The Denver Jewish news., 1925-10-01
CHIEF RABBI PLEADS
FOR RUSSIAN
COLONIZATION
Dr. Maze. Of Moscow Warns Opposition
to Jewish Colonization Means Trifiing
with Lives Of Thousands.


cow. warns those who oppose the plan
To settle Jews ~ farmers on the Rus.
sinn prairie that they are triiling with
the lives Of thousands of men, women
and children whose only hope lies IN the
success of the United Jewish Campaign
for S15,0OO.oO0.
Rabbi Maze's warning was issued
during an interview had with him in
Berlin by Rabbi Aaron Teitelbnum.
Secretary Of the Central Relief Com
mittec. which Is one of the three great
Jewish relief committees cooperating
with David A. Brown. chairman Of the
United Jewish Campaign.
The success of the Sl5.0OO0OO cam.
paign Is a matter of life and death for
the Jews of Russia declared Rabbi
Maze to Rabbi Teitelbaum, in response
to the latter's question regarding his
attitude and that of other Russian Jew
ish leaders toward the project
"Thc Jews of America should Try to
understand the situation of the Jews in
Russia" Rabbi Maze continued. 'Un.
doubtedly DR.. Rosen. who is thoroughly
familiar with conditions. has given
American .Iewry some idea of what Is
transpirine. But no matter what he
has reported, it is impossible, at dis
tance. to visualize the dreadful plight
of thousands of families that before the
ury and now live in the utmost misery,
without the least possibility OF return
ing to normal existence. whose condi-
tion. dreadful as 1t is already, is be-
coming more desperate with every pass.
ing day.
Tens of thousands of families,
whose breadwinners were small mcr.
chants and artisans are ready to go on
the land. as farmers, II they can be as
sured that the Joint Distribution Com
mittee will begin to function again and
Dr. Rosen be given the means with
which to carry ont his plans.
1T is absurd to say thnt the Jews on
the land are unsafe continued Rabbi
Maze. though 1t is. obviously, impos-
sible for me or anyone else to guaran.
tee their absolute security. The point
is. that there are no indications OF trou-
hle in Russia and there is no ground
for relieving that there is likelihood
Of political change. Therefore. there is
ro basis for the fears that have been
expressed by some American Jews.
Farming is. after all, no new idea
for the Jews of Russia. The urge to-
for many years, even when there were
no possibilities in that direction. But
now, when the government is freely dis
tributing land and the Jews have the
opportunity to carry out this aspra-
tiOn, it is quite natural that thousands
of Jewish families should seek to take
advantage of 1t.
II say to you with complete frank
ness" Rabbi Maze said, that we are
unable to understand how responsible
individuals, loyal Jews undoubtedly,
can permit themselves to utter words
and phrases designed to weaken tho
new effort to raise funds for the Joint
Distribution Committees work. To MS.
al, Of pns.in thnir pnnnsittnn
means simply that they are being
frivolous with the lives of tens OF
thousands of Jewish families whom
fate has transformed into pitIful sup
plicants for outside help"
Besides support for the "back-to-the'
soil" movement. Rabbi Maze expressed
the hope to Rabbi Teitclbaum that the
Jews of America would not forget that
there are thousands of Jewish orphans
in Russia who depend on them for their
very lives. and that there are thousands
of Jewish families who will not be able
TO join the pioneers on the prairies. but
who, nevertheless, must be helped to
continue living. and that American
Jewry will act promptly for all their
Sakes.
SAY to the Jews of America he
said, "that the Jews of Moscow, kieff,
Charkev and the hundreds of other
Russian towns, who turn to them for
help are no 'schnorrers.' Convey to
our brethren across the ocean my deep.
est gratitude on behalf of those who,
in happier time, were generous CON
tributors TO charity and now have the
anguish of being themselves recipients
of charity"
The interview with Rabbi Maze, dis
tinguished son and successor of the late
Rabbi Jacob Maze, who, during his
lifetime, was Russia's outstanding jew,
by Rabbi Teitelbaum was had in the
presence of DR.. Oleshewsky, Rabbi of
Kieff. and Isaac Neiditch, well known
Russian Zionist leaders.