As many as 10,000 Jewish New Yorkers today devoted themselves to helping literally millions of their fellow Jews who are endangered, oppressed or in need in Israel, in other lands overseas, and right here at home. Thousands of the volunteers spent the day calling at the homes of neighbors–many Christians among them–to ask for their contributions to this year’s United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Jewish Philanthropies Joint Campaign.
As early as 9 a.m., “Mobilization 76 bell-ringers” began reporting to 99 Mobilization Centers in synagogues, other communal institutions and a few private homes strategically located throughout New York City, Westchester and Long Island. There they received briefings and solicitation assignments.
The activity begun by the “bell-ringers” in the morning was scheduled to continue throughout the day and evening until past midnight. Mid-afternoon activities included squadrons of telephoners calling from dozens of locations all over Metropolitan New York. In the evening there was scheduled a four-hour television special, with Alan King and Bess Myerson as hosts and with more than 50 stars and celebrities as on camera participants. Hundreds of volunteers were to man a 240-instrument telephone bank set up to receive pledges from viewers, along with reports from hundreds of fund-raising parties arranged in their homes by volunteer hosts and hostesses.
The week-long “Mobilization 76” launched with today’s activities aims to reach 200,000 prospective contributors and to raise $15 million, a record sum for so short a time in the absence of all-out war involving the people of Israel. A similar effort a year ago raised $8 million. Howard Samuels and Elaine K. Winik are Co-Chairmen of the multi-pronged effort that enlisted people, young and old, from all over the city and suburbs.
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.
