The Southern Israelite. (Augusta, Ga.) 1925-1986, March 29, 1929, Image 4

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Page The Southern Israelite What the South Has Done For Its Brethren Across the Seas The history of the Southern States and its answer to their suffering brothers and sisters in foreign lands is well deserving of praise when the final chapter of the United Jewish Campaign is written. In December, 1925, Atlanta was host to David A. Brown, National Chairman of the United Jewish Cam paign, in what is now a memorial gathering of Southern Jewry. Men, women and children were moved to tears by the reciting of conditions across the seas and pledged them selves to Mr. Brown that Southern Jewry would not fail in its mission to assist those less fortunate than our selves. At that conference, held in the Biltmore Hotel, all three of the local Atlanta papers and the Associated Press through its southern bureau, carried stories that were the beginning of Dixie's answer to those in foreign lands. Hon. Clifford Walker, then Governor of Georgia, and Hon. Wal ter Sims, then Mayor of Atlanta, were present to add hope to those who were crying from across the seas “Save Us Or We Die.” Alabama was the first state in the South to over-subscribe its quota of $100,000.00, pledging a total of $147,- 862.00 of which it has paid $108,654.00 to date. Credit must be given to such leaders as its State Chairman, Marvin II. Sterne, of Birmingham, Isidore Weil, of Montgomery, who acted as Honorary Chairman, Leo K. Steiner, its State Treasurer, and a number of others throughout the state. It was chiefly through the personal efforts of the late Myron Lasker, of Little Rock, who gave of himself from early morning until late at night, in visiting every city, town and hamlet that made possible the state of Arkan sas over-subscribing its quota of $75,- 000.00, when it pledged a total of $76,- 406.00, of which it has paid to date $51,125.00. In the loss of Mr. Lasker both state and country were deprived of a leader that words fail to express. The campaign in Florida was launched as the unfortunate real es tate collapse was taking place, and yet in face of same and following tor nadoes, hurricanes and economic de pressions, pledged $123,239.00. Such leaders as Marcus Endel, Sidney Levy, David Davis, Neal Finkelstein, Rabbi M. Elliott Grafman, Ernest Maas, Day J. Apte and a number of others have given of themselves unstintingly so that they could help those across the seas. This is indeed a fine spirit when one considers the suffering that these Floridians themselves passed through. The history of the state of Georgia is being taken care of in a separate article in these columns. Under the able leadership of Colonel Fred Levy of Louisville, State Chair man for Kentucky, his state pledged $187,460.00, of which it has paid to date $129,623.00. We glory in the accomplishments of Louisiana, which pledged $178,- 970.00, and has paid $141,604.22 to date. Louisiana’s record is only sur passed by the city of Chicago and the states of Indiana and Oregon in the amounts paid on their pledges. The State Chairman for Louisiana is Rab bi Emil W. Leipziger of New Orleans, with Silvan Newburger as State Treasurer, and Dr. David Fichman as State Secretary. Mr. E. V. Benjamin is the Chairman for New Orleans, and at the time of the drive postponed a European trip so that he might head his city in this life saving effort. Sid ney Herold of Shreveport is the South ern Zone Chairman. In face of flooded areas the state of Mississippi, under the leadership of Dr. Sol L. Kory, as Chairman, and Ben H. Stein, as Treasurer, managed to pledge $43,376.00, of which it has paid $25,871.25. With such leadership as M. E. Block, as Chairman, Benard W. Cone, as Treasurer, and Dr. Milton Ellis, as Secretary, North Carolina pledged $80,128.00, and to date has paid $56,- 538.00. Another loss in the untimely pass ing of a State Chairman was that of the late Montague Triest of Charles ton, who lead South Carolina in its efforts of this appeal. Isadore Blank, State Treasurer, however took up the duty of both his office and that of State Chairman in seeing that $13,- 686.35 was paid on the state quota pledged of $16,517.00. The state of Tennessee pledged $112,034 00, and has paid $73,581.61 to date. Such leaders as Harry Wise, Sr., State Chairman, W. A. Sadd, State Treasurer, L. Koblentz, Morris Fried man, L. Rosenbloom, Henry Loeb, H. Bluthenthal, Abe Simon, Nathen Cohn, Lee J. Loventhal, have made possible the fine showing of Tennessee. Virginia, the Old Dominion State, pledged $84,709.00, and has paid in $46,424.01. One