Women's Division to Observe 'G' Day Sunday
cD
2,000 Allied Jewish Campaign' Court Clears
Workers to Solicit 15,000 on Dr. Ohrenstein of
Annual 'Great Day for Giving' Smuggling Charge
Sunday, May 1, is "G" Day—a great day for giving.
It will see more than 15,000 general solicitation contributors
in the Women's Division pledge individual gifts to a force of
approximately 2,000 volunteers—gifts that will bring desperately-
seeded aid to Jewish men.. women and children throughout the
world.
This fifth annual "G" Day will mark a key event for the
Women's Division in the Allied Jewish Campaign.
With a high spirit of increased giving evident at the recent
pre-.campaign brunch and special gifts teas, general solicitation
workers will strive to make the 1955 all-out drive the most suc-
cessful to date.
• With general solicitation anxious to achieve 100 percent
*overage by "G" Day, Mrs. Harold Robinson, chairman, announced
o, change in procedure for this year's all-day effort.
Although Temple Israel will be "G" Day headquarters, workers
received their kits at briefing meetings earlier this week, with the
opportunity of covering their slips prior to the all-out-effort
May 1.
• After making their rounds, workers will return to Temple
Israel for a report rally, returning kits to their captains.
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News
MUNICH—Rabbi Aron Ohren-
stein, a controversial figure in
the Jewish community and in
Bavarian restitution circles, was
cleared by a local German court
Monday of having been involved
in a black market and smug-
gling ring. The prosecutor had
asked a two-year sentence and
a heavy fine.
The case involved a gang
which had smuggled huge quan-
tities of food and other scarce
articles into Germany in 1949
and 1950. The goods were ad-
mitted duty-free because they
were consigned to a non-exist-
ent charity organization.
Several of the 10 defendants
in the case were given suspend-
ed sentences. Other members of
the ring had fled abroad.
Among the accused were Prince
Hans, of Lichtenstein, and Jo-
hann Bouillon, former Bavarian
Secretary of the Respected
Workers Welfare Association.
Dr. Ohrenstein testified that
he had intervened in behalf of
the promoters of the scheme and
had certified lists of alleged re-_
cipients of "food packages" un-
aware that there was anything
wrong with the organization. He
stressed that he had acted in
good faith thro-iighout.
Among the witnesses testify-
ing against Dr. Ohrenstein was
Dr. Julius Spanier, former presi-
dent of the Munich Jewish Com-
munity. After a lengthy contro-
versy in the community lasting
a number of years beginning
with charges levelled against
Dr. Ohrenstein as an alleged ac-
complice in fraud of the late
Philip Auerbach, one-time head
Toting important cargo for "G" Day, the "great day for giv- of the Bavarian Restitution Of-
ing"—are Women's Division General Solicitation Team Chairmen, fice, Dr. Ohrenstein was offici-
(left to right) Mesdames KENNETH GIVEN and WILLIAM, ally removed as Chief Rabbi of
DEUTSCH. In the cartons are workers' kits, which have been dis- 1 Munich by the community six
tributed to volunteers, with names of more than 15,000 general months ago.
However he has refused to
solicitation prospects who will be canvassed by approximately
2.000 volunteers Sunday, "G" Day, for individual gifts to the Allied recognize the legality of the
community's action and main-
Jewish Campaign,
tains that he is still Chief Rab-
bi.
Cargo for Women's 'G' Day
111 echanarama Dinner Thursday
The second Annual Mechana-
irama Dinner will be held next
Thursday, announced Nathan
Kolb and Jack 0. Lefton, chair-
men of the mechanical trades
division in the Allied Jewish
Campaign.
The dinner, originally set for
May 2 ; will be held at 6:30 p.m.
May 5 ; in the Crystal Ballroom
of the Sheraton-Cadillac hotel,
and will have in attendance
representatives of the automo-
tive and allied industries.
Max M. Fisher, pre-campaign
treasurer of the Jewish Welfare
Federation, and a member of
the boards of the Jewish Com-
munity Center and Sinai Hos-
pital; will be chairman for the
evening.
JTA News Bulletins
Appear in New Format
NEW YORK, (JTA)—Bulletins
issued by the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency in New York will appear
next week in a new format de-
signed to make for easier read-
ing- and handling, Louis P. Rock-
, er, president of the JTA an-
I nounced.
Temple Beth El Honors The Jewish News
The Jewish News has been honored by
Temple Beth El, with a Resolution of Appre-
ciation, the text of which will be found on
the first page of this issue. At the presenta-
tion were, from left to right: Rabbi MINARD
KLEIN, Dr. RICHARD C. HERTZ, PHILIP
SLOMOVITZ, who accepted the resolution in
behalf of The Jewish News; LEONARD N.
SIN/IONS, president, and IRVING I. KATZ,
executive secretary. In his presentation,
Dr.
Hertz stated that community cooperation
is a "two-way street" and that "Temple Beth
El, along with all member synagogues of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations, is
aware of the services rendered to our com-
munities by the English-Jewish press and de-
sires to show this appreciation." He expressed
the hope that every member of every congre-
gation in America will become a reader of his
community Jewish newspaper. The proposal
for recognition of the English-Jewish press
was made at the biennial convention of UAH 0
in Los Angeles.
Detroit Jewry's History
By IRVING I. KATZ
Editor's Note: This Chronology continues "The History of
the Jews of Detroit." It is another American Jewish Tercen-
tenary feature and is based on Mr. Kate's forthcoming book,,
to be published by Wayne University Press.
