Displaced Jews Must Be Changed to “placed Jews”, Chief Rabbi Baeck Urges

The displaced Jews must be made over into “placed Jews” and must be taken to Palestine as soon as possible, Dr. Leo Baeck, fromer Chief Rabbi of Berlin, urged today at a press conference at the B’nai B’rith headquarters here. At the same time he lauded President Truman’s announcement that the U.S. immigration quota will be filled and reported that it will be received as a “message of peace and hope” in the displaced persons camps.

Rabbi Baeck, who is returning to London to head the work of the B’nai B’rith European Aid Council, said that America can become the center of Jewish spiritual life. Such life, he stated, would not be possible in such small Jewish communities as will remain in Germany and the rest of Europe. He revealed that he was the only living survivor of his three brothers and four sisters, and ascribed his own escape from execution by the Nazis to a mistake made when they killed another man of the same name, his name being then removed from the list.