Fifty thousand Jews in Bessarabia have been suffering from their third famine in the last twelve years, it was declared at a special meeting of the executive committee of the Federation of Jewish Relief Organizations here. An anti-Semitic campaign by the peasants has accompanied the famine, it was reported.
The committee decided to establish a fund for the famine victims and to make a grant of 100,000 lei for the children of the sufferers. The Central Famine Relief Committee appealed to the London Relief Association to launch a campaign for the sufferers.
The Jews are in a worse position than the non-Jews. It was reported, because the depression and anti-Semitic boycotts have depleted their food reserves. In addition, the Jews do not benefit by Government relief work organized for the peasants. Anti-Semites agitate against the Jews, blaming them for the famine, it was said.
Speakers told of whole communities being reduced to starvation. In Arciz, for example, 200 of the 268 families are starving.
Rabbi I. L. Zirelson heads the central committee. S. Berliond of the Relief Federation in Bessarabia and chairman of the Bessarabian Zionist Organization, is vice-president.
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.
