United Jewish Campaign Issues S.o.s. Call to Save East European Jews

An “S.O.S.” call to save the Jews of Eastern Europe, many hundreds of whom are reported to be dying from starvation, typhus and other epidemics, was broadcasted today by David A. Brown, national chairman of the United Jewish Campaign, This was telegraphed to the 1,200 members of the national committee of the campaign, to the chairmen and other officers of each of the 45 state organizations that have been built up during the past three months for the raising of the $15,000,000 quota of the campaign, and to every officer of the several hundred community committees who are in charge of local “drives” in every Jewish community in the United States and Canada.

This action was taken following a hastily convened conference of officers of the American Joint Distribution Committee, and of the United Jewish Campaign to consider a number of alarming cablegrams from Dr. Bernhard Kahn, European Director of the Joint Distribution Committee, Dr. Joseph A. Rosen, in charge of its relief and reconstruction work in Russia, and Irma May, the campaign’s special commissioner to Poland, Galicia and Bessarabia, stating that unless help is immediately forthcoming, thousands of men, women and children will die in addition to the many who have already succumbed, Among those at the conference, besides Mr. Brown were Felix M. Warburg, chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, Louis Marshall, Herbert H. Lehman, William Fox, chairman of the New York City Campaign, David M. Bressler and Jonah J. Goldstein.

Mr. Brown’s telegram, in which he calls upon the whole personnel of the United Jewish Campaign to send to headquarters immediately 10 per cent cash of the quotas assigned to the Jewish communities of the United States and Canada and to start action at once for the early raising of the balance, is as follows:

“During my recent organizing trip, covering the Southwestern, the Northwestern, and the Central States, I made the statement at every conference, that if upon my return to New York City the terrible conditions in Europe had not improved, I should send an “S.O.S.” call to every state through its state and city chairmen, and other officers immediately to raise a sum of money not less than 10 per cent of the first year’s quota, to be sent to National Headquarters for promptest possible relief distribution abroad.

“I have just returned to my office from a meeting with the leaders of the Joint Distribution Committee, who have laid before me all of the startling facts of European needs, proving conclusively that unless a substantial sum of money is forthcoming at once, many thousands will die, and more thousands suffer acutest misery which may prove fatal. It has come down to a case of sending money to keep thousands alive until more substantial aid can reach them.

“I urge you to call together as quickly as possible all your Campaign associates and devise ways and means to raise in cash as a minimum 10 per cent of the total quota for the year 1926.

“I urge also that every ounce of pressure be placed upon your organization to get campaigns into action as quickly as possible and to secure from those subscribing the largest amount as initial payment. The many millions in accepted quotas by the 45 States already organized and the thousands of pledges in campaigns now in press, while very encouraging, cannot buy bread and milk for starving people. They must be converted into cash, to the largest extent possible, if they are to do any good for the thousands who are actually facing death, who will die unless relief is sent immediately.

“I am sending this S.O.S. solely because of the terrible catastrophe that is destroying the Jews of Europe and on your immediate action depend their lives.”