88 Friday, April 6, 1919

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Festival of Freedom Mar

New Beginning for the Disadvantaged

By DAVID HANDLEMAN
and IRVING R. SELIGMAN

DAVID HANDLEMAN

lasting peace rekindled, Is-
rael and Egypt can turn to
General Chairmen, 1979
the special needs of their
Allied Jewish Campaign -
people. For peace means lit-
Israel Emergency Fund
tle to a man without hope of
As we prepare to observe creating a decent life for
Passover and its celebration himself and his family.
of freedom, we are struck by
In Israel, we can look to
an historic coincidence.
an infusion of strength, of
Thousands of years after morale and vitality
the Israelites' departure - through Project Re-
from Egypt, the descen- newal, a bold new plan to
dants of both nations have restore 160 seriously dis-
signed an agreement of tressed neighborhoods
peace. That, too, represents throughout the country
a delivery from tyranny — and to give their resi-
the tyranny of hatred.
dents new opportunities
With their hopes for a for a promising future.

With four wars, soaring
inflation and continued
immigration, Israel has had
little opportunity to make
good on its intentions to ab-
sorb all newcomers into the
mainstream of society. For
300,000 people, it has been
only a partial Exodus. They
have come to a land of free-
dom but remain imprisoned
by despair and hopeless-
ness.
We can help turn around
their feelings of frustration
by joining in the undertak-
ing to provide improved and
enlarged housing, schools,
day care facilities and corn-

munity centers, vocational
training and other human
services.
When President Carter
spoke at the momentous
signing of the peace treaty
between Israel and Egypt,
he made a remark that
seemed particularly appro-
priate to the task of Project
Renewal.

"Peace, like war, is
waged," he said. 'Peace is
doing, not waiting."
Please do. Your commit-
ment to the Campaign and
to Project Renewal will help
Israel win the peace.

IRVING SELIGMAN

The Meaning of Community Is Emphasized on Passove

.

By GEORGE M. ZELTZER

For next week we will be
asked to summon up our col-
lective memory, to relive
the Exodus as though we
had been part of the com-
munity Israel in its march
to freedom.
As Jews, we also were

present when a patheti-
cally small but valorous
band of Warsaw Ghetto
fighters defended the
honor of our People.
Physically doomed per-
hapS, but spiritually un-
vanquished.
We were there to see the
rebirth of their spirit in the
nation Israel. And now we
share in yet another re-
birth: the beginnings of
peace.
When we read the Hag-
gada, we are reminded that

when one Jew cries out— be - careers and loved ones to
it a sick and lonely old man
come here, where they have
in Detroit or a young re- no. roots. They must learn
fusenik languishing in a not only a new language,
Soviet prison — we all must but a new way of life.
cry out. This strong and vib-
rant Jewish community in
Our community has
which we live was created built a family of agencies
by men and women with
to nourish the Jewish
such a conscience.
spirit — institutions pro-
And now we have an viding education and
opportunity to help a new recreation for our chil-
generation of immigrants:
dren, housing and social
500 of them expected this
activities for our elderly,
year from the Soviet Union.
help for our troubled
Many have left fine families.

Igor is a mechanical
engineer and machine de-
signer. Pavel is an electrical
and mechanical engineer.
Leonid is a physicist. All are
looking for work.
They are only a few of the
- Russian Jews who have
immigrated to the Detroit
area in recent months.
Finding jobs for them and
other immigrants is the re-
sponsibility of the Jewish
Vocational Service, a
member agency of the
Jewish Welfare Federation
supported by the Allied
Jewish Campaign - Israel
Emergency Fund.
"Many of the Soviet Jews
settling in Detroit are
college-trained profession-
als," said JVS' Kalman Til-

lem, who, along with
Claudia Solovich and Ilene
Abramson, works at finding
employment for the new-
corners.
"We make an effort to
place them in work com-
parable to what they
were doing in the USSR;
and I think we've been
fairly successful," Tillem
said. His job has its prob-
lems, however.
"One of the Russinas'
biggest obstacles is lan-
guage," he said. "Even if
they can understand the
technical vocabulary asso-
ciated with their jobs, they
can have trouble with small
talk."
The Jewish Community
Center provides free

English classes for the im-
migrants, who usually
attend from the time they
arrive until they begin,.
working.
Hardest to place are un-
skilled older persons. "It's
very difficult for people over
40 to learn a new language,"
Tillem said. "If an immig-
rant has no definite skill
and also little knowledge of
English, he or she will -be
very hard to help. But even
these people can do some
factory . work."
Although the Soviet Jews
are not used to our methods
of job-hunting and inter-
viewing, Tillmen said, they
quickly become aware of
things like benefits.
"Providing their own
medical care comes as a
real shock, since they are
used to the USSR's
different approach," he
said. "They learn very
quickly that they have to
have medical benefits
along with a job."
The JVS has helped find
employment for several
immigrants with unusual
skills. A couple of musicians
secured positions with sym-
phony orchestras, one in
Richmond, Va., and one in
Los Angeles, Tillem said. A
young fencer went to Wayne
State University, where the
fencing team is considered
one of the best in the coun-
try, and now works as a
coach. The JVS also found a

President,
Jewish Welfare Federation

No Jewish observance
better expresses the mean-
ing of community than does
Passover.

