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Page Six
THE JEWISH
NEWS
Friday, March 22, 1946
Postwar Problems Here Challenge Programs
Of Federation and Its Affiliated Agencies
Resettlement
Service
The quarter million refugees in the
U. S. have adjusted with marked rapid-
The impact of the end of the war, with the return of large num-
bers of veterans, and the effect of new problems arising out of social
and economic readjustments on the Jewish community, as experienced by
the member agencies of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit were
described at the annual meeting of the Federation at the Hotel Statler
on March 11 by Judge William Friedman, president, and Isidore Sobeloff,
executive director.
Reports on the 1945 activities and programs are published in this
issue for eight of the Federation agencies: the Jewish Social Service
Bureau, the Jewish Community Center, the North End Clinic, the Jewish
Vocational Service, the Resettlement Service, the United Hebrew Schools
of Detroit, the Hebrew Free Loan Association and the Fresh Air Camp.
Jewish Social
Service Bureau
STAFF. Staff vacancies, which were
the most serious handicap of the Jewish
Social Service Bureau during the year
were filled by the end of the year ex-
cept for one vacancy. Two case workers
were promoted to supervisory positions.
The agency joined the retirement plan,
with 12 employes participating. The sur-
gical plan of the Michigan Hospital Ser-
vice was introduced for those employes
who wished to participate.
A contract was signed with the UOPWA
acting for a majority of the employes.
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BEQUESTS. The Flora Marymont Es-
tate was settled and the agency received
a sizeable bequest which was turned over
Following the distribution pattern of
to the United Jewish Charities.
our immigrant population, they are con-
Two buildings, purchased by the United
centrated in nine industrial states,
During the summer of 1945 the Fresh
The United Hebrew Schools is the
mostly in_ the larger cities, although a Air Society provided 2,064 weeks of communal educational institution of the Jewish Charities and used by the JSSB,
good many live in small towns and rural camping to Jewish boys and girls. Of city. It was established 27 years ago in were dedicated last year. The building at
areas. Unlike other recent immigrants, this 24 percent were free campers, 38 the then heavily populated Jewish dis- 5737 Second, which houses the JSSB of-
the refugees do not concentrate in spe- percent reduced rate campers averaging trict. The Jewish population of Detroit fices, was named the Albert Samter Mem-
cial neighborhoods, and tend to assoc- $7 per week, and 38 percent full pay was, at that time, in a state of flux. It orial, and the children's temporary home
iate with native Americans.
campers at $18 per week.
moved north and west, and then farther on Savery Ave. was named the Solomon
Cohen Memorial. Both were named in
The striking extent to which refugees
The Fresh Air, Society is one of the north and also farther west.
have fitted into American community oldest constituent agencies. It was be-
The schools constantly followed the memory of members of families who
life may be explained partly by their gun in 1902 with a group of young De- trend of the population and set up have made contributions to the UJC.
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relatively small numbers and wide dis- troit women who took immigrant chil- units in the Kirby section; the Oakland;
tribution, partly by their superior educa- dren on picnics to Belle Isle.
FEE
SERVICE.
A
special
Twelfth St., in the then population sec-
committee,
ity to the American way of life, accord-
ing to a report just issued by Resettle-
ment Service of Detroit, of which Fred
M. Butzel is president. This information
is based on a Public Affairs Pamphlet,
"The Refugees are Now Americans", by
Dr. Maurice R. Davis and Samuel Koenig
on behalf of the Committee for the Study
of Recent Immigration from Europe.
During the 1933-44 period, 365,955 im-
migrants from Europe were admitted to
the U. S., or 16.8 percent of the total ad-
missible under quota laws. Of this, 243,-
862 can be classified as refugees as they
came from Axis or Axis-dominated
countries. It is estimated that about two-
thirds are Jewish.
Fresh Air
Society
United Hebrew
Schools
tional and cultural background, but par-
ticularly by their desire to become as-
similated. About 95 percent of them
have no intention to return to their
former homelands. The first citizenship,
papers have been taken out almost im-
mediately after their arrival. Fully half
have become naturalized; the rest are in
various stages of the process.
During the war the refugee commun-
ity aided the war effort in every way,
many entering the armed forces. Im-
portant contribution were made by
refugee scientists and highly trained
technicians, either in government service
or in private industries.
