CJFWF Tackles Major Problems Affecting Jewry
Detroit leadership award winners Alan E. Luckoff and Mrs. Hugh
W. Greenberg were greeted at the general assembly of the Council
of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, in Los Angeles, by Louis
Fox of Baltimore (center), newly elected CJFWF president.
(Continued from Page 1)
William Haber, dean of the
College of Literature, Science
and the Arts at the University
of Michigan, and Max M.
Fisher, general chairman of
the United Jewish Appeal.
Chief of the assembly's
adopted resolutions recom-
mended intensification of pro-
grams to bring immigrants in
Israel to a status of self-sup-
port and to assist in the rapid
absorption of more than 200,-
000 newcomers. It was empha-
sized that vocational, educak
tional, health and welfare
tasks in Israel are vital to the
issue and that every effort
must be made to solve the
emerging problems.
Assembly resolutions, which
emerged from the score of work-
shops that labored throughout
the five-day period of discus-
sions, emphasized the need for
improving the quality and ef-
fectiveness of Jewish education;
reaffirmed the special role and
the contribution of Jewish com-
munal agencies to the Jewish
and general communities; set up
guidelines for assistance to the
government's anti-poverty pro-
gram; urged intensified action to
combat discrimination in em-
ployment, housing, education; is-
sued a strong appeal for the
eradication of anti-Semitism in
Russia; supported Medicare im-
plementation.
The resolution that dealt with
Israel's needs called for the coordi-
nation "here and in Israel, within
and among the institutions" of the
fund-raising and operation of Is-
rael's universities "which are
rapidly proliferating."
In one of the major addresses
of the entire convention, Max M.
Fisher gave a grim picture of Is-
rael's economic conditions, and he
pointed to the failure to absorb 10
per cent of Israelis into the main-
stream of Israel's life and to the
rapid rise in unemployment. To
face the challenges, Fisher pro-
posed the following six-point pro-
gram:
Set 'up a youth care and train-
ing program to cope with the
problem of 21,000 "unoccupied
Excerpts From Dr. William Haber's
Address at CJFWF General Assembly
The nature of the American
economy will inevitably create seri-
ous challenges for the Jewish com-
munity. To begin with, the fantas-
tic increase in demand for trained
personnel in the social service
field , in administration, in plan-
ning, and in the health area,
creates immediately a tremendous
competition for the limited person-
nel now available. It imposes upon
personnel training agencies an
overwhelming task to train both
in quantity and in depth, numbers
far larger than heretofore. The
very expansion of public programs
means that social service workers
and other professional people are
now in larger demand from public
and non-Jewish agencies than has
ever been the case.
Second, one can observe a tre-
mendous expansion in professional
employee interests in unionization.
In fact, we are likely to witness
across the board, in all areas, a
rapid growth of union organization
among white collar and profession-
al personnel generally. Jewish com-
m u n a l organizations employing
teachers, social workers, research
people, administrators, will not be
immune from these pressures.
Third, labor costs are bound to
expand, particularly in the health
area and especially for para-medi-
cal groups.
Finally—and most importantly—
the financial capacity of the Amer-
ican community as a result of the
current, affluence, as well as the
immediate long, long outlook, im-
poses upon all of us, upon every
budget committee and every town
and city, an obligation to re-ex-
amine the allocation of the philan-
thropic dollar as between local
and overseas requirements. The
40 Friday, November 25, 1966
—
crisis in I s r a e 1, the needs in
France, the developing problems
in a dozen other areas, compel us
as Jews—just as it compels the
United States Government as an
affluent society •— to aid interna-
tional communities which need help
more and most. We have in recent
years shown a large sense of re-
sponsibility and a capacity to shore
up weak communities and institu-
tions in a couple of dozen coun-
tries. We have, at the same time,
built a vigorous, secure, and strong
Jewish community in our own free
country. Our own sense of economic
well-being compels us to ask wheth-
er the time has not come for us
to re-examine the degree to which
our philanthropic dollar is proper-
ly allocated as between our needs
at home and the demands overseas.
I think it has not been properly
allocated.
I fully recognize our responsibil-
ity at home in education, in train-
ing, to the youth, to the aged, to
hospitals and to the host of activ-
ities with which we would not be
as healthy and mentally secure a
community as we are. We have
done that. The momentum will as-
sure the continuation of these
programs. We need now, in
my view, to take seriously the
special crisis which is being faced
particularly in education and ab-
sorption in several overseas com-
munities, especially Israel and
France. The task cannot be shirked.
