ByJohn Fisher, John Fisher
Leeds Jewish Welfare Board president Edward Ziff has accused the community of not doing enough to support the charity.
Addressing some 80 people at the LJWB's 132nd annual meeting at the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Community Centre on Monday evening, Mr Ziff said that fundraising is always a crucial issue.
"It is politically correct to say that the community is 'doing well' but the reality is that while this community is as affluent as it has ever been that does not show itself in the form of an outward support of this organisation."
The LJWB touches the lives of half the Jewish families in Leeds who use its services, he said, but still less than 25 per cent of Jewish households in the city contribute to its appeals.
"Our fundraising team can find new ways to encourage people to give us donations but there is an inevitability that we will need to resort to direct one-to-one canvassing in order to appeal for funds."
Mr Ziff warned: "There will be no hiding place. Otherwise we will be left with no choices. Like any other business we cannot spend money we don't have."
However, he also pledged that even as the economic climate becomes more challenging, the charity would only cut services and staff as a last resort.
Chief executive Rebecca Weinberg echoed Mr Ziff's comments. She said that in the near future there would be more volunteering opportunities at the Welfare Board than ever before. "More people will need our help but our resources will be shrinking."
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor James McKenna, presented long service awards to Pauline Rowland, manager of the Older Peoples Services, and to Elaine Scholnick who with her husband Martin was in charge of Manny Cussins House until its closure in 2005.
Mrs Scholnick is now a part of the Rainbow Project services.
The meeting was chaired by the Lord Mayor and attendees at the event included the Lady Mayoress Councillor Andrea McKenna and Dr Marjorie Ziff.