Jerold C. Hoffberger of Baltimore, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds (CJF) said today that the CJF’s 45th General Assembly to be held in Philadelphia Nov. 10-14 will represent a mobilization of North American Jewry to meet the urgent needs of Jews at home and abroad.
In a pre-Assembly statement released here, Hoffberger said the Philadelphia agenda “reflects our commitment to the vital needs of Jews in North America, Israel and in every country where Jews reside–needs that deny so many their right to live dignified lives as Jews and free men.”
He said that “At home, the basic needs of the elderly, the sick, the poor, of families in trouble and newly arrived immigrants must be met. Abroad, our support for Israel and for Jews still suffering persecution and deprivation in other lands must not falter. Our commitment is ancient and inherited. Our response must continue to be vigorous and contemporary.”
Hoffberger will deliver the opening address of the Assembly to 2000 delegates from the United States and Canada. His subject will be “The State of Our Federations.” He will be ending his first term as CJF president. Hoffberger, president of Carling Breweries of Baltimore, is a former vice-president and chairman of the CJF’s Advisory Committee on Community Relations in the Middle East and is a national chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and a member of its National Cabinet.
He is also a member of the boards of the Jewish Agency for Israel, chairman of its committee on immigration and absorption and a member of the board of the Associated Jewish Charities and Welfare Funds of Baltimore.
11 KEY POLICY ISSUES
Harris K, Weston, of Cincinnati, chairman of the CJF’s resolutions committee, announced that the General Assembly would be asked to act on 11 key policy issues which will be presented to it in the form of resolutions.
These include securing commitments of support for Israel by the U.S. and Canada in Middle East peace-making efforts; U.S. military and economic aid for Israel to deter Arab aggression and to aid in housing and social services; legislation by the U.S. and Canada to combat the Arab boycott of Israel; efforts to secure free emigration for all Jews who wish to leave the Soviet Union and full civil rights for those who choose to remain; assistance in resettling Soviet Jewish immigrants who come to the U.S. and Canada; and moves to secure the human rights of Jews in Syria, including their right to emigrate.
The Assembly delegates will mark three anniversaries America’s Bicentennial; the 75th anniversary of the host Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia and the Assembly’s own 45th session.
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