34 Friday, May 31, 1985 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS NEWS Americans Go To Israel To Help With IDS Duties ANYTIME OF THE YEAR! Special orders allow 2 weeks delivery. The Public is Invited to a Free Public Lecture in Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Jewish Family Service and to hear . STEPHEN BIRMINGHAM Noted Writer and Chronicler of the History of Jews in America. Author of: The Rest of Us, Our Crowd, The Grandees, The .Auerbach Will, Real Lace, Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, Certain People, Life at the Dakota, California Rich, and The Grandes Dames, speak on "A Non-Jew Looks at the Jewish Family — Past, Present, and Future." at the COMBINED ANNUAL MEETING OF JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE and RESETTLEMENT SERVICE MONDAY EVENING, JUNE 12, 1985, 7:45 P.M. CONGREGATION BETH ABRAHAM HILLEL MOSES 5075 West Maple Road, West Bloomfield Special Showing: Audio-Visual Presentation of "The Human Side of Family Service." Ashkelon (JTA) — Most of the Israeli soldiers watch with admi- ration and in bewilderment as American volunteers eagerly tend to their assigned tasks at an army camp. Some soldierS are in- quisitive and amicable about them sharing their workload and space, while others appear wary and suspicious as to why anyone would waste time doing menial labor. Menial or not, the volunteers' eagerness for work revitalizes the soldiers' spirits during the day- to-day routine to which they are obligated. Volunteers for Israel, which started in 1982, was originally de- signed to alleviate the personnel shortages during the Lebanon war by working in emergency warehouses and on agricultural settlements. . Because of Israel's involvement in Lebanon, the burden on Israel's reservists had become almost un- bearable; therefore, now each volunteer replaces a reserve soldier, enabling that solider to remain home, relieving him or her of reserve duty and thus sav- ing his/her National Insurance payment for reserve service. Every day of service that a volun- teer can do makes it possible for an Israeli to serve a day less. A thousand volunteers for 30 days shortens the reserve duty of each/ 1,000 soldiers by a month. The essential element of the program is for the soldiers to realize that world support and encouragement exists in their on- going battle for a peaceful coexis- tence in the Middle East. The pro- gram, as of now, is only offered in the United States and France, with future plans underway to in- clude other countries. It has al- ready brought some 3,000 volun- teers to Israel. The volunteer groups average 25 per group, consisting of men and women, students and senior citizens. They travel to Israel un- aware of their final destination, which could be at any army base situated throughout the country, from the Golan to the Negev. The volunteers spend • three to four weeks working at odd jobs such as screwing nuts, bolts and washers onto the sides of tanks; cleaning engines; sorting uni- forms; washing dishes; painting signs; cutting grass and trimming trees and hedges. They work a full day, like the soldier, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The work is tedious, however the days pass quickly due to the novelty of donning an army uni- form and boots; perhaps being covered to the elbow with thick yellow grease; and always chat- ting with a soldier or fellow volun- teer on the job and off at coffee breaks which seem to come every 10 minutes. The volunteer seldom has a free moment. The weeks are tightly scheduled to include Hebrew classes; guest speakers lecturing on Israel's economy, politics and life in general; and day trips to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and the Museum of the Diaspora. The workload is always shared with at least one other volunteer, while a host of shy soldiers stand close by ready to assit and chat. Eventually, a close comrade- ship develops between the soldier and volunteer, and among the volunteers themselves. Volun- teering creates a special bond with those involved — a bond based on common concern for a cause and giving to that cause freely and openly. Volunteers For Israel staffs re- cruiting officers in 40 locations across the U.S. working with a minimal budget on a voluntary basis. Operating the offices is fi- nanced by the $25 registration fee Volunteers for Israel, founded in 1982, sends groups of Americans to help alleviate personnel shortages in the Israeli armed forces. Which every volunteer is obli- gated to pay. The only major expenses is air fare ranging from $500-$600. The Defense Ministry allocates a small budget, which in the past was used for subsidizing the air fares of the. volunteers. This money has run out, however, but El Al grants substantial re- ductions. The reduced airplane tickets for participants are good for two months. Clothing, housing and food costs are provided by the Israeli army. Benefit Ban? New York — The American Jewish Congress is mobilizing support for a Congressional bill that would prohibit the payment of Social Security benefits to indi- viduals deported from the United States for past Nazi activities. OBITUARIES Harold Hecht Los Angeles — Film producer Harold Hecht, who joined actor Burt Lancaster in one of the first independent movie production companies, died May 25 at age 77. Julian Olevsky Boston — Violinist Julian Olevsky died May 25 at age 59. Mr. Olevsky was professor of vio- lin and artist in residence at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Mass. Robert Nathan Los Angeles — Robert Nathan, author of more than 50 books of poetry and prose, died May 25 at age 91. (J_