"Never forget that there is no limit to hakaras hatov”
The Joint Distribution Committee (JDC or Joint) is a Jewish relief organization founded in 1914 through a $50,000 donation from Jacob Schiff, a Reform Jew. Although the organization was founded and run by Reform Jews, they attempted to help all Jews who needed assistance, which included relief work and financial help to the great yeshivos in Europe.
After the stock market crash in October 1929, the world descended into the Great Depression and the JDC was forced to limit its financial assistance, including its aid to the yeshivos.
As the financial support to the yeshivos decreased, some of the yeshivah directors felt that the Joint should prioritize the yeshivos in the allocation of its now-limited funds, that directing money to other causes was indicative of the Joint’s bias against the yeshivos.
They decided to approach the Chofetz Chaim. They asked him, “Rebbi, the Joint wants to eliminate funding to the yeshivos. What should we tell them? How should we protest this terrible decree?”
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