The United Jewish Campaign in New York was officially closed yesterday with the announcement that New York’s quota of $6,000,000 toward the national campaign of $25,000,000 for the overseas chest for the relief of the East European Jews, was oversubscribed by $656,000. The announcement was made by David M. Bressler, acting chairman of the New York drive, at a rally at campaign headquarters in the Biltmore Hotel, where the hundreds of campaign workers had gathered to make their final reports.
As the results of the campaign were made known there were long ovations for David M. Bressler, David Brown, Felix M. Warburg, William Fox, chairman of the New York drive, Louis Marshall, Jonah J. Goldstein and Judge Rosalsky, the men who have figured prominently in the United Jewish Campaign since the day it was launched.
“The great heart of New York has revealed itself magnificently in this campaign,” said Mr. Bressler at the end of the rally. “From the beginning, we were determined our quota would be filled. Originally, New York was asked to raise $4,000,000 but with the leaders of New York Jewry cognizant of the situation abroad, we demanded that the quota be raised to $6,000,000. After all, it was not a question of quotas–it was really a question of getting the largest sum of money possible in order to relieve the tragic distress of millions of human beings. Even if the quota had been $10,000,00 and we had raised that amount, that would not be sufficient because the need is greater than can be met even by the $25,000,000 national quota.
“As it is, the money raised in this campaign is the largest sum ever raised from the Jews of New York for any purpose and is a splendid refutation of the charge that is so often made-that this is a cold, indifferent, callous community. New York is none of these things. New York has a big heart and New York always responds in magnificent fashion to every appeal. The only difficulty about New York is its size. It is so hard to reach everybody. There is such a wide area to be covered. There are so many people to be seen and they are so busy that even if they are willing to do and to give they haven’t the time even to listen, but once your message gets to them they come through.
“It is unnecessary for me to talk of gratitude. New York Jewry would resent any expression of gratitude. On the contrary, New York Jews are grateful that they were given the opportunity to do this big thing,” Mr. Bressler said.
David A. Brown, chairman of the $25,000,000 national drive of the United Jewish Campaign, elated at the outcome of the New York drive, declared:
“This will have a tremendously stimulating influence on the rest of the Jewish communities of the United States and Canada. There are approximately 300 local drives on now in both countries and all eyes are turned on this city because it is as true in philanthropy as it is in polities, that ‘as New York goes, so goes the rest of the country.’ New York Jewiry is to be doubly congratulated for having so nobly responded to the great cry that has come from the suffering millions across the seas. In the first place, having been originally asked to give $4,000,000, it rejected that sum as being too small and voluntarily assumed the responsibility for raising $6,000,000 although there were many pessimists who declared that it would not raise the lower sum. The second score on which it is to be congratulated is that the $6,000,000 it undertook to raise has been exceeded by a splendid margin.
“The result of the New York campaign is a wonderful achievement which will prove of inestimable value as a stimulating factor in the further development of organized philanthropy in this city and throughout the country. New York, richer today than when the campaign began, because it has made an investment in happiness for itself and for our people across the sea which will pay increasing dividends as time rolls on. It has set itself a proud record, discovered its own heart, and its own ability to do fine things. That is a great gain for every community, as it is for every individual who contributes toward the increase of happiness in this word,” Mr. Brown declared.
WOMEN’S DIVISION LAUDED
The Women’s Division, of which Mrs. Abram I. Elkus is chairman, which went “over the top” of its quota of $500,000, was congratulated by Mr. Bressler, and the other officers of the campaign. Mr. Bressler termed it a “remarkable achievement for the Jewish women of New York, not only for its money result, but for its by-product of stimulation for the men workers in their effort in every field.” The women named for having especially distinguished themselves in the work were Mrs. Henry Bodenheimer, drive chairman for the Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations of Greater New York, Mrs. Ernest A. Grunsfeld, president of the Woman’s Town Club. Mrs. Moses M. Morse, chairman of the drive committee of this latter organization, which raised nearly $35,000, Mrs. Henry Moskowitz, chairman of the Women’s Special Gifts Committee, Mrs. Rebekah Kohut, Mrs. Clarence Mack, Mrs. Isaac Kubie, of the Women’s Advisory Board, Mrs. Stephen Rapp, Mrs. Jonah J. Goldstein, one of the vice-chairmen, Mrs. Charles Ottinger and Mrs. David M. Bressler.
