Observations on the Eve
Of the New Year 5709

E

VERY year brings significant developments. This certainly has been
true for the year now ending for each of us as individuals and Tor all
of us as members of our essential groups, to which each of us belongs, as
Jews, Detroiters, Americans, human beings.
Surely there is reason to believe that, in the year ahead, events of
importance will occur that will continue to affect us in each of the cate-
gories, Jew, Detroiter, American, member of
the human race.
1. Certain situations and 'problems are
peculiarly ours as Detroit Jews. Put in sim-
plest terms, only we, the Jews of Detroit, are
Detroit Jews and we, as a local Jewish com-
munity, are called on to deal with matters
that may be similar to but are nevertheless
not identical with considerations that -face
the Jews of Chicago, or New York, or Pitts-
burgh, who have their own local kinships.
' Think of yourself in this field as one among
90,000.
2. Other problems require our httention
as citizens of Detroit. Here, we have a fel-
. lowship with all other Detroiters, as neigh-
bors. What takes place here binds together
people who live in Detroit, of whatever creed
or color, in greater measure than with citi-
zens of other local communities. In this ca-
pacity, think of yourself as one of some
2,000,000.
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
3. Still' other matters concern us as American Jews. Here, our local
90,000 join forces with Jewish communities throughout the land on issues
that call for common action in the name of 5,000,000 of us. So now, if you
please, you are one of 5,000,000.
.
.
4. At the same time, we have a loyalty and an association as Americans.
• Questions arise requiring answers as citizens of our country. Here each of
us is, one among 150,000,000.
5. Yet again, along with Jews all over the world, we are called on to
•' face issues that confront us as Jews, wherever we may live. As a Jew in
'the world today, each of us is one among some 12 or 13 million.
B. And finally, developM.ents . are taking_ place daily that have some
impact on everybody everywhere. These are the great world forces that
transcend the narrower boundaries of religion, nationality or geography.
•• Here, each of us bedonies a member of a great human family numbering
far beyond two billion. Here, then, you and I are each one of these two
billion.
It would be possible, of course, to set up other categories: among Jews,—
• rthodox, Conservative and Reform; among Americans,—Northerners,
:Southerners, etc.; among nations,—Eastern, Western, European, Asiatic,
;American; among human beings,-r-white, yellow, and black; rich and poor;
.educated and unschooled; radical, liberal, conservative, reactionary; young
' and old; men and women. Short of the most inclusive classification of all-
people—we can enlarge or shrink every group to which we belong and
indicate•additional lesser or greater ones. If "Detroit Jews" is the -smallest

-

By

Isidore Sobeloff

Executive Director, Jewish Welfare Federation

group we have identified, our most intense affiliations are nevertheless with
family, congregation, organization, neighborhood. Each of us is involved
in group life,—positively, if we belong actively; negatively, if we are anti-
social,—and every one of us in Detroit is part of 90,000 as a Jew, of 2,000,000
as a Detroiter, of 5,000,000 as a Jew in America; of perhaps 18,000,000 as a
Jew in the world today; of -150,000,000 as an American; of 2,200,000,060 as
a human being.
This rather statistical introduction is by way of saying that what-hap,
pens to each of us this year and what will affect us in the year ahead are
influenced by the conduct of multiple communities, small and large, in
city, state and nation of which we are directly a part, as well as by others
whose • only bond with us is a common humanity.
It is in order, therefore, to review at this time what we have done as: a
JewiSh community in those areas for which we have primary responsibility,
at home and abroad. We make available the record of our stewardship in
the fields of health, education, welfare, security, and general social well-
being in Detroit. We report on our life-saving contribution to the still
suffering Jews of Europe. We call attention to the not insubstantial part
that we have played, alOng with other American Jewish communities, in
strengthening the hands of the builders of Israel.
All this, however, is - only a part of the story of what happened to us
during the year. On the local scene, the standards set by the voluntary,
central social services of the general community, and by the public depart-
ments- in welfare, health, recreation and related fields have a profound
effect on all Detroiters. They influence the nature and extent of assistance
that can be offered by our own group, or by others. Wise and courageous
social planning, adequate goals, sound organization, and generous giving
are needed for Detroit. Our self-interest, both as Jews and as Detroiters,
requires it.
On the national scene, we stand ready to receive a fair share of the
stateless and hoineless Jews of Europe, if only the legislation affecting the
admission of these people to America would be liberalized. Here, is an
instance where the fate of many of our fellow-Jews in Europe rests with
America. As Americans, we must continue our .partnership in the campaign
to open this country's doors a little wider. .
As Americans, too, we join with those who recogniie in the new State
of ISrael,, thq one place in the world where most of our displaded personS
of Europe can re-establish themselves. -In the already successful struggle
for the re-establishment of a Jewish state,. there is much work yet to be
done to insure - the safety and stability Of this youngest of nations. As
Americans, we can urge that our own country and the United Nations give
every opportunity for Israel to take its 'peaceful place among the famil3r
of nations. As Jews, our interest in Israel is economic, philanthropic, cul-
tural, sentimental. We should speak as,—for indeed we 'are, Jews, Ameri-
cans, members of the human family.
A Jew in Detroit, therefore, to see his own place in the scheme of thingi
in true perspective, must take into account all bf the organized communities
to which he properly belongs. His well-being is inter-related, as a Jew,
with his fellow-Jews in Detroit, America, Israel, the. world.. over.. As a
human being, likewise, his well-being is intertwined with his fellow-
Detroiters, with his fellow-Arnericans and with humanity everywhere.
We are as strong, and as secure, as individUals or as a group, as the world
of men and institutions and their behavior around us.