By helping these new,
corners resettle, find jobs,
locate housing and instill
Jewish values in their chil-
dren, we are helping insure
our own future as a commu-
nity. Each of us has an obli-
gation to participate in this
effort.

Indeed, as we prepare to
observe Passover, a celebra-
tion of our past, we must
re-emphasize our commit-
ment as though our future
depends on it. It does.

-
Jobs: Major Concern for Soviet Immigrants, Federation Agencies

A volunteer helps a Russian immigrant with
English lessons at the Jewish Community Center.

GEORGE ZELTZER

job for an industrial. troit. The agency locates
JEWISH
VOCA-
glassblower.
apartments and homes for
TIONAL SERVICE pro-
"We have some doctors, the newcomers, meets them
vides job counseling and re-
but now many," he said. at the airport and takes care
training and helps the im-
"It's very difficult for them of their living expenses
migrants find jobs.
to pass the state examina- until they can support
HEBREW FREE LOAN
tions, but if their Eng-li--.b is tl--,,, mselves. Through social
ASSOCIATION provides
good enough they r'
workers, immigrants are
interest-free loans for var-
certified here in dut co urs'-. ' counseled on how to cope
ious needs, including tools
Most of the newcomers with the many problems
needed for work, used cars,
are employed within - four confronting them in a new
school tuition.
months of their arrival "We culture. Resettlement Serv-
SHIFFMAN CLINIC
depend a lot on volunteers ice coordinates the immig-
AND SINAI HOSPITAL
for contacts," Tillem said. rants' dealings with other
provide medical and dental
"People will let us know of agencies.
care, for both out-patients
openings where they work."
JEWISH FAMILY and in-patients. The Sinai
A city-wide committee SERVICE provides volun- Hospital Guild provides
aimed at finding suitable teer drivers to transport volunteer translators to
jobs for new immigratns immigrants to and from ap-
help during appointments.
is being organized by pointments. Volunteer
UNITED HEBREW
Jewish Welfare Federa- translators are also pro-
SCHOOLS provides a
tion Vice President Irwin vided for immigrants with Jewish education, which
Green in conjunction little or no knowledge of most immigrant youth have
with leadership of the English.
not had before. Some chil-
Jewish Vocational Serv-
JEWISH COMMU- dren enroll in one of the
ice.
NITY CENTER provides area's Jewish day schools.
Volunteers
working free English language
FRESH AIR SOCIETY
through the Jewish Fainily classes. Day care and day offers camping programs at
Service, another Federation camp programs are avail- Camp Tamarack.
member agency, transport able for children at reduced
All of these services are
the immigrants to job inter- rates. The newcomers are provided without charge
views.
also invited to use all other until the immigrant
The JVS is currently try- facilities and services of the families are able to contrib-
ing to place about 50 Soviet Center.
ute to the cost.
Jews. This year, with 500
* * *
new immigrants
g
expected
in the Detroit area, their %./
C
task will be more crucial
'
and more difficult than be-
fore.
A new Jewish Welfare the metropolitan area,
Anyone knowing of suit- Federation committee has the committee is particu-
able employment pos -
larly interested in locat-
sibilities can call Tillem at been formed to find housing ing two-bedroom apart-
the Jewish Vocational Serv- rants.
for new Russian immig- ments which accept chil-
ice, 967-0500. *
The committee grew out dren in Oak Park and
of a meeting of Jewish Southfield, the areas
* *
All the local member community members most most corvenient to
agencies of the Jewish Wel- • knowledgeable about a Jewish communal agen-
fare Federation are in- variety of housing and how cies, shopping and public ,
volved in the resettlement best to proceed to secure it. transportation. Apart-
of Soviet Jewish irnmig- The meeting was convened ments with a modest re-
rants:
by Federation Vice ntal rate are required.
RESETTLEMENT
President Samuel Frankel.
Anyone knowing of suit-
SERVICE works with
Headed by Stanley L. able available housing
HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Berger and Maurice S. should contact Alicia Karr
Aid Society) to arrange for Cohen, both involved in at Resettlement Service,
immigrants' arrival in De- the real estate industry in 559-1500.

o
tee Seekin o
tg.Husing
'for Immigrant Soviet Jews