P urely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Let Your Hair Down
—
For a Just Decision
Only by means of frank discussion can we liope to arrive at
a just decision in the controversial matter involving the Jewish
Welfare Federation and the Jewish Community Council. At Tues-
day's annual Federation meeting there may be a lot of fireworks.
The die is cast! Let the issue be aired bluntly—as long as the de-
bate is in dignity. Let the spokesmen for both sides pull their
hair down in the interest of a solid and sound community and in
order to arrive at a just decision on the basic issue that divides
the two groups.
Here is the major problem which has been injected into the
discussion involving the two groups: shall Council have the right
to a lump sum allocation without a line-by-line examination by
Federation, unlike its sister agencies included in the Allied Jewish
Campaign?
It has been indicated that if Council is granted such a privi-
leged status, the schools and the camps and the home for aged
and the numerous health and social service agencies may lay
claim to similar privileges, since thier budgets also are studied
line-by-line. •
But Council maintains that it gets financial support from
the community, with Federation serving only as the fund-disburs-
ing agency. This appears to us to be a rather lopsided and un-
just attempt to evade the issue. There isn't a single agency
that does not get its funds from the community, and none could
function without a disburser. •
A real danger exists that other agencies may claim rights to
self-allocation of funds akin to that asked by. the Council in its
proposed amendment—if the amendment is adopted. Then we may
be threatened with anarchy—and that we must avoid.
The Council's proposed amendment threatens a dangerous
wedge into our community structure. Count our vote against it.
The Election and the Democratic Process
There also is the question of the democratic process involved
in selecting members of the Federation board. The Federation by-
laws provide for the nomination of a slate by a nominating com-
mittee—a procedure followed by all movements—with the• addi-
tional proviso that names of candidates may be added to the
ballot by petitioners. This assures equal status to all candidates
Who are listed on the ballot without designation. It is equally as
wrong, therefore, either to charge or to impute trouble making by
those who seek to nominate candidates of their choice or prefer-
ence by petition.
• The truth is that the democratic process has been advanced
in recent years, since groups and individuals have commenced
to add names to Federation ballots by petitions. Federation meet-
ings which in years past drew not more than 100 people now are
attended by more than 500. The contests have stimulated interest.
The Federation has democratized. In truth, the membership on
the Federation board is cross-sectional—with provisions enforced
for representation, officially, by Zionists, Bnai Brith, Jewish War
Veterans, landsmanschaften, the varying campaign sections, the
affiliated community agencies, etc.
We are to meet on fair ground Tuesday evening. May the
democratic idea continue to prosper.
What About the Future: UNITE or Decide on Procedure
Whatever the outcome of Tuesday's meeting, the Council-
Federation feud does not end either by the election of a few
candidates-by-petition or by the adoption or rejection of an
amendment to the Federation by-laws granting special status to
the Council.
Let's be honest about the entire matter. A feud exists and
you can not wave aside an existing troublesome situation in our
midst by silence or blindness. This feud will not be resolved
Until either of two things happens: 1. • In the best interests of
the entire community, Council and Federation MUST MERGE
into a single community structure, on the same basis as the
Jewish Community Federation now functions in Cleveland.
g. If that is impossible, then it 'might be best to separate Council
from Federation and let it become an entirely independent
Movement, securing its own funds in .a drive of its own and
functioning without the necessity of accounting for its actions
to another body which is viewed by an -important group in our
midst as superior. Federation began to sponsor Council with an
allocation of $3,000 a year 14 years ago. Now the yearly mone-
tary support exceeds $78,000. Federation leaders believe that
the Council. is fully provided for and must account for its ex-
penditures, like other Federation alfiliates. Should Council raise
its own fundS for operating- exprases, the need for accounting
will be obviated. And in the ev: . - :nt Council acquires complete
independence, a showdown will be forced much quicker because
the competitive nature of both organizations would be more
obvious, and eventually we shall certainly be blessed with a sin- ,
Ile community organization here.
Is there another way out? Only if a Solomon or a Daniel
come to judgment.
