Paul Zuckerman, Max M. Fisher, Isidore Sobeloff
Call Community to Action for Allied Jewish Drive
Functions of UJA
in Many Countries
By MAX M. FISHER
President, Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit
This is the third time I have been called
upon, as president of the Jewish Welfare Fed-
eration, to address my fellow Jews- at the
Passover season.
Just as Aaron, who was More eloquent,
spoke for Moses, this year I would like to quote
from the fine book ."What It Means to Be a
Jew," by Rabbi CharleS E. Shulman.
Rabbi-Shulman eloquently describes the great
work of the United Jewish Appeal, the largest
beneficiary of funds raised in the Federation's
Allied Jewish Campaign:
"The United. Jewish Appeal *functions in
many countries. It has constantly - been -faced
with the problem of sustaining Jews . who, be-
cause of abnormal conditions, are prevented
frcim living in peace, security and comfort.
"The principle upon which ,the .United Jewish
. Appeal was founded and from which it has
drawn its inspiration throughout the - years is
not new. It was known in ancient Jewish life as
pidyon shivuyim (the redemption of the captive)_
and was considered the highest form of phil-
anthropy. Captivity assumes many forms and
shapes in our modern world. In some backward
lands Jews may be said to be virtual servants of
those • in power. In other areas they may be
economically_ depressed and live in fear of the
future. And in still other countries they may be
the surviving remnants of the Nazi holocaust—
those who, like the characters in the Book of
Job, have escaped- alone to tell the story of the
tragedy that befell their own. There is ' no
precedent in the long history of the Jewish
people for the magnitude of - the sorrow and
misery that the tides of fate heaped upon the
children 'of Israel in the twentieth -century.
Vision and compassion were necessary to cope
with the great problems which they created. The
United Jewish Appeal utilized :these - exalted
human qualities to the full to arouse the more
fortunate Jews in lands of freedom and to set
into motion the great redemption that is still-
going on. Its accomplishment is truly one of
the wonders of the world."
Saving Lives Fively Day
By PAUL ZUCKERMAN
Allied Campaign Is
Self-Help Movement
By ISIDORE SOBELOFF
Chairman, 1961 'Allied Jewish Campaign
Here in Detroit, we are proud that our agencies help make
life more understandable, pleasant, meaningful, hopeful and dig-
nified. Our agencies help alleviate the problems of old age and
delinquency, and help reconcile misunderstandings between
neighbors and within families. Our agencies provide. vocational -
counseling, formal and informal Jewish education for both children
and adults,- camping, recreation, job training, medical care and
care for the aged. •
Sinai Hospital is the agency involved in the saving of life here
in Detroit. Campaign dollars are used every day of the year to
save the lives of Jews overseas. The money you give to the 1961
Allied Jewish Campaign will provide the one hot meal a day that
keeps thousands of Jewish children in North African slums from
starving.
No day ever passes - without Jews leaving lands of oppreSsiOn
for the haven that is Israel. There are still Jews living in Moslem
Countries whose lives are in constant peril. They must be rescued
and brought to Israel.
•
_
There are Jews living in Iron Curtain countries who have
gone from one terror to the next for more than 20 years—some
have. lived every day of their lives in deadly fear.
• It takes tremendous courage for a man to leave his home, no
matter.how perilouS his existance there, for a new life in a strange
land. The Communists have told Earopea-n Jews that those of their
Co-religionists- in Israel who are not murdered by the Arabs are
starving to death.' Jews behind - the Iron Curtain have no direct
knowledge: that this is not 'so: Your contribution to the' Allied
Jewish Campaign rescues these - people and helps resettle them
in Israel. -
Unless enough funds are available to provide economic in-
dependence for a significant 'number of- Israel's 130,000 sub-
marginal. farm settlers, the Communist propaganda that there is
hunger in Israel could become true. We brought these settlers to
Israel, we must see them through. ,
The• magnitude of United Jewish Appeal's achievement in
bringing almost one million immigrants to Israel in the past
dozen years cannot be denied. But settling newcomers down on the
soil. of a new homeland does -not end our obligation; on the
contrary, it establishes -a promise of fulfillment which must be, kept.
In addition to Israel's 315,000, there are another 260,000
Jews -in need thi- oughout the rest of the world.
I am intensely proud of all phases of the great work the
campaign-finances. I urge campaign workers, when they tell con-
tribUtors of our wonderful agenciei here in Detroit, to emphasize
that campaign dollars save lives and rescue Jews every day of
the year.
Executive Vice President,
Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit
As we round out another year of the freedom
that is Symbolized by Passover, we need to
apply the lessons of this experience and remind
ourselves that we no longer are campaigning
for someone else, that we no longer -are- phil-
anthropists . helping -the dependent and ,under-
privileged, but that at long last we are
participating in a great self-help movement.
Our schools, our hospitals, our centers, our
homes for the aged, our entire network of serv-
ices in our home communities are being main-
tained for ourselves and our families. Our
national services are being maintained for our
own -sons in the armed forces, for our common
culture, for our own status as citizens in a land
of equal opportunity. On the world scene we are
engaged in a struggle to remove the handicaps
of economic disability, oppression • and home-
lessness, which are imposed on our fellow-Jevis.
We have. come to feel that this is not a detached,
objective interest on our part, but a subjective
concern, a feeling that our identification with
our brothers is a family matter, that when they
suffer
it is we, too, who are hurt and
that when we help them we help ourselves.