cannot give too much credit to such leaders as I. Lichten stein, W. H. Schwarzschild, G. M. Schwarzchild, Robert Binder, M. Kaufman, and other leaders in old Virginia, for the masterful work they have done. West Virginia was divided into two zones, one called the northern, under the chairmanship of Louis Hork- heimer, and Julius Horkheimer, as Treasurer, who secured pledges of $43,934.00, of which $26,796.57 has been paid to date. The other zone in West Virginia, called the Southern, under the leadership of Harry Silver- stein, of Charleston, pledged $43,- 388.00, and has paid $20,184.86 to date. It was on December 6, 1925, that the first plans for participation of the state of Georgia in the United Jewish Campaign were laid. Mr. Harold Hirsch of Atlanta, graciously accepted the State Chairmanship, while Mr. Leonard Haas also of Atlanta accept ed the S ate Treasurership. It was un der their able leadership, and that of constituents that rallied around them to assist, that made possible the ex cellent showing of the state of Geor gia. These leaders have not for oi> moment relinquished their duties and help to our brothers in foreign lands, and time and time again have assur ed our National Leaders, such as David A. Brown, Louis Marshall, Fe- l x Warburg, Julius Rosenwald and others that they will remain on the job until every dollar pledged has been collected. The first large city to be heard from in Georgia when the campaigns got under way was that of Macon. Morris Michael, Chairman and Treasurer, and Rabbi I. E. Marcus wired to state headquarters that their city had pledged $9,600.00. Not satisfied in be ing the first city to send in its report as to pledges, Macon was the first city to pay up in full, without a penny being lost by non-payment, and with no campaign expenses for its local appeal. A few days later, Hyman Esserman, Chairman for Rome, advised that Rome had pledged $2,288.00, and was sending its check for that amount. La- Grange was another city that after hearing the masterful appeal of Rabbi David B. Marx sent its check through Chairman I. Sugarman, for $1,005.00. Albany was again in the front ranks of Georgia cities which pledged $2,205.25 and since that time has paid up in full, with no cost for their local campaign. The leaders in the Albany campaign were Henry Gortatowsky, Chairman, L. J. Hofmayer and Dr. E.’ A. Landau, Vice-Chairman, Lionel Texas was very fortunate in having such leaders as Hurbert Marcus as Chairman, and J. K. Hexter, as Treas urer. Under their leadership Texas pledged $299,532.00 and has paid $205,600.00 to date. All told, it is the above figures that made those states below the Mason- Dixon line stand out in bold type in answering the cries of the unfortu nate from far away. The answer was spelled in dollars, and it looks as if every penny pledged in the South will probably be collected. Sterne, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Carl Neuman, as Sec retary and Treasurer. Savannah organized a committee lead by the late A. J. Garfunkel, as Chairman, Leopold Adler, as Hono rary Chairman, Dr. George Solomon, as Vice-Chairman, Elry Stone, as Sec retary, Sam Adler, as Treasurer, and Isaac Blumberg, and Morris Bern stein, as members of the finance com mittee. Savannah pledged $19,614.00, and to date has paid $13,714.90. At this time it is with sad regret that we note the recent passing of the be loved Chairman of Savannah, A. J. Garfunkel, whose acts and life should stand as a memorial and impetus to all Jewry. Columbus pledged $5,290.00, and to date has paid $2,116.15. The leaders in the Columbus campaign were Ger- son RoihschTd, David Rothsch.ld, Rabbi Frank L. Rosenthal and Simon Schwab. Bainbridge, under the leadership of Melvin H. Nussbaum, as Chairman, and W. H. Kwilecki, as Treasurer, se cured pledges to the amount of $1»* 205.00, upon which $805.00 has been paid to date. Augusta, lead through its chairman, David Slusky, and assisted by Charles Schneider, and Lee Blum, secured pledges totalling $3,229.66, of which $2,563.90 has been paid to date. Reports from other cities through out the state, followed rapidly, Ath ens, Americus, Barnesville, Carters- ville, Cedartown, Cochran, Cordele, Covington, Dalton, Eatonton, Fitz gerald, Fort Valley, Gainesville, Gor don, Griffin, Hawkinsville, Manches ter, Marietta, Moultrie, Norcross, Pe - ham, Quitman, Rochelle, Sandersvi e, Statesboro, Swainsboro, Thomasvi e, Tifton, Toccoa, Valdosta, Washington. Waycross, Waynesboro, West P° in and Wrightsville all came into in ^ with pledges to the state wide cam paign. Georgia's History In The United Jewish Campaign