A resolution scoring ”the accusations and vilification s of the Communist dominated countries of Europe against the Jews in those countries, against the Jews in Israel and against Jews everywhere,” was adopted here at the closing session of the two-day annual conference of the New England Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. The conference was attended by 200 Jewish leaders representing 26 communities.
Another resolution warned that Israel must be strengthened to be ready for any situation arising from potential danger areas. it urged American Jewry to continue its support of overseas programs of rescue and rehabilitation, and the building of Israel. ”Jews in the United States must continue to mobilize their energies and resources in defense of their brothers overseas and in Israel and thereby help to preserve freedom and democracy of people everywhere,” the resolution declared.
The conference called upon all free nations, through the United Nations, and particularly the United States, ”to voice unqualified condemnation of Soviet anti-Semitism” and to ”provide the military and economic assistance so essential if Israel is to make a decisive contribution to the defense of freedom.” It called for a halt to arms shipments to the Arab states and urged the United States to induce the Arab states to end their blockade against Israel and enter into peaceful negotiations looking toward peace.
CALL FOR GREATER EFFORTS IN FUND-RAISING
Other resolutions passed by the conference called for greater efforts in 1953 fund raising campaigns to meet local, national, and overseas Jewish needs, revision of the McCarran-Walter Immigration and Naturalization Act, and asked that intensive public promotions of the redemption campaign of the American Financial and Development Corporation for Israel be suspended during the peak period of Spring Welfare fund campaigns of communities for UJA and other ”free dollars” for Israel.
In the resolution on the McCarran-walter Act, the delegates commended President Eisenhower for his stand on the need to made change in the law and called upon Congress to take prompt action to effect those changes. The resolution declared that the Act contains ”restrictive and discriminatory provisions which are contra dictory to the best interests of the United States.”
Bernard H. Trager, president of the Region, summarized developments and problems facing the community welfare funds in the past five years. He called for more critical evaluation of local, national, overseas and Israel programs, and for ”more judicious” budgeting to achieve the best possible results from community funds. This, he said , would lead to better community organization and a clearer understanding of community objectives, ”all of which helps us to build a stronger Jewish community at home, and because of this strength, forties us to do a better job for our brethren overseas.”
Mr. Trager was re-elected president of the Region. Elected vice-presidents were: Louis Feinmark of New Haven; Hon. Saul Seidman of Hartford; Joseph W. Ress of Providence; and Samuel Mag of New Britain. Other officers elected were: Dewey D. Stone of Brockton, finance chairman; Oscar Mintzer of Waterbury, secretary; Milton Kahn of Boston, regional representative to the United Jewish Appeal; and Joseph Sherman of Stamford, representative to the United Israel Appeal. The conference heard reports from Harry L. Lurie, executive director of the CJFWF; Bernard L. Gottlieb of Hartford; Sidney S. Cohen of Boston; and Norman B. Dockman of New Haven.
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