from relatives in America have been received from the ...research.policyarchive.org/16599.pdf ·...

1 4 4 J E W I S H C H A R I T I E S

The Joint Distribution Committee reports that requests for assistance from relatives in America have been received from the following list of individuals in Warsaw, and have been unanswered because the addresses of the American relatives were incorrect.

Inquirers in W a r s a w . Incorrec t A m e r i c a n A d d r e s s . Chudes A g z e n s t a r k M r . Eisenstark, 11 Pitt St., N e w Y o r k City. Gedal ia Blufste in M a x Bluestein, 632 W a l e s St., B r o n x , N . Y . C h a i m B e r s t e m a n n M . B r o d a c z , 266 P r i m e St., N e w Y o r k City. R o s a B a u m e l E m a n u e l Moi te lka , 192% Greene St., N e w Y o r k City. B e r e k B r a j t m a n S. B r a j t m a n , 46-48 A v e n u e B , N e w Y o r k City. C h a i m B e r g e r M a x Berger , 119 B r o o m e St., N e w Y o r k City. Sch Borenste in M . Borenste in , 115 E a s t 104th St., N e w Y o r k City. Ba lb ina and H e l a B r a m s S a m B r a m s , 55 E a s t 95th St., N e w Y o r k City . F a g g a C y g l e S a m Sigler, 27 E a s t 3rd Street, N e w Y o r k City. H i l e l Cuker M i s s C h a s s e Flaix, 102-106 W o o s t e r St., N e w Y o r k City. D a w i d M e n d e i E g e r w a l d M i s s Sarah R o s e n b e r g , c / o F r i d m a n , 59 E a s t 3rd St.,

N e w Y o r k City . R e z z i l E l b i n g H i l e t E lb l ing , 23 E a s t 105th St., N e w Y o r k City. S imacha F e s t m a n n Jechiel Ne inrog , 1059 6th A v e . , N e w Y o r k City . Szajndla F e l d m a n A . F e l d m a n , 411-415 E a s t 118th St., N e w Y o r k City. A r o n and R y w k a F l a n c r e i c h . . . I s idor , Josef, Jacob, Ber , M a l a and R y f k a Flanreich,

210 S tanton St., N e w Y o r k City . Chuna Fe l s M . B l u m , 23 W e s t 119th St., N e w Y o r k City. Schabsa i F e l d m a n n J. F e l d m a n , 56 E a s t 99th St., N e w Y o r k City . Jacob, Szyn , Fe fer l ing S. R o s e n , 52 E a s t 132nd St., N e w Y o r k City . Z la ta G o l d e F o j n e r B . Foiner , 10 W i l l e t St., N e w Y o r k City. Jacob Fuchs A b r a m Fuchs , 53 Jefferson St., N e w Y o r k City . R o c h e l F u t e r m a n M r . P o m e r a n t z , 567 Springfield A v e . , N e w Y o r k City. M i n d e l Fr ischer M . Sheratzki , 211 S m i t h St., N e w Y o r k City. E l la Finkelszte in L e o n L e f k o w i t z , c / o T . E . L . M t g . Co . , 329 E a s t

29th St., N e w Y o r k City . M a l k a S i m e F r e j m a n M . F r e j m a n , B r o n x , N . Y . C h a n a F r i d m a n M r . G e l d m a n , 208 E a s t 10th St., N e w Y o r k City. Ch . F r o s t M r . B r o w s k i , 181 2nd St., N e w Y o r k City . A b r a m F r y m e r S i g m u n d Fr i edmann , 58 St. M a r k s PI., N e w Y o r k City. D a w i d F u c h s ........Sam F o o x , 81 E a s t 165th St., N e w Y o r k City . M a t e u s c h Geis ler A n t o n i Geisler, 1856 C h i c a g o A v e . , Ch icago , 111. Chaske l G o l d Samue l G o l d , 238 S t o c k t o n St., B r o o k l y n , N . Y . A b e Goldfeder , for mother , K . Goldfeder , 465 41st St. or 465-41 V e r m o n t St., . B. G. Z e l a z n a B r o o k l y n , N . Y . S. G o l d f e l d M . Goldfe ld , Gates A v e . , B r o o k l y n , N . Y . C h a i m G o l d m a n B e r e k Lichtensze in , 229 E a s t 5th St., N e w Y o r k City. A n n a Goldste in B. K i r s c h b a u m , 3338 D o u g l a s Blvd. , Ch icago , 111. B e n j a m i n Goldszte in S i g m o n d Grinberg , 62 E a s t 103rd St., N e w Y o r k City. Sura G o l d w a s s e r M r . Jette, c / o Paul Got ter , 914-16 M y r t l e A v e . , B r o o k

lyn, N . Y . L e i b G o l d e n d s y n e r A . B. Grades , 178 R i v i n g t o n St., N e w Y o r k City. Bl ine Grinfe ld L . Greenfe ld , 1084 P a r s o n A v e . , N e w Y o r k City. S. R . D e m o c h , c / o Grunberg , N . A b r a m Gleicher, 2 6 7 W a t e r St., N e w Y o r k City. Cipa G r z y b D . K a p l a n , 341 W e l a n s St., B r o o k l y n , N . Y . B a s c h a G u r e w i c z G. K a p u s t a , c / o Gradus , N . , 305 E a s t 3rd St., N e w

Y o r k City . Tacob G u t m a c h e r L . G o o t m a n , c / o Schreiber, 412 South 5th St., B r o o k l y n ,

