Al Hutler-1952-06-13

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Community Currents
Southwestern Jewish Press, June 13, 1952, page 2

By Albert Hutler, Executive Director, United Jewish Fund

Community Relations Council—Community Relations Council, Civic Unity Council, Mental Hygiene Association, and the four B'nai B'rith Lodges and Chapters in San Diego, sponsored a premiere showing of an excellent film against prejudice called "The High Wall." It was held at Wilson Junior High for an audience of about 150, many of whom were County and City school Teachers, as well as members of the Mental Hygiene Association. The film is probably one of the best films on the subject of prejudice. Here again was another public service of the Jewish Community Relations Council and the B'nai B'rith. The day after Mr. Bunche spoke Gerald K. Smith came back to town. He spoke at the Vasa Club House on El Cajon Blvd., to the same type of gathering to whom he has spoken before. He mouthed the same type of tripe with little change. Interestingly enough all of the rabble rousing, lunatic fringe group, sucha s Gerald K. Smith, are very much for General MacArthur for President, and on all of their mail there appears a General MacArthur for President stamp. There has been a mixed reaction following the ruling on the "Release Time Issue" by the United States Supreme court. Most Jewish groups are disappointed that a majority of the Court did not rule the New York City Release Time program unconstitutional. But they are gratified that the decision reaffirming the principal of separation of Church and State makes it clear that religious teaching and practices may not be taught in public schools. The decision also makes it clear that school authorities may not in any way involve themselves in religious affairs. We, in San Diego, will in all probality be hearing more about "Release Time" in the next six months or so.

Local Agencies—Jewish Welfare Society continues to be ably led by Harry Mallen as president and directed by Henrietta Rubenstein. There has been a most gratifying change in the agency's work in the last few years, as I have said before. The agency will soon undertake a study of the displaced person's resettlement program in San Diego, which should prove of interest to all communities as well as to national organizations dealing with this problem. The Welfare Society is one of the constituent agencies of the San Diego Federation of Jewish Agencies, and receives about 50 percent of its money out of the Fund Campaign. San Diego Janitor Supply, better known as Waxie's, joined the ranks of employers hiring displaced persons last week, along with Sam Kerber of Kerber of Kerber and Son, who hired a DP for his stockroom. Most of the employers of displaced persons have found them to be hard working loyal individuals who, once they understand their jobs, do a very good piece of work. The Welfare Society and the Emigre Committee are continuing to look for sympathetic employers who are willing to be patient for a short while, until the individual learns the job.

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I can't close this column without making some comment about the resignation of my very good friend, dr. Charles J. Falk, from the City School System, where he served for many years as Assistant Superintendent and Secretary of the Board of Education. Dr. Falk has been a true friend of everything that is good in education. A sound, liberal person, dr. Falk will be able to carry on his work at Occidental College as a professor. We'll all miss him, and we all wish him a great deal of luck in his new career.

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Under the direction of Carl Esenoff, president, the San Diego Federation of Jewish Agencies is gradually making headway. It has received gifts and legacies in the last few months which will in the near future give it a great deal of money for expenditure in the local community. The interesting thing is that these gifts are coming from Christian friends. Jewish lawyers and accountants in our community ought to take note and encourage some of their clients in making their will to leave a bit to the Federation for use by our local agency in San Diego. The Federation is beginning to strengthen itself and will in the very near future elect new Board members and officers. The present Board and Officers feel that since the Federation will have a great deal of money in the coming years, its Board should be made up of people who are interested in the problems of overall planning for welfare needs in the Jewish community as well as overall financing of our local agencies, both for operation and capital needs. With the Old Folks Home in need of expansion and the possibility of other facilities being needed for the Jewish Community, the Federation will in all probability play a very prominent part in these capital projects. Prerequisite for membership on the Federation Board should be an interest in local agencies and loyalty to the community as a whole.