The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-11
OF MERCY"
TO AID JEWISH
WAR SUFFERERS
Commission of Relief Ar
ranging For National
Collection Campaign.

Preparations for "a Week of Mer-
Cyl to be held throughout the United
States from January % to February
4, inclusive, are being made by the
Central Committee for the Relief Of
Jews Suffering Through the War. Be-
tween these dates the committee ex-
poets to carry the message Of tn
hardslips of the Jews in Europe and
Palestine to the remotest corner of
America.
The Week of Mercy will begin
Saturday, January 27, which is the
first anniversary of Proclamation Day,
which President Wilson set aside last
year as day on which the American
people should turn their thoughts to-
ward blighted Jewry abroad and
should open both their hearts and
their purses in an effort to succor
the starving and miserable.
The distress of the Jews in Eur
ope in 1917 is admittedly greater than
was true last year, when the Presi-
dent believed the situation so urgent
as to call for an official appeal from
the Chief Executive to the citizens
of the United States. 1t is the ex-
pectation of the Central Committee
it will raise during the Week of
Mercy a larger sum toward the So
100000 fund sought from the Jews Of
the United States for 1917, with which
to assist their brothers and sisters in
the war zones. than was secured last
year through the Presidents Proc1a-
nation Dav apDeal.
Saturday. January 27. the Jewish
Sabbath will be set aside in the
Syna goeres throueho out the country as
a dav of exhortation and PRAYER in
behalf Of the Jewish war sufferers
and on tho day following. SUNDAY
January 2s. a series Of great public
mass meetings Isl planned in the prin-
cipal cities Of the United States.
During the week following the Cen
trail Committee, the main Offices Of
which are at 63 Park Row, New
York city, plans to utilize various in
genious meth DDS by which to gather
in contributions in every amount pos
sible. There has been already ar
ranged a series of Tag Days and
Button Days and in. addition to the
services in the Synagogues on Sat
urday, the twenty it is hoped
ed in many Christian churches
throughout the land on Sunday, the
twenty eighth.
The Central Committee is distribut-
ing 10000 dime savings banks, with
a picture upon each representing the
Jews of Europe, young and old, plead
ing to America for help. In addition
to this thousands of individual letters
and kilograms urging cooperation in
the Week of Mercy" will be sent to
distant parts of the United States and
to Alaska, Cuba and Porto, Rico, in
all of which places the Central Com
mittee is represented by branch or
CARNATIONS. For the first time an
appeal will be made to Uncle Sans
newest possession, the Danish West
Indies, the population of which will
be urged to join with the rest of
America in extending help.
But possibly the largest sum is ex-
pected to- be derived from the sale of
Certificates, of varying denomina-
tons, from 81 to $50, suitable for
framing and which show the purchas
er has subscribed such and such a
sum to the work of relief. Accom-
panying each certificate will go a
Photographic reproduction Of the
Presidents Proclamation. There |
will also be sold relief stamps, SIM
liar to Red Cross Stamps, at a cost
varying from one to twenty-five
cents.
The Central Committee. to date, I
has raised more than $1,000, 900 and |
at the recent mass meeting at Carne- |
gle Hall, New York city, additional |
pledges were received by the Com
mittee in excess of 100000 toward
the 1917 $10,000,000 fund. Last
year the Presidents Proclamation re-
suited in the raising of large sum
and it is expected the Week of
Mercy arranged for this year, will
net not less than a half million dol