Overview
- Brief Narrative
- Partial sheet of poster stamps distributed in 1941 by the American Federation for Polish Jews. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Federation’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust, making the Federation’s mission a personal cause for him. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The American Federation for Polish Jews was founded in 1908 in New York City as the Federation of Russian-Polish Hebrews, and changed their name in the 1920s. During the Holocaust, the American Federation coordinated with the World Federation to provide relief and assistance to Jews living in Poland.
- Date
-
issue:
1941 May 18
- Geography
-
issue:
New York (N.Y.)
distribution: United States.
- Credit Line
- United States Holocaust Memorial Museum collection, gift of Gregg and Michelle Philipson
- Markings
- front, top, within frame, printed, white : THEY SHALL NOT DIE
front, bottom, within frame, printed, white : AMERICAN FEDERATION / FOR / POLISH JEWS
front, bottom, margin, printed, blue ink : AMERICAN BANK NOTE CO. LITHO. - Signature
- front, bottom right corner, within frame, printed, blue ink : ARTHUR SZYK
- Contributor
-
Distributor:
American Federation for Polish Jews
Designer: Arthur Szyk
Printer: American Bank Note Company
- Biography
-
Arthur Szyk (1894-1951) was born to Jewish parents, Solomon and Eugenia Szyk in Łódź, Poland, which at the time was part of the Russian Empire. He had his first public art exhibition at age 15, and then went to Paris, France, for formal art training at the Academie Julian. He visited Palestine in 1914 with a group of Polish-Jewish artists and studied Muslim art. Upon his return, he was conscripted into the Russian Army and served in World War I. He married Julia Liekerman in 1916, and they had a son, George, in 1917. In 1918, Poland regained independence, but continued to fight a series of regional wars to secure its boundaries. Between 1919 and 1920, during Poland's war against the Soviet Bolsheviks, Syzk served as a cavalry officer and artistic director of the Department of Propaganda for the Polish Army in Łódź. In 1921, he and his family moved to Paris where his daughter, Alexandra was born the following year.
Szyk was well known for his illuminations and book illustrations, in a style reminiscent of Persian miniatures. He worked on several significant projects in France, including illustrating the Statute of Kalisz, the Haggadah, and a series of watercolors on the American Revolutionary War. The themes of his most admired works, democracy and Judaism, were already well established, earning him both fame and significant commissions. In 1934, Szyk traveled to the United States for exhibitions of his work and to receive the George Washington Bicentennial Medal, awarded by the US Congress. He resided in England from 1937-1940 to supervise the publication of the Haggadah. In 1939, following Germany's invasion of Poland, he focused on producing anti-Nazi editorial cartoons published in many Western newspapers and magazines. During the German occupation of Poland, his 70 year old mother, Eugenia, and her Polish companion were forced to live in the Łódź ghetto. In 1943, they were transported to Majdanek concentration camp and killed.
In late 1940, Szyk immigrated to the United States with his family. He became a leading anti-Fascist political caricaturist as well as an advocate for Jewish rescue. In addition to his widely published satirical art, Szyk devoted a great deal of time and energy to the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe, and pushed for the establishment of an independent Jewish state in Palestine. Szyk received his US citizenship in 1948. In 1951, he was investigated by the United States House Un-American Activities Committee as a suspected Communist. His son, speaking on his behalf, declared his non-affiliation with any Communist organization. Later that year, on September 13, Szyk suffered a heart attack and died at age 57.
Physical Details
- Language
- English
- Classification
-
Posters
- Category
-
Anti-Nazi propaganda
- Object Type
-
Poster stamps (lcsh)
- Genre/Form
- Stamps.
