A short time after Warsaw was occupied by the Germans, the Jewish community organized a social welfare committee known as the Żydowska Samopomoc Społeczna (Jewish Social Self-Help), or the ZSS, in order to provide social assistance to the Jewish residents. Funding for the activities came primarily from the Polish branch of the Joint, which was also located in Warsaw.
![Distribution of ration cards to released Jewish POWs in the Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/32_1684.jpg?itok=kRkjaehR)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 32/1684
![Distribution of ration cards to released Jewish POWs in the Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/32_1684.jpg?itok=NreyN2kg)
![Women working in a sewing factory in the main building of the ZSS at 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/32_1702.jpg?itok=ET-ixR7F)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 32/1702
![Women working in a sewing factory in the main building of the ZSS at 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/32_1702.jpg?itok=u274lNFW)
![Workers in a sewing factory in the main building of the ZSS at 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/32_1712.jpg?itok=1NTKHTug)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 32/1712
![Workers in a sewing factory in the main building of the ZSS at 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/32_1712.jpg?itok=fDqXAMfV)
![Preparing to distribute clothing to the needy at the main warehouse of the ZSS at 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/32_1725_0.jpg?itok=BgMe6y0g)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 32/1725
![Preparing to distribute clothing to the needy at the main warehouse of the ZSS at 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/32_1725_0.jpg?itok=7Px7Viii)
![Receiving mail at the head office of the ZSS on 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/32_1731.jpg?itok=CSe_9cVL)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 32/1731
![Receiving mail at the head office of the ZSS on 13 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/32_1731.jpg?itok=Or5qfA66)
![Refugees in a shelter at 37 Nalewki St., Warsaw ghetto, which previously served as a bathhouse](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/33_1776.jpg?itok=fVnt1y79)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 33/1776
![Refugees in a shelter at 37 Nalewki St., Warsaw ghetto, which previously served as a bathhouse](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/33_1776.jpg?itok=n6w-XDza)
![Two girls in a park at 29 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto Calculation Mode: AutomaticWorkbook Statistics Give Feedback to Microsoft](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/36_2069.jpg?itok=IeMfu1Vx)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 36/2069
![Two girls in a park at 29 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto Calculation Mode: AutomaticWorkbook Statistics Give Feedback to Microsoft](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/36_2069.jpg?itok=EkyvLZsZ)
![Maternity ward of the TOZ organization at 35 Twarda St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/32_1769.jpg?itok=W8tJty4x)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 32/1769
![Maternity ward of the TOZ organization at 35 Twarda St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/32_1769.jpg?itok=vSuS_b3p)
![Two elderly people in a shelter at 25 Lucka St., Warsaw ghetto, populated primarily by refugees from Kalisz and Raciaz](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/33_1825.jpg?itok=RlSEraXX)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 33/1825
![Two elderly people in a shelter at 25 Lucka St., Warsaw ghetto, populated primarily by refugees from Kalisz and Raciaz](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/33_1825.jpg?itok=dzRQCnpK)
![The ZSS distribute Matzot (unleavened bread) in Warsaw during Passover 1940](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/33_1852.jpg?itok=3m7P_79I)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 33/1852
![The ZSS distribute Matzot (unleavened bread) in Warsaw during Passover 1940](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/33_1852.jpg?itok=gbk_Xwk5)
![Jewish refugees waiting in a soup line at a shelter at 7 Dzielna St., Warsaw ghetto, which housed refugees primarily from Kalisz and Lipno](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/33_1867_1.jpg?itok=RIfML9Y4)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 33/1867
![Jewish refugees waiting in a soup line at a shelter at 7 Dzielna St., Warsaw ghetto, which housed refugees primarily from Kalisz and Lipno](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/33_1867_1.jpg?itok=2J4P6Nvd)
![Women washing clothes in a homeless shelter at 19 Nalewki St., Warsaw ghetto, which previously served as a bathhouse](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/34_1923.jpg?itok=rFp7J2iN)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 34/1923
![Women washing clothes in a homeless shelter at 19 Nalewki St., Warsaw ghetto, which previously served as a bathhouse](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/34_1923.jpg?itok=YWLTHWLT)
![A Jewish doctor visits a shelter for Jewish refugees from Lodz on 33 Nalewki St., Warsaw ghetto, which previously served as a bathhouse.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/34_1964.jpg?itok=nzK83zrP)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 34/1964
![A Jewish doctor visits a shelter for Jewish refugees from Lodz on 33 Nalewki St., Warsaw ghetto, which previously served as a bathhouse.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/34_1964.jpg?itok=8ohBlLRd)
![Communal kitchen for children run by the TOZ, Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/35_1983_0.jpg?itok=U1HK2bJ0)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 35/1983
![Communal kitchen for children run by the TOZ, Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/35_1983_0.jpg?itok=2z8hnB9e)
![Children washing before a meal in the communal kitchen run by the CENTOS welfare organization at 29 Panksa St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/35_2053_0.jpg?itok=tw5Z4kyt)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 35/2053
![Children washing before a meal in the communal kitchen run by the CENTOS welfare organization at 29 Panksa St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/35_2053_0.jpg?itok=Jh3xRpwD)
![Refugees resting on the Sabbath in a shelter at 11 Gesia St., Warsaw ghetto, which housed refugees primarily from Lipno and Aleksandrow](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/33_1784.jpg?itok=j2xjnuzx)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 33/1784
![Refugees resting on the Sabbath in a shelter at 11 Gesia St., Warsaw ghetto, which housed refugees primarily from Lipno and Aleksandrow](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/33_1784.jpg?itok=yEt4Mb9H)
![Rest period in a children's home at 10 Graniczna St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/36_2074.jpg?itok=9LQEW8s_)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 36/2074
![Rest period in a children's home at 10 Graniczna St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/36_2074.jpg?itok=DTAexVlb)
![Toddlers in a shelter for abandoned children at 127 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/36_2092.jpg?itok=rKosyQrh)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 36/2092
![Toddlers in a shelter for abandoned children at 127 Leszno St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/36_2092.jpg?itok=jkLQXrLP)
![Young girls peeling potatoes in the Weisenhaus Orphanage at 92 Krochmalna St., Warsaw. The director of the orphanage was Janusz Korczak.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/36_2099_0.jpg?itok=xEWAkmvB)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 33/2099
![Young girls peeling potatoes in the Weisenhaus Orphanage at 92 Krochmalna St., Warsaw. The director of the orphanage was Janusz Korczak.](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/36_2099_0.jpg?itok=Epy1S-ty)
![Children eating in the Orthodox Jewish children's home at 21 Twarda St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/main_image_1block/public/36_2112_0.jpg?itok=1d7XJLV-)
Yad Vashem Photo Archives FA 36/2112
![Children eating in the Orthodox Jewish children's home at 21 Twarda St., Warsaw ghetto](https://www.yadvashem.org/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/36_2112_0.jpg?itok=cY3MtB8T)