Pacific Coast Jewry leaders are looking at San Francisco with fascinated eyes, hoping that in the fusion of all elements of that Jewish community behind the Jewish Community Center movement there will develop a like unity of groups throughout the West.
When the center movement first was broached some few years ago, with reform Jews largely in the foreranks of its sponsors, there were misgivings in many quarters as to the attitude of other groups toward the venture.
At this writing, more than 30 Jewish organizations, representing every shade of Jewish life in the community, have pledged themselves to become part and parcel of the center, to maintain headquarters there and to participate in its activities.
These organizations include such groups as to the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society, made up largely of orthodox men and women; the Zionist organization, with a mixed membership of all groups; the Council of Jewish Women, with a majority leaning toward reform Judaism; and the Mothers’ Alliance, whose members are identified almost wholly with orthodox life.
A campaign for the center is to be launched soon and the necessary total to be sought will be made known at an early date. The site already has been purchased in a location that is admittedly convenient to the great mass of Jewish families.
The spirit of oneness that has brought all elements of the community together behind the center, has brought forth an interesting comment from Maurice L. Rapheld, who heads the committee in charge of lining up the various participating organization. He said:
“The fine spirit of cooperation which already has begun to bloom in the Jewish community is but a step toward a complete realliance of all classes, organizations and individuals, who up until the present time have been drifting their own way. And this new bond of understanding and good-will is coming through the Community Center which is to be erected shortly.”
On all sides the Center is being haled as a great force for the advancement of Jewish cultural, religious and recreational life for San Francisco. Its sponsors expect it to kindle anew the fires of Jewish consciousness that have been allowed to simmer low in many homes.
But aside from the local aspects of the situation, the whole scheme is looked upon, in its broader aspects, as an example of the unity of elements which promises to spread to other communities and to distant states.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
