16 Friday, March 2, 1919

REMEMBER

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

A Tribute to Bill Haber on His 80th Birthday

American zone. In this posi- -
To American Jewry,
tion, he came in close con-
Prof. Haber became the
(Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, JTA)
tact with the work of ORT — personification of ORT.
(Copyright 1979, JTA, Inc.)
the world Jewish organiza-
He also traveled to other
NEW YORK — There are
'557-6644
tion engaged in providing _ countries to popularize
about 50,000 Jewish profes-
vocational training to Jews
ORT in the Jewish com-
sors in colleges and univer-
in
more
than
20
countries.
munities there.
sities in this country. None
He was greatly impressed
Today, he is the president
of them denies his Jewish-
with the ORT system and of the Central Board of the
ness. However, most of
achievements in training World ORT Union which
them are indifferent to mat-
the displaced Jews in var- has its headquarters in
ters Jewish, except those
ious vocations; thereby put- Geneva, Switzerland, and
who are directly engaged in
ting them on their own feet
can boast of the fact that up
and giving them a new and
to this year more than
purposeful direction to start
1,000,000 young students
their lives on a constructive
and adults graduated from
basis after years of inhu-
its modern vocational train-.
man torture by the Nazis.
ing establishments where
DR. WILLIAM HABER
When he returned to the the enrollment is now about
98,000, with more than
ernment bodies — in U.S. to his academic posi-
65,000 of them in Israel
addition to his being on tion in the university, he
the faculty of the Univer- was asked to accept the. where ORT maintains 88
sity of Michigan since presidency of the American schools and related pro-
1936 — are too numerous ORT Federation, which is grams — including colleges,
to list here. In the univer- one of the pillars of the high schools and industrial
schools — in 40 cities, towns
sity he became head of World ORT organization.
and agricultural centers.
the Department of Eco- He accepted.
Prof. Haber is dedicated
nomics in 1962. A year la-
Since then the American
ter, he was named dean of ORT has not been the same. not only to ORT, but also to
the university's College Unknown before to Ameri- other important Jewish
of Literature; Science can Jewry, it became very causes. He is a member of
and Arts. He still has an popular under Dr. Haber's the executive of the Ameri-
office at the University of leadership. The organized can Jewish Committee, de-
Michigan, next to that of Jewish communities in the eply interested in the Bnai
the president, and he U.S. and Canada began to Brith Hillel Foundations on
W. 7Mlie Al Lodge X-Way
holds the position of ad- pay attention to ORT's the American campuses, is
viser to the officers of the
unique work among Jews involved with the Brandeis
university. As a leading overseas which was not of a University, is a member of
member of the American
philanthropic but of a con- the executive of the Hebrew
Arbitration Association,
structive nature, providing University in Jerusalem,
he is a sought after arbit-
"takhlis" for tens of and is active in the United
rator in disputes between thousands of Jews by train- Jewish Appeal and on the
labor and industry.
ing them to become qual- board of the Joint Distribu-
tion Committee.
ified workers.
• Busy as his other duties
Born in Romania, he
The Joint Distribution
kept him, he always found
came to this country at the
Committee
—
which
fi-
time to dedicate himself
nances the ORT work to a age of 10. He and his brother
actively to Jewish causes.
substantial extent, since Sam, who is also prominent
Jewish needs were no by-
in Jewish life as JDC direc-
to him; they were a ORT conducts no fund- tor in oversaes countries —
Are 'you the select student qualified for the exciting products
raising
campaign
of
its
fundamental part of his way
own in this country — he is now honorary execu-
Yeshivot Bnei Akiva college program in Israel?
of life.
began
to increase its allo- tive vice president of JDC —
At the outbreak of World
cation to ORT from year had to help the family by
War II in 1939, he took tem-
to year. The Women's selling newspapers in Mil-
porary leave from some of
be
priviledged
to
enroll
in
a
special
one
year
program
for
waukee where they settled.
You can
other obligations to be- American ORT grew
At the age of 28 he re-
Foreign Students at OROT College for Women in Tel Aviv, the newest of his
from year to year in its
come director of the Na-
and activi- ceived his doctorate from
31 Yeshivot Bnei Akiva institutions in Israel. You must have these tional Refugee Service, an membership
ties, developing a very the University of Wisconsin
