e Jewish Commpity Council has
opening delegate assembly.

LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER

T H E D E T R O I T J E W I S H N E WS

Jeanette
Eizelman

14

wo months ago, a man
walked into Yad Ezra and
introduced himself to
Jeanette Eizelman. She
recognized his name as a
contributor to the kosher
food pantry. But this time
he wasn't coming with a
check — he was coming
for food. The West
Bloomfield resident and
his wife had lost their jobs
and were raising four chil-
dren.
The scenario is hardly
unique.
When Yad Ezra opened
its doors nearly three
years ago, it served 11
families the first day. It
now aids 650 families a
month. In October, Yad
Ezra distributed 28,976
pounds of food to 1,384
people. Exactly one year
earlier, • it dispensed

Ezra helps fill the gap.
"These people are not
only hungry, they are
proud, too," Ms. Eizelman
said. "So many, especially
the elderly, walk to the
door but cannot bring
themselves to come in."
Exorbitant medical and
prescription bills, Ms.
Eizelman said, eat away
at the little money the
elderly have.
Ms. Shallal echoed the
grim state of affairs, list-
ing facts: 33 million
Americans live below the
poverty line, 13 percent of
all Americans live in
poverty and 20 percent of
the children in America
live in poverty.
Ms. Shallal said many
factors contribute to the
dilemma: a disappearance
of affordable housing, the
rising of the shrinking
income — college gradu-
ates will not know the
same lifestyle as the gen-
erations before them, per-
sonal catastrophes beyond
an individual's control,
and the release of mental-
ly ill from hospitals.
"This is not just a finan-
cial problem. It becomes a
family dysfunction," Ms.
18,018 pounds of food to
933 individuals.
Shallal said.
Ms. Eizelman shared
Shelter and affordable
these statistics Wednes-
housing are available
day night at the Jewish
downriver, where Jews
Community Council dele-
cannot easily remain con-
gate assembly. The topic
nected with their commu-
of the evening, Jews in
nity: Most opt not to
distress, also was ad-
move.
dressed by Janette Shallal •
Ms. Shallal suggests
of Jewish Family Service,
donations, job training,
Shirley Schlang of Jewish
living options within the
Vocational Service and
community, affordable
Larry Ziffer of Jewish
health care and political
Federation of Metropoli-
lobbying as ways of mak-
tan Detroit. Gary Dembs,
ing a difference.
a Council board member
"We have to help main-
and founder of Yad Ezra,
tain dignity, self-respect
and a sense of community
moderated.
According to Ms. Eizel-
for these people," she said.
man, the majority of Yad
Mr. Dembs added,
Ezra "customers" live on
"People don't respond to a
food stamps. The stamps,
social ill until it hits them
doled out to last for a
or their family. The
month, often carry fami-
Jewish community is our
lies for three weeks. Yad
family."

Retaining a sense of
community among poor
Jews is difficult, Mr.
Ziffer said.
"Consider the cost of
being Jewish," he said.
"Membership to a temple
or synagogue, Hebrew.
schools, Sunday schools,
day schools, Jewish
Community Center, camp,
subscriptions to Jewish
periodicals, celebrating
holidays, keeping kosher,
giving tzedakah."
Twenty percent of
Jewish families living in
core Jewish communities
bring in an income of less
than $30,000 annually.
Forty percent of Jews
older than 70 earn less
than $30,000 a year.
"A family of four livin
on less than $30,000 a
year would be hard
pressed to do all which is
included in living an
active Jewish life, unless
they are extremely corn
mitted and comfortable
asking for financial assisf
tance," Mr. Ziffer said.
Although the elderly
comprise a laige percent-
age of Jews in distress,
Mr. Ziffer views thre
other groups at risk:
young couples, single par.
ents and new Americans.
Statistics show these
groups will not remain
financially strapped for
long periods of time
However, they cannot
afford to be active in t1
Jewish community, creat-
ing patterns for life.
Ms. Schlang works with
many of these individuals
at Jewish Vocational
Service.
Last year, more tha
2,000 people sought job
placement through JVS•
some 650 of them previ-
ously had been considere
middle or upper class
More than 900 colleg
graduates asked for hel
after pounding the pave-
ment without success.
"These are our neigh-

•
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