Fortunately our improved economic
condition and the long-run pros-
pects for a growing economy in
which the average family income
will double in the next 15 years,
make such a review and an in-
crease in overseas allocations pos-
sible.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
youth"—the adolescent who can
drift into juvenile delinquency.
Enlarge youth training centers
offering vocational training for
4,000 school dropouts.
Offer high school and univer-
sity scholarships to 2,900 young-
sters from development towns.
Provide a hot meal a day at
school for 50,000 needy develop-
ment town children.
Anti-illiteracy classes for 10,-
000 adults.
Better housing for those 2,000
families—or 10,000 people—living
in the worst substandard hous-
ing.
Adding emphasis to the growing
needs, Fisher urged vast increases
in support for the UJA and stated:
"This year, the UJA should re-
ceive about S65 million from com-
munities in the United States and
Canada—a gain of $2 million
over 1965—and about $5 million
over 1964. Need I say that this ,
represents a wonderful joint
achievement by the communities.
But in 1967—if we can raise a
total of $75 million instead of
865 million then we can get this
program out of the proposed
stage and into operation. That is
a big if. But I think it is pos-
sible. Absorption is the great
challenge for 1967—and for quite
a few years ahead."
Prof. Haber, in his stirring con-
vention banquet address, declared
that the nature of the American
economy will inevitably challenge
the Jewish community and he de-
Clared: "The crisis is Israel, the
needs in France, the development
problems in a dozen other areas
compel us as Jews—just as it com-
pels the U. S., government as an
affluent society—to aid interna-
tional communities which need help
more and most." Reviewing the
current economic trends he said:
"When one looks beyond 1967 in
the near distant future, say 15
years, the outlook approaches an
economic utopia. At an annual
growth rate of 5 per cent, the gross
national product and living stand-
ards would double in 15 years.
"We cannot afford a deflation.
The obligations we have assumed
are far too large. A high level of
economic growth and activity
has become absolutely essential
in order to finance what we have
undertaken to do in social wel-
fare, health and education, as
well as our plans to deal with
the expanding problems of our
urban communities."
The United Nations and the
world's major powers were criti-
cized at a plenary session for fail-
ing to bring peace to the Middle
East. The criticism was voiced by
Irving Kane, chairman of the
CJFWF overseas committee, who
emphasized that "the overriding
problem facing Israel and indeed
the world in this hour is the prob-
lem of peace." He pointed out
that 18 years after the establish-
ment of the State of Israel, the
country still finds itself surrounded
by neighboring states who openly
call for and plan for Israel's de-
struction.
"The determination of the
Arab states to destroy Israel de-
rives encouragement from the
failure of the United Nations and
the world's major powers to de-
mand that peace shall reign in
the Middle East and to take ef-
fective action that will remove
the ever-present threat of war
and bring about a permanent
peace," Kane said.
The delegates were told at an-
other session that successful cam-
paigning can only be a product of
an effective Jewish community and
that an effective Jewish com-
munity can only be the respense
of a sensitivity to human needs,
combined with the relevance of its
institutions. These points were
made by Irving Blum of Baltimore,
chairman of the CJFWF Campaign
Services Committee. Blum em-
phasized that in making American
Jewish institutions relevant to the
present rapidly - changing times,
Jewish communal leaders must be
prepared to engage in a searching • and Irwin Field, now a Los Angeles
reexamination of the major issues resident, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wal-
facing federations and welfare ter L. Field of Detroit, who were
funds. members of the large Detroit dele-
Concern over the unmet needs gation.
in American Jewish education was
Louis Fox of Baltimore was
expressed at the Assembly which
elected CJFWF president. Fisher
adopted a resolution emphasizing was elected vice president. Mor-
that "the strengthening of Jewish ris Glasser of Chicago was elect-
education in quality and effective- ed chairman of the Large City
ness is of the utmost importance Budgeting Conference. The
to the future of our Jewish com- LCBC includes representatives
munities in America." Mandell L.
of the 23 largest Jewish welfare
Berman of Detroit presided over funds in the U.S., including the
the education sessions and di- Jewish Walfare Federation of
rected the discussions related to Detroit. Detroiter George M.
educational programing.
Stutz presided at an LCBC ses-
Mrs. Joseph Cohen, of New Or- sion.
leans, chairman of the CJFWF Per-
There were some 50 delegates
sonnel Services Committee, re- from Detroit and other Michigan
ported that there were some 5,000 communities and Windsor. The
professional workers in Jewish delegation from Windsor consisted
local and national agencies in the of Morton M. Bernholtz, president
United States and Canada. This of the Windsor Jewish Community
figure. she said, does not include Council,
and Mrs. Bernholtz;
the rabbinate and those teaching Henry Shanfield, first vice presi-
in Jewish schools. "Because of dent of the Windsor Council, and
turnover, retirement and natural Mrs. Shanfield; Gerald Freed, sec-
losses. a minimum of 275 new peo- and Windsor Council vice president,
ple are needed every year just to and Mrs. Freed; Mrs. Gerald
maintain the present services," Verk, chairman of the Windsor
Mrs. Cohen declared. "But we are Federation of Jewish Women's Or-
not getting them." To assure that ganizations; and Joseph Eisenberg,
qualified personnel come into the ' executive director of the Windsor
field of Jewish communal services, Jewish Community Council.
