Purely Commentary
Purposeless Overlapping:
The aftermath of the annual Federation meeting
is 'cloaked in an unhappy mood. It was. understood
at the outset that a triumph for either side would
not solve the problem, that it would not relieve the
existing tensions, that it would not end the feud. A
mere vote on an amendment is not sufficient to
establish genuine cooperation. All the preachments
in the world will not create harmony as long as we
speak—to quote the five concluding words of the
defeated- Council-sponsored amendment — of "these
two central community bodies." If we perpetuate
two central bodies, we will remain in danger of con-
stantly ,speaking of 'we and they and of postponing
the day when there will be genuine amity and peace
in our midst.
It is purposeless to refer back to the defeated,
amendment. At this point we are obligated to our
own self-respect to settle down to the business ahead
of us. The community is agreed on a program of
action through the Allied Jewish Campaign, and we
must carry it through to success. We can not afford
to squabble endlessly, to carry. on petty disputes, and
to be gathering brickbats for use in public debates.
The annual Federation meeting was valuable as a
town hall for the discussion of our problems. It was
saddening to the degree that tactless errors were
committed by spokesmen who stepped out of their
roles to compare giving and working—matters which
were extraneous to the issue at the time—and in
arousing bitterness and personality issues.
For An Undivided House:
Even some of our most level-headed men went
haywire in their reactions to the Council-Federation
controversy. In the feverish heat of debates over
assumed Federation hegemony and Council claims,
it is natural that people should take sides, that pre-
judices should be absorbed in the course of discus-
sions. Unfortunately, the main issue remains clouded,
to the exclusion of the possibility of molding Detroit
Jewry into a more perfect union. Rabbi M. J. Wohl-
gelernter alone, of all the discussants at the Federa-
tion meeting. pointed to the need for study of exist-
ing problems in the year ahead with a view of
merging Council with Federation into a single com-
munity organization. Otherwise we seem to be acting
in the spirit of the words that were attached to the
Council amendment: to continue to function as
these two central . community bodies. We believe that
it is necessary to eliminate this condition, that we
must unify our community, that we should abandon
divisiveness-.and introduce genuine—not lip service—
harmony. *;
Ninety years ago there were two national capitals
in this country. Their existence was the result of a
civil war.the battle of brothers ensued to end such
a state of affairs because a house divided can not
stand. We are today engaged in a virtual civil war
in our community. We are divided. We do not have
one community organization,' but claim's to the 'exist-
ence of two central communal bodies. This can not
go on in wholesome fashion. We propose, therefore,
that all our efforts should be exerted towards unify!-
Approaches to Our Community Planning
Sotomovitz
Conflicting Issues:
•
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Many conflicting elements enter into the con-
troversy. The Council's defense of its budgetary re-
quirements does not necessarily fall into a single un-
disputed category. There undoubtedly are arguments
for and against some of its claims. Federation, too,
can be and is wrong in some of its contentions. Let us
examine two of the matters issue: the community
o policemen who have
calendar and the fellowshi
uman relations work-
been sent on scholarships
shops.
It is our firm belief that the fellowships are
justified, that the policemen selected to study at uni-
versity workshops return here with healthy view-
points on important racial issues and that the Fed-
eration should not have objected to that item in
the Council's budget. The Council was organized
for the specific purpose of advancing human rela-
tions. of improving Christian-Jewish neighborliness.
The fellowships for policemen represent a whole-
some approach to community needs in spite of the
point that has been made that Jews alone — not
Catholics and Protestants — sponsor such programs.
We differ, however, on the question of publishing
bulky and expensive community calendars which ob-
viously are intended to list as many organizations as
possible—for the sake of satisfying organizational
vanity of mentioning names. The calendars to which
the Federation takes exception often list meetings
of half a dozen or less people that are of interest
only to the handful involved. There is no community
value to such listings which, it is claimed by those
objecting to such an expense, involve a cost of several
thousand dollars a year. The preparation of such a
calendar calls for the gathering of facts by an office
staff, it requires mimeographing, it necessitates city-
wide mailings. While Council denies that the ex-
pense approaches the $5,000 mark, there is no doubt
that economies can be effected through a proper
community calendar that takes in the major functions
in our midst and is not angled towards soothing
van ities.
By the same token, however, if the Council's cal-
endar is unnecessary, why should it be necessary
for other agencies to resort to similar expensive
vanities? Why is it necessary for an agency like the
Home for Aged to publish its own calendar of events,
its distinctive holiday bulletins. its own journal?
Perhaps, on this score, other costs should be consider-
ed—the excessive printing of agency bulletins and
other unnecessary material.
There is nothing new in this protest. We have
indicated on numerous occasions that many national
movements go overboard in miblishing expensive
Members of the, special gifts board of the Junior Division
bring up to date the 'invitation list for their opening dinner. Pic-
tured are, stnnding, left to right, IRWIN T. HOLTZMAN, AVERN
'COHN, ARTHUR J. RUBINER; seated: Mrs. IRWIN T. HOLTZ-
'MAN, ALMA FOX and NATHAN PETERMAN.
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S
•
More than 500 young adults members working in the cam-
will receive invitations this week paign. Mildred Fox, assisted by
to attend the opening dinner of Penny Isaacs, is in charge of ar-
the Junior Division for the 1952 rangements for the party_ Sec-
Allied Jewish Campaign set for tion chairmen serving as hosts
6:30 p.m.; Sunday, March 30, at and hostesses include Alvin
the Belcrest Hotel, Avern Cohn, Eichler, Eleanore Goodman,
Junior Division chairman of spe- Henry Lonnerstater, Dora Man-
cial gifts, announced this week. delbaum, Samuel Ross, Bernice
Members of the special gifts Alper, Rayetta Harris, Ann Ma-
board in charge of dinner ar- gid, Willie Shanfield, Lil Bartlett,
rangements include Mrs. Irwin Myrle Farber, Jody Ornstein,
Holtzman, Ruth Kahn, Mrs. Mary Saltzman and Eve Zaret-
Graham Landau and Mrs. Mar- sky.
vin Rollins.
Other Special Gifts Board members are Bnai Brith Organizes
Irwin Holtzman, counselor, Herbert Aron-
son. Stanley Caplan, Peter Copeland. New Lodge in Oakland County
A new lodge 'of Bnai Brith has
been organized in the South
Oakland County area, as the
Jewish community there is wit-
nessing rapid growth. An organ-
izational meeting held Thursday
made plans for obtaining a
A Junior Division cocktail charter from the national office,
party will be held at 8 p.m., Sun- and elected temporary officers.
day at the Detroit-Leland Hotel,
for all - captains, section chair- 2 THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, March 14, 1952
men and • special gifts , board
—
By Philip
ing the community, in order that it may have one
democratically-functioning organization which should
act and speak for Detroit Jewry.
Let us examine the issue, in order that misunder-
standings should be avoided. Let us come to an un-
derstanding of basic differences. Let us admit that
there is no monopoly on righteousness, just as there
is no monopoly on wisdom or on claims of priority
in aspirations to guarantee the survival of Jewish
values.
Junior Campaign Workers Send
Invitations to Opening Dinner Meeting
William Ellmann, Bartley Feinberg,
Norman Feinberg. Alma Fox, Marvin
Frenkel, Mrs. Marvin Frenkel, Jack
Fromm, Hugh Greenberg, Ronald Green-
berg, Richard Kahn, Marilyn Hopei, Gra-
, ham Landau, Mrs. Ronald Kottler, Max
,a' Lapides, Charles Levin, Seymour Lichter,
,ro , • Nathan Peterman, Dorothy Prentis, Rich-
ard Prince, Marvin Rollins, Ronald Roth-
stein, Arthur James Rubiner, Edward
/ Schreiber, Jared Schubiner, Alfred She-
,vin and Gerald Sklar.
The Need for Practical and Rational
Campaign Sendoff
Kasle to Leave
On Israel Trip
Leaders in the Allied Jewish
Plus Campaign will gather at a
bruncheon at 10:30 a.m.. Sunday.
at the Davison Jewish Center
for a combined progress report
and sendoff for Abe Kasle, cam-
paign chairman.
On the eve of his departure
for Israel—his first visit in a
lifetime of work for Zionism-
Kasle delivered a local message
concluding the first 1952 United
Jewish Appeal broadcast, and
urged plus support for the 1952
Allied Jewish Campaign. whose
major beneficiary is the _UJA.
''Detroit is about to embark
on the 1952 Allied Jewish Cam-
paign—a plus campaign to help
meet Israel's needs and at the
same -time to provide for 50
other great Jewish causes local-
ly, nationally and overseas,"
Kasle said.
"This year's campaign is a
plus campaign - in many ways,"
he added. "For -the first time
Sinai Hospital, soon to be com-
pleted on Outer Drive, will be
included in our primary philan-
thropic driVe. Our contributions
this year must be plus contribu-
tions, in order-- for , our local
health and welfare community
relations agenclet -)6- -maintain
the same level or service in the
face of rising costs, and, they
mu-4- be plus if we are to expand
our local recreational or cultural
facilities into new areas.
"Let us all join together for
plus giving and plus working in
the 1952 Allied Jewish Plus Cam-
pa.ign," he concluded.
Chairmen in pre-campaign
and the trades and professions
will hear a report from Kasle on
the spirit of the recent UJA
meeting in Miami, where gifts
approximating $876,000 from De-
troiters launched contributions
for causes here at home, as well
as overseas and in Israel.
