The Allied Jewish Campaign and the UJA
United Jewish Appeal's Dramatic 25 Years
IN THE MIDST of a great campaign to
sustain our local agencies and to retain
our interest in the major philanthropic ef-
forts inherent in the United Jewish Appeal,
we are privileged to share in a nationwide
celebration of the 25th anniversary of the
UJA.
As we commence in all earnestness the
activities of the Allied Jewish Campaign for
1963, we humbly take into account the ac-
complishments of the UJA.
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The 25th anniversary of the United Jew-
ish Appeal, which first was most appro-
priately marked by numerous events in Israel
—the UJA's major beneficiary—has taken
on significance commensurate with the gigan-
tic humanitarian accomplishments of this
movement.
Formed in 1939 to meet the emergencies
that arose under Hitlerism, the UJA, since
January of that year, until the end of 1961,
raised a total of $1,367,000,000 in contribu-
tions from American Jews. It is estimated
that 'nearly 3,000,000 of our kinsmen were
assisted by the rehabilitation, rescue, relief
and reconstruction efforts of the various
agencies supported by the UJA in Israel, in
Europe and in Moslem countries.
It is because the UJA again is becoming
so vital in the present period of storm and
stress, in this era of a newly-emerging de-
spair for our people in several countries, that
this major fund again becomes the great
rescuing element for hundreds of thousands
of Jews. Once again, UJA must meet chal-
lenges that are assuming overwhelming pro-
portions, and its quarter-century history is
worthy of review in order that there should
be a full appreciation of the immensity of
the goals attained and the duties to be
faced.
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New heights in fund-raising were
reached during UJA's first six years of
existence, from 1939 to 1945, when a
total of $126,000,000 was raised for the
relief of the victims of Nazism. With the
defeat of Germany and the realization by
guide for sister communities in the U.S.
Even in this community many have to be
reached to fulfill their obligations to world
Jewry and to Israel. It is to those who have
lagged behind, as much as to those who must
again mobilize for renewed activities for
UJA, that the current UJA anniversary
appeals.
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No one dares to forget what has hap-
pened; there should not be the slightest
myopia towards what is happening in sev-
eral parts of the globe; there must be con-
tinued vision for the realization of the chal-
lenges and the dangers that face Jewry today.
To meet the challenge and to avert dan-
ger, UJA remains as a symbol of Jewish gen-
erosity and our people's sense of duty. The
only way to retain our glory as a humani-
tarian folk is giving new strength to UJA:
it is the only way of marking the beginning
of a new era of activity during which we may
hope to see the consummation of relief ef-
forts resulting from the abandonment of
cruelties in the lands whence Jews must es-
cape, and the attainment of peace in the
Middle East to assure Israel's safety.
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In our own community, the celebration
of the 25th anniversary of the United Jewish
Appeal becomes a vital factor in the con-
duct of the current Allied Jewish Cam-
paign.
Once again we are faced with serious
challenges on the home, national and over-
seas scenes.
We must provide for our local agencies,
our duties to the national educational move-
ments must be met, and we have an impor-
tant share in the work of relief, rehabili-
tation and Israel's upbuilding through
the UJA and its related agencies.
Let us go forth with _ courage, ad-
hering
to a tradition of community
A Weekly Review
of Jewish Events
unity and of established generosity to
assure the continuation of the tasks
17100 West Seven Mile Road
which retain for us a role of rahamonim
Detroit 35. Mich.
bnai rahamonim—of the merciful sons of
March 15, 1963
Vol. XLIH, No. 3
Page 2, Sec. B
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
a merciful people.
Jews in free countries, especially in the
United States, of the plight of the dis-
placed persons in camps that were established
for them after the war, a new goal was at-
tained: the sum of $188,284,000 was raised
nationally in 1946 and 1947.
Then came the year of the liquidation of
the DP camps, and in 1948 alone the sum of
$147,305,000 was contributed by American
Jews. The rebirth of Israel added to the
accumulating glory of the UJA and the sum
of $280,000,000 was raised from 1949 to 1951.
New crises make it necessary for UJA to
carry on on a scale as large as that which
made this fund the great rescuing force for
Jews in lands of oppression.
*
UJA's anniversary brings to light many
interesting factors. The most important is the
sad realization that too many of our people
remain outside the ranks of participants.
American Jews who participated in the
first UJA anniversary celebration in Israel
soon learned that the Israelis, whose status
was raised by UJA functions were in the
main unaware of UJA's role. Many conceded
that, at best, less than half of American
Jewry appreciates UJA's position sufficiently
to provide for its needs.
The 25th anniversary of UJA brings us
to a new challenge: bringing into our fold
that large element in Jewish life that has not
as yet joined in its supreme efforts.
It is vital that Detroit's share in UJA
work should be understood. Always in the
lead as one of the three of four communities
with the largest gifts to UJA, Detroit Jewry
has gained a place among the most generous
cities. Our generosity may even serve as a
HE JEWISH NEWS
DETROIT
MICHIGAN
All Jewry
owes a debt of pride and gratitude
for the life saving effort of UJA
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