Page Sixteen

THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, March 30, 1945

How Federation Agencies Served Detroit in
i 1944

Progress was noted in increas-
ed support from membership
dues and fees. In 1944 such in-
come totaled $51,049, represent-
ing an increase of 23 percent
above 1943. The year also saw a
broadening of the base of con-
Service Group, Fresh Air Camp, Free Loan Association, trol and management through National Jewish Welfare Board, One of Six United Service
the appointment of several new
House of Shelter, Center, Council, Home for Aged,
Organizations, Operates Through Local Committee;
committees in .a revised depart-
JSSB, JVS, Clink, Resettlement, UHS Listed
New Recreational Programs Are Introduced
mental structure. Over 150 new
men and women volunteer work-
During
the
1944
season,
a
total
of
new
applications was about during the year. Of these 50 per
Army-Navy Committee
ers were drawn into one phase
70.
cent were free and 28 per cent
Samuel H. Rubiner, Chairman of 2,052 camping weeks were or another of Center work.
enjoyed at Fresh Air Camp by
Relief cases, never very large were made by clients of such
Samuel Kurzon, Area Director
595 children. Of these 29% were Community Council
in number at the JSSB, were at agencies as the Wayne County
The National Jewish Welfare agency children, 25% were re-
a low point in 1944, representing Bureau of Social Aid, County
Board, one of the six United duced-rate cases, and 46% came Jamas I. Ellman, President
less than 10 per cent of the total Department of Social Welfare,
Service Organizations' agencies, from the full-pay group. More Isaac Franck, Exec. Director
The Jewish Community Coun- cases handled. The JSSB is pri- the Detroit Department of Pub-
operates locally through the De- than 200 applications in the full-
troit Army and Navy Commit- pay group could not be serviced cil is both a representative• cen- marily a service agency whose lic Welfare and the Jewish So-
tee. During the past year, the because of the overflow demand, tral community body and a func- purpose is to help families to cial Service Bureau. Sixty-one
cope with problems and troubles per cent of the visits were made
scope of its activities for service- but all other requests for camp- tional agency.
In the first capacity it has 213 that beset them in their efforts by white patients, 39 per cent
men and women in the State of ing were met.
affiliated organizations — relig- to function as a normal family by Negroes. Of the new patients :
Michigan and in the Detroit area
Hebrew Free Loan Assn. ious, educational, f r a t e r n a 1, should.
admitted during the year, 50
was enlarged considerably.
The most serious problem fac- per cent were unemployed. De-
charitable, which represent the
Additional recreational pro- Isaac Shetzer, President
bulk of Detroit's Jewish popula- ing the Bureau in 1944 was the pendents of servicemen, in most
grams were introduced during Mrs. Ida B. Colten, Exec. Sec'y
Hebrew Free Loan Association tiin. It provides a common meet- shortage of professional staff, cases usually living on allot-
the year at the Jewish Center,
serves those who are not neces- ing ground and a platform for the draft and new war agencies ments, made 702 visits.
including the Sunday morning
sarily destitute, but who are not the discussion of matters affect- having drained off the supply of
There were 20,500 prescrip-
brunch for American and Cana-
quite self-sufficient.
ing the entire Jewish community, trained workers. During the tions dispensed, 22,000 labora-
dian soldiers. During the sum-
Without interest or other and for the determination of year, a joint committee of board tory tests made. The X-ray de-
mer a picnic program was start-
policy on these questions. Each and staff studied a fee plan partment made 2,400 examina-
ed at Battle Creek for men at charges and without religious or
race distinction, the Detroit He- organization is represented dem- which a nominal charge would tions and 9,000 treatments were
Ft. Custer and Percy Jones Hos-
brew Free Loan has granted ocratically by a number of dele- be made for service to clients given in the Department of
pital.
who could afford it. Such a plan Physical Therapy. The medical
loans continuously for almost 50 gates based on its membership.
The Army and Navy Commit- years. During the present per-
The delegates elect the offi- is in operation in several cities, Social Service Department gave
tee also organized in 1944 a spe- iod of economic prosperity, there cers and members of the execu- including New York and Cleve- service to 1,200 patients.
cial social program for officers, is a decided decline in the de- tive committee, having in mind land. The committee found much
Physicians donated 2,300 hours
in the Jewish Welfare Board mands for these services. In at all times the need to have this support for the plan among lay
Lounge of the Jewish Com- 1944, the association served 317 and other committees include a and professional leaders of of service during the year and
dentists gave 165 hours.
munity Center.
families, lending a total of $38,- cross-section of the entire com- social work, but the board felt
Religious services which had 756.32, or 37% less than in 1943. munity. In this respect the Coun- it wisest to postpone introduc- Resettlement Service
been held regularly at Selfridge
The organization is in a healthy cil seeks to be the "parliament" tion of the plan until the staff Fred M. Butzel, President
Field, were also instituted at position to meet such postwar for Detroit's Jewish Community. situation improves.
Harold Silver, Exec. Director ,
Romulus Army Air Base.
The JSSB continued the spe-
tasks as may develop.
The Council has a number of