A Review of Our Community Structure in 5708

By WILLIAM AYRUNIN

•

Associate Director, Jewish Welfare. Federation-

;The year .._5708 is full of mean-
ing for Jews everywhere. The
organized Jewish :community of
Detroit felt the full impact of its
significance.
The year 5708 can be seen with
better perspective as the 21st of
the Jewish Welfare Federation
and 49th of the United Jewish
Charities, the Federation's pre-
decessor which has since .become
its .property-holding Corporation.

InSpired Fi*d-Raising • .
D etroit Jewry maintained the-

full responsibility of partnership
the $250,000,000 - National
United Jewish Appeal. At the
same time it faced squarely and
fdrthrightly its continuing share
of: responsibility for national in-
stitutions in America, regional
agencies and local social and edu-
cational services in Detroit. The
brieadth of this perspective is un-
derscored - I - by the inclusion of
$200,000 in the Allied Jewish
CaMpaign goal for the • construe-
ton. of a new Jewish .COmmunity:
Ceb:ter blinding in the Dexter
area:
•
-
AS we approach the New Year
the-.Allied Jewish Campaign total
has:passed $5,750,000 and prom-
isk: to reach •- $5;800,000. Con-
tr4itors continue to send new
ark additional pledges daily as
thy: measure their resources
against the need. The. total repre-
sents an increase of forty-seven
peP:cent over 1947, at year whose
achievement had previously been
hailed as unprecedented..
ually significant is the num-
ber' Of contributors, closing in on
34,000, almost,'7,000 _more than
in '1947: is the Jewish houSe-
hold which is not represented on
the honor roll of contributors; .•

. Of the communities through-
out the country which conduct-

k .

vision% distinguished themselves
by raising upward of $1,000,000.
They are the mechanical trades
division, under. the : leadership of
Ben L. Silberstein and Milton K.
Mahler, and the real estate and
building trades division, under
the leadership of Barney Smith
and Joseph Holtzman. .

.

ed their fund-raising campaigns
in the Spring and raised the
total of a million dollars or
more, Detroit retained its posi-
tion of fourth highest in
amount raised, exceeded only
by New York, Philadelphia and
Los Angeles (Boston and Chi.
cago conduct their campaigns
in the Fall). Of the 22 com-
munities in this group only
Paterson, Miami and Los An-
geles had . a higher percentace
of increase over 1947 than De-
troit.

The top Detroit 'campaign lead-
ership was in the hands of the
chairman, Maurice ArOnsson, who
had been chairman of the •pre- •
campaign solicitation in 1947 and
who had been associated with
campaigning in Detroit at the
highest level for many years. The
honorary chairman was the late
Fred M. Butzel whose name had
been associated with our .cam-
paigns for a generation. The vice-
chairmen Were Julian H. KrOlik
and Abe Srere, two men whose.
leadership Detroit Jews had long
respected and applauded. But the
urgency of the campaign brought
out many new names such as Ben
L. Silberstein, Lotis Berry,
Joseph Holtzman, and Louis and
Sam Hamburger.