N . Y . Pere l H a b e r g D . H o r b e r g , 1110 F o s t e r A v e . , Ch icago , 111. D id ie H a n d f u s s M . H o f f m a n , 231 Cl inton St., N e w Y o r k City . Ruchla H e r s c h A b r a h a m K e r s c h , 76 Suffolk St., N e w Y o r k City. D a w i d H e r s c h k o w i t z Jac. E . Gerstein, 438 E a s t 20th St., N e w Y o r k City. B a j l e H i m r a n e j A . K a n n a y , 398 E s s e x St., N e w Y o r k City. M o n i e H o c h b a u m M o r r i s H o c h b a u m , 6 9 D e b e v o i s e St., B r o o k l y n , N . Y . H e n o c h H o l e I- K l ings land , 155 S e c o n d St., N e w Y o r k City . S z l a m a H o n i g s z t e i n S. H o n i g s t e i n , 886 S o n b a r d A v e . , N e w Y o r k City . S c h l o g m a D a w i d H o r o w i t z S. R . G o l d b e r g , 144 A t t o r n e y St., N e w Y o r k City. F e i g a N icha I chse lbs t S. K a n e r , 21 M o r r e l l St., B r o o k l y n , N . Y . Fe iga N icha I c h s e l b s t . . . . S. K a n e r for M o r i t z Rupracht , 21 M o r r e l l St., B r o o k

lyn, N . Y .

• J E W I S H C H A R I T I E S

• mz

Vol IX December, 1918 No. 8

ifcalttf N u m b e r

C o - o r d i n a t i n g H e a l t h E f f o r t

P r e v e n t i v e P r o g r a m s

M e d i c i n e a n d Soc ia l Se rv i ce

P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E

Rational Conference of Jewish Charities 114 FIFTH A V E N U E , N E W Y O R K

W O R K E R W A N T E D

3n atyia Saau? A M e s s a g e f r o m the F ie ld Secre

t a r y — P a g e 151. T h e value of Social W o r k in M e d i

c ine—Page 153. A Jewish H e a l t h B u r e a u — P a g e 155. T h e Y . M . H . A . as a F a c t o r in

C o m m u n i t y H e a l t h — P a g e 157.

M e e t i n g the P r o b l e m of the I n digent T u b e r c u l o u s A m o n g the J e w s — P a g e 159.

A Federat ion H e a l t h P r o g r a m -P a g e 161.

T h e H e a r t of B e t h I s r a e l — P a g e 163.

T h e Inst i tute as a Center of C o m munal H e a l t h — P a g e 165.

T h e E p i d e m i c and I t s Social A f t e r m a t h — P a g e 171.

(Garb ani Sftorb IForum The Field Bureau is prepared to supply

the following social service cards and record forms, especially adapted for use in small communities.

1—Census Cards—for use securing a basis for community planning. Price: 50 cards, $.35; 100 cards, $.50; 1,000 cards, $3.50

2—Records for Big Brothers' Association— for recording status a:nd development of the Little Brother, including a follow-up entry with reference to the work of the Big Brother. Price' 50 records, $2.50; 100 records, $4.00; 1,000 records, $30.00.

3—Case Record Card (Simplified)—a substitute for the old-fashioned day book or ledger. Recommended for use in Relief Agencies not ready to adopt the modern complete system of record keeping. Price: 50 cards, $.70; 100 cards, $1.00; 1,000 cards, $6.50.

4—Child Record Cards—For use in connection with intensive social service effort with children. Items refer to health, school progress, home conditions, and follow-up work. Price: 50 cards, $.70; 100 cards, $1.00; 1,000 cards. $6.50.

5—Community Study Card—To determine the field of religious and educational agencies. Form A, for Young Men; Form B, for Young Women. Price: 50 cards, $.50; 100 cards, $.75; 1,000 cards, $4.00.

(Advertisements $1.50 per insertion. Address "Jewish Charities.")

WANTED—Superintendent, man or woman, for Jewish community center in Brooklyn, conducting religious, social and educational activities. Please state age, experience, references. Address S. O., Jewish Charities.

WANTED—A nursery kindergartner in a settlement. Interesting field. Resident position if desired. Address T. I., Jewish Charities.

WANTED—An experienced and capable Jewish house mother or couple to supervise a small temporary shelter, caring for a maximum of 15 children. For further information address J. A. S., 516 North 4th Street, Philadelphia, Pa.

WANTED—Executive Secretary for a Tuberculosis Sanitarium in the West. Excellent opportunity. State particulars as to age, experience, salary expected. Address C. B., Jewish Charities.

WANTED—Assistant superintendent for Southern Orphans' Home. Address A. P., Jewish Charities.

W A N T E D — A boys' supervisor, a Hebrew teacher and boys' supervisor, and a ' girls' supervisor for an orphanage in an Eastern city. Address S. L., Jewish Charities.

®hp Jffielu Hurpau of % National Qlmtfmnre of Sftutalj

(Ebarttwa Jewish Soc ia l W o r k e r s E x c h a n g e — p r o

vides pos i t ions for Jewish Social W o r k e r s and assists organizat ions in procur ing qualified candidates for existing vacancies .

Centra l Reg i s t ra t ion B u r e a u for T r a n

sient A p p l i c a n t s for Relief.

Contr ibutors ' Exchange—not i f i e s organ

izations of n e w potential contr ibutors

m o v i n g in f r o m other c o m m u n i t i e s .

I n f o r m a t i o n B u r e a u — a n s w e r s quest ions on all phases and p r o b l e m s of Jewish social service.

Centra l Reg i s t ra t ion B u r e a u for T u b e r c u losis Pat ients .

Reference L i b r a r y on Jewish Social Service , Social W o r k e r s ' D i r e c t o r y and Bib l iography .

U n i f o r m Standard R e c o r d f o r m s furnished for all types of Jewish social work .

