World Conference of Jewish Organizations Seeks Stronger Status

Major steps toward greater cooperative action among Jewish groups throughout the world were taken here today by the World Conference of Jewish Organizations. Representatives of the ten constituent groups comprising COJO agreed to strengthen the coordinating body by formalizing its structure and making it possible, when circumstances warrant, for COJO to take collective action in the name of its constituent members.

The delegates in effect ratified a proposal, under discussion for two years, to advance COJO beyond the “consultative” character which has been its primary role in its formative years. The action was taken “in principle” without adoption of procedural rules. Dr. Nahum Goldmann, who was reelected COJO chairman, said such rules would be prepured by a drafting committee, then circulated to the constituent groups for review and ultimate ratification.

It was anticipated that COJO would operate along the lines adopted by the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations which was recently reconstructed to take collective action while respecting the organizational autonomy of each member group.

$100,000 ALLOCATED TO WORLD COUNCIL ON JEWISH EDUCATION

Allocation of a $100,000 preliminary administrative budget to the World Council on Jewish Education to inaugurate methods to improve Jewish educational facilities was announced today at the COJO meeting. The World Council was established by COJO last year as a coordinating agency to strengthen Jewish education on a worldwide scale.

Rabbi Jay Kaufman, executive vice-president of B’nai B’rith, who reported the allocation, said that two-thirds of the initial $100,000 fund was provided by the newly established Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture. The other $40,000 is to be subscribed by organizations participating in the World Conference on Jewish Education.