MEW MIMI NEES
Early Detroit Jewish History Is Thoroughly TIE Misr,
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iffe-rs
"Mmagensest
skills
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Compiled in Rockaway's Doctoral Thesis newt tools of bags can be
mosage-
A doctoral thesis by a Detroiter
has enriched the study of the early
history of Detroit Jewry.
Robert Allen Rockaway, who
earned his PhD at the University -
of Michigan early this year and
now is on the staff of the depart-
ment of history at the University
of Texas at El Paso, is the author
of volume "From Americanization
to Jewish Americanism: The Jews
of Detroit, 1850-1914."
Dr. Rockaway is pursuing his
studies for a supplementary vol-
ume to provide historical data on
Detroit Jewry from 1914 to date.
Having worked under a grant he
received from the National Foun-
dation for Jewish Culture and the
Jewish Community Foundation of
Detroit, Prof. Rockaway's study is
marked by a vast amount of re-
search resulting in a valuable com-
pilation that fills an important need
in American Jewish historical
writings. The national trend now
being pursued in the gathering of
material on the emergence of Jew-
ish communal structures thus in-
cludes the addition of the Detroit
story.
Dr. Rockaway, as an historian
and social scientist, conducted
studies that embraced the eco-
nomic and religious aspects, the
identifications in relation to
Christian-Jewish relations, the
philanthropic and the cultural
impacts.
Emphases that were placed upon
Americanization efforts in the
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9 62- 29 34
4
DR. ROBERT A. ROCKAWAY
ble conditions under which the
immigrant lived" caused a meas-
ure of decline during one period
in the history of East European
mass immigration. Dr. Rockaway
comments:
"Criminal behavior . . . was not
rampant, however, and the only
type of illegal conduct that ap-
peared to plague the commimity
was peddling without a license_
On the whole, Detroit's Russian
Jewish immigrants were peaceful
and law-abiding and were regard-
ed as being exemplary citizens by
city officials."
Occupational categories Mown
in the compiled tabular records
add to an understanding of the
early experiences and will as
doubt prove meritorious when
contrasted with the later history
yet to be published.
The organizational structure, ad-
herence to established traditions
such as hakhnosat orkhim and
gemilut hasodim, welcoming tbe
strangers and aiding them
interest-free loans, assumes a role
of dignity that lends great credit
to the story related in this volume.
The synagogue as the focus for
celebrations, the home as a citadel
of strength, are both emphasized
in this excellent account.
The Zionist idea had its adher-
ents and Zionism served as a cause
that influenced the European Jew-
ish immigrants.
In its totality, the Rockaway
story of early Detroit Jewry is a
magnificent work, and both the
Jewish communal and the national
cultural foundations show justi-
fied pride in the Rockaway effort
as being part of a notable Amer-
ican Jewish cultural endeavor.
Dr. Rockaway has become an im-
portant -factor in the Jewish com-
munity of El Paso and its Texan
environs. Under his giudance the
first student Zionist organization
has been formed at UTEP under
the name Tzabar, which means
"fruit of the cactus."
years when large-scale immigra-
tion influenced Jewish accultura-
tion and integration fActrs receive
due consideration in this work.
Extensively annotated, indicating
how the author turned to authori-
tative sources, to the roles of early
Jewish settlers in Detroit, to the
scores of articles that appeared in
Detroit newspapers, the Rockaway
work provides knowledge about
the social trends and the many
changes that had taken place in
the course of the more than six
decades under review. Earlier
studies made by Irving L Katz in
his "Beth El Story" and other
accounts of Detroit Jewish history
are given full credit in this more
complete story yet to written
about this community.
Population changes, from the
time when the German Jews
predominated in influence, are
part of this notable outline. At
the same time the data deals
with the influences of the Ortho-
dox element as they were affect-
ed by the rising ranks in Reform
Judaism. On this score, the tabu-
lated facts add immensely in
gaining an understanding of the
rise of Detroit Jewry to its pres-
ent position.
Amelioration of the status of
European Jews in the eras of mass
persecution is notably recorded,
being pursued in the gathering of
and the roles of Presidents Theo-
dore Roosevelt and Taft are ac-
counted for in relation to the Jew-
Erwin I. Gold, chairman of the
ish community's actions in defense
board of MULTIVEST, INC., has
of Jewish rights.
"Extreme poverty and abomina- announced appointments of MEL-
VYN M. ROM as president; and
OSCAR ZIEMBA, executive vice
president. Other vice presidents
are Wales Martindale, marketing;
K. Jerry Phillips, manpower de-
velopment; Morris Silverman,
underwriting; and Stephen A
Scott, general counsel.
live
a little!
brought to bear aa the problems
of urban America no that the prob-
lems may be ideofth ed and sys-
tematically analyzed."' — William
F. May eo-.=lutirman. National Con-
ference of Christ
' Min and Jews,
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Retail Auto Center
1 of U.S.' Biggest
Henry Goetz, who has spent more
than 22 years in the retail auto-
motive field, is president of the
new Tel-Twelve Dodge, Inc., re-
cently opened on 12 Mile Rd. near
Telegraph in Southfield.
Located on 61/2 acres, Tel-Twelve
Dodge is one of America's large st
retail automotive centers.
Although sale of Dodge cars and
trucks will be the center of opera-
tions, service also will be stressed
for all makes of cars, with a large
body shop and service capacity
for 40 cars.
Another feature, Goetz said.
will be loaner cars available at
all times to those whose ears are
being serviced.
The service department has 20
service men and will be enlarged
to 50.
The sales staff, which includes
Al Steinberg and Irving Warshaw,
is composed of trained representa-
tives.
I don't know of a single foreign
product that enters this country
untaxed except the answer to
prayer.—Mark Twain
New
Orleans
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