•

Women, Juniors Set Records

The Women's Division, led by
Mrs. Joseph Ehrlich and Mrs.
Henry Wineman, • raised $630,000
and did an organizational', job
which exceeded even their own
excellent past performance.
The Junior Division, led by
Leonard Baruch and Barbara
Greenberg,
reached $95,000.
. •
Kn011wood Country Club' car-
ried on its own extremely. suc-
cessful fund:raising meeting.
Franklin Hills Country Club: es-
tablished a precedent for similar
clubs throughout the country by
amending its by-laws to make
adequate giving to the Allied
Jewish Campaign and the bbin-

In a single year "Berry and
Holtzman",, became a legend in
Detroit's campaign history.
Their return from a trip to
Europe and :Palestfile under the
auspices of :the United Jewish
. Appeal laVe immediate im-
petus, • to local . fund=raising.'.
Louis. Berry haS since beccime
. •ITJA •cliairman for the State of
Michigan.
In a:carnpaigzi which -was -(suc-

cessful over the broad sweep of
its activity, two of the trade di-

WILLIAm AVRUNIN

munity ChiSt a condition for con- have to be developed fop • ma-
tinuing membership.- -
terials as had been for cash.

Making Pledges Mean Life'

• New Times, , PrOgrams, :Rules

• Detroit is, one community.
which makes good on its commit-
mentS. Ninety per cent of the
money pledged in 1947 had al-
ready- been paid and ninety-six
-per cent of the money pledged in
1946 had been put to use for the
causes for which it was intended.
When requests were carefully
screened and the variety of needs
thoughtfully considered, the
lied Jewish Campaign funds were
divided as -follows:

In March, after two•years of
study and observation, the By-
Laws Committee under
the
chairmanship of Morris Garvett
completed its- work and brought
to a membership meeting of the,
Federation propoSed new by-laws
which broadened the base of rep-
resentation on the board of gov-
ernors to include' representation
from Service Groups, .Bnai Brith
Council; Zionist Council, bands-
manschafter Council and Jewish
War Veterans.
In the area of planning for
serial; educational and cultural
services in our . community, the
Federation employed the Social
Planning Committee and Educa-
tional Planning Commiision
, which had' been created the pre-
yious year.
, I ,
The Women's . Divisio
n. its
"New Look"! community-wide
program in February brought
hundreds of women a clearer pic-
ture of their community's func,
The Junior Service Group
, tioning.
, .
carried• on a continuous program
along. . similar lines.

United Jewish Appeal '
$4,050,000
Local Services
' 1,045,960
National and Overseas
Agencies (exclusive of UJA) 179,000
Jewish Community Center
Extensions
200,004

Budgets . Of Resettlement" Serv-
ice and the JeWish Horne for
Aged were markedly increased.
The budgets of some national
agencies that . haVe AraditiOnally
been included were reduced.

Check Before You Contribute

As was anticipated a number
of independent campaigns sprang
up in the community for assist-
ance to- Igrael.' The contributor
could not help be confused be-
tween thoSe - whiCh we're' authen-
tic and worthy of support. arid,
those WhiCh used the name of '
Israel to,
for other
purposeS. The .. Federation 'office
was called upon with, increasing'
frequency for dependable infor
mation about them. It developed -
plans for providing: this beyond
the usual response to • requests.
It became ,obvious Aliat a numr
.ber of groups would seek to .col-
lect materials for Enrope and
Palestine. Major among these are
SOS and Materials , for P-alestine
campaigns. But the Were' only:
the beginning of a, multiplicity of
such endeavorS.' k. s the year-sdreV
to • an 'end it 'Was- •apparent that
some sort of united appeal would

I As the year draws to a close

Federation :is: considering
• :recommendations for, the modi-
,fication Of the, social „structure
So that the'fina'nchig and
program can b • e • . brought
. ning
,
into'clOser association
. with each/
,
other and - sO that there Will be

`more intensive ' Year-round
'Andy Of-the agencies, lOcal and

'national, which the community
supports. " •
The United Jewish charitieS,

the property-holding :corporation
of the Jewish Welfare Federation,
was called upon , frequently. to

, (Continued op Page 21)

I6-*,4HE 'JEWISH ,

Friday, October 1, 1948

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