C o m m u n i t i e s v is i ted for organizat ion and p r o p a g a n d a services , as wel l as for consultat ion and advice .

Surveys p r o m o t e d and conducted for Jewish c o m m u n i t i e s and organizat ions . "Jewish Charit ies ," a nat ional Jewish Social Service m o n t h l y , published.

^ = ^ - x ^ ^ T r i I I I I I 11 i 11 i i i i 11 i u - u ^ ^ i j i i i i i i i 11 i i 'TJ^n?

(JEWISH (CHARITIES Published bv the National Conference of Tewish Charities. Issued Monthly at Room 1810, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York.

Entered as second class matter August 22, 1918, at the post office at New York, New York, under the act of March 3, 1879.

Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103 Act of October 3, 1917. authorized on August 22, 1918.

Subscription $1 per year.

VOL. IX DECEMBER, 1918 No 8

T O those who come into direct contact with the problems of Jewish social service it is certainly not necessary to explain or excuse the appearance of a special "Health Number" of Jewish Charities. The

extent to which poor health lies at the bottom of poverty, low morale and family disintegration, and the extent to which low living standards and lack of life's necessities bring on disease and bereavement are too well known to require emphasis. But with the development of community life and with the added impetus that the war needs have given to communal endeavor, the field of health work, the prevention of disease, the task of after-care and rehabilitation, has been marvelously widened and intensified. Throughout every phase of Jewish social service one finds efforts to cope, to some measure, with the health problem, and the tendency towards coordination and organization of these varied manifestations of endeavor is a hopeful sign of realization of the problem.

It is with no intention of offering any solution to the many questions of health work that this number of "Jewish Charities" is presented. Its mission is rather the emphasis of the entire subject, opening the way to a universal and wholehearted participation on the part of all Jewish social workers, in the task of standardizing and correlating the prevailing ideas and programs underlying the work in the different fields. The Committee on Health of the National Conference of Jewish Charities is developing a practical and valuable program for the Health Sessions of the next Conference meeting. It is to be hoped that now, more than ever before, the problems of health work, especially in their specifically Jewish aspects, will call forth the most earnest and eager response from Jewish social workers the country over.

T HE fact that in a special "Health Number," the major portion of the material is contributed by social workers is in itself an indication of the close relationship existing between the two fields of work. Time

and again the social worker realizes with a start that he is entering into fields formerly sacred to the technician ; here he delves into the mysteries of social legislation, here he ventures into the court room and essays to stem


the tide of delinquency, here he visits the school house and interests himself in the task of preventing retardation, here he undertakes to develop industrial standards, here the problems of disease prevention call to him for service. In practically every field of human endeavor he finds the need for social adjustment and claims it for his own. And the skilled professional worker in that field cannot help but mildly complain that, socially skilled and trained as the social worker might be, he is not always a lawyer, a teacher, or a physician.

On the other hand, the social worker is at times astounded to discover the extent to which the specialists in other fields are entering into his own, sometimes renouncing their former professions, sometimes engaging in social service as an absorbing avocation. The number of physicians, lawyers, teachers and business men who have taken up social work, either as the whole or part of their life work is well known. And the number who look in on the work with more than casual interest is rapidly increasing. The physician finds that social service is really an integral division of his work; the teacher makes a similar discovery. It is to be expected that the professional social worker will look upon this invasion with something akin to alarm ; the vision of myriads of untrained workers dealing with the problems of social abnormality and maladjustment is at best a disquieting one. It is almost inevitable that conflicts of opinion and authorities should arise.

That these conflicts are of an absolutely unselfish nature, inspired by the whole hearted desire on both sides to have the dependent treated in the best possible way, does not make them any the less deplorable. The times are bringing the social worker and the physician closer and closer together, and the hope of perfect cooperation and coordination in their efforts is getting nearer and nearer fulfillment. The responsibility for its realization rests with both groups, with the physician that he must recognize the professional standing and special skill of the social worker, and respect the technical nature of his services, and with the social worker himself, that he must realize the need of calling"upon the expert to work with him in the task of social reclamation.

R EPORTS from cities throughout the country are beginning to indicate the after-results of the epidemic, the dependency, bereavement, and suffering that it has left in its wake. The problems of the care

of orphaned children, of the family left without breadwinner, of those left weak and helpless present the necessity for careful thought and planning if they are adequately to be met.

People never before compelled to turn to the charity agency for relief now have no other alternative. The social worker, the Board Member, the socially minded lay citizen face the task of educating their communities to

J E W I S H C H A R I T I E S 1 4 9

the d esired attitude towards these victims, whose feelings should certainly be respected as are those of the families of the wounded soldiers, and the widows and orphans of those brave men that have fallen in battle. Here is no room for impatience, condescension or scorn. In many communities the unforeseen need will make unplanned for inroads upon the resources of the social service agencies, and special funds will have to be secured from the contributing public, to allow for adequate relief for those unfortunate families where, due to tragedy which descended upon rich and poor alike, community assistance is needed.

The problem of the children, orphaned through the epidemic, will bring to many communities a question as to the advisability of establishing institutions to house them; it may be that in some instances this will appeal to the contributing public as the most logical and the most practical course, one that would be most likely to secure ready support. All the influence that Board Member, volunteer, citizen or social worker can exert should, without question, be directed towards preventing the establishment of such institutions. The fact that this was an extraordinary disaster, and that the community will probably not be kept supplied with orphans as freely in the future as during the past few months should be sufficient reason against the establishment of permanent child-caring institutions for this purpose.

In large communities, where the number of children orphaned through the epidemic may be very great, there are already established institutions to care for them In small communities, where no such institutions exist, the relatively small number of children thus orphaned makes placement in private families the only allowable course. It is to be hoped that enlightened public opinion will assist the social worker in holding to the course of reason in such instances, sparing the community the burden of supporting an unnecessary institution, and giving the children the opportunity of growing into manhood and womanhood under a mother's care and amid the atmosphere of normal family life.

