Our First Women's Charity Society

Philanthropy Prior to Founding
Of United Jewish Charities in '99

By IRVING I. KATZ

Executive Secretary of Temple Beth El

•

(Second Article in a Series)

In

1863, Dr. Isaac M, Wise of Cincinnati, appealed to a
number of Rabbis on behalf of the "Central Verein," to or-
ganize women's societies in their communities for the pur-
pose of raising funds for a widows' and orphans' home to
be established under the auspices of Bnai Brith.
In response to this call, Rabbi

Abraham Laser of Temple Beth
El, Detroit, called a meeting of
the Jewish women of the city,
at the Odd Fellows Hall, on Sun-
day, July 12, 1863. The meeting
was attended by the following
53 women:

'24-THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, September 9, 1949

an

a

of

common in

was

constitution

The first crate

among many con-

Ben Gurion Calls
To Israel All U.S
Jewish Youth

TEL AVIV (JTA)-An appeal
to Jewish parents in the United
States to send their children to
Israel for permanent settlement
there was made by Premier
David Ben Gurion. "Even if they
decline to help us, we will bring
the youth to Israel," the Premier
of the Jewish State declared. He
expressed, however, the hope
that "this will not be necessary."
Mr. Ben Gurion made his ap-
peal in the course of an address
at a farewell party for the
American/ Histadrut delegates
who spent three weeks in Israel
visiting .various parts of the
country and studying various
aspects of life in the Jewish
state, "I am positive that you
are returning to the United
States with the feeling that it
was Worth your while to devote
many years of toil for Zionism
and for the creation of our
state,'I. he told members of the
delegation. (Samuel Rabinowitz,
director of the Detroit Israel
Histadrut Committee, is a mem-
ber of the delegation).
"Although we realized o u r
dream of establishing a Jewish
state, we are still at the be-
ginning," the Israel Premier con-
tinued. "Today there are only
900,000 Jews in Israel while the
greater part 'of the Jewish people
is still abroad. Our next task
will not be easier than the crea-
tion of the Jewish state. It con-
sists of bringing all Jews to Is-
rael.
"You say how difficult it was
to bring in and to absorb 200,000
immigrants. But we are deter-
mined to bring millions more
and I am positive that we will
bring them. We appeal chiefly
to the youth in the United States
and in other countries to help us
achieve this big missioh. We ap-
peal to the parents to help us
bring their children here. Even
if they decline to help, we will
bring the youth to Israel, but
hope that this will not be neces-
sary," the Israel Premier con-
cluded.
David Remez, Israel's Minister
of Communications, addressing
the American delegates,- similar-
ly appealed through them to the
Jews of the United States to
send American Jewish youths to
Israel.