'Charity Preserves Riches as Salt Preserves Food'
From Mishnah - Sanhedrin, Rabbi Louis I. Newman culled this
admonition about life-saving for his "Talmudic Anthology":
"Only one man was created, in order to teach the lesson
that if one destroys a single person, the Scripture imputes it to
him as if he had destroyed the whole population of the world.
And if he saves the life of a single person, the Scripture imputes'
it to him as though he had saved the whole world."
-
This is an ideal time to recall this basic principle in Jewish
ethical teaching. As we enter another period of "fund-raising"
with the magnanimous beginning made by Detroiters at Miami
Beach last Sunday, it is equally timely to refer to another story,
about "The Millionaire's Daughter," from Ketubot, also used by
Dr. -Newman in his Talmudic collection:
"Rabbi Johanan ben Zakketi was once riding out of Jeru-
salem, and saw a woman picking grain left over on the field.
She halted him and said: `Dost thou not recognize me, Rabbi,
I am the daughter of Nakdimon ben Gorion.' The Rabbi pity-
ingly gazed at her, and querried: 'Art thou not the same at
whose marriage I was present, and whose Ketubah was that
of the daughter of a multi-millionaire? What became of thy
riches and of thy father's?'
"She answered: `Dost thou not remember warning us that
charity preserves riches as salt preserves food? . We stinted in
our gifts to the poor, not giving according to our wealth; and
our wealth was lost through many mishaps.'
. "The Rabbi aided her to establish herself in another town.'
Even children will understand that the moral not only is
that our gifts of charity are. needed because nearly all of us are
linlanted in this town and we must therefore preserve it with
dignity and with a maximum measure of protection for the less
fortunate; f also because of the greater stake we have in the
position of
o world Jewry: our good deeds not only may preserve
Our status (riches and worldly possessions) — as salt preserves
food—but may rescue us from indignity that is worse than death.
1-hat a wonderful instrument for good—and for life!—is the Al-
jed. Jewish Campaign. which, bockons ,us to. . action at this time'
Biographical Sketches of the 13 Candidates
For Membership on Federation Governor's Board
Thirteen candidates have been
nominated for the nine vacan-
cies as members-at-large of the
Jewish Welfare Federation Board
of Governors, nine by the nomi-
nating committee of Federation
and four by petition, Samuel H.
Rubiner, president of Federation,
has announced. Elections will
take place at the Federation's
26th annual meeting, to be held
at 8:15 p.m., Tuesday, March 4,
in the Brown Memorial Chapel
of Temple Beth El, 8801 Wood-
ward.
The nine selected by the Fed-
eration nominating committee
include Louis Berry, David J.
Cohen, Morris Garvett, Harvey
H. Goldman, Mrs. Harry L. Jack-
son, Judge Theodore Levin, Max
Osnos, Hyman Safran and Abra-
ham Srere. Judge William Fried-
man was chairman of the nomi-
nating committee, whose mem-
bers were Mrs. Joseph H. Ehrlich,
Sidney M. Shevitz, Rabbi Joshua
S. Sperka and George M. Stutz.
Nominated by petition are
William Cohen, Lawrence
Crohn, Morris Lieberman and
Irving W. Schlussel.
Louis Berry was chairman of
the Allied Jewish Campaign in
1948. He is a Board member of
the Detroit Service Group, Jew-
ish Welfare Federation, Jewish
Hospital Association, North End
Clinic and Resettlement Service.
He has long been active in the
Zionist Organization of Detroit.
At present time he is a member
of the Federation executive com-
mittee, and has been one of its
vice-presidents. For some years
he was chairman of the year-
round real estate and building
council of the Detroit Service
Group.
Presently a member of the
board of Federation, David J.
Cohen is a member of the execu-
tive board of the Jewish Corn-
munity Council, chairman of the
board of Yeshivath Beth Yehu-
dah, and a board member of the
professional division, Detroit
Service Group; Resettlement
Service, Mizrachi of Detroit and
Congregation Bnai_ David.
