THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

VOL VII. NO. 14.

WHAT AMERICAN AID HAS
ACCOMPLISHED FOR POLAND

By Captain Frederick G. Johnson
of the American Red Cross Commission to Poland.

T

HE immediate future of Poland's
starving population depends di-
rectly on the interest and help of
outside nations until national condi-
tions can be improved materially.
l'oland is doing all that she can for
her people, but her present resources
do not begin to meet the need. Until
the new nation gets on her feet, it is
the solemn obligation of American re-
lief organizations to keep up their
splendid efforts without relaxation.
1 have visited desolate communities
in the Department of the East, that
vast stretch of barren country lying
east of the River Bug, whose people
were literally saved from extinction
through the vigorous ministration of
these relief organizations. The amount
of humanitarian good that American
effort and American money can do in
Poland is limited only by the extent
of American generosity. There seems
no limit to the field to be covered.
In Novogrodek, for instance, that
was perhaps harder hit by famine and
want than any other single commun-
ity in the Department of the East, the
combined efforts of the American Re-
lief Administration, the American Reel
Cross and the American Jewish Re-
lief agencies resulted not only in
the distribution of a vast amount of
purely emergency relief, in the form
of food and clothing, but also in the
establishment of a number of perma•
vent institutions that were vitally
needed.
Before the Americans got to Novo-
grodek, the people of that town and
the surrounding country were in a
condition pitiable beyond description.
They were dying of hunger and dis-
ease. Particularly sad was the plight
of the little children and the old peo•
pie without families. Local effort
brought little result in getting homes
of even the crudest sort established,
for the inhabitants had absolutely
nothing to work with.
he•combined effort of the Ameri-
can relief organizations soon affected
a change. Orphanages' and old peo-
ple's homes were quickly. started,
with not only a decent shelter for
these homeless and helpless people,
but beds with blankets and service-
able clothing to take the place of their
vermin-infested rags, and food in at
least sufficient quantities to keep body
and soul together.
The smaller children. many of them
for the first time in their lives, got
real milk to drink—condensed milk,
it is true, but sweet and clean from
great American canneries, and con-
taining the nourishment that they hail
lacked so utterly. The aged found
asylums of rest and comfort, where
they might regain some portion of
their strength, or at least pass the
rest of their years in escape from the
nightmare of existence that had long
haunted them. And there were hos-
pitals to check the awful inroads of
the dreaded typhus.
Novogrodek now has its Jewish
old folk's home and another for the
aged aud indignent Christians. Or-
phanages for both creeds it has like-
wise, and schools too. For the first
time in the history of the country
children can go to school, freed at
last front the merciless domination of
unrelenting Russian rule, and learn
the things that the former govern-
ment forbade.
Every day there may be seen a
long line of eager children flocking
toward one of the children's kitchens
which were established out there by
the American Relief Administration
and the Joint Distribution Commit-
tee. At another similar kitchen, where
the food is all strictly kesher, the
Jewish children of the community are
able to get nourishing American food.
prepared in compliance with their re-
ligious laws.
Not only through such institutions
as these is American help going to the
people in this desolate region. Fre-
quent distribution trips were made to
remote sections, and food and cloth-
ing given to persons whose plight
was the most desperate. And through
the Red Cross field unit at Novo-
grodek, food supplies bought and sent
into the country by the Red Cross
and the Jewish Relief Committee were
given to all the needy peasants who
came and asked.
Novogrodek still seems desolate
enough, for there is practically no
trade, no industry, because no raw
materials can be brought into the
country until transporation conditions
are improved. And it is literally true,
furthermore, that relatively few of the
people are strong enough to do a
day s work. That is what under-
nourishment and exposure has done
to a once sturdy community.

■

But to anyone who saw I lovogrodeic
before the American came, and saw it
gradually "come back" under Ameri-
can treatment, the change for the bet-
ter is astounding. .And it is an inspir-
ation to all those over there who are
working, with limited resources and
against all manner of natural obsta-
cles, to help Poland save her people
during a critical
o peri d. For we
could actually see what was being ac-
complished, and we knew that it was
immensely worth while.
This is simply representative of
what American effort is accomplish-
ing all over Poland—at Bereza-Ear-
tuska, at Kobryn, at Pinsk, at Brest-
Litowsk, at Baranowicze and other
points in the Department of the East,
and to the south in Galicia—where-
ever the need is found to be of the
greatest.

