Council of Jewish Federations Transmits Recommendations for Zionist Congress

Transmission of a statement to American organizations operating in Israel representing the views of Jewish welfare funds on the machinery for distributing American philanthropic funds for Israel was announced today by Julian Freeman, president of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. The purpose of this statement is to recall to the attention of these agencies the thinking of the American fund raising bodies on questions likely to be considered at the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem, scheduled to begin tomorrow.

This statement summarizes the views of the Council’s member agencies, which serve as the basic instruments in securing philanthropic contributions for the support of the Israeli agencies. It points out that at the World Zionist, Congress problems will be discussed and decisions taken which may affect the activities of the Jewish Agency and Jewish National Fund–which through the United Palestine Appeal are the major beneficiaries of Jewish welfare funds–and a number of other organizations which receive substantial support from our community organizations.

“Several of the questions scheduled for consideration are matters on which our communities have expressed their views locally, regionally, and nationally through our General Assembly,” the statement says. “The Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, therefore, would like to recall the following views to the major beneficiaries of welfare funds which do work in Israel:

“1. The member community organizations of the C.J.F.W.F. believe that the maximum amount of funds can be made available for Israel and all other major Jewish needs through comprehensive central community fund raising. Such fund raising embodies cooperative arrangements with all legitimate programs which represent the responsibility of American Jewry as a whole.

“2. The member community organizations of the C.J.F.W.F. believe that the appropriate authorities in Israel should set up the administrative structure and procedures to formulate a central Israeli budget for all Israeli agencies seeking funds in America. This would:

(a) Grant the individual agencies on a planned basis the necessary authority to seek funds in America for their approved programs;

(b)Provide information to American Jewry on what fund raising efforts have been authorized, for what programs, and for what specific budgets and goals;

(c) Take steps to establish standards of fund raising procedures in order to prevent confusing and harmful competition, and to achieve the co-ordination necessary to bring maximum results. It would also establish supervisory controls over the form of remittance of funds from the United States to Israel by philanthropic agencies so that Israel receives the full benefits from this foreign exchange.

“3. The member community organizations of the C.J.F.W.F. recommend that the philanthropic agencies operating in Israel establish a system of priorities in the allocation and use of funds, directed toward the successful absorption of immigrants and the economic development of the country.

“4. The member community organizations of the C.J.F.W.F. recommend the simplification of fund raising and distributing organization in the United States. For that purpose, they believe it would be desirable to consolidate the offices of the United Palestine Appeal, Jewish National Fund and Palestine Foundation Fund in the United States in order to achieve greater economy and efficiency.

“5. The member community organizations of the C.J.F.W.F. recommend that further steps be taken to utilize foreign technical experts who can be helpful to Israel in planning, formulation of policies, and operation of important programs of the philanthropic agencies.”