pean countries, the necessity for these organizations is as great as ever. It should be noted that among the societies recorded in this book are chevras and other organizations established by immigrants of the past twenty years, intended to aid their fellow-Jews. Individually, they may not make a large showing as to financial receipts and expenditures, but they stand for considerable mutual help and for valuable aid to those less fortunately situated than their constituents. The Educational Alliance in New York city is the centre of educational work which reaches thousands. The Hebrew Technical Institute, the Hebrew Technical School for Girls, the Baron de Hirsch Trade School, the Clara de Hirsch Home for Working Girls are New York institutions conducting work in practical education. In Brooklyn, the Hebrew Educational Society is established; in Philadelphia, the Hebrew Education Society; in Boston, the Hebrew Industrial School; in Chicago, the Jewish Training School; in St. Louis, the Hebrew Free and Industrial School Society—all for some sort of industrial education. Schools, kindergartens, and day nurseries have been established in many cities for general education and training. Personal philanthropic work is well exemplified by the Federation of Sisterhoods of New York city, a union of the sisterhoods attached to the congregations and of other societies composed of women, co-operating with the United Hebrew Charities. The city is divided into sixteen districts, and one sisterhood or society is responsible for a district. They maintain kindergartens, clubs, do friendly visiting, and help the neighborhoods generally. Sisterhoods and personal service societies have been organized in others of the large cities for the performance of similar work. Among these may be noted the Emanu El Sisterhood of San Francisco, the Daughters in Israel of Baltimore, the Sisterhood of Personal Service of St. Louis, and the Council Educational Alliance of Cleveland. The Jewish Charity Relief Societies of the leading cities. have formed a national organization for purposes of co-operation, without, however, interfering with the autonomy of the individual societies. This is the result of a meeting of representatives held in 1899, and is another evidence of the centralizing power of our social forces. It will be noted that in several of the cities, a number of the philanthropic organizations have federated, usually for the uniform collection of funds for the constituent bodies. Such are the Federation of Jewish Charities of Boston, the Associated Jewish Charities of Chicago, the United Jewish Charities of Cincinnati, and the Union of Jewish Charities of Detroit. Orphan homes and societies have been established in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Newark (N. J.), New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Rochester and San Francisco. The Home at Atlanta is supported by lodges of District No. 5, Independent Order B'nai B'rith; that at Cleveland by the lodges of Districts Nos. 2, 6 and 7, Independent Order B'nai B'rith; and that at Rochester by residents of Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo. Homes for the Aged exist in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Richmond (Va.), St. Louis, San Francisco and Yonkers (N. Y.). The institution at Cleveland was established by District No. 4, Order Kesher Shel Barzel, and that at Yonkers is supported by District No. 1, Independent Order B'nai B'rith. Hospitals exist in Baltimore, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, New York, New Orleans, Philadelphia and San Francisco. St. Louis reports a hospital organization in process of formation, with a fund already in hand, and Omaha a hospital association which expects to open a building for hospital work next year. Hot Springs, Ark., reports the formation of a society for bringing attention to the necessity of a hospital at that place. Much of the philanthropic work in the several cities is done by means of benevolent societies, a large number conducted by the women of the community, as is manifested by the term "Ladies' Hebrew Benevolent Society," or a similar name, which recurs repeatedly in the Directory of Local Organizations in this volume. The writer has endeavored to bring out the trend of development of our important communal activities. Details relating to the work of the individual societies are given in the national and local directories of this Year Book. The directory of local organizations shows the following result by States. Cemeteries, social organizations and those whose character could not be determined have not been included. Of the 415 educational organizations, 291 are religious schools attached to congregations, having an attendance of about 25,000 pupils under 1127 teachers. There are also included among the educational organizations 27 free religious or Hebrew schools, chiefly in the large cities, with about 11,000 pupils and 142 teachers. Where there was no report as to the number of teachers, an estimate of one for each fifty pupils or fractional portion thereof was counted. JEWISH REPRESENTATIVE BODIES AUSTRIA-HUNGARY The central organization of every Jewish community is called Cultusgemeinde, which has the right to assess its members according to the needs of its budget, and which governs all matters relating to the synagogue, the ritual, education, relief of the poor, etc. This does not preclude the formation of independent societies and institutions supported by those interested in them. In Vienna, besides the Cultusgemeinde there is a Turkish-Israelitish community of Sephardim, established as early as 1737, which governs its own affairs. The representative bodies are the following: 2. A Israelitische Allianz. Headquarters, Vienna I, Weihburggasse |