A government worse than semi civilized was the description of Hitler’s Reich by Judge Horace Stern, in a statement to the Jewish community on the occasion of the launching of the local United Jewish Appeal next week.
Judge Stern called upon Philadelphia Jewry to come to the aid of their brethren, victims of German persecution and oppression.
Philadelphia’s quota for the united campaign of the Joint Distribution Committee and the American Palestine Campaign amounts to $200,000. The drive to raise this sum starts with a dinner at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel on May 22. More than 1,000 representative members of the comunity are expected to attend.
Reviewing the tragedy of the Jews in Germany. Judge Stern pointed out the responsibility resting upon Jewish people throughout the world.
“We Jewish folk,” he declared, “stand in the shadow of an almost incredible tragedy. In our long and checkered history we have endured army vicissitudes. We have been subjected to programs and pillaging, to expatriation and exile, to oppression and persecution. But in more modern times such cruelties were practiced only by backward and semi-civilized peoples. It remained for Germany, arrogant of superiority in blood and culture-a so-called great power-to revive a racial bigotry characteristic of the middle ages.
“In these stirring days the Jews of Philadelphia will not fall in the performance of their clearly defined duty. We must stand shoulder to shoulder with the Jews of America and of the world in protecting and succoring our brethren. In Julius S. Weyl and Rita Gerstley we have efficient and stimulating leadership. If each of us follows the promptings of our conscience, the appeals of our hearts, the instincts of our honor, we shall go forward, with satisfaction and pride, to high endeavor and worthy achievement.”
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
