Should Jewish Community Be Doing More?
Some Care, but Most Unaware, of Poor in Our Midst
crisis basis. To- area, the Jewish Community heads the Center senior adult
promoting the service in pre- Lydia Sanders, chairman of short-term
day,
greatly
expanded, the Council has been active. program, estimates that 60
dominantly Jewish areas—in the council: "JFCS has come
service
helps
maintain the taking part in the Leadership Persons a week use the bus
(In their climb upward into kosher butcher shops, in the to us in the past for home
households
of
single parents Conference for Welfare Re .. service.
furnishings
that
they
weren't
the middle class, most Jews Jewish Center, through The
who
must
work,
and older form and the Denominational
budgeted
for.
You'd
be
A bus also takes Federa
are unaware that there is a Jewish News.
amazed how many appli- persons who are ill. The Caucus of Metropolitan De- tion Apartments residents
sizeable minority—some say
But those able to reach ances we've furnished to homemakers are trained to troit Welfare Reform Coali- shopping each week, and a
8- to 10,000—in Detroit who kosher butcher shops and to
give both homemaking sere- lion. It also is active in the "person-to-person" commit-
families.
have not been climbing along
ate in Center activi-
ice and therapy. The vast Michigan Emergency Com- tee has been instituted at the
with them. Last week, The partici')
"But besides the necessi-
ties are not the isolated and
Jewish News attempted to lonely poor that Helpline was ties, we try to provide emer- majority of clients are at the mittee Against the Housing 10 Mile Center whereby the
poverty or near-poverty Cut-Off.
elderly can keep an eye out
identify some of those poor
gency aid that the agencies level. Those who cannot pay
Other
communal
agencies
for
each other. The residents
and near-poor. Today, we meant to reach,
can't handle. And we try to for the aid pay nothing.
* * *
have played a role in al- of Federation Apartments
look at what the community
The Women's Orthodox put a little frosting on the
has been doing for them and
For 30 years, JFCS was leviating the problems of are probably the best-served
tries to handle cases cake. ADC doesn't feel a
com-
what it has yet to accom- League
that arise within the Ortho- telephone is a necessity in the only agency in the city low -income Jews . The Jewis h group of elderly in the com-
Vocational
Service
has
be-
munity.
But
that
only
serves
plish.)
to offer such a program. But
d
dox community when a fam- a home; we do."
When Jews move on to new ily's pride prevents them
There was the new suit for its value was realized by gun servicing a group of to accentuate the needs
majority of elderly 1),
neighborhoods, their institu- from going to a Jewish a Bar Mitzva boy whose public agencies, and today elderly residents of Federa- the
there is a City Homemaker tion Apartments. Fourteen do not live there.
tions follow. The pattern of agency for help.
mother could not afford to Service on a self-supporting
persons, most in their 70s,
movement is reflected in the
The local groups affiliated
- buy it herself. There was the
Mrs.
Joseph
Moseson,
co
It does not aid those work up to four days a week with the National Conference
synagogue shells left behind.
chairman with Mrs. Ephraim bicycle for a bright young a on public assistance, a con- at the Community Workshop. of Jewish Women's Organiz-
tdt from
it student
What becomes of the ob-
of the league's gem- university
suite different from that They are transported to and ations sent out a question-
Spiro h esed committee, said large refugee family. Coop- cent
servant Jew who will not iluth
fro by a special minibus.
naire to all Jewish organiza-
ride on the Sabbath, much that the group cares for chit- erative Council assisted that of JFCS. which gets two-
dren whose mothers are hos- family for many years, and from
thirds
of its (The
total remaining
income Kalman Tillem, a JVS tons in which the latter were
less the High Holy Days?
UCS.
A minyan has been meet- pitalized — either for prep- helped put the eldest son third is from the Allied Jew- counselor who directs the asked to relate the needs of
ish Campaign and counseling program for the aged, said their members.
ing for services in the rear nancy or for illness. On a through college.
Pioneer Women and Miz-
he would like to see the pro-
And there was the finan- fees.)
of a cleaning shop near temporary basis, the women
gram
expanded
to
accommo-
rachi
Women, both of which
send in a complete dinner cial boost to a young widower
Schaefer and Seven Mile.
completed date more aged on limited have sizeable memberships
In 1971, JFCS comp
to a family without a home- who chose to go on ADC and and
A couple in Blackstone maker and no funds to hire remain at home rather than an closed 507 counseling income who live within the of older women, indicated
of them families. community.
s,
Manor, who have been ar- one.
the greatest number of re
let his four children grow up cases,
Recognizing that many multi-
ranging services for the eld-
quests for aid. But it was not
without
parental
guidance.
