The small community potential in carrying out the United Jewish Appeal campaign effort was stressed by several speakers last weekend at a UJA regional conference in Springfield. Ill.
Irving Bernstein, UJA executive vice-chairman, declared: “There is a rich resource in this country. Thousands upon thousands of Jewish families living in communities such as yours. Like the border towns of Israel, small cities in America are outposts of Jewish survival. United small communities represent vast campaign and human power and can be a vital force for raising funds and for responding to critical needs.”
The 200 campaign leaders at the two-day campaign planning conference representing 14 small and intermediate-size Jewish communities in Illinois were told also by Len Lieberman, the 29-year-old president of the Springfield UJA-Federation, “The challenge for small communities is to broaden the base of Jewish activities. We must share responsibility by actively involving young people in planning and campaigning.”
Commenting on the nature of a UJA-Federation campaign in a community of 1100 Jews, James E. Myers, of Springfield, stated: “Our main problem is that we are ‘quietists and pietists’–but not militants. In small towns, we do well, people are willing to give–but not to get involved.” Leonard H. Sherman of Chicago. UJA regional chairman, emphasized. “We must make maximum use in 1977 of the powerful campaign force residing in our smaller communities.”
ORGANIZE EVERY SINGLE JEW
Bernstein, noting that the strain and sacrifices of the people of Israel are greater than they have ever been said: “Total support from America’s heartland is a critical element in the UJA lifeline to Jews the world over. We must organize until every single Jew in America is with us.”
Ehud Avriel, Consul General of Israel for the Midwest, stressed the importance of solidarity with the people of Israel. “Though there has never been a more aggressive coalition of anti-Semitism in the world. Jews as a people are hopeful in 1977.” he declared. “In our search for peace we draw strength from you–no other people can truly say, ‘We are one.'”
Regional conferences have been held across the United States in the past month, with meetings in Hasbrouck Heights. New Jersey; Palm Springs, California; Houston, Texas; and Tarpon Springs, Florida. Among the topics discussed were major UJA spring campaign events, including the national Shabbat on March 19, the national walk-a-thon on May 15 and a national closing date on June 1.
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