7 ,,,wwwwww _._,Iwow 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.