United Palestine Appeal Issues Statement on Dissolution of United Jewish Appeal

Emphasizing that “statements concerning the reasons for the dissolution of the United Jewish Appeal can serve no useful purpose in this period of high destiny for the Jewish people,” Rabbi James G. Heller, national chairman of the United Palestine Appeal and of the United Jewish Appeal, today issued a statement calling upon American Jews to give their widest support to the reconstruction of the Jewish National Home in Palestine to solve the problem of Jewish homelessness in Europe. Dr. Heller’s statement reads as follows:

“Through the channel of the United Jewish Appeal the Jews of America, during the past six years, extended their sympathetic support to the United Palestine Appeal as well as the Joint Distribution Committee and the National Refugee Service. Statements concerning the reasons for the dissolution of the United Jewish Appeal can serve no useful purpose in this period of high destiny for the Jewish people.

“We have given the problems of this year’s campaign long and careful consideration, with primary regard for the welfare of our brothers abroad who have always been and will continue to be our chief concern. In conducting its 1945 campaign the United Palestine Appeal recognizes the authority and central importance of local welfare funds. The Jewish welfare funds are the great symbol of unity in American Jewish life. They now share directly in decisions which will weigh heavily in the determination of the future of the surviving remnants of the Jewish people.

“The needs of the United Palestine Appeal and the Joint Distribution Committee are great. Regardless of whether the appeals in their behalf are made to the communities independently or in combination, we feel confident that American Jewry will meet the expanded opportunities to sustain the Jews of Europe in this transition period and to assure for the vast majority of them a permanent and secure future in the Jewish National Home in Palestine. In these terms the United Palestine Appeal calls upon the Jews of the United States to give their support in unmatched degree to Eretz Israel.

“We solemnly urge every community to initiate its campaign plans with dispatch and to raise maximum sums for the major causes in Jewish life. The United Palestine Appeal is confident that Jewish welfare funds will distribute their funds with a deep and sympathetic understanding of the centrality of the position of Palestine as the pivot and foundation of the Jewish future. We firmly believe that all American Jews share in the hope and determination that the survivors of mass persecution and devastation must never be homeless again. Let us in unity and harmony set our hands to this historic purpose.”