Action by the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith in announcing their withdrawal from the Southwest Jewish Community Relations Council and their intention to establish local regional offices brought demands today that the two national agencies reconsider the situation.
Marcus Ginsburg, chairman of the Council, has notified the federations and community councils affiliated with it of receipt of notice from the two agencies “that they have decided to sever their relationships with our organization in 1954 and that each national agency plans to open a functional regional office in the Southwest.”
The nine-year-old council has as its members 15 communities in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, along with the two national agencies. It is affiliated with the National Community Relations Advisory Council and has served as a unifying and coordinating agency for the area on community relations problems. The annual grants to the council by the two national agencies totalled $20,000, about two-thirds of the Council’s budget.
The Texas State Association of B’nai B’rith, which met at Galveston last Sunday, adopted a resolution calling on the office of the ADL to reconsider its action.
Resolutions adopted by the Jewish community organizations in Ardmore, Fort Worth and Houston, expressed concern over the action of the two national agencies, called for continuation of the tristate council and urged the two agencies to reconsider.
A resolution by the Fort Jewish Federation said that the action of the two agencies would result in “useless duplication.” It recommended that the federation’s allocation to the council be increased and that the additional funds for the council be deducted from the federation’s allocation to the Joint Defense Appeal. The Jewish Community Council of Houston, In a resolution, called for continuation of the council and urged the two national agencies to reconsider their action.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
