Liberalization of the Displaced Persons Act of 1948 without limiting or discriminatory clauses to allow a greater number of displaced persons to enter the United States was urged upon Congress by the annual assembly of the National Jewish Youth Conference in one of a series of resolutions at its closing session.
In another resolution the assembly called on the U.S. Senate to establish quickly its proposed committee to investigate the resurgence of Nazism in Germany. The assembly also expressed its appreciation to President Truman and Congress for their interest in the problems of child and youth health and security as evidenced by the President’s convening of a Mid-Century White House Conference on Children and Youth in 1950, and pledged its full support to the 1950 conference.
The N.J.Y.C. also voted to defend the rights of all minorities "wherever and whenever challenged by discrimination and abridgement of civil rights." Expressing its "admiration and pride" in the new state of Israel, the assembly pledged its "efforts on behalf of Israel" and agreed to aid the new state in every way possible."
Arnulf M. Pins was reelected national chairman of the N.J.Y.C. together with an executive committee of 45. The new executive committee, which will meet later in the year when its membership has been augmented by additions from the national Jewish youth organizations affiliated with N.J.Y.C. and from regional youth councils, will elect the other officers. A provisional constitution, to be operative until 1950, was also adopted yesterday.
URGE YOUTH TO SEEK JOBS IN RABBINATE, JEWISH EDUCATION
Other major actions of the assembly included: 1. A call to American Jewish youth to investigate the professional opportunities available in the fields of Jewish social work, Jewish education and the rabbinate with a view to entering those professions; 2. A pledge to cooperate with existing schools in those fields and with other interested groups in the formation of a graduate school of Jewish social work; 3. A request to local, regional and national Jewish community organizations to give Jewish youth and young adults greater representation on the governing bodies of such agencies; 4. Urged the National Jewish Welfare Board to continue its sponsorship of, interest in and assistance to the Conference.
An intensive program of parent education on the part of Jewish community centers, Jewish schools and synagogues to help parents "make the home environment a source of dynamic Jewish living and to bring to parents a knowledge of the problems of children and young adults in living as Jews" was proposed in the report of the assembly’s Commission on Jewish Education. This commission was one of eight in which the delegates dealt exhaustively with the major concerns of American Jewish youth and presented a series of findings which will serve as guide posts to the N.J.Y.C.’s incoming administration.
The same commission urged that greater efforts be made to include Hebrew in the curricula of colleges and public high schools and found that a knowledge of Yiddish" is a key to an important facet of Jewish culture." Special programs of Jewish education for girls and increased financial support for Jewish education on the part of Jewish community agencies were urged by the commission. It also asked for greater participation by young people in Jewish Center and synagogue programs and attendance at Jewish summer camps "as a source of Jewish information, inspiration and experience."
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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.
