Detroit Jewish Chronicle and The Legal Chronicle_ SECTION THREE 10c Single Copy; $3.00 Per Yee! DETROIT, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1944 VOL. 46, NO. 37 THE DETROIT JEWISH HOSPITAL By DR. DAVID J. SANDWEISS Various Jewish groups in De- troit long have had the vision of a Jewish Hospital. As early as 1900, the Hebrew Ladies' Aid Society for Widows and Orphans made arrangements with the Poor Commission to provide medical care for its clients at Harper Hospital, at the then current rate of $4 per week. The movement has been con- stant and insistent since that date. At times it has sprouted sporadically and irresponsibly; at others, it has been brought for- ward under dignified auspices. responsibly sponsored and care- fully planned. The persistency with which it has appeared in the annals of the Detroit Jewish community life is shown in the following chronological history: 1900— Foundling of the Hebrew Ladies' Aid Society for Widows and Orphans, a private group in- terested chiefly in the provision of medical services for indigent women and children, providing hospital care at Harper Hos- pital. 1902— An out-patient clinic wai opened in the Self Help Circle Bldg., Brush and Montcalm Sts., by the Hebrew Ladies' Aid So- ciety, thus expanding their orig- #rilrtilres inal hospitalization program. 1905— The clinic was transferred to the Hannah Schloss Bldg., where the scope of medical care and the hospitalization of indigent persons was broadened. 1913— The Hebrew Hospital Associa- tion, composed of a large group of men and women, who felt the need of a Jewish medical insti- tution, was chartered as a non- profit organization with the aim of accumulating funds for the building and maintenance of a Jewish Hospital in Detroit. The Association co 11 e c t e d $8,000 through nominal contributions, with which it purchased a lot. This lot was sold during the real estate boom, for $40,000, which sum was placed in trust with the Jewish Welfare Federation and earmarked for a Jewish Hos- pital. Research Bureau Survey— 1923- Extends to Detroit Jewry Best Wishes For a Joyous and Prosperous \ew Year Schettler's wishes its friends and patrons the compliments of the season. May the coming year bring you the success for which you are striving, the happiness you are craving, the good health to enjoy them both. Again, A Gladsome and Glorious New Year! *rtlettler's G, Gfto,„ 1944 5705 Rosh Hashonah Greetings To All Our Friends and To All Mankind • ROSH HASHONAH GREETINGS To all our friends and to all mankind everywhere we extend our sincerest wishes for a good year. We thank them for their faithful patronage and hope for the privilege of continuing this most pleasant friendship. We join all in their ardent prayers for a speedy victory and a lasting peace. . A comprehensive study of the Detroit Jewish Community was conducted by the Bureau of Jew- ish Social Research, of New York. Referring to the health situa- tion, the survey emphasized the need for a hospital under Jewish auspices, pointing out that De- troit was, at the time, the only large city in the United Sates without such an institution. The Bureau recommended he estab- lishment of a Jewish Hospital of 125 to 150 beds, one-third of the bed capacity to be used as ward beds, for free and part-paying patients. Such a hospital, the survey pointed out, would meet the fol- lowing community needs: "Relieve the general over- crowding of the existing hos- pitals. "Provide Jewish surround- ings and kosher food." "Furnish adequate hospital- ization to Jewish indigents, though open to non-Jews. "Organize an out-patient de- partment with social service activities which could become the health educational center for the entire Jewish com- munity. "Create opportunities for research work." "Promote close cooperation between the hospital and local Jewish agencies. "Stimulate interest among Jewish women in nurse-train- ing." 1926- 1. The 1923 survey was re- examined. Dr. S. S. Goldwater, at that time superintendent of Mt. Sinai Hospital of New York, and a national authority on hos- pital planning, made the follow- ing statement in a letter to the Jewish Welfare Federation: "There is no doubt in my mind that the Jewish community of Detroit will suffer more and more (and I am thinking not only of the handicap to the Jew- ish profession, but of the wel- fare of the community at large), if Detroit does not