Factual Data: Clambake versus Mo'os Hitirn

Immaolm■law•Vo,

Status of Less Affluent in Detroit Jewish Community
Revealed in JFCS, Passover Relief Fund Experiences

(Continued from Page One)

in Southfield. Commenting upon
the study that was conducted by
Mrs. Wolfe for the American Jew-
igh Committee and her gathered
facts which were published in The
Jewish News on June 25, Lerner
said:

"I cannot make any state-
ments indicating whether the
exact percentages of Jewish poor
that Mrs. Wolfe unearthed in her
studies are applicable to the
Jews in the Detroit area. How-
ever, we have evidence over the
years that there have been sig-
nificant numbers of Jewish poor
in Detroit. I would be surprised
if her statement that '15.3 per
cent of Jewish households had
income under $3,000 a year' were
not applicable to the Detroit
area, and if one were to add, as
she did, the 'near poor', (those
earning under $4,500 a year) the
numbers and percentages would
be much higher."

Applying to his views the experi-

ence gained in screening those
who applied for admission to Fed-
eration Apartments, and review-
ing other related facts in dealing
with the less affluent, including
knowledge gained from the distri-
bution of Passover relief through
Mo'os Hitim, Lerner made these
analyses:
"The names submitted to Mo'os
Hitim for `Passover relief' were
compiled through the various wom-
en's volunteer groups, public agen-
cies (Wayne County Department
of Social Services and Oakland
County Department of Social Serv-
ices), as well as cases submitted
by JFCS and Resettlement Serv-
ice. These names are apt to be
from the 'poverty level' individuals
and families that are known to
these various organizations and
agencies. I am sure that it is not
totally representative of the poor
since many people living at pov-
erty levels would never think of
personally applying, or having
their names submitted for 'Pass-
over relief.' Such individuals often

Display Starts Next Wednesday

have too much pride and do not and there may be many other rea- through a grant to be provided by
the Jewish Community Founda-
accept what they consider to be sons.
tion.
`charity.' I think this has been
"Our agency (Jewish Family
revealed very noticeably in our and Children's Service) was in-
In his view of the duties that
recent contacts with the aged who volved in the process of screen- devolve upon Jewish families he
need better housing.
adds:
ing applicants for Federation
"More than 1,100 people had
Apartments and I personally
"It is really a matter of what
formally applied for Federation have reviewed almost all of the
standards one is using when
Apartments by filling out applica-
cases that were interviewed. We
judging poverty or near-poverty.
tion forms. However, initially the
had interviewed between 400 and
We must recognize that the
Jewish Welfare Federation had re- 500 families. The bulk of the
squeeze is tremendous on the
ceived somewhere between 2,000 individuals appeared to have in-
so-called middle-income group
to 2,500 applications for Federa- comes from $1,500 to $4,500;
of Jewish families at the $8,006
tion Apartments. Many, obviously, and the couples, from $2,000 to
$15,000 range and even those
did not formally apply because $5,000, with a few above or be-
in slightly higher brackets. You
they might not have been eligible
low these ranges. I would not
know all the factors that are in-
in terms of income requirements. like to project, on the basis of
volved in special expenses for
But no one can be exactly sure these figures, any estimates as
Jewish families, i.e., Jewish edu-
of the reasons why individuals did
to the total number of people
cation, participation in various
not apply, and it would be wrong who live at a poverty or near-
educational and cultural activ-
to conclude that most of those who poverty level, but it is obvious-
ities, greater. emphasis on medi-
did not submit applications failed ly a substantial figure, based
cal care, special food costs,
to do so because their income was
solely on those who applied for
sending children to colleges, in-
higher than permitted in a federal Federation Apartments.
creased cost of housing and ren-
housing project. Many did not
"I think part of the problem is tals in the suburbs, etc."
want to move into an "efficiency'
or a one-bedroom apartment. Oth- the definition of terms. How does
The facts presented by Mr. Ler-
ers did not like the requirement one define poverty? There is no ner appear to confirm not the
concerning payment for a meal— doubt that the bulk of aged Jews stories one reads in society col-
65 years and over are living on umns about clambakes and flashy
modest incomes — whether they parties at country clubs, but the
are exactly on a level defined as existence of a less affluent ele-
`poverty' is not really the issue. ment represented by Mo'os Hitim
Most are living on Social Security. and other services rendered by
Sometimes they have some sav- our social service agencies.
ings, which are gradually dwindl-
An AP report from Mexico City
ing; others receive some financial released
last week pointed out
support from married children.
that "70 per cent of the world's
"Many of these people do not 50,000,000 human deaths each year
without charge through Oct. 3,
have causes related to hunger,
want to 'come to the children'
during regular museum hours:
according to a study presented at
for help and very often they re-
9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
the 14th World Veterinary Con-
fuse
help
because
of
their
fierce
through Sunday. The free film
desire to be independent. Others , gress by Mexican, Indian and U.S.
schedule will be available at Wood-
researchers."
do not want to go on public as-
ward and Farnsworth information
sistance
because
they
still
feel,
Thus, when one reads abit
desks.
Coincident with the Art Institute incorrectly to be sure, that it is the Israeli impoverished derrAn-
a stigma to receive public aid.
strafing for better housing and in-
exhibition, there also will be a
showing of Shalom's latest works Some aged have not wanted to creased government aid, it is nec-
move from the Dexter area even
essary to stop and think about:
at the Lester Arwin Galleries,
where they will be for sale through when a subsidy was offered to similar conditions—fortunately on
them to supplement their rental a vastly smaller scale — among
the dealer.
costs, because they wanted to Jews in this country--and,..in.-tlie
be independent and live on their ranks of Detroit Jewry:
own meager incomes.
We had deplored for gilinegars
"We can see that when fam- what we thought was nbt:::_a-IftillY
ilies of four are living at approxi- representative contributing 'foree'.
mately $10,000 income, they may in our philanthropic'ractivities.:, It
not be technically living at a pov- was our belief' 14:4;
. 1- of
erty level, if one uses the 'low' population figuPeS*-,:- :thAt'r-there'
budget as a standard. However, should have beer1;00e-tak thousand
when one uses the U.S. Bureau of more contribUtOrSc-lo" the 'Allied
Labor Statistics 'moderate' or 'in- Jewish Campaigns. - The revela-
termediate' standard; and when tions in Mr. Lerner-'s and Mr.
Pe )
iPt 21N
one adds this to the fact that only Dorn's statements, based on Jew-
one-third of our clients could pay ish Family and Children's Service
fees; you can see that many peo- and Mo'os Hitim experiences, prove
ple who are not technically at the that we had misjudged. The Allied
poverty level are having a tough Jewish Campaign enrollment of
time of it, whether or not they some 26,000 contributors is a
are formally classified as 'poor much more representative partic-
Jews'."
ipating force than we had believed.
Indeed, the affluent Jew is not
Mr. Lerner states that "exact
facts are hard to come by." He the "norm," and a well functioning
has advocated that a community community like ours is better
study of Jewish poor in the De- equipped to handle relief situations
troit area should be undertaken, so long as its social workers ar''
and he expresses the hope that heads of agencies are proper,
such a project will be undertaken informed about existing conditions.
by the Jewish Welfare Federation
—P. S.

