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5

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE end the Legal Chronicle

M ay 17, 1940

P urely Commentary

By

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

the board of directors by Mrs.
Ladies Auxiliary of Theo- to
Abraham Danzig, president: Mrs.
dore Herzl Lodge Plans Benjamin Rosenberg and Mrs.
Installation of Officers
Jack Turnoff of Wyandotte, Mrs.

Eder and Mrs. Morris Fox of
with the same earnestness as if it were my own
The Ladies' Auxiliary of the River Rouge, Mrs. Joseph Rosen-
b
Contributors to agencies receiving subventions business. And the idea of Hebrew University is Theodor Herzl Lodge will install berger and Miss Mary Fischler
Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit, still as inspiring to me as it was when 30 years
the Jew
ago I read Weizmann's paper and 15 years ago its officers the latter part of of Delray.
from
through the Allied Jewish Campaign, will be when I listened to Balfour's speech. And I be- June at a catered affair, with
interested in learning of an interesting study con-
lieve this sentiment does not express anything Mrs. Ruth Metzger as installing
That polished brass paper-
ducted with the aid of research funds provided surprising. For there is hardly a task in our world officer and Aaron Droock as
weight on New York Postmaster
by the Federation and the Conference on Jewish which can lend wings to our imagination and our guest speaker.
The exact date and place will Goldman's desk originally was
strivings for the future as does the idea of
Relations.
Henry J. Meyer, a member of the Department
be set at the next meeting, on one of the doorknobs on the
Hebrew University on Mount Scopus."
front gates of this city's old
of Economics at the State College of Washington
Dr. Weizmann told the illustrious gathering at Monday, May 20.
at Pullman, Wash., prepared a paper on "The
The following were appointed Post Office building.
that celebration : "The act of faith which sympol-
Economic Structure of the Jewish Community in
ized the beginning of the University is its dis-
Detroit'' as part of a Ph. D. dissertation under unction. Today it has been transmitted into
the Edward Lasker Fellowship of Michigan. This physical and moral values of quite considerable
paper appears in the current issue of Jewish dimensions. The University has, of course, its
Social Studies which is edited for the Conference students, its doctors, its agriculturists, its chem-
on Jewish Relations. It is a revealing study.
fists, its teaching, its research. But it is primarily
Estimating the Jewish population of Detroit at i
to be a citadel of what is usually called the Jew
000
this paper shows that
there
are
approx.
-
fish spirit—the
one place
where
the Jewish spirit
,
82 ,
mately 32,000 Jewish workers; that 6,653 are can manifest itself without let or hindrance in
engaged in manufacturing and mechanical ef- agreement with, and not under the pressure of,
forts—including the building and automobile in-
other cultures and civilizations, a place where
dustries, 6627 in communication and transporta- the Jewish spirit may be allowed to develop
tion, 15,850 in trades—including wholesale and
naturally."
A Fine Summer Camp for Boys in
retail business, 2,884 in professional services,
Because of the powerful act of faith, Palestine's
ALGONQUIN
PARK, ONTARIO
2,910 in domestic and personal services—includ- life has been normalized and Jews in the Land
ing hotel and laundry work, 118 in agriculture of Israel have become normal members of a bal-
• Mature staff—one Counselor to four boys in cabin-
and non-specified efforts, 257 in public services.
anced economy. It is necessary for Jews through-
One of the interesting points revealed in this out the world to gain inspiration from this act
• Complete relief from hay fever-
study is that more than half the workers in De- of faith, and to capture its spirit. That would
• Horseback riding and all camp activities included in the one fee.
troit-52. 1 per cent—are in the manufacturing help in normalizing our status wherever there are
industries, whereas less than a quarter of the Jews.
Jewish workers are so employed. Also, "only 19.3
per cent of the Detroit workers are in trade corn-
40th Anniversary of Arbeiter Ring
pared with 54.1 per cent of the Jewish workers."
Phone or write lot appointment or information to
Mr. Meyer makes an interesting observation when
The Jewish Workmen's Circle (Arbeiter Ring)
he writes: "When the Jewish economy is looked is observing the 40th anniversary of its formation.
upon as a portion of the Detroit economy it does This celebration deserves to attract the interest
not seem unbalanced because of the concentration and concern of all American Jews.
of Jewish workers in trade. The Jewish economy
This movement is a symbol of the development
appears to be unbalanced only when it is viewed and growth of the American Jewish community.
as a whole in itself instead of as part of the
It was an outgrowth of a fast-developing Jewish
economy of Detroit. The marked concentration
TYLER 5.2259, Evenings
of Detroit workers in automobile manufacturing community which had its foundation in construc-
2516 PINGREE, DETROIT
efforts by Jews who broke their ties with
TYLER 5-8600, Days
likewise must be viewed as a reflection of their tive
the Old World and established their roots in the
participation in a larger nationl economy."
New.
Another significant revelation in this study is
In a sense, the Arbeiter Ring was the continua-
that "in Detroit, Jewish clerks appear to seek tion of the work of the Jewish Bund in Poland.
jobs—for whatever reason—most frequently from
It stands for fair dealing for workers, for the
Jewish employers and, therefore, to compete with advancement of liberal views, for the creation of
one another in a limited market. Jewish profes- a thinking Jewish constituency among Jewish
sional men, on the other hand, seem less depend-
workers. It has mellowed during the years of its
ent upon a Jewish clientele."
existence. It has given support to relief move-
Jewish leaders will do well to study the prob- ments and in great measure has abandoned its
If you are a home owner you probably have to
lems raised in this study. While Mr. Meyer mini- opposition to Palestine, The Arbeiter Ring is now
deal with a mortgage. Payments are fairly easy
mizes in advance the possible charge that we are an important factor in American Jewish life and
to make now, but if you should the before the
economically unbalanced, the truth is that we
still suffer from unwholesome conditions which is firmly rooted as an influential movement.
mortgage is paid off, your dependents might have
It is interesting to note that in Detroit the
drive Jews to business pursuits rather than to
a struggle to make the payments. For what is,
40th
anniversary
is
marked
by
the
erection
of
mechanical endeavors and to manufacturing. It
an
Arbeiter
Ring
Center
on
Linwood
and
Tuxedo.
in effect, only a slight increase in the interest rate
would be an ostrich act to overlook the pressure
you pay, you can obtain a Great-West policy which
that comes from anti-Semitism and from preju- The new building should serve to strengthen the
expand
dice in driving Jews to safety and security in group in this city. It should help them au
will clear off the mortgage for your family if the
even
their
school
facilities
and
to
become
the limited confines of stores atm., behind sales
emergency should ever arise.
counters. Also, the fact that Jews seek employ- more effective factor in the development of Jew-
ment among Jews is a further indication that ish life in Detroit.
Let me give you full particulars of this attratcive
opportunities are limited.
plan.
The entire study is an indictment of a state
U. of M. Avukah Makes Progress
of blindness in Jewish ranks during the past
Those who had occasion to visit with the Avu-
three decades. Instead of gradually preparing the
ground for Jews to enter various callings, our kah chapter of the University of Michigan must
1512 Union Guardian Building
young people followed the line of least resist- have felt a thrill at the knowledge that the young
Telephone — Randolph 0446
ance—created in turn by mild resistance from men and women who direct the activities of this
the outside—to enter business pursuits and to collegiate Zionist organization know their move-
ment and practice what they preach.
perpetuate an abnormal economic existence, The
Avukah at Ann Arbor impresses the visitor
longer this condition persisted, the more difficult
^SOWN...Non COMPANY
MOM, 0•1•103a• •WINNIPOCI
with the fact that it does not limit itself to
it became to break down the barriers and to train
the Jewish mind to a change in economic status. ordinary discussions. This group has a Hebrew-
Perhaps it is not too late to effect a change in speaking circle and it displays, at every meeting,
Palestine products which sell well among the stu-
this condition and to retrain our youth for more
varied pursuits. The problem certainly presents dents. Thus, the "Totzereth Ha-Aretz" move-
a challenge to Jewish leadership. It should be
ment, which aims at encouraging the sale of Pal-
estine-made products, has strong adherents among
met with courage and with dignity. We must face
the facts, and deal with them frankly for the our students.
Zionists will do well to take a deep interest
, sake of our young people.
In the meantime, a vote of thanks is due the in this group. The students deserve it, and in
Jewish Welfare Federation and the Conference
the long run it will aid greatly in advancing the
GET IN TOUCH WITH
Jewish national cause and in preparing ble
on Jewish Relations for having made this study
possible and for having revealed the existing facts young people for leadership.
•
on Detroit Jewry's economic set-up.
•

