Social Workers’ Parley Told Jewish Future is Linked to Democracy

Democracy as the keynote of the Jewish future was stressed by the presidents of three welfare groups at the opening session last night of the annual convention of the National Conference of Jewish Social Welfare.

More than a thousand social workers, community center executives and educators heard the speakers laud Democracy as a primary preservative forces.

Warning that the struggle between Democracy and Fascism was “becoming increasingly menacing” was voiced by Harry L. Glucksman, president of the Conference, who added that “workers must employ their specialized knowledge, talents, time and technique in furthering movements aiding Democracy.”

Palestine’s role in the development of Jewry was emphasized by Mr. Glucksman and Dr. Jacob S. Golub, president of the National Council for Jewish Education.

“From Palestine,” Dr. Golub said, “there may come the answer rekindling the dead embers of our own spirituality.”

Jewish educators and Jewish education, Dr. Golub said, are making increasing progress in the American scene toward cultural autonomy.

Declaring the Jewish group had found assimilation impossible, he contended:

“We remained distinctive when religion was the dividing principle. Now nationalism is the separating factor in Germany and Poland, even our renegades are being returned to us. Nothing short of physical mixing, resulting in third or fourth generation intermarriage, can eliminate the Jewish strain, since only complete physical assimilation is effective with the Jew and obviously impossible for an entire people. For generations, separate group life must continue.”

Other speakers included Allan Bloom of Indianapolis, president of the Association of Jewish Center Workers, and Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, executive director of the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities.