Federation Pledge: 'To Keep the Covenant With Jewry
A New Year's Greeting by ALAN E SCHWARTZ
President, lew,sh Weifore Fede•ohco of Detr,, , t
is traditional at this time of Rosh Ilashana to
our accomplishments of the past year, to review
our commitments to our fellow man, and to rededicate
ourselves to renewed effort during the New Year.
It
assess
As the year 5732 ends, fresh in our minds is our
resi,nse to the crisis faced by the Jewish community of
Wilkes Barre following the flood which demolished and
damaged many of its Jewish
institutions. The United Jew-
ish charities and the Jewish
Welfare Federation were able
to help in the funding for the
restoration and rebuilding of
those Jewish institutions, and
for the maintenance of com -
munal services so essential.
especiall•. in time of
We note w Ih gratification
dud we could help the Penn-
-v Rama community cut of En-
low merit Funds without detri-
ment 14/ any' of oar our Fed-
%Ian Schwartz
eration programming and
meats, which had been allocated for following
the unprecedented success of the 1972 Allied Jewish Cain-
Israel Emergency Fund.
the foundation of that history is a commitment to respon-
sibility and sound planning by dedicated lay leaders and
professionals experienced in communal service. Our com-
munity continues its progress with our Jewish tradition of
hope in the future and the rededication, each year at
Rosh Hashana, to these commitments.
We pledge ourselves to continue to keep the covenant
the coming year,
made with Jews around the world. In
give high priority
Federation programming will continue to
of
our
people
in Israel in
security
to the absorption and
to our plans
this, her 25th anniversary year, Intrinsic
continually growing needs
will be our awareness of the
of our senior citizens as life expectancy lengthens. Addi-
care
facilities
are
needed, and there is a
tional chronic
for programniing for the well
larger demand as well
t7 , 1111(grailt faintly
Federation agencies, helped a Russian
life, and
learn a sea' language, adjust to a new way of
begin to support Itself.
Our commitments overseas saw some 70.000 Jews
immigrate to Israel this year. nearly half of them Rus-
sians realizing for themselves. with our help, a most
Ur probable dream.
In Israel seven major universities flourish, thousands
of secondary scho-'l students continue their education.
thousands mare underprivileged children receive pre-
school training. All these programs are helped by fund-
ing from Federation.
These !uglily visible signposts of progress are possible
our organ.
only because of the family of services within
our ties .
?zed Jewish community. Less noticeable than
of
buildings and headlines are the daily accomplishments
in our
case ?corkers at our agencies. the professionals
elderly.
Our families turn to Federation agencies for help in
this clay of a churning and changing society. Educational
needs are expanding, and as population shifts occur,
capital requirements change.
It is a huge task which faces us in this New Year„
this continuing responsibility for our fellow man. But it
is ore which we face willingly, knowing that our experi-
ence and current progress allows us the confidence to
meet the needs of those in crisis, to maintain our suppor-
tive programs, and to continue to enrich the quality of
medical facilities. the co•tnselors at our camps. the gross
workers at our Center, the teachers in our schools. Their
for ?nth-
efforts bring the small personal achievements
riduals and families span sdueli communal progress is
hosed.
The organized community itself is the foundation of
these endeavors. Our history extends bail: beyond the
first Detroit efforts at organization near the turn of the
century to the home countries of our parents where the
traditio,i of caring for all Jew s in need prevailed. Upon
Jewish life.
rjlInut
I
se:iv new facilities of several Federation agen-
•- ideted 'heir first year of operation. giving greater
-crc Re
the high rice for e/drra
f riend y surround Nos for
.1. - g , tnition of l'rentis Manor tit Southfield
.0, Home for Aged to care for 104) people
tv o .
lt•e zndependently. as a partsd replace-
r alfc
and
•
,
the P.task, ,i but1,11,g
'I he new headquarters on Woodw and Ave.. a larger
inore suitable budding, allows the Jewish Vocational
ery
ice and Community Workshop to perform more et-
,
its work of rehabilitation for the handicaped
l,-'
.‘rnolil Frank sheltered workshop while it main-
's it. vocational guidance and employment services.
11,.e I ' , her Pavilion at Sinai Hospital, with its ac-
e,- Litton , f,iF i5i; patients and its modern surgical
espanded medical care to the community.
nevi, from Sinai Nc a, the outstanding and much
I.,1 advance in heart surzery techniques .
Israel's NN omen's _trios Corp and the Pill
home. She is sent to a hos-
Forces does not distribute ceptives) receives the pre-
tel or to be a foster fam-
pills to women soldiers. scripition through the usual
ily until the completion of
When an "accident - occurs, channels.
her pregnancy.
In every case of "trouble."
the Israel defense forces
Every single case, at some
usually gives the girl involved the soldier is directed to the
a discharge in accordance Women's Army Corps Wel- stage of its handling, reaches
with the general staff regula- fare officer. Every case is the desk of Col. Tomer. A
tion banning pregnant women examined. The family-ethnic- girl who completed her mili-
from serving in the army. financial background is in- tary service eight months
So far—the offical reply. vestigated and everything is ago joined the conversation
In a private conversation done to solve the problem and informed me and Col.
with Col. Tomer, during a without resorting to an offic- Tomer that several such
cases had occurred in her
tour in Copenhagen, I discov- ial order.
Although no figures
army unit. In most instances,
ered that much more is done
were given, it was made
Apparently, however, Col. than the IDE is ready to
the problem was solved with-
clear that the order is
Tomer, on a private visit to admit officially.
out complications, and only
rarely implemented; it is
Scandinavia. could not avoid
once did the IDE resort to
Girl soldiers receive sexual
usually enforced only when
cfnversations and questions information with a demon-
an official discharge.
a doctor forbids an abor-
on the subject of "the pill." station of ways to prevent
tion on medical grounds:
In reply to sub questions. pregnancy. A girl soldier who
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Even then, the soldier (if
Vol. Tomer gave some strong requests a medical certificate
B-2—Friday, Sept. 8, 1972
she so wishes) is not sent
answers - the I-rael Defense fir the pill or other contra-
ZAHAVI
By
JERUSALEM—Col. Dvora,
Turner. head of the Israel's
women's army corps,who is
currently immersed in the
public debate surrounding
the recruitment or exemp-
ition of religious girls from
military service• is naturally
reluctant to discuss publicly
a subject likely to serve as
an argument against drafting
Israeli girls for the army.
BEST
WISHES
for a
HAPPY
11
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NEW
YEAR
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