Problems which Jewish communities in the United States will face during the coming year were discussed at a meeting of the board of directors of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds this week, it was reported today.
The board approved and referred to the executive committee a recommendation that the Council consult with major overseas agencies concerning the need for an on-the-spot analytical study of Jewish overseas needs and services, subject to special financing provisions.
The board also took note of national Jewish organizations in the United States which are planning substantial capital fund projects “running into millions of dollars.” Observing that this would involve not only large initial investments by American Jewry, but a continuing increased responsibility for years to come, the Budget Research Committee of the Council recommended that such capital fund campaigns should be developed only with the greatest care and in consultation with the communities.
It also suggested that the Council secure from the agencies detailed reports concerning the need for the proposed projects, and building and maintenance costs; that the Council, after study of each proposal, report its findings to the communities, and that capital fund drives be held in each city only after prior consultation with and approval by the local central fund raising agency.
The board approved the recommendation of its Committee on Budget Services that the Council inform its member agencies of the status of the proposed study of several national tuberculosis institutions in connection with their plans for capital fund expansion.
BLAUSTEIN, GOLDENBERG REPORT ON JEWISH DEVELOPMENTS IN EUROPE AND PALESTINE
Topping the agenda of its meeting were first hand reports on European and Palestine developments by Jacob Blaustein of Baltimore and Harold J. Goldenberg of Minneapolis, members of the board. Mr. Blaustein was the head of the delegation sent by the American Jewish Committee to Paris in connection with the Peace Conference. Mr. Goldenberg just returned from a five-month stay in Europe and Palestine. The reports served as background for the board discussion on 1947 responsibilities and fund raising prospects introduced by Isidore Sobeloff of Detroit.
In his report, H.L. Lurie, executive director, pointed put that the Council program of “promoting community cooperation among all local Jewish groups is finding increased acceptance and local forms of community organization are increasingly translating this into structure and policies.” The idea of common interest of local communities is tending towards greater inter-city cooperation, he stated.
“The phenomenal fund raising results in the Jewish welfare fund campaigns both during the spring and in the current fall campaigns have demonstrated strikingly the value of the permanent local central organizations which the Council helped establish,” Mr. Lurie said. “They added many millions of dollars of contributions which otherwise might not have been raised.” The Council now includes 267 agencies in 236 cities of the United States and Canada.
Stanley C. Myers of Miami, Council president, presented preliminary plans for the 1947 General Assembly of the Council, to be held in an eastern city now being selected. William C. Shroder of Cincinnati, board chairman, presided over the meetings.
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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.
