American Red Cross Praises Jewish Blood Donors; Red Cross Sabbath This Week-end

“One of the outstanding contributions of the Jewish people to the war effort is their wholehearted and enthusiastic response to the appeal for blood for the American Red Cross blood plasma collection,” the headquarters of the Red Cross announced here today in a statement issued to the press.

“Individually and through their organizations, Jewish men and women have donated many thousands of pints of blood for this noble purpose,” the statement said. “Among the many Jewish organizations who have taken active part in urging their members to contribute blood are Hadassah, Zionist Organization of America, National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Jewish National Workers’ Alliance of America, Independent Order B’rith Abraham, Independent Order B’rith Sholom, and B’nai B’rith. More than 23,000 members of B’nai B’rith have already given at least one pint of blood, a ratio of one donation to every six members.” Collection of blood plasma by the American Red Cross ranks as the largest undertaking in medical history.

“Recently, human serum albumin has been developed as a blood substitute to be used in the same type of cases as plasma. A Jewish professor, Dr. Edwin J. Cohn, professor of physical chemistry, Harvard Medical School, is largely responsible for serum albumin,” the Red Cross statement says. “Plasma processed from blood donated through the Red Cross is with our troops in North Africa, Guadalcanal, on ships at sea and throughout war zones, and has saved the lives of hundreds of men wounded in battle.”

This week-end is being observed as Red Cross Sabbath in temples and synagogues throughout the country. Together with Red Cross Sunday on February 28 in Protestant and Catholic churches, this religious demonstration will mark the opening of the American Red Cross 1943 War Fund appeal for $125,000,000. Designated by the Synagogue Council of America, Red Cross Sabbath will find Jewish communities renewing their historic loyalty to the American Red Cross. With many Jewish women in Red Cross volunteer special services, Red Cross uniforms are expected during Friday evening or Saturday morning services. Many rabbis are devoting sermons to the work of mercy performed by the Red Cross, and urging their congregations to contribute liberally to the Red Cross 1943 War Fund in their communities.