More Than 100 Centers Reported Now Serving 700,000 European Jews

There are now more than 100 youth centers and synagogue centers serving 700,000 Jews in European countries, Charles H. Jordan, director general of the American Joint Distribution Committee, reported here today. He spoke at a two-day conference of key American and European leaders of the Jewish Center movement, which brought together 30 lay leaders and professional Center workers. Aiming to strengthen Jewish identification among young people in countries outside of Israel, the conference, the first of its kind, explored common problems and areas of possible cooperation between community centers and youth centers on both sides of the Atlantic. Sponsored by the JDC, it was attended by leaders of the National Jewish Welfare Board, the World Federation of Jewish Community Centers and Y’s, and the Commission on Centers and Vacation Camps of the Standing Conference of European Jewish Communities.

Mr. Jordan told the leaders that one of the top JDC priorities in Europe was to “help keep Jews Jewish” and instill in Jewish youth a sense of Jewish identification so that they would be ready to assume their share of responsibility for carrying on Jewish religious and communal traditions and values.