[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)
