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Finding Aid
Subcollection: Countries and Regions

Extent: 201 files

This subcollection describes the functions of JDC’s Jerusalem office as its administrative headquarters for the Middle East and Balkan countries and its relief efforts in Cyprus, Iran, Israel, the Middle East, and Turkey, in addition to its assistance to Jewish communities in Muslim countries.
The majority of the records focus upon JDC’s activities in the British-administered detention camps on Cyprus. These primary source accounts include descriptions of JDC-organized educational programs within the camps; publicity for concerts by visiting musicians; the movements of ships to and from Cyprus; and the remarkable financial contribution made by refugees to Jewish defense forces and the Jewish National Fund during the 1948 War of Independence.

Arrangement

The Countries and Regions Subcollection is arranged into 5 record groups:
Cyprus
Iran
Israel
Middle East
Turkey

Record Group: Cyprus

Extent: 181 files

The Cyprus record group primarily covers the years 1946-1949, with some material from the early 1950s, including correspondence from Morris Laub, who directed JDC’s Cyprus 1945-1949 Collection.

In August 1946, the British government initiated its policy of deporting Jews who came to Palestine in violation of the White Paper of 1939 to the island of Cyprus. From August 1946 to February 1949, a total of 53,000 deportees lived behind barbed wire in 12 camps on Cyprus. Nearly all of the refugees on Cyprus were survivors of Nazi death camps.

The best resource for information about JDC’s extensive relief operations in Cyprus can be found in JDC’s Cyprus 1945-1949 Collection. This collection contains numerous primary source accounts from the Cyprus inhabitants, including personal letters, group petitions, and newspapers published by the deportees, as well over 250 images from the detention camps.

The Cyprus record group is arranged in 8 series.

Series: Administration: Finance

Extent: 2 files

File JER.635: Cyprus: Finances 1947-1948

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, circulars, receipts and disbursement tables, regarding various financial transactions pertaining to care for refugees in Cyprus camp, such as medical personnel.

Cyprus: Finances 1947-1948

File JER.636: Cyprus: Finances 1949

Old Folder Number: 52/8

Correspondence, cables, receipts regarding gifts transmitted to individuals who had been on Cyprus from relatives abroad.

Cyprus: Finances 1949

Series: Administration: General

Extent: 4 files

The General series contains files discussing publicity and logistics for visitors to the Cyprus detention camps, including plans for the April 1948 concert by the Yemenite singer Shoshana Damari, as well as contributions to the Palestine Mobilization Fund (Magbit Habitahon), made in the form of wedding rings, gold watches, silver spoons and other valuables, as well as cash donations.

File JER.637: Cyprus: Palestine Mobilization Fund Cyprus Appeal 1948

Old Folder Number: 17

Circular, correspondence, ledger sheets, receipts for cash received, lists of contributors and the objects they donated to the title organization and the Jewish National Fund.

Cyprus: Palestine Mobilization Fund Cyprus Appeal 1948

File JER.638: Cyprus: Paris Correspondence June 1947-May 1948

Old Folder Number: none

Circulars, digest, manual, tables, regarding insurance; aid given in North Africa and Europe; claim for lost items; vehicles and tracing service on Cyprus; vocational training; statistics.

Cyprus: Paris Correspondence June 1947-May 1948

File JER.639: Cyprus: Public Relations 1947

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, circulars, press releases, newspaper clipping, proposed concert program, regarding material to be sent by all offices to YIVO archive; infants allowed in to Palestine; photographs taken on Cyprus; VIP procedure; proposed visit of soprano Lola Monti-Gorsey; “Suzannah” episode.

Cyprus: Public Relations 1947

File JER.640: Cyprus: Public Relations 1948

Extent: .2 inch

Correspondence, press release, concert program, regarding Shoshana Damari/Moshe Wilensky concert on Cyprus; economic recovery in France; radio scripts about Cyprus.

Cyprus: Public Relations 1948

Series: Administration: Personnel

Extent: 162 files

The Personnel series contains personnel files o f camp staff, covering the years 1946-1949.

The majority of the personnel files are restricted and not digitized for online viewing in accordance with JDC’s Access & Restrictions Policy.

File JER.641: Cyprus: Personnel 1947-1948 1 of 2

Extent: .7 inch

Correspondence, manual, circulars, regarding travel, statistics, salary standardization, taxes, changes at European Headquarters.

Cyprus: Personnel 1947-1948 1 of 2

File JER.642: Cyprus: Personnel 1947-1948 2 of 2

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, staff list, regarding visa applications for personnel employed by JDC, Pinhas Ruttenberg Educational Trust, and Jewish Agency, as well as individuals conducting research, consultants, artist, music teacher, performers.

