urged that not only mothers but fathers be the recipients of tribute of respect. Would it not be a most beautiful thing if all mothers and fathers would acknowledge the appreciation tendered to them by giving something to save the starting parents in Eastern Europe, and would it not be a magnificent tribute to motherhood and fatherhood if children would contribute their offering to save the European children to the end that they too might worthily honor their parents?
“The slogan ### until it harts’ has a painful connotation. It is better to think of other than of self Let us give not until it bores us, but until it helps others.”
Norforlk, Va., will launch it campaign in the United Palestine Appeal tonight at a dinner in honor of Dr. Schmirty Lever.
Dr. Devander Steinbergh of Norforlk and Rabbin Lever Schmual of Washington will address the ### Norforlk ###### Chairman of the drive
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