The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) adopted a budget of $56.7 million for 1981 and elected Henry Toub, a New Jersey businessman and Jewish communal leader, JDC president at the 66th annual meeting of the agency held here today. Donald Robinson of Pittsburgh, who concluded three years as president of the JDC, was elected chairman of the Board of Directors.
The JDC meeting, which was attended by over 100 members of the Board from all over the United States and Canada, also included a number of guests and observers from abroad.
Taub, in accepting the presidency, said he was “proud of the honor and challenged by the responsi- bilities.” He called on the agency to “continue to analyze and review the effectiveness of its programs in countries where the JDC is at work and to be alert and responsive to needs of Jews wherever they may occur.”
The budget of $56.7 million adopted by the JDC Board supports programs in 25 countries around the world including nations in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. Most JDC programs help the most needful members of the communities; the aged, the young and the handicapped.
Ralph Goldman, JDC executive vice president, who was reelected at the meeting, pointed to the problem of inflation which is faced by JDC around the world, noting that the day when inflation abroad and a stable dollar combined to give JDC more mileage for its money are gone. “Inflation,” he said, “hit Eastern Europe as well as Western Europe and all the countries where we operate today.” On the positive side he described the “warm and continuing relationship between American and World Jewry.”
JEWS TURN TO JDC TO HELP ITALIAN RELIEF
Robinson complimented the American Jewish community for its generous response to the appeal for aid to the people of Italy. “Funds have been coming in daily. It is a demonstration of the generosity of the Jewish community and they commitment to the JDC as their instrument for overseas relief.” The JDC has made a Nation of $30,000 out of its own funds and has been receiving donations from individuals during the Chanukah holidays.
In the report by Goldman, the JDC announced a reorganization of its European operations with the shift of a number of key staffers to Paris where, in addition to their field responsibilities in Europe and North Africa, they can “be available to the largest Jewish community on the continent.”
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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.