After many years at a site near Mt. tion of the northeast and southwest,
Clements, the crowded conditions made such as Brush and Six Mile Road and
necessary its removal to Blaine Lake Michigan and Vernor Highway, etc. At
near Brighton, in 1926. As the Jewish the present time the schools serve seven
community continued to grow and as different sections.
The aim and purpose of the schools
the educational and recreational values
of camping became more generally ap- is to teach children Judaism; to help
preciated, the demands on the camp in- them understand and live as a Jews; to
imbue them with an appreciation of Jew-
creased tremendously.
During the war when children of ser- ish ideals and traditions; to connect them
vicemen were given top priority, the with our aspirations in the up-building
pressure was greater than ever. Within of Palestine; and to give them a sense
48 hours after registrations were open- of security.
These aims are achieved through the
ed, the camp 1.4.ras filled for the entire
study of the Hebrew language, Jewish
season with a waiting list of 300.
history, the Torah, the prayer book, lit-
During the war campers were able erature.
The pamphlet concludes: "Making up
to
participate
in
the
camp's
truck
farm-
an utterly negligible proportion of the
In addition to the formal studies, some
total population in this country, the ref- ing activities which provided almost 50 informal activities have been introduced
ugees could hardly offer serious com- percent of their fresh • vegetable needs. such as the Junior Congregation, clubs,
The board of directors of the So- and Keren Bonenu activities.
petition to Americans or endanger their
way of life. On the contrary, they have ciety is under the leadership of Hairy
Adult education work is carried out
had an influence upon this country out E. Jacobson.
through the Kvutzah Ivrith, the only
In 1946 the camp again will give Hebrew speaking group in Detroit, the
of proportion to their numbers.
"They have had a stimulating effect preference to servicemen's children but Ladies' Auxiliary of that group, the
upon the economic and cultural life of it assures the members of the Federa- Hug Ivri, Hebrew speaking group for
the nation. They have started new types tion that not a single underprivileged youth, and the UHS Woman's Auxiliary,
of enterprises, stimulated existing ones, child will be refused a vacation. How- which lends support to the schools, both
and developed new markets. They have ever, there will be turned away hundreds morally and financially — financially,
introduced new processes and produced of children whose parents can manage to through the maintenance of the bus sys-
articles hitherto unknown, or not manu- pay $18 a week for three week period tem, morally through its contact with
factured here.
but who cannot pay for private camping.
mothers.
Harry E. Jacobson is president of
"Moreover, in both of these fields,
Abe Kasle was president of the United
they have brought in capital and created the Fresh Air Camp and Irwin Shaw Hebrew Schools and Bernard Isaacs was
job opportunities for Americans."
is executive director.
executive director during the past year.
The Committee for the Study of Re-
cent Immigration from Europe was or-
ganized by five leading refugee service
organizations: American Christian Com-
The year just passed was a stirring
mittee for Refugees, American Friends
The other anniversary was celebrated
Service Committee, Catholic Committee period for the Jewish Community Cen- by the Mothers' Club which has pioneer-
for Refugees, National Refugee Service, ter, though marred by the untimely ed over the decades in naturalization ac-
and the U. S. Committee for the Care of death of its president, the admired and tivities and personal development. The
European Children.
beloved Hyman C. Broder.
festivities reached their height in the
Dr. Alvin Johnson is chairman of the
It was Mr. Broder's aim to draw into Anniversary Dinner, attended by 358
Committee, and C. A. Dykstra, of the the work of the Center many new per- women members and friends.
University of California at Los Angeles, sons. He also concerned himself with the
In the matter of personnel, the Center
is chairman of the National Sponsors' task of revamping the structure of divi- was particularly hard pressed. Of its pro-
Committee. Dr. Maurice R. Davie, pro- sions and committees so as to utilize more fessional staff its ranking woman staff
fessor of sociology at Yale University, fully the interest and talents of the lay- member left to be. married, its newest
was director of the study which cov- man.
addition left for another community, an-
ered some 13,000 individuals in 638 com-
Since the early Autumn when Samuel other left to marry. her returned service-
munities in 44 states.
H. Rubiner was elected his successor as man, as did some of the secretarial staff.
Those vacancies have gradually been
president, Mr. Rubiner has continued
filled, three by veterans.
where Mr. Broder left off.
As the boys began returning, an up-
More than 1,000 veterans have availed
themselves of the Center's six-month surge of interest was noticed among the
Center constituency generally. USO vol-
free membership.
