The Denver Jewish news., 1923-02-28

| OF the JOINT DiStflDutloH cOmmfttee
medical unit to combat plaques and ep:-
! denies, and teach the population sani-
tation and hygiene has resulted in n
reconciliation between the older and
younger generation. the assimiliatiOn-
lists. orthodox, nationalists and radicals,
as well as a sense of solidarity between
the Jews of Warsaw and those of the
annexed territory How this solidar.
| ity was effected on the platform OF
public health is told by Samuel
Schmidt, who has been in charge of the
Joint Distribution committees health
work in Poland for two years and has
just returned to this country
| 1t was quite obvious to the Jews of
Poland. says Mr.. Schmidt, even before
the arrival of the Joint Distribution
committees medical unit, that 1t would
be necessary not merely to rebuild the
| public bath houses wrecked during the
war. TO repair the hospitals and reopen
the dispensaries and clinics. but also to
develop among the people themselves
higher standard Of hygiene and sani-
tntion as IL means for improving public
health conditions. 1t was recognized
that such an undertaking was beyond
the capacity of the limited personnel of
the medical unit. and that the com
munities. as such. would have to he
organized for this purpose. Such or
ganization would have to extend to even
the smallest communities for campaigns
of education among the population.
The nucleus for this organization
were the "Bikur HOlim'' the ''Linath
Hnzetlck" and other local societies for
pre-war days these organizations knew
very little. if anything. of hygiene and
slaitaiiOn. They raised funds for
furnishing physicians and medicines to
the sick poor of the communities. out
lets for the philanthropic urge of the
people. In the general debaclc due to
the war they had ceased to function.
The first task was 10 rcOrsaniZe these
societies to inclHde young people will
ing To cooperate and TO equip them
with knowledge and materials for
of sanitation and hygiene.
Together with the older Jew of the
onc-time "Linath Hazelek'' the mem
bership was extended to include the
young pedegoguc. the educated artisan,
the daughters of middle-class families.
Courses in practical n,lrsing was insti-
tuted aud committees were selected TO
direct the cammisps for public health.
these committees. among other dunes
were made responsible for the money
which the communities were expected
TO contribute toward rebuilding hos
pitnls. etc. In short the communities
themselves undertook the task of Great
ing higher sanitary standards and i'm
proving health conditions. -
The Joint Distribution committee
supplied these committees not merely
with propaganda literature. disinfec-
tants and such. but also with the money
that it had allocated for the construc-
ton of the necessary institutions. con
ditioned OH the. community raising its
share of the cost. This condition was
always fulfilled. .-rr -,
The local organizations We're then
federated according to districts. with
a central committee. at conferences
called for the purpose. These confer
ences developed plans for, all of the
towns represented. distributed the mon
ey that was aIlocated by the Joint Dis
tribution committee. and determined
/, the sum each town must raise, and
gave the central organization the iieces
sary authority for effectins the pro
gram. Seven districts We're thus or
lganizcd covering all of Poland, and
the central committees We're made re
sponsible to the. Joint Distribution com
lmittee. .ias .ras ysi7r -pi % 9i-
But in order. TINT the sanitary effor'
should eventually become an independ
Ient action on the part of the Jcws %
Poland. II central organizations had IL
he set mp to deal directly with the sever
j district committees and assume ere
sponsibility for the entire progra m
Nurses training schools had to ip estab
lished. II propaganda bureau maintilin
cd N-ray stations equipped. all func
tioning, under the control of the centr,i
organization. Specialists and leadin;
medical authorities had to he drawn In
to- the work if it was to he effective
But the Leading physicians of Warsaw
for example. belong TO the assimilation
lists wing, holding themselves aloo
from Yiddish and especially from til
provincial jew who speaks no othc
| tpurlIp .... ...