Purely Commentary
Sosnovitzer Bendiner Aid Society Disbands;
Israel Technion Gets Group's Remaining Funds
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Tel Aviv's Golden Anniversary
On top of the list of this year's celebrations in Israel is the
50th anniversary of the founding of Tel Aviv, the first all-Jewish
city in modern times. The event is symbolic of the great
achievements of the Jewish settlement in Palestine whose emer-
gence as the State of Israel was the result of pioneering efforts
that had made possible the building of a great metropolis on
the site of a sand dune.
When the first pioneers acquired "lots" within the area of
the sand mounds on the shores of the Mediterranean and de-
cided •to establish a city which they named "Hill of Spring"—
"Tel Aviv"—the Arabs who sold them the sand dunes laughed
up their sleeves. They thought the Jews were crazy. There were
some Jews who were equally skeptical. Who ever heard of the
possibility of sinking a firm foundation for buildings in sand?
But the city prospered. Its beginnings were small, but its
present status is that of a metropolis—it is the Paris of the
Middle East.
It is not the present vast development of this unique city
that is of such great importance, as the beginnings of the hill of
spring. All obstacles were defied by its creators. They did not
fear the heat of the sun, the blinding sands, the apparent lack
of firmness in the - foundations they were sinking. They built
with confidence and with courage, and they saw in their vision
the emergence of the springtime of their lives. It became the
symbol of the springtime of the Jewish people.
It began with a sand dune: now Tel Aviv has a population
in excess of 400,000.
Its builders were laughed at: now East meets West in this
exciting community, and people from 70 nations form its citi-
zenry.
Tel Aviv grew by leaps and bounds. Its population increased
gradually in the first decade, more rapidly in the past decade.
In 1949, it was still a sandy city. A short walk in 1949, on
our first visit there, soon required a shoe shine. But eight years
later we found that the sand had vanished, that Tel Aviv was
a clean and a very modern city that was growing more attractive
with time„
What other city of less than a half million population can
boast 20 daily newspapers and more than 300 periodicals in
11 languages?
Tel Aviv is the miraculous center where a book a day is
Left to right: JULES LEV, president, Detroit Technician Society; LEON KAY, national vice
president, American Technion Society, who is receiving Bonds; JACOB WENNER, treasurer,
Sosnovitzer Bendiner Aid Society; NATE H. SCHERMER, secretary, Detroit Technion; MAX
TENDLER, Sosnovitzer president who is presenting Bonds to Mr. Kay; SOL LIFSITZ, trea-
surer, Detroit Technion; ISADORE SCHOENBERG, secretary, Detroit Technion; HENRY
WEINDLING, member Sosnovitzer executive committee.
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,....................o.....—....,..............0....,—,..........................—....1............ 1
Israel's Institute of Tech-
1
nology in Haifa—known as the
i
Boris Smolar's
Technion—this week was se-
11
N
lected by a disbanding local 1
1
Between You i
i
and Me
organization to receive all of
1
the funds left in its treasury.
1
Sosnovitzer Bendiner Aid
Society officers announced this
(Copyright, 1959
week that the 12 families re-
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
maining as members of the
society, which was organized Mission to Israel
30 years ago to assist relatives
It is a great experience to see the Romanian Jews arriving
...
and friends in the communi- in Israel, disembarking at the Haifa port, and proceeding
ties they originally came from, immediately to a new life . . . And it is still a more impressive
decided to disband the organi- experience to witness the gratitude with which they acknow-
zation.
ledge the warm welcome which they receive upon their dis-
Max Tendler, the last presi- embarkation . . . They are transported from the port directly to
dent of the society, said that houses newly-built for them in settlements which are growing
the organization has felt a and have all the possibilities of developing into prosperous
lack of interest among the agricultural and industrial centers . . . These two-room dwellings
published for Israeli literary consumption. Scores of pamphlets
children of members and the in brand new two-story or three-story buildings are practically
appear there periodically, and pamphleteering once again has
small surviving group did not bare, except for the beds and bedding which the Jewish Agency
become a great art among the people of Israel.
justify the continuation of the is providing for every immigrant family . . • However, most of
This is the city of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; of
organization's existence.
the immigrants consider them a paradise .. . Especially those
the Habimah and the Ohel; of art museums, opera and dance
Henry Weindling, a member who lived in Romanian small towns . . . They never had
troupes; of fine schools, splendid shopping districts; fashionable
electricity in their homes in these townships, but here they click
parks and boulevards. Wherever one turns, the city is bursting of the society's executive com- the switch on the wall and the room is filled with electric
her seams, with new hotels and apartment houses, new theaters mittee and of the committee light . . . They never had running water in their primitively
chosen to decide on disposi-
and a new appearance. -
Jerusalem, of course, remains the major Israeli center and tion of the funds, said that built homes in their native towns, but here they have running
the state's capital. There is no comparison between the historical the unanimous feeling of the hot and cold water all the time . . . Their womenfolk cooked
merits of the two cities, Jerusalem several years ago having members was that the funds all their life on coal and wood; here they find a modern
marked its 3,000th anniversary as the City of David, as the remaining in the treasury kitchen prepared for them with a gas range, with modern
the first
Ir Shalom, the City of Peace. Even the New Jerusalem, the should be turned over to a kitchen utensils, with food enough to last them for
week in their new quarters . • . "Are you an American?"
