The first world conference of Jewish community centers closed here Sunday with the establishment of a World Confederation of Jewish Community Centers, described by its founders as the “world’s largest Jewish organization.” It embraces two million Jews who are members of local Jewish community centers on five continents. Participants from 14 countries attended the conference. Morton Mandel, of Cleveland, Ohio, was elected president of the Confederation. Offices will be established in New York, Geneva and Jerusalem.
The newly elected executive committee was assigned four priority projects to be undertaken before the next world conference. These are: extending services to Jewish community centers in countries where the Jewish communities are threatened or are diminishing in numbers; expansion of student exchange programs with Israeli community centers; broadening contacts between Jewish community centers throughout the world and providing professional know-how to the various national federations of community centers; and heightening Jewish awareness through community center programs.
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