Commission Central d’Oeuvres Juives d’Assistance

Founded in 1940-10-30

Many central and local Jewish relief organizations were to be found in the unoccupied zone immediately after the exodus and the armistice of 1940-06. The activities of these organizations were not coordinated, nor was there a central organization that could deal with the French Government. That is why on a conference in Marseilles on 1940-10-30 and 1940-10-31 the Commission Central d’Oeuvres Juives d’Assistance was organized. The CCOJA rejected above all the Central Consistory’s claim to represent French Judaism. The CCOJA created the following sub-committees and commissions: 1. Comité d’Action Financiered for the collection of funds, 2. Permanent Administrative Committee, 3. Juridical Committee (Service Juridique), 4. Camp Committee (with offices in Toulouse), 4. Tracing Committee (service de recherches), 5. Commission for Administrative Matters, 6. Commission for Vocational Training, 7. Commission for Social and Medical Assistance, 8. Commission for Youth Activities and 9. Commission for Assistance to Prisoners of war. Prior to the Marseilles conference, each organization often intervened with the French authorities and private relief organizations on behalf of Jews. After its foundation the CCOJA intervened only on rare occasions. Each organization was jealous of its autonomy and maintained its contact with the authorities through its own channels.