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Jewish womens group fights, educates on human trafficking

BY DREW HIMMELSTEIN | J. WEEKLY | AUG. 14, 2015
Antonia Lavine (left) and Rachel Ungar work to end human trafficking. photo/drew himmelstein

A hundred years ago, a crisis engulfed thousands of vulnerable Jewish women from Eastern Europe. Lured by false promises, they arrived in America and found themselves the victims of human traffickers who forced them to work as prostitutes.

The National Council of Jewish Women fought tirelessly against this so-called “white slavery” and worked with immigration officials to meet single women who arrived at Ellis Island or Angel Island, taking them to shelters and helping them find jobs.