The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-01-27
AN APPEAL TO
THE CITIZENS
OF WHEELING
IN Rabbi 4. III sIIverl

ms Is the first time in the history
OF American Israel that a Jewish
Rabbi has come before a non-Jewish
public TO plead for the relief OF his
stricken brothers.
When. in 1865. the first group OF
Jewish immigrants came 10 these
shores they made a VOW TO provide
Tor their own poor so as not TO be
a burden upon the community. Faith
fully n resolutely We have lived
up 10 our pledge. We have taken care
not only OF our own poor. but we have
contributed literally and generously
al all times n in every place Tor
the alienation OF the suffering OF all
peple irrespective OF race or creed.
Your own community will bear
ample testimony 10 this fact. There
Is not a single institution of a charit-
able character I'm the CITY of Wheel.
Ing that has not at some time re-
ceiyed the active support OF many OF
the Jewish citizens of the city
IL IS not because we have been IN
true 10 Dur traditions OF charitabIeness
that ! come to you TO plead for my
brothers. IL is not because we have
fallen short Of our ideals OF brother
hood and sympathy. II Is because
the misery and suffering Of my people
Is so great. because their needs are so
overwhelming and theid Indebtedness
80 colossal that We are unable to take
care of them ourselves.
Nearly two-thirds OF my people
! unto nine million souls, are d.
recty affected BY the war in Europe
today. The gerater part OF these nine
million men suffer. not only the or
binary and inevitable misfortunes Of
war. but also the unnatural persecu-
lions OF a people for whom they are
sacrificing themselves -Four millions
OF my people live in Poland and Rus
sia. They have sent three hundred
thousand OF their young men to the
'front.' 10 battle for Russia. they are
put into the first ranks OF the firing
line; they are as brave and heroic as
loyal as any OF n ears soldiers. hut
Russia shows its appreciation for this
loyalty and this self-saCrUce by mas
Sacreing the aged. the women and the
children who are left behind BY burn
ing their homes. bu insulting their
women n by driving them Ike so
many cattle out into the cold SHOWS
of that country.
Tn the province OF Grodna alone. /
read. sixty thousand of my people
men. women. children. the a9cd and
the sick. the manned and the babes
were driven out in one night-some
were packed into freight cars and
others were forced To- march for DAYS
eoaded ON by the CossaCk |bayorets
and hy the Russian kuout.
] wonder u You can visualize with
me the scenes that are enacted daily
Boz that land OF darkness, wonder
~ Won can picture 20 yourself four
million men driven through a Hell OF
hate and fury and madness and suf-
f,rinc'
My people are suffering more than
the sorrows OF Belgium They are
being racked and torn and DESTROYED
he whole people is being crucIfed.
Citizens Of Wheeling Four mill
lion men are today turning their LONG.
ing ewes and stretching their shiycr-
ing hands TO you. You who have.
been 10y the grace OF God saved from
the horrors OF this war. You who
enjoy plenty and prosperity They
turn 20 you and cry for help. Helm
the needy. .ielp the weak Help
DO" babes whose lips are parrl,d
and whose IftI. bodies arc starved,
VIII you NI you. members OF "a
country that Ia- never turned a deaf
ear 20 'ne appeals of suffering human.
ity' VIII YOU, citizens OF a city that.
has az AT times been famed FOR it.
generosity VIII you hlrkon 20 their
please VIII you give bread 20 the
hungry. raiment fo the naked and
balm 20 the bruised bodies
VIII YOU come tO the mass uotfIre
Thursday riEht a. tho Court fneatr.
and show your sympathy for fro uu-
fortunate and your deep concern lu
their fate2
] appeal TO YOU ia the name OF
humanity