The rapid adjustment of ref-
The Serve-A-Camp program
responsibilities. It is the estab- cial services for cooperating ugees to American life is shown
was expanded and packages House of Shelter
lished agency representing the agencies, including investigation by the fact that in 1944 only 32
were sent each month to Hawaii. Milton M. Maddin, President
community in the fight against of applications to the Jewish families required financial aid
Mrs.
Gladys
Croll,
Secretary
Attendance at club activities
anti-semitism, and in the effort Home for Aged, psychological of the Resettlement Service. In
Restricted
travel
and
improved
during the year reached 33,201.
testing for the Jewish Vocation- most cases financial assistance
in to develop better relations be-
A total of 2,891 volunteers, com- employment opportunities
tween Jews and non-Jews. In al Service and the Boys' Re- was temporary or • supplemen-
1944
caused
a
further
reduction
mittee members, and junior and
this work it is associated with a public, and investigative and tary.
senior hostesses served 62,238 in the need for the services of large number of local and na- secretarial service for the House
Many families are now repay-
the
House
of
Shelter.
The
aver-
volunteer hours. Religious pro-
tional agencies, both Jewish and of Shelter.
ing the aid. During 1943 and
grams were held at Army camps age monthly number of indi- non-Jewish. The Council receives
1944, 89 persons repaid $6,979.
for 6,317 servicemen, women and viduals housed at the institution reports and acts on complaints of Vocational Service
This is exclusive of repayments
their friends, and 5,583 religious was 12. Lodgings averaged 43 per anti-Jewish discrimination in em- Harvey H. Goldman, President
of moneys given in the form of
objects were distributed to the month and meals 135. Because of ployment and other areas. It W. William Weinberg, Director
loans for business purposes or
The
activity
of
the
JVS
for
reduced
demand
meals
are
no
camps. Home hospitality was ex-
seeks to secure the ) cooperation 1944 included:
for extraordinary items in liv-
longer
served
at
the
House,
but
tended to 2,029 men and women,
of all Jews in the maintenance
Placement in war jobs best ing expenses, such as hospital
• and personal services were pro- neighborhood restaurants are uti- of Jewish self-discipline. It aids
suited to their abilities of those bills and furniture.
lized
for
this
purpose.
vided for thousands of men and
During the weeks of Passover constituent organizations in rais- persons who have had to . or
In addition to family units
women in uniform during the
ing the level of their educational
year. (A complete report of lo- and the High Holidays, special and cultural activities. It main- wanted to leave non-essential receiving service, 13 children, of
the group who came here under
cal JWB activities appeared in provisions are made to serve tains an Arbitration Court and industries.
Adjustment of displaced white- the auspices of the European
meals in the House, and residents
last week's issue).
a
Community
Calendar
which
of several public institutions are
collar workers and small busi- Jewish Children's Aid, are still
accommodated at the House dur- are available to all individuals nessmen.
under the agency's care.
Detroit Service Group
ing these periods. The agency and groups.
Recruitment and orientation
Irving W. Bluinberg, President
A notable rise in migration
also undertakes the provision of Jewish Home for Aged
for war jobs of women and services was noted during the
Esther A. Prussian, Secretary
others" not yet in the labor last few months as a result of
In 1944, the Allied Jewish holiday food to Jewish prisoners Myron A. Keys, President
market.
special rescue possibilities af-
campaign was included, as the at the County jail and the House Dr. Otto A. Hirsch, Supt.
Finding of special jobs for forded to close relatives of
year before, within the War of Correction.
The Jewish Home for Aged
Chest. The Detroit Service Group, Community Center
continued to care for its residents handicapped, over - aged and American citizens. The agency
the foundation of the direct Hyman C. Broder, President
in 1944 on the high standard marginal workers referred to also assisted several hundred
fund-raising activities of the Herman Jacobs, Exec. Director
established in previous years, JVS for rehabilitation and job persons to file applications with
Jewish community, turned its
For the Center the year 1944 notwithstanding problems en- placement by the JSSB, North the Central Location Index in
.energies to the War Chest cam- saw a growth in the program and countered through wartime dif- End Clinic, the public agencies, New York in an effort to locate
paign, which raised over $8,000,- participation of members and ficulties in maintaining quality and the local offices of the friends and relatives abroad.
000 last fall.
community. The nu.mber of en- and quantity of staff. The in- USES.
United Hebrew Schools
Helping high school students
rolled
members increased 22 per creasing proportion of aged in
The Service Group also was
Rudolph Zuieback, President
to
choose
educational
and
occu-
asked by the Jewish Hospital As- cent, from 2,452 in 1943 to 2,996 the population of the community
Bernard Isaacs, Superintendent •
sociation to make its manpower on Dec. 31, 1944.
was reflected, however, in a con- pational courses related to war
The UHS comprise seven
needs
and
their
own
potential
and skill available, and it played
This increase occurred among siderable waiting list of men and
branches. Four of them are
an important role in the cam- children and teen-agers, result- women whose applications were ability and skill.
Assimilation of refugees into housed in special school build-
