National Jewish Agencies, at Norac Conference, Adopt Plan for Coordination of Activities

A comprehensive plan for more effective coordination of the work of the Jewish community relations agencies was adopted at the seventh plenary session of the National Community Relations Advisory Council, it was revealed here today.

The plan includes specific procedures for clearance for policy formulation, for reaching decisions by vote, for the issuance of joint statements, and for division of responsibility among the agencies for the carrying out of programs. It defines a number of policy questions of current importance, regarding which the NCRAC is to seek to reach decisions.

The plan was worked out among representatives of the national agencies–American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, Anti-Defamation League of B’Nai B’rith, Jewish Labor Committee, Jewish War Veterans of the U.S., and Union of American Hebrew Congregations–and of the twenty-seven local, county, state, and regional councils which are affiliated with the NCRAC.

The state of Israel and its implications for American Jewry, relationships between Jews and Christians, proper steps for Jewish organizations to take in regard anti-Semitic speeches and movies, and the implications of American policy in Germany were also discussed by the more than 100 delegates from national and local community relations agencies at the session.

Irving Kane, chairman of the Community Relations Committee of the Cleveland Jewish Community Council, was elected chairman of the NCRAC to succeed Henry Epstein, of N.Y., who retired after serving three consecutive terms. Other officers of the organization are Sidney Hollander of Baltimore and Bernard H. Trager of Bridgeport, vice-chairman; Lester A. Jaffe of Cincinnati, secretary; and Gustave M. Berne of Great Neck, N.Y.; treasurer.