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CANADIAN JEWISH REVIEW
June 27, 1934
Jewish Social Service Workers Here
Thrur hundred and fifty Jewish social service workers from Canada and the t'nitc'd States assembled in Toronto from Monday until Thursday of last week, attended the opening meeting of their National Conference in Holy Blossom Synagogue, where Rabbi B. R. Brickner addressed them.
Rabbi Harnett R. Rrickner said the primary object of Jewish sorial service was to prevent slum conditions amongst people unused to slums, and for this reason he regretted the ban placed U[K>n Jewish immigration bv the United States.
Changes of great moment affecting the community life of the Jew in the I'nited States and Canada as a direct result of the' abatement of immigration were prophesied.
Rabbi Rrickner stated that the lessening of immigration is permanent and will result in eliminating the problem of the immigrant Jew. In the next quarter century, if the Jew enjoys the same economic privileges as he does to-day on this continent, there will be no poor Jews, and the ghettos will go and with them the Yiddish language. Jewish life will cease to be secular and will be different from other races only in religious culture. The result will be to reduce the the work of the Jewish social service to a minimum, so that Jews will have to find a market for their philanthropy.
In the absence of Maurice R, Hexter. of Boston, Mass,, president of the Conference, who is now in Europe. Maurice D. Waldman. executive director of the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities, read Mr. Hexter's annual message.
A business meeting of the executive of the conference was held at the King Fdward Hotel in the afternoon, when the annual report was received and sent on to the first session of the Conference.
The kxal committee in charge of the arrangements for the Conference was composed of : Mrs. B. R. Rrickner, Mrs. I). Dunkeiman Mrs. J. J. Allen, Mrs. J. Hisman, Mrs. I. Fried. Miss F. Lew, Mrs. R. Raz. Mrs. A, I. Willinskv, Mrs. 1. H. Seigei. Mrs. H. Clavir, Miss Adelaide Cohen, Mrs. D. Rockmaker, Mrs. M. Levy and Mrs, J, Singer.
Well-known Men Address Same Session
Palestine is a melting pot, Dr. I. M. Ruhinow, of Philadelphia, told the delegate-.-, and out of this melting pot is being developed a new type of Jew.
Dr. Ruhinow sketched social conditions in the Hob Land. "Around a restaurant table," he stated, "one can hear people speaking Russian, German English, French, Hebrew, Yiddish, Arabic. Turkish, Creek and even I-atin, The\ come from the old and newly created countries of Central Europe from rhe African coast to the Mediterranean, from Syria. Mesopotamia, India and China, from North and South America and Australia, all Jews of every imaginable- type who are undergoing a prex:ess of re-assimilat ion . "
Approximately twenty-five million dollars was spent by Jews in America during 1923 for philanthropic en deavours. Samuel A. Goldsmith, of the bureau of Jewish social research, rcid in his address. In citing these figures, Mr. Goldsmith pointed out the need of a systematized method of raising funds m America for non-local work He suggested that local federations carry on special campaigns at special times. He also suggested the planning of a total budget and the appointment of the bureau as, an agency to approve or veto ail national appeals based on the necessity or non-necessity of the work.
"What strikes us as particularly significant," said Dr. Ludwig B. Bernstein, discussing radical differences in social service v,ork here and in Europe among Jewish organizations, "is the affectionate care showered by the Berlin
by which are meant poor families of lx?tter social strata, for whose l>enefit the annual proceeds of numerous charitable bequests are available."
"Berlin's provision for the health care of its Jewish people is most commendable," he went on. "There is a very,' generous endowment for the care of tifbercular patients in their own homes. A marked concern for the care and welfare of students is maintained !x:>th in Berlin and Vienna."
The opinion that the American immigration bill would have a far-reaching effect on Jews was made by Dr. Lee Frankel. In his opening speech Dr. Frankel said that medical welfare was of prime importance to the growing generation. He adeled that health was not Jewish nor sectarian and that in but isolated cases was there need of a special Jewish institution. He was of the opinion that the recently passed American immigration bill would cause serious changes in the social and welfare problems of the Jewish people. It was his belief that immigration restriction was a permanent policy of the American government and that those Jews who now talk only Yiddish woulel in the next ten years become Americanized and would thus cease being a problem for social agencies.
