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Philanthropy Prior to '99
24
Detroit's Jewish Charitable
Groups in the Last Century
THE JEWISH NEWS
—
Anti-Israel Propaganda Group, HELP,
Zionists Issue Joint Left Helpless After Herter Expose
Crisis Conference
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
Call to Constituents WASHINGTON — Rep. Chris- the Arab refugees came into
Friady, October 14, 1949
(Copywright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
By IRVING I. KATZ
Executive Secretary of Temple Beth El
Fourth and concluding articel in a series.
The Hebrew Ladies' Sewing
Society was organized in Detroit
in 1882, shortly .after the arrival
of a group of Jewish refugees
from Russia who fled because of
the persecutions instigated by
the Russian government.
The founder of the society was
Simon Heavenrich. At his in-
stance, Dr. Henry Zirndorf, Rab-
bi of Temple Beth El, called a
meeting on Aug. 20, 1882, to form
a society "for the purpose of
alleviating the distressed condi-
tion of the Russian exiles, both
morally and physically."
The meeting was attended by
Dr. Zirndorf, who acted as chair-
man, Simon Heavenrich, and
Mesdames Seligman Schloss
Henry Zirndorf, Moses Cohen,
Simon Heavenrich, M. Jonas, H.
Fechheimer, Julius Robinson, S.
Karpelas, J. H. Frank, Simon
Freedman, Louis Lambert, Marx
Sloman, Isaac Mendelsohn, Kurt
Rothschild, Adolph Enggass, J.
Meyer and I. Frank.
*
*
The first officers elected were:
Mrs. Seligman Schloss, presi-
dent; Mrs. S. Karpelas, vice-
president; Mrs. Henry Zirndorf,
treasurer; and Mrs. H. Frank,
secretary. The society was orig-
inally named Hebrew Ladies'
Auxiliary Relief Society but later
changed it to "Hebrew Ladies'
Sewing Society."
The work of the society con-
sisted of providing clothing,
shoes and bedding for the desti-
tute; caring for the sick and
supplying medical assistance;
paying rent for families in need
and similar benevolent work.
The funds for these needs
were obtained from membership
dues and from an annual fund
raising event. In 1897 the dis-
bursements of the so c i e t y
amounted to $1,100 and its
membership was 130.
Mrs. Seligman Schloss served
as president of the society from
1882 to 1897. She was succeeded
by Mrs. Martin Butzel who was
the head of the society for two
years. In 1899 the society became
affiliated with the United Jewish
Charities and continued its work
for many years.
*
*
Self-Help Circle
In the spring of 1889, a class
of choir girls of Temple Beth El
were sewing for children of Rus-
sion refugees. Mrs. J. Finster-
wald suggested that the girls be-
come sewing teachers and that
the children be taught to sew for
themselves. This was done and
every member of the class be-
came a teacher.
The Self-Help Circle was open-
ed early in 1890 as a school for
domestic training, with depart-
ments for kitchen, dining room
and bedroom work, and for sew-
ing. One of the first branches
was an evening school for im-
migrants in which English and
the common school studies were
taught.
The founder and guiding spirit
of the circle was Mrs. Sara Ewell
Krolik. In 1899 the group became
a part of the United Jewish
Charities and carried on its ac-
tivities for many years.
Mutual Aid Societies
Among the Jews of Europe,
mutual aid societies several cen-
turies old continued to flourish.
Those which were merely burial
societies, called Chevrah Kadish-
ah, could be foun,d in every town
and hamlet in Europe which
housed a Jewish population. Out
of these organizations grew the
mutual aid societies which, par-
ticularly in the large cities, came
into existence at the beginning
of the modern era and even
earlier. Part of the tradition of
the Jews who came to America
was, therefore, the maintenance
of burial and mutual aid socie-
ties.
Detroit's first such society,
known as Bikkur Cholim (Sick
Visiting) Society was organized
as early as 1852 by Jacob Silber-
man, the first president of Tem-
ple Beth El. The first officers
were Charles E. Bresler, • Presi-
dent; Jacob Silberman, Treasur-
er; and Joseph Freedman, Sec-
retary.
• * *
Shaarey Zedek Chebra
On January 7, 1867, the mem-
bers of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek organized a "Hebrah Ka-
discha and Biker Cholym" (Bur-
ial and Sick Visiting) Society.
The charter members were Mor-
ris Mendelsohn, Morris Jacob,
Ephraim Hamburger, Caspar
Cohn, • Moses Nathan, Samuel
Newman, Lewis Barnett, Henry
Friedman and Harry Mittenthal.
The purpose of the society is
stated in the Articles of Incor-
SIMON HEAVENRICH
NEW YORK — Presidents of
the four major Zionist parties
in the United States have issued
a joint call urging their members
to participate in the United
Palestine Appeal's National Con-
ference on Israel, Oct. 22 and 23,
at the Shoreham Hotel, Wash-
ington, D. C., Judge Morris
Rothenberg, UPA acting nation-
al chairman, announced.
