Middletown transcript., 1919-09-13
3 q
JEWS IN SERBIA
IN BAD PLIGHT
Economic Ruin and Epidemics
Have Fallen to Their Lot
in Balkans.
BULGARIAN OUTLOOK BETTER
Investigator Urges Shipments Of Food
and Clothing to Roumania-Fund
Of $35,ooo,ooo Being Sought
In United States.

tion Of Jews in the Balkan countries,
as made to the American jewish he
lief committee by its investigators
abroad show that economic ruin, cpl
denies Of typhus, tuberculosis. and
other diseases have fallen to the lot OF
Balkan Jews to an extent equal to that
suffered by their co-religionists IN
other war-tOrn countries, but that pO-
litical and religious repressive meas
ures have been lacking.
The first detailed account of the Sit
uation in Serbia in many months -
from DR.. Isaac Alcalay, chief rabbi OF
Serbia, with headquarters in Bel
grade. He said Belgrade was still
without regular communication with
the provinces, because the railroads
and bridges destroyed by the Austrians
have not been restored.
"During the war;" he wrote, -"Jews
in Belgrade suffered proportionately
more than the rest of the population.
Most of their habitations were exposed
ia gunfire throughout the 15 months
that the city was under bombardment.
Almost all homes are destroyed. The
Jewish population of the city. formerly
5000, now numbers no more than 4,5OO
The number is being increased daily
by returning refugees. Many men are
still with the cOlOrs.
Have Suffered Terribly.
Economically, the Serbian Jews
have suffered terribly. Because OF
the uncertain political situation, all
regular commerce is impossible, and 1t
is difficult for Jewish citizens to in-
prove their condition. This has de-
prived institutions Of financial ald
from the native population. Jewish
schools are totally destroyed and the
children cannot be educated.
"Such a situation is unfortunate. for
the war has brought us new duties.
The Jews Of old Serbia took very
active part in the Balkan wars and
In the world war. The years of fight
ing have deprived more than 400 fam
lilies of their bread winners. These
people have to be helped.
In Bulgaria, according to a report
from Miss Hetty Goldman of this city,
the condition of the Jews is some
what better than in Serbia. Poverty
is not so widespread, nor are health
conditions so bad. :.
The families Of Jewish residents re-
ceive allotments ranging from As to 70
1evas A month, according to the size
Of the family. Recently the maximum
was raised to 80 levas to meet the
rising cost of living. The pensions
will be continued for widows and or
phans.
bulgarian Jews are able to mest
the needs of their own poor. but they
have recently been confronted with
a new responsibility. Roumanian Jews
are seeking refuge In Bulgaria, and
their Bulgarian cO-religionists are at a
loss to know what to do with them.
There Is no work, even for skilled ar
tisans.
"A soup kitchen is being run for
these people Of Sophia, but many are
desperate. An allotment from our
American Jewish relief fund must be
| made to care for them"
In Roumania there is need Of cloth
ing and staple foods. It was Miss
| Goldman who made the investigation
in this country also.
Clothing Greatest Need.
"The people needed clothing above
everything else," her report reads
almost everybody is shabby, and
large percentage Of the poor are prac
tically without clothing. I went into
many homes where the inmates had or
mere rags or were huddled in tori
blankets of sacking.
"The second greatest need Is fol
staple foods. such as dry beans, peas
rice, vegetables, fats and the like
Such supplies as are to be had are solt
nt exorbitant prices. American Jew
ish relief committees should Sent
clothing and food for about $4,000 per
sons. Only if this is done will the.
have protection against the hardship
of next winter.
II was painfully impressed by tn
number of sick in R0umania. In Br
charest, out of Jewish population
$4,000 there was an average OF eigh
funerals day last winter. A larg
percentage of typhus cases in Buchs
rest and Jassy have been among Jew:
The lack of clothing, especially Q
clean underwear, has been a contrit
uting cause. The inability to obtai
fuel made families huddle In thel
rooms. Some did not 60 outside the
homes practically all winter"
Machinery for the effective distrib'
ton of relief in the Balkan countrie
is in operation. More than $4,000
worth of supplies, including sewers
tons of kosher meat, was sent fro
New York late in July to COnstanz
Roumania. The American Jewish r
lief committee, under the Chairman
ship of Louis Marshall, plans to CO.
tinue regular shipments Of this kir
to the Balkans and to Poland, Galici
Czecho-Sloyakia, and the other cou
tries.
For this purpose fund of $35,OO'
900 is being sought in the Unit
States this year.
On one trOOpship that came in