T HE extent to which fatigue, inefficiency, lack of initiative and "pep," may be attributed to physical maladjustment is a well known axiom among Jewish social workers. If the applicant lacks ambition, if he

easily tires at the task to which he is put, if his mental energies seem on the wane, the accepted move on the part of the social worker is to arrange for a physical examination of the "case." Sometimes one wonders whether the applicant does not survey his interviewer with critical eye, seeking to discover whether any negative physical condition lies back of his lack of s y m

pathy, this abruptness, his absence of inspiration in devising means to get him out of his hole. When affairs drag, when originality has become a

150 J E W I S H C H A R I T I E S

thing of the past, when each succeeding contact with the every-day social irritants becomes an unbearable experience, the social worker begins to feel played out—his day is over. T h e extent to which social workers leave the profession to enter other fields is also an indication that the physical reactions from social service are anything but desirable. Perhaps it is too sweeping a statement to say that the greater part of the inefficiency of the social worker is due to the fact that he is not at the highest point of physical vigor, but there is little doubt but that a great deal of suffering, disappointment and discouragement on the part of both worker and the people with w h o m he works could be avoided were there no such thing as physical exhaustion, nerves, indigestion and the thousand and one other ills to which flesh is heir. In the old days the social worker, like the minister and the genius, was expected to sacrifice health and life for his w o r k ; n o w it is realized that in 'sacrificing health, even to the slightest extent, he is sacrificing his work also, failing to g ive his best to it, and work ing a real injustice to himself, his employers and his consti tuency.

It is seldom that Directors realize the extent to which the extraordinary demands made upon the time and energy of their worker react unfavorably upon his work , and the degree to which the sins of omission and of c o m mission for which they censure him may arise out of that same physical depression for which they are in part responsible. And , on the other hand, the social worker is apt to feel that his Board Members have been unduly unsympathetic and critical when, in reality, the reaction was a merely subject ive one, due to hyper-sensitiveness and a bad case of "nerves," arising out of ill health. If he were employed in a business concern, where inefficiency might mean financial loss, both employer and employe would be expected, as a matter of 'course, to see that the highest possible point of efficiency were sustained. Here, where a let-down in inspiration, energy and opt imism might mean the loss of happiness, comfort , and even, sometimes, of life, to dependent men, w o m e n and children, neglect of this important problem is inexcusable, both on the part of the social worker and of the communi ty , to and for which he is responsible.

The social worker and his communi ty know what this problem involves, and having realized it, they must make every effort to meet i t ; but the c o m munity cannot be expected to urge health measures upon the enthusiast w h o "doesn ' t k n o w enough to come in out of the rain." In times gone by , one felt toward the sick social worker a sort of awed respect, as toward the ancient martyrs. N o w , in these matter-of-fact and unsentimental days, one feels simply commiserat ion—and impatience that efficiency and constructive energy should be al lowed to g o to seed.

J E W I S H C H A R I T I E S 151

(Hn tJje Members of % (tttmUvmn: r 1 W h e n this message reaches you, your Field Secretary will be on the

high seas, again a relief commissioner of the Joint Distribution Committee. Since my return from Holland last winter the Joint Distribution Committee, by arrangement with the Execut ive Commit tee of the Conference, has had an option on my services, in case it should be necessary to send me abroad once more. T h e happy cessation of the W a r and the consequent opening up to relief of hitherto inaccessible territory has made this advisable, and the Execut ive Commit tee of the Conference has granted me leave of absence for the period of my service in this capacity.

Eager as I am to take part in this task, and wil l ingly as I am undertaking these new activities, it is with especial regret that I leave the Field Bureau at this time, because of the tremendous opportunities for service lying before it, the wonderful cooperat ion that is being given by the members of the Conference, and the recent amalgamation of the three research bureaus into a national Bureau of Research and Statistics.

T h e recent launching of a new national organization of Jewish c o m munal workers in N e w Y o r k City offers an opportunity for the clarification of the principles underlying Jewish communal endeavor, but the necessity for emphasis on the professional aspects of social work should not be overlooked. I still hope for the early establishment of the much-needed school for Jewish social service, and for this purpose the organization of a society for communal workers is not sufficient; the professional social service

'•experts must be mobilized into a faculty group. In passing, let me remark I that the distinction between the paid and unpaid worker is fast becoming obsolete and, if we wish to strengthen the more valid distinction between the trained and the untrained, our best means is the establishment of a national training school . On the other hand, it is to be hoped that nothing will interfere with the development of the great strides that the Conference is making in the direction of bringing together, in comnion interest and sympathies, the paid worker, the volunteer, the Board Member and the interested lay citizen, for c o m m o n counsel and unified understanding. T h e value of this coming together cannot be overs ta ted; it is, and will increasingly continue to be, a source of inspiration and idealism, that will do much towards keeping social service, as a profession, on a permanent plane of whole-hearted altruism.

1 am looking forward to the time when I can again take up the work with the Field Bureau. During m y absence its activities will be conducted by the efficient staff, under the direct and close supervision of the Field Bureau Committee. The registration and exchange bureaus, the information department, "Jewish Charities," and the. other services will continue as usual, with the constant consultation and advice of the Field Bureau C o m mittee. I am infinitely sorry that I am compelled to leave the surveys which we have undertaken, but the Bureau is arranging for their complet ion, and I am certain that they will shortly be brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

I am very anxious that the registration of Jewish social workers, as outlined by the Commit tee on Registration, should proceed as quickly as poss ib le ; it is not necessary for me to point out the importance of cooperation in this department.