The year 1945 had an historical sign-
A few have volunteered as activity unteer personnel applied themselves to
ificance for the Hebrew Free Loan As- leaders, while others have formed vet- the welcoming home task. Attendance
sociation. Dec. 11, 1945, marked 50 years erans' clubs.
at Holiday Hops soared to 500 and over.
'since it was incorporated as a non-profit
In the case of the gym facilities and
The
12th
Street
Council
Center
was
es-
organization. It has been making loans
particularly the Men's Health Club—the
without interest or carrying charges, to tablished under the joint sponsorship of
latter department with an all-time rec-
help persons solve their business or the Center and the Detroit Section of the ord enrollment of 350—their use
sur-
National
Council
of
Jewish
Women.
Close
home difficulties.
passes previous records of attendance and
Due to the unprecedented full em-: to 300 persons, mostly young children, participation. In the Aaron DeRoy Mem-
ployment in the city, the war years have are enrolled as members.
orial Building the total annual attend-
seen a sharp decline in the requestS for
Silver anniversaries were observed by ance 'exceeded 300,000 persons while at
loans.
two Center departments. The Art School 12th Street 40,0'00 were recorded as hav-
There is, however, a trend toward celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a ing participated or attended.
greater activity in this field for 1946. commemorative exhibition honoring its
Special plans are afoot for enriching the
Veterans are applying in greater num- founder, Mrs. David B. Werbe.
program
of children—the adolescents al-
bers; workers connected with companies
The climax of the celebration, which
that have experienced strikes, find them- received widespread attention in the ready enjoying a richly diversified pro-
selves in an unfavorable financial con- community, occurred at the Werbe Tes-
gram of Lounge, "Jive Junction,' coun-
dition.
timonial Dinner when Clyde H. Bur- cil, dances clubs, athletics, newspapers,
Morris H. Blumberg recently assum - .
roughs, secretary of the Detroit Institute
ed the preSidency of HFLA, succeed- of Art, announced the election of Mrs. arts and crafts.
ing the late Isaac Shetzer. Mrs. Ida B. Werbe as a life member of the Founders
Herman Jacobs is executive director. of
Cohen was executive director for 1945. Society of the Institute.
the Center.
Jewish Community Center
Hebrew Free
Loan Association
completing its assignment, prepared a
report on the introduction of fee charg-
ing in the Bureau. The board accepted
the recommendation in principle but
postponed introduction of the plan until
the staff situation improved. The plan
is not motivated by fiscal considerations,
since the net income from fees would
very likely be minimal.
The idea stems from a conviction that
case work service can be used to advan-
tage by middle class families as well as
by the "under-privileged." More than 90
per cent of the families now helped by
the JSSB do not receive financial aid.
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CONFIDENTIALITY OF CASE REC-
ORD INFORMATION. A good deal of
time was given by the board to a discus-
sion of a staff memorandum on how best
to preserve the confidential nature of the
relation between the case workers and
clients of the JSSB.
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CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT. There
has been a slight decrease in children un-
der care, compared with the previous
year. Boarding homes are still difficult
to find, although it has not for that reason
been necessary to reject any placement
application. Board rates have been in-
creased.
The most serious lack in the children's
program is the absence of facilities for
children who are seriously disturbed or
exhibit major behavior difficulties. At-
tention to this problem has recently been
given by the Mayor's Advisory Commit-
tee on Youth Problems. The JSSB Board
set up a special committee to study the
matter as far as Jewish children are con-
cerned.
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ADOPTION. The agency's adoption
policies have been streamlined and lib-
eralized. Adoption applications will be
accepted from Wayne County and the
four adjoining counties. The Bureau also
will give service to applicants who have
selected a child throiagh their own efforts,
and in such cases the applicant's right to
the specific child will take precedence
over other applicants. The Bureau com-
pletes an average of only four adoptions
annually.
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COUNCIL OF SOCIAL AGENCIES.
The agency participated actively in the
process of reorganizing the Council and
adoption of a new set of by-laws. It ap-
pointed representatives to two functional
divisions created in the Council, family
welfare and child care.
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OUTLOOK FOR 1946. The amount re-
ceived from the Community Fund was
less than anticipated for 1946. However,
no radical changes are foreseen.
The work of Resettlement Service with
refugees—both families and children—
will doubtless expand in 1946. Seven per-
sons from the Oswego internment camp
were accepted in Detroit following the
liquidation of the camp in January.
During 1945, Benjamin E. Jaffe was
president of the JSSB and Harold Silver
was executive director and also acted as
director of the Resettlement Service.