organization established to active leadership of its and continued to study at
qualifications:
help German Jews and own. Labor unions, Harvard. He and his
other victims of the Hitler which were the first in Vilna-born wife, Fannie,
regime who succeeded in this country to recognize visit Israel ofteri. They take
• Graduation from an accredited Hebrew getting out of Germany and
the importance of ORT exceptional interest in mat-
reaching this country.
High School
some 50 years ago, inten- ters concerning Israel.
There were thousands of
• Commitment to a year of intensive intellectuals among them, sifted their participation Cancer Fund
in the leadership of the
Jewish studies on an advanced level
all affected by the notorious American ORT Federa-
Names Director
Nuremberg
Laws
—
profes-
• Leadership potential
Jewish
tion.
NEW YORK — Charles
sors, physicians, lawyers,
• Willingness to serve the Jewish and other professionals who businessmen, too, started J. Davidson has been named
to
display
greater
inter-
community
found themselves in dire
executive vice president- of
need, because they could not est in ORT.
Israel Cancer Research
Thus, ORT, practically the
The fund is an al-
practice their professions unknown
to masses of Jews Fund.
for a time in this country. in this country until the liance of scientists, physi-
They needed urgent assis-
and interested laymen
period," began to cians
Those chosen will spend an unforgettable year, enriched by tance to stand on their own "Haber
from the U.S., Canada and
emerge after World War II
to
participation in educational, social, and cultural programs throughout feet.
to the front in American Israel who are dedicated
Dr. Haber paid special Jewish communal life. It finding a cure for cancer.
attention to each indi-
ince its es a
Israel.
became an integral part of
vidual. He helped many
1975, the fund has been
the obligations of the providing grants and fel-
of the newcomers find
American Jewish commu- lowships for special re-
their
way
to
a
normal
life
For applications and information:
nity towards needy Jewish search programs at major
in this country quicker communities overseas.
in Canada ,
in the United States
than they anticipated. To
institutions in Israel.
OROT College
Dr. Haber spared no time;
him, they were not relief
American Friends of
cases but colleagues in he devoted all his energy to
for Women
Yeshivot Bnei Akiva
make the ORT philosophy
need.
159 Almore
NEW YORK (ZINS) — A
-. 39 Broadway
At the end of the war, and achievements popular
recent
article in the New
Dowhsview,
Ontario
M3H
2H9
when the Nazi army was de- from the Atlantic to the
New York, N.Y. 10006
York Times says the Begin
feated
and
Jews
were
liber-
Pacific.
He
spent
much
of
(416) 630-6772
(212) 425-2475
ated from Nazi camps, be- his free time visiting com- government's financial
coming "displaced persons" munities throughout the policies have reduced Is-
rael's balance of payments
Hermann Merkin aided by the American mili- country and delivering pub- deficit to $2 billion, half the
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
administration, Dr. lic speeches.
Chairman tary
He also addressed con- figure of three years ago.
Haber was sent as represen-
Honorary Chairman
It has also attracted
tative of American Jewry to ventions of important
foreign
capital investment.
Germany to serve as adviser. American Jewish organiza-
However, Israel is still
on Jewish affairs to Gen. tions. He put the ORT on the
Lucius Clay, commander of Jewish communal map burdened by $11 billion in
foreign debt.
the U.S. military in the through his appearances.

THE BLUE BOX
AND EVERYTHING IT
STANDS FOR ON EVERY
IMPORTANT OCCASION.

By BORIS SMOLAR

OPEN MON. & THURS. Mi. 9 P.M.

teaching Jewish subjects.
Prof. William Haber —
who - reaches the age of 80
this week — is not only
active in Jewish life, he is a
top Jewish leader.
Prof. Haber.— his friends
call him affectionately
"Bill" — does not teach
Jewish subjects. He is a pro-
fessor of economics. He
gained quite a reputation in
his field. He is known not
only as an educator and
economist, but also as an ef-
fective arbitrator in indus-
trial disputes, an expert in
manpower problems, in em-
ployment, in social security,
in labor relations. AS such
he serves at various times
as consultant to the Secre-
tary of Commerce, Secre-
tary of Labor, Defense Sec-
retary, and was adviser to
the Office of War Mobiliza-
tion and Reconversion and
other government.agencies.
He was also chairman of the
Federal Advisory Council
on Employment Security
and represented that Coun-
cil before the U.S. Senate
Finance Committee.
The positions he held in
the policymaking gov-

"OROT" COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
IN ISRAEL

Policy Is Helping