In leaving I bespeak for the Field Bureau your continued cooperat ion and suppor t ; its growth and development depends, of course, upon your


interest in it, and surely {he need for just such an agency, justifies your increasing interest. I sincerely thank all the members of the Conference and its friends, for the fine cooperation that they have given; I wish to express my appreciation of the opportunities I have had in visiting the various communities, and to extend my gratitude to my fellow-workers who have worked shoulder to shoulder with me, in developing the Bureau work.

During my sojourn across the water I shall have the privilege, from time to time, of chatting with you through the medium of these pages. And when Spring comes, we shall all meet at the Conference—and we certainly shall have a lot to talk about. Till then, good-bye and good luck.

("The plan for amalgamating into a central research bureau the Bureau of Statistics of the American Jewish Committee, the New York Bureau of Philanthropic Research and the Research Department of the Field Bureau of the National Conference of Jewish Charities has been formally approved by the three organizations on condition that the necessary funds be guaranteed. The requisite funds have been pledged by the New York Foundation, the American Jewish Committee, various other organizations and a number of individuals, and the Central Bureau of Research, as described in the last issue of "Jewish Charities" is now in process of actual formation.

The further development of the amalgamation plan, into a National School for Jewish Social Service has been sidetracked because of objection, on the part of a number of Jewish social workers in New York, to the method in which the matter has been taken up. At a meeting of these workers held on December 3rd and presided over by Mr. Chester Jacob Teller, the launching of a new national organization of Jewish communal workers was discussed. Mr. Teller suggested "an

organization among those interested for the purpose of exchange of ideas on the functions, problems and organization of the Jewish Community of America, having in mind the unique contribution that that community might make to the rich diversity of developing American life."

It was the sense of this meeting "that the' times were peculiarly, opportune for the organization of a body of communal workers for the purpose of study of the problems of Jewish communal life; particularly the study of problems of adjustment of that communal life; also for the study of the problems of Jewish communal organization."

Dr. S. Benderly, of the Bureau of Education of the Kehillah, explained the origin of the meeting, and moved that the chairman appoint a committee of five to be known as a Special Committee on Invitation, to draw up a list of persons to be invited to the next meeting of the communal workers. This motion was carried, and it was further moved and carried that a Committee of Five on Scope and Plan be appointed. The next meeting of the workers is to take place during December.


T H E V A L U E O F S O C I A L W O R K I N M E D I C I N E MAX BIE.5ENTHAL, M.D.

Our individual lives daily reflect the trend of national affairs, and with t̂he new epoch of social and economic advance into which the world has entered, the principles underlying it are making themselves felt in the relationships of human beings to one another. Just as the League of Nations is to operate so that the strong might protect the weak, so are those agencies through which the weak and helpless individual is protected and succored by his stronger brother becoming daily more numerous and more effective. Especially is this true in the realm of medicine. And with this development of the social concept in medicine came the realization that medical treatment and drugs are often insufficient and that practical social service must be utilized also.

A large percentage of the applicants asking assistance of our charitable organizations come on account of illness, either of themselves or of their families. The breadwinner, perhaps, is ill and no longer able to support them; or the mother, expecting a new arrival, is without the means to secure proper attention. Both social worker and physician, in their daily routine encounter instances such as these, time and again. All present the problem—who shall handle the case, the physician alone, or the social worker through her society? And if they are to work together, where should the authority of the one end, and the supervision of the other begin.

Just as there are many social problems that might be solved by the aid of the physician, so are there many medical problems in the solving of which the physician should

be aided by the social worker. Often this aid should precede the work of the doctor and continue in operation long after the physician has completed his professional duties. Such a course would in many cases lead to prevention of the disease, or a cessation of the condition that is being treated. Two hypothetical cases will illustrate the necessity for the social worker and the physician to work hand in hand.

Problem One: Mrs. A. is about to give birth to another child. Now confinement is surely a medical subject. But here we have a woman, poorly educated, unworldly and financially dependent upon some charity society. She and her child need the aid not only of the physician, but also of the trained sociological worker. The physician should ask the social worker to visit the woman with him—together they should lay out a proper regime for the woman to follow. The preparation of the baby clothes, the matter of personal cleanliness, advice and aid in the selection of a maternity hospital—all this should be arranged through the joint efforts of the physician and social worker. Only those of experience can estimate the infinite value of social service after the birth of the child. The doctor can advise, but to her belongs the task to se*e that the instructions are followed. Infant morbidity and infant mortality can be marvelously lessened through the joint supervision of the doctor and the "lady from the society." Cooperation between physician and social worker is thus often a matter of saving human lives; it is therefore a national duty. The importance of efficiency and effectiveness


in this cooperation can therefore not be overestimated.

Problem T w o : Mr. C. has developed a cough and night sweats, and expectorates b lood . Not many years ago he would have gone to his physician, wdio might have diagnosed his ailment, and written a prescription or advised a change of climate. H e would have been a medical problem only. But the teachings of Sachs, Frankel and others have shown us the error of such procedure. T o d a y the true and thoughtful physician goes bey o n d merely the lungs and their pathology. H e elicits from the patient the family and social history. His advice and his methods of treatment must be that not only of medical science, but permeated with the ideals of social service. H e calls in the society representative, who obtains for him complete data on home conditions, the available means of self aid or aid from other members of the family, the possibilities of the spread of contagion, especially to the children. If possible, together they attempt to place the patient in a sanitarium. W h i l e the sick man is in the sanitarium the worker is the connect ing link between him and his family. The knowledge that some one is watching his loved ones in a sincerely protective spirit raises the morale of the consumptive and aid in his recovery . T h e patient, having been restored to health is ready to return home. T h e social worker attempts to place him in better l iving quar-" ters, obtains for him a position sucn as is recommended by the physiciar . visits him as often as necessity may require, and supervises his activities in order to prevent a relapse. T h e physician, on his part, makes a monthly examination of his lungs and suggests such changes as the case may demand. T h e sanitarium treatment has been of value, but if we stop our guidance with the discharge of the consumpth e from the institution, the w o r k has been in

vain. Cooperat ion between the social service organization and the physician can often be the means of transforming a stricken and unfortunate individual into an asset to his family and the state. The doctor cannot do it alone. T h e social worker is likewise handicapped. But working together as a unit they can achieve a successful solution to the problem. Y e t this field has been woeful ly neglected.

