The Denver Jewish news., 1925-08-06
EDITORIALS
A QUESTION OF COMMUNITY RIPENESS

About the time when the twentieth century being born
the Jewish districts New with neghbor
hood centres known Settlements When school out the
thing to do rush home fling the books the couch
to meet the at the Settlement There the croknoe and
ping tables waiting for the afternoon rush the Head
Worker ready to listen to the plans being Matched by the
various cen club for outings and athletic meets and
debates.
We still ourselves decamng Gunga Din! at a Settle
ment oratoca contest while dotng beamed
and assured that the judges had cheated didn't win the
prize. Those were carefree days.
1t be passing of the has somewhat changed
focus but does that the neghbohood houses
day particularly associated with the idea that they
refugees for the children of the The and daughters of
called wetodo families attach tnge stigma to the
neghborhood housea enjoying the facilities of neghborhood
house were acceptance of poor relief.
Mores the pity for the children of the wetodo have great
need for the influence of well conducted negborhood
than have the children OF the poor whose parents not above
devong their afternoons and evenings to their children
Be that it may of the fine democratic spirit of the
odme Settlement to be anmatng several groups of
Iarsghted Jewish who creating type of Commu
y Centre for adults well children for rich well
The American Jewish Year Book records twenty
ish communities through the country that have 1924 built
Centres of this new type of which sesupporng Some
of the communities have less than Jews
larger than the Denver Jewish community word the
Community Centre under construction in Pittsburgh will serve to
illustrate the striking characteristics and value of this type
of community club:
The Pittsburgh sponsored by gentleman who
repued the largest Independent corporation the
United States After the construction itself underwren by
popular subscription this gentleman couple of hundred of
his Jewish acquaintance to join the centre hundreddoar
members They asked to do this not because they
good fellows but because the Centre would give club
house facilities which they not getting anywhere else for
thing year Many more who cannot a
ford that much in dues paying fifty twenty and five
dollars according to their while still others not
that much The clubhouse open all the basis
nobody but the secretary knows what dues paid all
freely the showers the swimming pool tables
and bowling alleys the oungng The ladies having
corresponding facilities And every one
she paying or not paying getting than dues worth
Here in the Community Clubhouse and poor rub elbows
without knowing caring which which One benefits the
contact with the other much the other benefits by the
democracy Jewish social life replacing
grading clques and ceavages The community finding itself in
of selfexpresson which bearing Community
performances creating finer appreciation
and musc community athletic meets call
portance physical well being whatever community
touches through medium the Centre offers possibilities
social improvement.
The Pittsburgh Centre is magnificent three million dollar
structure Jewish communities aspire such achieve
rnent along this But communities like Norwich Conn., and