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Silence Was Silence Was Not an Option Not an Option by Gedaliah borvick by Gedaliah borvick

My colleague recently marketed a project in Ramot, situated between Henry Morgenthau Street and Harry Truman Street. Thanks to President Truman’s support, the United States voted in favor of the 1947 UN Partition Plan. In addition, Truman was the first world leader to recognize the State of Israel when they declared their independence in 1948. But who was Henry Morgenthau and why did he merit to have a Jerusalem street named after him?

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a dynamic and charismatic politician whom most American Jews adored. This admiration was primarily due to Roosevelt’s New Deal – a series of programs and financial reforms enacted to create jobs and revitalize the U.S. economy following the Great Depression, which helped improve the lives of many Jewish immigrants. However, recently uncovered material reveals Roosevelt’s unwillingness during World War II to denounce Nazi oppression, which led to U.S. inaction on behalf of Jewish refugees who were subsequently murdered in the Holocaust.

Henry Morgenthau, Jr. was the only Jew in Roosevelt’s cabinet and served as the Secretary of the Treasury. In January 1944, Morgenthau alerted Roosevelt of evidence unearthed by the Treasury that State Department officials delayed sending financial aid for European Jews,

suppressed information of the Nazi reMy colleague recently marketed a project in Ramot, situated between Henry Morgengime’s mass murder of Jews – which by that time totaled over 4,000,000 deaths – and obstructed rescue opportunities thau Street and Harry Truman Street. to rescue European Jews. Using tact Thanks to President Truman’s support, and strength, Morgenthau successfully the United States voted in favor of the persuaded Roosevelt to right this wrong 1947 UN Partition Plan. In addition, and sign an executive order establishing Truman was the first world leader to the War Refugee Board. recognize the State of Israel when they declared their independence in 1948. But who was Henry Morgenthau and why did he merit to have a Jerusalem street named after him?

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a dynamic and charismatic politician whom most American Jews adored. This admiration was primarily due to Roosevelt’s New Deal – a series of programs and financial reforms enacted to create jobs and revitalize the U.S. economy following the Great Depression, which helped improve the lives of many Jewish immigrants. However, recently uncovered material reveals Roosevelt’s unwillingness during World War II to denounce Nazi oppression, which led to U.S. inaction on behalf of Jewish refugees who were subsequently murdered in the Holocaust.

Henry Morgenthau, Jr. was the only Jew in Roosevelt’s cabinet and served as the Secretary of the Treasury. In January 1944, Morgenthau alerted Roosevelt of evidence unearthed by the Treasury that State Department officials delayed sending financial aid for European Jews, suppressed information of the Nazi regime’s mass murder of Jews – which by that time totaled over 4,000,000 deaths – and obstructed rescue opportunities to rescue European Jews. Using tact and strength, Morgenthau successfully persuaded Roosevelt to right this wrong and sign an executive order establishing the War Refugee Board. The WRB provided funds and logistical assistance to underground groups and to individuals like Raoul Wallenberg, a humanitarian hero who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews. In total, the WRB helped save approximately 200,000 Jews and 20,000 non-Jews from January 1944 until the end of the war in May 1945.

One month after Nazi Germany surrendered, Morgenthau began to hear complaints about Holocaust survivors being mistreated in camps controlled by the Allied military. Morgenthau and the WRB staff persuaded President Truman that attorney Earl Harrison should visit Germany and Austria to survey the situation. After touring thirty camps, Harrison’s report strongly criticized the military’s treatment of the displaced persons. He did not mince words when he wrote: “As matters now stand, we ap-

pear to be treating the Jews as the NaThe WRB provided funds and logistical zis treated them except that we do not assistance to underground groups and exterminate them.” Harrison’s report to individuals like Raoul Wallenberg, resulted in a dramatic change toward a humanitarian hero who saved tens of Jewish displaced persons, who were thousands of Hungarian Jews. In total, soon moved to their own camps and the WRB helped save approximately granted far better treatment. 200,000 Jews and 20,000 non-Jews After leaving the Treasury Departfrom January 1944 until the end of the ment, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. became an war in May 1945. ardent supporter of the fledgling State of Israel and served as chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and as the first chairman of Israel Bonds. Now we understand why a Jerusalem street – in addition to the Israeli village Moshav Tal Shachar, which means Morning Dew, after the German Morgen Tau – was named in honor of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., as he took a courageous stand during one of the darkest periods of world history to support the Jewish people. (I wrote this article based on numerous articles, but my primary source was

One month after Nazi Germany sur- an eye-opening book by Rafael Medoff rendered, Morgenthau began to hear called, “The Jews Should Keep Quiet.”) complaints about Holocaust survivors being mistreated in camps controlled by the Allied military. Morgenthau and the WRB staff persuaded President Truman that attorney Earl Harrison should visit Germany and Austria to survey the situation. After touring thirty camps, Harrison’s report strongly criticized the military’s treatment of the displaced persons. He did not mince words when he wrote: “As matters now stand, we appear to be treating the Jews as the Nazis treated them except that we do not exterminate them.” Harrison’s report resulted in a dramatic change toward Jewish displaced persons, who were soon moved to their own camps and granted far better treatment. After leaving the Treasury Department, Henry Morgenthau, Jr. became an ardent supporter of the fledgling State of Israel and served as chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and as the first chairman of Israel Bonds. Now we understand why a Jerusalem street – in addition to the Israeli village Moshav Tal Shachar, which means Morning Dew, after the German Morgen Tau – was named in honor of Henry Morgenthau, Jr., as he took a courageous stand during one of the darkest periods of world history to support the Jewish people. (I wrote this article based on numerous articles, but my primary source was an eye-opening book by Rafael Medoff called, “The Jews Should Keep Quiet.”)

He did not mince words when he wrote: “As matters now stand, we appear to be He did not mince words when he wrote: treating the Jews as the Nazis treated them “As matters now stand, we appear to be except that we do not exterminate them.” treating the Jews as the Nazis treated them except that we do not exterminate them.”

The WRB consisted of Morgenthau and two other cabinet members, but The WRB consisted of Morgenthau Morgenthau ran the show. Funded priand two other cabinet members, but marily from Jewish organizations, the Morgenthau ran the show. Funded priWRB was led by two of Morgenthau’s marily from Jewish organizations, the Treasury members and had a relatively WRB was led by two of Morgenthau’s small but dedicated staff that carried Treasury members and had a relatively out operations in Europe and the Midsmall but dedicated staff that carried dle East. Understanding the urgency out operations in Europe and the Midof their mission, the staff employed all dle East. Understanding the urgency means at its disposal – including bribof their mission, the staff employed all ery and producing forged documents means at its disposal – including brib– to protect refugees from the Nazis. ery and producing forged documents – to protect refugees from the Nazis.

Gedaliah Borvick, founder of My Israel Home, will be in NY/NJ the week of May Gedaliah Borvick, founder of My Israel 15th running home-buying programs. For Home, will be in NY/NJ the week of May more info, or to schedule a private meeting, 15th running home-buying programs. For please contact him at gborvick@gmail.com more info, or to schedule a private meeting, or via Whatsapp at +972-54-623-0099. please contact him at gborvick@gmail.com or via Whatsapp at +972-54-623-0099.