Jacob Kravitz
Jacob H. Kravitz, better known as Jack, came to Dallas on November 14, 1943, to take the position of executive director of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Dallas. At that time the Jewish population was estimated informally at roughly nine thousand individuals. He described a fairly homogeneous community organized around synagogue groups, including Temple Emanu-El, the Conservative congregation Shearith Israel, and Orthodox groups such as Tiferet Israel, with the Federation serving as the central Jewish organization for social services, fundraising, and community activities not sponsored by the synagogues.
During Kravitz's tenure, the Federation operated as what he called a functional federation, running campaigns for many organizations and coordinating the total Jewish community program. It supported efforts such as the Joint Distribution Committee's clothing drives for Jews in European camps and fundraising for children in Israel in cooperation with Hadassah. The Federation oversaw the Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family Service, and the Home for the Aged. Kravitz worked to broaden leadership beyond the Reform community, consciously encouraging Orthodox and Conservative Jews to take roles in both fundraising and community activities.
Kravitz took pride in the harmony of the Dallas Jewish community, noting that it avoided the sharp Zionist and anti-Zionist splits seen in cities like Houston. He recalled that the Federation saw itself as a peacemaking body that welcomed the American Council for Judaism as simply another Jewish organization. Over the years he helped guide the transition from a limited functional structure to a network of autonomous agencies with separate boards, a change encouraged by the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds and shaped by community self-studies. He believed the Jewish community was steadily coming together around a recognition of shared concerns.
Full Transcript
This is Ginger Jacobs. It is March the 18th, 1987. I will be talking to Mr. Jacob Kravitz this morning. Mr. Kravitz was the Executive Director of the Dallas Jewish Welfare Federation from 1943 until 1973. He then organized the Federation Foundation and was its first executive director until 1977. Alright, it's now March the 18th. We are at the home of Jacob Kravitz, better known as Jack Kravitz. What is your full name that you'd like to go by, Mr. Kravitz? Jacob H. Kravitz. And when did you come to Dallas? I came to Dallas... November 14th, 46th. November 1943. And what was the position that you came to in Dallas?
I came to the position of executive director of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Dallas. What was the Jewish population at that time, the general Jewish population? we did not have a census but we had enough informal information to indicate that there was approximately 100 10 000. 9 000 you've also said that 9 000 individuals families 9000 D. Okay. Individuals. Individuals. That's about three thousand or four thousand. Right? Was it 9000 families? I sure I was more correct before than I am Jack did you say 9 You told me individuals or families No actually individuals Nine families Or was it family No, individuals. At that time, what was the role of the Federation?
The Federation was considered the central Jewish organization for social services, for fundraising, for activities that the Jewish community sponsored, which were not synagogue sponsored. And the Federation director was responsible to the board of directors of the Federation for the development of these activities. Because of the type of structure that the Federation had, The activities encompass a Jewish community center, a Jewish family service, a series of activities such as an informal home for Egypt, on South Boulevard, and the purchases. It also assumed the responsibility as directed by the board of directors to develop other activities such as a day camp for children a big series of campaigns campaigns that were sponsored by other organizations, but which would develop and promoted by the Federation and the executive of the Federation.
As the Federation took over responsibility for the activities, more and more it became a functional federation where... You don't mean functional. It was a functional. No, I mean it just the right. It became more and more a functional federation, and ran campaigns for different organizations in Dallas. Were some of the funds directed overseas Was it strictly local How was that dealt with Like what UJ United Jewish Appeal Actually the Federation and that why I say a functional Federation The Federation took on the responsibility of the total Jewish community program. For example, the Joint Distribution Committee turned to the Federation for a campaign to collect clothing to be sent to Jews in camps on the European scene.
They raised money for children in Israel. and did this in cooperation with Hadassah. They raised funds for... practically every activity that the Jewish community was interested in, with the exception of the synagogue. There were no restrictions set upon the Federation in terms of the program that was developed By the Board of Directors. The Community Center, the Home for the Ages, the Family Service, were all subordinates of the Federation Board of Directors. And they would make recommendations to the board of directors for the need that they had for Jews in Dallas. Who composed the leadership at that time? The Jewish community in Dallas was a fairly homogenous one.
There were synagogue groups, the Temple Emmanuel, the Reformed Synagogue group, there was Sherith Israel, the Conservative Synagogue group, the Orthodox group, Teferic Israel, which was an Orthodox and liberal group. The Federation itself had a leadership that consisted primarily of a reformed Jew. both in terms of activities and in terms of fundraising gradually this began to change and the Federation leadership began to incorporate the conservative Jews and the Orthodox Jews who not only took leadership in fundraising but leadership and activities when did you begin to see did you actively encourage this and how were you able if so how were you able to bring it about or how did it come about and about what years did you see this change beginning to occur The change in leadership took place as a result of actual entitlement.
