Page Fourteen
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, April 7, 1944
roblems
0S -1
of the Anit riean Jewish Community
A
FTER YEARS
of unstable condi-
tions, of economic
depressions, of war
o r preparation f o r
war, CI mounting
anti-Semitism — years
in which civilization
has come close to the
abyss of self-destruc-
tion—we are now en-
tering the concluding
phases of the world
H. L. Lurie
war and are nearing
the period of reconstruction.
Even with a decisive victory over
the forces of regression we cannot
assume that civilization has received
a full guarantee of peace and prog-
ress. We - have .merely, been granted
another opportunity to work for sur-
vival and human decency. No one can
forecast with assurance the kind of
world we shall be living in in 1950 or
even in 1945. Beyond the fighting and
winning of the war, humanity today
and tomorrow faces a difficult and
uncertain future.
With everything- changing no insti-
tution can remain static. We there-
fore need to examine our situation
carefully. Nothing should be taken
for granted.
THEIR MISFORTUNES
In the past the focus of interest was
not on the Jewish community but on
the Jewish poor. For the most part
the poor were poor not because of
their Jewishness but becauSe of indi-
vidual misfortunes. Jewish
thropy was a group expression in the
sense that it represented the desire
of charitably inclined Jews to play
their role • in the American scheme of
social welfare which depended on
sectarian service. In 1932, when. the
Council of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds was organized, we
were in the midst of a depression but
even then the welfare of the individ-
ual poor was beginning to be secon-
dary rather than a major considera-
tion.
By H. L. LURIE
Executive Director of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds
(Copyright, 1944, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Three terms or slogans have been -
frequently heard which - illuminate
minimum requirements of a success-
ful community organization. They are
"voluntary association," "democracy,"
and "unity."
VOLUNTARY BASIS
First, voluntary association. No one
is really compelled to join in. any
Movement or activity concerned with
Jewish needs and interests nor to con-
tribute to a philanthropic campaign.
Maybe it feels like coercion when the gib
solicitor comes along, but- the fact is
that most people are ready to identify
themselves with a Jewish group on a
voluntary basis. Inner and outer com-
pulsions work toward this end.
Now as to democracy. We have
found that for 'effective results the
local Jewish community must be or-
ganized on the widest possible basis
of individual and group representa-
tion. Democratic prOcedure is the
essence of all forms of voluntary or-
ganization. • When we talk about de-
mocratizing Jewish organizations, we
usually mean increasing membership
through spreading the base of the
organization. Organized philanthropiC
associations are technically demo-
cratic in form.
It is generally known that 90 per
cent of agency funds comes from a
relatively small percentage of the
population. It would be a mistake to
assume that we broaden the member-
ship base pritharily to secure an addi-
tional 5 per cent or 10 per cent in
funds. Such an objective is hardly-
worth the ' effort or the problems
which intensified fund raising brings
with it. Similarly, the administration
of social agencies, local, national or
overseas for the most part does not
depend on popular participation but
on the technical and administrative
skills of its lay and professional
leadership.
A DIFFICULT TASK
In the local community it has been
found possible to secure full agree-
ment of . individuals as contributors
and as participants in local programs
but it has remained extremely diffi-
cult to unite local agencies and in-
stitutions.
•
It should be pointed out that some
of the differences among Jewish
groups are more apparent than real.
Costum and tradition have great po-,
tency, but the new generation coming
into its. majority in all of our local
communities is likely to differ con-
siderably from the older generation
in outlook, interests and in the
capacity for community organization.
The new Jewish population is native
American and its views, attitudes and
adjustments have been conditioned by
the influences inherent in American
life. It has a distinctly American out-
look on problems overseas and lacks
the European experience which has
had so large an influence on the pro-
grams and organization of the immi-
grant generation. -
The basic principles of establishing
central Jewish community organiza-
tion may be summarized. as follows:
1—Reconstruction of the -broaden-
ing group responsibilities of Jewish
communities which extend beyond
the local area to national and over-
seas problems;
2—Recognition that local Jewish
objectives today require participa-
tion of all elements and that demo-
cratic procedures of an individual
or group membership basis is essen-
tial for maximum participation;
New problems growing out of the
manifestations of anti-Semitism here
and abroad had widened the areas of
local interest and increased the urg-
ency for local support of overseas and
national agencies.
welfare.
•
.
