6

April 7, 1944

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

PILLAR OF FIRE

By CHARLES A. RIEGELMAN
President, National Refugee Service, Inc.

Once again Passover is ob-
served in the midst of world suf-
fering. Today, 10 years after the
rise of Hitler, Europe has become
an armed camp in which millions
of our people, like Pharaoh's
slaves, are the victims of tyranny.
More than half the Jews of Eu-
rope have been destroyed and
as defeat draws nearer for their
persecutors, the tide of slaughter
gathers momentum. In many
parts of the continent where
proud Jewish communities once
flourished, not a single Jew re-
mains.
But there is not a thoughtful
person in America today who
does not see rays of light emerg-
ing from the darkness. We realize
that this Passover is in many
ways more significant than any
since Hitler's rise. A year ago
the situation for Jews seemed
almost hopeless. Today there is
a new upsurge of hope.
The United Nations armies are
advancing. One Nazi stronghold
after another is being destroyed.
It is generally believed that the
war in Europe is about to enter
its final phase. Plans for the
peace to come are already under
consideration. Before we cele-
brate another Passover, great
numbers of liberated Jews may
be enjoying the rights of free-
dom, living as free individuals
in a free world.
When Moses led his people
through the wilderness and
looked for guidance, the Lord

sent a pillar of fire to light their
way. The flaming beacon and the
knowledge of God's divine guid-
ance enabled Moses to lead his
people out of the darkness of
Egypt into the Promised Land.
That is the message of the Hag-
addah and the hope of world
Jewry for deliverance.
In the 10 years since the rise
of Hitler, millions of European
Jews have looked to America to
guide them through the dark-
ness, and American Jews have
extended their aid through the
United Jewish Appeal for Refu-
gees, Overseas Needs and Pal-
estine. The flaming torch in the
hands of the Statue of Liberty
holds out hope, as the flaming
pillar of fire brought a promise
of redemption to the ancient Is-
raelites. Of the unhappy mil-
lions in Europe, sonic 212,000
succeeded in reaching America.
The organized program of refu-
gee aid in the United States
grew up to meet desperate needs
of these people. The program
stemmed from the natural hu-
manitarian impulses of American
Jews to help their suffering
brethren and the time-honored
American tradition of giving asy-
lum to the oppressed.
The continued influx of refu-
gees brought the need for co-
ordinated effort among organiza-
tions engaged in helping them.
Five years ago the program of
refugee aid was concentrated in
the hands of the National Refu-

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Established 1898

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gee Service. That year, 1939, open Ameica's doors for others sources of the agency and its
cooperating committees are a l_
brought a new climax in the grim who still may come.
Since the beginning of our ready being marshalled for the
history of Nazi persecution and
in the active measures put into history, men and women have tremendous tasks that must still
effect for refugee relief in the been drawn to America because be faced. The NRS program in-
United States. Now, as NRS it held out hope for freedom cludes three particularly import.
plisses its fifth anniversary, the from oppression — religious, po- ant new projects, to be under-
program of refugee aid has litical, economic or social. These taken in cooperation with other
proved itself. For refugees in people did not become fell-ad- leading organizations and groups
this country, the promise of lib- justed Americans merely by in the field of immigration and
eration implicit in the Passover crossing the ocean. The process refugee aid.
One of these projects is a
was once slow and difficult. Fre-
observance has been fulfilled.
With so many millions of Jews quently it took a generation or scientific study of the adjust-
still in bondage, the rehabilitation more. Newcomers had to grope ment of refugees in the United
of 212,000 may seem a drop in in order to find adjustment. States during the past decade.
the bucket. But there is more to There was no sustained guidance It is expected that the experi-
ences of NRS in the
w ill
the story than any mere statis- and aid to meet their needs.
The present refugee aid pro- furnish information that past t hate
tics can tell. The refugees who
have reached America represent gram, now centered in NRS, is an important bearing on the aid
the vanguard in today's march the first completely rounded and and adjustment of refugees now
from tyranny to liberation. They integrated program for provid- in this country and those who
bring hope to the persecuted ing this kind of assistance in will find asylum here in the fu-
minorities of Europe that future the history of American immigra- ture.
Plans are also under way to
Passover celebrations will hold tion. Its success is evidenced by
less sorrow and more of the spirit the fact that during a period of continue the work of ascertain-
of festivity.
world upheaval and group ha- ing the whereabouts of refugees
If the work of refugee assist- treds, America has successfully overseas and putting them in
ance in America had meant only absorbed 270,000 refugees of all touch with their relatives and
the fulfillment of a humanitar- nationalities and creeds in the friends in this country with a
ian obligation, there would be United States. They have been view to their eventual reunion.
reason enough for American Jews able to make their way with a The need for this service is grow-
ing as more and more refugees
to be proud of their achieve- minimum of fraction.
ments. If it had accomplished
It is now clearly the responsi- are liberated by the progress of
the sole aim of serving America bility of NRS to use the experi- the Allied armies into Nazi-held
by helping the newcomers to ad- ence of the past to help solve the lands. Perhaps next year many
just quickly and do their share problems of the future. The Na- of them will he able to celebrate!
in the war effort, it would have tional Refugee Service, which is Passover with their families here.
As a part of its regular serv-
justified continued support. If it a constituent organization with
had done nothing more than to the Joint Distribution Committee ices NRS has long been gather-
strengthen and maintain Amer- and United Palestine Appeal in ing the names of refugees who
ica's tradition of hospitality, it the unified campaign of the are being sought and the per-
would be entitled to the plaudits United Jewish Appeal, is prepar-
of Americans. All this has been ing for that future. The re-
See PILLAR—Page 11
achieved—and more. A pattern
has been set for the future
the fiery pillar of hope burns
brighter for those who still look
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY PASSOVER
to America for rescue and for
reunion with their loved ones.
As President Roosevelt said in
his recent letter to NRS:
"I know that the National Ref-
COMPLETE OFFICE OUTFITTERS
ugee Service is responsible in
large measure for the success-
NATE BALABAN —.SOL ALLEN BALABAN
ful program of aid to new Amer-
icans . . . You will recall that
MORRY WASSERMAN
HERBERT KLEIN
three years ago I suggested that
BILL LEONARD
the program of the NRS might
provide a model of constructive
absorption of immigrants into
RA. 8030
6th Floor Vernor Bldg. — 19 W. Woodbridge St.
American life. The record of ac-
complishment, under stress of
war conditions, has confirmed
that view. It is heartening to
know that 'due to the efforts of
BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY PASSOVER
high-minded men and women, our
country is prepared to continue
the well-conceived and effective
program for aiding newcomers
to fulfill their hope of becoming
BRUNSWICK-BALKE-COLLENDER
good Americans."
How can this be accomplished?
Obviously any comprehensive plan
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for rescue and relief of the mil-
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lions must take into account the
possibilities of the United States
as a haven. The work of the
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NRS, cooperating with local
agencies, in the adjustment of
refugees has demonstrated how
good a job can be done. It has
provided the most effective kind
of testimony in favor of giving
PASSOVER GREETINGS TO ALL!
haven to thousands who have
reached here and of keeping

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PASSOVER GREETINGS TO ALL!

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