Cjfwf President Says Jewish Community Must Contribute Toward Easing Urban Crisis

The president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds told an institute on the “urban crisis and the Jewish community” here today that it was the duty of the organized Jewish community to help create and activate effective organized approaches, such as urban coalitions, to ameliorate the crisis in American cities.

The institute, addressed by Louis J. Fox, of Baltimore, was held as part of the CJFWF’s 37th general assembly which opens tomorrow. The parley will be attended by 1,500 delegates and observers from federations and welfare funds throughout the United States and Canada. Saul F. Shapira, of Pittsburgh, is chairman of the institute for the larger cities. Louis D. Cole, of Louisville, heads the sessions attended by delegates from intermediate-size cities. Mr. Fox said that “with our American cities so deeply concerned and troubled by the problems of our urban scene…we must participate in leadership to help attain the necessary Federal, state and local legislation and government funding for priority programs for the inner cities of our urban communities.” He added that “through the demonstration programs of our own agencies, we must use our unique and special experiences, insights and skills to pioneer in the solution of our urban problems.”

Reports submitted to the institute from 39 communities revealed a wide and varied Jewish community participation in urban work projects. These included financial support for projects, provision of buildings and personnel, organization of training programs, and the establishment of scholarships for underprivileged as well as participation in urban housing developments. The Jewish role in the urban crisis will be one of the major issues to be considered by the general assembly which will continue through Sunday.