Fund for Help of Reich Jews Hits $515,000

The sum of $515,000 has been raised to date by the United Jewish Appeal for German Jewish relief, it was announced yesterday at the Hotel Commodore headquarters of the drive by I. Edwin Goldwasser, Nathan Straus, Jr. and Ira M. Younker, co-chairmen of the German Jewish relief campaign in New York City.

The gifts of 13,487 individuals brought the campaign fund beyond the half million mark. The goal is $1,200,000, to be used for the relief and rehabilitation of German Jews and for the settlement of Jews in Palestine.

A warning to the Jews of New York not to treat the German Jewish problem as alien to their own interests was sounded by the chairmen in a plea asking for acceleration of the rate at which contributions are being made. They declared that “the epidemic of Hitlerism might be aggravated if Jews leave to their fate the first victims of race hatred.”

MCDONALD TO SPEAK

James G. McDonald, League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, will make a farewell talk before his return to Europe to resume his administrative activities at a rally tonight at the Hotel Commodore of all the workers engaged in raising funds for the relief campaign. Prior to the meeting at night there will be a dinner of the twenty-five divisional chairmen who will report to Michael Schaap, chairman of the trades council of the drive, on the amounts raised in their respective divisions.

All campaign activities during the week will be concentrated on a dinner honoring Governor Herbert H. Lehman to be held this Thursday at the St. George Hotel, Brooklyn. The function is intended to pay tribute to the Governor for his leadership in the German Jewish relief effort, of which he is honorary chairman. More than 1,000 Jewish leaders, representing all boroughs, are expected to attend the dinner.

In announcing the sum that has already been raised, the co-chairmen of the New York drive said:

GRATEFUL FOR SUPPORT

“We are grateful for the support which has been given by thousands of Jews in this city to the United Jewish Appeal. It is imperative, however, that the rate at which these funds are being contributed shall be accelerated, if we are to meet promptly and fully the urgent needs of German Jewry. The pressure upon Jews in Germany grows constantly graver. The plight of the refugees is equally serious, for the economic uncertainty which prevails in the neighboring countries makes it impossible for them to absorb any additional refugees.

“Our first duty is to see to it that these refugees do not become a burden upon the lands which have given them refuge. Otherwise, there will be a sharpening of frictions which we are anxious to avoid.

“If only we could sufficiently impress upon our fellow Jews in this city the realization that they themselves are deeply involved in the solution of the problem which we are asked to meet. The epidemic of Hitlerism might be aggravated if Jews leave to their fate the first victims of race hatred.”