Conference of Jewish Fedepation Leaders Asks Admission of Refugees to U.s., Palestine

Action on major issues in Jewish life was taken by 200 community leaders from ten states attending the 12th annual conference of the Southeastern Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds which took place during the week-end here. The conference sessions considered the role of American Jewry in meeting local, national and world obligations; progressive trends in American Jewish community organization with broader scope and greater participation; and varied campaign techniques required to raise the record sums in their record breaking spring drives.

Concerning the surviving Jews of Europe, the conference adopted resolutions urging the United States to admit the maximum number of European refugees to this country by using the unfilled quotas of past years and appealing to the humanitarian and peace loving nations of the world “to act through all available channels, including the United Nations Assembly,” so that the largest possible number of Jewish refugees be admitted immediately to Palestine.

The Conference called attention to the fundamental role of strong local community organization in carrying out responsibilities of American Jewry, and the important part played by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds for the cooperation of communities with the request that this program be continued vigorously.

The delegates expresed gratification with the progress toward community participation in the program and policies of the United Jewish Appeal and requested the Council’s administration to continue their efforts to extend this partnership between the Welfare Funds and the UJA through greater community participation in the UJA’s administration. The Conference called upon the Council to work out coordination and combination of fund raising and program of agencies operating in the same or related fields.

During the business sessions the delegates reelected Isaac S. Heller of New Orleans, president and as delegate representing the Jewish communities of this region on the reorganized governing body of the national United Jewish Appeal. Marx J. Barod of Mamphis and James L. Perlmutt of Birmingham were elected vice presidents. An excutive commitee reprssenting all 36 member communities in the region was also elected. Speakers included Prof. William Haber of the University of Michigan; Stanley C.##rs of Miami, national president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds; Philip Bernstein of New York, associate director of the CJFWF. Donald Oberdor for of Atlsnta and Myron J. Rothschild of Montgomery, past presidents of the South-Wastern region, also spoke.