Cyprus: Personnel 1947-1948 2 of 2

File JER.657: Cyprus: Brszezinsky, Aharon, Dr. 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/3

Form regarding obstetrician/gynecologist for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Brszezinsky, Aharon, Dr. 1946

File JER.658: Cyprus: Cohen, Aharon, Dr. 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/20

Form regarding dentist for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Cohen, Aharon, Dr. 1946

File JER.660: Cyprus: Dingott, Daniel, Dr. 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/8

Form regarding doctor for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Dingott, Daniel, Dr. 1946

File JER.673: Cyprus: Friedberg, Herman, Dr. 1948

Old Folder Number: 34/156

One letter regarding visa for doctor for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Friedberg, Herman, Dr. 1948

File JER.678: Cyprus: Gawza (Schoenfeld), Nurse Kreindla 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/10

Form regarding nurse for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Gawza (Schoenfeld), Nurse Kreindla 1946

File JER.682: Cyprus: Goldfarb, Nurse Ahuba-Luba 1946-1947

Old Folder Number: 34/4

Form regarding nurse for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Goldfarb, Nurse Ahuba-Luba 1946-1947

File JER.685: Cyprus: Gostynski-Blecher, Nurse Gitla-Rajzla 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/5

Form regarding nurse for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Gostynski-Blecher, Nurse Gitla-Rajzla 1946

File JER.698: Cyprus: Itzkowitz, Morduch, Dr. 1948-1949

Old Folder Number: 34/141

Cyprus: Itzkowitz, Morduch, Dr. 1948-1949

File JER.699: Cyprus: Jarlicht, Chana (Grodsky) Housekeeper 1947
File JER.703: Cyprus: Katchko, Dewora 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/13

Form regarding nurse for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Katchko, Dewora 1946

File JER.705: Cyprus: Katz, Nurse Shprinza (Tikva) 1947
File JER.772: Cyprus: Rozner, Liba 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/25

Form regarding dietician for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Rozner, Liba 1946

File JER.787: Cyprus: Tishbi, Peretz Teacher 1946

Old Folder Number: 34/15

Form regarding teacher and counselor for Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Tishbi, Peretz Teacher 1946

Series: Subject Matter: Advocacy

Extent: 1 files

The Advocacy series consists of one file. Please see the file for details.

File JER.802: Cyprus: Individual Cases 1947

Extent: 0.1 inch

Correspondence regarding general policies regarding the personal service in Paris, as well as a request for help sent to South Africa by a group on Cyprus.

Cyprus: Individual Cases 1947

Series: Subject Matter: Education

Extent: 3 files

The Education series contains information on child care resources, educational and cultural programming, vocational training, and various work projects in the Cyprus camps.

File JER.803: Cyprus: Child Care 1947

Extent: .1 inch

Circulars, correspondence, regarding resources on child care, inquiries regarding children on Cyprus, account of receiving children who arrived in Palestine from Cyprus.

Cyprus: Child Care 1947

File JER.804: Cyprus: Education 1948

Extent: .2 inch

Report on educational and cultural work in the camps in Cyprus for March-April 1948.

Cyprus: Education 1948

File JER.805: Cyprus: Vocational Training 1947-1948

Old Folder Number: 6

Correspondence, course material, newspaper clipping, advertisements, reports, supplies lists, regarding title, as well as scheme to manufacturer cigarette lighters on Cyprus and other work projects.

Cyprus: Vocational Training 1947-1948

Series: Subject Matter: Emigration

Extent: 3 files

The Emigration series contains shipping manifests, departure lists, and correspondence detailing the individuals on Cyprus whom British forces permitted to make Aliya before Israel’s founding in May 1948. One file in the series also describes individuals who wishes to emigrate to countries other than Israel.

File JER.806: Cyprus: Aliya from and Ships to Cyprus 1946-1949

Old Folder Number: 1

Memoranda, report, lists of ships, passenger lists, regarding DPs, immigration to Palestine/Israel, as well as some arrivals on Cyprus and those emigrating to countries outside of Palestine.

Cyprus: Aliya from and Ships to Cyprus 1946-1949

File JER.807: Cyprus: Aliya from Cyprus 1947-1948

Extent: .3 inch

Correspondence, tables and lists of those who immigrated to Palestine or Israel from Cyprus, for the tracing service. In addition, correspondence regarding aid given by JDC in various aspects of pre-state aliya from Cyprus, such as providing medical personnel to ships.

Cyprus: Aliya from Cyprus 1947-1948

File JER.808: Cyprus: Emigration 1947-1948

Extent: .3 inch

Correspondence, newspaper clipping, information manual, regarding individuals in Cyprus seeking to emigrate to destinations other than Palestine/Israel.

Cyprus: Emigration 1947-1948

Series: Subject Matter: Medical

Extent: 2 files

The Medical series describes medical and dental care from 1947-1948 on Cyprus.

File JER.809: Cyprus: Dental Treatment 1947-1948

Extent: .1 inch

Correspondence regarding dental treatment for refugees in Cyprus camp.

Cyprus: Dental Treatment 1947-1948

File JER.810: Cyprus: Vocational Training and Medical 1947-1948

Extent: .5 inch

Correspondence, lists, reports, regarding treatment for refugees on Cyprus in the camps and hospital, including medical personnel, supplies, dental work, visit of psychiatric team, British military hospital.

Cyprus: Vocational Training and Medical 1947-1948

Series: Subject Matter: Supplies

Extent: 4 files

The Supplies series covers the years 1947-1949 and includes names lists, payment orders regarding relief packages sent to Cyprus, stock lists, bills of lading, and insurance relating to general supplies for the camps.

File JER.811: Cyprus: CARE Parcel Delivery Reports 1948

Old Folder Number: 12

Correspondence, names lists, regarding the reporting of receipt of packages in Cyprus.

