American Jewish Archives Journal, Vol 44, No. 01 (1992)

Sephardim in North America 301
This situation became a serious concern to the Sephardi World
Federation, which went to work on bringing the American branch
back to life. Some fifty Sephardi leaders from across the land, as well
as outstanding members of the World Zionist Organization and the
Jewish Agency, assembled in Chicago in October 1972 and worked
out plans to revitalize the organization under the name of the Ameri-
can Sephardi Federation. Its first convention, in February 1973, was
attended by 250 delegates who reaffirmed their determination to
strengthen and foster Sephardi religious and cultural life in America,
as well as to serve Sephardi communities in Israel and the world.
Under the leadership of its first president, Daniel J. Elazar, the
American Sephardi Federation was especially successful in stimulat-
ing enthusiasm among the youth. National conclaves of young adults
were organized. Congregations and communities were inspired to
develop cultural interests and activities. Teenagers were enabled to
spend a summer in Israel and came back with a strengthened feeling
and insight into their Sephardi identity. And with increased self-
esteem came also a greater participation in all phases of general Jew-
ish life in their respective communities.
In spite of these successes, however, the initial impetus began to
weaken within the next few years. Attendance at board meetings
began to decline, diminishing financial support led to the resignation
of the executive director and to the discontinuance of the productive
youth programs, and Sephardi public interest seemed to vanish. For
all these reasons the work of the American Sephardi Federation
slowed down considerably.
Still, all the sparks had not been extinguished, and in 1985, the
newly elected president, Leon Levy, decided to bring the Federation
back to life. Gifted with vision and leadership, using his own funds
and enlisting further financial support from individuals and organi-
zations, he succeeded in reactivating the Federation. To ensure con-
tinued interest, he instituted, in addition to general membership
dues, a President's Circle of Advisers, with each member pledging to
contribute a minimum of $1,000 to support the Federation's ongoing
activities and committing themselves to play an active role in guiding
its future activities.