Works of Shalom, Bible-Inspired Primitive
Artist, to Be Exhibited at Art Institute

Fledgling Israel has produced
an artist who only began painting
at the age of 64. He is Shalom of
Safed, a tiny village in the hills
of Galilee.
Now, 13 years from the time
most persons retire, his works
hang in the Museum of Modern
Art in New York City and the
National Museum of Modern Art
in Paris, and the Detroit Institute
of Arts will commence an exhibi-
tion of his paintings Wednesday.

elephant. Asked why, the artist
explained, "To save space, Noah
took a pregnant elephant."

Reluctant pack animals in the
Exodus roll their eyes and rear
back at the perils of the jour-
ney. For Jonah, an inquisitive
audience of fish jut their heads
above water to watch the spec-
tacle of w.h a I e swallowing
prophet.

The "Shalom of Safed" exhibi-
tion will be open to the public

Inspired by subjects close to
his heart—events in Jewish his-
tory as narrated in the Torah—
Shalom Moskovitz, as he is le-
gally named, works in tem-
pera, acrylics and lithographs.
The 77-year-old patriarch pre-
sents animated, intimate Bibli-
cal scenes in a colorful primi-
tive manner.

With the Art Institute's display
in the ground floor galleries, a
30-minute color film also will be
screened frequently. "The Inno-
cent Eye of a Man of Galilee"
explores the scope and detail of
Shalom's work as well as the
sources of his inspiration, includ-
ing comparison of Shalom's work
to ancient and medieval art.
"Without training,, Shalom paints
his subjects with the eye and in-
stincts of a • true primitive. His
precise drawing : and- bold, harmo-
nious colors-are very.much alive,"
- commented museum director Wil-
lis F.. Woods. "Shalom of Safed
manageS to do the almost impos-
sible—he. expresses traditional re-
ligiobs themes iri - a contemporary
way thatis -genuine and -unforced."

4

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Jewish Anti-Poverty Group Demands
Investigation of N.Y. Block-Busting

Untouched by international at-
tention, Shalom continues to
paint as quietly as - he pursued
earlier' . careers as watchmaker
and tOymaker.

Shalorn ingeniously divides space
into compartments . where scenes
are enacted by familiar characters
—Moses, David, Saul, Daniel,
Noah et al—who appear and re-
appear as needed.
"I tell the story of the Bible in
line and color" says Shalom. But
a third element is the wit and
originality of his interpretation.
In Noah's Ark all the animals ap-
pear in pairs, except for a single

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
48—Friday, September 3, 1971

Shalom interprets traditional religious themes in a
contemporary way that is genuine and unforced. Typical of
his work is "The Exodus," shown here, with space divided
into compartments where scenes are enacted by characters
that appear and reappear as needed. The exhibition is open
to the public without charge from Sept. 8 through Oct. 3.
A free color film on Shalom's work will be shown during the
exhibition.

NEW YORK (JTA)—John Lo-
menzo, New York Secretary of
State, has been asked by the As-
sociation of Jewish Anti-Poverty
Workers to investigate what it
charges are moves by the New
York City Welfare Department al-
legedly to pave the way for block-
busting in Jewish neighborhoods.
Elly Rosen, association execu-
tive director, told the JTA that he
wrote to Lomenzo urging him to
create legislation prohibiting "in-
sensitive city officials from de-
stroying our neighborhoods."
The AJAPW charged on Aug. 18
that the Welfare Department has

leased homes in the heart of Jew-
ish sections "and dumped multiple
fatherless families into these
houses," thereby "causing panic
in the community and opening a
wedge for the onerous block-bust-
ers." The group made the same
charge on Friday when it met with -
Jules Sugarman, head of the
Human Resources Administration
and Commissioner of Social Serv-
ices. According to Rosen, Sugar-
man indicated that he had no other
alternative: these families needed
homes and the city would have to
place them wherever it could find
available housing.

