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DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

September 11, 194

THE STORY OF NEW AMERICANS

By CHARLES A. RIEGELMAN

EDITOR'S

NOTE: The story of
to become new Americans is

Season's Greetings

reined-es who reached these shores
a proud achievement and a fitting

tribute to the cause for which we are fighting. This rebuilding
human lives was immeasurably aided by the American Jewish
community. In the followine article. Mr. Riegelman, vice-presi-
dent and chairman of the executive committee of the NRS,
explains the benefits rendered their adopted homeland by these
new Americans.

of

K. SHAPIRO,
Inc.

On the threshold of the New
Year, it is fitting that in the
tradition of Rosh Hashonah we
look back down the critical
months that made the year 5702
one to be graven in our hearts
and our history. It is fitting,
too, that we review the work of
the National Refugee Service—
take stock of what was accom-
plished and what is yet to be
done of the tremendous and im-
portant task we have under-
taken.
Unhappily the year saw no
surcease for the Jews of Nazi
Europe. Our reports and papers
and radios told us daily of de-
portations and humiliations and
cruelties of a ferocity unequalled
in any era in history. Thousands
waited anxiously to escape to a
country of haven. And as the
shadow of war krew blacker
over the world, immigration be-
came increasingly difficult.
Against this dark background,
the National Refugee Service has
worked unceasingly to help those
for whom rescue was yet pos-
sible. More than 24,000 escaped
to haven in the United States

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Rosh Hashonah Greetings and Best Wishes

TROY TOOL 8 GAGE CO.

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NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS TO ALL!

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in 1b41. While immigration has
diminished, it has not ceased.
Despite every obstacle and war-
time restriction, 4,000 have come
since Pearl Harbor.
During the year, the work of
NRS was similar to that of years
immediately preceding until
America entered the war. War
brought new conditions. While it
meant the volume of work in
some areas would decrease—im-
migration for instance—it neces-
sitated much greater emphasis
in others, and it created wholly
new problems.
Since the beginning of refugee
immigration, refugees who have
already reached our shores num-
ber more than 200,000. It
should be kept in mind that
NRS considers a newcomer a
refugee, eligible for service, un-
til he has been in the United
States on permanent visa for
five years—the period it ordi-
narily takes to secure citizen-
ship. In special instances help
is extended beyond that period.
Nearly all nationalities are in-
cluded among those who received
aid from the agency. Polish,
German,
Austrian,
Czechoslo-
vakia,
Rumanian,
Hungarian,
Russian, the Baltic states, as
well as French, Dutch, Belgian,
Italian and Scandinavian — all
are represented on its relief and
service rolls.
In the year just past, NRS
gave cash assistance for food,
clothing and shelter to thou-
sands whose need was urgent.
Others were tided over a period
needed for an economic foot-
hold, or to work toward a more
permanent future for themselves.
All through the year, families
were reunited, spirit restored
and health rebuilt. NRS pro-
vided financial assistance to an
average of 6,650 refugees a
month.
The underlying causes for re-
lief needs were many. Obvious-
ly the newest arrivals were im-
poverished, older, less able to
adjust quickly. Some continued
to need relief over a long period
—including mostly older, less
employable people. Some had
marginal jobs affected by sea-
sonal business and other factors
and had to return to NRS for
help unti' they found a new way
to earn a living for themselves
and their families. These are
continuing needs today.
In its vital work of aiding
the refugee to be self support-
ing NRS established an average
of 500 placements a month.
This was achieved despite the
priorities depression which forced
the closing of numerous small
firms in which refugees were
employed, and despite anti-alien
sentiment and other adverse
war conditions which caused the
unemployment of refugees who
had long been self supporting.
The high number of place-
ments was achieved by intensive
work — employers were visited
by job solicitors, contacts were
renewed by letter and telephone.
Trained interviewers ascertained
an applicant's abilities before re-
ferring him to a position. He
was advised on American work
methods.
The retraining work of NRS
assumed new importance in
making available manpower for
America's war effort. Under this
program which enables refugees
to acquire new skills, courses
were conducted in welding, ma-
chine shop practice and other
fields related to war production.
Refugees whose former occupa-
tions are not usable in this coun-
try were aided in learning vari-
ous new vocations in which there
was a shortage of American
labor. In the past 12 months,
several hundred refugees were
entered in retraining courses in
New York and other cities. In-
cluded, in addition to the above
subjects, were accountancy and
income tax work, American
methods in architecture, dental
mechanics, auto body and fender
repair, baking, upholstery and
others.
Through a special committee
for physicians, approximately 2,-

000 emigre doctors have been
re-established in private practice
or hospital positions, their skill
saved for Anierica's use. Help
to refugee physicians today is
of increasing importance in view
of the shortage of American doc-
tors which is becoming more and
more acute.
Scientists, musicians and other
refugees with specialized train-
ing were also assisted in making
a new start in their vocation , .
Placements were made for
rabbis, cantors and other relig-
ious functionaries — many of
them in small communities which
had not had such service before.
Shops, restaurants, celaning
services, photo studios — those
are only a few of the varied
enterprises NRS helped emigres
establish by procuring loans and
advice. Many of these were for
older people who could never
have become self supporting
through regular employment
channels. More than 2,100 loans
were extended in 1941 to aid
refugees establish themselves in
business and professional life.
Resettlement continued
throughout the year. This plan
of distributing the newcomers
away from the crowded ports
of entry has proven its value
in speeding their integration in-
to American life. Each day
brings letters and reports from

Season's Greetings

Fred Riddell, 0, D.

Complete Optical Sets ice

Optical Department.,

Montgomery Ward ti

Rosh I lashonah Greetim;s ,,,

D. SULLIVAN
COAL CO.

Coal and Coke

5784 TWELFTH ST.

MAdison 0285

—BUY WAR BONDS—

See AMERICANS—Page 5

ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS TO ALL

HIGHLAND GARAGE

GENERAL AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICE
Body and Fender Bumping—Acetylene Weldi ng
Electrical Service — Alemiting — Greasing — Motor Oils

121i HIGHLAND AVE. (Rear)

TOwnsend 8.6157

ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS

Keystone Oil Refining Co.

Refiners and Marketers

12800 NORTHAMPTON AVE.

of Petroleum Products

VINEWOOD 2.1660

HAPPY NEW YEAR "F0 AlI.

IDEAL FURNACE CO.

ESTABLISHED FOR 40 YEARS

2995

E. GRAND

BLVD.

Service

MADISON 5501

Call HOGARTH 0450

Le Shono Tovo Tikosevu

A Happy New Year to All

SAUL KATZ

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

2083 National Bank Bldg.

Rosh Hashonah Gratings and Best Wishes

Reliance Steel Corp

13770 JOY ROAD

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