L)r, Frankel said that the trend of health work is to place responsibility squarely on the community and that the chief function of Jews as citizens should be to see to it that the work is undertaken and done. He advised communities to have surveys made of their communal problems before initiating a health programme.
"There are some people who still believe in the efficacy of the good old-fashioned slipper as the solution of juvenile delinquency problems." said Jess Perlman, executive director of the committee on field activitites of the Jewish tx)ard of guardians of New \ ork, speaking at the child welfare conference of the National Convention of Jewish Social Service held at the King Edward recently.
Failures to check juvenile delinquency among Jews was in large measure due to lack of co-operation on the part of the synagogue and to a seeming lack of interest on the part of the rabbi.
Economic conditions in many families, and indifference to things Yiddish, were having a eiireful effect on the rising generation, he continued.
Jewish settlements in U.S.A. came in for some hot criticism, particularly concerning stock methods of "Americanization." In some places, he declared, the- work consists chiefly in teaching those in the community the words of a language and the waving of a flag. "Such a svstem," said Mr. Perlman, "is without friendship, without love, and therefor, without power to bridge the unfortunate abyss."
Closing Session
Soviet Russia does not recognize Jews as such; only those who speak Yiddish are members of the "Jewish Group," and this attitude, together with the endeavours of the present-day-rulers of Russia to abolish all vestiges of the bourgeois was responsible for many radical changes in the life of the Russian Jewish people. This was the essence of a paper given by Dr. Harry S. Lin field, of the Bureau of Jewish Social Research, at the closing session of the National Conference of Jewish Social Service, in the King Edward Hotel.
The day was given over to the consideration of community welfare activities ir European countries. In the discussion which followed the paper Dr. Boris Bogen pointed out that if the Russian Jews are deprived of the freedom to impart religious kowledge freedom to impart religious knowledge to their children, this prohibition was
that for the first time in history, the Russian Jews were not suffering from discrimination. Dr. C. D. Spivak emphasized that, whatever the policy of the Soviet Government might be, it would change before long and become more liberal towards all religions, the Jewish faith included. Dr. Frank Rosenblatt, New York, agreed, however, that there was no discrimination against the Tews in Russia.
The establishment of a Jewish Communal Training School for Social Workers was recommended by a special committee. A tentative budget calling for an expenditure of $42,750 a year was adopted, but it was decided that the school should not be opened until sufficient money was available for at least three years' maintenance.
Liberal Givings
At a session of the executives of the Federation of Jewish Charities, held in conjunction with the conference, Dr. Samuel A. Goldsmith, Director of the Bureau of Jewish Social Research, announced that approximately $25,-000,000 was contributed by the Jews of Canada and the United States during States during 1923 for philanthropic purposes in America and European centres.
The election of officers resulted as fe)llowrs: president, Dr. Ludwig B. Bernstein, Pittsburg; vice-presidents, Jacob Billikopf, Philadelphia; Dr. Boris Bogen, Los Angeles, and Arthur C. Heyman, Baltimore; treasurer, Louis M. Cahn, Chicago; secretary, Samuel A. Goldsmith, New York; assistant secretaries, Miss Laura Guttmacher, Baltimore; Jess Perlman, New York, and Samuel Goldhammer, Cleveland. Executive committee (three years), Dr, I, M, Ruhinow, Philadelphia; Cecil Weiner, Buffalo, and Morris D, Waldman, Detroit.
Dr. Frankel Predicts Men Will Live One Hundred and Twenty Years
Dr. Lee K. Frankel, of New York, vice-president of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and director of the medical work of that institution, at a complimentary dinner tendered him at the Primrose Club by the Jewish professional and business men of Toronto, reviewed the progress of medical science in his address on "The Romance of Medicine." He paid a glowing tribute to the men who have worked in the laboratories to alleviate the suffering of mankind since the time of Pasteur and Koch, the founders of the science of bacteriology.
The speaker had prophesied t he-recent outbreaks of smallpox which occurred in Detroit and Windsor, These outbreaks he attributed to the fact that many are beginning to disregard the necessity of vaccination. In one section of Detroit where there were 95 per cent, of foreigners who had been vaccinated before entering the country no cases of smallpox occurred.
