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Community Currents
Southwestern Jewish Press, February 16, 1951,  page 2

By Albert Hutler, Executive Director, United Jewish Fund

I feel very grateful to those people who called me after the last issue of the Southwestern Jewish Press to correct the opening statement in last week's column with reference to Brotherhood Week. It proved that the "Press" is read by a good many people, but what was more flattering was that people read this column. Someday someone who writes a column will walk around in a daze because people commented on the fact that the column was correct.  Another novel event occurred during the last week, which I would like to call to your attention. I have been in the field of Social services Administration for some twelve years. This is the first time that a contributor has ever called to apologize for going away on a short vacation while he still owed some money in his pledge of the preceding year. It made me feel so good to know that there were individuals who felt that way about their philanthropic obligations, that I wanted to close the office for the day as a sort of a celebration. Anyway I would like to correct last week's opening paragraph by telling you that the essay contest was jointly sponsored by the Bay City Chapter and the San Diego Birdie Stodel Chapter of B'nai B'rith Women. Whoever sponsors it, it is a wonderful project and everyone should try to be present at the presentation at Roosevelt Auditorium on the night of February 26th.  I might also say here, by way of correction, that Samuel I. Fox Lodge headed by John Kluchin is only attempting to help in the coordination of Brotherhood Week in the three Synagogues. why not bring a Gentile  friend to one of the Synagogues on Friday night, February 23rd.

Better Living for Aged People—How can we enrich the lives of our older citizens?  This question is demanding the attention of Jewish Communities throughout the United States. The reasons for such high interest is rooted in our Jewish traditions of honoring and caring for the aged. More people are living longer, with longer life spans come newer and greater problems in caring for the chronically ill, providing opportunities for work or enjoyable retirement, obtaining desirable living arrangements, and personal adjustments. Jewish community planning is undergoing an outburst of experimentation and activity to meet these problems. We are trying in San Diego, through mobilization and integration of our Home for the Aged with the local resources of family service agencies, community center activities and the Old Times Club, to care for the individual needs of older persons. Much more can be done if the community mobilizes for it.  The Federation and the Fund certainly see this as a community challenge and have done more than speak about it by giving $2,880 to the San Diego Hebrew Home to cover its 1950 deficit.

Center Buildings Still Being Built—Center Buildings have been excepted from the recent ruling on building restrictions, according to an announcement from National Jewish Welfare Board. Nine Jewish Communities across the United states and Canada have dedicated new and modern Jewish Community Center Buildings. These are in Holyolk, Mass; Hoover Springs, Maryland; Englewood, New Jersey; Hamilton, Ontario; Kirland, New York; Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Memphis, Tenn.; Houston, Texas; Columbus, Ohio. Other communities are planning on building in 1951.

Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra —I have had several people ask me why the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra was not brought to San Diego. Most of us certainly would have liked to have them down here for at least one night but unfortunately at the price being asked, we do not have a large enough edifice in which to house the people who would be necessary to finance the orchestra. It was $7,500 plus expenses as the price for each community no matter how small or large.