give up the New Year's Greetings from DEL-THE THEATER 8935 Mack • MAXINE THEATER Mack 7639 • YOUR THEATER distinction of being the only first-class city in the United States today, without a Jewish Hospital, either in being or un- der way." 2. North End Clinic was opened in its present quarters, 936 Holbrook Ave., through the gift of the Wineman family. Hospitalization of its patients was a problem that presented itself almost at once. Several funds were provided from time to time for this purpose. beds, with ultimate plans for a 300-bed institution, or a small 40 to 50-bed hospital at the pres- ent North End Clinic site. 1929- 1. A report on the Jewish Hos- pital situation was made by Dr. John Slawson, then executive di- rector of the Jewish Welfare Federation, to a committee of the Federation, in which he indicated the need for a Jewish Hospital, urging the Federation to launch a Hospital Project. Benefits to the Community North End Clinic Hospitalization Funds (a) Loan Fund: — A revolving fund of $1,500 to be used for hospitalization of patients who are unable to meet the expense load at one time. (b) Jewish Welfare Federation's Hospitalization Fund: — Es- tablished in 1927 through the annual appropriation of $3,000 from the annual Spring drive, for the hos- pitalization of indigents. (c) Hebrew Hospital Association Fund:—Derived from the in- terest on the investment of the $40,000 (mentioned above), is available for hos- pitalization of certain pati- ents recommended f r o m North End Clinic. Federation Names Committees 3. Two committees were ap- pointed by the Jewish Welfare Federation for the purpose of promoting plans for a Jewish Hospital: (a) T h e Provisional Committee on a community-wide build- ing fund, which went on record in favor of a Jewish Hospital. (b) The Hospital Building Site Committee, which presented three alternative sites for a Jewish medical institltion: (1) Collingwood, Petoskey Boston and Otsego; (2) Blvd. and Petoskey; (3) Woodward Ave., south of the Fair Grounds, east side of Woodward. 4. At a meeting of the Board of Governors of the Jewish Wel- fare Federation, in Nov., 1926, Milton Alexander and Judge Harry B. Keidan, president and chairman of the Jewish Centers Association, respectively, present- ed a memorandum calling atten- tion to the necessity for taking steps toward the establishment of a Jewish Hospital. They sug- gested either a hospital of 150 "The fundamental reason for the need of a Jewish Hospital," stated Dr. Slawson, "is the pro- tection of the Health welfare of the Jewish community. "The hospital," he maintained, "would benefit the community: "By making available adequate hospital facilities for the Jewish doctors, to be used for develop- mental purposes, both technically and ethically, thus rendering a higher grade of medical service to the Jewish patients of the city, since most Jews tend to use Jew- ish physicians. "By making available Jewish surroundings through the medium of Jewish management, Jewish doctors and other employees, thus creating an atmosphere psycho- logically agreeable to certain types of Jewish patients and pre- venting the discomforts incident to surroundings incompatible with the habits, customs and tradi- tions of a vast segment of our people. "By making available free or part-pay care for Jewish patients who are unable to pay part or full cost; particularly those Jew- ish patients who are definitely unhappy in municipal institutions which we know to be the case from daily experiences with Jew- ish clientele. The establishment ofo Jewish family agencies, child care agencies and recreational agencies has been motivated, in a large measure by the same con- siderations." 1929 Survey 2. A survey of the hospital situation in Detroit, with refer- ence to the need of a Jewish Hospital, was made by the Hos- pital Committee of North End Clinic, in 1929. This study was presented at a joint meeting of the doctors, the board of trus- tees of the clinic and representa- See HOSPITAL—Page 2 t bosh Hashonah Greetings We Extend Our Greetings and Best Wishes for the New Year May it be a Year of Much Happiness and Peace Throughout the World • • 3748 E. Forest ALOMA THEATER 15003 Charlevoix • EAST END THEATER 11510 E. Jefferson GIS • FLAMINGO THEATER 14270 E. 7-Mile Rd. 1440 Washington Boulevard ti'llitiago Stare Mit higati at arkson lilv d • PLAZA THEATER 11641 E. Jefferson 1426 Woodward Ave.