Activities of Jewish Community Centers Defined in Set of Principles Adopted by J.s.b.

A set of principles for the programs of Jewish Community Centers throughout the United States and Canada was made public today by the National Jewish Welfare Board following the conclusion of its annual conference here last night.

In the Statement of Principles adopted at its closing session, the Jewish welfare Board considers that the individual American Jew is identified with every phase of American life and is politically, economically, culturally and intellectually “a part and parcel thereof.” In addition, he recognizes certain aspects of life which concern him as Jew. The Jewish Community Center is an agency with which he identifies himself voluntarily to satisfy his needs.

“The Jewish content is fundamental to the program of the Jewish Center,” the Statement says. “In its total program, the Jewish Center seeks to develop and enrich human personality and group association. To that end, all resources and skills of informal education and leisure-time planning should be employed.”

The functions of the Jewish Center, as defined by the Statement, include assistance to the individual Jew to integrate himself in the American community. A similar service is to he furnished to Jews as a group. The Center is also to serve as an agency of personality development for the individual, and no Jew shall be excluded from membership in the Center for reasons of Jewish doctrine or ritual or because of political or social views.

The entire program of the Center should to be oriented towards the furtherance of the democratic way of life, the Statement stresses. The Jewish Center should fulfill its Jewish purpose, although participation in the Center and its activities is open to all inhabitants of the community.