there shall be elected five directresses and
the above named officers.
4. Board
These officers shall further elect a
board of 10 men who shall attend the
business meeting of the society and as-
sist with the conduct of these meetings.
The officers shall further elect an advi-
sory committee of three men who shall
assist with the financial and legal mat-
Mesdames David Amberg, Solomon Ben- ters of the society.
All of the above mentioned men shall
dit, Marcus Bernstein, Jacob Brand, J.
Brenzlor, Moritz L. Butzel, R. Blum, A. have no voting rights.
All of the above mentioned officers shall
Bresslauer, Marcus Cohen, R. Ehrman,
Michael Ehrman, H. Frenzdorf. Abraham serve withont compensation.
J. Franklin, Herman Freedman. Simon
5. Membership
Freedman, Isidor Frankel, Emil S. Heine-
Membership in this society is open
man. Louis Hirschman, Adam Hersch, only to ladies who pay annual dues of
Joseph Joseph, Isidor Kaufman. S. L. not less than four dollars. These dues are
Knoll, Herman Kaichen, Arnold Kaichen, Payable quarterly.
Philip Lichtenberg, A. Loewenstein, Abra-
6. Claims for Support
ham Laser, 'Louis Lambert, Adolph Leh-
Only such widows and orphans are en-
man. Moses Labold, S. Musliner, Morris titled to support who have had a continu-
Mendelsohn, Moses Marks, Isaac Marks, ous two-year residence in the State of
M. Malsh, A. Oppenheimer. Bernard Prell, Michigan, and then only when the basic
L. Rice. Sigmund Rothschild, Feist Roths- capital, set forth in .the By-Laws, has
child, Julius Robinson, Moses Rindskoff, been established.
Matthias Rosenberger, Emanuel Schloss,
7. Election of Officers
Seligman Schloss, H. Sykes, Judah Sittig,
Officers shall be elected annually on
Harris Solomon, J.Sternberger, Simon the second Sunday in the month of Octo-
Sloman, Marx Sloman, Morris Trounstine ber. Half of the membership residing in
and S. Wolfson.
Detroit or outside of the City shall con-
A number of men were also stitute a quorum.
8. Eligibility
present.
To insure the smooth functioning of
the
business
affairs
of the Society, only
In contrast to the earnest will-
of Detroit are eligible to hold
ingness of the assembled to form residents
office.
9. Administration
branch of the "Central Verein"
Only constitutionally elected officers
in. Cincinnati was their uncer- shall
represent and direct the affairs of
tainty as to what exactly Vas the society.
10. Rights and Duties of Officers
to be accomplished. No detailed
It,' is the president's task to promote
plan was submitted by Dr. Wise the aims of the society; see to it that the
Constitution and By-Laws are rigidly en-
and the location of the pro- forced
; preside at meetings ; call meetings
posed home for widows and or- whenever she deems it expedient or at
the request of officers or members, sign
phans was undetermined. There all orders on the treasurer; keep in a
also developed at the meeting safe place the valuable papers, documents
and books of the society which are not
objection on the part of the needed
for the use of the treasurer and
group to bring together widows secretary; and supervise the undertakings
the society.
and orphans from all parts of of The
treasurer shall furnish a bond of
$500 signed by two sureties. At the ex-
the country to one home.
piration of her term, she shall deliver to
After much deliberation it her successor, at an open meeting, all of
was, therefore, resolved to form the moneys, papers and books belonging
to the society.
women's society for the sup-
The boards of men and directresses, to-
port of Jewish widows and gether with the president and vice-presi-
dent,
constitute the executive board. It is
orphans within the State of their duty
to promote the interests of the
Michigan only and the society society, to take counsel together. to look
after
the
safety
of the real and personal
was named "Ladies Society property of the society,
and to audit the
for the Support of Hebrew moneys, books and bills of the society. At
its regular and special meetings this
Widows and Orphans in the body
is to deliberate upon the matters
State of Michigan", the first presented by the president.
The
recording secretary shall attend all
Jewish women's society in meetings
and record accurately the pro-
Michigan which became pop- ceedings and decisions thereof in a Min-
Book to be signed by her. She shall
ularly known as the "Frauen ute
also copy in a special book the Consti-
Verein."
tution and By-Laws to be signed by all
the
members ; keep a journal and general
On July 26, 1863, a meeting ledger
of all receipts and disbursements ;
was held to elect officers. It receive all payments made to the society
turn same over to the treasurer ;
was the consensus of opinion at and
countersign all vouchers signed by the
this meeting that for the first president; make annual reports of re-
and disbursements and present a
few months only men should ceipts
report on the general . affairs of the so-
be elected as officers, and that ciety.
II. Meetings of the Society
when the preliminary work of
The society shall hold four quarterly
organization had been comple- meetings each year, namely, on the second
in October, January, Aliril and
ted by the men, the leadership Sunday
July. Special meetings may be called by
the society would be turned the
president whenever she deems it ex-
pedient to do so, or atr the written request
over to the women.
of 10 members. Two thirds of the mem-
Such a procedure was not un- bership residing in Detroit or outside of
shall constitute a quorum at
the founding of the city meetings.
Twenty members shall
Jewish women's societies of an general
constitute a quorum at a special meeting.
The
officers
shall
meet every second
earlier day. The history of many
Sunday in the month, at a designated
of them shows that in the '40s, place,
to transact the business affairs of
'50s and '60s the women, lacking the society. Seven officers, including the
and vice-president, shall con-
formal training, .called upon the president
stitute a quorum.
An absence without good reason is sub-
men to show them how to or-
fifty ceuts.
ganize and conduct their socie- ject to a fine 12. of Amendments
Any proposition to amend the Consti-
ties. Once they got started the
tution shall be made in writing, signed by
women forged ahead and were at
least one-fifth of the members residing
destined to match and even to in Detroit, and submitted at a regular or
meeting of the society. The propo-
surpass the work of the men in special
sition shall lie on the table for a period
of not less than 30 days before it may be
the community at large.
PINHAS LUBIANKER (right),
acted upon at a regular or special meeting
The first officers elected were of
the society called for that purpose.
member of the Knesset and vet-
Louis Hirschman, . president;
The presence of not less than two-thirds
the members residing in Detroit or eran of the Halutz movement,
Rabbi Abraham Laser, vice- of
outside of the city is required to abrogate
succeeds JOSEPH SPRINZAK
president; S. Musliner, secretary; the entire Constitution.
13. Dissolution
and Herman Freedom, treasurer.
As long as the society has 10 members (left), as general secretary of
The following committee of men it cannot be dissolved. In case of dissolu- Histadrut, the Israel Labor Fed-
however, the existing assets must
appointed to draft a con- tion,
be used only for the support of widows eration. Sprinzak is speaker of
stitution and by-laws : Bernard and orphans.
BY-LAWS
the Knesset and acting presi-
Prell, Seligman Schloss, Moritz
1. Election of Officers
dent of Israel in the absence of
L. Butzel, Moses Rindskoff and
Election of officers shall be by ballot.
•
2.
Philip Lichtenberg.
Not less thin four'weeks' written notice Dr. Chaim Weizmann. Histadrut
On Oct. 4, 1863, the commit- must be given to members in order to will begin the year 5710 with a
those residing outside Detroit to
tee submitted a draft of the enable
participate in the elections.
working membership of over
constitution and by-laws and
3.
Every officer must attend regularly the 215,000, who, with dependents,
they were adopted by the so- business
meetings of the society. Absence total over 400,000, nearly half
ciety. This historic record, writ- from three consecutive meetings, without
good reason, will subject the absentee to the Jewish population of Israel.
ten in German, contains many suspension
from office and the Executive
points of interest and the fol- Board will be justified in appointing some-
the unexpired term.
be made to grant a sum not to exceed
lowing is a translation of the one else to serve
4. Committees
$50. Preference will be given to: 1. Those
and by-laws.
All committees shall be appointed by the who are members of the society. 2. Those
Who were members of the society. 3. Towns
president.
CONSTITUTION
where members reside.
5.
1. Name
At the expiration of the treasurer's
9.
The name of this society shall be
Members who are• in arrears with their
'Ladies Society for the Support of Hebrew term of office, the president shall appoint
Widows 'and Orphans in the State of a finance committee to audit the books, dues for half a year are no longer con-
sidered as members. However, on pay-
papers and moneys.
Michigan".
ment of arrears, the executive board has
6.
2. Purpose
This committee shall present a report at the right to reinstate such member.
The purpose of the society shall be to
10.
Support needy widows and orphans of the the next regular or special meeting.
Every contribution to the society is
7. Official Language
Jewish faith, and eventually to erect an
The official language of the society is gratefully received and noted in the
Orphan Asylum in the City of Detroit
so as to give these orphans a proper German and all applications, reports, etc. Minutes.
11.
must be made in the German language.
Jewish and general education.
Persons may arrange to have the Kad-
8. Support
3. Governing Body
All needy widows and orphans of the dish prayer recited by orphans on the
The officers of the society shall con-
sist of a president, vice=president treas- Jewish faith, who have resided in the anniversary of their death (Yahrzeit). at
urer, recording secretary and correspond- State of Michigan the length of time speci- each service in the synagogue, by con-
ing secretary-all to be elected for one fied in No. 6 of the Constitution, are en- tributing to the society during their life-
year. There shall also be elected 10 direc- titled to support ; however. this shall not time a sum of not less than $50.
12. Paid Employees
tresses, half of this number to serve one be operative until the society possesses a
The executive board has the right to
year and the other half for two years, basic capital, of not less than $3000.
In extraordinary cases an exception may engage a janitor at a modest salary.
S. that each annual meeting thereafter

