Action on “major problems facing American Jewry in meeting its total responsibilities in 1950” was taken by three regional conferences of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds held during the week-end, it was reported here today. The New England region of the Council met in New Haven, the Central Atlantic region in Trenton and the East Central region in Detroit.
All three regions took action on the problem of national-local relationships. The East Central and New England regions passed resolutions calling for active cooperation of national agencies with the local communities, “who carry the major responsibilities for the financing of these programs.” Both regions also recommended that communities set up local committees to deal with national problems on a regular basis and provide for collective interchange of information and consultation through the C.J.F.W.F. The Central Atlantic region urged that the Council lend its “good offices” in helping to settle disputes centering on national-local relationships.
The East Central and central Atlantic units took the occasion to reaffirm the basic right and responsibility of local communities to allocate the monies they raise. The Central Atlantic body further declared that an adequate budgeting basis should be found to integrate Israel, overseas and local needs in a total perspective of community responsibilities.
COUNCIL URGED TO WORK TOWARD FORMATION OF CENTRAL ISRAEL WELFARE FUND
Another Central Atlantic resolution requested the C.J.F.W.F. to continue to work toward the establishment of a central Israel welfare fund. Such a development, the delegates declared, would be of great benefit both to Israel and the contributing public of America. The East Central region also welcomed the continuing participation of the C.J.F.W.F. in negotiations leading toward a 1950 United Jewish Appeal.
The C.J.F.W.F. Committee on Unified and Stable Fund Raising listed the following developments:
1. The Joint Distribution Committee and United Palestine Appeal announced that there will be a U.J.A. in 1950–the earliest announcement to that effect ever made by the U.J.A.
2. The C.J.F.W.F. will be represented throughout contract negotiations leading toward the 1950 U.J.A. While the C.J.F.W.F. has no vote on contract terms and the beneficiary agencies reserve the right to discuss the division of funds among themselves, the C.J.F.W.F. retains the right to present its budgetary facts and views as to the inclusiveness of other agencies in the U.J.A., budgetary procedures in dealing with U.J.A. beneficiaries, campaign administrative organization, and the independent campaign rights of the Jewish National Fund and other U.J.A. beneficiaries.
3. The Committee met with a dozen national agencies on the problem of developing cooperation and coordination in furnishing communities with effective campaign adds.
4. Steps to meet the request of communities for more incisive budget appraisals of major needs.
5. Meetings with U.J.A. officers to clarify procedures and relationships of the U.J.A. with communities in the 1950 campaign. Out of these meetings has come agreement that the C.J.F.W.F and the U.J.A set up a continuing joint liaison committee to discuss matters of common concern and to assure a climate for maximum fund raising.
6. Committee members are undertaking to discuss with their own local boards the various proposals before the committee for dealing with the problems. By tapping community sentiment before making its recommendations, the committee proposals will have solid reality and acceptance behind them.
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.
