A 1943 budget of $620,020, the greater portion of which is for a War Emergency Budget to cover the religious requirements here and abroad of the Jewish members of the rapidly expanding American armed forces as well as other items, was announced today by Frank L. Weil, president of the National Jewish Welfare Board.
The major items of expenditure for 1943 are listed under the War Emergency Budget which totals $425,220 There include $167,970 for religious work expenses; $84,000 for religious supplies; $133,000 for the Board’s overseas activities, and $41,250 for its Bureau of War Records. The normal budget totalling $193,800 covers the Board’s Jewish Center program and normal Army and Navy work (the program carried on at permanent Army and Navy posts and hospitals). As these activities are not included in the general program of the U. S. O., they will have to be financed by funds from the Jewish community.
In a statement explaining the relations between the Jewish Welfare Board and the U.S.O., Mr. Weil said: “The Jewish Welfare Board is the only Jewish agency operating as one of the constituent bodies of the United Service Organizations. The U.S.O. finances the general program of religious, welfare, social and recreational activity for the men in uniform as part of a joint cooperative effort. Under the contractual agreements required by the United States Government from all agencies participating in the United Service Organization, U.S.O. funds are limited to certain specified purposes. The figures given here are for the 1943 activities not covered by the U.S.O. budget for which funds must be raised from within the Jewish community.”
In the War Emergency Budget, the religious activities include the recruiting, interviewing and endorsement of rabbis to serve as chaplains in the Army and Navy by a Committee on Religious Activities on which is represented the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbinate; supervision of the chaplaincy service; supplementary aid to chaplains; provision of kosher food to members of the armed forces when requested; reading materials, supplementary prayer books and other literature, and funds to meet the cost of arranging for special services during the High Holy Days, Passover and other Jewish religious celebrations.
The War Emergency Budget will finance the operation of a Bureau of War Records, already functioning, to assemble a complete record of the participation of Jews in the armed forces.
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