For many years social service workers have been looked upon as interlopers in the field of medicine. There was a feeling that at best they only created a feeling of dissatisfaction in the family and in the end were one of the principle agencies in the production of pauperism. But the work of social service organizations in raising the morale of our t roops during the Great W a r should dispel that belief once and for all. Morale aided in br inging victory, and this is true in civil, as well as in military endeavor. T h e physician is coming more and more to call upon the social worker to work with him in his task of reclaiming the lives and the morale of the sick and dependent.

It is presumed by the public that the physician has been trained in the class room and laboratory of the medical col lege, and has also had the clinical experience of the hospital. It is only with the guarantee of such training and experience that the physician feels justified in pursuing his profession. It should be the rule that social workers should have been similarly trained, both in the class room and in the field, before setting themselves up as members of the social service profession, and in a position to meet the medical man on an equal basis. A s this state of affairs comes nearer and nearer universal fulfillment, there will be ever greater and more efficient cooperat ion between the two groups, and, as a result, better results will be secured.


• Ill-health is so potent a factor in dependency and enters in so many cases and in so many ways into all charitable and social work that some consideration of this subject in a cooperat ive and comprehensive way by the local Jewish organizations dealing especially with health questions, is not only desirable, but imperative.

N T o a meeting recently called for 'this purpose in Baltimore, the following organizations sent representatives : The Hebrew Hospital, the Hebrew Benevolent Society, the Council Milk and Ice Fund, the Jewish H o m e for Consumptives of the Federated Jewish Charities, the Voung Ladies Benevolent Society and the Jewish H o m e for Incurables of the United Hebrew Charities. Every one of these organizations have direct dealings with the sick and are seeking cooperat ive measures for the improvement of health condit ions. In . the discussion that, developed at this meeting, the lack of coordinated effort in handling health problems and the general lack of knowledge of the health sit--, uation stood out, and it was felt that through an organization such as was subsequently advised, these o b jects could be attained. It was particularly pointed out that there has been no attempt whatsoever, in this city, to educate the Jewish group in matters of health. There was a general feeling that if a Jewish Health Bureau had been in operation at the time of the Influenza epidemic, it could have brought the necessities of the situation to the people for w h o m the Jewish agencies are responsible, more effectively than any other organization. A s it was, such a campaign was not within the power of any of existing organizations.

The purpose and scope of the con

templated Bureau may be described, in as few words as possible, as fo l lows:

1. T o coordinate the work of the several Jewish agencies doing health work , to inquire into conditions that may affect the health of the Jewish communi ty of the city, and to promote such work as may not be covered by any of the agencies.

2. T o consider and endeavor to solve questions appertaining to the health of the Jewish communi ty .

3. T o obtain the services of investigators wdien necessary for the purpose aforesaid.

4. T o cooperate with all local health societies and with municipal, state and national health organizations.

Subjects for Discussion.

A slight and cursory view of the situation has brought forth the following suggest ions that might be considered in cooperation, of course, between the Jewdsh Health Bureau, and National, State, City, or private organizations.

1. The General Field. a. A survey and study of the

question of those diseases which are particularly prevalent among our people.

b. The determination of mortality rates and statistics of the various diseases, and, after such determination, the taking of such steps as may be necessary to bring about a reduction or, if possible, the entire elimination of the causes by instituting proper methods of prevention.

2. Tuberculosis . ! a. The study of the prevalence

of Tuberculosis in the coujitry and in our communi ty .

b. T h e ascertaining of the nurfi-

<A J E W I S H H E A L T H B U R E A U , L O U I S H. LEVIN


b o y s engage in basketbal l and indoor baseball g a m e s , and the y o u n g e r girls g o into basketbal l , folk dancing and aesthetic dancing, with all the enthusiasm and energy they possess . O u r business men and profess ional men, w h o c o m e up to the g y m n a s i u m classes twice a week are particularly fond of the setting up exercises, and spend their leisure t ime playing handbal l in the indoor handbal l court. Several of them assure us that just as soon as they neglect the g v m n a s i u m for a short t ime they feel the results of t in t neglect . T h e married w o m e n also have a twice-a-week class, and their interest and regular attendance is indeed encouraging. S o m e c o m e to gain weight , others to reduce, s o m e c o m e just for the fun of it, and s o m e c o m e because they realize the benefits of building up s trong bodi ly resistance. But when one observes the success of these men's and w o m e n ' s classes he can not question the fact that the busy men and w o m e n of our c o m muni ty are conserv ing their health and energies, in the midst of their activities.

In the Junior and Intermediate classes the group w o r k is supplemented by w o r k with individuals. A l l the b o y s and girls are g iven periodic examinations and the comparat ive health conditions of the different children, s h o w n in these examinat ions is a m i g h t y incentive for each child to put forth m o r e effort in his class work . Correct ive exercises are also g iven in individual cases, wherever necessary.

