Increasing Numbers of Jewish Poor in Detroit Area By HEIDI PRESS Jews in Detroit were not exempt from poverty in 1983, and according to Jewish Family Service figures, among the hardest hit were younger families and the Orthodox. Sam Lerner, executive director of the Jewish Family Service and Resettlement Service, said that more than 177 cases, comprised of families and individuals needing direct financial assistance, were served in 1983. Citing figures from February 1981 through ( October 1983, Lerner pointed to a definite increase in the number of new Jewish poor. For February 1981, the agency handled 112 cases, 122 were served as recorded in February 1982. By February 1983, the number jumped to 134, and by October reached 177. Margaret Weiner, JFS director of professional services, said the requests for emer- gency assistance almost doubled in 1983. "People think only the aged are poor, but it's not true," Lerner said. "A total of 65 percent of the cases were younger families." He added that many of the poverty cases came "from people in the suburbs losing their jobs." Elimination of Suspicions Obligatory in Quest for M.E. Peace Besides giving cash for rent subsidies, clothing and medical costs, the JFS also distributed food to these new clients. Lerner said that the Federal Emer- gency Management Agency gave the JFS a direct grant of $40,000 for food, and although it was desperately needed, the stipulations of the grant posed problems. According to Lerner, the FEMA grant was to be used for a soup kitchen. However, as Lerner repeatedly emphasized, such an activity was contrary to JFS policy, which goes out of its way to protect the confidentiality of its clients. At the same time, the agency was unable to give the cash away to the needy families. On top of that, the money had to be distributed by Sept.. 30, 1983. How did JFS get the funds to its intended beneficiaries? Lerner said the agency told FEMA that kosher food was needed for JFS's clients. A program was then set up with a local supermarket chain whereby the chain provided vouchers — gift coupons for food — (Continued on Page 14) THE JEWISH NEWS A Weekly Review Commentary, Page 2 Cultural Pluralism as a Guide to Prevent Prejudice of ie.-wish Events Editorial, Page 4 Copyright c The Jewish News Publishing Co VOL. LXXXIV, No. 21 17515 W. Nine Mill, Suite 865, Southfield, MI 48075-4491 424-8833 $18 Per Year: This Issue 40c January 20, 1984 Anti-Semitic Incidents Drop in U.S., Increase in Michigan Holocaust Unit Hosts Major German Exhibit The Holocaust Memorial Center will sponsor a major exhibit in March that was produced in West Germany. Entitled "The Jews of Prussia," it has never before ap- peared outside of Berlin. The exhibit was conceived and developed by Dr. Ro- land Klemig, director of the Picture Archive of Prussian Culture in Berlin. It consists of more than 1,000 enlargements and montages depicting the social, cultural and religious life of Prussian Jewry over a period of 900 years. Working through the local German Consulate, the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the Leo Baeck Institute in New York, the Holocaust Memorial Center succeeded in obtaining this exhibition through a grant from the West German government. The shipping costs of the exhibit and travel costs of the accompanying personnel, amounting to about $30,000, is being covered by the German government. Local costs for the exhibit and housing the personnel will be covered by the Holocaust Memorial Center. "The Jews of Prussia" is the first of an annual series of exhibitions planned by the Holocaust Memorial Center depicting Jewish life in the various countries and regions of (Continued on Page 6) NEW YORK (JTA) — Anti-Semitic vandalism and other attacks against Jewish institutions, businesses and homes declined substantially in 1983 for the second year in a row, according to the annual audit conducted by the Anti- Defamation League of Bnai Brith. ADL's national director Nathan Perlmutter said the survey revealed 670 incidents across the nation, a decline of 19 percent from the 829 incidents recorded in 1982. In Michigan, however, the number of recorded incidents rose from nine in 1982 to 12 in 1983. The nationwide total for 1982 was almost 15 percent lower than the 974 recorded in 1981. The two-year decline reversed a sharply upward trend re- ported since 1979. The 1983 audit once again showed that three states — New York, California and New Jersey — accounted for a majority of the incidents: New York ; 215; NATHAN PERLMUTTER California, 111; New Jersey, 57. The audit, which was based on data supplied by the ADL's 30 regional offices across the nation, also reported a large decrease in the number of assaults against individual Jews and threats and harassments in which Jews or Jewish-owned properties were victims or targets. The decline amounted to almost 41 per- cent — down from 593 in 1982 to 350 in 1983. The incidents involving assaults and harassments were tabulated separately Hospitality Needed for Young Jewish Athletes Competing in August Maccabia See Story on Page 6 (Continued on Page 7) History and Art Are Linked in D utch Jewish Record Waiting for the Messiah By MOZES HEIMAN GANS Introduction to "Memor- book — Pictorial History of Dutch Jewry From the Re- naissance to 1940." This is the story of Jewish life in the Netherlands, told with the help of paintings, drawings and photographs. It is history, not life itself. But now and then we are struck by an expression in a painting, or we glimpse a celebration, a mournful occasion, a proud achievement of men and women fighting valiantly against great odds. And as we spare them a thought and dwell upon them for a few short moments, we catch a glimpse of life itself. In the Middle Ages, Memorbooks, Books (Continued on Page 32) A review of Mozes Hei- man Gans' encyclopedic "Memorbook" (distributed by Wayne State U. Press). Historic records are being protected, lit- erature is enriched, the record of glorious inter-faith relations is recalled authoritatively — all in so impressive a vol- ume that its publishers earn gratitude and acclaim for publishing it. At the same time, its author attains recognition from histo- rians, artists, religious leaders of all faiths. "Memorbook: Pictorial History of Dutch Jewry from the Renaissance to 1940" is the immense, encyclopedic work published by Bosch & Keuning, the Netherlands, and dis- tributed by Wayne State University Press. Its impressiveness and factual totality are so vast that it must remain for generations a source of information on the long era under review and the personalities and subjects under consideration. (Continued on Page 32)