(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
A campaign for one million roubles to promote the Jewish colonization work in Soviet Russia was undertaken by the Ozet, the society for settling Jews on the land, at a public meeting held here last night.
The form adopted for the campaign is the sale of lottery tickets. At the mass meeting held under the chairmanship of J. Dimantstein, attended by thousands. Dr. A. Bragin, one of the leaders of the colonization work praised the achievements of the Jewish colonists and stated that in four or five years the colonies will be selt-supporting.
The Soviet Health Commissioner, Nikolai Semashko, who recently returned from an inspection tour of the colonies, was one of the speakers at the meeting. He challenged the allgations of anti-Semites in Russia that the Jewish land settlement work is a privilege accorded only to the Jews. He stated that Jews have settled on land which was never before occupied. In addition, he said, the colonists are receiving the aid of foreign Jewish organizations which determines the succes of their effort. However, even if the Jewish land settlement work woald be a privilege, it would be justified owing to the previous wrongs and persecutions directed against the Jews.
Loyevetzky, director of the Soviet Finance Commissariat, stated that although lotteries are prohibited in the Soviet Republic, it was permitted in this case because of the importance of the colonization work.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
