The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-07

ture as much as he desires. Religious
services are conducted daily and Fri
day evenings. on all of the high holi-
days. and for special occasions. In
the large camps. services are under
the direction of resident rabbi.
whose tasks include every variety Of
religious service, even an occasional
marriage or burial.
In addition to attending to the re-
ligious and educational needs Of the
boys In camp the Jewish welfare
board representatives in cooperation
with other welfare agencies help to
ments. entertainments lectures and
concerts. literary discussions and
study groups. The biggest accom- plish-
ment OF the welfare worker. however.
cannot be calculated or stated in cold
fants or figures. This is the personal
service in the guardhouse. hospital,
stockade or barracks. The welfare
worker does everything for the men
from writing letters to drawing up
Wills
The home Office, ~ l4s Fifth ave-
nue., maintains an inform atinn ser
vfse tStfreau. to which relatives of the
soldiers, and even the soldiers them
selves, bring their pcrplexities for So
luton.
After the boys leave camp, the Jew
sh welfare board still takes care OF
them. Several Jewish chaplains are
now with the American Expeditionary
Forces in France, commission of
three prominent Jews and an ad-
ninistrative secretary are now over
seas to establish the work of the
Jewish welfare board in France. and
they will shortly be followed by one
hmm Irc n IL
ditional number OF chaplains.
In the navy. the Jewish welfare
board does a similar work. 1t has es-
tabiished connections with the men
on board thirty United States war
ships. and supplies them with Prayer
books. Bibles, stationery, reading mat :
ter in Yiddish and English. victrola
records. comfort kits. etc. The Jewish
We flare board is practically alone in
its work on the war ships
In the larger camps the Jewish
boys have huts Of their own for ser
vices. classes and entertainments. Fiji
" huts are now in the process of con-
struction and will be opened by the
end Of the summer.
In all the communities adjacent to
the camps. and in the many large cit
les as we'll. there are local branches
of the Jewish welfare board which
provide for the pleasure and COM
fort OF the men and for the we'll be-
ing of their dependents. The local
branches cooperate with the Nation
al organization to make its work more
effective and far-reaching in it's re-
suits They take ccre of the men at
camps by supplying them with vari-
Gus comforts by social work among
the soldiers and their dependents at
home by arranging entertainments
and dances, by doing everything to
make the life of the man in uniform
more pleasant and comfortable.
II is a triple function the Jewish
welfare board performs: religious, So
ciaI welfare and patriotic, with the
soldier in camp. on the field any
where to be of service. BY providing
recreation, religious consolation and
wholesome surroundings. the Jewish
welfare board attempts to create a
condition as nearly normal as that of
the boys own home-foster the bet
ter spirit in man that is called mo-
| rale. No matter what conditions a SOL
der is under. II he can have some of
those things that he enjoys at home.
he is better satisfied. and better sat
isfied. he will make a better soldier.
The Jewish welfare board endeav-
ors to supply these wants
1t is the big job OF the welfare
| board to follow the flag, spreading
good cheer wherever it goes bracing
up. raising the fallen in spirit, teach
ing those who do not understand that
they may emerge from the conflict
better men, better Americans and bet
ter Jews.
The Jewish welfare board is in the
war to help win the war.