2

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Septemb, r ' I 194

THE STORY OF NEW AMERICAAS

By CHARLES A. RIEGELMAN

EDITOR'S NOTE: The story of refugees who reached these shores
to become new Americans is a proud achievement and a fitting
trib u te to the cause for which we are fighting. This rebuilding
of human lives was immeasurabl y aided by the American Jewish
community. In the following 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.

Season's Greetings

K. SHAPIRO,
Inc.

On the threshold of the New in 1941. While immigration has
Year, it is fitting that in the diminished, it has not ceased.
tradition of Rosh Hashonah we Despite every obstacle and war-
time restriction, 4,000 have come
look back down the critical since
Pearl Harbor.
months that made the year 5702
During the year, the work of
one to be graven in our hearts NRS was similar to that of years
and our history. It is fitting, immediately preceding until
too, that we review the work of America entered the war. War
the National Refugee Service— brought new conditions. While it
take stock of what w
accom- meant the volume of work in
plished and what is yet to be some areas would decrease—im-
for instance—it
neces-
done of the tremendous and im- migration
sitated much
greater emphasis
portant task we have under-
in others, and it created wholly
taken.
Unhappily the year saw no new problems.
surcease for the Jews of Nazi
Since the beginning of refugee
Europe. Our reports and paper.; immigration, refugees who have
and radios told us daily of de- 1' 11'4'11 4 reached our shores num-
portations and humiliations and ber more than 200,000. It
cruelties of a ferocity unequalled should be kept in mind that
in any era in history. Thousands NRS considers a newcomer a
waited anxiously to escape to a refugee, eligible for service, un-
country of haven. And as the til he has been in the United
shadow of war grew bl ac k er States on permanent visa for
over the world, immigration be- five years—the period it ordi-
came increasingly difficult.
narily takes to secure citizen-
Against this dark background, ship. In special instances help
the National Refugee Service has is extended beyond that period.
worked unceasingly to help those Nearly all nationalities are in-
for whom rescue was yet pos_ eluded among those who received
sible. More than 24,000 escaped aid from the agency. Polish,
to haven in the United States v G aekrinai,an, RuA mu asnti t a ia nn ,
Cz

Wholesale

VEAL and LAMB

1531.3 WINDER !IT.

Cherry 1291

Rosh Hashonah Greetings

•

Surplus Material
Z.1 Machinery Co.

8735 KERCHEVAL AVE.

LEnox 3876

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 otner
refugees with specialized train-
ing were also assisted in making
a new start in their vocation•.
Placements were nvide 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

See AMERICANS—Pag e 5

Season's Guilin,

Fred Riddell, 0. D.

Complete Optical S,:

Optical Departs

Montgomery Ward is (

Rosh Hashonah Greeti%.

All

D. SULLIVAN

COAL CO.

Coal and Coke

5784 TWELFTH ST.

MAdison 0285

—BUY WAR BONDS

Hungarian,

BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

•

FOR LINEN THAT IS DESIRABLE .. .
. . . CALL THE RELIABLE

A Good Name for Over 30 years
It Pays to Keep CLEAN

RELIABLE LINEN SERVICE

PHONE CADILLAC 4030

Rosh Hashonah Greetings and Best Wishes

SCHETTLER DRUG CO.

STORES IN

DETROIT — GROSSE POINTE

BIRMINGHAM

Rosh Hashonah Greetings and Best Wishes

TROY TOOL GAGE CO.

SPECIAL TOOLS AND GAGES

5736 TWELFTH STREET
MADISON 0880

NEW YEAR'S GREETINGS TO ALL!

Tiny Tot Laundry &
Diaper Supply Service

We Own and Operate the Largest Exclusive Baby Laundry in
the State of Michigan

Approved by Doctors and Nurses

We Invite Your Inspection
Free Nursery Hamper—Pick Up and Delivery

14025 LESURE

VERMONT 7-4740

0. Spilkin, Prop.

A BOND A DAY KEEPS THE AXIS AWAY

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 unti1 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 tho
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,-

ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS TO All

HIGHLAND GARAGE

GENERAL AUTOMOBILE REPAIR SERVICE
Body and Fender Bumping—Acetylen e Welding
Electrical Service — Alemiting — Greasing — Motor Oils

123i HIGHLAND AVE. (Rear)

TOwnsend 8.6157

ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS

Keystone Oil Refining Co.

Refiners and Marketers of Petroleum Products

12800 NORTHAMPTON AVE.

VINEWOOD 2.1660

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO All

IDEAL FURNACE CO.

ESTABLISHED FOR 40 YEARS

2995 E. GRAND BLVD.

MADISON 5501

Service Call HOGARTH 0450

Le Shono Tovo Tikosevu

A Happy New Year to All

SAUL KATZ

CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

2083 National Bank Bldg.

Rosh Hashonah Greetings and Best Wishes

Reliance Steel Corp.

13770 JOY ROAD

