Some 200 Jewish youths, representing 23 national Jewish youth organizations, were told here today that, to understand American Jewry, one must realize that the American Jewish community, as manifested by federations and community councils, has “people as its principal asset,” that it is “voluntary in nature,” that it “depends more or less on consensus,” and that fund-raising–despite criticism leveled against it — “is a tremendous unifying force, bringing Jews of all viewpoints together in a common effort.”
Speaking at the second North American regional conference of the World Consultative Committee for Cooperation Among Jewish Youth, Charles Miller, director of community planning of the Federation of Jewish Agencies of Greater Philadelphia, further told the delegates that, although unity on an idea logical basis is impossible in a democracy, it is being achieved on the basis of community participation in common planning and action.
The delegates, representing youth groups with memberships of more than 250,000, grappled with the problem of how youth can make its voice heard on behalf of such causes as civil rights, the revitalization of Jewish education, the continued building of Israel, and the development of closer ties between Jewish youth groups throughout the world. The four-day conclave will continue through Thursday.
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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.
