Chicago Jewish Federation President Urges Priority for Local Needs

Priority for local Jewish needs in philanthropic giving was urged here at the 62nd annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago by Charles Aaron, retiring president of the Federation, An all-time high total operating budget of $27, 311, 257 for the Federation and its agencies was announced at the meeting. The Federation’s deficit-financing goal will be to provide $5,956,342, including a carry-over deficit of $87, 000 from the 1961 campaign.

Addressing 600 community leaders at the meeting, Mr. Aaron said: “No one appreciates more than I our obligations overseas and to various national institutions which we have always met. But only as we provide first for all our local community needs will we have a community strong enough and able enough to take care of our other obligations as well, and so, I repeat that our goal must be Federation First and Foremost in 1962, as the central organization of our community.”

The Federation ‘s financial report revealed that despite a vigorous campaign in 1961 which raised $2.019, 000 of the indicated goal of $5,702, 000 by direct contributions, or 25 percent more than was raised by this method in 1960, the total monies raised were short. Approximately one-third of Federation’s operating funds derive from direct contributions, the balance coming from the Combined Jewish Appeal campaigns and from the Community Fund. Last year, the Federation received $1,476, 000 from CJA and $1, 496, 000 from the Community Fund.

Mr. Aaron, honored by the gathering on the occasion of his rounding out a half-century of endeavor for the Chicago community, was presented with a solid silver Breast plate such as was worn by the High Priests of the Temple in Biblical times and used as a symbol of that ancient time to adorn the scrolls of the Torah today.