Jews in America Contributed 11.5% to Relief for Belligerent Countries, Data Reveals

Data showing the extent of Jewish contributions in America for relief in belligerent countries and for refugees driven out of these countries, as compared with the general contributions raised in America for the same purpose, was made public here today by Dr. H. S. Linfield, director of the Statistical Bureau of the Synagogue Council.

The data, based on official tabulations released by the State Department in Washington, shows that a total of $60,147,000 was collected in the United States between September 6th, 1939 and November 30th, 1941. This sum included $6,916,000 received by Jewish organizations, or 11.5% as compared with the fact that Jews constitute 5% of the total population of the country. These figures cover only the collections for relief in belligerent countries and for refugees driven out of these countries as a result of the present war.

The average monthly collection during the above period preceding America’s entry into the war was $2,239,000, including $257,000 by Jewish organizations. In December, during the greater part of which the United States was at war, the American relief bodies collected $2,990,000, including $334,000 by Jewish organizations.

In accordance with the law requiring the registration with the State Department of all persons and organizations permitted to receive contributions to be used “for medical aid and assistance or for food and clothing to relieve human sufferings” in belligerent countries, or for refugees driven out of these countries, a total of 527 persons and organizations, including 21 Jewish organizations registered by November 30, 1941. The countries for which the Jewish bodies registered were Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia and Palestine.

$4,900,000 COLLECTED FOR EUROPEAN RELIEF AND $2,000,000 FOR PALESTINE RELIEF

A total of $4,918,000 was received between September 6, 1939, and November 30, 1941, by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and 14 other Jewish organizations, to be used for medical assistance and for food and clothing in the 12 European countries enumerated above, and for aid to refugees driven out of these countries by the present war. In addition, $1,998,000 were collected by the Hadassah, Women’s Zionist Organization, and five other organizations for relief in Palestine. The latter sum does not include the funds received by the Palestine Foundation Fund and the Jewish National Fund which are engaged in settling refugees and other Jews in Palestine. “It must also be stated here that information regarding the American Red Cross, is not included in the statistics set forth in these paragraphs, ” Dr. Linfield stated. Information on activities in non-belligerent countries is also omitted.

Of the $6,900,000 received by Jewish organizations for relief activities as given above, a total of $6,627,000 was received by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the Hadassah during the period preceding the entry of the United States into the war; while 19 other Jewish relief organizations received $289,000, or 95.8% and 4.2% respectively. Of the latter, 14 for European relief collected $65,000, and five organizations for Palestine relief received $223,000. Five Jewish organizations for European relief discontinued their relief operations during this period, after collecting the small sum of $30,000.

The Statistical Bureau of the Synagogue Council, which was formerly known as the Jewish Statistical Bureau, is headed by Mr. Charles P. Kramer. Dr. Israel Goldstein is the president of the Synagogue Council.