a

Salvaged Books for Hebrew U.

Leaders of 215,000
Workers in Israel

taining a total of
70,000 books sal-
vaged from the
Nazi ruins of Eu-
rope and destined -
for the Jewish
National and He-
brew University'
Library in Jerusa
lem is unloaded
from the first
train to reach Je-
rusalem from Tel
Aviv since the
declaration of Is-
rael's independ-
ence on May 14,
1948.

.

Negev Commission
To Chart Possibilities
In. Southern Desert

TEL AVIV (JTA) - A "Negev
Authority" to chart the develop-
ment of Israel's southern , desert
was appointed by Premier David
Ben Gurion. Members of the
commission are : Yitzhak Chizik
and Haim Halperin, of the Agri-.
culture Ministry; Pinchas Koz-
lovsky, of the Defense Ministry;
Avraham Bergman, of the Fin-
ance Ministry; and Haim Blass,
of the Water Resources Depart-
ment.
The commission members will
be charged with the task of ini-
tiating a thorough investigation
of the Negev's natural resources
-including soil and water po-
tential-and will be expected to
submit plans for the develop-
ment of communications sys-
tems, agriculture and fisheries
on the Aqaba coast.
Large-s c a 1 e exploitation of
water resources and irrigation
schemes, prepared by the Min-
istry of Agriculture, were out-
lined before the Israel Agricul-
ture Council. The plans include
damming of the Galilee Valley
for the formation of a reservoir
lake in the Negev.
Under the proposals, the 250,-
000 acres now under irrigation
in Israel would be substantially
increased. The scheme also pro-
vides for numerous subterranean
probirigs in the Negev for water
a n d damming of 28 ravines
which are covered by water only
during specific periods of the
year. The government is pre-
paring legislation for the strict
control of. the nation's water
resources.
The Israel Scientific Council
is preparing to draw up a regis-
ter of all scientists in the coun-
try to be able to determine how
best to employ them for the
benefit of the new state. Six
hundred scientists have already
been registered.