- Physical Description
- Row of four rectangular poster stamps, separated by perforated edges, on cream paper with blue printed images and an adhesive backing. The left edge is unperforated. All four stamps bear the same markings and image featuring three figures. On the left is a man wearing a kippah and an armband with the Star of David. In the center is an elderly, Jewish man with a large beard, wearing a wide-brimmed hat, a white armband with the Star of David, and a tallit under his long, dark coat. The elderly man has is left arm around an elderly woman to the right, who is wearing decorated tichel. The central image is placed inside a decorative frame with an arched top and set within a blue rectangle. There is scrollwork within each corner. The slogan is printed across the top and the distributing organization is across the bottom. The artist’s name is printed within the frame in the lower right corner, and the name of the printer is across the bottom. The left edge has staining that extends onto the back, and the two stamps on the right have a long, diagonal crease. On the back, the rightmost stamp has a blue misprint.
- Dimensions
- overall: Height: 2.000 inches (5.08 cm) | Width: 6.000 inches (15.24 cm)
- Materials
- overall : paper, ink, adhesive
Rights & Restrictions
- Conditions on Access
- No restrictions on access
- Conditions on Use
- No restrictions on use
Keywords & Subjects
- Topical Term
- Anti-Nazi movement. Anti-Nazi propaganda. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)--Foreign public opinion, American. Jews--New York (State)--New York. Jews--United States--Charities--Influence.
- Geographic Name
- New York (N.Y.) United States.
- Personal Name
- Szyk, Arthur, 1894-1951.
- Corporate Name
- American Federation for Polish Jews
Administrative Notes
- Legal Status
- Permanent Collection
- Provenance
- The stamp was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2017 by Gregg Philipson.
- Record last modified:
- 2024-01-16 14:25:23
- This page:
- https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn562739
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Also in Gregg and Michelle Philipson Collection and Archive
The collection consists of poster stamps and a letter relating to the United States and Poland before, during, and after the Holocaust.
Date: after 1933 May-1947 November 22
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled, “Tears of Rage,” created in 1942 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Tears of Rage,” created by Jewish artist Arthur Szyk in 1942 and used to create public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was co-founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Tears of Rage,” created by Jewish artist Arthur Szyk in 1942 and used to create public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was co-founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Tears of Rage,” created by Jewish artist Arthur Szyk in 1942 and used to create public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was co-founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled, “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled, “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled, “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled, “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled, “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…" It was created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled, “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…" It was created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled, “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…” It was created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled, “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…” It was created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, and used to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp issued and distributed in May 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, and used to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, and used to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp issued and distributed in May 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, and used to create public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…,” created in1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…,” created in1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Tears of Rage,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Tears of Rage,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was co-founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp, issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Tears of Rage,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was co-founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design, featuring two frightened Jewish children, is an excerpt from a piece entitled “To Be Shot, as Dangerous Enemies of the Third Reich…,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The full drawing depicts the children standing before a tribunal from the German Wehrmacht. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Tears of Rage,” created in 1942 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts a Jewish soldier angered at the murder and suffering of Jews by the Nazis. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp issued and distributed in May 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Second-issue poster stamp issued and distributed in May 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp distributed in 1942 by the American Federation for Polish Jews. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Federation’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust, making the Federation’s mission a personal cause for him. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The American Federation for Polish Jews was founded in 1908 in New York City as the Federation of Russian-Polish Hebrews, and changed their name in the 1920s. During the Holocaust, the American Federation coordinated with the World Federation to provide relief and assistance to Jews living in Poland.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Poster stamp distributed in 1942 by the American Federation for Polish Jews. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Federation’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust, making the Federation’s mission a personal cause for him. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The American Federation for Polish Jews was founded in 1908 in New York City as the Federation of Russian-Polish Hebrews, and changed their name in the 1920s. During the Holocaust, the American Federation coordinated with the World Federation to provide relief and assistance to Jews living in Poland.
