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I OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE
Vancouver Jewish Community Centre
No.1
February 21st, 1930
Vol.1
An Organized Communi        a Community of Organizations?
llabbi Solomon P. Wohlgelemter, Contributing Editor
There is a general problem independent of and present in ■ endeavor of a communal nature in the work of our community, na,mely, the attitude of the individual to community needs. For the last three years the expansions of the community has taken such rapid progress that there is oie thing, to my mind, which should be discussed by those wJic' are interested in the development of our community. I refer to communal over-organization. I shall endeavor to suggest fe the men and women who have labored so hard for the past few years in order to niake our Jewish community an outstanding factor in Canadian : Jewry> a solution to this problem of Yancouver.
At the present moment we have a number of organizations of a local nature which, to my mind, can be combined into one, for the benefit of the community. The waste of energy is of such great danger to the future of the community th it must be dealt with immediately if we wish to avoid t mista-kes made by other communities on this continent.
In the European communities a i general system "Kehiliah" of Community Council waa estaiblished, di into various sub-committees, each one dealing with d problems of community life. Such a process of con* the affairs of the community has helped in uniting Jewry for one ultimate purpose, namely, to interej dividual member in every problem of his or her c It included the religious, educational, philanth and financial activities of the respective commu established authority and discipline in Jewis who were competent by virtue of their callin, in one of the problems, were directly intereste( of the problems confronting the communit;
Here in this country, because Jews ar; belong to the community, or to interest munal life^we have a system of volunteer organizations, dealing with different therefore creates. particular hobbies tends to dis-unite Jewry: causes fricti
There is a sort of competition bet^j work one against the other.
We in Vancouver are fortunate! of a growing community, and it is factors and bring about unity in oliu*'
hose ledge blution
figated to }s in com-'in different of life. It idividual and
nizations which
therefore, is as follows:
That instead of having separal leaders and co-workers are interested \ri\\ of the community, that we should p] Board of Deputies of 24 or SO men, members of the community, to ccfnj
departments.
The Weekly New
be the pioneers ,5to remove such ^^^l&Mj suggestion.
zations, whose nother problem Vaad Hoir" or nnually by the affairs of our into various
1. The Religious Department, consisting of three or five men to work for the maintenance of the Sjoiagogue or Synagogues, and fpr the development of the religious life amongst Jewish people of this city. And to conduct Kosheras work of the community. Members of such a committee may be elected by the existing Synagogue and be included in the general Board of Deputies.
2. An Educational Board, whose purpose should be to conduct the educational work of this city and to maintain the Talmud Torah. To organize lectures, forums, and study circles for adults, to give religious instruction in one way or another as the community sees fit.
3. A Philanthropic or Social Welfare Committee, to take care of the charitable problems of the Jewish citizens; to distribute the money set aside by the Board for such purposes; to find a solution to the unemployment problems;: So guide the newcomer in his or her endeavors to establish hmself in this country.
4. An Immigration Committee, to deal with questions concerning immigration and thus helping to increase the-growth of the community; to represent the Jewish community in conferences with the government officials in regards to the' immigration problem; to help those who desire to bring out relatives and friends to this countrJ^
5. A Finance Committee, to work out an annual budget for the activities of a local nature; to conduct the campaigns-for the various needs of the community and to devise means and ways for the income and disbursement of such community budget.
6. A Cemetery Committee, for the mkintenance of the Jewish Cemetery.
7. A Community Centre Committee,. tO) work for the maintenance and expansion of the Jewish Centre-All the income of one or another institittibn of a local
nature should come into the treasury of such a Board, and in return the Board should be empowered to distribute the money as salaries to the officials of the community, to the teaching staff and all employees who are doing communal work. It should include the income from the Synagogue, from the butchers, from tuition for the pupils of the Talmud Torah, subscriptions for.the present community chest, subscriptions for the maintenance of the Community Centre, and donations of every other sort.
Sub-committees of such a Board should deal with their resp active problems in an independent nature, but their wcrk should be subject to the approval of the general body of the Board of Deputies.
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