Detroit Jewry's Economic Structure

Camp

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•

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LOU HANDLER

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•

HARRY H1MELSTEIN

".GREAT-WEST LIFE

BUICKIS Best Bet

The Picture in Reverse

The economic set-up In Detroit, as revealed in
Mr. Meyer's study, is undoubtedly indicative of
the conditions affecting all of American Jewry.
But it is encouraging at least, from the view-
point of the position of the entire Jewish people,
to learn—also from Jewish Social Studies—that
this economic condition is completely reversed in
one spot on the globe where Jews are building
a normal economic existence—in Palestine. The
study immediately following Mr. Meyer's in the
current issue of Jewish Social Studies is an ar-
ticle by M. Weinryb on "Occupational Shifts of
Workers in Palestine." Here we learn that Jews
in Eretz Israel are engaged in agriculture, in
building industries, in electrical pursuits, in trans-
portation, in textile, food printing, chemical and
other industries.
It is clear that when given a chance Jews are
a normal people. It is only under the pressure
of economic and social handicaps that we are
forced into an unbalanced position.
•

The

Hebrew University—Au Act of Faith

In this connection it should also be of interest
to our readers to know that the prooess made
by the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is an
indication of economic, social and cultural prog-
ress as contrasted with the unpleasant position
in which Jewry finds itself in the Diaspora. At
the recent 15th anniversary celebration of the
Hebrew University, observed in New York, two
significant statements were made—one by Sal-
. -
inann Schocken, chairman of the Executive Coun
ell of the University who is now on a visit m
this country, and the other by Dr. Chaim Weiz-
mann, who was here at the time. Mr. Schocken
said: "For the past five years I have been en-
ga ged in the everyday work of the University

Jack Alkon

An Article of Faith—and Business

Business is business—in politics and in morals.
How else are we to interpret the following adver-
tisement which appeared in a recent issue of the
Chicago Jewish Chronicle:

"MY SON! KEEP THY FATHER'S COM-
MAND, AND DO NOT FORSAKE THE DOC-
TRINE OF YOUR MOTHER." (Proverbs 6:

Verse 20.)
Circumcision to the 8th day as a fundamen-
tal Religious act, was told to us since 1712

B. C. E. in Genesis XVII, XXI and Leviticus

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During long Jewish history, this deed was
observed, strictly in the spirit of our faith, by

appointing a Religious Israel called MOHEL
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But allowing even for all the business acumen
of this Reverend, the reader must wonder whether
he is so concerned about his profession, or rather,
whether he was moved by a muse, and by an
urge for literary expression, to ply his trade in
this fashion.
Business, oh business, what indiscretions are
committed in thy name!

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