As American Jews we have learned still
another. lesson, the lesson- that warm -identifica-
tion with each other in dealing with the problenis
we face together involVes more than emotional
investment. 'In a land where special - groups, by
the happy combination of tradition and choice,
meet their needs through voluntary association,
sentimental attachment to the Jewish group
must be coupled with material investment com-
mensurate with the graduated ability to partici-
pate..lf the ielative total achievement in our
Campaign is impressive, this is so, not merely
becauk a large proportion of the eligible con-
tributors participate, but rather because the
level of individual giving is substantially high.
We show appreciation of our freedom by
holding dear our free institutions—and by
giving freely to nurture Jewish life and the
causes for which we have banded together to
serve.
Hillel, Beth Israel Center Are Core of Ann Arbor
Community's 'Town and Gown' Approach to Judaism
By HARVEY ZUCKERBERG
Barely of minyan size at the turn of the century, Ann Arbor's Jewish com-
munity has grown to some 400 families.
.
Of these, approximately 250_ are affiliated • with the University of Michigan— -
that is, supported by teaching or research jobs.
* -
•
It is this distinguishable group that presents the problem of "town and gown"
to Bnai Brith's Hillel Foundation and • the Beth Israel Center, the city's only
synagogue. Jewish life revolves around these two main institutions, both, housed -
- in the same -Hill Street building.
They are responsible for serving and supervising_ religious, cultural, educa-
tional, social and philanthropic areasof Jewish expression.
For this reason, according to the Center's Rabbi Julius Weinberg, "we have
to strike a balance to attract all interests and,yet maintain standards . .. to
make consonant the diverse needs of town and gown." .
Major consideration mutt be given - all problems, lest • a
decision alienate any faction of the community when solidarity
is the. desired goal.
Issues vary froth training duration requirements for Bar
Mitzvah at the Center- to planning of the cultural program at
Hillel. Rabbi Weinberg says the level of expectation must be
flexible to be in accord with those who are more traditionally
inclined- and those who aren't.
"University people have the same needs for fulfillment
in Jewish terms as other s people," he says, "but the intellectual
takes a more liberal view of many of the observances." _
- Hiller Director Dr. Herman Jacobs must see that programs
Rabbi Weinberg are upgraded sufficiently to encourage participation by the intel-
lectually oriented university people and yet not be too sophisticated for the average .
"town" member.
Of course, Dr. Jacobs' primary job is to serve the needs of some 3,000 Jewish
students, about 12 per cent of the university's total student population (there were
some 1,800 Jewish students in -1953).
His taski range from trying to help a freshman arrange for kosher meals
to interpreting Judaism to the students and fulfilling the --many demands of
representing the Jewish community as a whole.
Hillel offers classes in the Bible, Hebrew language and literature, kosher
dinners on Wednesdays and Fridays and for the Sunday Supper Club and a
variety of programs sponsored by its many groups.
They include the "Grad Group," the "Faculty Group," "Wednesdays 'at 8:00,"
a lecture-discussion group; special interest groups, which include "Israeli Dance,"
"Choir-Chorus" and "Student Zionist Organization," and "Sabbath at Hillel,"
with outstanding guest , speakers at student-directed services Friday evening
and Saturday morning.
•
A "Special Events" schedule includes Jewish music -concerts, mixers,
. speaking engagements, the Student UJA kick-off brunch, theater parties and
the annual "Hillelzapoppin."
According to Dr: Jacobs, Motivating an interest in Jewish life among the
students and gown citizens of Ann Arbor is desired not only to consolidate
forces for-worship, but to serve a communal purpose as well.
• .
_ "The very fact of being together- helps Jews to feel that they can express
their own Jewish character and personality," he says.
•
_ The opportunities for expression exist through the
operatien of Hillel, the Center and three other major
organizations-Btiai Brith Lodge, a chapter of liadas-
sah and the Jewish Community Center.
Beth Israel Center provides Friday and Saturday
Sabbath serViceS, a nursery, Sunday and Hebrew schools
and a cultural -program which includes a Yiddish read-
ing group. A sisterhood also offers a full slate of activi-
ties. .
Aprroximately 150 families are members of the
Center (doubled since 1952 when the Center became
incorporated with Hillel). The ratio, according to :Rabbi
Weinberg, is 60 per cent gown and 40 per cent town
members. -
The Sunday -School, which began in 1952 with some
5Q students in four grades, now is comprised of 170
students in 11 grades and a staff of 11 teachers. The
religious program provides for confirmation and Bar
Mitzvah and boasts of a junior and adult choir. The
Dr. Jacobs
Beth Israel . Cemetery was founded six years ago.
'Turning back more -than half a century, -the first
record of Jewish community life in Ann Arbor is
when in 1907, memorial services (Yahrzeit) and some
festival services Were intermittently held at the home
of- the late Mr. and. Mrs.. William Lansky.
When, in 1903, their nephew Philip Lansky and
,
0sias Zwerdling came to the city, they found no exist-
ence of any Jewish religiouS institutional activity, though
historically it was known a- small synagogue had been
established in the 1880's on West Washington Street. -
Festival services were conducted in private homes
from 1907 to 1918: Most families, however, made the
trip to Detroit to observe the High Holy Days.
In 1918, the Beth Israel Congregation was founded
with Osias Zwerdling as president; Israel Friedman,
vice president; William Bittker, secretary-treasurer; and
David Friedman, Philip. Lansky and David Mordsky,
trustees.
Was Zwerdling
Of these, three men are alive today to see the
fruition of their aspirations of five decades ago . . . Osias Zwerdling, Israel Fried-
man and Philip Lansky.