It was an encouragement which was stimulated by individuals demonstrated their concern about the Jewish community as a whole, rather than as parts. The director of the federation was the instrument that helped stimulate the program. Initially the board of Directors consisted almost exclusively of Orthodox of Reform Jews A conscious effort was made to elect board members, to elect leadership that came from Orthodox and conservative and other traditional rules. What was the response of the reform element as they saw the more orthodox people coming in to these positions this was and this was an interesting element of the reformed Jews who more or less controlled community projects, began to make changes and adjustments without great difficulty.
The reform elements were not very far from their roots. Their parents were the orthodox. They were the conservatives. And as they became more concerned with Jewish programs in the community the development of the development of harmony in the community with encouragement and the leadership that was available we found that that the the restrictions would begin to fall by the wayside and more and more organized groups were concerned with the total Jewish program rather than with the restricted program of the Zionist group or the anti-Syanist group with the Thank you. . Did you... Who were some of the leaders and some of the things that happened during that period of time, between the Zionists and the anti-Zionists in the early 40s?
Dallas was fairly fortunate in that there was no very sharp break between Zionists and anti-Zionists. in the community. The rabbis were a peaceful group. They did not stimulate antagonism For example, there was a fairly substantial number of anti-Zionists. But the anti-Zionists, under the auspices of the American Council for Judaism, did not create serious problems For example Rabbi Dr David Lefkowitz was a member of the Council for Judaism but he did not create problems the an organization like the american jewish committee took a peaceful role and more or less stayed in the middle. A Zionist organization was not... How did the Zionists react to the meetings and some of the activities of the American Council for Judaism, who had an offer to it.
The Zionist organization was not very active in those. And even though the American Council for Jews had an office here and had a certain amount of programs there was limited differences in the community the That the best illustration of some of the attitudes It'll come from an actual story that happened during this period. Mike Florence, brother of Fred Florence, who was the premier banker of the community. Mike Florence joined the Council for Judaism his brother was also a member of the American Council for Judaism there was a campaign underway for the Zionist organization and Mike Florence joined the Zionist organization. And when his friends and colleagues said to him, look, how can you belong to the American Council for Judaism and to the Zionist organization?
Mike Florence I have the same feeling that my brother has the Council for Judaism is a Jewish organization isn't it and I want to support or in fact all Jewish organizations, irrespective of whether they are counselors for Judaism, whether they're pro-Zionist, anti-Zionist. This is indicative of a feeling that is prevalent in Dallas We have a lot of Jews who joined the American Council for Judaism, who literally did not know the philosophical significance of the organization and who continued active as members of the Council for Judaism and the members of the Zionist organization. desires were uncertain as to the significance of the different groups they belonged to.
And even though it sounds strange, actually it contributed to the harmony in the community. They weren't struggling with each other. How did the American Jewish Committee reconcile all of this with their middle-of-the-road stance? The American Jewish Committee contributed to this. So that, for example, when the American Jewish Committee began to expand its membership, They encouraged bringing in members of the Council for Judaism into the American Jewish Committee. They encouraged a joinder of activities. This didn't happen just accidentally. Much of it happened because of the role of the Federation. The Federation, from its earliest days, thought of itself as a peacemaking organization. as an organization which would keep harmony in the Jewish community.
And therefore, they accepted the Council for Judaism as just another Jewish organization. and the Council for Judaism was listed among the directory of Jewish organizations when they had meetings they were open to the whole community and the Federation encouraged that so that the struggle that went on in many cities of pro and anti-Gianism did not really get down with that hard the Federation was responsible the Federation Director was responsible The leadership of the community was responsible. They were... joined the Council of the Judaean, and was a very active leader in the Federation. Leslie Jacobs joined the Council of Judiations and was an Axis leader in the Federation This was acceptable And not only acceptable but encouraged by the Federation And therefore, you had the Zionist organization accepting the involvement of anti-Zionists, and vice versa, you had anti-Zionists involving the acceptance of the council.
It wasn't a very sophisticated world. And more and more Jews in Dallas were concerned with their status in the world community, in the world Jewish community. And the result was that we never really had the kind of struggle and the kind of breakup as happened in Houston. It happened in many other cities where the problem of Zionism became the preeminent problem of the day for Jews. This didn't happen yet. Did someone like Jake Feldman, for example, or Mr. Zesmer, or Mr. Taubman, who was here in those days, and very strong Zionists, did they serve on committees with the people, for example, like Irving Goldberg, Judge Goldberg, and Rabbi Lefkowitz, and Tonkin, Max Tonkin, who was of where, you know, I believe he was president of the American Council for Judaism at one point.
