C.J.F.W.F. Assembly Opens Today; to Discuss Community Problems

The changing role of American Jewish philanthropy as well as the changing scope, program and character of Jewish community organizations in the United States, will be discussed at the 21st General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds which opens its three-day session here tomorrow. Leaders from more than 800 Jewish communities throughout the country arrived here today to participate in the deliberations.

A report prepared for delivery at the General Assembly tomorrow by Herbert R. Abeles, chairman of the National-Local Relations Committee, establishes that during the years of 1951 and 1952, over 150 million dollars was raised for the United Jewish Appeal; 35 million dollars for other overseas philanthropic programs; 140 million dollars subscribed and 85 millions paid for Israel bonds (as of November 1). The report also notes that 135 million dollars in U.S. Government grants-in-aid went to Israel, as well as a supplementary 35 million dollar loan from the Export-Import Bank and a gift of 23 million dollars of surplus commodities and Point Four technical aid.

“It would have been utterly impossible to accomplish this without a profound dedication to the purposes of this program, coupled with the mature local planning and coordination which this Assembly urged,” the report says, “We recognized from the start that it was in the communities that the funds would have to be raised for both U.J.A. and bonds, and that it was generally the same people who would be involved in these efforts. We knew that the two campaigns could not be carried on at the same time, that it would court disaster for both to try.

IRRITATION OVER LACK OF UJA-BOND COORDINATION ENDED

“Unfortunately,” Mr. Abeles continues, “we have not had the national cooperation which we had a right to expect. The absence of such national coordination has meant needless confusion of publicity and timing. It has brought irritations and conflicts into some communities which have helped neither the philanthropic nor the investment projects. The communities generally have insisted on orderly procedures, and their wishes in almost every case were finally met.”

Mr. Abeles emphasizes that the irritations which cropped out in several Spring Welfare Fund campaign cities did not arise in Fall campaign cities: “It augurs well for 1953,” he reports. “We urge every city to plan almost immediately for coordinating next year’s arrangements–to prevent problems, rather than be burdened with time consuming conflicts and corrections after they arise,” he urge

The report reveals that only a small number of individuals in a few cities have asked to turn in their bonds for payment of welfare fund pledges. “This is important since the transfer of bonds would bring no additional income to Israel,” Mr. Abeles stresses in his report. “We hope that this principle will be as fully observed in the year ahead.”

Mr. Abeles also deals with the problem of multiplicity of campaigns in this country and with the withdrawal of the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith from the National Community Relations Advisory Council. He points out that his committee has succeeded in preventing “many unnecessary drives” from being launched in America.