New-York tribune., 1914-12-21
PALESTINE JEWS
HARD Hit BY WAR
Cut Off from Subsidies
from Abroad on Which
They Depended.
AMERICAN RELIEF
FUND THEIR HOPE
Ambassador Morgenthau Warm
ly Praised for His Good Work
in the Holy Land.

DR.. Arthur Ruppin, Of Jaffa, a mem
be- Of the General Committee which
IS distributing relief among the Jews
m Palestine. has issued a statement
concerning the effect Of the war on
t.cse Jews. 10 which he points out
tnat economic conditions in Palestine
are sucn that the people are even
greater sufferers tnan the countries
actually at war
Palestine. according 20 Dr.. Ruppln,
rs Inhabited by about 1000 Jews,
the majority OF whom are unable TO
earn their livelihood and are depend
eEt on charity. which has been be
slowed upon them by Jews abroad for
Loarly half century. In the last
Oh irty years this section Of the jew
.sh population has been Joined by
colonists. laborers and officials OF
coloulzing societies who have gone
there 10 work and develop the coun-
try. But most of these private enter.
prIses and societies are still connected
with other countries I'M which they
have their capital invested, having
only a moral interest and a financial
Investment in Palestine.
Thus. when, In the first days OF
August. this continuous stream OF
money ceased 20 flow into Palestine
the whole Jewish population OF the
Holy Land suddenly found itself
plunged into misery. A great many
persons. among them the ablest ana
strongest colonists and laborers, were
left the choice OF either serving IN
tie Turkish army or rsnsomlng them
solves by the payment OF large sums
Of money Horses, mules, camels'
carriages and other property were
requisitioned By the military authorl-
tics. which made the work on the helds,
the conveyance Of field products ana
passengers and other occupations lh
colonies and towns impossible.
Through the moratorium which was
n. once declared. the Weather people
I,.t control of their money and were
obliged 10 discontinue business ana
.d-smi,. their laborers. Hundreds OF
porsous suddenly found themselves
without work and thousands stood
hungry before the closed doors OF
charitable institutions.
Relief Committees al Work.
Committees were organized at once
I'm TafTa. UaifTa. Jerusalem and M al.
the colonies and schemes were devised
a. holm each commonwealth. SCUM
Kitchens and ,tcarooms were estao-
1ished whore free meals or cheap meals
wore served. The local board estao-
Ii-lad stores. where foodstuas were
Sold al cost prices ard threatened
trade, people with boycott m case theE
raised unduly the prices Of foodstuiiS'
Tho also tried 10 employ As many per
sons AS possible. Loan societies were
founded. where people could pawn Nal1-
abIcs until better times.
The most efficient help was gwen by
the Arglo-PalestIno Company. "nlch
issued bank bills and circulated them
instead of the gold that had been With
drawn from circulation. Drafts TOT
smaller amounts we're circulated by the
local boards. -,-.-
SulI. all these well devised plans
would never have been carried out I"
AN oficacious way If. thanks 70 tne gen
orosity of American Jews the vcry l'm-
,t.d frrds available at the Jewish bank
had not been increased. At a time
whom nothing could be expected from
the European countries, Mr.. Norgeh-
.b.u the American Ambassador ap-
roaIef 20 the American Llonlsts %
como o. their rescue. IL was ln reply
to this appeal that "a $4,000 FUND wa.
raised I'm "A wonderfully short time ana
was taken there by Mr.. MorgentnauG
so1-in-law. Nr. Wcrtheim. on the
American cruiser North Carolina
A plan OF distribution Of the money
wa. devised. and DR.. Ruppin, Aaron
Aaronsohu and Ephraim Cohn we're sp-
pointed members of the general com
mIt,ec. They also act as the pres
dcnts of the districts Of Jaffa, Hsifa
and Jerusalem. respectively, among
which the money has been divided. O.,
Subcommittee were organized IN an
towns and colonies. which see 70 me
propcr distribution OF the money. WIN
the helm of the American relief iun9
a Great number Of soup kitchens ii0loI
stores and loan societies could be adde'
to tlc existing ones. In Jerusalem
for instance. 1000 persons are pro
yfJed with food every day out or ths
fund. Many institutions which han
been afraid they would have to close
their doors arc nov receiving SUD
sidics.
Cut on from Europe.