But
JVS
helps
the
young
In one instance, they ar-
erly on Rosh Hashana and
so much financial problems
Once the youngsters were problem families are finan-
Yom Kippur, fear that the ranged for groceries to be over the "difficult years," cially troubled as well, the as well. Many financially as the need for legal aid,
agency reduced its counsel- strapped students have been help in completing tax forms
outward movement of Jews brought to those who couldn't he returned to work.
ing fees and in many cases assisted through college with and small services that were
from the Eight Mile-Schaefer shop for themselves.
interest-free loans arranged
Not often, but occasionally, charges nothing.
area will make it more diffi-
In another case, the aid of there is the chronic, multi-
through the JVS scholarship listed.
cult to draw a minyan next
Lillian Maltzer, local con-
con-
Lerner points to these program. These loans, which
fall. A few men walk the Beth Jacob girls' school was problem family: Cooperative
services
when
he
encounters
enlisted.
The
young
women
supplement
other
sources
of
venor
of
the
study
project,
Council has provided aid to
mile to Cong. Bnai Israel on
question, "What is the income, have gone to young said that her committee now
Hubbell, but it is an impossi- made a house completely, the father, then the children, the
Jewish community doing for people from large or one- is discussing preparation of
bility for most, particularly kosher for Passover so that then the grandchildren.
the poor?" Within the limits parent families with meager a booklet listing resources
in winter. And the majority a mother returning from the
,
Referrals
come
from
rabbis
Within the community. Thus,
of Jewish residents are hospital would have her mind JFCS and Oakland County set by public assistance funds. Applicants for aid get
regulations,
the
agency
is
counseling
on
other
sources
groups
looking for projects
at
ease.
widows — not counted in a
Family and Children's Serv- doing just about all that it of scholarship help, as well, to sponsor can be matched
minvan, according to Jewish
Individual members of the ice, as well as other sources. can, he says.
Tillem can recall many a up with what are seen as
tradition.
league contribute financial A family may be getting
doctor who owes his educa- unmet needs. Another com-
There has been talk within tion
There are those who try aid where necessary, on oc- counseling help from JFCS
tion to JVS and the small mittee is working on a sur-
to help. Temple Israel, a casion sending children to and financial help from both the agency of giving cash funds it coordinates.
vey of UCS agencies whose
Reform congregation, per- Orthodox - sponsored camps. public assistance and Coop- grants to a number of poor
services can be utilized by
Both the Jewish Center low-income Jews.
families to meet such specific
miffed a Conservative minyan Mrs. Moseson stressed, how- erative Council.
* -r.
needs as the purchase of and Fresh Air Society, which
to meet daily in its chapel ever, that their purpose is
According to the precept kosher food. "But is the Jew- operates Camp Tamarack, Often, then, it is not just
when Adas Shalom moved to render aid of a moral,
to the suburbs. The pur- rather than financial, nature. of tzedaka, the council em- ish community ready to give have generous, unpublicized, lack of money but the un-
chaser of the Young Israel
(Another service that arose phasizes anonymity to pre- the $2- to $300,000 it would policies toward families who availability of services and
of Northwest building on out of Jewish tradition, that serve the dignity of the aid require to cover a $30-a- can't afford recreational out- the feeling of isolation that
month supplement to 200 lets for their children. So
Wyoming told the worshipers of providing a decent burial men
recipient.
Casework
chair-
from each
member
or-
they could continue holding for the poorest Jew, is con- - ganization meet each month families on public assist- does the United Hebrew plague the poor, the near-
and by."
those who are "just
services there, at least for tinued through Hebrew Ben to coordinate efforts on both ance? Theoretically, the state Schools. The sliding scale poor
getting
assistance agencies should slides down to zero in some
the time being.
Dr. Eva Kahana, who did
evolent Society.
a long-term and emergency supplement the observant. cases.
a study of the aged in Oak
But isolation is not the
(Organized in 1916 by a basis. In some cases, where We (JFCS) probably would
Federation
Apart-
Park on a federal grant,
preserve of Jews living in group who solicited funds to a family is being assisted b yif the problem arose, but t we
bury a penniless man, He- several member organiza- don't get that kind of re- ments was erected by the stressed the problem of mo-
Detroit,
Jewish Welfare Federation, bility. "I don't know how
brew Benevolent (Chesed tions, one group is assigned
Favea Dombey coordinates shel Emes) turns down no to handle all arrangements. quest." said Lerner.
its stated purpose was to many times I've seen the
the services of 30 volunteers one. "We tell a family the
Direct financial grants provide a haven for the in- elderly hitchhiking a ride
Where there is chance of
in a program that grew out cost of arrangements," said the aid recipient being eli- raise another problem, he dependent elderly who could from the stores in Oak Park.
