[B. Destruction of
the Jewish existence in Romania
1929-1939]
[5.15. General JDC work in Romania: Kassas]
Generally speaking, much of the work of JDC in Romania was done by the
Reconstruction Foundation loan kassas, whose influence in Poland has
been discussed. In fact, with the Polish loan kassas in the throes of a
crisis between 1933 and 1937, much attention was devoted to the
Romanian kassas, and large sums (p.212)
were invested in Romania.
(End note 75: In 1934 the foundation invested $ 36,820 in Poland and $
156,349 in Romania. In 1935, $ 137,500 was invested in Romania; in
1936, $ 220,000)
The number of these kassas grew, until they reached 81 in 1938. Over
52,000 individuals were registered with them; together with their
families, this embraced over 25 % of the Jewish population in the
country, and thus the kassas became a popular and extremely helpful
prop for the shaky Jewish economic situation. They charged only a
nominal rate of interest and extended loans that averaged about $ 70
for relatively long periods of time.
As in Poland, this helped small Jewish merchants and craftsmen to
withstand temporary setbacks, made it possible to purchase essential
equipment or horses for transport, and aided them in their hard
struggle against growing competition. A large proportion of these
kassas operated in Bessarabia (39 in 1938), the most poverty-stricken
area in the country.
Free Loan kassas existed in Romania as well. However, contrary to the
situation in Poland, these never became popular. Only 15 such
institutions operated in 1935, and their number did not increase in
later years.
[1937: Romania coming into a good
economic situation]
It should be stressed that, except for regions such as Bessarabia,
Romania recovered from the effects of the world economic crisis quicker
than did her neighbors. By 1937 she had achieved a budgetary surplus,
and exports were rising.
