ABSTRACT
Long ago, in an era when the words "Federation," or "MetroWest" meant nothing to New Jersey's Jewish inhabitants, the idea of responsibility for others was already an integral part of the Jewish community. In 1927, the organization became a mutual aid society for the larger community, which had become, by then, one of predominantly Eastern European origin. The most important organization, however, in terms of the entire Jewish community, was what is today called the United Jewish Federation of Metro West, or "the Federation." Jews also served on the Board of the Community Chest, which gave money to both Jewish and non-Jewish groups. The Federation continued to grow and the agencies serving the people were highly thought of in the community. America was beginning to emerge from the Depression at the same time as a sense of urgency permeated a Jewish community increasingly worried about the fate of European Jewry and the future of Palestine.
