A leading Jewish educator asserted here today that, whatever American Jews do for culture, “we make sure it is at least an ocean away,” He rejected the argument that “there will be an automatic transmission of Jewish culture from Israel” to the United States.
The speaker, Dr. Judah Shapiro, secretary of the board of the National Foundation for Jewish Culture, also told the board of directors of the National Council of Jewish Women that the United States was “an underdeveloped country for Jewish culture.” The board is holding its annual four-day convention at the organization’s national headquarters here.
Mrs. Leonard Weiner, NCJW vice-president, announced that the organization has set up a $5, 000 scholarship grant, to be awarded annually for four years for original research and writing on Jewish life. The initial grant was awarded for the current year to Dr. Erich Rosenthal, associate professor of anthropology-sociology at Queens College, for a study on the American Jew in terms of group cohesion.
Mrs. Charles Hymes, president, announced that the organization was forming a nationwide service corps for senior citizens, modeled on the Peace Corps, Under the plan, retired people would volunteer to help staff undermanned health, welfare and educational services in their communities on a non-sectarian basis.
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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.
