Jewish Youth’s Role in War Effort Discussed at Aleph Zadik Aleph War Service Conference

The vital role that Jewish youth can and must play on the home front was stressed today by speakers at the opening session of the War Service Conference of Aelph Zadik Aleph, B’nai B’rith youth organization at the Congress Hotel here. Among those addressing the 175 delegates from all sections of the country were Mark A. McCloskey, director of recreation in the Office of Defense Health and Welfare Services of the Federal Security Agency; Wilbur Schram, head of the colleges and educational unit of the Office of Civilian Defense; Mrs. Hannah G. Kaiser, director of the youth section of the War Savings Staff of the Treasury Department, and others.

Young people’s part in the war effort was brought home to the delegates very realistically yesterday when about ninety percent of them registered in the Selective Service, in special booths set up at convention headquarters by the Illinois Selective Service Administration. Ten per cent of the 17-21 group in Aleph Zadik Aleph were reported as having voluntarily joined the nation’s armed forces by February 1, 1942. AZA officials estimate that 2,500 members of the organization are in active service by now. The second day of the conference will be featured by a national memorial service for AZA members and alumni who have died in action during World War II.

The conference replaces the 19th annual convention, originally scheduled to be held on the campus of the University of New Hampshire. To save tens of thousands of tire-miles of rubber and thousands of gallons of gasoline that would have been used up by the 600 delegates in driving to the usual week-long convention, the convention was cancelled as a war-measure and a war service conference limited to 175 delegates convened here.