Warburg Sees European Jews Mostly Self-sustaining, Able to Help Others

The organized Jewish communities in Western Europe’s highly industrialized countries have not only, for the greater part, achieved economic independence, but are also capable now of coming to the aid of communities that are hard-pressed, like that of France, Edward M. M. Warburg, chairman of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, declared here today.

Mr. Warburg was one of the principal speakers at the third annual assembly of the Standing Conference on European Jewish Community Services, which convened here with the participation of 150 Jewish leaders from 14 European countries. Simultaneously, meetings were being held by the International Council on Jewish Social and Welfare Services, and by the 16th annual Country Directors Conference of the JDC.

Due to the unity of European Jewry brought about by the Standing Conference, Mr. Warburg declared, there have resulted “not only strength but also action.” “This kind of mutual assistance,” he stated, “would not have been possible if the European Jewish communities had not banded together in the Standing Conference three years ago. Its formation and development have changed the relationship between European and American Jewry. Where, once, JDC was the life-line from America to Europe, it has now become the connecting link between the two communities.”

Another of the assembly speakers, Ambassador Moshe Bartur, Israel’s permanent representative at the United Nations European Headquarters here, also emphasized what he called “the basic revolutionary transformation which Europe is undergoing at present” and the bearing these changes “will undoubtedly have on the activities of the Jewish communities in Europe.”

“European Jewry,” said the Israeli envoy, “which had received an almost mortal blow by war and mass annihilation, is recovering slowly and surely.” Noting European Jewry’s “geographical proximity” to Israel, he expressed the hope that, when Israel has established its link with the European Common Market, “it is not inconceivable that Israel, as part of the European area represented in the Euromart, will find itself, together with European Jewry, in the same Common Market.” He voiced the belief that Europe’s increased social responsibility “can and should find reflections also in Jewish life and creation.”

JORDAN REPORTS ON WORLD-WIDE NEEDS, ACTIVITIES BY JDC, ORT, HIAS

Charles H. Jordan, director-general of overseas operations for the JDC, giving the assembly a world-wide report of Jewish needs and the activities through which these are met, summarized the greater demands for services, not only by the JDC but also by the World CRT Union and by United Hias Service. He pointed out that ORT is operating its vocational training and teaching services in 20 countries, while Hias will provide emigration assistance this year to 9, 000 Jews going to countries other than Israel.

Emphasizing the urgency of the problem in France, where the influx of Algerian Jewish refugees has strained the Jewish community facilities, Mr. Jordan noted that, even with French Government subsidies to the escapees from Algeria, there will be no need for assistance to the refugees in France “for a sustained period.”

But the problem in France, Mr. Jordan emphasized, is only part of the need. He pointed to the large JDC budget required for care of aged and handicapped Jews in Israel; ORT, which does the major part of its work in Israel, where it provides half of the vocational training done in that country; and the needs of Hias. He pointed out that Hias activities resulting from the exodus of Jews from Cuba “continues at a higher rate than anticipated.” Hias, he said, has helped resettle 3, 000 Cuban Jews in the United States since 1960.

“Finally,” Mr. Jordan told the assembly, “enormous problems still face us all in Morocco, Tunisia, Iran and in Algeria itself, where the residual Jewish population is totally dependent on us. Further, because of lack of funds, we have not yet been able to care for the Jewish aged in Morocco. Since continued neglect creates ever-increasing problems, this problem has become a must.”

Another speaker at the assembly was Dr. Astorre Mayer of Milan, chairman of the Conference, who expressed gratification over the fact that the new European organization will be the first international body to receive the coveted Schroder Memorial Award. That award will be given the Conference when the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds convenes next week at its annual assembly to be held in Philadelphia.