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Guide to the Records of Concerned Jewish Students of Greater Boston, 1969-1973
 
*I-157

Reprocessed by Scott Sharon (February 2008)

American Jewish Historical Society

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16th Street

New York, N.Y. 10011

Phone: (212) 294-6160

Fax: (212) 294-6161

Email: reference@ajhs.org

URL: http://www.ajhs.org

© 2013, American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY. All Rights Reserved.
Finding aid was encoded by Marvin Rusinek on March 26, 2008. Description is in English.

Descriptive Summary

Creator: Concerned Jewish Students of Greater Boston
Title: Concerned Jewish Students of Greater Boston records
Dates: 1969-1973
Abstract: Contains material pertaining to the establishment of the organization, including a list of incorporators, and lists of constituent members, minutes of meetings (November 1970-February 1972), a speech giving a review of the group's activities (1972), and financial records (July 1970-March 1972). Also contains general correspondence (March 1970-March 1972), correspondence with Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (1970-1971), and information on the group's Chavurat Shabbat project (1972), and Jewish Students Projects.
Languages: The collection is predominantly in English, with Hebrew..
Quantity: .5 linear feet (1 manuscript box)
Location: Located at AJHS, Boston, MA.
Identification: I-157
Repository: American Jewish Historical Society
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Historical Note

The League of Concerned Jewish Students began as a small group of students in Boston making public demands in November 1969 at the General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds. These students were seeking more democracy within organized Jewish life and funding. Essentially, they wanted the Jewish Federations to be more aware of their cultural values. The organization served as a reminder to charities to maintain, and increase, their Jewish identity. The group eventually represented both students and faculty members at universities in the Boston and New York areas.

Above all, the Concerned Jewish Students demanded: reordering of domestic priorities toward Jewish education, more aid for Soviet Jews, ardent support for Israel and appropriation of funds toward creative programs examining Jews living in a world of shifting values. Public meetings of local budget and allocation committees were often held to get all members of the community involved in these key aspects of Jewish community life.

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Scope and Contents

This collection contains the records of various aspects of the Concerned Jewish Students, ranging from its inception in 1969 to 1973, the bulk of which focus on the early seventies. The collection has been organized into four series: Governance, which consists of the group's stated goals and the makeup of the organization, Correspondence, Activities, including projects and speeches, and finally Financial Records, consisting of bank statements, requests for funding, paid bills and fund allocation. Some of the documents in the Activities Series are in Hebrew.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged into four series, as follows:

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Executive Director of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: info@ajhs.org

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Concerned Jewish Students of Greater Boston records; I-157; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Donated by Robert Lapidus and Morey Schapira in 1975-1976.

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Access Points

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Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

 

Series I: Governance, 1969-1973.
Box 1, Folders 1-4.
Arrangement:

Chronological.
Scope and Content:

The majority of this series consists of the basic principles of the organization, its particular demands made to the CJFWF, constituent organizations, projects breakdown and minutes of meetings. Of particular note is the statement of the goals of the organization on November 4, 1969 and their meeting with the CJFWF and peaceful demonstration outside the Sheraton Hotel in Boston a week later. There are also documents declaring local Jewish services, directories of affiliate organizations and the list of projects that were to be undertaken.
Box Folder Title Date
1 1 Organization, Confrontation with CJFWF 1969-1970
1 2 Constituent Organizations 1971
1 3 Minutes, Project Breakdown 1972-1973
1 4 Minutes of Meetings 1970-1972
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Series II: Correspondence, 1970-1972.
Box 1, Folders 5-7.
Arrangement:

Chronological.
Scope and Content:

This series consists mainly of correspondence between members of the Concerned Jewish Students and affiliate organizations. The documents range from letters to local Boston publications such as the Cambridge Phoenix to communication with members of Congress, notably Senator Edward Kennedy.
Box Folder Title Date
1 5 General 1970
1 6 General 1971
1 7 General 1972
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Series III: Activities, 1969-1973.
Box 1, Folders 8-11.
Arrangement:

Chronological.
Scope and Content:

This series contains various projects of affiliate organizations of Concerned Jewish Students. Included is a seminar in Montreal detailing the day's events, memorandums from the Steering Committee urging greater Jewish awareness and pro-Israeli policies, newspapers clippings, Hillel meetings, as well as off-campus and independent groups. Also included are notices about film and discussion series and the by-laws of Jewish Student Projects, Inc. One document is written in Hebrew.
Box Folder Title Date
1 8 General 1972-1973
1 9 Speech 1972
1 10 Projects 1969-1971
1 11 Project 1972
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Series IV: Financial Records, 1970-1972.
Box 1, Folders 12-16.
Arrangement:

Chronological.
Scope and Content:

This series of funding, request for funds, bank statements, a checkbook and paid bills. Among the documents included is a request for funds for the Zamir Chorale of Boston, an itemization of funds for Brandeis Hillel, numerous bank statements and receipts.
Box Folder Title Date
1 12 Request for Funds 1970-1971
1 13 Funding 1971-1972
1 14 Bank Statements 1970-1971
1 15 Checkbook 1970-1971
1 16 Paid Bills 1970-1972
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