-As a result of the Schick test, by which it is possible to eliminate those susceptible to diphtheria, Dr. Frankel predicted that within ten years diph theria will not be known in Canada or the United States.
He outlined the splendid work being done in the field ot tuberculosis, saying that the day will soon come when medicine will assign this disease which is ravaging this country to the category of chseases which are recognized as having no right to exist in well-regulated communities.
Pneumonia, the dreaded disease of old age, is also coming within the grip of the doctor. Recently a serum containing the precipitated antibody from the serum of a horse inoculated with the germ has been prepared. This serum has already done much to prevent deaths from pneumonia, stated the speaker.
"I believe," concluded Dr. Frankel, "that from the wonderful discoveries that research in scientific medicine will bring, the day will come when we will live not three score and ten years, but 1 20 years."
Those present included: Dr, B. R. Brickner, Edmund Scheuer, L. Frankel, Egmont Frankel, Fred Singer, A. Singer,
ROUMANIAN GOVERNMENT SETTLES QUESTION OF JEWISH REFUGEES \
Will Ask Permission of^Soviet Government for Mass Return
Bucharest (J.T.A.).�The question of the Russian Jewish refugees, who were stranded in Roumar>ia, anticipating the possibility of proceeding to America, was settled to-day as the result of the negotations between the Roumanian Government and Mr. Lucien Wolf, the secretary of the Joint Foreign Committee of England and representative of the lea, the Jewish Colonization Association .
According to the agreement reached, the Roumanian government will commence diplomatic negotations with the Soviet government to obtain the latter's permission for a mass return of those refugees who are unable to proceed to America. Those refugees, however, who have possibilities of proceeding to their destinations will be permitted to stay in Roumania until able to go.
NO MORE VIOLENCE BUT PARLIAMENTARY CAMPAIGN, DECIDED UPON BY ROUMANIAN FASCISTI
Vienna (J.T.A.).�No more violence against the Jews of Roumania will be encouraged by the Fascisti students of Roumania, according to reports appearing in the press of Jassy.
The reports state that the Fascisti students are now considering a change in their programme and contemplate abandoning acts of violence in favour of a sharp parliamentary campaign for the purpose of "dejudaizing Roumania."
SOVIET AUTHORITIES DO NOT PERMIT JEWISH EMIGRATION
Riga (J.T.A.). Many Jews are being brought back to Minsk from the Russian-Polish and Russian-Latvian frontiers by the Soviet authorities, according to information received here from that city, on the charge of attempting to smuggle themselves across the frontiers illegally.
The reasons for theie attempts to cross the border illegally are the v e r y difficult economic position in which the Jewish masses of Soviet Russia find themselves at present, and the difficulty of obtaining legal permission from the Soviet authorities to leave the country.
JEWS OF SOUTH AFRICA PLAY IMPORTANT PART IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGN
Johannesburg (J.T.A.).�The approaching elections to the new parliament in South Africa have demonstrated the strength and importance to which the Jewish community of that region has of late grown. Many Jewish citizens are among the candidates appearing on the tickets of the South African and Labour Parties.
The Jewish community as a whole is taking a great interest in the election which is to decide the fate of General Smuts' government. No Jewish candidates are on the tickets of the Nationalist and Dutch Parties. The Jews are avoiding the introduction into the campaign of matters specifically Jewish, and are voting only in accordance with their political convictions. '
JEWISH ACADEMIC EXPEDITION TO PALESTINE
Warsaw (J.T.A.).�A Jewish scientific expedition will shortly leave here for Palestine. The expeidition is being organized by the executive of the Jewish academic associations.
Cohen, Solomon Lowenstein, New York; Dr. B. D. Bogen, New York; Dr. I. M. Rubinow, Philadelphia; Dr. M. Spivak, New York; B, Goldstein; Dr. M. Weiss, Cincinnati; Dr. M. Kates, D. La vine, A. Cohen; D. Waldman, Detroit; S. Kxonick, J. Creed; I, Hirschfield, New-York; Dr. I. Siegel, Dr. W. Winkler, H.
Lehrer, Dr. H. Breslin; L. Brenner, vt~v^-i.. a r---- - j c c�:_