Jewish Communal Service-a Force for Jewish Survival, Says Ncjcs President

“Jewish communal service continues to maintain its position as one of the three pillars of Jewish life–along with the synagogue and Jewish education–to insure the continuation of Judaism,” said Irving Greenberg, president of the National Conference of Jewish Communal Service. Greenberg was re-elected at the 73rd annual meeting of the Conference which concluded today. In these times of stress and change, he pointed out, it is more necessary now than ever before for professional workers to continue with their responsibility of carrying out services to the Jewish community. Because of threats from many directions, problems related to Jewish survival are increasing at an astonishing rate, he said. In order to support workers on the local level during the coming year the Conference will aim to strengthen its local chapter organization. Seven are functioning currently, and it is hoped to have a total of 25 by the Conference in Montreal next year. Their membership will represent a cross-section of Jewish communal service in the large urban centers as well as in the major suburban regions of the continent at that time. “It is important that we move toward a federation of the associated professional groups in the fields of family and childrens service, Jewish education, group work, case work, services to the aged and ailing, community organization and community relations, and vocational services,” said Greenberg. He stressed the importance of Jewish communal work by pointing out that members of NCJCS work directly with more people in the American Jewish community than any other group of professional workers Greenberg, of Newark, N.J., is executive director of the Jewish Counseling and Service Agency of Essex County (N.J.)