ACTIVE LAY LEADERS
In
carryiftg
out these objectives
emphasis should be placed upon the
importance of active lay leaders plus
professional services plus acquaintance
and contact with all Jewish groups
within the community to make the
organizations fully representative.
The results may be said to reflect
these principles and policies. There
are now at least 300 localities that
have some central instrument of Jew-
ish community organization in active
operation. Most of these agencies were
organized within the last ten years.
Most frequently' the central agency is
active as a welfare fund in securing
widespread local Jewish support for
basic national and overseas programs
but in an increasing. number of in-
stances it is functioning as a central
body for other basic objectives which
are the concern of the Jewish com-
munity as a whole: These local units
are capable of securing a high degree
of cooperation from all elements.
If the activities of the local corn-
munities could be confined to local
problems we might conclude that 'a
pragmatic process has produced in
this country types of Jewish commu-
nity organizations suitable for our
problems and circumstances. Many of
our problems in the country, however,
are not intrinsically local or localized; .
they are national with local manifes-
tations. In addition; all of us are con-
cerned with the important overseas
agencies and problems.
PRACTICAL RESULTS
COUNCIL EXPANDING
Since organizing the unorganized
areas is so recent an experience it
lends itself to an appraisal which all
of us are in a •position to make. While
many_ local problems remain unsolved
it will be generally agreed that fed-
erations, welfare funds and commu-
nity councils (the three terms are
used interchangeably) represent a
substantial step forward in community
organization. While they vary con-
siderably in qualiiy, intensity of in-
terest; scope of functions, and in the
degree of community acceptance, they
are effective instruments for fund
raising, for a comprehensive associa-
tion of all Jewish elements, for com-
munal funcizions related to broad
aspects
of 'individual
and group
5—The importance of maintaining
effective Jewish group cooperation
in important . areas of work despite
conflicts and differences- over other
issues.
It is inherent in the character of
our Council membership that we are
the only national agency concerned
with over all local organizations, on
a composite basis. We cannot be Zion-
ist, or non : Zionist, orthodox, con-
servative or reform, labor or capitalist,
nationalist, or assimilationist for the
simple reason that a central com-
munity agency must include all . of
these.
Federations and welfare funds were
primarily seeking the organization of
their communities to meet internal
needs of our Jewish people and the
obligations of each community to
build for a healthy participation of
Jews in American life.
This is 1944, but we still cannot say
that an ideal form_ of central local
Jewish organization has been achieved
in many or for that matter, in even
one community and I am not dis-
paraging any claims to the contrary
that may be pressed. But there have
been growth and improvement in
local organizations. Gradually, the
federations and welfare funds have
been expanding the basis for com-
munity participation and the areas of
community interest.
3—The . need for satisfactory re-
lationships between. Jews and other
groups within the local community;
4—Adjustment of social welfare
instruments to meet changing local
problems and conditions;
The trials of the Jews under Pharaoh in Egypt are recalled by the
present oppressions of Jews in Europe. The Jews of America are speed-
ing the hour of liberation for large sections of Jews still living in dark-
ness through the $32,000,000 campaign of the United Jewish Appeal for
Refugees, Overseas Needs and Palestine. Rescue measures of the Joint
Distribution Committee, United Palstine . Appeal and National Refugee
Service are providing avenues of escape and rehabilitation for Nazi-
persecuted Jews in all Nazi-occupied lands.
One of the most difficult questions
is how far we can progress locally if
there is national disunity. There are
many. theories about this but the
practical results are more significant.
We have gone far locally and have
not yet reached the maximum poten-
tial. Local community organization
can go -much further in the sphere of
local problems.
•
As the war ends we will go through
profound changes in our economic and
social life with the conversion of our
productive forces to peacetime pur-
suits.. Demobilization of men and
women from the armed forces, indus-
trial shifts and changes will make
the early „post-war years in terms of
changes in community living, if not
more intensive. It is the basic obliga-
tion of our agencies to adapt their
resources and skills to changing needs
and to gear their forces with the vol-
untary and government organizations
that have responsibility for, social
services to the veteran, the unem-
ployed and other groups.
The civic-protective issues are in
one way an aspect of post-war prob.+
lems seen primarily as the unsolved
relationships between racial and ret
ligious groups in thiS country. •
ABNORMAL FACTOR
It is perhaps a distortion in Per....",
specti* to consider - the problerns of
anti-Semitism as an abnormal factor.
in an otherwise normal environment .
If we. make this mistake we will be
grievously disappointed with the
results:
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