Youth Play Vital Role at Cjfwf Conclave; Max Fisher Re-elected President

The unanimous re-election of Max M Fisher, of Detroit to a new term as its president and the adoption of a series of resolutions, including one that called for a greater role by youth in shaping the future of American Jewish communities, marked the closing session here of the 39th General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. Mr. Fisher, a former special advisor to President Richard M. Nixon, was elected by acclamation by the 1500 delegates who met here for five days to determine priorities in the allocation of funds for Jewish needs at home and overseas. The resolutions–on peace in the Middle East, Soviet Jewry, public assistance and social security–reflected the concern of the American Jewish leadership with a variety of domestic and foreign problems. But it was the resolution on youth, college students and faculty that marked a major development for the CJF. The atmosphere here differed sharply from that which prevailed at last year’s General Assembly in Boston where youth groups were unrepresented and felt forced to resort to disruptive tactics to express their demands for a greater voice in Jewish community activities and decisions. The 39th General Assembly was attended by 100 youth delegates from colleges and universities all over the U.S. and Canada.

Louis J. Fox, of Baltimore, former CJF president and current chairman of its subcommittee on funding national campus projects, remarked on the change and said it was “indicative of the growing inter-relationship and cooperation between campus groups and Jewish Federations across the country.” The youth resolution called on Jewish communities to assure the participation of the younger generation in their decision-making processes by making it possible for them to sit as “active, full-voting members” of the communities’ committees. The resolution recognized that many Federations are now involving students and faculty in decision-making. It asked for expanded action by those Federations and the extension to more cities of youth and faculty participation in Federation work. The CJF’s Mideast resolution commended the “initiative” taken by President Nixon and the U.S. government to seek a just peace in the region through bringing about a cease-fire, providing deterrent arms to Israel and credits that Israel needs to acquire the means for its own defense. The resolution also commended the U.S. Congress for supporting Israel’s security.

The General Assembly urged the U.S. and Canadian governments “to do all in their power, within and outside the United Nations, to obtain equal treatment for Soviet Jews under Soviet law and make possible emigration of those wishing to do so.” It also called on the U.S. and Canada to make every effort to assure the full human rights of Jews in Arab states. The resolution on public assistance and social security called on Congress to complete the work begun by the House in adopting many of the President’s recommendations in H.R. 16311 with changes that would include a higher federal floor on income to meet current living costs and increases in Social Security payments. Mr. Fisher, a Detroit industrialist who served as chairman of President Nixon’s National Center for Voluntary Action has been a leader of community, civic and social service organizations for more than 30 years.