The creation of a central Israel fund to “insure maximum benefit” from philanthropic contributions through local welfare funds was urged here last night at the conclusion of the two-day 15th annual conference of the New York-Ontario Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.
The representatives of 21 Jewish communities comprising the region also stressed in a resolution the necessity for making certain that funds secured through loans or private investments be “in addition to and not a substitute for” money contributed through welfae funds. The delegates reaffirmed the principle of fund-raising through strong central community organizations as the best means of raising maximum sums for Jewish local, national and overseas causes, and urged the Jewish communities to make available as much cash as possible from previous campaigns to the United Jewish Appeal.
Harold Glasser, director of the C.J.F.W.F. Institute on Overseas Studies, told the conference that the solution to Israel’s present economic difficulties lies in its ability to strengthen its foreign exchange position through a large-scale expansion of industry and agriculture. He cited the present unbalance of Israel’s imports over exports, and declared that continuing aid was necessary to avert “serious economic consequences.” Chief present sources of foreign exchange for Israel, he added, were: continuing philanthropic support from American Jewish community welfare funds, the $100,000,000 U.S. Export-Import Bank loan, and private investments.
Alan V. Lowenstein, president of the Jewish Community Council of Essex County, N.J., and vice-chairman of the national Council Committee on Community Organization, reviewed the growth of Jewish communities in the U.S. and Canada during the last 50 years and spoks of the functions of the Committee on Community Organizations.
Maurice S. Tabor of Buffalo, retiring regional president, noted in his review of the year that there had been an increase in joint planning to meet specific needs and added: “It is extremely important that we continue to act as an association of New York State and Ontario communities to express our point of view on national business.” Arthur Markson was elected regional president to replace Mr. Tabor, who held the post for the past two years.
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.
