between the national agencies and the federations.
The difficulty has been that thus far each has viewed the problem from its own viewpoint. There are here, as everywhere else, at least two points of view from which this problem must be considered. There are, first, the problems and viewpoint of the local community, and, second, the problems and viewpoint of the national agencies.
Let us first consider the problem as faced by the local community. There is, first and foremost, the enormous pressure on federations of local needs, especially during a depression such as the present. This pressure is immediate, urgent and compelling.
There is, second, the pressure which the leaders of the local agencies bring to bear upon the federation. The president, the treasurer, board members and executives of a local organization can make themselves felt in a thousand and one ways.
The pressure which they exercise upon Federation leaders is such as no outside national agency can possibly bring to bear. It is an effective pressure and the Federation usually yields to it.
A third factor in the situation is undoubtedly the lack of information about the work of national agencies in the local community.
INTRUSION VIEW DOMINATES
Fourth, is the view on the part of local communities and their leaders that national agencies are intruders; that they have no right in the local community. Unfortunately this point of view dominates, controls and motivates their attitude and action with respect to the national agencies.
As a result, federations have in some instances ruthlessly reduced their allowances to national agencies so that the latter have had hardly enough to starve decently.
Now there is another view of the situation—that of the national agencies. They, too, have needs and problems which must be met and they must look to organized Jewish social work to help them face these needs and problems.
I think that, by and large, the national agencies would be glad if Jewish social work would create the criteria for judging the work, the needs and the effectiveness of national agencies.
Among such criteria would undoubtedly be the following questions:
Is there a need for the service rendered by the given national agency?
Can that service be rendered otherwise than through the work of that particular agency or through a similar agency?
Can the local communities afford such a service locally?
Is the agency properly administered?
Has the agency established a good reputation in its own field of activity?
(To Be Continued Wednesday)
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.
