THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Friday, July 13, 1919 31 United Israel Appeal Campaign to Oversee Special Needs of the 'Mountain Jews' From Caucasus Area By JOEL WEINER and SUSAN EISENSTAT United Israel Appeal In the last decade, large numbers of Jews in the fields of science, medicine, engineering and math- ematics have traveled the hard road from oppression in Russia to transit camps in Vienna and then on to new lives in Israel. A substantial number of immigrants from the Soviet 'Tnion, however, do not _we these special skills or sophistication. They are simple people from remote and undeveloped parts of the USSR. For them and - ALUMINUM SIDING custom Trim 5464110 Try My Prices! ash of PETER E BOsiC \I \ I HE 6\_U G000 t\\\iD \I \ 0000 \\_1_ i\NO -6644 00 00 651 their families, aliya is not merely an escape to free- dom. It also marks the start of a painful adjustment to a relatively modern and ad- vanced society, a process ul- timately crowned by suc- cess. Over the last six years, about 7,500 immigrants from the Caucasus, an area named after the mountain range which stretches from the Black Sea to the Cas- pian, have settled in Israel — most in the northern dis- trict, a few in Natanya, and the remainder in the south near Beersheva. These people are known as mountain or Tati Jews, and come from the republics of Daghes- tan, Azerbaidzhan, Kabardine-Balkar, Uze- bekistan and Georgia. "The problems of absorp- tion are enormous for im- migrants from the Caucasus," says Ora Donio, acting head of the social services division of the Jewish Agency's depart- ment of immigration and absorption. "One measure of the challenge is that most of our projects are currently concentrated in this sector. In fact, about 70 percent of the mountain Jews need our help — compared to just one-third of the rest of Is- rael's newcomers." r DUE TO AN ERROR ONLY CANVAS HANDBAGS WILL BE 20% OFF AS WELL AS HIGH-FASHION WATCHES, COSTUME JEWELRY & BAMBOO BASKETS WE ALSO CARRY 14K GOLD, LUCITE, LEATHER-LIKE PURSES AND ADULT & CHILDREN'S GAMES 25900 GREENFIELD AT LINCOLN Suite 140 Kirsten Towers (Landmark) I 968-1770 CLEAN SWEEP SALE! 1/2 All New Fall Goods Included! STOCK MUST BE TURNED INTO CASH! Every _ Item Reduced! ALL SALES FINAL! Limited Time Only. OFF! of original prices Open Thurs. til 9 SUNDAY 12 to 5 BURTON'S PRICES SLASHED LOW! Every Item Reduced! • ALL SALES FINAL! Limited Time Only! gag* GLAMOUR & LEISURE FEMININE FASHIONS HARVARD ROW MALL 11 Mile & Lahser, Southfield The division's social workers operate at all levels of the generation spectrum when dealing with the mountain Jews. It is vital to motivate the fathers, many of whom are illiterate, to join the labor force. Mothers need advice in home maintenance, nutrition and child care. School-age youngsters need remedial programs which will help them cope with the educa- tional system. The social services di- vision sets up group tutor- ing projects stressing in- formal pedagogical methods and intensive, individual guidance. Over a period of five months, children get almost daily assistance to improve their ability to con- centrate, think and express themselves. The projects are often carried out in the homes so the social workers have the opportunity to deal with the parents as well. In fact, understanding the family situation is a major element in helping the mountain Jews adapt to a new environment. In their traditional, pat- riarchal culture, the father occupies an espe- cially honored place. But as the children start to integrate into the school system, the father's posi- tion as teacher and fam- ily head is threatened. Unequipped to help his youngsters aca- demically, he also finds his own development fast outpaced by theirs. Bit- terness and resentment set in — unless corrective measures are taken. "We have a multi- pronged task when dealing with the fathers," Mrs. Donio points out. "We must help them appreciate the changes their children are undergoing so they will understand and encourage them. We have to motivate them to seek jobs, which is something new for Russians who are used to being as- signed work by the state employment service. We also have to help them de- velop self confidence. Our social workers need special sensitivity, patience and de- termination to accomplish all this." Pre-schoolers are another target category for the so- cial services division. Where there are large num- bers of mountain Jews, the division arranges for day- care centers for their toddlers, thus bringing the children into the educa- tional stream as early as possible compensating for the lack of stimulation at home. The special activities provide a basis for later academic development. Skilled instructors or- ganize learning activities for the four and five year olds after school hours. Educational games are usually played right in the home, thereby involving unsophisticated mothers in modern child development. "Much of the money to M LTER operate our projects rent in Russia, adjusting to comes from American an economic system in Jewry," Mrs. Donio which nearly one-third of OF HARVARD ROW points out. The funds are one's income must be spent raised in the United on housing is particularly Designers of Fine Furs States by UJA and allo- difficult. Complete Fur Service cated to the Jewish 1 1 MILE & LAHSER A wise son gathereth in Agency by United Israel Phone: 358-0850 summer; but a son that Appeal, Inc." doeth shamefully sleepeth If middle-aged men do not find work due to lack of in harvest. skills and job opportunities, the social services division provides a welfare allowance for their families. It is often difficult to con- vince these men to attend ulpanim where they can learn enough Hebrew to improve their employment chances. And, since the GIRLS FASHIONS mountain Jews spent be- 4-14 & tween only three and five PRE TEEN percent of their incomes on e ew eketittiott Refresher Class Planned in Israel Is Open With A COMPLETE LINE OF BACK TO SCHOOL and FALL FASHIONS 1-4 JERUSALEM — The Hayim Greenberg Hebrew College in Jerusalem is de- veloping a special program for veteran U.S. Hebrew teachers whose knowledge of Hebrew and Judaic studies is below standard. Plans are under way to persuade American Jewish communities to offer sab- baticals to their teachers for study purposes in Israel. The Israel Department of Education. and Culture plans to share the financial burden of the sabbaticals. • APPLEGATE SQUARE 2980,7 Northwestern Hwy. at Inkster 357-1123 M-S 10-5 ACO JEWELERS 'MBeitgki.,.9 Ana& ( 14/446-sais4, N orman Man 1. mf/qqj/- • N TV/P \e/ tIR \e/ AP: . WV" J LAWRENCE M. ALLAN President inc, /1/-/T/J/ IAMONDS OUR SPECIALTY INVENTORY CLEARANCE SALE 30% to 45% OFF EVERYTHING IN STOCK ALL DIAMONDS, WATCHES AND GOLD JEWELRY Sale good thru Fri, 7-20 642-5575 30400 TELEGRAPH • BIRMINGHAM LOCATED AT 121/2 MILE SUITES 104/134 Awarded Certificate by GIA in Grading & Evaluation . • Mf 11// \ 4/