New York’s drive for the United Jewish Campaign was launched on April 25. After the work had progressed for a short time the original quota of $4,000,000 was increased to $6,000,000. With the effective organization of every part of New York Jewry into divisions based on industries and professions, with the cooperation of the entire press, Jewish and non-Jewish, and the spreading of the now well known poster “Tired of Giving?” the campaign swung into a tempo which kept up until the total quota was oversubscribed. Brooklyn, under ### leadership of Judge Grover Moscowitz, Hugh Grant Straus, Herman Neaderlander, Judge Lazansky, Judge May and others, undertook a quota of $1,000,000 which was raised, as reported yesterday at the rally.
The first million dollars in the drive was subscribed by nine individuals. Mr. Warburg leading with $400,000, followed by Mr. Fox with $250,000; Frederick Brown, $100,000; Herbert H. Lehman, $50,000; Benjamin Winter, $50,000; Louis Marshall, $50,000; Henry Ittelson, $40,000; Commodore Louis D. Beumont, $39,000 and Samuel C. Lamport, for the Lamport Supply Company, $30,000. The Charity Chest of the Fur Industry appropriated $120,000 and other large gifts to the fund include: Workmen’s Circle, $50,000; Mr. & Mrs. Simon Straus, $50,000; S. S. & Lee Shubert, $50,000; Mortimer L. Schiff, $50,000; Joseph Leblang, $50,000; Amalgamated Clothing Workers. $50,000; Mr. & Mrs. Paul M. Warburg, $30,000; Samuel Untermyer, $30,000; Temple Emanuel, $30,000; Mrs. Jacob H. Schiff, $30,000; Paul Baerwald, $30,000; Adolph S. Ochs, $25,000; Jacob K. Newman, $25,000; Aaron Naumberg, $25,000; Arthur Lehman, $25,000; Michael Friedsam, $25,000; Joseph Frankel, $25,000; Henry A. Dix, $25,000; Gregori Benenson, $25,000; A. H. Woods, $20,000; Jacob Sperber, $20,000; Mr. & Mrs. Reuben Sadowsky, $20,000; Ludwig Vogelstein, $15,000; Max D. Steuer, $15,000; Henry Morgenthau, $15,000; Meyer Bernhard, $15,000; Nathan J. Miller, $15,000; Mr. & Mrs. Goodhart, $15,000; Mr. & Mrs. Harry Fischel, $15,000; Motty Bricken Construction Co., $15,000; Samuel Minskoff, $15,000; Benjamin Benenson, $15,000; William E. Lauer, $11,000; Truly Warner, $10,000; Meyer Vesell, $10,000; United Hebrew Trades, $10,000; Samuel Sachs. $10,000; Harry Sachs, $10,000; J. L. Rubenstein, $10,000; Mr. & Mrs. Carl H. Pforzheimer, $10,000; Joseph Polstein. $10,000; Sam Levy, $10,000; Mr. & Mrs. Sigmund M. Lehman, $10,000; Arthur M. Lamport, $10,000; Otto H. Kahn, $10,000; Jewish Daily Forward, $10,000; Jerome J. Hanauer, $10,000; Simon Guggenheim, $10,000; S. R. Guggenheim. $10,000 Murray Guggenheim, $16,000: The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, $10,000; Louis Gold, $10,000; Arnstein Bros. & Co., $10,000;
Although the campaign has been officially ended, the Amusement Industry Division of the drive, under the chairmanship of Joseph Leblang, will continue its work until October, in an effort to raise an additional $250,000 toward’s New York’s quota.
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.
