Problems of American Jewish community life, as well as questions of aid for Jews in Europe and Israel, were discussed here at the Regional Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, which was attended by more than 200 delegates from 17 cities in western states.
The meeting, which lasted two days, requested that the International Refugee Organization meet its full responsibilities in providing the cost of transportation of Jewish DP’s to Israel. At the same time it urged Jewish communities in the United States to mobilize their total resources to meet the 1949 needs of overseas, national and local agencies.
Stanley C. Myers, national president of the C.J.F.W.F., addressing the parley stressed the need for a changed approach to the problems besetting the American Jewish community today. Speaking on “The Jewish Community at the Crossroads,” Mr. Myers pointed out that the planning concepts of yesterday had no place in the modern scheme of things and that “now is the time” for communities to lend all their efforts in the direction of long-range total planning.
Arnold Gurin, director of budget research for the Council, recommended a strong, positive approach to the matter of “Fund Raising in 1949.” Mr. Gurin pointed cut that conditions were favorable for intensified fund-raising and that a proper meeting of the total 1949 needs was a responsibility which the entire Jewish community had to meet. He warned against the spirit of false optimism that might prevail as a result of the good news from Israel and urged the local communities to point out the serious need for philanthropic funds in Israel.
The conference adopted a decision calling upon local communities to develop community cooperation to the point where contributors and community leaders will support independent drives only after previous clearance and approval of the welfare funds. It also asked the communities to explore the implications of the C.J.F.W.F.’s General Assembly resolution on “8table and Unified National Fund Raising.” It also called upon the Council to explore with national agencies methods of coordinating publicity material, and recommended that a proposed institute project of the Training Bureau for Jewish Communal Service be encouraged and assisted.
Elected to carry on the program of the Western States Region for the coming year were Marcel Hirsch of San Francisco, president; Raphael Brandes of Tucson, Charles Brown of Los Angeles and Frank M. Fink of Portland, vice-presidents; Irving Schneider of “Long Beach, treasurer; and Louis Weintraub of San Francisco, regional director.
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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.