paign which produced over $2,- ing in part from the expansion accepted but who could not be
the
labor army through training. ings and three are in public
250,000 for a Jewish hospital in of the junior and intermediate admitted because of lack of space.
school buildings.
retraining
and rehabilitation.
Detroit.
departments and aided by the
The Home continued its estab-
Instruction at the United He-
Guidance
of
youth,
troubled
The members of the Junior opening of a Teen-Age Canteen lished medical program, giving
Service Group, although their and the re-opening of the Inter- care regularly to 40 or more with conflicts in regard to re- brew Schools continued in 1944
ranks were seriously depleted by mediate Lounge.
chronically ill residents needing maining in school, taking war to be divided into three depart-
military service, also gave valu-
The most conspicuous develop- bedside service, and to many jobs, or enlisting in the armed ments, the pre-school and kin-
dergarten for children aged 4
able service in the War Chest ment occurred at the end of the infirm aged who were in need of forces.
In performing these activities, to 6, the elementary department
campaign.
year, when the 12th Street Coun- intermittent medical and nursing
cil Center was opened as an ex- care. During the year, planning the JVS serviced 1,579 persons for children of 6 and up, and
Fresh Air Camp
tension program, sponsored by was initiated for the construc- at the agency. Of these, 740 the high school, where grad-
Barry E. Jacobson, President
the Center and the Detroit Sec- tion of an addition to the Home. were served in the placement uates of the elementary depart-
Alvin G. Shelly, Director
tion of the National Council of
At the beginning of 1944 the department; 338 persons were ment are admitted. In all de-
Fresh Air Camp is operated by Jewish Women. A varied pro- population numbered 126. Ad- placed in employment through partments, the guiding aim was
the Fresh Air Society, an agency gram of recreation and group missions during the year totaled JVS, and many others were to prepare youth for positive
of the Jewish Welfare Federa- activities has been instituted for 44, the number of residents dur- placed through the resources of and constructive Jewish living.
tion. The camp is located on children of all ages and young ing the year was 170, and at the the USES in accordance with
Studies in the elementary de-
Blaine Lake near Brighton, Mich., people.
year's end there were 139 resi- inter-agency provisions for co- partment center around the ele-
36 miles from Detroit. It accom-
Camping activities also grew dents. In accordance with es- operation and with governnwnt- ments of Hebrew, prayers, the
modates 230 children, buildings in 1944, with increases in at- tablished policy, preference in al regulations. Intensive indi- Bible in the original, the study
and equipment are the finest, tendance in the country at Camp admission was accorded through vidual counseling interviews to- of history, and studies pertain..
and all meals are prepared in Chelsea, which serves mothers the year to people who were taling 810 were held with 521 ing to Jewish festivals, customs
different persons. Through group ceremonies. In the high school
accordance with the dietary laws, and children, and in the city at chronically ill.
guidance activities 2,502 persons the study of language is contin-
two separate kitchens being Camp Habonim, the Stay-At-
Social Service Bureau
were served.
utilized for this purpose. A staff Home camp.
ued in a more advanced man-
of 60 people, carefully selected
ner. Other subjects taught are:
In its own work for service- Benjamin E. Jaffe, President
North End Clinic
by the camp director, provides men, apart from the Jewish Wel- Harold Silver, Director
Chumosh and Rashi, the major
David Wilkus, President
understanding supervision of all fare Board program, the Center
prophets, grammar and com-
The outstanding 1944 develop- Selma J. Sampliner, Director
phases of the camp program.
organized a club of about 150 ment in JSSB was the merger
North End Clinic, in 1944, position, Mishna and Gemora. In
The campers are drawn from servicemen's wives and institut- with the Jewish Children's Bu- continued its tradition of free addition, there are extra-curric-
three sources: community agen- ed a plan for a six-month com- reau, eliminating the former and low-cost service to the needy ular activities also, including
cies; the reduced-rate group- plimentary membership to every artificial distinction between ser- of the community. Despite the Sabbath morning Junior Con-
non-agency children selected be- returned serviceman and woman. vice . to children in their own absence, because of service in gregations, Keren. Bonenu (Our
cause of financial need, health,
In the course of the year total homes and service to children the armed forces, of a sizable Children's Fund) and Hebrew
mothers at work, military service attendance increased by 21 per in foster homes.
proportion of the medical staff, speaking clubs' for adolescents.
of father, etc., and the full-pay cent. The number of groups,
An average of 500 cases was quality of medical care was
In 1944, the average number
group—families needing camp those affiliated with and meeting handled each month. This in- maintained.
of pupils in attendance at all
services but unable to afford the in the Center, increased by 12 cluded about 85 children in
Approximately 34,000 visits branches w a s approximately
fees of private. camps.
percent..
placement. The monthly average were made to North End Clinic 1 200.

13 Affiliated Organizations
Evaluate Work of Past Year

JWB Army-Navy Committee
State Activities Enlarged