Knesset Adopts
Two-Part Budget
Of $285,000,000

TEL AVIV-(JTA)-The Knes-
set of Israel adopted the na-
tion's first annual budget-a
two-part budget totalling 95,000,-
000 pounds - ($285,000,000). The
votes by which the budget was
adopted were 58 to 25 on the
section providing for the normal
expenses of government and 60
to 25 on a special allotment for
capital developments projects.
The normal expenses section
amounted to $120,000,000 while
the developmental projects to-
talled $165,000,000. Originally, Fi-
nance Minister Eliezer Kaplan
asked $186,000,000 for capital de-
velopments.
The highest expenditures pro-
vided for in the normal services
budget was $22,500,000 for de-
fense purposes. In addition, a
secret defense budget may be
adopted by the Parliamentary
Defense Committee. The Health
Ministry recived a budget of
$10,500,000, the second highest
of any government department.
It is anticipated that the income
tax will realize some $26,000,000,
customs duties will amount to
$24,000,000, and the income from
the postal and telecommunica-
tions department is expected to
come to $15,000,000
The Knesset rejected a de-
mand by the Mapam that it ap-
point a commission to investi-
gAte reports of corruption in
the Army purchasing depart-
ment and in the fiscal adminis-
tration. Premier David Ben Gur-
ion told the Parliament that he
had received a letter from Ma-
pain leaders Yitzhak Ben Ahar-
on and Yaacov Riftin contain-
ing numerous, unspecified ac-
cusationand charges and that
he, the Premier, had decided to
appoint a commission of four
men-three members of the
Knesset Security Committee and
one Supreme Court Justice-to
investigate the charges.

ORT, OSE Take
Issue with Agency Berlin Jews to Stay ;
On Dobkin Charges Ask Property Return

NEW YORK, (JTA)-The

American Committee of OSE re-
leased a statement taking issue
with charges voiced againSt it by
Eliahu Dobkin, member of the
Jewish Agency executive, at a
press conference in Jerusalem
at which he outlined the aims of
the Central Licensing Conimit-
tee established by the Agency
to check multiple fund-raising
drives for Israel aboard.
Dobkin referred to the OSE as
one of "these organizations
which have hitherto worked out-
side of Israel and now claim
to be doing 70 per cent of the
work which is actually being
done by the Jewish Agency." In
replying to Dobkin's allegation,
the OSE pointed out that it has
no knowledge of the organiza-
tion ever claiming that it does-
"70 per cent of the work which
is actually being done by the
Jewish Agency."

GENEVA,. (JTA) - The as-
sertion by Eliahu Dobkin in
Jerusalem that the ORT claimed
it does 70 per cent of the work
actually being performed by the
Jewish Agency was termed "non-
sense" in a statement issued by
Dr. Aron Synalowski, executive
chairman of the World ORT

Union.

PARIS, (JTA)-The Jews of
Berlin will not leave the city,
notwithstanding the fact that -
they have been advised to do so,
Heinz Galinski, representative . of
Berlin Jewry at the current ses-
sion of the General Council of
the World Jewish Congress, re-
-ported. He told the parley that
an office to deal with problems
of restitution of Jewish proper-
ty will be opened in Berlin next
week.
Speakers at the session ex-
pressed regret that Israel made
official purchases at the Leipzig ;
Fair. They deplored the fact the %
"some quarterS in Israel" are
endeavoring to spread the idea„
that German workers were never
anti-Semitic. Delegates repre-
senting • the Central Committee
of Liberated Jews in the Ameri-
can Zone of Germany regretted
the forthcoming departure of
Harry Greenstein, advisor on
Jewish Affairs to the American'
high command.
Dr. Nahum Goldman, acth
president of the World ewii
Congress, declared that the ec
nomic reconstruction of Germai
is inevitable but that world pu ;
lic opinion must be kept awp
of the danger of reconstructi
before the full democratizati
of Germany.