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August 19, 1934
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dent and the faculty, have made the greatest personal sacrifices in order to carry on the work of this outstanding educational institution.

If Orthodox Judaism in America is to continue its valuable contribution to Jewish cultural life in this country, Orthodox Jewry cannot afford to ignore the appeal of the Yeshivah in this hour of its dire need.

THE DISGRACEFUL RACKET

The Jewish Daily Bulletin has published a series of articles exposing some of the racketeers who have dragged the Jewish name in the mire. A number of unscrupulous persons have posed as “Rabbis” and as “Judges” in order to deceive the public and extract contributions under false pretenses. They camouflaged their rackets under the guise of “synagogues,” “Jewish congregations,” “charitable societies,” “free kitchens,” “settlement centers.” They resorted to high pressure in soliciting funds over the telephone, using the names of prominent Jews and non-Jews without their knowledge and, of course, without their authorization. They stopped at nothing in their attempts at cheating the public.

Some of the offenders have been trapped. Others are still at large. No punishment would be too severe for these racketeers. At a time like this, when so many worthy causes lack financial aid, when the local relief organizations in every community find it extremely difficult to raise funds for the maintenance of the most needed institutions to aid the most needy, when the situation of the Jews in Germany and Poland, and of the German Jewish refugees abroad and here, is so tragic and immediate relief is so urgently required, the crime of these “charity” racketeers, who play upon the sympathies of the unkonwing public, is particularly harmful. For they not only rob the people who are naive enough to be duped by high-sounding names used without authorization in behalf of non-existent organizations, but they also create in the public mind confusion and distrust with regard to the genuine relief organizations which deserve every possible support.

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