Detroit Jewish Chronicle

Personal Problems

and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

By W. A. GOLDBERG, Ph.D.

Published Weakly by Jewish Chronicle eublishing Co., Inc., 525 Woodward Ave., Detroit 26, Mich, Tel. CAdillac 1040

Director, Counselling Service

SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 PER YEAR, SINLE COPIES, 10c; FOREIGN, $5.00 PER YEAR
antlered as Second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Postoffica at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879

Editor•in-Chief, LOUIS W. ENFIELD

Vol. 48, No. 9

Friday, March 1, 1946

DETROIT. JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Page Four

Publisher, CY AARON

All rights reserved

Managing Editor, NATHAN J. KAUFMAN

Friday, March 1, 1946 (ADAR I 28, 5706)

Your questions in personal problems will be answered
by mail as for as possible or in these columns. Send
your question and a stamped, self-addressed envel-
ope to Dr. W. A. Goldberg, 1314 Eaton Tower, De-
troit 26, Mich. or to the Detroit Jewish Chron-
icle, 525 Woodward Avenue, Detroit 26, Mich,

Detroit 26, Michigan

Not Suicide -- Murder

Union Now

About nine hundred years ago, there
lived in the city of Frankfort-am-Maim a
little Jewish community of about three
hundred souls. One day dreadful news
came to them. A band of Crusaders was
on the march, headed for their city.
Those who have studied the period
of the Crusades in history know what
that meant for Jews. The Crusaders in
Germany were of exactly the same
brand as the Nazis at their worst. For
Jews then there was only one thing to
do. And they did it.
The entire community gathered in their
synagogue and committed mass suicide.
Every man cu . t the throats of his wife and
children and then killed himself. Every
Jewish soul died there for the sanctifica-
tion of the Name.
The tragedy of it all was that the
Crusaders never got to Frankfort-am-
Maim. About two miles away, they
turned off and marched in another di-
rection. Like so many other Jewish
tragedies, it was so terribly, terribly
unnecessary.
Once again from Europe comes the ugly
story of suicides. These poor unfortunates
have taken all they can. They will not
return to the lands of their miseries. They
want to go to Palestine. If not, they pre-
fer to die.
The United Jewish Appeal is trying to
raise one hundred million dollars this
year to help these Jews in their miseries.
In Detroit, two million dollars has been
set as the quota to be raised through
the Allied Jewish Campaign. Let no
one feel that too much is being asked
in the name of charity. Let no one feel
that he has given enough.
If Jews in Europe are not given aid,
there will be suicides. If the current in
this direction starts, it will not take much
to have it swell into a tidal wave. Our
brothers have been kept alive all this
time only by the hope that from the great
land of Amitrica will come succor. If they
lose this hope, there is nothing left for
them.
Let those who fail to give heavily to
this campaign consider this matter very
carefully. Suicides there already are. In-
evitably there will be more.
The one who sees a man tottering on
the brink of a precipice owes that man
no legal duty. If he does not run to his
succor, he has committed no punish-
able crime. But morally, he is guilty of
that man's death.
So it is here. There is no way of com-
pelling anyone to give to the United Jew-
ish Appeal. There is only the realization
th.tt this is the last hope of Jews in Eur-
ope. If there is no help coming from this
country, the stories of suicides will fill
the press of this country. And those who
have not given to the full extent of their
Ability will have to shoulder that moral
guilt.
The deaths that result in Europe will
not be suicide. They will be murder.
Whoever fails his brethren in this cru-
cial hour will have that on his con-
science for the rest of his life. He saw
human beings on the brink of the cliff.
He could have lent them a helping
hand. He did not do it.
This campaign must be a success. Every-
one, rich and poor alike, must give this
year as he never gave before. Everyone
who has a drop of Jewish blood in his
veins will do so.
Let us not wait until we hear of sui-
cides by the hundreds. Let the Jews in
Europe, battered and torn by the weight
of unbearable misery, know that kindly
hearts still beat in the land across the
ocean. We must assume this burden. If
we do not, these deaths will be on our
souls. For they will not be suicides.
They will be murder.

When wild horses in the wastelands
sense danger, they gather in a compact
circle with their heads in the center and
their tails to the foe. Then they proceed
to kick the stuffing out of the enemy.
With Jews, all too often, it is different. In
the face of danger to themselves, they
gather together and proceed to kick the
stuffing out of each other.

In union there is strength. Through-
out their history Jews have realized
this and throughout their history there
have been broad community organiza-
tions of one sort or another. Sometimes
these community organizations were
for protection against danger. Some-
times they were for the better accom-
plishment of education and other Jew-
ish values.

The same is true today here in this
city. Elsewhere in these columns there is
the story of why and how the Jewish
Community Council was organized in
Detroit. In the following weeks there will
be the story of just how the Council
works and what it has accomplished.

The need for a Council is not any
less now than it was nine years ago
when it first came into being. Anti-
Semitism is not growing weaker. On
the contrary, it is still well organized
and well financed. Nor has the need for
Jewish education lessened. And the
need for a disciplined community act-
ing in the name and for the benefit of
all is as strong as ever before.

There are over ninety thousand Jews
in this city. Acting as a single force for
good, for democracy and for unity, they
can help themselves, help the community,
help Americanism. It is through the Com-
munity Council as the democratically rep-
resentative body that this must come
about.

From the Council must come the
leadership that is so necessary in these
times of stress. From the Council must
come the planning and the carrying out
of the plans. Through the Council the
community must express itself on all
major Jewish issues.

Organizations must see that their
best brains, their wisest leaders, their
most capable administrators are in the
Council. Then they must get behind the
Council program and carry it out.

