Boy Scout Leaders Appeal for More Jewish Members Throughout Country

Disclosing that there are more than 700 Boy Scout troops affiliated with Jewish institutions throughout the country, the national office of the Boy Scouts of America today issued an appeal to all synagogue and civic leaders to aid in building the organization so that it will be better equipped to fulfill the national defense home front services upon which it is engaged.

The National Jewish Committee on Scouting, which is headed by Frank L. Weil, president of the Jewish Welfare Board, is promoting scouting in cooperation with all Jewish organizations that deal with boys, the Scout headquarters stated. They pointed out, however, that there could be several thousand Jewish troops and additional thousands of Jewish boys enrolled in Boy Scout troops of all types.

In the appeal issued by James E. West, Chief Scout Executive, he emphasizes the fact that “so far, one-third of our American boys are enrolled with the Boy Scouts as they pass through the ages twelve to twenty, whereas actual surveys reveal that three fourths of our American boys would be Scouts if they were given the opportunity. To accomplish a national program of service of far-reaching proportions, the membership of the Boy Scouts of America must be greatly extended. Thousands of Scouts can be enrolled with Troops now existing, but there will be need for many more Troops. War Service has cut heavily into the leadership of these Troops. Young Scout leaders have gone into the army. Older leaders have been mobilized in the war industries and trans existing Troops and still more leaders to man the new Troops and Senior groups that will be organized.”