III

•

•

was most definitely an issue.
It was not only the Jewish
Theological Seminary, how-
ever, which provided financial
support. The Federation of
Jewish Men's Clubs had been
a major backer of LTF for a
number of years. (It is strange
that no mention of their role
appears in Mr. Neusner's
article.)
In a letter to Conservative
rabbis and other LTF sup-
porters dated Nov. 5, 1981,
the late Gerson D. Cohen,
:then serving as Seminary
chancellor, announced that
the Men's Clubs and the
Seminary, along with the
United Synagogue had decid-
ed to shift their energies and
resources in this area toward
the college campus.
Coupled with the shifting of
financial resources was the
realization that LTF had long
ago outlived its usefulness. As
USY continued to grow and
develop, more and more of its
efforts were aimed at address-
ing the needs of the "elite"
within its own structure. This
was reflected in the creation
of the Abraham Joshua
Heschel Honor Society in the
late 1970s.
A special interest group
within the USY structure, the
Heschel Honor Society re-
quires members to observe a
specified standard of Torah
study, synagogue attendance
and community service. It
was also reflected in the
quality of the educational
publications and programs
produced by USY, which con-
tinue to experience broad use
and acceptance throughout
the Conservative movement
and beyond.
As Chancellor Cohen told
his colleagues ". . . there has
been the feeling that we were
duplicating each others' ef-
forts, and thus dissipating
precious energies." He was
absolutely correct. LTF ceas-
ed to exist in any significant
capacity long before its an-
nounced demise in 1981.
Many of the same needs,
however, were already being
met within the movement by
USY.
The "dream" has not been
deferred: it lives on in a much
healthier and more robust
fashion through the multi-
faceted activities of USY,
where our best kids have the
opportunity to be nurtured —
while nurturing others.

Jules A. Gutin
Acting Director,
United Synagogue Youth
New York

1 1 At

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23

