Vaad Hatzalah
Encyclopedia : V : VA : VAA : Vaad Hatzalah
- For the Zionist Va'adat Ha-Ezrah ve-ha-Hatzalah be-Budapesht, see Aid and Rescue Committee.
- Founded in November 1939 by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada (Agudat haRabbanim)[link]
- Originally named Emergency Committee for War-Torn Yeshivas
- Often referred to as the Rescue Committee
Illegal Activities
Recognizing that following the law would lead to greater numbers of Jews being murdered, the Vaad sometimes used means that were illegal.For example, the Polish government in exile in Bern sent coded cables to New York on behalf of the Vaad and related Orthodox organizations. This avoided the strict American censors and allowed messages from Nazi-controlled Europe to reach Jewish rescuers. The American State Department had issued orders to block messages coming from Europe regarding news of the Nazis extermination of the Jews.
References
See also
External Resources
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