THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
old out ihegianol'Welcome
The Young People's Society Espouses the Cause
of the Stranger Within our Gates
by
Nition N.,Alexander
President of the Young People's Society
of Temple Beth El
E LEFT his family, his friends , the
familiar scenes of his home town to come
to the city—and here, in the seething,
swirling currents of commerce he was—
lost.
She left her little country home, because
she heard the siren voice of the city and
it was calling ,to her. Here—friendless,
loveless and alone she was lost.
Last year ten thousand Jews came to
and mingle with good Jewish
young folks like themselves.
What .would you do if you
were to move to some strange city
where you were totally unac-
quainted? Remember there are
thousands in just this position.
Imagine the temptations that be-
set such strangers. Just imagine.
Detroit. A large number were young men and women who saw the
hand of opportunity beckoning to them. Here, 'mid the hurly-burly of
business, they have lost themselves. They have no place to go—no
one to turn to—no way to relieve their yearning for companions and
friends.
If you knew these young people, you would like them. There is
many a one you would be honored to call "Friend."
There are men and women of
brains and of breeding—of genius
and of geniality—of talent and of
training—of culture and of kindli-
ness of heart. They are good, re-
fined Jewish folks—folks like you
and like me—but they are with-
out friends. That is the penalty
they are paying for their progres-
siveness in coming to Detroit.
—In the Heart of the City
Every now and then, one. of
these folks come to me—as, sure-
ly, they must come to you—and
unburdens a weary soul that is
yearning for companionship. Al-
most always I hear the same sor-
did, sorry story,—the story of the
city, that has no heart.
We have already found that
these folks are worth-while. They
bear cultivation. They are bring-
ing us a fresh, promising, inter-
esting viewpoint—and many con-
crete benefits. We know that if
we deny them companionship,
they will deny us their co-opera-
tion—and we have found, through
experience, that their co-opera-
tion is not to be spurned. We
have already recruited teachers,
I trust that it shall not appear
unseemly for intimately associ-
ated with the organization, to say
something of the Young People's
Society, and the interest of its
members in this rather inspiring
problem. The young people of
Mirers atib Members
of ot
Voung Propir'fi tirirtg
of Ormvit Vali El
txtrnb a walla' inuitation to all 3rmisli mrn nub mown,
tulio lutur rertntlg romr to our Mg, to tinenb a great gaunt
Meeting nub Errotlon in tlitir llonor, to he Iplb on Or
turning of ennbag, April flit Ninetrtn-foixtrrn.
at right-tliirtg o'rlork.
Zino* IRO El
illadonard Amur
mar Enditat
Drama Club connected with a
church organization.
The First Step
A special committee has been
appointed to study—and solve—
the problem of the stranger with-
in the gates.
The first step will he taken
when a great welcome meeting
and reception will be given in
honor of the newcomers, at Tem-
ple Beth El, on the evening of
Sunday, April thirtieth.
We are reaching the strangers
through over eight hundred and
fifty different channels. The re-
quest is made that the names of
all young Jewish people who have
come to Detroit recently be sent
to the Young People's Society.
This Get-Together meeting will
be the first step in bringing the
strangers within our fold. An
elaborate programme is being
provided. There will be an enter-
tainment, a social session, and an
informal dance. The plans of the
evening, first of all, however, de-
mand that every stranger will be
made to feel at home, and to en-
joy himself.
It may ht! well to remark at
this point that there are still
many "strangers" who have lived
in Detroit for many years. They,
as well as all others who are in-
terested in the Young People's
Society and its work, are cordial-
ly, heartily, sincerely welcome.
Here's where You Come In
Detroit—and especially of Tem-
ple Beth El—realize kindly and
deeply the work that is to be
done. Incidentally, the Young
People's Society, among other ac-
There are Real
tivities and social enterprises,
Temptations!
maintains the Self-Respect fund
Now this fact confronts us— of the United Jewish Charities,
there is no medium through the Hospitality Committee of the
which our strangers may meet Temple, and America's only
artists, writers, workers, from
within their ranks. Who knows
what material may yet be uncov-
ered
The committee in charge is do-
ing everything in its power to
make this first meeting truly
notable. It wants to make a real
stride forward in the problem of
the worthy stranger. It wants to
extend the hand of welcome. But
it is counting on you for your sup-
port, active and moral. May we
have it? Thank you 1