In a letter signed by Daniel
Frisch, president, Zionist Organ-
ization of America, Baruch
Zuckerman, president, L a b 61.
Zionist Organization; Mrs. Sam-
uel Halprin, president, Hadas-
sah, and Leon Gellman, presi-
dent, Mizrachi Organization, the
Zionist leaders emphasized that
"Israel is in the midst of a
crisis which can expose the
whole State to the dangers of
unemployment and depression."
They stated that they were writ-
ing jointly "because the issue
and problem confronting us is
common to all Zionists regard-
less of party and demands the
utmost of our energies and tal-
ents."
With Judge Rothenberg pre-
siding, the principal speakers
are scheduled to include: Eliahu
Elath, Israel ambassador to the
United States; General Lucius D.
Clay, former military governor
of the American Zone in Ger-
many; General John H. Hill-
dring, former member of the
U. S. Delegation to the UN; Berl
Locker, chairman, Jewish Ag-
ency Executive, Jerusalem; Hen-
ry Morgenthau, general chair-
man of the $250,000,000 nation-
wide UJA campaign; Nahum
Goldmann, chairman, American
Section, Jewish Agency; and
leaders of Zionist groups.
poration as "assistance and sup-
port of the members of this
society in case of sickness or in-
ability to work, to bury the dead,
and to asist and support the
widows and orphans of deceased Israel Gives $50,000
members of the society."
To UN to Aid Arabs
Another mutual aid society,
LAKE SUCCESS, (JTA)—The
"Chebra Bickor Cholim (Sick
Visiting Society)" was organized Israel government has informed
May 16, 1874, by the following UN Secretary General Trygve Lie
charter members : Isaac Levy, it has .decided to make available
Joseph M. Smith, 'Maier Jacob- supplies to the value of $50,000
son, Simon Garbassky (or Ger- for the relief of Arab refugees.
ber), Jacob Miller, Jacob Davis The contribution is being made
and Maier Stone. The object of to the UN Relief for Palestine
the society is given in the Ar- Refugees.
In his communication, Foreign
ticles of Incorporation as "mu-
tual assistance, charity and re- Minister Moshe Sharett, said:
lief to members during sickness "We regret we are unable to
make a larger contribution for
and distress."
* * *
this purpose . . . we have had to
make special appropriations for
Hebrew Protective Group
A mutual aid society by the the considerable numbers of Ar-
name of "Hebrew Protective As- abs added to the population of
sociation," was organized in 1893. Israel in the past year, including
Some of the founders were Isaac refugees who already have been
Danto, Herman Feinberg, Joseph readmitted."
Greisman, Michael Davis, David
Lehrhaupt, Samuel Hemp e 1, to members of Charity Lodge No.
Samuel Schvaid, D. Kaplan, Her- 14 of the Improved Order Free
man Greisman and Joseph A. Sons of Israel, a rival to Monte-
Samuels.
fiore Lodge, organized in 1876.
The purpose of the association
Michigan Lodge No. 111 of the
was "to unite fraternally accept- Order of Brith Abraham, organ-
able Jewish persons, to provide ized in 1888, had a five-fold pur-
for the relief of distressed mem- pose: aiding members in need,
bers, visitations of the sick, bu- giving medical aid, burying de-
rial . of the dead, and similar ceased members "in accordance
benevolent and worthy purposes with Jewish law and ritual,"
and objects." The association providing for families of deceas-
had a relief fund to assist mem- ed members, and assisting mem-
bers as well as other needy per- bers to become citizens. Detroit
sons.
Lodge No. 386 of the Independ-
* * *.
ent Order Brith Abraham offered
Mutual Aid by Lodges
similar benefits.
The Jewish fraternal lodges in
The five Detroit lodges of the
Detroit prior to 1900 combined Order Kesher Shel Barzel (Mich-
mutual aid with their fraternal igan Lodge No. 1, organized in
features. Pisgah Lodge Bnai 1867; Bethel Lodge, organized in
Brith, Michigan's oldest lodge 1869; Nathan Lodge, organized
founded in 1857, had a sick in 1874, Detroit City Lodge, and
benefit fund for the members King David Lodge) provided for
and their families and a fund "1. Mutual Support of its mem-
for the support of widows and bers or their families in case of
orphans of deceased members.
need, in case of sickness, death
Peninsular Lodge No. 272 of or otherwise. 2. Support of the
Bnai Brith, organized in 1877, widows and orphans of deceased
had similar mutual aid provi- members."
sions.
