The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-02

Boston, MaSS,, rtU, AV hS't meet the problems of refugees ana distressed Jews in European lands, ssWhich today are more complicated than at any time in modern his- tory." more than 700 representatives of 100 New England Jewish com rnunities have organized New England Region of the American Jewish Joint Distribution committee, chief American agency for aid to distressed Jews overseas, and named Louis E, Kirstein, noted Boston merchant and philanthropist, head of the Regional organization, Elect ed co-chairmen with Mir. Kirstein were Israel Bernstein, Portland. Maine; Bernhart E, Hoffman oi New Haven, Conn; F. Frank Voren- berg and Samuel Markell Of BoS- ton: Archibald Silverman, Provl- dence, R. l.; and Sam Steinfield, Claremont, N, H.
 Striking the keynote of the all day conference which was held at the Hotel Somerset, Rabbi Jonah B. wise. national fund-raising chair man of the Joint Distribution Com mittee, declared that i've cannot per. init any single Jew to die because ot the lack of food, because of the lack of shelter and because of the lack of sympathy from his fellow-Jews' and MT, Kirstein emphasized that "this is a problem of all decent hu- man beings who believe in dignity and in freedom of the individual and in democratic way Of living We are interested as Americans to see that democracy continues, ana that we shall continue to enjoy the rights of democracy"
 fn his address Dr. Wise asserted; "Catastrophes are piling up on the world and the ability of the world to meet them Is being severely strained. A million refugees are forcing their way into France rom war-torn Spain. Thousands or people are dead in Chile, and thousands and thousands more are fleeing from famine and disease, The world needs 0 program ot humane cooperation with those who are the victims of human ana natural disasters. These are strange times, and these are trying times The Jews are fellow-sufferers with all other peoples who have 0 moral commitment to liberty. The Joint Distribution Committee is trying to discipline Jewish resistance to ty' ranny and injustice,
 we propose that Jews shall help their own group unstintingly, and shall extend that help to others who are suffering from the same or similar causes. We are cooper ating with the American Commit tea for Christian Refugees, the Catholic Committee for German Refugees, with the Quakers and with all local organizations in Amer lea and abroad, who are trying to meet this situation"
 Outlining the magnitude Of the work of the Joint Distribution Com. mittee, Joseph c. Hyman, executive director, pointed out that large number of Christian men and Chris tan and non-sectarian organiza- tions had concerned themselves With the problems of the refugees, "It hes been heartening," he declared, "te work closely with and frequent- ly to give assistance to non-secter- ian and Christian refugee agencies in this country and abroad"
 "The 3-fold problem facing the Joint Distribution Committee dur- ing 1889 Is to assist 500,000 Jews in Germany and Austria to survive; to aid tens Of thousands of refugees of Germany new dispersed through out the world; and to assist millions, Of Jews in Poland, ho.Slovakfa, Rumania, Latvia, Lithuanian Italy, and other countries of Eastern Eu- rope to withstand the pressure of poverty and persecution. To foresee the activities and the budgetary rec quirements of the Joint Distribution Committee in sense means Co fore- cast world history" Mir, Hyman concluded.
 The fund.raising activities of the fe3o United Jewish Appeal for Refugees and overseas Needs were outlined by Isidor Coons who de- ciared: If the national fund-rais- 1ng campaign to be conducted by the Joint Distribution committed In conjunction with the United Jewish Appeal and the National Coordin- ating committee Is to succeed in fo30. it will be necessary for the Jewish people of every city, town, and hamlet in New England to sup- port this effect with unprecedented generosity" Continuing, MT. Coons NlVYrAInnDTJIAII