EDITOR'S WATCH

Detroit Jewry's United Communal Outreach
Goes Back To Beth El's Rabbi Leo Franklin

upswing" in 1997-98, "spurred in part
immigrants who passed through Ellis
from its original values," states UJF's
s we embark on the 100th
by the stock market but also reflective
Island
in
New
York
harbor
with
little
just-released 1998 Progress Report.
anniversary of the organizing
of the generosity of our community,
savings.
They
arrived
in
Detroit
around
The report relates how, on Nov. 21,
of Detroit Jewry — under
including a growing number of second-
1910.
1899, Rabbi Franklin brought together
the theme "We're Better
generation donors. Total assets under
UJC's
Self-Respect
Fund
"offered
the presidents of four leading philan-
Together" — Temple Beth El has
management of UJF exceed $295 mil-
interest-free loans to enable people to be
thropic groups — the Beth El Hebrew
much to be proud of
lion.
self supporting and to save the self
Relief Society (Martin Butzel), the Beth
For it was their outspoken,
Slatkin character-
respect of many men
El Ladies Hebrew Sewing
long-time spiritual leader,
ized
1997-98 as a
by preventing them
Society (Sarah Berger), the
Rabbi Leo M. Franklin, who
time
to look anew
from
"becoming
Beth El Self Help Circle
sensed a significant return if
"There's
something
recipients
of
charity,"
(Blanche Rothschild) and the
the various Jewish charitable
to
be
said
for begin-
Bolkosky
writes.
Jewish Relief Society (Bernard
groups of the 1890s not only
nings — for recog-
He adds that UJC
Ginsburg) — for an historic
united under one umbrella
nizing the chal-
"pioneered such pro-
charter signing. "Their volun-
coalition but also extended
lenges and meeting
grams as a mothers'
tary association, thereafter
them with exciting
their social service reach.
pension fund, tuber-
known as United Jewish
The rallying point for
initiatives ... for
culosis treatments,
Charities, would change for-
Detroit's Jewish communal
seizing opportuni-
evening
English
ever the way Detroit Jewry
ROBE RT A.
groups was christened United
ties and applying
classes
and
manual
would perceive its role and
S KLAR
Jewish Charities. Spreading
imagination and
training
classes
for
responsibilities."
Ed itor
philanthropy and assimilating
hard work to creat-
young Jews, all of
From the outset, the UJC
ing something
immigrants became its hall-
which eventually -
umbrella covered a dozen
marks. Franklin and his co-founders
new."
became models for
charitable groups. Along with the four
Top initiatives
envisioned UJC as a way "to weld
public policies of
charter groups, others included the
Detroit Jewry into a more effective
include
a $50-mil-
Detroit agencies."
Fresh Air Society, Hebrew Free Loan
lion
Millennium
unit."
Today,
the
UJF
Association, Jewish House of Shelter,
Campaign to rede-
When the Jewish Federation of Met-
owns, manages and
Jewish Home for the Aged and Young
ropolitan Detroit emerged as the central
velop the Jewish
invests
Jewish
com-
Women's Hebrew Association. UJC was
Community Center
communal force in 1926, UJC became
munal assets, includ-
Robert Slatkin:
dedicated to preventing and alleviating
of Metropolitan
its financial arm, overseeing the tasks of
ing general and
United Jewish Foundation president.
poverty and disease and assimilating
Detroit "as a true
landlord, banker and investor. UJC
endowment funds,
new immigrants.
center for informal
assumed the more broadly focused
agency endowments,
In Harmony Dissonance: Voices of
Jewish education" and to create a Jewish
moniker of United Jewish Foundation
supporting
foundations
and
real
proper-
Jewish Identity in Detroit, 1914-1967,
of Metropolitan Detroit in 1992.
Life Fund "that will address issues - relat-
ty. Each year, it provides funding to the
Sidney Bolkosky writes: "Self sufficiency
"From the Americanization of
ing to identity and education."
Jewish Federation for operational
for the poor — in particular the East
UJF has played an integral role in
refugees to the education of children,
expenses
and
meeting
special
communi-
European poor — continued to be the
from compassionate care during the
creating
the Irving A. Rubin Jewish
ty needs.
avowed and often-repeated aim of the
Community
Trust for the Elderly,
Depression to spirited support of the
In his 1998 Progress Report message,
UJC."
newborn State of Israel, the mission
UJF President Robert Slatkin writes
That hits home for me because my
evolved and matured, but never strayed
OUTREACH on page 37
that "charitable activity was on the
father was part of a family of ,Russian

A

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Jews," now on display at the Kahn
Jewish Community Center. The pho-
tographs provide visitors with an
arresting and important glimpse of a
world destroyed.
The Holocaust Memorial Center
wished to bring this substantial show
to our community as part of our con-
tinuing efforts to educate and serve.
Like all of our educational programs,
the exhibit and accompanying activi-
ties are free and accessible to all.
It took the Holocaust Memorial
Center nearly two years of long-dis-
tance planning, negotiating and fund-
raising to bring "And I Still See Their
Faces" here. The Shalom Foundation
of Warsaw, which developed the
exhibit, sent installers to assemble the
displays and its president, Golda
Tencer, graced us with her presence at
the show's premiere.

Area businessman Martin Wancjer
was tireless in his efforts to bring the
exhibit to Detroit. His help was
invaluable in working out the logistics
of this massive undertaking. Finally,
the Kahn Jewish Community Center
graciously provided the space the
Holocaust Memorial Center needed to
adequately display the exhibit's won-
derful photographs and artifacts. Jew-
ish Community Center Executive
Director David Sorkin deserves a spe-
cial thank-you for his help.
The Holocaust Memorial Center
is pleased with the response of those
who have seen "And I Still See Their
Faces." Visitors comment on how
moving and inspiring it is. The life
of Polish Jews was, in most cases,
one of abject poverty, but it was also
one of great cultural richness. The
majority of Polish Jews could read, in

marked contrast to the general popu-
lation, and crime was nearly nonexis-
tent.
"And I Still See Their Faces"
poignantly illustrates the struggle of
our survival as a people and the great
strides we have made. Among the
most important messages the Holo-
caust Memorial Center teaches is
that we must understand the past in
order to create a secure and better
future.
"And I Still See Their Faces" pro-
vides another opportunity to grasp
this truth and we hope members of
the Detroit community will come and
explore the exhibit..It will be worth
your effort. It certainly was worth
ours.

Rabbi Charles H. Rosenzveig
Founder and Executive Vice President
Holocaust Memorial Center

HFLA Is Oldest
Communal Group

In your issue of May 1, you list "Fast
Facts About Detroit Jewry." Please note
that "the first Jewish communal organi-
zation in Detroit" was,not United Jew-
ish Charities. Hebrew Free Loan Associ-
ation predates the UJC by four years,
having been founded in 1895, and is
the oldest continuously existing Jewish
organization in our community.
Hebrew Free Loan is very proud to
have been involved in the very begin-
ning of Detroit's federated Jewish orga-
nization and is still today "helping peo-
ple to help themselves," as it has for
nearly 103 years.
Having enjoyed the excitement of
our own centennial in 1995, HFLA is

GROUP on page 38

6/5

1998

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