Evening star., 1933-11-08
SPECIAL Gift UNIT
OPENS CHEST DRIVE
FOLLOWING RALLY
Rabbi Israel and Frank ].
Hogan Plead for United
Welfare Effort.
FIGHT MUST NOT FAIL
is KEYNOTE OF SPEECHES
Eyes of Nation on Washington's
Campaign to Raise $1,945,000
Fund.


larger gifts of the community, which
amount to nearly one-half the amount
raised by the Chest
zoo Applaud Speakers.
The 200 persons preser. at last nights
meeting applauded to the echo the talks
Of Rabbi Israel and Mr.. Hogan Rabbi
Israel of the Har Sinai CONGREGATION
of Baltimore, discussed the influence of
social work and its relation to the up
building of the country. in general
way, while Mr.. Hogan cited concrete
reasons why the Chest campaign in
Washington must not fail this year.
Rabbi Israel, who made the principal
address, declared the eyes of the Ma
ton are always upon Washington and
the morale of the entire country de-
pends upon what goes on here.
II feel that the Community Chest
and organized social work has come
into new role Rabbi Israel said.
Its functions are no longer merely
to care for the needs of the poor, but
1t has become constituent part of
democracy
1T is not necessary for me to pic
ture the needs that have been multi
piled in the stress of recent years. But
l do want to say that we now face a
crisis nationally that is a greater emer-
gency than war, and in that emergency
the Community Chest is means of
maintaining social stability, without
which democracy cannot survive. It is
through organized social service that
we must establish background for re-
construction and through which suffer-
ing must be alleviated
Urges Need of Chest.
I'VE all know" he continued, "that
there has been set in motion a certain
amount of Government relief, but the
Government cannot begin to do the en-
tire job I want to remind you that
when the Government went out into
the field with relief for the needy and
suffering, it had to look to the social
worker for the success of its efforts.
II there had been no Community
Chests, that Government aid would
have been impossible. Remember that
there is a great field the Government
cannot reach
Rabbi Israel cited several activities
of the Community Chest untouched by
Government aid-homes for the indi-
gent aged, for crippled children, for
orphans, and the many character
building agencies maintained by the
Chest. He scorned a continuance of
Government relief and its probable per-
manent consequences.
II we want to build a permanent
life" he said I'VE must look not to
Government aid, but to social service
1t is through properly-organized social
service that We can halt the dangers
of drifting into Fascism or Commu-
nism"
Health, he added, is significant part
OF the Community Chest program He
cited cases of need in which families
In remote cases have been driven tc
digging roots to provide tea for their
only food
Calls Health Vital.
'You can't build democracy on un-
dernourished bodies he declared.
Without health and healthy children
there is no hope for the future. But
the problem we are facing Is not mere
ly a matter of bread, but the heart and
fiber of society"
To social agencies supported by the
Community Chests of the Nation lie
attributed the holding down of the in
crease in crime during the years Of
depression.
Rabbi Israel also cited the threat to
the American home growing out of the
extreme situation of the increase in
human need and suffering.
Democracy" he said, lis based upon
the soundness of family life. If that
fails, then democracy totters. This
menace TO the home means not only
human misery, but 1t is a challenge
to civilization. We must look to the
Community Chest to maintain the
American home"
Character building agencies, he con-
tinued, are needed today more than
ever before. He cited the shortening
of work hours under the national re-
covery program and the resultant in
crease in leisure
Leisure Time Problem.
"This generation and the coming
generation face a greater problem than
ever man faced in solving the problem
of how to employ leisure time. In
face of the solution of our economic
problems. we must provide for this
directed or undirected human time. No
society can endure unless the people
are occupied.
Food is primary. Health is basic
Equally primary and basic are. the
people on conscientiously directed lines
For what is the use OF saving a life un-
less we can use that life usefully?
We are not class given another
class to save But upon the success
of our program your home and my
home depends. That alone is enough
to motivate us. To stabilize morale
through the Community Chest is as
great service to the Nation as any
soldier ever performed on battlefield
Preceding Rabbi Israel's address. Mr..
Hogan described recent tour he made
of the agencies maintained by the
Chest and told of good being done,
particularly among children.
II am not here" he said, ''to point
to difficulties, but to point to necessity.
We all know that during the depres-
sion wages have been reduced, Jobs
have been reduced. but there has been
no reduction in the orphans and the
needy. The depression has but in
creased these We are under the OBJ
legation and have the privilege of shar-
ing what we have. To call this
challenge is not appropriate in refer
ring to suffering humanity I know
that you will hear and you will heed.
Mr. Thorn. chairman of the special
gifts unit, presided as toastmaster. In