A Call for the Assistance of the Refugees from Germany

The situation of our brethren in Germany is so frightful that it is unparalleled since the Middle Ages and the time of the decrees of 1648 and 1649. [ . . . ] In “cultured” Germany an enemy has arisen who robs our brethren of their human rights, and deprives hundreds of thousands of Jews of all possible means of survival and sustenance. Their blood and their possessions have become a free-for-all, and they are given over to all manner of afflictions, extortions, and reproach. [ . . . ]

The situation of our brethren in Germany is awful and tragic. They had always been in the vanguard in the establishment of general charitable organizations—and invariably obtained generous responses, given the high standards of organization unique to them, for relief of the burdens of their coreligionists throughout the world. But now they have reached the lowest depths, to the point where they themselves now need assistance.

In every country, Jews have been stirred to come to the aid of our coreligionists in Germany who are sinking fast; our very best communal lay leaders have taken the necessary work upon themselves; committees have been established and huge sums collected for the benefit of refugees so as to ensure their continued survival. [ . . . ]

However, in order to combine the different organized forces, and to introduce proper order and a planned program for the relief work, a large committee was recently set up in London, with the participation of representatives from all countries and from all the central relief organizations; in this committee, various groups and organizations of the Jewish people have united together, so as to come, with complementary strengths, to the assistance of our brethren in Germany with all forms of aid—a timely support for the tens of thousands of needy refugees and victims of famine—to involve ourselves with them with a view to the possibility of their obtaining employment and sources of livelihood—to lend support to committees and institutions within Germany to prevent their destruction, and, in particular, to find a safe haven for our afflicted and persecuted coreligionists in new lands where they will be able to find guaranteed survival for themselves.

The task of settling of some of the refugees in the Land of Israel is of special importance. [ . . . ] Besides the saving of the refugees themselves, there also exists a great opportunity for building up our holy land [ . . . ]— though let it be understood that all the aid operations in general, and in the Land of Israel in particular, should be carried out in an entirely nonpartisan manner.

It is an obligation of the community as a whole, just as much as it applies to specific individuals. [ . . . ]

Now may the Almighty have mercy upon an impoverished and needy nation, and hasten to our relief and our salvation, in accordance with the desires of the one who hopes for salvation, who now writes and signs herewith, this third day of Kislev 5694 [November 21, 1933] , in Vilna.