C.J.F.W.F. Approves Project for First National Study of U.S. Jewry

The Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, at a meeting of its board of directors this week, approved a report of its Special Committee on Population Studies recommending the first comprehensive national study of American Jewry, it was announced today.

The CJFWF board directed that steps be taken to implement a study design prepared by social scientists over a two-year period, Pertinent local and regional studies will be included in the project. It was agreed that this national study can be “an historic step in filling a wide gap in American-Jewish life and in providing information essential for sound future planning.”

The report to the board was made by Dr. Max W. Bay of Los Angeles, a Council vice president, who is chairman of the board’s committee on the national foundation project. He was joined in the report by Dr. Fred Massarik, chairman of the Council’s Technical Committee on Population Studies.

The CJFWF board also voted for affiliation with the new non-sectarian Citizens Crusade Against Poverty, which is a broad national citizens’ group, under the chairmanship of Walter P. Reuther, president of the United Automobile Workers of America. The group was established to mobilize widespread and intensive support by developing “non-partisan programs of education and activity designed to eliminate poverty from the life of this nation.” It includes leaders of church, industry, labor, civil rights, welfare, farmers, civic, women, veterans, students and other groups.

Philip Bernstein, executive director of the CJFWF, reported that American Jews are committed to a poverty struggle which requires total community planning. To that end, he informed the board of a series of inter-faith consultations, involving leaders of America’s three major religious groups, which was organized two years ago and now meets four times a year “to look at common problems.”

FEDERATION CAMPAIGNS REPORTED RUNNING AHEAD OF LAST YEAR

Herbert H. Sehiff of Columbus, Ohio, chairman of the Council’s Campaign Services Committee, reported that several Federation campaigns across the country were now running 15 to 20 percent ahead of 1964. But he cautioned community leaders to make sure that later gifts continue the pace set by leadership contributions, which are recognized as “the best gifts.” In urging special efforts to maintain and accelerate community campaigns, Mr. Schiff was joined by Max M. Fisher of Detroit, a member of the CJFWF board and general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal.

Board members applauded the report that B’nai B’rith and its Anti-Defamation League have rejoined the National Community Relations Advisory Council. Stressing the importance of fullest cooperation in this sphere of activity were Alan V. Lowenstein of Newark, chairman of the Council’s committee on cooperation in this field. Dore Schary of Los Angeles and Lewis H. Weinstein of Boston, a past president of NCRAC.

In addition, the group welcomed a report from George Michelson of Boston, chairman of the Large City Budgeting Conference, on recent discussions between LCBC and the American Jewish Committee and progress towards future participation by the AJC in the LCBC review process.

Irving Kane of Cleveland, Council past president, reported on recent European discussions in which he and Louis D. Horwitz of the Council staff represented CJFWF. They met with representatives of the Joint Distribution Committee, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Jerusalem, and the Standing Conference on European Jewish Communal Services. Louis A. Pincus, treasurer of the Jewish Agency, Jerusalem, discussed recent developments in his agency’s activities in Israel and in other countries. The board also considered financing problems involved in meeting overseas needs.

BERNSTEIN REPORTS ON IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Reporting on the importance of leader ship development, Mr. Bernstein outlined a series of area meetings, sponsored jointly by CJFWF and UJA. The most promising young people in the country will attend regional conferences in the mid-Atlantic states, the south, the east central section and the far west. Their purpose is to consider Jewish needs and concerns at home and abroad.

The board was informed of the activities of the CJFWF National Committee on Women’s Communal Services, which has done “intensive work on year-round services in addition to the campaign effort.” The Council’s recent analysis of fund-raising in women’s divisions showed that women’s contributions rose 5.4 percent in 1964, and women are now supplying 11, 8 percent of the monies received by community Federations. Women are now 42, 9 percent of all contributors.

Louis J. Fox of Baltimore, chairman of the CJFWF Legacies and Endowment Fund Committee, said that 130 persons have now made commitments to the fund, 39 more than previously reported. He estimated the present total pledged at over one-half million dollars, “more than half-way toward our initial goal of $1, 000, 000.” With its achievement, the Council will have an additional $30, 000 to $40, 000 annually for special projects, research and other work outside the regular budget. Mr. Fox pointed out that most of the commitments are in the form of future bequests.

A uniform accounting and reporting study, organized by the National Social Welfare Assembly and the National Health Council, was endorsed in principle by the CJFWF board. S. P. Goldberg, director of the CJFWF budget research department, said that the study defines such essentials as “full disclosure” and “fund-raising and administrative costs” and recommends closer identification of costs with services.