Detroit Lodge No. 97 and
When Montefiore Lodge No. 12 Aaron Lodge No. 132 of the In-
of the Free Sons of Israel was dependent Order Sons of Ben-
founded in Detroit in 1864 the jamin had similar mutual aid
object of the lodge was "to re- provisions.
lieve the members in case of
In addition to the above mu-
sickness and to aid and assist tual aid societies and lodges, De-
widows and orphans of the troit had at the time of the or-
brethren of the lodge and in ganization of United Jewish
case of decease of a member of Charities in 1899 the Gemiluth
the lodge or any of his family, Chasodim (Hebrew Free Loan)
provided as long as he is entitled Society which was incorporated
thereto by the laws, to give them Dec. 11, 1895, and a House of
decent burial upon the burying Shelter, organized in 1897 under
grounds of the corporation." the name of "Assembly of David
Similar benefits were extended and House of Shelter."
tian A. Herter, Massachusetts
Republican, has knocked the
props from under the Holyland
Emergency Liaison Pr o g r am
(HELP)—the most cleverly con-
trived and dangerous grouping
of Israel's foes yet organized in
this country.
The Boston Congressman, ori-
ginally named H E L P's vice-
chairman, believed HELP's pur-
pose was humanitarian aid to
Arab refugees from Palestine.
But after studying the organiza-
tion's actual objectives and fol-
lowing investigation of the back-
ground of other members of the
executive committee, Herter quit.
He made public a letter of
resignation which defended Is-
rael and branded the "political
objectivies" of HELP as contrary
to the welfare of Israel; that the
purpose of HELP is to aid Arab
diplomacy by keeping the prob-
lem of the Arab refugees alive
as a political Sword of Damocles,
poised over Israel.
Must Be Salved
HELP would help—to wreck
Israel. HELP's stated purpose is
that "first, and above all, the
Arab refugee problem must be
solved and solved now. Our
concern is not with how or why
National Council
Of JDA to Meet
Here, Nov. 11-13
The fourth annual meeting of
the National Council of the Joint
Defense Appeal (JDA) will be
held Nov. 11 to 13 at the Book-
being. They exist . • . HELP in-
tends to focus public attention
on their plight."
In his letter of resignation to
Dr. Henry Sloane Coffin, chair-
man, Herter said he was through
with HELP because "it has long
been a primary concern of mine
that there should be a strong
Israel which can offer a haven
to the countless persecuted Jews
of the world.
"The national council of HELP
is made up largely of persons
who have been against creation
of an independent Israel. My
position in the council has given
the impression that I have
chosen to side against Israel.
Nothing could be- further from
the truth, particularly because
of my conviction that Israel is
already taking constructive steps
to solve the refugee problem."
Advisor to HELP
HELP includes Dr. Bayard
Dodge, former president of the
American University of Beirut
(special advisor to HELP) and
Barclay Acheson of the Readers'
Digest.
Herter was the only member
of Congress to belong. He is
vice-chairman of the Select
Committee on Foreign Aid and
is highly regarded for his views
on foreign problems. HELP's
strategy demanded a respected
Congressional spokesman. Its
aim is to direct U.S. foreign pol-
icy and public opinion toward
the plight of the Arab refugees
and against Israel's reluctance
to accept immediate wholesale
repatriation. HELP is using
these helpless Arab refugees as
a weapon with which to haM-
mer Israel into submission on
other issues. But HELP's strat-
egy backfired when Herter was
moved by true Americanism.
AJC Women's Unit
Holds Political Forum
CHARLES W. MORRIS
Cadillac Hotel, it was announced
by Charles W. Morris of Louis-
ville, JDA council chairman.
The Detroit meeting will re-
view the needs of America Jewry
which are being met by the AJC
and ADL in the light of the
current national and interna-
tional situation, and examine
the item-by-item cost of fight-
ing bigotry through the agencies
of the JDA.
A political forum at which
candidates for Mayor and City
Council will appear, under the
auspices of the Detroit Women's
Division of the American Jewish
Congress will be held at 1:30
p. in. Monday, Oct 31, at Temple
Beth Jericho, 11331 Linwood.
Mrs. Rosalie Kohen, chairman of
the Congress Commission on
Law and Social Action, will pre-
side.
Speakers will discuss the topic
"What Do You Consider the Vital
Issues in Detroit and How Do
You Intend to Cope With
Them?" This is one of many
meetings to be held during
October at which candidates will
present their views. The AJC
is non-political and does not
endorse political candidates or
parties.
Women's Gifts to Israel Acknowledged
Members of the Women's Auxiliary of the Maimonides
Medical Society are gratified by a report from Kupat Holim,
Histadrut medical service in Israel, on how the Auxiliary's
$3,000 gift is being used. The women raised the money last
spring to purchase artificial limbs for .disabled Israel veterans.
Left to right, above, MRS. SIMONS FARBMAN, former Presi-
dent; MRS. IRVIN WEISENTHAL, president, and MRS.
CHARLES GITLIN, fund-raising chairman.
Activities for the current season have already begun, to
lead up to a similar fund-raising luncheon and fashion show,
next spring, with fashioins again to be provided by Saks' Fifth)
Ave.