86 Friday, October 31, 1980 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Reconstructionists Planning Kaplan Centennial Programs NEW YORK — The Mor- decai M. Kaplan Centennial year will be inaugurated at a celebration at New York's Waldorf Astoria Nov. 22 by the Jewish Reconstiuc- tionist Foundation. Philip M. Klutznick, U.S. Secre- tary of Commerce, and- Sen- ator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) are hontrarY• chairmen of the sponsors committee. RABBI KAPLAN Stanley Rabbi Rabinowitz of Washington, D.C., Rabbi David Polish of Evanston, Ill., and Rabbi David Brusin of Skokie, chair the Rabbinic Kaplan Centennial Committee. The Centennial will culminate on June 11, 1981 when Rabbi Kaplan, recently re- Israel and U.S. Are Compared WASHINGTON — A new booklet entitled "Israel and the U.S.A.: A Comparison of Two Allies" has been pub- lished by the Jewish War Veterans. There is a charge. For information, write. the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., 1712 New Hamp- shire Ave., N.W., Washing- ton, D.C. 20009. Zionist Leader Dr. Emanuel Neumann Dies TEL AVIV (JTA) — Di-. Emanuel Neumann, who for more than 60 years held leadership roles in the Zionist movement in the United States and Israel, died Oct. 26 at age 87. _ He was a former chair- man of the World Zionist Organization-American Section, serving in that capacity from 1968 to 1972, and before the reconstitu- tion of the Jewish Agency he served as chairman of its American Section. Born in Libau, Latvia, Dr. Drinan Center Neumann came to the United States at an early for Soviet Jews BOSTON — The estab- age and was educated at lishment of the Robert F. Columbia University \and Drinan Human Rights In- New York University Law formation Center in Madrid School. He was, at the time was announced at a tribute of his death, a member of to Representative Drinan the New York State Bar. As a youth he was one (D-Mass.) in Boston. The center, sponsored by of the founders of Young the Union of Councils for Judea, during the first Soviet Jews, will operate World War, and editor of during the International the Young Judean maga- Review of the Helsinki Ac- zine. He served as educa- cords which opens this tional director of the Zionist Organization of month. America from 1918 to 1920. In , 1921, he or- Mary Ploshnick ganized the Palestine Mary Ploshnick, coor- Foundation Fund and dinator of children's serv- was its first national di- ices at the Detroit Public rector and later its Library, died Oct. 26 at age president. 54. In 1925, he organized the A native Detroiter, Mrs. United Palestine Appeal Ploshnick was a life and served for two years as member of the Jewish chairman of its executive Chautauqua Society, a committee. From 1928 to member of Temple Israel 1930 he served as president and its affiliates and served of the Jewish National as the co-president of the Fund. temple's bowling league. In 1931, he was elected a She also was the founding member of the World president of Local 1279 of Zionist Executive and the AFSCME: She was a libra- Jewish Agency for Pales- rian. tine, serving in Jerusalem. She is survived by her He remained in Palestine husband, Hershel; a until 1939, devoting himself brother, Raymond to the country's economic Zaborski; and a sister, Mrs. development;, as well as John (Virginia) Dean. vital political matters, such turned from Israel, will celebrate his 100th birth- day. In connection with the Kaplan Centennial, the Re- constructionist movement had launched a $2 million campaign to broaden the scope of the Reconstruc- tionist Rabbinical College, and to establish outreach, youth, adult education, new publications and liturgical programs. EMANUEL NEUMANN as his negotiations with King Abdullah of Transjor- dan. Returning to America in 1940, Dr. Neumann devoted himself during the war largely to the political af- fairs of the Zionist move- ment and for several years served as its political repre- sentative in Washington. He organized the American Palestine Committee And carried on negotiations with the State Department. As a spokesman for the movement, he testified twice before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representa- tives and was largely in- strumental in securing final passage of the Palestine Resolution by both Houses of Congress in 1945. In 1943, Dr. Neumann organized and also headed the .Commission on Pales- tine Surveys which brought together a distinguished group of American experts to design the engineering plans known as the Jordan Valley Authority Project for hydro-electric and power developments in Palestine. This plan, encompassed in the report published under the title "TVA on the Jordan" is the blueprint Gentile Volunteers Have Impact on Kibutzim By MOSHE RON The kibutz movement's newspaper "Yahad" (To- TEL AVIV — Israel's gether) reports that ap- kibutz movement has at- proximately 70 converts tracted attention through- are joining kibutzim each out the world. Young per- year. Many convert in sons building agricultural order to marry Jewish and industrial settlements spouses; others convert in sparsely-populated bor- without wanting to der areas have also at- marry. There is no law which tracted foreign youngsters to help them on the kibutz states that kibutz members for varying lengths of time. must be Jewish, but it is an In many cases, these vis- unwritten code among the its have led to many gen- kibutzim. The secretariat of tiles converting to Judaism the kibutz movement, _ in order to marry Jewish therefore, advises. gentiles members of kibutz for vary- who wish to permanently join a kibutz to convert. ing lengths of time. This policy, has been the In many cases, these vis- subject of many debates its have led to many gen-. tiles converting to Judaism among the kibutzim. Every year thousands of in order to marry Jewish members of the kibutz. This Swedish girls arrive in Is- problem has led to the es- rael through "Svekiv," the tablishment of an ulpan for special agency which or- gentiles at Kibutz