The question of developing a more positive identification with Judaism among American Jewish youth was one of the main problems discussed today at the first National Jewish Youth Conference, which is taking place here under the auspices of the Youth Planning Commission of the National Jewish Welfare Board.
Speakers at the conference, which is being attended by 200 delegates from 65 Jewish communities, today pointed out that Jewish youth must participate in campaigns to combat anti-Semitism both with education and legislation and that the progress of Jewish youth is interrelated with the democratic way of living. Some of the delegates reported that the following three developments have taken place in America since the establishment of Israel:
1. An encouragingly large number of Christians have become more sympathetic to the Jewish cause; 2. Many Jews in this country have developed a deeper sense of pride in themselves through pride in the people of Israel; and 3. Americans who had “borderline” attitude toward the Jewish people in the past, have since developed a deep respect for them because of what has happened in Israel.
Reporting that there are 300 Jewish Youth Councils in the United States today, A.N. Pins, chairman of the Planning Commission, told the delegates that these councils are the best media through which they can meet the issues facing Jewish youth in this country. They are given direct service by the Jewish Welfare Board in the form of aid in the development of program ideas and techniques, and in the form of consultation services, he said.
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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.
