64 Friday, December 8, 1918 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS The National Council of Jewish Women Will Celebrate 85 Years of Volunteer Service to Jewry With Local and National Events A celebration embracing the cooperation and participa- tion of the entire community is planned for Jan. 15, at Temple Beth El, to mark the 85th anniversary of the Na- tional Council of Jewish Women. The Detroit Section of the NCJW, sponsor of the celebra- tion, will hold the local observance as part of the national acclaim to be given one of the largest women's movements in this country. Announcing the selection of committees to arrange for celebrations here, Mrs. Robert (Phyllis) Welling, president of the Detroit Section of the NCJW, pointed with pride to the Greater Detroit membership . of 3,000. Mrs. Welling said the Detroit movement started from the Women's Club of Temple Beth El and has grown under the National Council of Jewish Women's name as a factor na- tionally and as a sponsor of social projects locally. Two Detroit women, Mrs. Joseph (Mildred) Welt and Mrs. Leonard (Josephine) Weiner served as national presidents of the National Council of Jewish Women. The program marking the Greater Detroit NCJW an- niversary program will be formulated and announced soon. Mrs. M. Morton (Billie) Barak is chairing the local pro- gram. For the occasion of the NCJW anniversary, the Hebrew University in Jerusalem hosted a week-long NCJW "sum- mit conference" last month. The conference also marked the 30th anniversary of Israel and the 10th anniversary of the NCJW Research Institute at the Hebrew University School of Education. Delegates met with alumni of the NCJW fellowship program at Hebrew U. and visited NCJW Research Institute projects for parents and children throughout Israel. JOSEPHINE WEINER The Formation and Work of the Council of Jewish Women taged, bringing together for This was the beginning of McCarthy years saw NCJW justice syteip throughout the first time an Israeli state a freedom campaign, the country. an approach to service (Copyright 1978, JTA, Inc.) Recognizing NCJW's Minister of Education and a with the slogan "Speak Up which still exists today. The NCJW's work af- achievements in the field, U.S. Commissioner of Edu- — Freedom Needs Exer- NCJW first locates a need fects the lives of people of all cise." During this period, the Law Enforcement As- cation to engage in a profes- and decides if its services ages, races and religious NCJW also began a number _ sistance Administration in sional dialogue on areas of would be valid. Next the backgrounds, in a tradition of pre-schools that would 1976 gave the organization concern to educators of both volunteer is trained. And, of diverse and creative serv- later serve as -the prototype a grant to sponsor a na- countries. The responsiveness of finally, the volunteer ice that has been a hallmark for Head Start. And in 1957, tional symposium on status The dialogue has been of the organization since its NCJW women allowed serves, always with some NCJW became the first offenders. In addition to continued through a_ them to expand services as professional assistance or founding by Hannah Jewish women's organiza- NCJW's state public affairs number of meetings and Greenebaum Solomon in new areas of need arose. For administration, most often tion to start up a "Meals on chairmen, representatives conferences since then, and instance, from 1899 to 1913 in a team approach. from some 60 national so- 1893. Wheels" program. - in January 1979 the second . As NCJW moved through "Hannah G.," as she is over 13 million immigrants When the post-war cial service organizations, Colloquium will take place entered the United States, the '20s and into the 1930s, known to the 100,000 mem- baby-boom caught up with government agencies and - in Jerusalem, bringing to- and the government asked its programs reflected the bers of today's NCJW, es- under-financed school sys- professional groups gether educators from tablished her organization NCJW's assistance in pre- shattering events begin- tems in the 1950s, NCJW attended the symposium, European countries as well in the belief that Jewish venting the white slavery ning to take place in members joined with other where they explored their as Israel and the United women could organize to exploitation and sweat shop Europe. The organization community service organ- roles in providing services States. improve their communities labor that were the lot of increased and strengthened izations to push for in- for status offenders, par- and advance social justice many girls and women ar- its Port and Dock programs. Today, NCJW establishes creased local and state sup- ticularly runaways and NCJW also organized for all. While that's hardly a riving alone' in America. truants. NCJW later pub- its program priorities at bi- port of education, as well as new or revolutionary con- NCJW set- up its Port and extensive English and for federal aid. Noting the lished the proceedings, as ennial national conventions cept now, it must be re- Dock Department, and each naturalization classes alarmingly high drop-out well as a comparison piece, attended by members from volunteers greeted im- and in Paris and Athens membered that Hannah day _ rate for high school stu- "A Manual for Action." 