The nation’s federations and welfare funds are seeking new leaders who are creative “innovators,” possessing “a total view” of contemporary Jewish communal responsibilities, it was emphasized here today by Philip Bornstein, executive director of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. He addressed the first session of the new leadership program of Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Mr. Bornstein noted that special qualities of leadership are required today “embracing the broadest scope of responsibilities in Jewish life.” He told the young men and their veteran “sponsors” that such leaders will be “people deeply stooped in the priceless and timeless heritage of their Judaism, who understand the essence of American democracy, who can bring to reality the new opportunities offered by a blending of the two.”
They should be fully capable of doing “their own thinking, ” Mr. Bernstein declared. They will be “people of deep conviction, whose deeds will attract others to follow what they do. They will have a unique capacity to bring together individuals and groups with divergent interests, ” working effectively to develop a true spirit of “cooperation from which all benefit,”
The Council is the national association of 220 local federations, welfare funds and community councils. These central communal organizations, serving more than 800 communities throughout the United States and Canada, annually raise the bulk of all American Jewish philanthropic funds for local services, national programs and overseas needs.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