Cyprus: CARE Parcel Delivery Reports 1948

File JER.812: Cyprus: Payment Orders for Cyprus 1948

Old Folder Number: 4

Receipts, correspondence, names lists, regarding CARE packages and payment orders for inmates of Cyprus camps. Some of the intended recipients had made aliya, necessitating the JDC to refund money to senders, or to find the intended recipients in Israel.

Cyprus: Payment Orders for Cyprus 1948

File JER.813: Cyprus: Payment Orders for Cyprus 1948-1949

Old Folder Number: 4.1

Receipts, correspondence, names lists, money transfers and payment orders for inmates of Cyprus camps. Some of the individuals had made aliya, necessitating the JDC to refund money to senders, or to find the intended recipients in Israel.

Cyprus: Payment Orders for Cyprus 1948-1949

File JER.814: Cyprus: Supplies for Cyprus 1947-1948

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, tables, shipping advice, stock reports, claims, medicine lists, regarding supplies for Cyprus, including civilian clothing supplied by Palestine government, care packages from New York, inquiries regarding availability of kosher meat in the camps; insurance. Also includes general communiques sent by European Headquarters to all offices.

Cyprus: Supplies for Cyprus 1947-1948

Record Group: Iran

Extent: 29 files

JDC maintained an office in Tehran, Iran, from 1944-1946 to coordinate the shipment of relief supplies to Jews in the Soviet Union, Poland, and other locations in Europe. Subsequently, the office reopened in 1948 to develop Jewish education resources in Iran; Stanley Abramovitch became Iran Country Director in 1949. Correspondence includes a responsum (written reply by rabbi or Talmudic scholar to an inquiry about Jewish law) from Chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of British Mandate Palestine and then the State of Israel at , regarding the status of the forcibly converted Mashadi Jews from Mashhad, Iran.

For detailed information on Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, the 1951-1952 airlift of Iraqi Jews to Israel organized by JDC, where some of the rescue planes traveled through Baghdad, see the Aliya record group in the Subject Matter Subcollection.

The Iran record group is arranged in 5 series.

Series: Administration: Finance

Extent: 3 files

The Finance series contains inventory lists, receipts, staff lists, memos of expenses incurred in sending relief parcels to Europe, and correspondence regarding transactions involved in winding down the relief package operation; all materials date from 1946.

File JER.815: Iran: Finances 1946

Old Folder Number: 4

Inventory list, refund form, receipts, tree certificate, relating to office expenses and package expenses. Includes lists of senders and recipients of packages to Prague, Hungary.

Iran: Finances 1946

File JER.816: Iran: Finances Parcels and Office 1946

Old Folder Number: 4(2)

Receipts, debit and credit notes, staff list, insurance policies, detailing office expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union, Germany, Poland, France, Hungary, and Austria sent on behalf of the Central British Fund and individuals.

Iran: Finances Parcels and Office 1946

File JER.817: Iran: Sales Commission 1946

Old Folder Number: 7

Correspondence, meeting minutes, contracts, receipts, stock lists, detailing sales of office goods, supplies, in anticipation of operation closing.

Iran: Sales Commission 1946

Series: Administration: General

The General series contains a single file. Please see the file for details.

File JER.818: Iran: Correspondence with Teheran 1949

Old Folder Number: 56/18

Curriculum, correspondence, memoranda, cables, report sent at the establishment of the Iran Program. Topics include Jewish subjects taught and an overall plan for Jewish schools; teachers’ training program; supplies; finances of program; aliya; travel arrangements; Chief Rabbi Herzog on the status of Mashadi Jews.

Iran: Correspondence with Teheran 1949

Series: Administration: Individual Files

Extent: 3 files

The Individual Files series contains newspaper clippings and reports by Stanley Abramovitch and Harry Viteles, as well as undated stories written by Abramovitch, from 1948-1952.

File JER.819: Iran: Stanley Abramovitch Reports 1949,1951-1952

Old Folder Number: 2,3

Newspaper clippings, reports, tables, comprising Abramovitch’s activities in Iran. In addition contains stories, mostly undated, from his time as country director.

Iran: Stanley Abramovitch Reports 1949,1951-1952

File JER.820: Iran: Stanley Abramovitch Iran Reports 1949-1952

Old Folder Number: 3

Newspaper clippings, reports, tables, comprising Abramovitch’s activities in Iran.

Iran: Stanley Abramovitch Iran Reports 1949-1952

File JER.821: Iran: Harry Viteles Report on Iran 1948

Old Folder Number: 3.1

Report on Viteles’ visit to Iran in November 1948

Iran: Harry Viteles Report on Iran 1948

Series: Subject Matter: Education

Extent: 6 files

The Education series contains reports, meeting minutes, and other records, covering the years 1946-1950, which detail the founding and management of JDC-sponsored Ozar HaTorah religious schools throughout Iran.

File JER.822: Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1946-1947

Old Folder Number: 7

Correspondence, meeting minutes, report, list of investments, memorandum of association, regarding founding of Ozar Hatorah and its first year of operation, JDC contributions to it and to other religious education in Palestine and the Middle East.

Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1946-1947

File JER.823: Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1947-1948

Old Folder Number: 10

Correspondence, meeting minutes, reports, account statements, committee list, regarding JDC-sponsored Ozar Hatorah activities in Iran.

Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1947-1948

File JER.824: Iran: Ozar HaTorah October-December 1948

Old Folder Number: 8

Charts, correspondence, reports, meeting minutes, calendar, account statements, staff lists, detailing JDC-sponsored Ozar Hatorah activities in Iran.

Iran: Ozar HaTorah October-December 1948

File JER.825: Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1948-1949

Old Folder Number: 9

Correspondence, reports, remittance statements, regarding JDC-sponsored Ozar Hatorah activities, as well as requests for relief funding and supplies.

Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1948-1949

File JER.826: Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1949-1950

Old Folder Number: 2

Correspondence, reports, budget summary and proposal, photographs, regarding JDC-sponsored Ozar Hatorah activities, as well as requests for relief supplies, emigration case, Stanley Abramovitch’s appointment to country director.

Iran: Ozar HaTorah 1949-1950

File JER.827: Iran: Ozar HaTorah Finances 1947-1948

Old Folder Number: 6

Receipts, account statements, staff lists, detailing JDC-sponsored Ozar Hatorah activities in Iran.

Iran: Ozar HaTorah Finances 1947-1948

Series: Subject Matter: Parcels

Extent: 16 files

The majority of the files in the Parcels series cover the years 1944-1946 and describe the logistics and expenses involved in sending about 250,000 relief parcels to refugees in the Soviet Union, about 700,000 kilograms in bulk for distribution in Poland, and additional shipments to individuals in other European countries such as Czechoslovakia, France, Hungary, and Romania. These packages were organized by diverse agencies and individuals in addition to JDC, such as the Central British Fund, HIAS, and the Jewish Agency for Palestine. This series includes lists of package senders and recipients and one list of Bukharin Jews making Aliya.

File JER.828: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses 1944

Old Folder Number: 1(2)

Receipts, debit notes, employee list and insurance policy detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses.

Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses 1944

File JER.829: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses June 1944 1 of 2

Old Folder Number: 1

Receipts, debit notes, employee list and insurance policy detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses.

Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses June 1944 1 of 2

File JER.830: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses June 1944 2 of 2

Old Folder Number: 2

Receipts, debit notes, employee list and insurance policy detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses.

Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses June 1944 2 of 2

File JER.831: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses November 1944 1 of 2

Old Folder Number: 4

Receipts, debit notes, and insurance policies detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses, as well as a names lists of Bukharian Jews making aliya.

Parcels to USSR Expenses November 1944 1 of 2

File JER.832: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses November 1944 2 of 2

Old Folder Number: 4.1

Receipts, debit notes, and insurance policies detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses, storage for index card department.

Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses November 1944 2 of 2

File JER.833: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses December 1944

Old Folder Number: 1(3)

Receipts, debit notes, tables, bank statements, inventory list, employee lists and insurance policy detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses.

Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses December 1944

File JER.834: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses September-October 1945

Old Folder Number: JER.834

Receipts, debit and credit notes, detailing office expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union.

Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses September-October 1945

File JER.835: Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses April 1946

Old Folder Number: 5

Receipts, debit and credit notes, staff list, lists of goods sent, food, detailing office expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union, France and Czechoslovakia.

Iran: Parcels to USSR Expenses April 1946

File JER.836: Iran: Parcels to USSR and Elsewhere Expenses June 1946

Old Folder Number: 7(2)

Receipts, debit and credit notes, an extensive names list, staff list, lists of goods sent, insurance policies, detailing office expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, Romania, France and Czechoslovakia sent on behalf of Jewish Agency, HIAS, individuals in Tehran, United States, Palestine, India.

Iran: Parcels to USSR and Elsewhere Expenses June 1946

File JER.837: Iran: Parcels to USSR and Elsewhere Expenses July-August 1946

Old Folder Number: 6

Receipts, debit and credit notes, staff list, insurance policy, detailing office expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union, Poland, Hungary, Romania and Austria sent on behalf of the Jewish Agency and individuals.

Iran: Parcels to USSR and Elsewhere Expenses July-August 1946

File JER.838: Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses 1945

Old Folder Number: 5

Receipts, debit and credit notes, detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses. Includes a few names of recipients.

Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses 1945

File JER.839: Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses March 1945

Old Folder Number: 3

Receipts, debit and credit notes, car record cards, product labels, detailing offices expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union and Lublin.

Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses March 1945

File JER.840: Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses October 1945

Old Folder Number: 9

Receipts, debit and credit notes, postcard, names list, detailing office expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union and Poland. Names list details recipients, their addresses, and the sender.

Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses October 1945

File JER.841: Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses November-December 1945

Old Folder Number: 10

Receipts, debit and credit notes, postcard, names list, lists of goods sent, food label, detailing office expenses, parcel expenses to the Soviet Union and Poland. Names list details recipients, their addresses, and the sender.

Iran: Parcels to USSR and Poland Expenses November-December 1945

File JER.842: Iran: Shipping Paris, Persia (Iran) 1950-1952

Old Folder Number: 55/8

Correspondence, cables, shipping advisements, regarding supplies sent from Paris to Iran via Israel, as well as supplies originating in Israel for Iran. Included in the shipments were medical supplies, books, clothing, office supplies.