The answer to that is yes and no. the Federation was actively involved with the programs and the activities of all the organizations So, Judge Irvin Goldberg was active in the American Jewish Committee. but he was a politician and the Council for Judaism represented a a voting membership and They not only conversed with each other, but they created programs and activities jointly. Dr. Westwood was a rabbi who thought of his rabbinical role, and therefore he wasn't about to write out any Jews from the Jewish party and Council for Judaism Right after the temple of Emmanuel. Similarly, there were Jews active in pro-Zionist and anti-Zionist pro-Zion who worked together, who created programs together, and who were anxious to keep the Jewish community whole and not fractured Mm I would say that this is one of the particular interesting parts about Dallas There was a desire for harmony.
There was a desire to work together. a man like Jewish Chefs was concerned not only with Jewish programs but with non-Jewish programs and up and down the line you had harmonious activities About what time frame, year-wise, did this period cover? I have trouble remembering my days. Was it before the war was over? Did you associate it with any particular point in time? Well, this is really when the Jews won a lot of freedom. freedom freedom from the concentration camps freedom in the activities that are concerned with creating the state of Israel These are all part of the flame war. The... Got a close off? How were you able to change structure within this community?
How were you able to change the functional concept and develop individual agencies? Did you decide that when you came? Did you evolve with that idea, or did the idea just evolve as you saw what was going on in the community? No, it was a combination of many factors. For one thing, the federations in the United States have an organization called the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Fund. Dallas has always been active and interested in the Council of Jewish Federation. So, for example, Wesley Jacobs was on the national board of the council. Fanny Shainer, you know, the national board of the council. The Council of Jewish Federation had as one of its main concerns good community organization.
and Dallas was one of the larger of the intermediate community the structure that I found when I came here was a a limited type of structure and not considered sound for a community of this size a community that was growing as Dallas was. So that... We started with an independent board of directors in Golden Acres. and then we began to and this was done as a result of self-studies that were made in the community self-studies which recommended the need for a separate board of directors for the jewish community center. There was a separate board of directors to each of the organizations that were carrying on programs and activities.
And that was encouraged by the Council of Jewish Federation for welfare funds. The people who were more sophisticated, who were more active in programs accepted this program, accepted this idea, and it was introduced into the different activities. The agencies, and I call them agencies because they became really separate agencies after a while, the agencies found that by separating them all into separate organizations they had more involvement They had more participation They had more support. They had more... more organizational interest and recognize that the kind of structure that was being introduced all over the country, not the limited federation program, but the broader involvement of activities was much more appropriate.
And gradually it was encouraged it was not restricted it was encouraged within the Federation it was encouraged that there should be a a central community organization rather than a functional organization the function of the implication was that each organization was limited by a program, a significant program, whereas your central organization implied that there was a use of activities for the total community. So a Jewish community center, on a functional level, would restrict the activities, whereas on a total community level it would provide activities and programs as a total community It implied that the Jewish center is something that is needed for all Jews in Dallas rather than the kind of restricted program which had a series of activities, and that was it.
So, do I answer your question? Yes, but let's take the center as an example. For example, when you came here, what were some of the activities, or what were the activities of the Jewish Community Center? The Jewish Center separated off its special program, and the activities incorporated an an armed services program an athletic program an education adult education program and several other activities of that kind and each program had small committees who organized their program and organized the activities. the center says a very useful service for the people involved But because of the restrictions that they placed on themselves, the involvement was limited. For example, today the center does a good job in the area of traumatic The Center does a job in the area of recreation for youngsters, for young children, for older children.
This kind of set difference that made the difference between a functional center and a center that was part and parcel of the total community. A target program. What was the actual process, like in the early years, in the 40s, you talked about it being solely for armed services and then developing programs, really for armed services and sports and more restrictive programming. How did it evolve? What were your steps in development? What were the steps of development of the Center from that type of situation to the autonomous full, well, full range, or broader range of programs that we have today? And what were some of the milestones as you remember them?
Fundamentally, the organization of committees became the process by which programs were developed. in the hands of the organizational group called the Armed Services Committee, you have a group of young people older people developing Program for servicemen and servicemen But even more important is programs for civilians to help out and do the work that is involved. The committee process is the basic process by which you get started. The committee process begins to expand. And more and more people get involved. And as more people get involved, The process expands more so that you have activities Not restricted to service men or service women or similar groups, but rather an acceptance of the fact that a Jewish community is not really a religious community.
but a community of Jews who are interested in the totality of Jewish life This branch is best indicated by the synagogues today. for a trample the the conservative movement the conservative movement is concerned with making Jewish lines a structure. It's called the Reconstructionist Movement, the Jewish life. Do you feel that the is this only within the concern or how does this affect the reform movement, the orthodoxy? This whole pattern? More and more, the reform, the orthodox, and other elements are beginning to move in the The rate of speed depends upon external factors. with a Jewish community. Do you see it coming together? Do you see the Jewish community coming together more over the years?
More and more, yes. to reveal more awareness of a commonality of problems, more of a recognition of a... Well, are you still thinking about that? I'm really tired.