The B'nai B'rith magazine · 1927-07-01 · 10 (7.1927) · p. Seite 422

One'Half of Wider Scope Quota is Raised EN great months in the new ef- (fflmSd fort of American Jewry were j||§|fj§5 completed on July 1st. They ral^Sf culminated in the announcejjlpftL ment on that date that very c^vgrl near f1,000,000 had been pledged towards the support of the cultural program by which the B'nai B'rith Wider Scope Committee aims to accomplish the survival of Judaism in America. During the ten months of the Wider Scope Campaign something happened which gave the most confirmed pessimists a brighter outlook upon the future of American Judaism. Representatives from many States met in the councils of the Wider Scope Committee to discuss the problem: How may we survive? And they returned to their people, telling them of new conceptions that were giving life to Israel—the conception of survival through cultural advancement —and of how the Wider Scope Committee was promoting this movement through the cultural agencies of the B'nai B'rith—the Hillel Foundations at colleges, which trained Jewish students for leadership and the Aleph Zadik Aleph which in the same manner served Jewish youth outside of the college campus. The program of the Wider Scope Committee inflamed the imagination of the nation's Jewry as no other appeal had succeeded in doing. As important as the raising of one-half of the $2,000,000 Wider Scope quota is the effect that the campaign has had upon the main body of American Jewry. * * * '""PHE million dollars was raised in four American Districts of the B'nai B'rith. The approximate sums raised in each of the Districts are: District No. II, $325,000; No. Ill, $125,- 000; No. IV, $175,000, and No. VI, $375,000. The three remaining Districts will open their campaigns at the conclusion of the summer season, in an effort to complete the $2,000,000 quota of the Wider Scope drive by January 1st, 1928. Among these three is District No. I with a quota of $750,000. The launching of this District's campaign in the fall, simultaneously with the meeting of the National Wider Scope Committee in New York, will mark the high point of the drive. The response of District No. I will be the ultimate test of the appeal of the Wider Scope program. District No. 1 includes New York City which, with its two million Jews, holds the balance of success in any American Jewish movement. In the leadership of Maurice Bloch the Wider Scope Committee finds assurance of a favorable conclusion to the drive in District No. I. Mr. Bloch recently was elected president of the District and is also vice-chairman of its campaign. He is the minority leader in the New York Assembly and his association with Jewish religious, educational and social enterprises has always been a determining factor in their success. Upon his election to the presidency of the District, Mr. Bloch received a message of congratulation from Governor Alfred Smith, expressing confidence in his ability. * * * T~\ I STRICT No. II is re-assembling its forces for a whirlwind finish to its drive in the Fall. With eighty-two per cent of the District's quota pledged, the rest of the work is expected to be comparatively easy. The District may even exceed its quota. Sums raised in Cleveland and Zanesville were not included in the eighty-two per cent, and Kansas, Indiana, and a number of cities in Ohio, Missouri and Kentucky remain to be covered before the campaign in District II is completed. In Indianapolis the Wider Scope Campaign will be conducted jointly with the United Welfare Drive. Louis J. Borinstein and Isidore Feibleman, first vice-president of District II, will lead the Wider Scope effort in Indianapolis. Some cities will combine their Wider Scope campaign with the building fund drive of the Cleveland Orphan Home. This method has been tried with great success in Toledo where the joint quota was over-subscribed. A note of joy was injected into the District Convention at Toledo when Emil Mayer, District Campaign Chairman, announced the progress of the Wider Scope drive. Inspired with enthusiasm, the delegates pledged their utmost efforts towards furthering the campaign in communities where it is still to be conducted. * * * PITTSBURGH is coming into the home stretch after a very intensive campaign, which was directed by Leo H. Lehman. The drive opened with a banquet at which Joseph L. Kun, president of District No. Ill, delivered an appeal. Dr. Boris D. Bogen, National Director of the drive, was the speaker at campaign luncheons held June 17th and 24th. Pittsburgh is the center of intensive campaign activities throughout Western Pennsylvania, of which section Leonard S. Levin is chairman. The following are the patrons of District No. Ill, those persons who have given $1,000 or more to the Wider Scope Fund: Charles Topkis, Harry H. Goldberg, Benjamin M. Golder, Joseph L. Kun, Albert H. Lieberman, Jacob Singer, Harry G. Sundheim, Maurice L. Wurzel, Albert M. Greenfield, Louis Needles, Charles Kline, Henry J. Walter, Samuel W. Salus, Jacob D. Lit and Samuel D. Lit. * * * ("COMMUNITIES throughout the Western and West Coast States, which comprise District No. IV, are alive with Wider Scope Campaign activity. Butte, Montana, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and Santa Monica, Calif., and Everett, Washington, now are in the midst of their drives. Stockton, San Bernardino, Modesto, San Jose, and Pasadena, Calif., Boise and Pocatello, Idaho, Tacoma and Aberdeen, Washington, and Victoria and Vancouver, Canada, are at the zero hour, prepared to enter the campaign at an early date. San Francisco, Portland, Oakland and Los Angeles will include their Wider Scope effort in their community welfare drives. Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Seattle, Fresno and the State of Arizona have already reported pledges to the Wider Scope fund, and all in all, about $175,000 of the District's quota has been assured. * * * '""PHE campaign in St. Paul opened last month at a meeting at which Dr. Boris D. Bogen and Julius M. Kahn, President of District No. VI, were the principal speakers. Milwaukee and Omaha now are in the thick of the campaign. It was expected that at the convention of District VI, in Detroit, July 2nd, 3rd and 4th, the complete quota of the District would be reported raised. 422