Jewry's Role in
Human Affairs

THEY REWARDED AMERICA FOR THEIR SUCCESSES

For many immigrant and first generation Jews, America was seen as a clean
slate on which ambitious citizens could write their rags-to-riches stories.
And to a great degree, they have prevailed in business, industry, finance and
communications, to name a few professions.
Examples are many and a few are outstanding. George Soros is a
legendary money trader respected for his brilliance. Former U.S.
ambassador Walter Annenberg shaped a vast publishing empire. Jack
Dreyfus empowered small investors by popularizing mutual funds. Joseph
Hirshhorn amassed a fortune in gold and uranium holdings. Norton
Simon built a food-related business complex ranked among our top hundred
corporations. And all repaid America for enabling their wealth--donating
hundreds-of-millions of dollars to worthy causes, to hospitals and medical
research, museums, schools, libraries and much more. Others followed suit:

Bond Sales Soar

More than $5.7 million in Israel Bonds sales was realized at a cocktail reception
hosted by Beverly and Irving Laker in advance of the Oct. 24 Congregation
Shaarey Zedek State of Israel Bonds tribute dinner honoring Richard D. Bleznak.
Shown at the reception (seated) are Richard D. and Phyllis Bleznak. Standing are
Lawrence A. Wolfe, metro Detroit Israel Bonds general chair; Lawrence Berry,
Congregation Shaarey Zedek president; Dr. Ellen. Cannon, guest speaker; Beverly
Laker; Irving Laker, dinner chair; Sharon Fleischman and Marvin Fleischman,
dinner chair.

American Arab & Jewish Friends Nick Hawafineh, Ahmed Ezzeddine, Colleen
Ezzeddine, Shelly Komer Jackier, Steven Spreitzer and Father Gregory Etthorn.

Arabs, Jews Meet To Learn

The American Arab & Jewish Friends, a Detroit based program of the National
Conference for Community and Justice, kicked off the first of the series "Religion,
Roots and Ritual" at the Church of the Holy Redemption Catholic Church in
Warren.
Shelly Komer Jackier and Ahmad Ezzeddine, co-chairs of the cultural outreach
committee of the Friends, chaired the event along with Steven Spreitzer, a profes-
sional of the NCCJ, as well as the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Following the formal presentation and the question and answer session, the
attendees socialized.
The second program took place Nov. 4 at Congregation Shaarey Zedek B'nai
Israel. The third will be Dec. 2 at the Islamic Center of Detroit. For information,
call Craig Anderson, (313) 567-6225.

JOSEPH PULITZER
(1847-1911) b. Mako, Hungary Publisher/Editor
On emigrating to America in 1864 he enlisted in the
Union Army and settled in St. Louis after discharge.
Penniless at the time he began writing for a
German language daily and his fortunes changed.
Within several years the reporter was elected to the
Missouri state legislature and helped form the
Liberal Republican Party. But his commanding
interest was newspapers, and his publishing ventures helped set the
standards of modern journalism. In turn, he revitalized or founded The St.
Louis Post-Dispatch (1878), The New York World (1883) and The Evening
World (1887) which thrived on investigative reporting, sensationalism and
exposés of political wrongdoing. His posthumous gift to our nation: the
Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding achievement in journalism, literature and
theater.

JULIUS ROSENWALD
(1862-1932) b. Springfield, IL Merchant / Philan-
thropist From modest beginnings as a clothing
salesman, the enterprising son of German Jewish
immigrants eventually took the helm of what
became the country's most dynamic merchandising
giant--Sears, Roebuck and Company. His one-
quarter interest in the fledgling mail order firm
(1895) paved the way to its presidency in 1910
and chairmanship fifteen years later. Under his leadership, Sears introduced
the famed "Money Back if Not Satisfied" guarantee and a profit sharing plan
for employees. His business acumen was matched by a lifelong dedication
to charitable works. The Julius Rosenwald Fund, founded in 1917, has
distributed more than $70,000,000 to such causes as YMCAs and schools
and housing for deserving blacks. Others he aided include Jewish war relief
and agricultural settlements in Russia and Palestine.

' **********
SOLOMON R. GUGGENHEIM
Businessman
/
b.
Philadelphia,
PA
(1861-1949)
Art Collector Headed by Swiss-born father Meyer
(1828-1905), the Guggenheim family drew its
seven sons into a huge consortium that made its
fortune in the copper industry, and in mining,
smelting and refining metals. The company's
founder had settled in the U.S. (1847) as an
importer of Swiss needlework. Seeking a more
prosperous future, the family turned to metal processing which grew in scale
and success; major facilities were built in New Jersey, Colorado and
Mexico. Almost all of Meyer's sons gave sizeable portions of their personal
wealth to public foundations and charitable causes. Among them, Simon
(1867-1941), is best known for establishing the Guggenheim Foundation
which awards prestigious fellowships for creative work and research. And
to Solomon goes credit for the family's most visible civic gesture: the famed
Guggenheim Museum in New York City, a pantheon of abstract art.
Saul Stadtmauer

COMMISSION FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF JEWISH HISTORY
Walter & Lea Field, Founders/Sponsors
Irwin S. Field & Harriet F. Siden, Chairpersons

Visit many more notable Jews at our website: www.dorledor.org

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