Evening star., 1939-02-27
Problems Of Jewish
Refugees Taken Up
Al Two GATHERINGS
Benefit Concert Is Held;
Joint Distribution
Committee Meets

SOIIlt IISlIiUulIOu
Committee Meets
The problems of the Jewish
refugees were considered on two
fronts yesterday when a concert
was given at the National Press
Club last night to raise funds for
the refugees and the Middle Atlantic
region of the Jewish Joint Distribu-
ton Committee held an all-day
conference at the Mayflower Hotel
Sir Willmott Lewis. speaker at the
concert. which was sponsored by the
Progressive Womens Club. said the
Jewish problem was only part of
the refugee problem. which, in turn
would ultimately be part of the
emigration problem.
The problem cannot be solved
by individuals migrating to new
lands he declared. 1T must be
done by group settlement through
international cooperation.
He pointed out that the 10Th CEN
tury saw the largest movement of
peoples in history and the emigra-
ton of that period was coming to
an end, curtailed by immigra ton
laws here and in other countries.
Joseph c. Hyman Speaks.
The Jews of Central and Eastern
Europe are today living on faith.
Joseph c. Hyman, executive director
of the American Jewish Joint Dis
tribution Committee, declared yes
terday at the all-day conference at
the Mayfower Hotel.
Their faith, he explained, is in
the continuance of the sympathy
assistance and good will of all who
live in democratic lands.
Outlining the magnitude Of the
work of the committee, he pointed
out that large number of Chris
/ tan and non-sectarian organizations
had concerned themselves with the
problems of refugees. He explained
that the committee is cooperating
with the American Committee for
christian German Refugees, the
Committee for Catholic Refugees
the Quakers and all local organi-
| cations in America and abroad who
are trying to meet the situation.
Self-Help keynote.
"Self-help,' he said. has been the
kenyote of the Joint Distribution
Committees endeavors. In this ter
rlnle maelstrom young men and
| women of Germany and Austria
have been trained for agriculture
and manual arts.
we have made of them self-reli-
ant, competent workers who need
! not knock in vain at the doors of
the countries where they apply for
admission. Beyond the palliative aid
that is needed at the moment. we
look also to the rebuilding of thou
sands OF minds and lives, the reha-
bllltatlon of morale against all vicis-
situdes."
The problem facing the Joint Dis
trlbution Committee during 1899 is
threefold, he said. declaring it must
assist 100000 Jews in Germany and
Austria to survive, aid tens of thou
sands OF refugees from Germany
now dispersed throughout the world
and help millions of Jews in Poland
Czecho-Slovakia. Rumania, Latvia
Italy, Llthuania and other coun-
tries OF Eastern Europe to with.
stand the pressure of poverty and
persecution.
Other speakers at the conference
were Albert H. Lieberman of Phila-
oelphla, chairman of the Middle At
lantlc region; Paul Baerwald of New
York. chairman of the Joint Dis
trlbution Committee; William B
Ihalhimer of Richmond, Va. ma
tlonal co-chairman of the resettle-
ment division of the National Co.
ordlnating Committee; DR.. Solomon
Goldman of Chicago. co-chairman
OF the United Jewish Appeal for
Refugees and Overseas Needs: Isidor
Coons of New York, executive vice
chairman of the United Jewish Ap-
peal; Mrs. Lois Hollander Cole of
New York, national chairman of the
junior division of the Joint Distribu-
ton Committee; Kurt Peiser, execu-
| tive director of the PHILADELPHIA
Federation of Jewish Charities. and
Louis E. Spiegler of Washington,
Lieberman Reelected.
Mr.. Lieberman was elected to
serve another term as chairman of
the Middle Atlantic Region. Re-
elected with him as regional vice
chairmen were Judge Phillip For
man of Trenton, N. j.; Adolf L
Hamburger of Baltimore, Nd, and
Max Keil of Wilmington, Del. Nor
ris Simon of Washington was re-
named chairman of the Executive
Committee, and D. Arthur Maya
ziner of Philadelphia was reelected
secretary.
The conference voted to add three
areas to the region-Virginia, West
Virginia and Western PENNSYLVANIA
Elected regional vice chairmen from
these districts were Morton Waller
stein of Richmond, Frank A. Bae,
OF Charleston. w. Va, and Judge
Benjamin Lencher of Pittsburgh
Pa.
Mr.. Lieberman and Mr.. Simon