Jewish Immigrants Establish Selves in Cuba

Jewish immigration to Cuba is increasing although no efforts of any kind are being made to encourage it, a statement issued by the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society of America declares. Jews went to Cuba almost accidentally. They could not come to the United States and they went to the nearest country which would admit them. In the course of the past few years, owing to conditions in Eastern Europe, Jews have been settling in larger numbers in Cuba.

In order to be of assistance to these new arrivals and to stabilize the Jewish life there, the Jewish Center of Cuba was organized in Havana through the instrumentality of Hias, which is subsidizing it now.

The report of the Center’s activities for the first five months of this year has just been issued.

The work includes migration cases of every description such as releasing the new immigrants from quarantine, taking them off the boats, receiving them, etc., the report states. The new arrivals are quickly establishing themselves. This is indicated by the fact that through the Hias transmission bureau alone nearly $1,000 were sent by these immigrants to their relatives abroad in these five months. The amount is not large but is all the more remarkable since up to not very long ago these immigrants had to call upon their American relatives to assist them. In many instances, families are already joining the immigrants there. The Jewish Center supplies medical relief, maintains a school for the children of the immigrants, evening classes for adults, a synagogue, a library and a number of clubs. The organizing and maintaining of the social life among the Jewish immigrants is largely due to the activities of the Center.

A contract for the erection of a new Community Center building to house the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Hebrew Association of Elizabeth, N. J., was awarded by the Association. The contract calls for the erection of a three-and-a-half story building which will cost $158,000 exclusive of the land, furnishings and equipment.

The contract represents the culmination of three years of work which commenced with a campaign for funds for the Association building in May, 1926, at which time there was a joint campaign for the Building Fund, the United Palestine Appeal, and the United Jewish Campaign. The initial drive netted $140,000 in pledges, of which amount $120,000 has been collected to date. The sum of $10,000 realized from the sale of the Charity Hall, which was the original Jewish community center of Elizabeth, will also be turned into the “Y” Building Fund, with the understanding that the “Y” will house the Hebrew Free School supported by the United Hebrew Charities of Elizabeth.

Committees for the organization of a league of all Canadian Jewish youth have been formed in Winnipeg, Montreal and Toronto. Plans are being made to form similar committees in the centers of the West.

Initiated by Rabbi J. L. Zlotnik of Montreal, the league is planned to federate all youth organizations, such as Young Judaea, Menorah. Y. M. H. A. It also aims to organize all the young people who are at present unaffiliated with any clubs.

The Winnipeg Committee expects to call a convention for the purpose of establishing the league in September. A convention in the East will probably also take place at about the same time.