Yemin Moshe quarter, is now in its 100th year. But Tel Aviv worthy Israeli cause.
is the symbol of the new pioneering era in Israel.
"We could have had a lot a group of new settlers from Romania asked me, when I dis-
Indeed, the growth of Tel Aviv is symbolic of the emergence of fun—dinners, parties and cussed their new surroundings with them in Kiriat Gat .. .
of Israel as the reborn Jewish State. Congratulations to Tel Aviv, celebrations," Weindling ex- When my answer was "yes," they all practically chanted in one
on the city's 50th anniversary, therefore in reality extend to all plained; "but that would not voice: "God bless the Jews in America for all they are doing".
*
*
Israeli centers and to the entire people of- Israel.
have been in the spirit of the
society as it functioned, for
the good of our people, for Intellectual Immigrants
Not all of the Romanian Jews come, of course, from towns
30 years. We therefore decided
to turn the Israel and U.S. where there is no electricity, running water, or gas cooking .. .
Bonds in our possession over to A good many of them come from large cities, like Bucharest,
the Technion in Israel, for a Jassy, and Czernowitz where they lived in modern apartments
. . . This is especially true of the physicians, lawyers, engineers,
special scholarship fund."
The $3,500 Bonds will and other professionals . . • However, I found a good deal of
amount to close to $4,500, with admiration for Israel also among this category of immigrants
the accruing interest, when . .. They realize that there are plenty of professionals in
Israel . . . In fact, engineers are securing positions immedi-
cashed by the Technion.
The presentation of the ately after their disembarkation . . . Physicians, too, are being
Bonds was made at the home gradually absorbed either in Kupat Holim hospitals and clinics,
of Leon Kay, national vice or in other medical institutions . . . The situation may not be
president of the American that easy for the substantial number of lawyers, accountants
and civil servants, because without mastering Hebrew they
Technion Society.
Present at the transfer of cannot hope to continue their professions in Israel . . How-
the funds were officers of ever, this class of immigrants is relieved of their worries by
Technion and the disbanding being offered a five-month intensive course in Hebrew during
landsmanshaft—Mr. Kay, Jules which they live in dormitories . . . All of their needs are being
Lev, Nate H. Schermer and taken care of by the Jewish Agency during this study period.
*
*
*
Sol Lifsitz for Technion; and
Messrs. Tendler and Weind-
ling, Jacob Wenner and Isa- The Qualified Workers
The hard-working village Jews of Romania consider Israel
dore Schoenberg for the Sos-
novitzer. Morris -Grabow also a paradise not only because they get good dwellings, but also
was a member of the Sosno- because they get work immediately . . . Used to hard labor
vitzer fund-assigning commit- in their native land, they have no difficulties in making a
living soon after they are settled, because they work at house
tee.
The Sosnovitzer Bendiner construction, in fields and on tree planting .. . Their work is
Aid Society was organized Feb. useful to the development of the country . . . So is the work
3, 1929. The decision to dis- of another category among the immigrants .. . This category,
band the landsmanshaft was consists of artisans and well qualified workers, like electricians,
made on the organization's mechanics, metal workers and others . . . There is a need for
30th anniversary. During its such workers in Israel since the government is now incliner?i -
existence, the society assisted to concentrate on the industrial rather than on the agricvain' al
relatives and friends overseas, development of the country . . . Because of their ,o4Ualifica-
supported the Allied Jewish dons, they usually succeed in finding the kind of 'fork they
APK**.§#.`
Campaign, Histadrut, City of seek . • . They then leave the houseS which the Jewish
—Photo courtesy Israel Government Tourist Bureau Hope, Mo'os Hitim and scores Agency provided for them and move on their own to the
of other philanthropic causes. places where they found their jobs . . . The Jewish Agency
This Tel Aviv scene is typical of the great
The society's membership was and the Israel government are encouraging the qualified
all-Jewish city. On almost every street in Tel Aviv
active during the 30 years in workers to find work on their own initiative • . However,
there are billboards featuring announcements of cur-
those who do not want to risk leaving their new homes in the
all local undertakings.
\,.
rent theatrical performances, movies, concerts, .dance
recitals and nightclub acts. While most of the an-
nouncements are in Hebrew, English also is in evidence
for the convenience of tourists. The visitor above in
front of the billboard is the actress. Francoise Arnoul.
The University of Michigan
Hospital blood bank provided
10,600 pints of blood for trans-
fusions last year.
settlements, remain there and are given employment in any
kind of work the settlement has to offer, or in public works . .
The problem of providing permanent work for them will, of
course, become more serious as the number of immigrants con-
tinues to grow.