Jewish Communities Seek to Increase Education; Experiment in Inter-community Cooperation

Jewish communities in various parts of the U.S. and Canada are conducting experiments aimed at increasing educational and recreational activities as well as coordinating social relief on an inter-community basis in smaller towns, it was reported today by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.

Winnipeg and Schenectady are the latest communities in the growing number to establish central bureaus of Jewish education. In both communities the action grew out of surveys conducted by the American Association for Jewish Education.

The decision to form a Bureau of Jewish Education in Schenectady was taken by the Jewish Community Council, and the new bureau will operate under its direction and sponsorship. It is to be administered by a board of directors of 25, of whom 13 will be elected by the Community Council. Each of the five synagogues and the Jewish Community Center will appoint two directors.

Toronto has amalgamated three youth camps to form the Jewish Camp Council. The new council includes equal representation of the Y.M. – Y.W.H.A., Council of Jewish Women, B’nai B’rith, which operated the camps, and the United Jewish Welfare Fund. The Council will make possible service to more children, and a longer stay for each child.

ST. LOUIS, SEATTLE, JACKSONVILLE, EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA LAKE SURVEYS

St. Louis is making a self-study of the chronically sick under the direction of a community committee of 35 including both lay and professional leaders. Persons active in 11 agencies whose work is related to that problem are included in the committee. The study will deal with medical and nursing care, case work and boarding service, leisure time, community education, and legislation. A second survey under way in St. Louis is a study of its group work and recreational service. This, too, is under the auspices of a community committee including lay and professional leaders of the three local agencies operating in that field.

Seattle has projected a community survey for the latter part of the summer to deal with the full scope of its local Jewish social services. The needs and operations in each field will be studied, along with coordination and relationship of the various activities.

A group work survey is being launched by Jacksonville. Findings of the survey will have direct bearing on the program and capital fund plans of synagogues as well as communally financed agencies.

An experiment in the cooperation of several communities for common needs has been undertaken in Eastern Pennsylvania. Under the leadership of Reading, Harrisburg, Allentown, Easton, and Lancaster, an inter-community committee has been set up to study the needs of the aged and to determine whether their resources should be pooled to develop a joint program.