MB Convention Moves to Expand

Center Program; Elects C. Aaron

CHARLES AARON

CLEVELAND—The threatened
closing of the National Jewish
Welfare Board's Servicemen's
Club and Center in Heidelberg,
Germany, has been averted, at
least until Dec. 31, 1954, Charles
Aaron. newly-elected president
of JWB, told the final session of
the organization's national con-
vention. The only recreation and
religious center for American
Jewish miltary personnel in the
American zone of Germany, the
JWB club was to have closed
on April 30 because of lack of
funds. It had been operating
continuously by JWB since 1946.
Mr. Aaron explained that the
club would remain open for the
balance of the year even though
it meant that JWB would incur
a deficit of $25,000, which is not
In JWB's present budget. In rat-
ifying action taken by JWB's
executive committee, the con-
vention endorsed Mr. Aaron's
view that "we are sure that
if the American Jewish com-
munities fully understand the
significance of our decision they
will respond to their responsi-
bility, even as we have to ours."
Mr. Aaron, Chicago attorney
and communal leader, who
was elected president of JWB
at the closing business session,
has been actively identified
with the Jewish Community
Centers of Chicago. He suc-
ceeds Irving Edison, St. Louis,
who served since 1950.
Other officers included Mrs.
Samuel R. Glogower, Detroit, as
one of the vice-presidents.
By acclamation, the conven-
tion named Mr. Edison an hon-
orary vice-president. Other hon-
orary vice-presidents are Mrs .
Felix M. Warburg and Rabbi
David de Sola Pool, both of New
York. Frank L. Well is honorary
president.
Newly-elected members of
JWB's board of directors include
Isidore Sobeloff, of Detroit.
Jewish federations and wel-
fare funds throughout the coun-
try and the Greater New York
United Jewish Appeal were call-
ed upon by more than 700 Jew-
ish communal leaders from all
parts of the country "to support
in full the National Jewish Wel-
fare Board's 1954 needs for the
implementation of a program
which is the responsibility of
all American Jewry and in
which the entire Jewish com-
munity has so deep and lasting
a stake." JWB's 1954 budget is
$2,232,155. JWB's biennial con-
vention pledged the community
leaders "to acquaint our indivi-
dual communities and their
leadership with the immediacy
of this program."
Bringing to a close the cele-
bration of the centennial of
the Jewish Community Center
movement, the convention re-
affirmed the "Statement of
Principles of Jewish Center
Purposes" adopted by the 1948
convention, and formulated a
supplementary credo. This
credo described the Center "as
a striking symbol of our Jew-
ish communal unity;" as "a
common meeting place for all
Jewish groups within the com-
munity;" as an agency with "a
central and unique role in the
Jewish community, comple-
menting the good purposes
and necessary services of many
other institutions and organi-
zations in Jewish life;" an in-
stitution to whose program
"Jewish content is fundamen-
tal" and a force which "fur-
thers the democratic way of
life' and which through its
total program "seeks to de-
velop and enrich human per-
sonality."
Taking cognizance of the criti-
cal shortage of trained profes-
sional workers for Jewsh Com-
munity Centers, the convention
called on Centers to support
the nation-wide recruiting cam-
paign launched by JWB's bureau
of personnel and training. They
also urged the Centers to estab-
lish scholarship and fellowship
funds to provide increased op-
portunities for qualified young
people to embark on a program

.

of graduate social work training
for Center work.
Other resolutions ,. called on
Centers, JWB armed services
committees and USO-JWB clubs
to participate actively in the
celebration of the 300th anni-
versary of Jewish settlement in
America, beginning in Septem-
ber; saluted the YWCA on its
forth coming centenial in 1955;
and urged full support for the
forth-coming campaign of the
United Defense Fund.
General Matthew B. Ridgway,
Army chief of staff, paid tribute
to the program and objectives of
JWB and said that JWB's ener-
getic and selfless activities in
behalf of the men and women in
the armed services are a splen-
did contribution to America's
defensive strength. Its work is
needed now more than ever be-
fore."
The Centennial celebration of
the Jewish Community Centers
and YM-YWHAs was climaxed
by three convention events. Dr.
Salo W. Baron, professor of Jew-
ish history, Columbia University,
and president of the American
Jewish Historical Society, traced
the development of the Center
and Y movement and said that
the Center early became "an ex-
tremely effective agency of both
unification and Americanization.
Here Orthodox met Reform Jews
on a friendly basis, East Euro-
peans freely mingled with Ger-
mans and Sephardim, and at
times even employers establish-
ed a temporary truce with 'strik-
ing' laborers.".
The second Centennial event
took the form of a panel discus-
sion on "Problems and Prospects
of American Jewish Life" at the
Oneg Shabbat Saturday after-
noon. Philip M. Klutznick, Park
Forest, Ill., a vice-president of
JWB and president of Bnai
Brith, said that there is a grow-
ing evidence of a "great return"
to spiritual, cultural and reli-
gious values and said that the
Center "will need to make more
real its emphasis on Jewish con-
tent; it will have to re-think
again its relationship to the
synagogue ... The Center move-
ment has within itself the dy-
namics to stay young; it must
have the vision to foresee the
impact of great trends . . A
great and growing Jewish com-
munity, beginning to feel the
indispensability of its culture, its
faith and its spirit will need
the Jewish Community Center
and its program to help solve
the riddles of tomorrow."
Dr. Oscar Handlin, Harvard
University profressor of history
and Pulitzer prize-winning auth-
or of "The Uprooted," said that
while Jews used to be involved
primarily in such areas as im-
migration, welfare, self-defense
and the upbuilding of Israel, re-
ligious endeavors are becoming
the "central concern."
"Nevertheless," he added, ".
American Jews will not alto-
gether leave behind the heritage
of their antecedent in America.
Three hundred years of active
life on this continent have
taught them the values of diver-
sity, voluntarism and liberty in
a free society."

