Leaders of Jewish Federations Discuss Community Problems

Major domestic and overseas problems dating the Jewish communities in the United States were discussed at the two-day annual conference of the West Central Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds which concluded here last night.

The parley attached by 200 representatives of 20 communities in the region, adopted resolutions urging the communities to strengthen and develop local and national services in the field of Jewish education, and to continue the work of local co-ordinating committees on behalf of welfare fund and bond drive campaigns.

Julian Freeman, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, addressing the delegates, said that American Jewry, through the instrument of local welfare funds, federations and community councils, is successfully meeting its total responsibilities in Israel, oversees and home. He added that “the spring welfare fund campaigns as a whole have sustained the high level of giving of 1950” and that local community co-ordination is aided by Israel’s Four-Point Program to “succeed far beyond the appreciation of most people.”

CAUTIONS AGAINST USING MACIVER REPORT AS BASIS FOR ALLOCATIONS

A major highlight of the conference was the session on the MacIver Report. Ben. L. Shifrin, St. Louis, who served as chairman of the session, traced the history and development of civic protective agencies in the United States. He noted particularly the attempts which began in 1933 to co-ordinate the programs of these organizations on a national level.

Armold Gurian, director of the C.J.F.W.F. Budget Research Department, summarized the background of the MacIver Report, its findings and recommendations. In additions, he explained the viewpoints of the groups interested in the report–the national community relations agencies, the local community relations councils and the Large City Educating Conference. At the same time, he cautioned the communities to avoid precipitous action in using the report as a basis for allocating funds in 1951 to the national agencies.

“The evaluative study process is still under way,” he emphasized. “Communities should take all the necessary steps to insure full discussion and examination of all the study material on the local level. If this is done, the communities will be able to participate on an informed, intelligent basis in the discussion of this subject at the General Assembly of the Council which will be held in Chicago next month.”

Judah Pilch, executive director of the American Association for Jewish Education, delivered and address on “Community Problems in Jewish Education.” Harold A. Goldman, Des Moines, was elected president of the Region, succeeding Haryy L. Jacobs, Kansas City. Other officers chosen included: first vice-president – Jere Glass, Collinsville, Illinois; second vice-president – Milton Greenfield, Jr., St. Louis. The three new officials will hold office for two years.