Particularly noticeable and gratify-
ing is the effort of the American re-
lief bodies in Poland to help provide
useful and productive occupation of
the people. At Kobryn, for instance,
they are specializing on the produc-
tion of children's clothing, using odds
and ends of pieces of material that
are occasionally found in hales of refu-
gee clothing from America. For Po-
land lack raw materials.
A sewing establishment for the
needy women of the community is
rapidly growing, where the native
needlewomen are helped to support

themselves and families, at the same long as disease and anarchy arc rain- NEW YORK REFORM

d. "Create agencies to reach the

time aiding in the problem of cloth- pant to the east. And at present it
Jews who are unaffiliated with the
Mg the school children and orphans is one of the vital duties of American RABBIS ORGANIZE Synagog and promote the r bservance
of the coninumity, who have long relief agencies in Poland to help the
of Judaism in the home.
gone in rags. The Jewish women sew Polish government get food, clothing
C. "Co-operate with on anitations
for the needy children of their own and medical and hospital supplies that New York—A movement has been of social service and do r itch other
faith. The workers are paid in cloth- are available at present through no under way for several months past work as from time to time may seem ...-
ing and food, which is more in de- other source. lipmanity demands to organize the ministers of the Re . advisable."
wand than money in Eastern Poland, that this work of the Americans go form
congregations in the Isie-W York The officers of the associ ation are:
where there is so little to be bought. on.
metropolitan district, that is New Rabbi Joseph Silverman, N ew York
York City and vicinity, which has City, President; Rabbi Sam uel Schul-
In Bereza•Kartuska I talked with
resulted in the forming of an ass's- man. New York City, Vice- President;
an aged Jewish carpenter who was PREMIER CARL HUSZAR
ciation which has now thirty-four Rabbi Jacob Tarshish, Yc nkers, N.
employed by American Jewish Relief
OF
HUNGARY,
SAYS
JEWS
members. The purposes of the or- Y-, Treasurer; Rabbi Ri c hard M.
agencies to make little tables. benches
ganization, which is to be known as Stern, New Rochelle, N. Y., Secre-
and desks for an orphange which was
HAVE
DONE
THEIR
DUTY
the "Association of Reform Rabbis tart'.
being expanded and being moved
•
of New York," adopted at a recent
into an old Russian barracks. With
NOTED BRITLSH JEWI H
the crudest wood-working tools I have Budapest.—Premier Carl Huszar meeting, are as follows: .
ever seen he was turning out furni• recently delivered an address in ',The purpose shall be to strengthen ATHLETE APPOINT AS
tore that sae artistic as well as which he urged the cause of relief for and deepen loyalty to the Jewish
JUDGE IN MESON r AMIA
sturdy. I could see in his work the the war sufferers. He declared that faith, to quicken the spiritual life of
expression of an affection for the un- the relief committee had already se- Israel, to increase reverence for vital
happy children, and of his desire to cured 14,000.000 kronen. but that much Jewish tradition, by stimulating the London.—Mr. Sidney S. Abrahams
help to the best of his ability in the more was needed. Here a member of observance of the Sabbath and the has been appointed to a ju d geship in
ce shouted out, "Get, it Holy Days to the utmost of our pow- the Civil Administration ol Mesopo-
fine work of saving the child popu• the audience
lation from extinction. They are all from the Jews!"
er by increasing the participation of tamia, and will sail for Dot bay. He
doing what they can over there in The Premier replied that this was our people in congregational worship, was appointed Town M ap istrate in
Poland, and they fully appreciate our not a question of religious belief by fostering a love of our great liter. the Zanzibar Protectorate in May,
when one is hungry, it makes no dif- ary heritage, by insisting upon the 1915, and transferred to the East
friendliness and our help.
Protectorate as Cro wn Conn-
Another problem that is trying ference whether he is a Jew or a indispensableness of religious educa-
every resource of Poland and of the Christian; he must be assisted. If lion to the formation of Jewish char sel in November of last 3 ear. Mr.
any
one,
in
these
times.
is
living
in
acter and the perpetuation of Juda- Abrahams was educated a t Bedford
American relief organizations as well,
Modern School and Emm a nuel Col-
is that of the refugees. Many, per- too great luxury, he is to be con- ism."
haps two million of those who fled to demised whether he be Jew or Chris- "In order to achieve the objects of lege, Cambridge, and was called to
"Here,
there
is
no
question
of
tiara.
the Bar in 1909. He is a din tinguished
Russia before the German invasion
association, it shall:
have yet to come hack. And they party. All must give—all must help." this
and is the second of four
a. "Strength en the fraternal rely I athlete,
have been living under such horrible Again the man in the audience in- tieing
sons
of Mr. Isaac Abrahal s, all of
among
its
members
and
it
from
the
with
"Take
terrupted
conditions that each is a potential
whom have been remarkabt success-
b. "Promote co-operation among ful
menace to the population of the home Jews!" This time the Premier an- Reform
at track athletics. M r . S. S.
congregations,
country.
swered the man directly:
Abrahams represented Cambridge
"I
don't
know,
sir,"
lie
said,
"how
c. "Improve and unify the work of University in the hundred y ards and
To keep out typhus and other east-
ern disease plagues, and to prevent much you have contributed to the re- Jewish religious schools and provide long jump, won the long ju i mp Arna-
the introduction of lawless trouble- lief committee: but I do know that for such co-operation as shall raise teur Championship, and re presented
makers, a cordon along the whole those whom you insult have honor- the standard of teaching in the England at the Olympic games in
eastern border most he maintained as ably discharged their duties in this schools.
Athens and Stockholm.

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ootprints
or S'prhy 1920

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There are many styles—and every style is di -,tinc-
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Announcing

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•

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SECTION TWO

DETROIT, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY, MARCH 5TH, 1920

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