C.J.F.W.F. Urges Maximum Aid for Rescue of East European Jews

All-out communal participation in 1959 welfare fund campaigns to rescue Eastern European Jews, continue to help Israel absorb thousands of recently-arrived immigrants, and meet crucial national and local needs, was urged this week by delegates attending a three-day regional conference of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. The 125 delegates and community leaders, who came from 17 Western states, re-elected Dr. George Piness of Los Angeles as president.

Jack W. Olds, of Portland, vice president of the regional organization, addressed the conferees and analyzed short and long-term needs, as well as Israeli and American Jewish community responsibility for joint solution of these needs. In a resolution on mental health, the delegates called for the establishment of special mental health planning committees as a top-priority in central community planning. This, they declared, is the key to community action for mobilizing Jewish, non-sectarian and public services.

The delegates urged continuing full Jewish participation in Community Chest and United Funds campaigns and stressed the necessity for Jewish communal services receiving satisfactory and equitable treatment in the distribution of the funds. They also emphasized the need for full utilization of public and non-sectarian resources to assist in such services as public welfare, mental health, child welfare, family stability and economic assistance programs.

Representatives, in addition, surveyed recent developments in Jewish community center work, areas of financing and building requirements. They pointed out that community centers can develop most effectively within the financing and planning framework of central community organizations.