[flipbook pdf=”https:/jhsdelaware.org/Jewish%20Voice/19840601e.pdf”]

We are happy to share with you the Jewish Voice issue from June 1, 1984. It’s a celebration of 50 years of the Jewish Federation of Delaware.  The following article by Leo Zeftel, then president of the JFD, gives a good overview of the accomplishments of the Jewish Federation of Delaware.

From A President’s Perspective

By LEO ZEFTEL, President
Jewish Federation of Delaware

1984 marks a milestone in the history of our Jewish Federation. It is a time not only to reflect on the past but also to look to the future. Significant progress has been achieved in our Jewish community over these past five decades. We have not only grown in size, but as a community have responded to and been responsible for the dynamic growth of local services.

At the same time, we have experienced some of the most traumatic times in the continuum of our Jewish people. We witnessed the destruction of one third of world Jewry in the most devastating period of our long history.

We were privileged to be a part of the rebirth of the Jewish nation and the subsequent emergence of Israel as a sovereign, democratic State that became a haven for thousands of our fellow Jews from lands of hate and oppression. 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973 — these were the years that Israel’s very physical existence was at stake and she survived as a viable, dynamic state. We were all part of this historical development in terms of our financial and moral support for Israel. Zionism became a household word. Israel’s many achievements have given all of us a deep sense of pride and we must and shall continue to strengthen the ties between us so that Israel will prosper and endure.

Here in our own Jewish community of Delaware, we witnessed the growth of our social service network of services made possible by the commitment and leadership of hundreds of devoted, dedicated men and women. We have reached an era when the donor and recipient are one. All of us are directly touched by the human services provided by our agencies. It was the Federation which evolved as the moving, dynamic force in the financial support, coordination and planning for total community needs – locally, nationally and overseas.

We can all be proud of what has been done. We are a richer community for it. But, as we look ahead in the turbulent 80s, we are confronted with many difficult and challenging problems and issues.

We are witnessing a growing erosion of Jewish family life, a weakening of our Jewish roots and identity, growing concerns in the areas of community relations and Jewish education. We still face too much apathy on the part of a large segment of our Jewish community.

Some specific areas of concern are services that will be required for the increasingly growing elderly of our community. Twenty percent of our Jewish population are now 65 or older compared to a national norm of 14 percent. Increased availability of camp and similar recreational programs for both youth and adults must be provided. Community services now available primarily in the Wilmington area must be extended to other areas in the state. Educational programs for all ages must be strengthened. Single parents and young adults will require programs specific to their needs.

It seems to me the challenge our community faces is to be responsive to these growing and continuing needs in a thoughtful, creative and qualitative manner. There are too many critical issues in Jewish life to engage in “business as usual.” We cannot afford to respond to the evolving needs with the archaic and “comfortable” techniques of the past.

With the quality of leadership we currently have, and with the involvement of an even greater segment of our community, we can indeed impact on these issues in greater measure.

We can look with pride to the fact that in the last few years we have significantly turned our campaign around and are now moving in a positive, upward direction. We have the expertise and capacity to do even better both by direct fund raising and our newly revitalized endowment program.

Our tasks are not just for the few — we need and look to all of you if we are to have a broadened, democratic base of participation. We are a voluntary organization and our strength is the volunteer – the volunteer can and should be you!

As we move into the next 50 years of our Federation let us do so with renewed dedication and commitment to our biblical mandate of tzedakah – passion and concern for our fellow Jews. This is what we are all about.

About The Cover

The cover photo, a timeless depiction of new immigrants, has been reproduced from a 1957 United Jewish Appeal Poster. 1957 represents one of the high points of the exodus of Jewish refugees from lands of oppression, and also represents the mid-point of the 50-year history of our own Jewish community.

The quote concerning tzedakah, has been excerpted from Harry Blueston’s “A Historical Review Of A Century of Jewish Philanthropy,” originally found in Philip Birnbaum’s Book Of Jewish Concepts.