American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (1914-1953)

The main point of this dissertation is the history of American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee from 1914 to 1953, which is divided into three chapters:Chapter I mainly discusses the background of the establishment of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and its aim, structure and ways of collecting money. The crisis of the Jews in East European and Palestine showed the necessity of relief in these regions. Meanwhile, American Jews had earned political and economical success in the early 20th century and they had the ability to aid overseas brethrens. The tradition of philanthropy among Jewish people inspires American Jews’willingness to help their coreligionists. Its aim is to make Jews live their own lives in their own way. Throughout 1930s, its structure and ways of collecting money had experienced a obvious change.Chapter II’s focus is the historical activities of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The organization had carried out a series of activities, which included social welfare activities, economic relief, reconstruction of Jewish religion and culture and immigration for European Jewish refugees before and after the World War II.Chapter III mainly explores the characters and influence of the activities of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The committee had helped to survive millions of Jews and make them live their own life; It strengthened Jewish ethnic identity; Furthermore, its social welfare activities had promoted the establishment of the Israel national welfare system.Overall, the achievement of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee proves that American Jews has played a dominant role among the world Jewish people.