Set of US poster stamps depicting the Four Freedoms
Object
Poster stamps distributed in 1944 and 1945 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The designs were copied from works created by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, who was inspired by President Roosevelt’s January 1941 State of the Union address (also known as the Four Freedoms Speech), and used to create public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
Set of US poster stamps depicting the Four Freedoms
Object
Poster stamps distributed in 1944 and 1945 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The designs were copied from works created by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, who was inspired by President Roosevelt’s January 1941 State of the Union address (also known as the Four Freedoms Speech), and used to create public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
US poster stamp addressing Polish Jews
Object
Poster stamp issued and distributed in 1942 by the American Federation for Polish Jews. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The American Federation for Polish Jews was founded in 1908 in New York City as the Federation of Russian-Polish Hebrews, and changed their name in the 1920s. During the Holocaust, the American Federation coordinated with the World Federation to provide relief and assistance to Jews living in Poland. Despite the promise printed on the stamp to not turn their back on European Jews, the United States government made it increasingly difficult for refugees to enter the country. Prior to entering the war in 1941, the State Department feared infiltration and espionage, and required multiple moral and financial affidavits in addition to a number of other documents for those wishing to enter the country. Additionally, they maintained a strict quota system, which restricted the number of visas granted each year. Fleeing Europe became even more difficult in July 1941 when U.S. consulates closed in Nazi-occupied territories, including Poland.
Block of US poster stamps encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Block of poster stamps issued in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
Sheet of US poster stamps encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
Sheet of poster stamps issued in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design was created by the Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
Letter from Jedwabne, Poland
Document
Contains a letter and envelope from mailed from Jedwabne, Poland to the United States, dated November 22, 1947.
US anti-Nazi Germany boycott poster stamp with a swastika formed by snakes
Object
Poster stamp, issued and distributed in 1935 by the American Jewish Congress (AJC). Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The AJC was founded in 1918 by Jewish-American leaders to fight for the civil rights of minorities. During the 1930s, AJC president Rabbi Stephen Wise began speaking out about the dangers of Nazism. The organization led a counter-boycott of German goods in 1933. In 1936, the AJC helped establish the World Jewish Congress (WJC), and acted as a liaison between the WJC and the U.S. government. During the Holocaust, the AJC and the WJC worked to raise funds to help rescue European Jews and promoted the creation of a Jewish State in Israel.
US anti-Nazi Germany boycott poster stamp with a monstrous figure
Object
Poster stamp depicting the Germanic god, Donar, issued and distributed in the late 1930s by the Joint Boycott Council (JBC). Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Joint Boycott Council of the American Jewish Congress and Jewish Labor Committee was a partnership formed in 1936, chaired by Dr. Joseph Tenenbaum. The Council served as a coordination effort for the counter-boycott of German goods and services in the United States, prior to entering World War II. The Council produced a list of boycotted companies and sent demands to those companies to cease the import of goods from Germany. The boycott movement, and the Council’s work, ended when the United States entered the war in December 1941.
US pro-American poster stamp with an image of Uncle Sam
Object
Poster stamp depicting Uncle Sam, issued and distributed in 1940 by the American Jewish League. The Jewish War Veterans of the United States also distributed stamps of this design. Following the outbreak of the war, the American Jewish League believed that Communism was the largest global threat, and through the stamps aimed to send a silent but powerful message. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as a fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tool. The American Jewish League, Inc. was formed in New York City, prior to 1939, for those not eligible to join the Jewish War Veterans of the United States.
Poster stamp with a printed appeal to not buy Nazi goods
Object
Poster stamp encouraging the boycott of German products, issued by the Jewish War Veterans of the United States (JWV) in May 1933. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg. The Nazi’s increasing targeting of Jews led the small, but militant JWV to hold a parade in New York City and launch the first boycott of German goods in the United States on March 23. Other organizations, including the American Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee, soon followed with large protest rallies. In reaction to the negative international press on April 1, the German Nazis instigated a one-day nationwide boycott of Jewish businesses and professionals. Soon after, anti-Jewish decrees were passed that restricted every aspect of Jewish life in Germany. On April 10, 1933, the JWV opened a boycott office in New York City, where they printed placards, seals, and letters. The JWV began their stamp campaign on May 21, issuing several million stamps, and estimating that they would continue to send out 10,000,000 a week. Due to their resemblance to postage stamps, the U.S. Post Office banned their use on the exterior of mail. Consequently, the JWV encouraged their use on correspondence instead. The boycott movement in America never gained a popular following, and the U.S. Department of State opposed it entirely. By 1941, American enthusiasm for the boycott movement had waned, and the widespread efforts by the larger organizations ceased in October, shortly before the United States entered the war.
