Jewish Community Leaders Call for Creation of Local Coordinating Committees

Leaders of 21 Jewish communities in the New England area today called for the creation of strong local coordinating committees to assure the success of the Four-Point Program for Israel and emphasized that it can only be achieved if no one phase is “developed at the expense of, and in substitution for, another.” The action was taken in a resolution adopted unanimously at the final session of the 17th annual conference of the New England Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.

The resolution on the Four-Point Program also called for the avoidance of “undesirable competitive campaigns,” and urged clearance in timing, organizing, publicity and other arrangements. Attended by more than 100 delegates, the conference mapped plans to meet the total responsibilities of Jewish communities in 1951 – in Israel, overseas, and at home. Conference sessions covered campaigning, planning for social welfare programs in large and small communities, community relations, Jewish education, problems of the aged, and family service.

Discussions on the importance of developing cooperative relationships between philanthropic gifts through welfare fund campaigns in behalf of the United Jewish Appeal, and the newly organized bond drive highlighted the conference. H.L. Lurie, executive director of the C.J.F.W.F., declared: “Israel considers the United Jewish Appeal – which is completely dependent upon community campaigns for its funds – as the first priority in its program. The reason for this feeling is that funds raised in this manner have been the main and immediate source of hard currency. It represents gift dollars as an expression of American Jewish interest, dollars which do not need to be repaid and can be used flexibly for help to immigrants – both for their welfare needs and for the initial stages of making them productive in agriculture and in industry. Israel would not consider it a service if there was to be a diversion of funds from philanthropic giving to purchase of bonds. It wants all the philanthropic gifts we can make available. It hopes that Americans will purchase bonds as investments.”

Irving Rabb of Boston pointed out that the Boston Jewish community has taken steps to assure the success of both campaigns by setting up a representative Coordinating Committee. He stressed that in all his public and private addresses and correspondence he is making the point that the “bond issue is not and must not be regarded as a substitute for the free philanthropic dollar.” He reiterated his certainty that the welfare fund and the bond issue “can function side by side in perfect harmony.”

Rabbi Harry Nelson of Bridgeport, and Sidney Wernick of Portland, pointed out that where strong local coordinating committees are in action, cooperative relationships have been established between the two campaigns. This pattern should be developed in communities throughout the United States, they urged. Bernard P. Kopkind of New Haven, was re-elected regional president for 1951.