Community Leaders Seek Effective Plans to Deal with Appeals

A resolution urging the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds to assist member agencies in developing effective plans and procedures for dealing with the problem of multiple appeals was adopted here last night at the closing session of the two-day 17th annual conference of the New York-Ontario Region of the Council. The conference was attended by 200 Jewish leaders from 20 communities in New York State and Central Ontario.

Another major resolution called for the strengthening of the National Community Relations Advisory Council as the coordinating and planning agency in the field of community relations. The resolution also urged that services be increased, both nationally and locally, in the community relations field.

Discussions on the future directions of organized Jewish life in the United States and Canada, budgeting of community funds to finance worldwide Jewish services, local community programs to meet the needs of the aged and chronically ill, and expansion of Jewish education programs to serve both children and adults highlighted the two-day meeting. Joseph Goldstein, of Rochester, was elected regional president for 1953, succeeding Arthur Markson of Utica.

David Newman, of Toronto, who is vice-president of the Zionist Organization of Canada, stated the need for more authority for central organizations, especially in establishing priorities for new buildings and services. “Our central Jewish fundraising and planning bodies, whether called welfare funds, federations or community councils,” he added, “must first expand new agency memberships and a working corps of community-minded leadership. Second, they must gain more power and use this power wisely.”

Benjamin B. Rosenberg, director of the C. J. F. W. F. Field Service Department, discussing the question of cooperation between national agencies and local communities, said: “Our central organizations–welfare funds and community councils–have been largely instrumental in aiding the development of effective local and national services carried on by autonomous agencies. At the same time, the leaderships of most of these organizations have recognized their responsibility to the total community and have aided in the strengthening of cooperative planning and coordination of services to the best interest of the Jewish community.”