■ 14RMINNIMP ww. - -,011116i*M44.144.110, _ 4imeitiMiq OW, 12 Friday, January 7, 1977 ALLSTATE ALARM SYSTEMS THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS BURGLAR ALARMS ALLSTATE ALARM SYSTEMS LL THE ROTT BR Home Alarm Specialists SHEL ALLSTATE ALARMS 255-1540 A Brief History of Detroit's YM-YWHA By IRVING I. KATZ Executive Secretary, Temple Beth El In 1891, when Detroit's Jewish population was about 1,500, a Young Men's Hebrew .Associa- tion (YMHA) was or- ganized at 434 Brush St. Membership was open to young men above 21 years of age. The initia- tion fee was $1 and the dues were $5. The con- stitution also provided for a junior membership for young men above the age of 15, with dues of $3. rary Commission • and tion and indicated that president of the board of the Community Fund Temple Beth El. would help finance it. The officers consisted Later, a room was The Jewish Woman's of a president, vice presi- rented in the Hanna Club had sponsored, since dent, secretary, treas- Schloss Bldg. headquar- 1919, a 14-room home at . urer and five directors. The first secretary was ters of the United Jewish 89 Rowena St. (now Mack Charities, on High Street Ave.) for employed Sol J. Gronemann. The first guest speaker at the (now E. Vernor). A mem- Jewish girls. It was de- bership campaign pro- cided, therefore, to use ■ "Y" was Magnus Butzel, duced 75 young men. An the house on Rowena as father of the late Justic instructor _was engaged headquarters for the Henry M. Butzel and for twice-a-week gym work newly formed Young Fred M. Butzel, who was at that time president of and basketball, and at a Women's Hebrew Associ- match arranged with the ation. the Detroit Public Lib- YMHA of Toledo, the De- At first the building troit "Y" was the victor. served the double pur e The "Y" also held of residence - monthly literary eve- clubhouse, but so rap y nings. Debates were ar- did the young organization ,• ranged on topics pertain- grow that before long it ing to Judaism, papers was obvious that the house were presented __on was not large enough -to Judaism by various care for both departments 1.1 members, followed by dis- and the residence was cussion, and prominent given up to make room for Jewish and non-Jewish the more important work _ speakers were invited. of reaching the many hun- A dance was held every dreds of young girls who Saturday evening at the wanted and needed the Schloss Bldg. gym. By "y". 1917 the "Y" had a mein- Describing the scope of bership of 200, but when the United States en- the "Y" activities in a re- re- port in 1928, it was stated tered7 World War I, most that "in 1919 the house Awl members answered the was considered spacious; call of our country and today, despite the elastic the "Y" disbanded. walls, it is crowded to ca- The YMHA resumed its pacity. The clubhouse existence on Nov. 20, now hums with activity •• 1925. The dollowing year, from cellar to garret, to the "Y" began the publi- say nothing of the Little cation of its magazine Theater, which not only - YMHA Exponent. houses dramatic per- --I The YMHA rented formances, lectures, par- facilities in the Jefferson ties and entertainment, IntermediateSchool but also regular club where physical recreation meetings in relays". In addition. to clubs, activities for members only were conducted on there were classes in lit- erature, dramatics, Thursday evenings. music, cooking sewing, sio The "Y" also conducted decorative art, aesthetic Friday night religious and ballroom dancing. services and a social hour There was also a glee club after services which were which rendered the litur- very popular. gical music at the weekly In 1929 the YMHA Friday evening religious • Merged with the Jewish services. Centers Association. Jewish festivals and ,€„ In 1921 there came to holy days were suitably the Jewish Woman's Club observed and a seder of Detroit, now the De- service sponsored cs leurbv hicoeus sep .onsored at at the the troit Section of the_Na- • tional -Council of Jevvish The "Y" conducted a Women, a plea that some- bureau of personal service thing be done to provide as well as a free employ- the young Jewish girls ment bureau. During the and women of the city summer, the "Y" offered with some organization of to its members the their own. facilities of the camp at Detroit's Jewish popu- _Jeddo, overlooking the lation at that time was waters of Lake Huron, "at --about 40,000. the very nominal rate of 4 After much discussion, $11.00 per week". the problem was taken to In 1933 the YWHA William Norton of the De- joined the Jewish Centers troit Community _Union, Association, which was who approved the forma- renamed the Jewish tion of such an organiza- Community Center. 01 . SHIFMAN'S HAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED IN CRUISEWEAR Shirts, slacks, knits, jackets, shorts, cabana sets, beach robes, bathing suits, golf and tennis outfits. All the most colorful combinations by the country's leading makers — in a complete range of sizes. So, come to Shifman's to get ready for that big trip .. . WE'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU STRANDED shifmatt LINCOLN CENTER GREENFIELD at 101/2 Mile Nazi Was Head of Israeli Firm JERUSALEM Periclass appointm Wolfgang Wick, a member was a blunder. of the Austrian Nazi Party who served in the SS during World War II, - was recently discovered to have served for five years as chairman of the board of the Israeli chem-. ical company, Periclass. After World War II, Wick invested heavily in Israel, and visited there frequently. ' Wick's name was with- drawn last year from the running for head of Rot- ary International, after the exposure of his Nazi past. One Israeli govern- ment official said Wick's WOLFGANG WICK • • •