[A. Destruction of the Jewish
existence in Poland 1929-1939]
[5.11. JDC work in Galicia]
One of these struggles was the fight against
centralization waged by regional interests, especially in
Galicia, which was very poor but had a very proud
tradition of culture and independence. Galicia was
traditionally under strong Zionist influence, and a group
of leaders emerged among whom Alfred Silberschein occupied
a place of special importance. Silberschein, a Zionist
leader, favored decentralization, and he gained the
support of most of the influential circles in Jewish
economic life in Galicia. In early 1937, 25 % of the total
Jewish population in Poland lived in Galicia . Yet the
Galician Jews were underrepresented in all the economic
activities undertaken by JDC. This charge in itself would
have remained ineffective had not an organization been
founded called the American Committee for Aid of Jews in
Galicia, which threatened to solicit funds in competition
with JDC.
Early in 1937 JDC asked its Warsaw office for an
explanation and proposals, and in April and May 1937 these
came. They revealed a difference of opinion between the
head of the Warsaw office, Isaac Giterman, and his two
chief lieutenants, David Guzik and Leib Neustadt. Neustadt
and Guzik were for maximum centralization and were
prepared to fight Silberschein's demand that JDC set up
special regional organizations for its free loan
institutions there.
Giterman, on the other hand, acknowledged the fact that
Galicia had separate institutions in many areas; a
separate CEKABE committee was thereupon established by JDC
for Galicia, though only in early 1939. More important, it
emerged that a number of local enterprises (probably more
than Galicia's proper share) were established there by
CEKABE: a chain factory in Stanislawow, a carpenter
cooperative in Stryi, two locksmiths' (p.203)
shops in Czortkow, an export furniture shop in Lwów, and
so on.
(End note 63: 14-39)