It is our g o o d fortune to possess a spacious natatorium, which is utilized by great numbers , m a n y of w h o m do not attend g y m n a s i u m classes. D u r i n g the s u m m e r m o n t h s the s w i m m i n g poo l is the big attraction of the c o m m u n i t y , and all year round it is in continual use.

T h e married w o m e n c o m e out s trong for it, and the y o u n g e r folks, of course, claim it for their very own.

I would include our bowl ing al leys as part of our health facilities, for the dev e l o p m e n t of the musc les and the s trengthening of the arms, as wel l as the general tone which it gives to the entire sys tem, is surely a great factor in building up physical resistence to disease. O u r b o w l i n g al leys are popularized b y y o u n g w o m e n and y o u n g men alike, are one of the popular features of the building.

T h u s far it has been s o m e w h a t ha id tc gather together a large group of people in order to hear a health talk b y a physician or athletic expert, but we are m a k i n g an energetic effort to arrange for such gather ings . In the meant ime , the instructors and staff physic ians conduct a series of health talks, for the purpose of s t imulat ing and sustaining the interest of the m e m b e r s in their health activities.

A s an influence for the m o l d i n g of public opinion a long the lines of healthful surroundings , the Y . M . H . A . seeks to impress upon the c o m m u n i t y the importance with which it regards proper sanitation and venti lat ion; it is a rule that there should be perfect venti lation in all r o o m s , whether occupied b y a smal l group of ten or twelve w h o are ho ld ing a club meet ing , or by three to five hundred people on the dance floor or attending a lecture in the auditorium.

O n the whole , the w o r k of the Y . M .

H . A . , as it is deve loping in our c o m

munity , emphas izes the possibil it ies for

preventive health w o r k inherent in this

type of organizat ion and sugges t s

broader and still broader fields for con

structive education a long these lines.

Decision as to the change of name ot "Jewish Charities" is awaiting full returns on the referendum b\ the constituent societies of the Conference, who are urged to send in their votes as quickly as possible.


M E E T I N G T H E P R O B L E M O F T H E I N D I G E N T T U B E R C U L O U S A M O N G T H E J E W S .

Dr. C D. S P I V A K

f T h e Problem Stated.

A c c o r d i n g to the United States Census report, the death rate from tuberculosis during the year 1915 was 141.6 per 100,000 population.

According to the Jewish Year Book for the year 5679 (1917-1918) there are 3,300,000 Jews in the United States.

Assuming that the same rate holds g o o d for the Jews, the number of Jews w h o died from tuberculosis in 1915 was 4,672.

It is calculated by various boards of health that there are ten l iving tuberculous to one death. It is therefore evident that there must be at least 46,720 living tuberculous Jews at all times in the United States.

The majority of the tuberculous are recruited from the poor w h o become dependent soon after the disease is discovered. A great number of those w h o were independent become dependent after the first year of the disease. On ly a small minority are able to maintain themselves during the process of undergoing the cure.

The cure of tuberculosis is a long, s low and expensive process and therefore the majority of the Jewish consumptives necessarily become sooner or later dependent.

It is the duty of the National Jewish Communi ty of the United States to take care of its tuberculous poor .

T h e Solution of the Problem. The solution of the problem of the indigent tuberculous among the

Jews can be effected. (a) Through the acquirement of a thorough knowledge of the scope

of the problem and ( b ) B y raising of adequate means to support the agencies for the cure

and prevention of tuberculosis.

A . T h e Scope of the Problem. The Jews of the country must first of all find out the exact number of

the indigent consumptives. For this purpose it is necessary to make every possible effort to locate and register every Jewish man, woman and child w h o is tuberculous. T o attain this end it is imperative to employ the fo l lowing means :

1. Loca l Registration. Every Jewish communi ty should endeavor through its various organized agencies to locate and register the name, address age, occupation, and where and when the disease was contracted of every tuberculous case -in its midst.

2. National Registration. Al l the above data gathered by the various Jewish communit ies should be furnished to the Central Registration Bureau of the National Jewish Commit tee on Tuberculosis , conducted since 1917 urider the auspices of the National Conference of Jewish Charities.

3. Jewish Sanatoria and Hospitals . Al l Jewish Sanitariums and Hospitals should register their inmates with the Central Registration Bureau. An effort should be made to register all tuberculous Jews w h o are inmates of state, municipal and non-Jewish Sanitariums.

B . T h e Cure. Having ascertained the scope of the problem from a numerical stand

point, it will be a matter of simple arithmetic to calculate the amount of funds necessary to provide accommodat ion and maintenance for all the indigent Jewish tuberculous including the relief of their families.


To attain this end it is necessary that Special Tuberculosis meetings should be held simultaneously throughout the country on a certain designated day at which delegates be elected to a National Jewish Tuberculosis Convention at which the required amount for taking care of all the tuberculous Jews, should be raised.

C. Prevention.

Twice a year on the fifteenth day of Shvat (New Years for Trees) and on the eighteenth day of Iyar (Lag B'Omar) all the Jewish children from 3 to 13 years of age should undergo a thorough physical examination by the local Jewish physicians free of charge.

In the evening of the respective days all organized societies in the community should hold Health meetings at which the subject of how to maintain good health and prevent disease should be discussed by health officers and physicians.

A custom should also be inaugurated that all adults should visit their family physicians during the months of Tishre and Nisson for the purpose of undergoing a physical examination.

