THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

WIZO Institutions Have Aided Israel for 60 Years

By JANET MENDELSOHN

World Zionist Press Service

JERUSALEM — Thou-
sands of Jews streamed out
of Iran when the Ayatollah
Khomeini arrived, and
today many of the younger
ones have been well ab-
sorbed in residential schools
throughout Israel.
"When
the
first
planeloads arrived in Israel,
Hadassim did not have a
spare bed," recalls 15-year-
old Ilana, a student at the
residential youth village
ear Natanya. "We moved
ut of our dormitory and
doubled up so they could

A WIZO staff member
at the baby home in Beit
HaKerem, Jerusalem.
have a place to sleep until
new buildings were com-
pleted."
The Hadassim Children
and Youth Village is ex-
perienced in absorbing im-
migrants. Initiated for that
purpose 32 years ago by
WIZO, the Women's Inter-
national Zionist Organiza-
tion, Hadassim's first pupils
were refugees from
Europe's Holocaust, among
them children rescued from
the ship "Exodus." Now, 32
years later, an interna-
tional array of pupils still
pass through the gates of
Hadassim (as well as other

Teadher Wins
OCARC Award

Michelle Sherline, a spe-
cial education teacher at
Norup Middle School in
Berkley, was recently
named "teacher of the year"
for Oakland County by the
Oakland County Associa-
tion of Retarded Citizens.
OCARC recognizes one
teacher yearly "for
achievements, dedication
and teaching excellence in
special education."
Ms. Sherline also teaches
at Far Conservatory of Per-
forming Arts for the Handi-
capped in Birmingham and
a Special Olympics coach.

ik hanks to Kenya

TEL AVIV — Magen
David Adorn, Israel's emer-
gency medical and blood
service, has donated two
ambulances to the people of
Kenya in appreciation for
Kenya's assistance to Israel
during the Entebbe,
Uganda rescue mission in
1976.

Henrietta Szold founded
Hadassah, the largest
women's Zionist organiza-
tion, in 1912.

WIZO institutions) on their
way to becoming productive
Israeli citizens.
Hadassim is only one of
the many educational in-
stitutions run by WIZO. An
organization encompassing
250,000 volunteers from 50
countries, (excluding only
the U.S., where Hadassah
does similar work), WIZO
has branched out into all
realms of Israeli society.
Training and nurturing Is-
raelis from their first toddl-
ing steps to their retire-
ment, WIZO today has 660
functioning institutions
and services in Israel.
The enormous scope in
WIZO activities in Israel
represent 60 years of volun-
tary womenpower. Founded
in London in 1920, this
movement of women today
has a membership spread
from Austria to Zimbabwe.
Initiated with plans to as-
sist the women and children
of a Palestine just emerging
out of the first World War,
women the world over
joined to support WIZO's
work.
Adapting their activities
to the changing needs of the
country, WIZO volunteers
endeavored to advance the
woman and family while re-
sponding to the demands of
the Israeli society.
Care of babies and small
children was one of the ear-
liest priorities and today
11,000 infants under the
age of five attend WIZO's
network of day care centers,
homes and kindergartens.
Educating and encourag-
ing older children is another
vital task of WIZO, and
22,000 Israeli students and
new immigrants participate
in a school, training pro-
gram or clubs. Since WIZO
was established in 1920, the
organization has spread
throughout the world, and
increased support has
enabled projects to multiply
to fruition in Israel, provid-
ing help for all of her com-
munities.
The establishment of the
state of Israel in 1948
brought redoubled efforts of
the WIZO chain. As the bor-
ders were opened to refu-
gees and waves of immigra-
tion continued, WIZO's
endeavors became increas-
ingly vital. In the years
immediately after state-
hood was proclaimed, WIZO
institutions welcomed the
homeless and strove to alle-
viate poverty, illiteracy and
backwardness in the Jewish
state.
Even after 32 years of
statehood, there is more to
do than ever before in this
small country which has
multiplied four-fold since
its establishment.
Thousands of Israeli women
now benefit from extensive
courses in home industries
as well as vocational educa-
tion in WIZO centers
throughout the country. -
Israel's minority com-
munities are also well re-
presented, and centers exist
in 11 towns and villages
populated by Israeli Arabs,
Druze, Bedouins and Cir-
cassi a ns. In local clubs,
these women can broaden

their horizons through
courses, lectures and tours
while remaining loyal to
their strictest traditions.
Horizons were also wide-
ned for an international
contingent of WIZO dele-
gates meeting in Israel in
November for the 18th
World WIZO conference and
the 60th anniversary of the
organization. Hundreds of

women saw just how prod-
uctive their work has been.
President Yitzhak Navon
told them that "hundreds of
thousands of Israelis — and
Israel's society in general —
have been profoundly and
most positively influenced
by the initiative of a few
women Zionists in London
60 years ago."
Perhaps a visit to any of

the 660 institutions sup-
ported by WIZO may prove
to be even more heartwarm-
ing than any words. The
look of an active child's face;
a glimpse of a woman busily
occupied in learning a new
skill; the laughter of Rus-
sian and Iranian students
mingling on a school cam-
pus . . . these best illus-
trate the story of WIZO.

Friday, April 11, 1981

Anti-Cult Line

MIAMI BEACH — The
Jews for Jews organization
under the direction of Rabbi
Rubin R. Dobin has estab-
lished a "hot line" to provide
information to families on
how to combat missionaries
and cults.
The hot line number is
(305) 865-1885.

Cunning is the dwarf of
wisdom.

The closeness of being together

in thankful celebration.

The peace, the warmth

of sharing

The grace of the Seder table.

-

51

This is the happiness

Chatham wishes you and your family!

A HAPPY PASSOVER