56 Friday, December 22, 1978 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Detroit Section of National Council of Jewish Womeh Recalls Milestones in Advance of 85th Anniversary Celebration Locally In preparation for its cel- ebration of the 85th an- niversary of the National Council of Jewish Women, the Greater Detroit Section recalled some major events in its own history in ad- vance of the Jan. 15 community-wide event at Temple Beth El. The spark which ignited the formation of NCJW was the Chicago World's Fair, in 1893, where women from all over the country presented a Hall of Religion. The Jewish Women's Club of Temple Beth El, which was later to become affiliated with NCJW as its Detroit Section, sent a committee to help work on the presenta- tion at the fair. The Jewish Women's Club from its inception in 1891, concerned itself with visits to the sick, classes in English, literature, physi- cal culture, and in 1902, with the establishment of a scholarship fund. As early as 1905, the organization. joined with others to pro- mote social- action by pro- testing the inhumanites taking place in the Congo. The serving of penny lunches to school children in 1911 pointed the direction which the organization was to follow in many areas. The process began with 'a thorough investigation into the needs of hungry chil- dren and how best to serve them. Volunteers prepared sandwiches in their homes, took them to the schools and sold them for a penny so that countless children would not be hungry during the day. The Detroit Board of Education adopted the program and launched a city-wide school lunch pro- gram. Holiday Hours Fri. & Sat. Dec. 22nd & 23rd 9-7:30 Sun., Dec. 24th 12-5 357-1056 SUITE 110-HERITAGE PLAZA 24901 NORTHWESTERN HWY. SOUTHFIELD TAN'S GLAMOUR' AND LEISURE FEMININE After the First World War in 1918, NCJW formed a unit for the Red Cross that served in France. In 1925, the Jewish Women's Club joined NCJW as its De- troit Section. During the Depression the Detroit Section con- cluded the Council House Project, a residence for young women, in 1930, and in 1933, in conjunction with the Young Women's He- brew Association and the Jewish Community Center, a camp for working girls was established in Jeddo, Mich. Council ran the camp until the early 1940s. The first Council resale shop opened at 89 Rowena St. in 1934. The purpose of the shop was two-fold: to raise money for local NCJW projects and to provide those who could not afford more, an opportunity to buy -good used clothing. In conjunction with the Jewish Center and- the Jewish Welfare Federation, Detroit Section established the 12th Street Council Center which opened in De- cember 1944. Not only was this the first joint effort of these organizations, a social agency working in conjunc- tion with a volunteer mem- bership organization, but it was also the first branch of any Jewish Center in the country. A total of 125 NCJW volunteers serviced the branch programs which included a "latch-key" recreation program for children after school, since many mothers were working during the war. Volunteers searched out the elderly so that they could use the 12th Street facilities. The older groups emerged later as the "Gol- den Agers." . FASHIONS A STOCK REDUCTION m SALE! we are over-stocked & must raise cash! • ALL WINTER MERCHANDISE DRASTICALLY REDUCED FOR CLEARANCE — NOW RACKS OF: • Parkas! • Pant Coats! • Pant Suits! • Slack,: • Skirts! 1/2 OFF! while they, last! ALL SALES FINAL! RACKS OF: • Long Winter Coats! • After-5 Wear! • Fake Furs! • Dresses! • Sweaters! OPEN THURS. & FRI. -TIL 9 • SAT. TIL 8•SUNDAY 11 TO 5 HARVARD ROW MALL • 11 Mile & Lahser, Southfield After the war, NCJW launched in 1973. Kosher sons and their children by volunteers helped refugees meals are provided to more offering them supportive fill out citizenship papers than 100 people daily who programs. and locate lost relatives in are either too old or too ill to The Burn Prevention conjunction with other prepare food for themselves. Jewish agencies. The De- A total of 150 volunteers are program has just gotten troit Section contributed involved in the preparation under way. It provides $10,000 to the National and delivery of meals five educational materials to teach kindergarten Overseas Program —and days a week. through third grade stu- Service to the Foreign Born. NCJW became affiliated In 1945-46, NCJW estab- with WICS, a coalition dents in selected schools lished and paid for homes in of women's organizations the hazards of fire. Paris and Athens to help whose purpose is to provide Summarizing the Greater homeless refugees learn supportive services for dis- Detroit Section's history, new languages and skills advantaged young women Phyllis Welling, presiden for employment. said, "For 85 years count in the community. In 1947 the Detroit Sec- less services have been per- tion urged the government The Greater Detroit Sec- formed by NCJW members; to adopt national resolu- tion launched another pro- but the organization con- tions on Palestine to abro- gram in 1977 after tinues to look forward to the gate laws restricting Jews thoroughly investigating future where there remains from purchasing land there. the needs of single parent much to be done. Most When the second resale Jewish families in the NCJW volunteers have shop opened on. Puritan community. The SPACE- learned that in meaningful Avenue in 1955, another program is currently servic- service to others one finds idea came to fruition. The ing the families of single, the greatest fulfillment of Angel Ball was launched to divorced 'or separated per- self." thank members and non- members for their contribu- **** _tions of clothing and holise- hold items which support all Wishing All Our of NCJW's local projects. Friends & Customers Tickets had to be earned through contributions. Council moved its offices to Council House on West Filled With McNichols Road in Detroit, Happiness & Peace and the first suburban branch of Detroit Section was formed in 1951. Several years later, a senior adult lounge program started ad- Hoick-()I'cI jacent to Council House to serve the social and rec- OPEN MON. & THURS. reational needs of the el- 25330 G , and River , Recl!ord 'TU. 9 P.M. derly, a program started in 1 MILE WEST OF TELEGRAPH 1957, and adopted by the Jewish Center in 1960. Op- Call ART WEISS 531-2500 eration Friendship, another lounge program for re- cuperating mental patients, started in 1960 after a sur- vey of local community needs. This program, too, became part of a larger mental health program in Detroit. In 1962 The Orchards, a residential treatment cen- ter for emotionally dis- turbed young boys, was in- stituted. A home was purchased in Livonia, owned and operated by the Detroit Section. Detroit Section contrib- uted $5,000 to the Hebrew University High School in Israel, and then gave an additional $5,Q00 for the Detroit Room. Later, an- other Israeli program was started by NCJW in Hatsur as part of the NCJW Re- search Institute for Innova- tion in Education to develop- new techniques and mate- rials for educating disad- vantaged children. In 1964 the Custer Elementary School Project began with 100 volunteers who served as tutors and teachers' aides, a program which is still in several sub- urban schools. A new suburban office was located in South- field, and the Detroit sec- tion became the Greater 23077 Coolidge, Oak Park Detroit Section of NCJW. Oakland Operation OPEN DAILY 9:30 TIL 5:30 Friendship patterned • BANKAMERICARD after the original pro- • MASTER CHARGE gram was established in Royal Oak in 1970. Meals on Wheels was * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A HAPPY HANUKA STELLA * * * * * * * 3070To 500 OFF INFANTS THRU SIZE 14 FOR BOYS & GIRLS