Commenting on the meeting of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropic Societies, held last Sunday in Temple Emanu El for the purpose of interesting the masses of New York Jews in Federation’s charity work, the “Day,” in an editorial calls it “an occurrence which merits attention.”
Until recently, the editorial states, there was a spirit of estrangement between the large donors to Jewish philanthropy and the army of Jewish workers in America. The leaders hesitated to regard the Jewish masses as charity givers, for if they did so, they “must give the latter a voice and influence in the distribution of that charity. On the other hand,” continues the editorial, “the masses, especially the radicals, felt that philanthropy was not a matter for worker’s concern in that it might delay the arrival of the social revolution.
“Today,” says the paper, “the leaders of great charity organizations know that workingmen can not only give quite a considerable sum to charity, … but one can hear from them some sound advice. The masses realize that one… must help the poor. Thanks to this realization, a basis has been created upon which donors and working masses will work together.”
The Joint Distribution Committee was the first step, continues the editorial, but even after that it took a long time to realize that such cooperation should extend to the poor in New York City.
“Sunday’s conference,” concludes the editorial, “is an attempt to bring together all parties in our charity undertakings and to establish a foundation for their cooperation in local as well as over-seas philanthropic work. It is a praiseworthy attempt which merits success.”
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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.
