The Unity Club of Brooklyn, oldest and most influential Jewish club in the borough, will close its doors to applicants for membership who do not contribute to the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities a sum at least equal to the amount of the annual dues to the club. Announcement of this regulation, which has been incorporated into the by-laws of the club, was made by Benjamin C. Ribman, president of the club, who stated that the adoption of the regulation was in keeping with the club’s traditional policy to cooperate with Federation.
“It is a fact,” Mr. Ribman said, “that Federation does not receive adequate support from the well-to-do class of Brooklyn Jews. If a person can afford to pay dues to a social club, he can afford to contribute to the major Jewish charity of Brooklyn. If he does not contribute in accordance with his means, it is a reflection against his character.”
The Unity Club has a membership of six hundred and fifteen. Its annual membership dues are $150. It was organized in 1896. Four of its presidents, Nathan S. Jonas, Justice Edward Lazansky, Justice Mitchell May and the late Louis L. Firuski were also presidents of Federation.
Nathan D. Shapiro, the present president, in a public statement recently charged the Jewish population of Brooklyn, representing the largest Jewish population group in the United States, with failure to support adequately the work of the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities. Difficulties were encountered in raising the $200,000 deficit of the recent campaign. The amount was finally subscribed. Many Jewish charity organizations exist in Brooklyn which function outside of the Federation.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