Iran: Shipping Paris, Persia (Iran) 1950-1952

File JER.843: Iran: Supplies to Iran for Parcels 1945-1946

Old Folder Number: 8

Correspondence with Jerusalem office, rental contract, import license, invoices, stock lists, detailing office expenses and parcel expenses.

Iran: Supplies to Iran for Parcels 1945-1946

Record Group: Israel

The Israel record group comprises primarily material on Malben, a social service organization founded in 1949 among JDC, the Israeli government, and the Jewish Agency to address the needs of thousands of immigrants to the new State, including those of particularly vulnerable populations such as the handicapped and elderly. A year later, JDC assumed complete responsibility for operating MALBEN and collaborating with the Israeli government to deliver comprehensive health and social welfare services.

The Israel record group is arranged into 6 series.

Series: Malben: Finance

Extent: 2 files

The two files in the Financial series contain financial reports from 1950-1951 regarding expenditures in Israel.

File JER.844: Israel: Finance, Travel, and Various Correspondence with Paris 1950

Old Folder Number: 150/1

Correspondence, reports, balance sheets, regarding expenditures through out Israel; plans for building and other expansion.

Israel: Finance, Travel, and Various Correspondence with Paris 1950

File JER.848: Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1951

Old Folder Number: 150/1.1

Correspondence, monthly reports, balance sheets, supplies invoice, regarding expenditures through out Israel; plans for dollar account.

Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1951

File JER.849: Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1952

Old Folder Number: 150/1.2

Correspondence, monthly reports, balance sheets, regarding expenditures through out Israel.

Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1952

Series: Administration: General

Extent: 3 files

The General series contains correspondence between European headquarters in Paris and the Israel office on a range of issues, including attendance at country directors’ conference, public relations, from 1950-1952.

File JER.844: Israel: Finance, Travel, and Various Correspondence with Paris 1950

Old Folder Number: 51/1/1

Correspondence with European Headquarters in Paris regarding fund in Central Bank; travel of various personnel to and from Israel; public relations for Malben; attendance at Country Directors’ Conference in Paris; World War Two era possible claims; thank you notes.

Israel: Finance, Travel, and Various Correspondence with Paris 1950

File JER.845: Israel: Finance, Travel and Various Correspondence with Paris January-July 1951

Old Folder Number: 51/1/2

Correspondence, meeting minutes, conference program, from European Headquarters in Paris regarding Malben institutions; travel of various personnel to and from Israel; Country Directors Conference; public relations for Malben and JDC Israel operations; department head meetings in Paris.

Israel: Finance, Travel and Various Correspondence with Paris January-July 1951

File JER.846: Israel: Finance, Travel and Various Correspondence with Paris 1951-1952

Old Folder Number: 51/1/3

Correspondence with, meeting minutes and conference program from European Headquarters in Paris regarding financial arrangements, adoption inquiry, personnel issues, education issues, travel of various personnel to and from Israel; Country Directors Conference.

Israel: Finance, Travel and Various Correspondence with Paris 1951-1952

Series: Malben: Finance

Extent: 2 files

The two files in the Financial series contain financial reports from 1950-1951 regarding expenditures in Israel.

File JER.847: Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1950

Old Folder Number: 150/1

Correspondence, reports, balance sheets, regarding expenditures through out Israel; plans for building and other expansion.

Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1950

File JER.848: Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1951

Old Folder Number: 150/1.1

Correspondence, monthly reports, balance sheets, supplies invoice, regarding expenditures through out Israel; plans for dollar account.

Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1951

File JER.849: Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1952

Old Folder Number: 150/1.2

Correspondence, monthly reports, balance sheets, regarding expenditures through out Israel.

Israel: Malben Financial Reports to Geneva and New York 1952

Series: Malben: General

Extent: 3 files

The General series contains records from 1949-1953 on the creation of Malben, a social service agency established by JDC to provide institutional care and social services to vulnerable populations across Israel. The files also include internal publications and publicity materials about Malben.

File JER.850: Israel: Malben Board of Directors 1949-1951, 1953

Old Folder Number: 202/1

Meeting minutes, memoranda, reports, regarding founding, meetings of Board of Directors of Malben, meetings with JDC leadership. Includes naming of organization, principles of agreement between Health Ministry and Malben, appointment of Pesach Litwak as executive director. Includes material from 1953 regarding advisory board formation.

Israel: Malben Board of Directors 1949-1951, 1953

File JER.851: Israel: Malben and JDC Internal Publications 1950-1952

Old Folder Number: 225/11

Internal publications for Malben and JDC, such as Out of Joint printed in Paris. Hebrew-language publication topics include Malben worker conditions, admission procedures at a Malben facility; statistics on Malben patients.

Israel: Malben and JDC Internal Publications 1950-1952

File JER.852: Israel: Malben Publicity 1952

Old Folder Number: 225/5

Press releases, correspondence with journalists, meeting minutes, regarding activities of Malben institutions and personnel. Includes visits of prominent people to facilities.

Israel: Malben Publicity 1952

Series: Malben: Legal

Extent: 1 files

The Legal series consists of one file. See file for details.