• •
brochures. There is no excuse for UJA issuing per
iodicals for men and for women; or for the bon
organization's campaign material not only for men's
and women's divisions but- also for different parties;
or for certain groups to sponsor not only national
but also "district" propaganda material. There are
numerous fields in which economies can be effected,
That can be done only through examination of the
needs of all agencies—including Federation itself:
But there is the danger of becoming petty in these
matters and all such items should be treated dis-
passionately by responsible committees.
Under One Roof:
There are scores of issues that enter into the
question of community unity and the need for bud-
geting and for effecting economies. In the years
to come we shall undoubtedly be faced with the
question of consolidating our schools, many of which
are so alike that they could function under one
roof — obviating the need for conflicting systems and
building programs—but which are today carrying on
their own programs because differing parties are in-
volved. Let us, for the moment, deal with one other
opportunity for economy: the housing of all com-
munity agencies under one roof, in a building that
stands open for all who are associated with Federa-
tion. We refer to the Butzel Memorial Building in
which them undoubtedly is ample room for the Con
cil offices. But Council apparently refuses to live u
der one roof with. Federation. Therefore Council p:
the extra rent in a private building. Is this justi
We pose the question in the hope that an
eventually will come forth in the best inten
community unity.
The Federation has been democratized i
markable fashion in recent years. Its 28,500 co: -
tors have equal rights in balloting for their pr-
choices for membership on the bol.- rd of go
and any 25 contributors to the Allied Jewish
paign who have mace payments on their p
have a right to nominate a candidate of their c
The Federation has gone a long way in embrac
every important Jewish cause—including educatio.
Israel. health. recreation and rehabilitation. There
fore Federation meets Council on equal ground ix
many of its claims. It should not be so difficult to
merge all objectives into a single community organ-
ization.
The solution to the existing problem. as we see
it, lies in - the merging of conflicting bodies and in
the creation of a single community organization.
Drop the term Welfare from the name of the Jewish
Welfare Federation and remove the term Council from
Jewish Community Council, form a unified Jewish
Community Federation, and you have a chance for
amity among neighbors and fellow-citizens. In such
an organization, if we follow Cleveland's pattern, we
can have popular elections, a democratically-function-
ing Delegate Assembly that will have a voice in the
conduct of community business—not unlike the exist-
ing Council Delegates Assembly—and unity that will
make it possible for our house to stand undivided.
The alternative is chaos.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1952, Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Reparations Talks:
The money spent by American Jewish communities and or-
ganizations on aid to victims of the Nazi regime will not be in-
cluded in the claim which will be presented to Germany by the
Conference on Jewish Material claims Against Germany ... When
the talks with Germany start March 17 in Brussels, the Confer-
ence representatives will present a bill primarily for heirless and
private Jewish property ... The Council of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds conferred with the praesidium of the Conference
regarding the nature of the claims and decided to support the
Conference . • . Both agreed not to include in the claims the cost
to the American Jewish community of rehabilitating victims of
the Nazis . . . The negotiations in Brussels are expected to last
between four and six weeks . . . Moses A. Leavitt, JDC executive
vice-chairman, will be the executive head of the Conference staff,
and will remain in Brussels during the entire period of the nego-
tiations .. Members of the praesidium also will be in Brussels,
but not all of them will remain for the duration of the talks .. .
Jewish organizations from Britain and France, which are not rep-
resented on the praesidium of the Conference will have observers
in Brussels who will be kept informed on details of the talks by
praesidium members . . . The Conference staff will include
number of excellent legal and economic experts who have • • •
working for some time on the preparation of documents essentlai
to the presentation ofthe Jewish bill to Germany ... The nego
tions between the Conference and germany will be conduc •
independently of the negotiations which will simultaneously
place in Brussels between Israel and Germany . . There is g
reason to believe that Germany will not do much bargaining dh
Israel's bill for a billion dollars ... And it seems that Germany
may be prepared . to provide Israel with 25,000 pre-fabricated
houses as part of her reparations payment . • . This is what Israel
'needs most urgently, now . .. Israel also will get from Germany
ships and machinery for electric stations.
Jerusalem Talks:
The problem of the status of the Jewish Agency is about
be finally solved ... The Jewish Agency executive now meeting •
plenary session in Jerusalem is putting the finishing touches to • •
agreement on this subject to be concluded with the Israel gover •
ment .. The details of this agreement, which form the basis f.
legislation by the Israel parliament, have not yet been release.
►
for publication . . . But its general lines are, according to Je •
Agency sources, fairly clear ... The agreement will recognize t
World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency as an offic •
body charged with the duty of ensuring the participation of th -
Jewish people in the upbuilding of Israel . . . This will not affect
the work of the other Jewish bodies engaged in assisting in the
development of the Jewish State ... But the agreement will give
an official status to the Zionist Organization to enable it to carry'
out its vital tasks through the Jewish Agency . . . After agree-
ment is reached between the Jewish Agency and the Israel gov-
ernment on general lines, the Israel parliament will be asked to
pass appropriate legislation .