Conference of Jewish Welfare Leaders Discusses Jewish War-time Problems

A resolution expressing encouragement and support of the efforts of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds to bring about the creation of a single, central organization to direct and operate civic protective activities in the United States, was adopted here at the ninth annual conference of the West Central States Region of the Council which concluded its two-day session yesterday at the Hotel Marquette. Delegates from 17 Jewish communities in the region attended the conference.

Another resolution adopted calls for “unstinting and enthusiastic support to war chests” and urges local Jewish federations and welfare funds to give “favorable consideration to welfare fund affiliation with war chests under conditions consistent with the best interests of the respective communities.”

The delegates voiced their determination to adapt their social welfare programs to the new wartime emergency obligations and called for national unity to strengthen the “home front.” Confidence that American Jewish communities will successfully meet the challenge of total war was expressed by Philip M. Klutznik, Omaha Jewish welfare lender. The local Jewish federation, the unifying and planning agency of Jewish communities, has demonstrated its indispensability in the past, Mr. Klutznik said, and “will and must go on to a newer and bigger role in post-war planning.”

Isidore Sobeloff, executive director of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit and chairman of the Council’s Committee on Fund Raising Policies, reviewed the implications of the war chest movement to Jewish federations and community agencies throughout the country. Joseph C. Hyman, executive vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, discussed the roe of the American Jewish community in the immense overseas relief and reconstruction program. He reported that the Vichy Government in unoccupied France had granted permission for the evacuation of several thousand refugee children to the American continent. H. L. Luric, executive director of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, cited the two-day conference as further evidence of the growing strength of Jewish community organizations in adjusting themselves to changing local and national emergency problems. The war program of the Jewish Welfare Board was described by Louis Kraft, director of JWB. Frank N. Tragger, secretary of the Public Relations Committee of the American Jewish Committee, reported that the Jewish defense agencies adopted a new and more positive approach to inter-community relations after Pearl Harbor.

A session on the problems of Jewish education in war-time was led by Dr.Leo L. Honor of Chicago and Dr. Joseph Diamond of Minneapolis. The main objective of Jewish education in war-time is to prepare students for a normal and wholesome life and to train them as valuable and active citizens for the county and the Jewish community, they said. A seminary of professional executive of Jewish community agencies, held to review changing trends in vocational, family welfare and other functional programs, preceded the regional conference.

Clarence A. Ullman of Peoria was elected president of the Region. Other officers elected included Louis, S. Myers of Kansas City, first vice-president, E. N. Grueskin of Sioux City, second vice-president, Aaron Scheifeld of Milwaukee, third vice-president, and Sidney Cahn of Chicago, secretary.