Rabbi Upbin served as the first Executive Vice President of the National Council from 1936-1946.  Those turbulent years in world history brought a new urgency of political activism to the National Council, and under Rabbi Upbin’s leadership, Young Israel became active in attempts to rescue Jews in Europe as well as support American war efforts.  Young Israel synagogues had “War Bond” Campaigns and ran special programs for young servicemen.  At the same time Rabbi Upbin saw the growth of the Yishuv in “Palestine” and encouraged a monthly dictionary of new “modern” Hebrew words to be printed in the Council’s Viewpoint Magazine.  Rabbi Upbin was also deeply involved in efforts by the National Council to support Sabbath observance in the workplace and the building of Mikvaot throughout the tri-state area and the growing Jewish communities in the Midwest and South.  Following his decade with the National Council, Rabbi Upbin served as an executive for Barton’s Candy until his retirement in 1980.