File JER.853: Israel: Legal Documents 1947, 1949-1951, 1953

Old Folder Number: 202/1

Powers of attorney, company ordinance, letters of incorporation, agreement with Jewish Agency, regarding the registration of JDC as a foreign company; establishment of Malben.

Israel: Legal Documents 1947, 1949-1951, 1953

Series: Medical

Extent: 10 files

The Medical series contains records on Malben facilities, treatment for lung disease patients in various Malben institutions, and information on soldier rehabilitation. Some correspondence reflects chaotic conditions in the facilities, such as difficulties of admitting sick children without their parents and the constant need for repairs in poorly constructed buildings.

File JER.854: Israel: Be'er Ya'acov Hospital 1950-May 1951

Old Folder Number: 327/19

Correspondence, meeting minutes, personnel list, progress reports, order forms, lists of supplies, construction materials, and equipment needed, regarding construction at tuberculosis hospital; transportation needs; personnel needed.

Israel: Be’er Ya’acov Hospital 1950-May 1951

File JER.855: Israel: Be'er Ya'acov Hospital June-December 1951

Old Folder Number: 327/19.1

Correspondence, meeting minutes, weekly personnel rosters, reports, lists of books needed, regarding construction at and supplies for tuberculosis hospital; staff housing; transportation needs; personnel needed. Includes congratulatory letters on increased use of Hebrew in the hospital.

Israel: Be’er Ya’acov Hospital June-December 1951

File JER.856: Israel: Be'er Ya'acov Hospital 1952

Old Folder Number: 327/19.2

Correspondence, meeting minutes, weekly personnel rosters, staff list, reports, lists of books needed, regarding construction at and equipment for tuberculosis hospital opened in July 1951; nursing courses; running procedure; personnel needed.

Israel: Be’er Ya’acov Hospital 1952

File JER.857: Israel: Lung Patient Care 1951-1952

Old Folder Number: 305/1

Meeting minutes, correspondence, form, regarding care for lung patients in Malben institutions. Topics include turbercular soldiers, education for child patients; treating children and pregnant women with tuberculosis; misbehaving patients; opening TB treatment clinics. Includes material on the problematic lack of procedure for admitting sick children, which results in not being able to identify them, their parents, as well as procedures to be put in place to correct this issue.

Israel: Lung Patient Care 1951-1952

File JER.858: Israel: Mahane Yisrael Hospital 1951

Old Folder Number: 327/22

Correspondence, personnel roster, meeting minutes, reports, course curriculum, patient transfer forms, regarding Malben hospital for chronic diseases and elderly serving camp/ma’abara for new olim. Topics include inadequate water and electricity supply, telephone, nursing course, construction, maintenance.

Israel: Mahane Yisrael Hospital 1951

File JER.859: Israel: Mahane Yisrael Hospital 1952

Old Folder Number: 327/22.1

Correspondence, weekly personnel attendance rosters, meeting minutes, patient transfer forms, regarding Malben hospital for chronic diseases and elderly serving camp/ma’abara for new olim. Topics include maintenance, field trips for patients, telephone.

Israel: Mahane Yisrael Hospital 1952

File JER.860: Israel: Medical Services Clinic 1951-1952

Old Folder Number: 352/3

Correspondence, telephone log, regarding personnel needs, running, repair and maintenance of office, dental clinic, pharmacy, medical supplies storage in Tel Aviv.

Israel: Medical Services Clinic 1951-1952

File JER.861: Israel: Ramat Marpey Hospital 1951-1952

Old Folder Number: 307/102

Agreements, correspondence, meeting minutes, regarding acquisition and administration of hospital for chronic and non-infectious diseases. Includes discussions regarding personnel, kashrut, statistics, maintenance.

Israel: Ramat Marpey Hospital 1951-1952

File JER.862: Israel: Soldiers' Rehabilitation 1949-1952

Old Folder Number: 326/9

Information bulletin, booklet of laws, regarding rehabilitation of soliders.

Israel: Soldiers’ Rehabilitation 1949-1952

File JER.887: Israel: Kfar Uriel 1950-1952

Old Folder Number: 207/55

Landscape and road plans, correspondence, budgets, rental contract, regarding initial stages of village for the blind and their families in Gedera. Topics include a plant nursery, electrical wiring, planned road to reach the village, lighting.

Israel: Kfar Uriel 1950-1952

Series: Malben: Old Age Homes

Extent: 4 files

The Old Age Homes series contains patient lists, correspondence, and meeting minutes about four old age homes in the Malben network.

File JER.863: Israel: Pardes Hanna Old Age Home 1952

Old Folder Number: 327/4

Weekly personnel rosters, patient statistics, correspondence regarding old age home. Topics include selling patients’ crafts, inspection of conditions, report on site visit, nurses’ vacations.

Israel: Pardes Hanna Old Age Home 1952

File JER.864: Israel: Sha'ar Menashe Old Age Home 1952

Old Folder Number: 327/6

Correspondence, meeting minutes, patient lists by European and Yemenite heritage, weekly personnel rosters, regarding old age home in Sha’ar Menashe, as well as some regarding Ein Shemer. Topics include medical visits, trees for grounds, new laboratory, construction and maintenance, social programs.