Is there discrimination against the Jew?
The Council must ferret out that discri-
mination and turn it aside. Is there a Jew
who is acting unethically so thathe brings
shame and hurt on his people? The Coun-
cil must bring him to task that all our
reputations do not suffer. Is our educa
tional system, our cultural program fail-
Ing? The Council must set it in order.

tut for the Council to accomplish this
monumental work, it must have the sup-
port of every Jew. Everybody must
know that when the Council speaks, it
is speaking for organized Jewry in this
city and as such must ,be listened to
with respect as the voice of authority.

Therefore, it behooves every Jew to
know what the Council is, what its long
range plans are, what it does and how it
does it. The nine years of Council history
have been an uphill battle to establish
itself. There have been difficulties, dissen-
sions, suspicions and backslidings.

k

Copyrighted, 1946, by W. A. Goldberg, Ph.D.

But at long last, the Council is an estab-
lished fact. It is working democratically
in the way it was planned. Its success is
already a matter of history. Its future
promises to be bright and fruitful. With
the hearty support of the Jewish people
of this city, it cannot fail.

"Your Child's 'First Camp

",

"What is the difference between a camp charging $500 per SeR5011
and one charging $150? IVe plan to send our ten-year old son to in
private stmuner camp. Ile has not been away from home .."-6.11.

The difference, in private camps, is In khe social stratum served,
the equipment and personnel, the services given. Some people may

feel that an expensive camp must he good because it charges more.
That, of course, is not valid.
Regardless of camp charges, parents may want to answer two
questions: ID What type of camp does my child need? (2) How can
I judge a camp? It is surprising how carelessly parents entrust their
children to a summer camp without sufficient inquiry.
Your first task is to determine how your child will relate himself
to camp life. We strongly urge that no child be sent away to camp
against his wishes. We recommend against any camp for a sensitive
youngster, who does not compete well with others of his age, who
needs extra help in group activity—unless the camp is equipped and
staffed for special services.
Camps are institutions. They deal with children as a groifp. Chil-
dren needing special help generally do better in smaller groups. There
is even a danger that your child will be reinforced in a rejected feel-
ing by unnecessarily throwing him into competition he cannot take.

It would be well for your child's first camp experience if he goes
with one or two friends. This is especially true if the child has not
been away from home before.
Children mature at varying rates. The physical age of a child I9
no indication of his social maturity. The physical and mental processes
grow at differing rates with different individuals.

Does your child have special interests—woodcraft, hiking, swim-
ming, handicrafts? Is the camp equipped to give him these outlets? A
scout camp at $15 per week will do more for an active scout than a
"society camp."
It would be well, in case of doubt, to ask assistance of a counsellor
experienced with children's problems. He will help you determine now
ready the child is for camp and whether a camp you choose has ad-
vantages or possible dangers.
In any event, the child's wishes should always be considered.

Camp Operation

Secondly, you must satisfy yourself that a camp you choose is
well operated. You will ask yourself:
1. Who are the people directing the camp? Hi-av much experience
have they in camp life? Who recommends them? Recommendations
may.be had from parents of former campers, from community sources.
2. What is the staff and its qualifications? Do they have expe-
rience with children? Who knows them?
3. What are the physical facilities at the camp? For eating,
sleeping, swimming, recreation? Is it a clean camp? Have the Board
of Health and other public groups approved the site for safe water,
sewage, garbage disposal? Are a physician and nurse on hand during
the season? Or, if the camp is small, what medical help Is close at
hand? What medical examinations does the camp require before ad-
mission and when the children arrive?
4. What is the routine of the camp? Are the director and staff
fanatics about a stiff physical program? Does the program show evi-
dence of keeping your child interested yet not overworked? How
much dishwashing, bed making and cleaning will be assigned? There
are as many dangers in too little or no camp dirties as there are in
too many.
5. Is the camp operated solely for profit or is there a healthy
balance between service and profit?
6. Are the camp directors people of sound judgment wbo will
know what to do in emergencies? Or are they fanatics about a :Tar-
tan life of cold water, exposure of children to hardships and unusual
ads or frills?

7. Are the charges stated in the prospectus the total charges or
Is laundry, horseback riding, handicraft or other things extra?

It is important that you check the physical aspects of the camp,
its staff, medical provisions, program. You must satisfy yourself
about the reputation of the owners and directors. Also important is
the relation of your child to a specific camp and to camping in gen-
eral. Not all children may benefit. Some may be harmed by unthink-
ing exposure to camp life.

There are a few camps specially designed to deal with the spe-
cial needs of unusual children. We can advise parents about sia ti
facilities.

Because special facilities are not common, we plan to work with
a small group of children needing help in socializing in a camp atmos-
phere. This camp will be well-equipped where we can direct normal,
ntelligent children into the processes of group living.

i
I t

LETTEED Ilex

Thanks Chronicle

United States Coast Guard, Detroit, Mk h.
22 February, 1946

Iletroit Jewish Chronicle
525 Woodward Ave., Detroit, Mich.
Gentlemen:

May we take this opportunity to thank the Detroit Jewish Chren-
icle staff for their very fine cooperation in aiding the U. S. Coast
Guard Recruiting Campaign.

For their sponsorship of the publicity in your Feb. 15 edition, our
sincere thanks to the following:

Peoples' Federal Savings & Loan Association,

Smith-Orr Company,

The Florists Service Co., and its affiliated group,

Sid Savage Motor Sales,

Mohawk Lumber & Supply Company.
The press and radio were unstinting during the war in their
efforts to aid government agencies in matters of publcity for various
campaigns. "rye know they will continue to aid in matters that will
help win the Peace.

Very sincerely,

(Signed) J. C. WENDLAND, Comdr.
USCG, District Recruiting Officer

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