$39,000,000 Sent to Israel
By U. S. in Last Four Months

WASHINGTON, (JTA) —Amer-
lean economic aid to Israel over
the last four months has totaled
$39,000,000, it was reported by
official sources. The funds are
drawn from some $147,000,000 in
appropriations for assistance to
nations in Asia, including Iran
and the Arab states.
None of the Arab states ob-
tained grants under the same
program in the four month
period because they did not have
any proposals for projects merit-
ing such assistance, it was
stated. There are agreements
between the U. S. and the Arab
countries whereby Washington
provides technical help for.
specific project.

Israel Year-Book
Gets High Rating

One of the most powerful es-
says on the subject of "Jewish
Survival," by Israel's former
Prime Minister David Ben-
Gurion, features the 5714 Gov-
ernment Year-Book issued by
the State of Israel. It was print-
ed by the Government Printer
at Hakiryah, Israel.
This volume will be of im-
measurable .help to all who seek
information about all f unction-
ing Israel offices. It includes a
complete list of Knesset mem.7
bers and committees and the
laws passed by the last session.
Ministries and various offices
and their .• duties are outlined
and there are complete reports
on the activities of all depart-
ments. The list of the Justice
Department's court cases will in-
terest the legally-minded and
principal legislation is of gen-
eral value to all students of
government.
As a record of personalities
who make up the government
and of the activities and func-
tions of the various .departments,
this year-book rates high
among government publications.

2 Water Sources Located
In Israel's Galilee Area

TEL AVIV, (JTA)—Two new
water sources of considerable
importance have been found in
Lower Galilee, at Kfar Hittin
and near the Kadouri Agricul-
tural School.
The combined flow of the two
wells is estimated at 300 cubic
meters an hour. Despite the fact
that water was not found until
the wells had been driven about
1,000 feet—the deepest in Israel
—Prof. M. Picard, of Hebrew
University, believes that the
existence of these water pockets
points to extensive water re-
sources in the Galilee.

DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-17

U. S. Businessmen to Study
WASHINGTON, (JTA) —A 22- Israel Investment Plans

Jewish Hero Receives Medal

year-old Jewish GI from Brook-
lyn was awarded an Army Silver
Star for heroism in the Korean
War. Pfc. Robert A. Lerner was
presented with the medal in
ceremonies at Walter Reed Hos-
pital here where he is being fit-
ter' for an artificial leg:
Pfc. Lerner told reporters that
he was glad he had lost a leg
in action rather than an arm.
"I'll need my arms because I
want to be a surgeon," he said.

NEW YORK, (JTA)—A com-
mission of leading American
Jewish businessmen will leave in
a few days to conduct a two-
month survey of opportunities
for private enterprise in Israel,
it was announced by the Pale-
stine Economic Corporation.
The commission, which was
invited by the Israel govern-
ment, comprises Boris Margolin,
Joseph M. Mazer, Albert Schiff,
Ernest Nathan, and _ Robert
Szold, all PEC directors.

TITLE INSURANCE
ANYWHERE
IN MICHIGAN

—.

Through a special arrangement with agencies throughout
the State, the Abstract and Title Guaranty Company is
in a position to issue title insurance on real estate prop-
erties located anywhere in Michigan. This service is avail-
able at the main office or any of the branch offices in
Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties. See us for any
of the following services:

Prepare and extend Abstracts of Titles to Lands
in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb Counties.

Both Owner's and Mortagee's Policies
Anywhere in Michigan

Prepare Reports on Condition of Taxes to Real
Property Located in Wayne, Oakland,
and Macomb Counties

Act as Escrow Agent in all Matters Involving
Real Estate Transactions

Michigan's First Title insurance Company

Abstract and Title Guaranty Company

735 GRISWOLD ST. • WOodward 3-5810
DETROIT 26, MICHIGAN

Friday, April 16, 1954

..• ■■ ••11M.

A HAPPY
PASSOVER

TO YOU AND YOURS

THE PASSOVER SEASON reminds us again of many

things for which we in America can be truly grateful:
our homes and families, and the freedom to enjoy them;
our hopes and ambitions, and the freedom to achieve
them.

The achievements of our forefathers shine like a lamp to
our feet, lighting the road we should travel. May this
season, then, renew the strength we need to travel ous
road, and may it find us all in happiness and peace.

Best Greetings to you all!

Moe Leiter & Associates-1766 Penobscot Building

6741,7,11 =-

IMO OfFICI:INTERLOIINTARIO

* OUR SUCCESS IS BUILT ON A FIRM FOUNDATION
OF SINCERE SERVICE *

1