Mrs. Cohen made a number of
Detroit leadership award win-
recommendations which included
scholarships, field work placement ners. Alan E. Luckoff and Mrs.
and summer work programs for Hugh W. Greenberg were greeted
training students for Jewish social at the general assembly of the
work. Council of Jewish Federations and
Of special interest at the as- Welfare Funds, in Los Angeles, by
sembly was the impressive partici- Fox.
pation of youth in the discussions
Other Detroit participation was
and the workshops that were set notable. Safran spoke on problems
up for youth leadership. Among related to planned housing for the
the participants in these sessions aged. Jack 0. Lefton also took
were Alan E. Luckoff of Detroit part.
Excerpts From Max Fisher's Address
Israel's tense border situation
has suddenly escalated almost to
the explosion point.
A belligerent Syrian regime
nakedly calls for war and every
day threatens the mobilization of
a great "liberation army".
Israel, failing to receive the sup-
port of the United Nations Security
Council, has taken its own defen-
sive measures. Among other steps,
it has just extended military serv-
ice from 26 months to 30.
Meanwhile, after a dozen years,
Israel's economic boon has ground
to a halt. German reparations
have ended. Construction has
stopped. Labor and management
are both learning the hard way
that they must become more pro-
ductive. And a great national ef-
fort is underway to step up ex-
ports—to make Israel's products
competitive on the world market—
and to close a huge export-import
gap of more than $500 million.
But unemployment is rising —
with 50,000 new unemployed.
One out of every five of a mil-
lion and a quarter immigrants is
considered "unabsorbed" and quite
a few people say that the real
number of "unabsorbed" is much
higher.
You have to see that it means
suffering for old people, depriva-
tion for children, growing juvenile
delinquency, growing frustration
and bitterness for large numbers
of adults . . . and an appalling
waste of Israel's most precious
asset, people !
You also have to see that it
poses a threat of. something no-
u
body wantsthe unthinkable
pos-
sibility of "two Israels"—a privi-
leged Israel made up of Jews from
European and Western countries—
and an underprivileged Israel of
Jews from Morocco, Iraq, and simi-
lar lands.
Additionally, you have to under-
stand—as Israel's leaders under-
stand fully that if you have "two
Israels"—you have no Israel at all!
stopped. Nothing could be further
from the truth. Yes, it has declined
from the high levels of 1961
through 1965. But 20,000 to 25,000
immigrants a year — which Israel
will receive this year — and again
in 1967 — is still a lot of people
to be housed, assisted and ab-
sorbed — and will cost a lot of
money.
In addition next year's immi-
grants will • cost more money per
individual—because each year the
costs of rescue go up.
We can also expect 10,000 Jewish
immigrants going to Western lands,
and they will need our help
through United Hias.
In view of these great problems
— plus the continuing needs of the
Joint Distribution Committee —
we still must care for 400,000 peo-
ple outside of Israel.
Only Israel's citizens can meet
the tragically heavy costs of their
security—and they do meet them—
as taxpayers and as citizen sol-
diers.
Israel spends a higher propor-
tion of its resources on defense
than any other country in the
world.
In view of both the defense sit-
uation and Israel's economic slow-
down Israel's people are not going
to be able to spend more for im.
migration and absorption —
which they are already providing
two dollars for every one of ours.
Only we have the ability to do
more in absorption — and in my
view, it is urgent thta we do more.
In 196'7—if we can raise an ad-
ditional $10,000,000 for UJA — if
we can raise a total of $75,000,000
instead of $65,000,—then, we can
get our program out of the pro-
posal stage and into operation.
That is a big IF!
But I think it is possible, and I
know it is needed.
What we struggle for now is to
open the doors again to the minds
and souls of a great portion of our
people—a portion long locked up
in the ghetto—who only yesterday
stepped out of the darkness—and
who still need our helping hand—
to take their next steps — in the
blinding light of their new free-
Border tension — unemployment
hunger— absorption crisis—and in
the face of all this—the new im-
migrants keep coining.
Somehow the impression has got-
ten around that immigration has dom.