of a "Helnline" phone oiler- Rabbi Israel Rockove, direc- gible for public assistance added. j Supplementary aid not afford to live in high-rent There's no reason why this
ation, under the auspices of for , "and if it's too much to
or Social Security, he is so could j eopardize whatever apartments. Special consid- community can't provide
the Jewish Family and Chil- pay, we handle it according informed.
the .recipient is getting in eration was given to those transportation to t h e s e
dren's Service.
public assistance and could living in the Dexter area, people.
to their financial ability. We
* * *
"And," she added, "how
She said the largest num- don't investigate, because
It is, after all, the public force the always delicate although not all who were about outreach programs, in-
ber of requests — and they that's the Jewish way, not agencies that will continue issue faced by Jewish agen- accepted were low-income.
cies: If they are themselves
average about 40 assign- to embarrass anyone.")
to provide the bulk of finan-
Many hundreds applied for stead of waiting for the
Cooperative Council of the cial assistance to low-income receiving public funds, how the relatively few units avail- needy to come to the agency?
ments a week—are for trans-
portation service. Just as League of Jewish Women's Jews, both through direct far can they go in dispensing able in that first building. There are ways of makir.v
aid available in a gem
many of these calls — for Organizations has, in 38 aid and by means of appro- aid to a special, ethnic ' Many still wait.
way to a group of peop-
minority?
rides to doctors' appoint- years, helped many hundreds priations to Jewish agencies,
To some, the community without embarrassing the in-
Still., a few Jewish agen-
ments, to the Jewish Center of needy aged and families. such as JFCS.
cies in other cities, whose had met its responsibility to dividual.
or shopping — come from One of its affiliates, Infants
the aged with that structure "I realize that the Detroit
The Jewish Family and
state legislatures may have
financially distressed widows Service Group, furnishes Child
ren 's Service could not differing views, provide sup- on Mile
10 Rd
M. in Oak Park. community may face dif-
living in Oak Park as from layettes, diaper service, baby
di
in better plementary assistance to But the th commimity's respon- ferent problems than do the
food
and
other
services
for
begin
to
relocate
Northwest Detroit.
housing
those
who it require
that service
were
not for needy Jews. "If the public sibility could not end there. communities in Philadelphia
A much smaller number, the care of infants whose
agencies would allow a small Not only did the board of and St. Louis and other cities.
reflecting the declining popu- parents cannot handle the
subsidy, I would favor it,,, Federation Apartments feel But people in different com-
lation there, come from eld- expense themselves. Another public aid.
Still,
"Under
public
assist-
said Lerner. "But we still it necessary to provide ane munities require different
erly Jews in the Dexter area. affiliate organization, Zeda-
A few live in Independence kah Club, assists the aged. ance," said JFCS Director would need a canvass to see hot meal a day (the elderly, things. Those I've talked to
Hall downtown, a residence Together, the 12 member Sam L e r n e r, "those we who gets it." poor or otherwise, have here are too eager to brush
notoriously bad nutrition off needs as being strictly
for the elderly originally organizations of Cooperative wanted to move after the
The board of JFCS . has habits), but it enabled the financial. Social needs are
sponsored by Young Israel. Council provide casework 1967 riot could get only $75 discussed
.
the poverty issue residents to takepart in the equall important."
but sees the agency's key many senior adult programs
Tackling the problem from
portation, they also seek out make it — not just the poor, the cost of rent" in more de- role as an advocate for at the main and 10 Mile
any perspective, however,
a willing ear, a friend to but those whose incomes sirable areas. "We found change in legislation, said Jewish Centers.
will require money. Is the
listen when there are no cover the necessities and no them apartments in North- Lerner.
A Monday-through-Thurs- community
west Detroit, but those rents
to
prepared
children or other close rela- more.
He believes that this is an day bus service plies a route recognize to a greater extent
ex- started at $120, $125, $130.
tives to meet that need.
Some refugees, for
Four or five years later, issue that must involve the between the Center, Federa- than it has, an obligation to
Often, those who could use ample, never quite achieve those rents are at $165, and total Jewish community, par- tion Apartments, Borman the financially distressed?
such contacts are unaware self-sufficiency; but no one the public agency allows titularly now with threatened Hall, Votrobeck Apartments,
they exist. Mrs. Dombey said expects Resettlement Service only $114."
Or will most of us go on
Nixon administration cut- Northgate, Nine Mile and
JFCS initiated "Helpline" by to support them forever. Said
In 1933, JFCS initiated a backs in antipoverty and Coolidge and Blackstone pretending that poverty be-
who longs to the Jewish past?
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS homemaker service on a housing programs. In this Manor. Gene Jaffe,
44 Friday, April 20, 1973
By CHARLOTTE DUBIN
—