Full support and participation in building and maintaining a strong Jewish community was pledged at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation-Council of Greater Los Angeles held yesterday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. More than 500 leaders of JF-C’s 29 social welfare agencies, 492 affiliated member organizations and United Jewish Welfare Fund campaign volunteers attended the all-day event.
“Judaism is a living faith in which we accept certain basic concepts, but as our ancient sages have told us, a declaration of faith which is not accompanied by action is meaning-less,” Dr. Max William Bay, JF-C president, said. “Each of us has a decision to make. Do we remain complacent and aloof, unconcerned and uncommitted? The world is too troubled, the problems are too complex, events move too rapidly to permit us the luxury of blissful inactivity for too long. If we are to enjoy the blessings and rewards bestowed on free American citizens of Jewish faith, we must all share the responsibilities.”
Isidore Sobeloff, JF-C executive director, said that the Los Angeles Jewish community is entering a new stage of development, with a growing recognition that a comprehensive attack on communal problems requires “a clear majority” of the contributor’s dollar. He cited evidence of increasing acceptance of the thesis that “a plurality of dollars” is not enough.
SOBELOFF STRESSES DISPROPORTIONATE GIVING TO INDEPENDENT DRIVES
Mr. Sobeloff stated that the rapid growth of population resulted in a proliferation of independent appeals, a limited sense of discipline and the consequent blunting of overall community cooperation. This free-for-all approach in dealing with community needs gradually gave way to the recognition that the United Jewish Welfare Fund, because of the grand design of its interests, is entitled to high priority in a giver’s portfolio,” he said.
“A study of the giving pattern of a group of representative givers indicated that, while the Welfare Fund was receiving the largest contribution on the typical giver’s list, the total of giving to small, independent projects was disproportionately high,” Mr. Sobeloff reported. He appealed to the contributing public to move forward into the new phase of community development which calls for a more equitable distribution of contributed dollars, along with a new high standard of giving.
“As the second largest Jewish community in the world,” he said, “Los Angeles is preparing to provide more adequate support for expanding domestic needs and for the continuing heavy needs overseas.” He paid tribute to the Federation-Council officers and to the campaign leadership for demonstration performances in moving forward to new high ground in fund-raising and in long-term planning for social service.
Other highlights of the meeting included presentation of JF-C’s Judge Harry A. Hollzer Memorial Award for “outstanding service in the field of human relations” in 1964 to Rep. James C. Corman, California Democrat; an address by Norman G. Kurland, of the U.S. Economic Opportunities Board, who detailed how the Jewish community may participate in the War on Poverty; and the election of 16 members to JF-C’s board of directors.
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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.
