D.c. and Union of Orthodox Rabbis Sign Agreement on Aid to Religious Jews in Europe

The signing of an agreement by the Joint Distribution Committee with the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the U.S. and Canada, providing at those programs of the JDC specifically devoted to the rehabilitation and advancement of Orthodox Jewish life in Europe will be conducted with the advice and counsel of the chief elements of Jewish Orthodoxy in America, was made known today ## a joint announcement by the two organizations.

At the proposal of the JDC, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis has sponsored the ##rmation of a new body, the Jewish Central Orthodox Committee, representing several actions of Orthodoxy. The new committee will work directly with the JDC, advising ## JDC-supported programs serving Orthodox European Jews and communities.At the same time, under the agreement, the Union of Orthodox Rabbis will dis-associate itself from all efforts or groups seeking to collect funds here or in canada for assistance to Orthodox institutions or projects coming within the JDC verseas program. This action is expected to result in the marked reduction of such appeals, which are competitive to the fund-raising efforts of the United Jewish appeal from which the JDC receives its principal funds.

Rabbi Israel Rosenberg, chairman of the presidium of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, and Edward M.M. Warburg, JDC chairman, signed the agreement today in a brief ceremony at the JDC executive offices. Mr. Warburg pointed out that the Joint Distribution Committee, in addition to its program of relief, resettlement and economic reconstruction, has always afforded extensive support to Jewish religious activity abroad, particularly that of Orthodox Judaism, and hailed the new agreement. Rabbi Rosenberg expressed the opinion that the unification of American efforts seeking to assist European Jewish Orthodox institutions would result in increased effectiveness in achieving the common objective.

VAAD HAHATZALAH TO WITHDRAW FROM GENERAL RELIEF ACTIVITIES

Under the terms of the agreement, the JDC recognizes the Jewish Central Orthodox Committee as the sole representative group in the United States to which it will refer for consideration various problems of Orthodox religious rehabilitation. To implement the operation, the Jewish Central Orthodox Committee will appoint regional representatives in Europe to survey and submit recommendations as to religious financial needs and programs to JDC.

The JDC will continue to bear the cost of financing such functional programs, including the support of Orthodox Jewish educational institutions, Yeshivoth (rabbinical schools), the restoration of synagogues, and other assistance. The Jewish Central Orthodox Committee, operating as an autonomous organization, is empowered under the agreement to raise certain funds to meet its administrative requirements.

According to the new agreement, the Vaad Hahatzala, which has operated as an Orthodox Jewish fund-raising agency for overseas purposes with the sponsorship of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, is to withdraw from all general relief activities in behalf of Europe’s Jewish survivors, and to limit its future work to two specialized phases: assisting Yeshivoth abroad which receive no subsidies from the JDC, and providing non-monetary emigration assistance for Yeshiva students and other religious scholars. The agreement stipulates, however, that such fund-raising efforts which the Vaad may engage in for support of Yeshivoth have neither the endorsement nor approval of the JDC.

Rabbi Israel Rosenberg is chairman of the new Jewish Central Orthodox Committee, and Rabbi Eliezer Silver, former president of Agudas Israel of America, chairman of its board of directors.