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Central Jewish Body Formed in Hungary; Anti-Jewish Bill Seen Hitting 215,000

April 13, 1939
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A Central Jewish Committee has been formed in Hungary through the initiative of the Joint Distribution Committee which will supervise collection of relief funds and serve as an instrument through which the J.D.C. can act, Morris C. Troper, European director of the J.D.C., reported today.

The pending anti-Jewish bill will result in the loss of livelihood of about 215,000 Jews and will make necessary "an intensive program of vocational re-adaptation," Mr. Troper said.

A comprehensive program of retraining in commercial, industrial and agricultural fields is already under way in Hungary, Mr. Troper revealed. Particular emphasis is being laid on the retraining of young people. Existing facilities are being expanded and new projects initiated. Courses in agriculture, trade, nursing, domestic economy, foreign languages, etc. are already under way. In addition, a number of vocational advisory offices are being established.

"The second anti-Jewish bill, which is now being debated in the Hungarian Parliament, will result in a loss of livelihood for about 215,000 Jews in Hungary, should it be passed," Mr. Troper said. Thousands of Jews are also threatened with revision of citizenship under the provisions of this bill.

Mr. Troper paid tribute to the spirit of the Jews in Hungary who are organizing themselves to meet their new difficulties. Hungarian Jews, whose number has been swelled by the annexation of Sub-Carpathia within recent weeks, now form about 6% of the total population of the country. Their number includes approximately 40,000 front fighters and war invalids.

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