Israel: Sha’ar Menashe Old Age Home 1952

File JER.865: Israel: Talpiot Old Age Home 1951

Old Folder Number: 327/3

Correspondence, receipts, weekly personnel rosters, meeting minutes, patient lists, regarding Jerusalem old age home. Topics include medical books requested, patient statistics and movement, personnel, maintenance.

Israel: Talpiot Old Age Home 1951

File JER.866: Israel: Talpiot Old Age Home 1952

Old Folder Number: 327/3.1

Correspondence, sick notes, supplies order list, site visit reports, weekly personnel rosters, meeting minutes, regarding Jerusalem old age home. Topics include siyum conducted by patients, kitchen staff strike, doctors’ visits to the home rather than in clinics, patient statistics and movement, personnel, maintenance.

Israel: Talpiot Old Age Home 1952

Record Group: Middle East

Extent: 5 files

Please see the Countries and Regions subcollection-level description for further information on this record group.

Series: Administration: General

Extent: 3 files

The General series contains correspondence, reports, and requests for aid regarding Jews in Muslim countries from 1947-1949, the years surrounding the establishment of the State of Israel.

File JER.867: Middle East: Jews in Middle East August-September 1948

Old Folder Number: 51/1.39

Cables and correspondence regarding requests for information on Jews in Egypt, Syria and Iran; help to war sufferers in Israel.

Middle East: Jews in Middle East August-September 1948

File JER.868: Middle East: Jews in Moslem Countries Reports 1947-1949

Old Folder Number: 1.2

Correspondence, reports regarding conditions in North Africa, Aden, Syria, such as education, social work. Includes material on possible emergency assistance to Jews in Syria.

Middle East: Jews in Moslem Countries Reports 1947-1949

File JER.869: Middle East: Jews in Moslem Countries Reports 1949

Old Folder Number: 2.2

Correspondence, cables, meeting minutes, circular, journal, regarding position of Jews in various Middle Eastern countries; appeals for help; request for article from JTA regarding JDC activity in region.

Middle East: Jews in Moslem Countries Reports 1949

Series: Subject Matter: Samaritans

Extent: 2 files

The Samaritans series contains information on efforts to send aid to the Samaritan community in Nablus, in Jordanian-occupied land.

File JER.870: Middle East: Correspondence with Paris Regarding Samaritans 1949

Old Folder Number: 51/1.22

Correspondence, cables, names list, regarding assistance to the Samaritans in Nablus, including sending packages.

Middle East: Correspondence with Paris Regarding Samaritans 1949

File JER.871: Middle East: Correspondence with Paris Regarding Samaritans 1951-1952

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, newspaper clipping, booklet, copies of credit notes, regarding aid to Samaritans in Nablus. Includes arrangements for transfer of monthly funds once the Red Cross stops activity in Israel; internal arguments.

Middle East: Correspondence with Paris Regarding Samaritans 1951-1952

Record Group: Turkey

The Turkey Record Group details the activities of JDC’s office in Istanbul, which aided individuals in Bulgaria, Romania, and elsewhere in Turkey, These efforts included assistance to passengers from the S.S. Drottningholm, a prisoner exchange ship, and other individuals hoping to make Aliya to Israel or emigrate to other countries.

These records were originally stored as chronologically bound books. Contents have been separated and arranged by subject, but series’ contents do overlap. For additional material, please see JDC’s Istanbul Collection, 1937-1949.

The Turkey record group is arranged into 6 series.

Series: Administration: General

Extent: 3 files

The General series contains correspondence, reports regarding refugees under JDC’s care, and details of JDC’s administrative mechanisms put into place in the immediate post-World War II period.

File JER.872: Turkey: Administration Istanbul April-May 1945

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, reports, regarding travel plans of JDC staff, SS Drottingholm refugees under JDC care, financial arrangements, dealings with Romania, aid to Balkans, medical supplies, Kastner. Includes report from Swiss diplomat Charles Lutz on his wartime activities in Budapest.

Turkey: Administration Istanbul April-May 1945

File JER.873: Turkey: Administration Istanbul 1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence and records of correspondence, financial statements, regarding travel plans of JDC staff, including Regina Adania’s departure in April and Joseph Blum’s arrival in June. In addition, general letters dealing with a host of issues: financial arrangements, dealings with Romania, aid to Balkans, search for relatives, care for orphans.

Turkey: Administration Istanbul 1946

File JER.874: Turkey: Administration Istanbul: Turkish Communities, Czechslovakia and Varia June-December 1945

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, reports, records of correspondence, supplies lists, regarding travel plans of JDC staff, including Arthur Fishzohn’s departure for Athens and Regina Adania’s take over of office responsibilities. In addition, general letters dealing with a host of issues: SS Drottingholm refugees under JDC care, financial arrangements, dealings with Romania, aid to Balkans, search for relatives, Bulgarian committee.

Turkey: Administration Istanbul: Turkish Communities, Czechslovakia and Varia June-December 1945

Series: Subject Matter: Case Files

Extent: 1 files

The Case Files series contains one file covering the years 1945-1946. Please see file for details.