200 sections across the set up homes for girls Solomon created NCJW migrants arriving at Ellis dents, and realizing that NCJW sections are today country. These priorities long before women had the Island, Baltimore, Boston, who were victims of Nazi there was a close connection engaged in over 100 projects currently include: volun- vote, and before any other Seattle and Philadelphia. oppression. A new proj- tarism, justice for children, between that drop-out rate in the area of juvenile jus ect, called Ship-A-Box, such volunteer organization Services offered included tice, ranging from the estab- and low reading levels, for Jewish women existed. help in learning English, provided toys and educa- NCJW members moved to lishment of group homes for assistance in finding lodg- tional materials for set up remedial reading status offenders to ongoing Jewish children at in- ing, work and industrial programs in schools. In New 'advocacy for children's training, and aid in times of stitutions throughout York City, NCJW was suc- rights,- - sickness and trouble. By .war-ravaged Europe. cessful in having elemen- Recent years have also The post-war period saw 1911, the organization's tary schools located in poor seen a continuation of network of Port and Dock the birth of the state of Is- neighborhoods opened for NCJW's interest in Isfael. Services covered 250 cities. rael, a new area of concern During the same period, and interest for NCJW the summer for remedial In 1963, the organization reading programs. • provided funds to estab- women women. Matching funds NCJW strengthened their corn- provided by the British Continuing its tradi- lish Hebrew University government, tional concern with help- High School, a teaceher mitment to assisting chil- Mandate dren and youth in need. As NCJW helped establish the ing the nation's youth, training and demonstra- early as 1893, NCJW volun- School of Education at the the organization in 1964 tion center, and in 1968, teers were involved in serv- Hebrew University of joined forces with the Na- NCJW set up its Research ice projects in settlement Jerusalem. During the tional Council of Catholic Institute for Innovation ESTHER LANDA houses, vocational training same period NCJW de- Women, the National in Education at the He-_ 7 s for girls, school health in- veloped its Fellowship pro- Council of Negro Women, brew University. The In- the aging, Jewish concerns, HANNAH SOLOMON spection programs and as- gram, which lasted until and Church Women stitute, a permanent part The multiplicity of sistance to poverty-stricken 1971 and which provided, United in order to form a of the university's school women's issues, child de- NCJW services today re- families. NCJW also during those years, grants corporation - called of education since 1971, velopment, Israel, Con- flects a diversity that was pioneered remedial work in for graduate study in the Women in Community conducts basic research -stitutional rights, welfare evident in its earliest connection with the United States to 270 Service (WICS). WICS, and develops, tests and reform, the NCJW Research programs. Within two juvenile courts, and in 1906 educators and social work- which today includes the helps implement new Institute arid Women in Community Service. These years of the organiza- an NCJW volunteer was ac- ers from the. Jewish cora- participation of the educational methods, priorities are pursued tion's founding, its Bal- cepted by a municipal court munities of 16 countries. American G.I. Forum, re- materials and services through 1,600 community. timore Section was man- as a probation officer for de- for Israel's disadvan- Meanwhile, in the United cruits and screens girls aging a model tenement linquent Jewish children. States, NCJW was moving from low-income back- taged children and service projects as wet through ongoing adva that was envisioned as a As NCJW's range of ac- ahead with pioneering ef- grounds for the Federal youth. for meaningful legislative pilot project in housing The - Job Corps vocational The institute's innovative reform increased, Hannah forts in many fields: _ . NCJW will hold its reform, while in tivities Solomon eventually year 1947 saw the develop- training program. programs have been so suc- 32nd National Convention Philadelphia, NCJW suggested that the way in ment of the first network of In the 1970s, NCJW made cessful in helping to inte- in Dallas March 12-15. The joined with other groups the organization golden age clubs in further important strides in grate the country's cultur- current national president in petitioning the state which could make the greatest America, created by NCJW two areas affecting children ally and educationally dis- of NCJW is Esther Landa of legislature to raise the response to the needs of and youth. One was the field advantaged youth into the Salt Lake City. minimum age of child contribution would be in in supplying volunteers to all . the country's growing popu- of day care, and in 1972 - mainstream of society that employment in factories The world has changed a areas of social welfare. lation of senior citizens. The NCJW published "Windows U.S. educators have become from 12 to 13 years of age. on Day Care," the first di- interested in studying how great deal since the Na- finitive nation-wide survey such programs might be tional Council of Jewish of community facilities and adapted to this country's Women was founded. But educational system. In NCJW's means of respond- services. The second area of great 1976, the NCJW Institute, ing to human need, the interest to NCJW women in cooperation with the U.S. dedication of NCJW volun- was juvenile justice, and in Department of Education teers, and the flexibility and 1975 the organization pub- and several leading Ameri- effectiveness of its pro- lished "Children Without can universities, sponsored grams have remained con- Justice," the result of its in- its first Colloquium on stant since the days of Han- tensive study of juvenile Educating the Disadvan- nah Solomon. By DENISE WEICHER Sabbath schools, indus- trial schools and service centers for slum dwellers were among the earliest NCJW projects in other cities around the coun- try.