In the Jewish Welfare Feder-
ation, Morris Garvett is a mem-
ber of its executive committee
and chairman of its education,
budget and planning division.
He is a former vice-president of
the Jewish Community Council
and a member of its executive
and community relations com-
mittee. He is president of the
Jewish Community Center, and
is on the board of Jewish Voca-
tional Service. He is a past
president of Temple Beth El, and
also served as president of
Temple Israel from 1941 to -1944.
He is a board member of Detroit
Round Table of Catholics,
Protestants and Jews, and a past
president of Pisgah Lodge, Bnai
Brith.
Immediate past president of
the Detroit Service Group, Har-
vey H. Goldman is also past
president of Jewish Vocational
Service, past vice-president of
the Jewish Center was one of the
three co-chairmen of the 1950
Allied Jewish Campaign. He is
a . member of the Federation
executive committee, serves on
the Center and Vocational Serv-
ice boards and was a board mem-
ber of the former Jewish Chil-
dren's Home.
The only woman candidate,
Mrs. Harry L. Jackson, was a
founding board member of the
Federation Women's Division
and served as its executive direc-
tor from 1946 to 1951. She was
president of the Detroit Chapter
of Hadassah in 1939 and 1940
and president of its Central
States Region, 1945-47. She is a
former board member of the
Jewish Social Service Bureau
and is a member of the school
board of Temple Israel.
Judge Theodore Levin is presi-
dent of the United Jewish Chari-
ties and of Resettlement Service.
He is a former president of the
Jewish Social Service Bureau
and vice-president of Federation.
He has been a member of the
executive committee of the na-
tional United Service for New
Americans; vice-president, Mich-
igan Commission on Displaced
Persons; vice-chairman, Michi-
gan State Council on. Immigrant
Education, and was a board
member of Congregation Shaa-
rey Zedek.
k
committee of Federation, Max
Osnos is president of the Jewish
Hospital Association, sponsor of
Sinai Hospital. He is honorary
chairman of the mercantile di-
vision of Deroit Service Group
and an associate chairman of
pre-campaign in the 1952 Allied
Jewish Campaign. He is Detroit
chairman of the Israel bond
drive.
Hyman Safran is a member of
the board of the Detroit Service
Group and of the executive com-
mittee of the Community Coun-
cil. He is the newly-elected
chairman of the Detroit Service
Group arts and crafts division;
vice-president of the Jewish War
Veterans Memorial Home Asso-
ciation; treasurer of Congrega-
tion Shaarey Zedek and a mem-
ber of the Jewish Welfare Board-
USO Committee. Safran is
chairman of the finance com-
mittee for the Boy Scout Detroit
Area Council, District 4.
President of Federation from
1941 to 1944, Abraham Srere was
for many years chairman of its
executive committee and now
serves as a member of the com-
mittee. He is chairman of the
Fred M. Butzel Memorial Asso-
ciation and a board member of
the Jewish Community Center,
Jewish Hospital Association and
United Jewish Charities. In 1937,
he was co-chairman of the
Allied Jewish Campaign and this
year is a pre-campaign coun-
selor. He served on the board of
Detroit Chapter of American
Red Cross and the Community
Chest of Metropolitan Detroit
and is a former president of De-
troit Keren Hayesod and Detroit
Zionist. Organization.
William Cohen is a member of
the community relations com-
mittee of the Jewish Community
Council; chairman of the com-
mission on law and social action
of Michigan Council of American
Jewish Congress and a member
of the Congress' national admin-
istrative committee.
A present member of the Fed-
eration Board, Lawrence W.
Crohn is president of the Zionist
Council of Detroit; chairman of
the culture commission of the
Community Council, vice-presi-
dent of the United Hebrew
Schools, editor of the Zionist
Bulletin and a contributing edi-
tor of Reconstructionist, and
former Zionist Organization
president.