Saad. ganizes their voluntary The youngsters are taught work in kibutzim. Helen Sommerfeld, a Jewish laws and customs in preparation for conversion 23-year-old Swedish Jewish girl, has been in to Judaism. In some cases, it has been Israel two years. She reported that girls return- married Raffi, who was ing from these conversion born in Kibutz Neve Yam, classes have come into con- and she works at the flict with their prospective Svekiv office. She told us, We are mostly dealing husbands who do not follow with women; this_inontka the Jewish customs. The Jewish News Special Israel Correspondent group of 100 Swedish girls came to Israel and only four men." Ten years ago, Richard Milrod of Sweden who had stayed on a kibutz decided on his return to Sweden to organize groups of young people to visit Israel. Some 2,000 Swedes passed through the office of Svekiv, nearly all of them women, who have come to work on kibutzim. Svekiv has an office in Sweden and one in Natanya. The Natanya office has nine employees. Everyone wishing to go to Israel and work at a kibutz has to pay 2500. Kroner ($650) and be in the 18-32 age group. In return, he re- ceives his fare and two months stay in Israel. The visit can be extended up to one year. The applicant must sub- mit a questionnaire, supply a health certificate and pledge not to use alcohol or drugs. The Svekiv office chooses the kibutz for each applicant. This way the kibutz obtains cheap man- power and the Swedish vol- unteer learns about the country and its society. More and more voices in the kibutz can be heard, demanding re- striction of the Swedish worker-volunteers, be- cause this contradicts the principle of "Jewish work" of the kibutz movement. Hashomer Hatzair was demanded a reduction in this man- power by 50 percent! The manager of Svekiv in Natanya, Mrs. Frieda Brenner, said that the kibutzim believe the Swedish girls are a "danger" for the young male members of the kibbutzim. They are beginning to pre- fer Jewish volunteer or even paid labor. Svekiv has appointed 22-year-old Swede Tomas Forsap to deal with the per- sonal affairs of the volun- teers. He visits the kibutzim and listens to problems and complaints of volunteer and kibutz members. It appears that 90 percent of the volunteers are satis- fied with the conditions. There are only few cases of users of drugs. There are at least 20 marriages between Swedish girls and male kibutz members a year. used by the government of Foundation, and served Israel in its water develop- as its chairman. The ment and engineering pro- foundation, of which Dr. gram. Neumann was honorary When the Anglo- chairman at the time of American Committee of In- his death, had been car- quiry was established at the rying on education and end of 1945, Dr. Neumann cultural activities, in- was charged with the re- cluding the publication sponsibility of organizing of modern Hebrew the presentation of the classics. Jewish case at the hearings In 1961, he received the in Washington and deliv- • Herzl Gold Medallion ered the principal address Award for "distinguished before-that body. service to Zionism" awarded Early the following by the Zionist -Organization year he proceeded to of America. Palestine accompanied Widely recognized as a by two. American writer and lecturer, Dr. engineers, for the de- Neumann was a st tailed presentation of the president of the Th it Jordan Valley Authority Herzl Institute and Founda- Project before the tion, and former chairman Anglo-American Corn- of the editorial board of mittee. Midstream. He was a At the end of 1946, Dr. member of the board of the Neumann played a con- United Israel Appeal and spicuous part in the pro- the Jewish National Fund ceedings of the World of which he was an honorary Zionist Congress as a leader president. of the American delegation. There he was again elected a member of the World Zionist Executive and of the Jewish Agency. Early in 1947 he went to London to Unveiling announcements represent the Jewish Agency in the final negotia- may he inserted by mail or by The Jewish News, 17515 tions with the British calling W. Nine Mile, Suite 865. South- Foreign Minister and his field, Mich. 48075. 424-8833. Writ- ten announcements must be ac- associates. One of his most signific- companied by the name and ad- ant services to the Jewish dress of the person making the insertions. There is a standing cause was made in the fall of charge of $7.50 for an unveiling 1947, when he took an notice measuring an inch in active part in the presenta- depth, and $12.50 for a notice two tion of the Jewish case be- inches deep with a black border. fore the United Nations at The family of the late Lake Success. As a member Minnie Baxter announces of the Jewish Agency Dele- the unveiling of a monu- gation to the United Na- ment in her memory on Oct. tions, he negotiated with 26 in Lakeside Cemetery, repreSentatives of govern- rhents and helped to bring Miami, Fla. about the adoption of the The' Family - resolution on the partition of the Late of Palestine on Nov. 29, 1947. MORRIS He was honorary LUX president of the Zionist -Announces the un- Organization of America veiling of a monument and served as its president in his memory 11 a.m. in 1947-1948 and in 1956- Sunday, Nov. 9, at Beth 1958. From 1957 to 1963 Dr. Tefilo Cemetery. Rabbi Neumann headed the World Yolkut and Cantor Ad- Union of General Zionists ler will officiate. Rela- as its president. tives and friends are In 1962, Dr. Neumann ,asked to attend. founded the Tarbuth Monument Unveilings The Family of the Late RITA ABRAMS Announces the unveiling of a monument in her memory 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at Machpelah Cemetery. Rabbi Syme will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. The Family of the Late BEN ZUPNITSKE Announces the unveiling of a monument in his memory 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at Beth Tefilo Cemetery. Rabbi Gorrelick will of- ficiate. Relatives and friends are asked to attend. ••• ••••, • - .11.•• • %Iv •••