The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-10
New Era of Horror Makes Tragic
Chapter in History of the Jews

All the Jews of America had to act
together, and at once, If their race
was to he saved. The orthodox Jews
were the first to call conference on
the subject From congregations all
over America they came to great
meeting in New York, on October 4.
1914. At this meeting the Central
committee for the Relief OF Jews
Suffering from the war was created.
It's membership was chiefly Of the
orthodox group.
The orthodox Jews were hardly or
ganized for relief before the business
men followed their example, On Oc-
tober %, 1914, a committee represent
ing American Jewry all over the
United states met for a conference in
New Aork. The American Jewish Re-
lief committee was organized at this
meeting, with Louis Marshall as pres-
dent. cyrtts l.. Sutzberrer as secretary,
and Felix NJ. Warhurg as treasurer.
Local committees were created at once
in every city of the United States hav-
ing "A considerable number of Jews.
and the work Of collecting funds for
the starving Jews of eastern Europe
being in earnest. Up to July |, 1919.
Inc American Jewish relief committee
had -rrissd II greater portion of the
$50 100000 given for relief This COM
mittee Is made up of business men,
bankers, professional men and has on
its list such representative Americans
as Mr.. Marshall. Henry Morgenthau,
Nathan Straus. Jacob II. Schiff. Felix
NJ, Warburg. Abram l. Elkus, and
other leaders. lis director is Henry
II, Rosenfelt. of New York, a former
resident of Kansas City, Mo.
Still one other organization. the
Jewish Peoples Relief committee,
which represents the industrial and
socialistic Jews of the United States.
came into being in August, 1915. These
three committees are equally repre-
scented on the Joint Distribution com
mittee OF American funds for Jewish
War Sufferers under the Craftsmanship
of Mr. Warburg. This later organiza-
ton is the centrN1ized distributing
agency. the three constituent commit
tees work through local committees
in every part OF the country, and are
In touch with the Jews in about 1900
places, and in every state in the union
as we'll as Cuba, Canada, Newfound-
land, South America, Hawaii and the
West Indies,
But these past achievements OF
American Jewry are now matters OF
history, as also are the facts that
American Jewish Relief agencies sent
commissions in the fall of last year
% look into the conditions in-Poland,
Palestine. CZecho -Slovakia. Lithuania.
Rumania. the Balkans, Siberia, and
he Orient. and that they have already
spent more than sac 10000 on relief
work in those lands, of which about
$4,000 900 has been disbursed since
january l, 1919. The American Jew
ish Relief committee is asking $35.-
COO, 600 OF the American public this
year to carry on the activities in east
ern Europe for another year and it
Is only fair that the American public
should know what they mean to do
with it,
They are greatly increasing expendi-
lures in Poland, of which DR.. II. T..
Davis. of Chicago, "a major in the
merican Red Cross commission. said.
1T In a purgatory, and in it human
beings are suffering unreliable hor-
rors." Although American Jewish Re-
lief agencies are spending $1,000. 900
"A month there, this sum Is less than
a cent a day for each needy Jew in
who are in need of food are receiving
who are in need of fod are receiving
l., and more soup kitchens and milk
stations are being opened every month.
At present there are thirty in War
saw, and "A corresponding number in
every large city in Poland. yet men,
W omen and children stand for hours
in line to get food. Fifty-nve thou
sa I'D fugitives in Poland are cared for
in Jewish hospitals which would be
al most entirely without medicines,
doctors food, bed-linens and clothing.
al kept in operation by American
Je wish funds.
The war has $4,000 or more orphans
in the countries Of eastern Europe.
The future Of these Jewish children is
one of the biggest after-the-w war prob
lens of the present time. American
Jewish Relief agencies open institu-
tions for these children, get them into
homes. or see that they are kept In
comfort with their parents, in the case
where fathers or mothers are still liv-
ing.
Shipments of food and clothing to
the stricken countries of Europe are
increasing. The Westward Ho" has
made two trips to Danzig with up
ward OF 100000 worth OF supplies
on each voyage. Several other ships
have carried in the past few weeks
cargoes OF Jewish supplies. and goods
are also sent from Paris the European
headquarters.
Palestine and Rumania, far apart In
miles, are alike In cessation of all bust
ness since the beginning Of the war.
Orphanages, hospitals and institutions
for the old, a. well as a vast amount