Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-22
HEBREWS HOLD
WAR FUND MEETING

Doubtless the extreme heat of
Sunday afternoon kept many away
from the Jewish War Relief meet
ing which was held Sunday after
| noon at the Strand theatre. Never
| theless there was a fair attendance
and the audience made up in enthu-
slasm and patriotism what it Lacked
in mum bers. The speakers were all
interesting and possessed Of consid-
cradle oratorical ability, rather
above the average of speakers US
ually heard. There was a consid-
cradle sprinklng of people not of
Jewish extraction present and May
or G. j. Bragdon spoke briefly. The
hall was decorated with the Ameri-
can flags, the Zionist flag and the
eight starred service flag.
DR.. Caplan of Portland was the
/ first speaker and opened by saving
that the Jews of America had every
thing to be thankful for especially
liberty and equality: liberty to de-
vclop themselves in the manner
that God Intended and opportunity
to grow and expand as citizens Of
the earth. I'VE should be willing"
said he, ito give the last drop Of our
blood an. the last ounce Of our
strength as patriots" He referred
to the fact that blood Of their blood
and flesh Of their flesh IN Russia
! and some other countries enjoyed
none of these privileges, no liberty.
equality, or opportunity. Even the
Jewish music of Russia has an ote
of Sadness and distress for the Jews
/ long before the war had been perse-
cutod and suffered untold agonies
Three and one half million Jews
are dying today and men of wealth
are becoming beggars. They have
no one to look to for aid but our
selves. Let us, whose hearts are
filled with love and pity for them, in
our more fortunate condition. open
our hearts to their cry Of distress
and give till we can give no more"
Jacob Berman, q former county
attorney of Cumberland county. was
the next speaker and he delivered an
address trimming over with elo-
quenCe and patriotism. He opened
by stating that the Jewish people
had arrived at the forks of the road
and that the present was the time to
decide whether they should continue
the struggle toward the ideal of
buddhism or take the other road
said he. 1T is simply by a turn in
the wheel of fortune that we are
here in the home Of Old Glory. We
should think of what is going on ov-
er there. where the Huns under the
leadership Of man who thinks he
is the right hand OF God. have for
gotten what honor is" He told of
heart-rending happenings in Rus
STA and Finland, of the thousands
of Jews who had been told that they
must leave the country and had no.
where to go but to Siberia or Germ
any and rather than do the latter
il were better that they should rot.
! He brought the same situation home
to those present and then inquired
! if they could say that they had done
enough. 1T is all right to strive
! for money" he said. but one should
remember that it cannot be taken
away whom the time to die comes"
Remember" he continued, that
back there are descendants Of your
ancestors and my ancestors and then
give literally of our plenty to the
Jewish War Relief Fund" Harris
addressed his auditors in Hebrew.
and his address like all the others
received liberal applause.