1871—Congregation Bnai Israel legally incorporated. Still in .
existence.
1872—Phoenix Social Club organized.
1873—Temple Beth El participated in the founding of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
1874—Chebrah Bickur Cholim (Sick Visiting Society) or-
ganized. Nathan Lodge of Order Kesher Shel Barzel organized.
Two other lodges of this order, Detroit City Lodge and King
David Lodge, were formed in later years.
1875—Temple Beth El participated in the founding of the
Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.
Congregation Bnai Jacob (now defunct) legally incorporated
(this was not the Bnai Jacob Congregation now located on Lin-
wood and Richton).
1876—Charity Lodge No. 14 of Improved Order Free Sons of
Israel organized.
Rabbi Leopold Wintner of Temple Beth El preached at the
Church of Our Father (Universalist); first Detroit rabbi to occupy
the pulpit of a Christian Church.
1877—Peninsular Lodge No. 272 of Independent Order Bnai
Brith organized. Lodge existed about 20 years when it merged
with Pisgah Lodge.
1878—Shaarey Zedek Synagogue on Congress and St. Antoine
completed, first Jewish House of Worship built by Detroit Jews,
Library of Temple Beth El established, first Jewish congrega-
tional library in Michigan.
1879—Congregation Beth Jacob (now defunct) legally incor-
porated.
Beth El Hebrew Relief Society was represented by Martin
Butzel at organization meeting of Detroit Association of Chari-
ties, city's first federated philanthropic agency which officially
began its work April 22, 1880.
1880—Detroit numbered 665 Jews in a population of 116,340,
1882—Members of Temple Beth El organized Hebrew Ladies'
Sewing Society to assist Jewish refugees from Russia. -
Well-cooked and well-served dinner (not kosher) could be
obtained in Detroit for thirty cents. Included soup, beef, and
fish, three kinds of vegetables, bread and butter, pie, pudding,
coffee.
1883—Museum of Art founded. Edward Kanter and Emil S.
Heineman among founders. Detroit Lodge No. 55, Knights of
Pythias, organized. Still in existence.
1884—Temple Beth El and several Detroit Lodges' celebrated
the Centennial Birthday of Sir Moses Montefiore.
1885—Detroit Lodge No. 97 of Independent Order Sons of
Benjamin organized. Aaron Lodge No. 132 of the same Order
organized in later years. Rabbi Louis Grossman, a graduate of
the Hebrew Union College, assumed the spiritual leadership of
Temple Beth El, first American-trained rabbi to come to Detroit
1886—Rabbi Grossman organized Beth El Alumni Associa-
tion (now Young People's Society), first Jewish Youth organiza-
tion in Detroit.
1888—Michigan Lodge No. 111 of Order Brith Abraham or-
ganized.
1889—The Central Conference of American Rabbis organized
at Temple Beth El at Eleventh Council of Union of American
Hebrew Congregations.
Rabbi Aaron M. Ashinsky came to Detroit as• spiritual leader
of Congregations Shaarey Zedek, Bnai Israel and Beth Jacob.
He was Detroit's first modern orthodox rabbi. He studied for two
years at Detroit School of Medicine, now Wayne University School
of Medicine.
Members of Beth El organized Self-Help Circle to assist
Jewish refugees from RuSsia.
1890—Detroit numbered 1200 Jews in a population of 205,876.
1891—Rabbi Louis Grossman organized Jewish Woman's Club
of Temple Beth El, later Jewish Woman's Club of Detroit. In
1925 the Club became affiliated with National Council of Jewish
Women and assumed the name of Detroit Section of National
Council of Jewish Women.
Members of Shaarey Zedek formed Jewish Relief Society.
Beth El Hebrew Relief Society formed City-Wide Committee and
appealed to Jews of Detroit and Michigan to assist Jewish farmers
of Palestine Colony at Bad Axe, Michigan.
1892—Congregation Beth David (now Bnai David), organized
by Russian Jews, legally incorporated. Congregation Beth Abra-
ham, organized by Austrian and Galician Jews, legally incor-
porated.
Exhibition of products of Palestine Colony in Bad Axe held
at Beth El, first exhibition of farm products raised by Jews held
in United States.
1893—Hebrew Peddler's Protective Association formed.
1895—Hebrew Free Loan Association (originally Gemiluth
Chassodim Society) formed.
1896—Rabbi Louis Grossman won fight to eliminate Bible
readings in Detroit Public schools. "
1897—House of Shelter (originally Assembly of David and
House of Shelter) formed. Talmud Torah Institute, later the well-
known Division Street Talmud Torah, opened.
Rabbi Judah L. Levin came to Detroit as spiritual leader of
Congregations Shaarey Zedek, Bnai Israel and Beth Jacob. Pre-
sent Yeshivath Beth Yehudah named after him.
1898—A number of Detroit Jews served in Spanish-American
War.
David W. Simons appointed member of Detroit Lighting Com-
mission.
1899—Rabbi Leo M. Franklin came to Beth El and began his
I long and fruitful ministry in Detroit. Served as active Rabbi until
1941 and as Rabbi Emeritus until his death in 1948. Rabbi Frank-
! lin merged Beth El Hebrew Relief Society, Jewish Relief Society,
I Hebrew Ladies' Sewing Society, and Self-Help Circle into United
Jewish Charities on November 7. Standard Club fbrmed.
1899—History of Jews of Detroit placed in sealed box and
deposited December 31 along with other historical material of
Detroit, in Archives of City of Detroit, to be opened on last day of
Twentieth Century.
1
.
Friday, April 29, 1955
28
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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS