Conference to Create Jewish World Relief Fund Opened Carisbad

Over one hundred delegates from America, Europe and Asia, representing 75 Jewish philanthropic and social organization twenty two countries were present at the first meeting of the Jewish World Relief Conference which was opened here yesterday at 8 P.M. American Jewry is represented at the conference by two delegations: The American Jewish Congress and the HIAS. The delegation of the American Jewish Congress consists of Judge Hugo Pam of Chicago, Judge William D. Lewis of Philadelphia, Max D. Steuer of New York and Dr. A. M. Rongy, expert on immigration problems and Mr. William Topkis. The HIAS is represented by Mr. Benjamin.

Over $200,000,000 is annually being spent by Jews throughout the world for social and relief work. The purpose of the conference is to unite all the Jewish relief organizations into some kind of Federation in order to avoid duplication of effort, and to carry on the work on a large and more efficient scale.

Jewish organizations belonging to all parties and shades of opinion accepted the call to deliberate on a more efficient and united action of relief work to be carried on in the future.

The Zionists are represented by Messrs. Ussishkin, Motzkin, Dr. Chajs, chief Rabbi of Vienna, Deputy Isaac Gruenbaum, Dr. Thon; The Agudas Israel by Mr. Pappenheim of Vienna; The Jewish Socialists by Dr. Silberfarb, formerly Minister of Jewish Affairs in the Ukraine, Leon Chazonvitch; Voelkis party by Messrs. N. Prylutzky, member of the Polish Parliament and Mr. Effroykin. The Independent Order Bnai Brith has a numerous delegation at the Conference with delegates from ten countries. The Sphardic Jews are also represented.

An interesting and new feature of this Jewish gathering is the fact that in it are representatives of Jewish Kahillahs in Warsaw, Vienna, Berlin, Hamburg, Vilna, the Unions of the Jewish Communities in Italy, Bohemia, Bukowina, the Vaad Teumi of Palestine, the Jewish National Councils of Poland, Lithuania,

and Bohemia, the Zionist Organization, the Independent Order Bnai Brith, and a number of Jewish Economic Organizations of Eastern Europe.

The meeting was opened by Dr. Leo Motzkin, who submitted a report of the activities of the Jewish World Relief Conference during the past four years, in which time 24,000,000 francs were expended for relief purposes. “The main task which the Conference is confronted with,” the speaker said, “Is to find ways and means with which to continue the relief work for Russian Jewry and to organize the relief for the Jewish stranded refugees.” Dr. Motzkin urged the conference to make a special appeal to American Jewry not to discontinue its efforts for the purpose of saving the Jews of Russia in that distressful moment when help is urgently needed, more than ever.

Mr. Gekri, representative of the International Red Cross, greeted the conference in behalf of his organization and stated that the Red Cross attaches much importance to its contact with the work of the Jewish World Relief Conference. He praised the work accomplished so far and promised further cooperation of the Red Cross.

Representatives of the Cheko-Slovakian Ministry of the Interior and of the Zheko-Slovakian Ministry for Social Work welcomed the delegates. Dr. Rongy in behalf of the American Jewish Congress, David Yellin, on behalf of the Vaad Lieumi, Dr. Samson Rosenbaum, formerly Minister of Jewish Affairs in Lithuania on behalf of East European Jewry greeted the Conference. Many telegrams and cables were received and read in Czecho-Slovakian, English, French, German and Yiddish. Dr. Leo Motzkin was elected President of the Conference.