Morris Lieberman is chairman
of the personnel committee of
the Community Council and a
member of its executive com-
mittee. He is a leading Zionist--
serving as chairman of the Cen-
tral Committee of the Labor
Zionist movement in Detroit, an
organizer of the League for
Labor Palestine in Detroit;
member of the national execu-
tive committee of the Labor
Zionist Organization of America;
former treaasurer of the Jewish
National Fund Council and
chairman of the Detroit Hista-
drut Campaign. He was a leader
in the American Jewish Congress
here.
Secretary of the Jewish Com-
munity Council, Irving W.
Schlussel is president of the
Jewish National Fund, vice-
president of the Zionist Council
of Detroit and president of the
Mizrachi Organization. He is a
former president of Young Israel
of Detroit.
The Fred M. Butzel Memorial
Award, for distinguished serv-
ice, will be presented for the
second time at the anuual
meeting. Julian H. Kr olik,
chairman of the Federation
executive committee was the
first recipient. •
Brief annual meetings will be
conducted by five Federation
agencies — Fresh Air Society,
Jewish Social Service Bureau,
Jewish Vocational Service. North
End Clinic and Resettlement
Service.
2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, February 29, 1952
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1952, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Communal Issues:
The Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds has
made a surprising move in connection with the Jewish claims
against Germany . It has notified the Conference on Jewish
Material Claims Against GermanK,that it would be premature for
the Conference to act in behalf of the American Jewish welfare
funds in presenting claims on German reparations .... The Coun-
cil:is assembling information on the expenditures by Jewish com-
munities in America—as well as by American Jewish organiza-
tions—in behalf of rescue and belief work arising out of the Nazi
crimes . . . And its tentative estimate indicates that the amount
spent by the national and local American Jewish organizations
may reach about $800,000,000 , This includes expenditures over-
seas and directly for refugee resettlement in the communities in
the United States . . . In view of the fact that the Jewish federa-
tions and welfare funds have a stake as fund-raising agencies for
programs of relief and rescue for the Jewish victims of Nazism,
the CJFWF insists on their having a say on basic -policy before
any talks with Germany are even started ... In this connection,
the Jewish federations and welfare funds throughont the country
are being asked by their Council to express their. opinions on basic
questions with regard to American Jewish claims against Ger-
many .. . The Council takes the attitude that only the welfare
funds and their beneficiary organizations thathave engaged hi.
programs of rescue and rehabilitation-of Nazi victims can properly
make the ultimate decisions On whether or not to_ present claims
to Germany for reimbursement — At present the. Joint Distribu-
tion Committee and the Jewish Labor Committee are the only_ two
organizations with significant expenditures for rescue and relief
purposes participating in the Conference of JewiSh - Material
Claims Against Germany.
Views and Questions:
Basic issues which .the Council of Jewish' Federations and
Welfare Funds is posing include the question whether American
Jews should present claims to . Gerrnany at all . If so, should the
with the. Germans for a
American JeWish organizations
"settlement" of these claims jointly -wit . representatives of JeWs
from other countries? . . If so, which Jewish organizations may
appropriately constitute the instrument to present the claims and
to negotiate the claims? . Is t h e German request that
representatives of Jewry negotiate jointly with Israel the
best method of handling the problem from the point of view
of American Jewry? . . Is it possibly more appropriate that the
claim of American Jewry be handled through' the U. S. Depart-
ment? . . . The CJFWF also believes that before negotiations with
Germany are entered upon in behalf of American Jewry, the mat-
ter of "Germany's ability to pay damageS" should be given serious
consideration . . . It urges an objective analysis by economies
skilled in matters of international finance and informed about
Germany's economic position to help determine answers to this
question .. It expresses the opinion that the results of such a
study would also be basic to the evaluation of Germany's "willing-
ness to pay" as it will be expressed quantitatively . . . It points
out that it is obvious that if the analysis shows that Germany has
only a very limited capacity to make material amends in the form
of money or needed goods, it would put the . prOblem , of Jewish
claims into a different perspective In brief, the CJFWF holds
the view that Germany's supposed capacity to pay in relation to
the overwhelming amount of damages inflicted on Jews through-
out the world by the Nazi terror should -determine the way is
,iWhich-,thei,JAW4h claims are presented.