File JER.875: Turkey: Individual Cases Turkey 1945-1946

Extent: .5 inch

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence including request for help for Greek Jews in Lublin; discussion regarding aid to individuals requested by their relatives. Most requests are of a financial nature.

Turkey: Individual Cases Turkey 1945-1946

Series: Subject Matter: Emigration

Extent: 4 files

The Emigration series contains records from 1945-1946, including names lists, financial records, statistics regarding both individuals making Aliya and individuals emigrating to countries other than Palestine, and reports on refugees from the S.S. Drottningholm cared for by JDC.

File JER.876: Turkey: Aliya from Istanbul 1944-1945

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, names lists of olim, financial records for aliya including luggage, accomodation, and food costs, statistics on olim since January 1943.

Turkey: Aliya from Istanbul 1944-1945

File JER.877: Turkey: Aliya from Istanbul 1945-1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, names lists of olim, financial records for aliya including luggage, accomodation, and food costs, statistics on olim since June 1945. Also includes some emigrants traveling to Syria and India.

Turkey: Aliya from Istanbul 1945-1946

File JER.878: Turkey: Emigration from Turkey 1945-1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, regarding individuals in Turkey hoping to return to their countries of origin or emigrate elsewhere in the aftermath of World War II. Includes report of arrivals in Stockholm from camps.

Turkey: Emigration from Turkey 1945-1946

File JER.879: Turkey: S.S. Drottingholm Passengers 1945-1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, names lists, financial and statistical reports, regarding former inmates of concentration camps exchanged as prisoners for German nationals. Many of these refugees of Turkish nationality were not recognized as such by Turkish authorities, and therefore 112 individuals came under the care of JDC. The last were able to emigrate in April 1946.

Turkey: S.S. Drottingholm Passengers 1945-1946

Series: Subject Matter: Supplies

Extent: 3 files

The Supplies series contains inventories of shipped goods, insurance certificates, and correspondence discussing regarding medical supplies, matzot and other goods shipped to the Balkans, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Turkey, and Hachshara (Zionist collective) camps in Germany. The Red Cross, JDC, UNRRA, and relief organizations in South Africa and Australia provided the goods distributed across Europe and the Middle East.

The series includes discussions about the opening of an office in Czechoslovakia and the possibility of sending packages to Hungary. Charles Passman, Director of JDC’s Parcel Service, discouraged the latter idea in part because of challenges JDC has previously encountered while sending relief parcels through Iran.

File JER.880: Turkey: Supplies Turkey March-May 1945

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, lists of shipped goods, regarding medical and other supplies for Hungary, Balkans.

Turkey: Supplies Turkey March-May 1945

File JER.881: Turkey: Supplies Turkey June-December 1945

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, lists of shipped goods, regarding medical and other supplies for Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Balkans, Hachshara camps, DPs in Germany and Poland, Turkey itself, as well as individuals in Warsaw, Sofia. Provided by Red Cross, JDC, UNRRA, organizations in South Africa, Australia. In addition, possibility raised and rejected of a scheme to send parcels to relatives.

Turkey: Supplies Turkey June-December 1945

File JER.882: Turkey: Supplies Turkey 1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, lists of shipped goods, pamphlet, insurance certificate, regarding medical supplies, matzot, and other goods for Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania, Balkans. Includes proposal to send cigarette parcels to individuals in Europe.

Turkey: Supplies Turkey 1946

Series: Subject Matter: Tracing Service

Extent: 1 files

The Tracing Service series consists of one file covering the years 1945-1946. Please see the file for details.

File JER.883: Turkey: Tracing Service Turkey 1945-1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, requests for survivors lists, regarding the fate of relatives sent to those concerned in other locations. Includes news of and inquiries by Drottningholm prisoner exchange ship passengers.

Turkey: Tracing Service Turkey 1945-1946

Series: Localities

Extent: 3 files

The Localities series focuses on the activities of JDC’s office in Istanbul from 1945-1946, which was the liaison for relief efforts in Bulgaria and Romania. Correspondence in this series covers supplies and assistance proffered in both countries, as well as topics of concern specific to each country (for example, the Romania correspondence file includes information on the arrest of community leader Wilhelm Filderman).

File JER.884: Turkey: Bulgaria Correspondence 1945

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, Order in Council, reports, constructive plan, names list, regarding supplies, administration of Jewish committee and future JDC activities, Aliya.

Turkey: Bulgaria Correspondence 1945

File JER.885: Turkey: Bulgaria Correspondence 1945-1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, distribution chart, newspaper clipping, reports, names lists, insurance claim, regarding supplies, administration of Jewish committee and future JDC activities, Aliya, efforts for JDC staff to be granted entry visas, possible loan kassa.

Turkey: Bulgaria Correspondence 1945-1946

File JER.886: Turkey: Romania Correspondence 1945-1946

Old Folder Number: none

Correspondence, Bills of lading, reports, regarding conditions of and service to Jews in liberated countries, requested aid to individuals, search for relatives, supplies, administration of future JDC activities, loan kassas. In addition, increased communication difficulties and request not to send supplies in 1946.

Turkey: Romania Correspondence 1945-1946

The cataloging, microfilming, and digitization of this collection was made possible with support from the Colman Family Foundation, Memorial de la Shoah (Paris), and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Archives of The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc.

Email: [email protected]