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Community Currents
Southwestern Jewish Press, July 6, 1951,  page 2

By Albert Hutler, Executive Director, United Jewish Fund

Center Topics—The large enrollment in the center's "Camp Jaycee" indicates the need for recreational facilities and programs for Jewish youngsters in San Diego. To many of us it brings out, in rather a bald picture, the crying need for a community center—a physical plant—for such a program. If we had a center there could be activities for all ages, including a fine nursery school for those under 5.  The fact that the Jewish Armed Service Committee finds itself facing a problem of what to do about civilian young men who wish to attend the functions sponsored by the committee, is another sign of the growing need in our growing community.  Esther Siegel and I took Chaplain Segal to Oceanside to help set up some type of program for the marines stationed at Pendleton. From my little contact with the chaplain I feel the boys in the 11th Naval District got a break when he was assigned here.

Federation Growing Up?—One of the purposes of founding the Federation of Jewish agencies was to have a local coordinating welfare agency which would be in a position to receive legacies, endowments, and gifts for local Jewish needs and institutions. the first one came a few weeks ago in the Estate of Lola Eastman, who left a legacy to be used for "under privileged Jewish children in San Diego." Another is about to be culminated. If the lawyers and accountants will cooperate, all of the Federation agencies, and the local Jewish community will benefit.

Regarded Children—There is a registered nurse in town who really is imbued with the spirit of doing good for her fellowmen.  She just resigned her job at a local hospital to put all of her time in the work of establishing a school for retarded children in San deigo. Checking around I found there's a real need for this type of service. If any of you would be interested in assisting in the formation of such a school, or if any organization would be interested in undertaking to help as a project, I'd be happy to hear from you. 

DPs—Max Kaufman and I both know that there are many compensations in working with DP's both here and in Europe. The greatest thrill is in seeing a family reunited after many years of separation. That to me is the romance of social work.  In the last two weeks the Emigre Committee of the Fund has seen two families meet again, and the grand fact is that the committee was responsible for bringing them together.  the father and mother of Julia Spohr arrived in San Diego to join their daughter who herself was a DP just 6 months ago.  Just yesterday Adek Firestone, who has been in America about a year and a half, saw his oldest brother get off the train to settle in San Diego.  He had just arrived from Germany with his wife and child. His older brother Stan is one of the nations best, in the United States Army.  New Americans, good citizens, families reunited through your contribution of money, time and energy to the United Jewish Fund.