THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
36—Friday, April 10, 1970
Federation Moving With College Programs
Israel Peace Corps
to Draw Volunteer
Engineers in '71
By A. RABINOVICH
A program which has brought
hundreds of teachers and other
professionals from North America
to Israel for a year's volunteer
service will be expanded next year
to incorporate engineers and tech-
nicians who can contribute to Is-
rael's industrial effort.
Since its launching in 1965 by the
Jewish Agency, the program known
as Sherut La'am (Service to the
Nation) has served as a sort of
Zionist Peace Corps. It has brought
500 volunteer professionals—most
of them young college graduates—
to spend a year working in devel-
opment areas, mostly in the fields
of education and social work. The
addition of volunteer engineers is
a significant broadening of Sherut
Le'am's scope.
The primary result aimed at by
the agency is the eventual change
of the participants' status from
volunteers to immigrants. To date,
25-28 per cent of the volunteers
have decided to remain in the
country, according to agency offi-
cials. Many others, they note, plan
to return after completing their
graduate studies in the U.S.
Sherut La'am, which is largely
financed by UJA contributions,
gives young American and Cana-
dian college graduates an oppor-
tunity of acquainting themselves
with Israel at a level consider.
ably depeer and more meaning.
ful than that of tourists. At the
same time, the volunteers pro-
vide welcome assistance in un-
derprivileged areas.
After completing a three-month
Hebrew course in Upper Nazereth
during the summer, the 93 partici-
pants in this year's program were
assigned to positions in develop-
ment towns from Kiryat Shemona
on the Lebanese border to the
Negev.
The majority are working as
English teachers. A number train-
ed in working with physically han-
dicaped or retarded children haye
found ready outlets for their tal-
ents. About 15 per cent of the vol-
unteers are involved in social
work, and there are ,also nurses,
lab technicians and at least one
psychologist.
Batya Gottlieb, a former volun-
teer who is now head of the Sherut
Learn expects the number of
participants next year to double or
triple. The program was originally
confined to volunteers from North
America but for next year's pro-
gram recruiting will be extended
to South America and Europe.
The absorption capacity for
volunters at this end is also being
expanded, particularly in the in-
dustrial area. Miss Gottlieb said
that both the aviation industry
and the large Tadiran electronics
firm,ho-V. e expressed interest in
Unteer engineers and techni-
cians. They would presumably
be paid the same 275-pound
monthly that volunteers are get-
ting this year.
In addition, those towns which
have utilized Sherut La'am volun-
teers for education and social work
have asked for substantial in-
creases in the numbers sent them
next year. Ashdod, for instance
which requested 10 last year has
put in a request now for 37.
Heschel to Receive
Book Council Award
The Jewish Book Council has an-
nounced that Abraham J. Deschel
will be the recipient of the Frank
and Ethel Cohen Award for a
"Book of Jewish Thought" for his
"Israel: An Echo of Eternity,"
published last year by Farrar,
Straus and Giroux.
Dr. Heschel, who will be pre-
sented with a citation and a stipend
of $500 May 17, is author of nearly
two dozen books, is professor of
Jewish ethics and mysticism at the
Jewish Theodolgical Seminary.
The Mehina group from Detroit's United Hebrew Schools is pic-
tured in seminar at Hebrew University last summer. The prgoram
was funded by the Jewish Community Foundation.
* * *
munity Foundation, a staff mem-
ber for the camping program who
will increase the quality and quan-
tity of Jewish programs for staff
and campers as a demonstration
project.
Career and job counseling for
college youth, as well as summer
job placement, has been a high
priority for the Jewish Vocational
Service and Community Workshop.
Beginning in March, college stu-
dents apply for summer employ-
ment which often makes the differ-
ence whether or not they can re-
turn to school the following fall.
Approximately 700 students apply
each year and about one-third are
placed because of the growing lack
of temporary jobs or inexperience
and lack of skill.
The Jewish Community has been
in touch with Jewish students, par-
ticularly on the Wayne State cam-
pus, to assist them in dealing with
anti-Israel propaganda and to co-
ordinate communitywide programs.
At the General Assembly of the
Council of Jewish Foundations and
Welfare Fund last fall, Max M.
Fisher, said in his address of ac-
ceptance of the council presidency,
that "it is a need to enlist and to
re-enlist our youth in the work of
carrying f or ward the Jewish
story."
"We have grown concerned
Local Oral Surgeon
Lectures in Israel
The voice of college-age youth
conducted for high school stu-
is being heard by the Jewish Wel-
dents, as part of the Hebrew
Dr. Donald Shapiro, who prac-
fare Federation of Detroit and is
language and culture department
tices oral surgery in Huntington
receiving increased attention
of the Center.
Woods, has been appointed
through specially designed pro-
The Midrasha program was de-
visiting clinician in oral surgery
grams, according to a statement signed to stimulate Jewish youth
at Rambam Government Hospi-
issued by Alan E. Schwartz, presi- to consider careers in Jewish
tal in Haifa, and recently spent
dent of Federation.
education or community service
a month at that institution.
Although some youth programs with a full academic curriculum
While overseas, Dr. Shapiro lec-
of Federation and its agencies at the Hebrew University includ-
tured at Hadassah School of
have been in operation for a good ing Hebrew language, Hebrew
Dentistry and at the Royal Den-
many years, increased emphasis literature, Jewish philosophy and
tal College in Copenhagen. A
and updating is taking place to an intimate knowledge of Israel
past president of the Detroit
make the activities more attractive itself.
Academy of Oral Surgery, Dr.
Of the 11 Detroit college students
and meaningful for youth age 18-
Shapiro is assistant professor of
who participated in the summer
25.
oral surgery at the University
These youth programs are being studies in 1969, all are continuing
of Detroit.
that many of our young people
funded directly by Federation Jewish studies at the college
have
rejected
what
they
think
through agencies and through level, either in Detroit or at out-
the older generation stands for,
grants, all made by the Jewish of-town campuses. In addition,
Have An Affair to Remember
and have gone off in search of
Community Foundation of United three are doing student teaching
what they believe to be new
in the elementary grades of Unit-
Jewish Charities, said Schwartz.
values. We must search for the
Beyond this, there are a num- ed Hebrew Schools.
ways and means by which we
And Orchestra
Nearly 100 loans and grants are
ber of services to individuals, as
can close the gap which seems
awarded
each
year
by
the
com-
part of the ongoing agency pro-
to
have grown up between such
KE 4-5980
grams, which are not specifically mittee on Jewish scholarship serv-
young people and ourselves,"
identified as serving college youth. ice under the administration of the
Fisher
said.
Such agehcies as the Bnai Brith Jewish Vocational Service. The
He urged that Jewish communi-
Youth Services Appeal, which approximately $50,000 in funds ties "give (Jewish youth) every
sponsors the Hillel Foundations, comes from 29 funds, including opportunity to participate and to
the
Federation's.
These
awards,
Dropsie College and the Jewish
build tomorrow's community."
Teachers Seminary, are beneficia- which have been made annually
ries of the Allied Jewish Cam- for several years, are for under-
graduate, technical and graduate
paign.
Misst recently, Federation of- studies.
Grants for students doing ad-
ficers met with a group of stu-
PHOTOGRAPHY
vance work toward masters de-
dents from the University of
Weddings & Bar Mitzvas
grees
or doctorates on subjects of
Prestige Color
Michigan in an effort to explore
what religious and c ultur al Jewish interest, head a long list
477 - 6664
activities would reach into the of scholarship opportunities offer-
ed by the Jewish community to
lives Jewish students.
encourage advanced education.
of Michigan
The University
of
Robert Rockaway, a reel
Hillel Foundation has asked the a grant from the F
ation, is
Jewish Community Foundation for completing a dissertation for his
.a grant to finance pilot programs doctorate on "The History of Jews
of cultural enrichment for Jewish of Detroit," which is to be pub-
students. Some years ago, the lished.
FOR YOUR PASSOVER HOLIDAY DINNER !
Foundation financed a scholar-in-
The Jewish Center inaugurated
residence program at the Univer- a special program to involve De-
sity of Michigan Hillel.
troit college-age students in its
In 1969-1970, the Midrasha-Col- activities at the Center. Staff
Strictly Fresh-Killed Poultry (Not Frozen)
lege of Jewish Studies of the Unit- L member Joel Verbin has begun
• Turkeys • Capons • Roasting Chickens
ed Hebrew Schools, received a organization of informal groups of
Federation allocation of $83,000 en- young people who will develop
• DUCKS • GEESE
abling it to serve 59 students in their own programs and carry
Detroit and 100 students at the them out. One of the first efforts
Ann Arbor Beth Midrash pro- was the formation of activity for
gram. The latter program is in the 1970 Allied Jewish Campaign-
WELL TRIMMED BONELESS FELDBRO
co-operation with the Hillel Foun- Israel Emergency Fund. A mailed
CHOICE QUALITY
dation on the Michigan campus.
newsletter helps communication
BEEF BRISKETS
Some three years ago, the health with some 800 students at Mich-
and welfare division, under the igan universities.
chairmanship of Dr. Peter Shifrin,
2 blocks W. of Evergreen
In 1969, 114 college-age coun-
20233 W. 7 MILE
corner Kentfield
named a committee, headed by
selors were hired for the sum-
Mon., Tues., Wed., 8 to 6; Thurs., Fri., Sat., 8 to 9; Sunday, 9 to 6
Ronald L. Greenberg, to make a
mer program of the Fresh Air
FREE PARKING
KE 4-7522
study of Federation's relationship
Society, which supplied the stu-
to the Hillel Foundation programs
dents with funds for fall ex-
in Michigan. An immediate result
penses and at the same time ex-
of the study was the establish-
posed them to the Jewish cul-
Serve your family the finest
ment of the communitywide oper-
tural atmosphere and associa-
ating board at the Wayne State
tion.
University Hillel and the initiation
Plans are under way to provide,
of a college-age program at the with the help of the Jewish Corn-
Jewish Center.
A new committee with a pre-
dominance of young people to Lubavitcher Inviting
study and make recommendations
FOR PASSOVER
for relating Federation to pro- Students for Passover
grams for college youth is now be-
The college and university coun-
cil of the Lubavitcher Organiza-
ing established by Federation.
Heading the committee is David tion of Greater Detroit, is invit-
-
Page, who is also co-chairman of ing interested college students to
the Federation's Young Leader- spend the first and last days of
If
ship Institute, and included on the Passover (April 21-22) and (April
committee are Stanley Frankel, 27-28) with religious, observant
president of the Junior Division, families in the Detroit area.
and Robert Steinberg, chairman
This free service is part of a
of the board of the Wayne State continuing program to promote
University Hillel Foundation.
meaningful observance and Kash-
For a second year the Jewish rut among college students.
Community Foundation is fund-
For reservations and informa-
ing a summer study program in tion, or to offer a home for a stu-
Produced coder strict Rabbin,cat s.perv,s,3^ Cert,..cs:te
reck,ei t
Israel, sponsored by the Mid- dent, write to: College and Univer-
Produced under strict Rabbinical supervision. Certificate, on request.
rasha of the United Hebrew sity Council, 14000 W. Nine Mile,
Schools. A similar program was Oak Park 48237.
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