Jewish Relief Work and the C.O.S.

Publication Date: August 1914

Publisher: Jewish Communal Service Association of North America

Author(s): Charles I. Cooper

Research Area: Banking and finance; Culture and religion; Social conditions

Keywords: Philanthropy; Communal Organization; Management

Type: Other

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The author explains how Jewish communal organizations have been successful at implementing the principles of the charity organization society movement which challenged indiscriminate, inefficient old style methods of relief giving. Nevertheless, one area in which the new model of Federations has failed is in valuing and accepting the 'nickels and dimes' which poor Jews have the practice of donating, which has led to the creation of superfluous bodies that exist only because there is a need for an outlet for this kind of giving. The administration of charities ought to preclude this by being truly democratic.

Bulletin of the National Conference of Jewish Charities, 5:1