N.c.r.a.c. Decides to Seek Allocations from Jewish Welfare Funds

For the first time in its eight-year history, the National Community Relations Advisory Council, which is coordinating the activities of Jewish groups engaged in combatting anti-Semitism, will apply to Jewish welfare funds throughout the country for allocations to meet its 1953 budgetary needs, it was announced here today. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the N.C.R.A.C. executive committee last week, the announcement said.

N.C.R.A.C. financing heretofore has been by dues payments from its constituent national and local organizations. About fifty percent of its budget for recent years was provided by dues from the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith. Withdrawal of these two organizations following adoption of a plan for organization of Jewish community relations work at the last plenary session in September necessitated revision of N.C.R.C. financing methods. Jewish welfare funds will be asked to provide that portion of the N.C.R.A.C.’s financial needs formerly supplied by the two agencies which have withdrawn from the coordinating group.

Irving Kane, N.C.R.A.C. chairman, told the executive committee that the large City Budgeting Conference at a meeting in Washington the week-end of October 18-19 had endorsed the plan adopted by the N.C.R.A.C. plenary session, and had adopted a resolution urging all welfare funds to support N.C.R.A.C. requests for allocations in order that the N.C.R.A.C. might carry out the plan. The L.C.B.S. is an association of the welfare funds of the largest cities. Representatives of the L.C.B.C. participated in the work of the N.C.R.A.C. committee which drew up the plan based on the Maclver Report.

TWO MORE ORGANIZATIONS ADMITTED INTO N.C.R.A.C. MEMBERSHIP

The N.C.R.A.C. also announced today a decision to admit into its membership the United Synagogue of America and the Community Relations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Camden Country, New Jersey. The announcement indicated that applications for membership from additional communities were in prospect. The United Synagogue of America is the national organization of the Conservative movement in American Judaism. The Reform movement already is represented in the N.C.R.A.C. through membership of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

The N.C.R.A.C. also decided to reorganize its committees for more effective coordination and approved a plan for a long-range intensive study of basic strategies and methods in the community relations field presented by Bernard H. Trager, vice-chairman of the Council. Mr. Trager reported that the Reassessment Committee of the Council will consider the long-range problems of community relations work in relation to their immediate implications for the program in the field, according to Mr. Trager.

He explained that the process would involve a study of the whole strategy underlying particular areas of activity, such as interfaith work or civil rights programs, rather than questions of overlapping or other phases of organization. While it would rest on scientific research, he said, it would be directed toward policy-formulation rather than toward the direct undertaking of research projects.

The plan as approved provides for a series of three-day meetings of lay and professional leaders, together with experts as consultants. Each of these meetings will take up some particular aspect of community relations work. The outcome of the meetings will be embodied in reports, which will establish policies and point up needed scientific research and other further studies.