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Jewish Welfare Board

an organization formed in New York April, 9, 1917, as a result of the conference of representatives of the United Synagogue of America, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, the Agudath La-Rabbonim, the Jewish Publication Society of America and the Council of Y. M. H. A. and kindred associations. The meeting was to remedy affairs such as occurred on the border, when the various Jewish agencies acted independently and had not coordinated their very well meant efforts. The purpose was to arrange that all welfare work necessitated by the parwelfare work necessitated by the parunder the supervision and direction of a Central Board representing the seven organizations present, such a Board to be composed of one representative from and two additional persons, to be elected by the seven representatives. At subsequent meetings representatives of other organizations attended. The Board seorganizations attended. The Board sement to engage in work in the various cantonments and camps and it made plain that this would be granted only if all Jewish agencies were coordinated and would work through one organization. was The Board built up an organization organization.

United States and abroad and to secure funds with which to finance the projected work. By Dec. 1, 1917, the Board had secured thirty-seven men for its field service, many of whom were volunteers, and had distributed them its field service, many of whom were points. A joint campaign for funds was among the more important concentration volunteers, and had distributed them of which $900,000 came into the Board's treasury. The Board was thus enabled to open headquarters in New York City with an administrative staff. A training school for welfare workers was established, and many classes were graduated. The workers were assigned to field work to help Jews in the army. tablished, and many classes were graduwork of the field representatives was ated. The workers were assigned to conducted primarily in camps, cantonments and naval stations throughout the ELFARE BOARD sometimos reaches und the other (St particularly ften weighs of excellent RE BOARD, ar ed in New York esult of the con ives of the Un ica, the Union Congregations, of American Rab hodox Jewish Cong ath Le-Rabbonim, on Society of Amer of Y. M. H. A. and k The meeting was uch as occurred on oops on the Mexic arious Jewish age atly and had not y well meant effor to arrange that ecessitated by the pa in the war should and direction of ng the seve a Board entative from numerated ons, to be electe entatives. At subse sentatives of othe The Board o the War Depart in work in the various nd camps and it was wish agencies were cothis would be granted would work through one up an organization for field work in the abroad and to secure to finance the pro- Dec. 1, 1917, the thirty-seven men for y of whom were istributed them concentration for funds was

City, as a result e into the Board's ard was thus enabled in New York City ive staff. A trainare workers was esclasses were graduere assigned to Jews in the army. plicants for home and considered. The Id representatives was ly in camps, cantonstations throughout the JEWS country. The Board was represented in 149 camps, cantonments, forts and hospitals, and 44 naval stations, navy yards, submarine bases, and arsenals-a total and arsenals a total of 193 places. The Welfare Worker was known as the Star of David Man. Meade, Upton, and Pelham Bay had Jewish Welfare Buildings, and others followed in rapid succession, fifty-one buildings being authorized, and thirty-five completed, 220,000 prayer books, 185,000 Bibles, 12,000,000 letter heads, 6,000,000 envelopes, and other literature were distributed.