US anti-Nazi boycott poster stamp with a Star of David and a Nazi wolf
Object
Poster stamp encouraging the boycott of Nazi products, issued in the United States during the boycott movement between May 1933 and October 1941. Unlike many others issued during the boycott, this stamp makes a distinction between Nazis and Germany as a whole. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg. The Nazi’s increasing targeting of Jews led the small, but militant, Jewish War Veterans of the United States (JWV) to hold a parade in New York City and launch the first boycott of German goods in the United States on March 23. Other organizations, including the American Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee, soon followed with large protest rallies. In reaction to the negative international press on April 1, the German Nazis instigated a one-day nationwide boycott of Jewish businesses and professionals. Soon after, anti-Jewish decrees were passed that restricted every aspect of Jewish life in Germany. On April 10, 1933, the JWV opened a boycott office in New York City, where they printed placards, seals, and letters. The JWV also began a stamp campaign on May 21, and the other organizations followed suit. The U.S. Post Office banned their use on the exterior of mail—due to their resemblance to postage stamps—so the JWV encouraged their use on the correspondence instead. The boycott movement in America never gained a popular following, and the U.S. Department of State opposed it entirely. By 1941, American enthusiasm for the boycott movement had waned, and the widespread efforts by the larger organizations ceased in October, shortly before the United States entered the war.
US anti-Nazi boycott poster stamp with a Star of David and a Nazi wolf
Object
Poster stamp encouraging the boycott of Nazi products, issued in the United States during the boycott movement between May 1933 and October 1941. Unlike many others issued during the boycott, this stamp makes a distinction between Nazis and Germany as a whole. On January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed chancellor of Germany by President Paul von Hindenburg. The Nazi’s increasing targeting of Jews led the small, but militant, Jewish War Veterans of the United States (JWV) to hold a parade in New York City and launch the first boycott of German goods in the United States on March 23. Other organizations, including the American Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee, soon followed with large protest rallies. In reaction to the negative international press on April 1, the German Nazis instigated a one-day nationwide boycott of Jewish businesses and professionals. Soon after, anti-Jewish decrees were passed that restricted every aspect of Jewish life in Germany. On April 10, 1933, the JWV opened a boycott office in New York City, where they printed placards, seals, and letters. The JWV also began a stamp campaign on May 21, and the other organizations followed suit. The U.S. Post Office banned their use on the exterior of mail—due to their resemblance to postage stamps—so the JWV encouraged their use on the correspondence instead. The boycott movement in America never gained a popular following, and the U.S. Department of State opposed it entirely. By 1941, American enthusiasm for the boycott movement had waned, and the widespread efforts by the larger organizations ceased in October, shortly before the United States entered the war.
US poster stamp encouraging people to donate to a humanitarian organization
Object
First-issue poster stamp, distributed in 1944 by the Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe. The design is copied from a piece entitled “Modern Moses,” created in 1943 by Jewish artist, Arthur Szyk, to develop public interest in the Committee’s humanitarian efforts. The image depicts Moses, a role model for the Zionist movement. He is flanked by a Jewish soldier prepared to fight, and an industrial worker, ready to contribute to the war economy. All three figures serve as inspiration for American Jews to make their own contributions to the war effort. Szyk was himself an immigrant born in Łódź, Poland, and lost his mother in the Holocaust. The mission of the Committee was a personal cause for Szyk, and he became one of the founding members. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as fund-raising, propaganda, and educational tools. The Emergency Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was founded in 1943 by Peter H. Bergson (pseudonym for Hillel Kook) and other young Jewish activists. The Committee formed in reaction to the first verified information of the Holocaust that reached the United States. On July 20, 1943, the group held the Emergency Conference in New York City, bringing together 1,500 delegates. The Committee was replaced by the American League for a Free Palestine in 1945.
