Budget of $1,447,800 for 1948 Approved at Annual Meeting of Finance Council

A 1948 budget for the National Jewish Welfare Board of $1,447,800 was approved yesterday by the annual meeting of JWB’s national finance council here. The action was taken after leaders representing Jewish communities in 40 cities throughout the country had devoted two-and-a-half days to a detailed line-by-line consideration of the proposed budget.

To carry out JWB’s responsibilities on behalf of its 309 affiliated Jewish centers and to help it meet the cultural needs of the Jewish community as a whole, the 1948 budget provides $679,750 for JWB’s Jewish center division. This sum will firance activities on behalf of Jewish centers and the Jewish communities such as the training and recruitment of Jewish center personnel, preparation of program meterials, and in raising funds for new buildings, technical help in drawing architectural plans for new and improved buildings for centers, maintenance of a regional field staff, counseling on camping and health education needs and serving the Jewish community’s cultural needs through the sponsorship of the Jewish book and music councils and the Jewish center lecture bureau.

The new budget also provides $287,900 to continue JWB’s services to the ##med forces throughout the United States as well as at overseas points, including ## in Panema and Hawaii, following the termination of the USO at the end of 1947. to care for the religious needs of Jews in the armed forces and veterans hospitals, the 1947 budget provides $149,675. JWB’s division of religious activities is recruiting 150 rabbis to serve at army and navy installations and veterans hospitals.

Irving Edison of St. Louis, chairman of the National Finance Council, pre##ed over the sessions, and was re-appointed chairman of the Council.