1948 JDC Country Directors’ Conference

The second JDC Country Directors’ Conference (April 5-11, 1948) in Paris. Attendees from the United States, nineteen European countries, North Africa, Cyprus, and the Middle East met to analyze relief, resettlement, and reconstruction operations for some 1,000,000 Holocaust survivors in Europe. Among those present were Dr. Joseph Schwartz, Chairman of the European Executive Council for JDC; JDC official and US Army Brigadier General Morris Troper; Laura Margolis, Country Director for France; Edward Warburg, JDC Chairman; Rabbi Jonah D. Wise, National Chairman of UJA; and Moses A. Leavitt, JDC's Executive Vice-Chairman. 01:12:16 INT, woman and three men seated at a table with papers and small paper tent signs “PARIS” and “NEW YORK.” Long table with men and women seated, signs on table read “POLAND,” “BRIT ZONE GERMANY,” “AUSTRIA,” and others. Men seated. One sets down his pipe and stands up, buttons his jacket and begins to speak. CU of seated man smoking a pipe. Two men seated at “PARIS” and “NEW YORK” table. Smoking women in dark glasses seated at table with two men, signs on table indicate “FRANCE” and “CYPRUS.” CU of man in glasses smoking a cigar. CU of man listening. View up between chairs towards a table with two men, one standing initially, with the sign “American Joint Distribution Committee” on the wall behind them. Man takes notes at table with “PARIS” sign. Camera pans the room of people seated at long tables as one man stands and speaks. CU woman takes notes behind the sign “DENMARK.” Men speak and people listen. View out the window, then back to the room of seated people, many smoking. EXTs, Place de la Concorde in Paris, fountain in the FG with cars driving by and Hôtel de Crillon in the BG. Leavitt was born in New York City. He studied chemical engineering and worked with chemical companies until 1922, when he entered Jewish social service work. He became assistant secretary of the American Joint Distribution Committee in 1929, then was transferred in 1933 to the Palestine Economic Corporation, an organization closely allied to JDC, where he served as vice president and secretary. Succeeding Joseph Hyman as JDC secretary in 1940, Leavitt directed JDC aid from the U.S. to German-occupied Europe. Together with Joseph J. Schwartz in Europe, Leavitt formed most of the policy decisions during the war and especially after it, when JDC spent the largest sums in its history aiding Jewish survivors in Europe. He also took part in channeling JDC efforts to immigration to Israel and the start of social service for the elderly (Malben) there. After prolonged negotiations, he was one of the signatories of the $107 million agreement with West Germany on Jewish Material Claims. Leavitt, who had been executive vice chairman of JDC from 1947, served as chairman of the American Council of Voluntary Agencies from 1954, and later as honorary chairman (1958). He was also a member of The Hebrew University Board of Governors (from 1959).