Jewry's Role in
Human Advancement

for Openers_

How Accepting Are You
Of High-Tech Phones?

FOUNDING AMERICA'S SOCIAL SYSTEMS

ly been getting to me lately. Used to
be one basic, bland selection on the
early systems. Nowadays, though,
everyone's into customization. Auto
ey, kids, here's a really neat
parts stores treat you to Howard Stern
experiment you can try
broadcasts. A Catholic book publisher
right in the privacy of your
plays the most insipid version of
home.
"Amazing Grace" ever recorded. And
Just call any Jewish organization in
Jewish
institutions are nearly univer-
your town. Any organization at all.
sally
into
... what else? ... Israeli music.
This is what you'll hear:
When I'm pit on hold, my standard
"Shalom. Israel Bonds." "Shalom.
"charmingly placid" mood swings
Temple Beth Melissa." "Shalom.
abruptly
into "annoyed/angry" catego-
Jewish Community Center."
ry,
bypassing
the incremental stages of
Okay. Now comes the special fun
"empathetic," "non-
part. Dial any number
plussed,"
and "grow-
... any number at all, in
ing
impatient."
I don't
Israel! It's easy. Punch in
want to hold; but if I
011-972-2 and six ran-
must hold and if I'm
dom digits. Know what
forced to listen to
It you'll hear?
music, I want to hear
"Allo."
something that reflects
Not only do
my mood. Something
American Jewish organi-
like the "Dies Irae"
zations out-Israeli the
from Verdi's Requiem.
Israelis, they've all pretty
I want furious trum-
much gone high-tech.
pets and pounding,
This means that many
ominous kettle drums.
of them have voice mail
I want a musical mir-
("Sorry, I'm either on
ror
of
my
personal
pique.
• the phone or away from my desk ..."
Not
a
lilting,
chirpy
"Erev Shel
which really means "I'm taking yet
Shoshanim."
another extended lunch" or "I'm
In my humble yet savvy opinion,
standing outside the front door smok-
the
top prize for on-hold torture
•
ing.")
music
should be awarded, without
Occasionally, though, you'll
question,
to a certain Jewish
encounter a live voice, a real, honest-
Community
Center located in, let's
to-goodness human being, who will
just
say
the
southern
part of Ohio. (I
say, "Shalom." "Shalom," of course, is
don't
want
to
be
more
specific lest I
immediately followed by, "Can you
somehow offend the sensitive folks of
a hold?" As fast as humanly possible I
Cincinnati.)
utter, "Actually, no, I just need to ..."
This actually happened to me:
but by then I've been cut off and am
Voice: "Shalom. Jewish
now a full two measures into a tele-
Community
Center."
phone serenade, music to entertain,
Me:
"May
I speak with ..."
music to make the passing minutes fly
Voice:
"Can
you hold?"
by as you ever-so-patiently await the
Switch immediately to the music,
return of the voice which will say,
the chorus of a song already in
"Thank you for waiting, oh, sorry, can
progress: "... tzena tzena, TZENA
you hold?"
tzena tzena, tzena, tzena-tzena-tzena-
It's the "on hold" music that's real-
tzena, tzena, tzena, tzena, TZENA
tzena tzena, tzena, tzena, tzena-tzena-
Rabbi Bob Alper is a stand-up comic
tzena ..."
and author.

RABBI BOB ALPER
Special to The Jewish News

n

"Shalom,
Jewish
Community
Center."

.

❑

Howz By You

4

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AFFILIATION. AREoucon1SERVATIvE
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Social Security and Medicare are today considered landmarks in the long
struggle to achieve social justice for the nation's elderly, poor, sick and
disabled. Most of our unemployed, indigent and otherwise needful citizens •
Could rely only on the meager help of voluntary support such as public
charity--until 1940. During that year, the federal government posted off its
first social security payments. The event rewarded a mission by a handful
of staunch crusaders to lift the burden of poverty and despair from tens of
millions of Americans for generations to come.
Among the handful were two compassionate Jewish activists in
government service who led that campaign and rightfully deserve being
called the fathers of social security in America. Despite their historic
accomplishments, both remain virtually unknown. Their paths-had met,and
we meet them now.

ISAAC RUBINOW
(1875-1936) b. Grodno, Russia
Medical DoctorfEconomist/Social Worker He
emigrated to the United States in 1893 and soon
after earned a degree in medicine. But he left his
practice within several years, distressed at how our
medical system ignored the many without the
means for decent care. He switched to economics,
which together with his knowledge of medicine, would serve as tools to help
reverse the system's insensitivity and disregard. Rubinow insisted that all
Americans should enjoy the guarantee of social insurance to provide for
human needs "without injury to the man's ego and self-respect."
In 1916 he was appointed director of the Social Insurance
Commission of the American Medical Association which rejected his
appeals to support state health insurance. Rubinow held out for compulsory
plans to protect workers since "the Class which needs social insurance cannot
afford it, and the class that can afford it does not need it." Opposition to the
idea during World War I was partly due to anti-German sentiment;
Chancellor Otto von Bismark had long before instituted such a program in
Prussia. Later it was also denounced as "communistic," a stepchild of the
Russian Revolution.
In disappointment, Rubinow resigned and dedicated his efforts to
social service work in Palestine where he established Hadassah's first
medical chapter. Returning to the U.S. in 1929, he continued to design
welfare programs for major Jewish organizations which would in time prod
our federal government to follow his progressive lead. And after decades
of tireless advocacy, his dream was realized--as a consultant, appointed by
F.D.R., who helped draft the social security act of 1935.

ABRAHAM EPSTEIN
(1892-1942) b. Russia
Economist/Sociologist Seventeen years Rubinow's
junior, as well as a loyal colleague, he became a
resolute power behind the enactment and
expansion of our social security laws. Throughout
his professional life, the social scientist had
consuming concern about the economic plight of
the elderly. While in government service, Epstein had pressed for
Congressional action creating publicly financed old age insurance. And in
1927, he organized the agency which was renamed the American
Associafion for Social Security.
For him, the 1935 act that came about with his participation, was
merely the outline for more liberal, humane and generous legislation.
Accordingly, he was influential in having the act revised four years later,
featuring his proposals for major amendments which widened the law's
scope and benefits. His growing reputation drew him into the League of
Nations where he served as America's representative to the world body's
social insurance committee.
Several of his books which are classics of their kind include The
Problem of Old Age Pensions in Industry (1926), Facing Old Age (1922)
•
and The Challenge of the Aged (1928).
- Saul Stadtmauer

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COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders /Sponsors
Harold Berry & Irwin S. Field, Co-chairmen
Harriet F. Siden, Secretary

12/26
1997

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