Evening star., 1940-12-02
Jewish Agencies Map
Recreation Program
For Service Men
Welfare Groups in Four
States and District Take
Part in Conference

A conference in which represen-
tatives of Jewish welfare agencies
in four States and the District OF
Columbia took part concluded at
the Jewish Community Center yes
terday after adopting a program to
aid American soldiers and sailors in
their religious and recreational
needs.
Frank L. We'll, president of the
National Jewish Welfare Board, told
the 300 delegates the National Unit
ed Welfare Committee for Defense,
which functioned during the World
War, has been revived.
It's duty, he said, will be Ito Gre
ate a dynamic democracy and posi-
tive religion" by providing recre-
alton, spiritual opportunities and
companionship for soldiers and SAIL
ors on brief leave from ships or
camps in various communities.
AS before, it will be an interde-
nominational body. 1t is to be COM
posed of the Y. M. c. A, the Jew
ish Welfare Board, the National
Catholic Welfare Council and the
Salvation Army, slightly smaller
than in 1917. The organization
raised about $3.50 100000 in its past
drive.
Name is Changed.
The former name of the welfare
federation was the Pennsylvania
Middle Atlantic Federation of Y.
MY. w. H. AS, and Kindred As
sociations. 1t was voted yesterday
to change it to the Middle Atlantic
Section of Jewish Welfare Boards.
For help locally to Jewish mem
bers of our armed forces, the Army
Navy Committee of the Federation
of the Jewish Welfare Board is giving
special instructions to its so men,
bers, Morris Cafritz, it chairman,
stated. He added that the local
Jewish Center would offer all Of its
facilities to men in uniform.
Moritz M. Gottlieb of Washing
ton, chairman of the federation's
Army Navy Committee, called on
the delegates for wartime enthuSi-
asm" in accomplishing "a wartime
task in peacetime," and pledged the
active cooperation of all Jewish
organizations in Washington in the
Army and Navy work.
Outside Help Needed.
Speakers from the Army and Navy
told the gathering that although
both of these services are now going
far to take care of the off-duty
needs of their men it must not be
inferred that the help of outside
organizations is not needed. They
said that in most instances well
fare groups are not allowed within
the camps any more, but that both
the Army and Navy desire them tc
establish headquarters in towns
adjacent to the cantonments.
Capt. Robert D. Workman, CHIEF
of Navy chaplains, discussing this
subject, declared, "We are vel
equipped to look after their recre-
ational needs while we have them
under our wing, but we need youi
type of organization more than evel
to provide the men with wholesome
surroundings while they are or
leave"
Mai. George w. Hinman of the
Army's Morale Division said the
value of morale cannot be stressed
too highly, and that proper recre-
alton is great contributor tc
morale. He cited the Finnish anc
Greek resistance as an example ol
the supremacy of spirit over lum-
bering mechanical forces.
Billions Declared Well Spent.
Miss Harriet Elliott, consumer
member of the National Defense
Advisory Commission, spoke of the
billions" being spent for peace ir
this country and added that II
would be worth the cost II peace Il
saved.
Among the other speakers were
Capt. Harry A. Badt, Navy director
of enlisted personnel and former
commander of the cruiser Tusca.
loosa; the Rev. Aryeh Lev Of tn.
Army Office of Chaplains, and Louis
Kraft, executive director of the Ma.
tional Jewish Welfare Board.
DR.. Joseph o. Ericsson of Norris.
town, Pa. was reelected president
of the federation.
1t was announced that about Al
Jewish Army chaplains will have
to be appointed to take care of the
$4,000 Jewish soldiers who will bt
called to service in the Army.