The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-20

SeAA3AAAE pressure to drive Jews from their homes in European lands makes es- sential more determined action by American Jews to provide new homes for Q maximum number in Palestine, 1t is declared by pr. stephen s. Wise, in Q Jewish New Year message which he issued yes- terday to Jewish leaders throughout the United States, in appealing for concerted drives on behalf of the United Palestine Appeal, of which he is national chairman, during the high holiday period which opened Wednesday, September 18th.
 Commenting upon an extended visit to Europe, from which he re- turned last week. pr. Wise describ- ed the conditions for Jews as grow- ing constantly worse and said: Surely not one of us can believe that the land of hate which has been lifted up against our people abroad is intended for them alone"
 Synagogues were asked by pr. Wise to use their pudpits during the holidays for Q review Of the deterioration of the Jewish position during the past year and to empha- size the possibilities for establish ing perbanent future for Q large number of persecuted Jews through settlement in Palestine. American Jewish cooperation with that pro- gram, Dr. Wise pointed out, Is ex- tended through the United Pales- tine appeal, now seeking $3,500, ,000 for the settlement of @ maximum number of Jews of Germany, Po- land and other lands.
 In his new year message, pr. Wise said: T have just returned from Europe.
 Fear Evident
 "No one who contents himself merely with reading the stories of Jewish conditions abroad can truly comprehend the extent of the cat- astrophe that has shaken people Tn millions of hearts there is feai that we cannot possibly imagine in millions of homes there is des' pair that is beyond our power tt | describe.
 "For several years now famous writers and brilliant speakers have described these conditions to us But despite these first-hand reports and these accurate accounts, we ir America have truly failed in out duty--both as Jews and as human beings.
 "Why have we failed? It seems to me that this question will press upon our conscience now when each searches his heart to weigh his life during the past year.
 "Surely not one of us can be- lieve that the hand of hate which has been lifted up against our peo- pie abroad is intended for them alone. We have heard from the Nazi leaders themselves that their mission is to spread throughout the world their creed of destruction against the Jew. The effect of their ruthless propaganda is already visible in Q number of European coupntries.
 "The pressure to drive Jews from their homes grows steadily greater in all too many lands. The Polisf government has officially indicated that 1t would like @ million Jews to leave its borders. The dissolu- ton of the Jewish community in Germany is proceeding swiftly un- der the sledge-hammer blows of Nazi political, economic and social oppression. Elsewhere, too, Jews long for @ release from the ominous at- mosphere in which they live. Per- sistent and earnest efforts have been made to find new homes for a maximum number of these people. But unfortunately, the new havens of refuge are not to be found. A number of countries have permitted a few thousand to enter their borders, but have already inc dicated that the limit has been reacher.
 Tn the lis' t of this new urge for migration, Palestine assumes ever greater importance. Already 100000 Jews have found @ home in which, despite all difflculties--temporary or otherwise--they look forward to Q culture and an economy which is permanently their own and from which they will not permit them selves to be busted. For this is the Jewish National home. solemnly guaranteed to the Jewish people by international covenant.
 Hundreds of thousands of Jews in Germany, Poland and elsewhere, long for settlement in Palestine not only because they seek security but because they need the inner peace and tranquility which is as- sured to them in Palestine. If we have Q feeling of responsibility to these Jews, If we want truly to save them from the extermination with which they threatened, we must give heed to their own pleas and their own wishes: we must held to send them to Palestinel
 Far From Goal
 "As national chairman of the United Palestine appeal, 1t has been the source of deepest regret that although our quota for 1886 Is s.. 5OO,O00 we have not yet reached anywhere near that goal.
 Tt is incredible to think that among the almost 5,000,000 Jews in the United States there is not sufficient understanding of the gray. ity of the problem that faces US. I recall that during the war and in postwar years American Jewry acted with singular loyalty and de- yotion to their suffering people abroad. What confronts our people today is far more hazardous, far mere destructive than anything that occurred in the heart of mill