T h e Jews of San Franc isco played a m i g h t y part in rendering help to sufferers during the recent epidemic of Spanish Influenza. T h e D e p a r t m e n t of H e a l t h n u m b e r s a m o n g its m e m b e r s L a w r e n c e Arns te in , w h o under took to organize the twelve districts in which the city had been divided by the San Franc i sco Chapter of the A m e r i c a n R e d Cross . A m o n g the district captains were M r s . Mat i lda E s b e r g , for m a n y years president of the E m a n u - E l Sisterhood , M r s . M a x C. Sloss , the vice-president of the S is terhood, and M r s . Mi l ton Rosenblat t . A m o n g the Jewish social w o r k e r s f o r e m o s t in helping the R e d Cross were M r s . M a r v i n L o w e n t h a l , Superintendent of the Federated E m p l o y m e n t Bureaus, M i s s E the l R. Fe ine-m a n and D o r o t h y Z e m a n of the E m a n u -El Sisterhood, Miss Elsie Hess , President of the Fruit and F l o w e r Miss ion , M i s s Jeanette N e w m a n , Secretary of the Soc ie ty of Jewish Social W o r k e r s , M r s . R e u b e n Rinder, Secretary of the H a d a s sah Chapter, M r s . M a r c u s K o s h l a n d , M r s . J. J. G o o t l o b , and M i s s Grace W i e n e r , head w o r k e r of the San B r u n o N e i g h b o r h o o d Center .

Universa l nurs ing training for w o m e n is p r o p o s e d b y L o u i s j . Frank, Superintendent of the Beth Israel H o s p i t a l of N e w Y o r k City, w h o has w r i t t e n - t o various influential A m e r i c a n s , urging the

consideration of measures for this purpose in Congres s . " W i t h equal rights and equal privi leges," says M r . Frank, "women will have to render equal service. It is right and proper that the State should so train them that in the years to c o m e they will be able to render the greatest service to themselves, their families and their c o m m u nity. . . In our present sys tem of education we m a k e all arrangements to g ive our pupils a smatter ing of various subjects , from culinary art to music and drawing, with the result that our children that do graduate from our public school sys tem k n o w neither practical housewi fery nor do they possess an artistic t emperament . T h e question of H e a l t h is a l m o s t entirely over looked . T h e little that they do get a long lines of H y g i e n e and Sanitat ion does not at all fit them for the duties of wi fehood and m o t h e r h o o d . " H e proposes that at the age of s ixteen every girl should be required b y law, unless phys ical ly or t emperamenta l ly unsuited, to spend t w o years in the s tudy of nursing, learning h o w to take care of the sick, h o w to prevent disease, and h o w to take care of her fami ly during periods of illness. T h u s , while acquiring a training necessary in every wa lk of life they will also have secured k n o w l e d g e for a profes sion that could secure them a good and h igh ly respected l ive l ihood in case of need.


c / t F E D E R A T I O N H E A L T H P R O G R A M M A U R I C E . B. H E X T E R

/ I t is on ly in recent years that the . 1 T h e health p r o g r a m of the U n i t e d t erms "relief" and "health" have been Jewish Charities comprises an Infant combined . U p to about ten years ago , W e l f a r e Station, a S c h o o l H y g i e n e D i -Relief Offices thought they had per- vision, a psycho log i ca l division, dispen-f o r m e d their duty sufficiently, when they sary w o r k of a general nature, hospital-had provided financial m e a n s to the fam- ization, and a Conva lescent H o m e , ilies under their care, and such medica l T h e record of births in all Jewish attention as they did give to their fam- families are secured from the Regis trar ilies was primari ly for the purpose of of Vi ta l Statistics at City H a l l , and a prevent ing imposi t ion and mal ingering. congratu la tory letter, i n v i t i n g the Late ly , however , we have c o m e to rec- m o t h e r to bring the baby to the Infant ognize in health service a m o s t effective W e l f a r e Station, is sent to each mother , rehabilitative and preventive agent, and Natural ly , in actual ly dependent fam-so the better equipped relief depart- ilies, there is very little difficulty experiment s throughout the country have de- enced in securing 100 per cent, attend-veloped wel l defined health services. ance. B y careful fo l low-up w o r k by M o r e o v e r , those agencies that have defi- nurses, a large proport ion (about 80 per nite health p r o g r a m s at tempt to pro- cent.) of babies in non-dependent fam-vide such services for families not actu-- ilies are secured. T w o nurses are in ally dependent , realizing that proper constant attendance at the W e l f a r e Sta-facilities, offered in t ime, m i g h t prevent tion and during the last year there was actual dependency f rom developing. T o only one death from preventable causes, a c c o m p l i s h this purpose relief offices a m o n g all the babies under the care of usually maintain a double standard of the Station. relief, one standard apply ing to families T h e Schoo l H y g i e n e Divis ion annu-request ing financial assistance and an- ally succeeds in examin ing about 750 other apply ing to families requiring children during the m o n t h of June, medical assistance. T h e U n i t e d Jewish A b o u t two-thirds of these are from de-Charities of Cincinnati has had a well pendent families, and the balance c o m e defined medical p r o g r a m for quite a f rom families just above the dependency n u m b e r of years. line. A f t e r a thorough examinat ion .

T a k i n g its inception in a campaign r various defects are noted, such as against Tuberculos i s , the p r o g r a m has anemia, enlarged glands , cardiac trou-gradual ly been expanded to cover a wide ble, etc. A large proport ion of the ane-field. T h e w o r k against tuberculosis , mic children are sent to the Conva les -b y w a y of parenthesis , has been so effec- cent H o m e , where they remain for tive that we can say definitely that the periods vary ing from six weeks to font-death rate from this dread disease can m o n t h s . D u r i n g this t ime they attend very easily be reduced material ly , b y a the public schoo l in the vicinity of the proper ly coordinated relief and medical H o m e , and their other physical defects p r o g r a m . T h e fo l lowing figures, s h o w - are gradual ly cleared up through coning the cases of death f rom tuberculosis stant visits b y the nurses. It was inter-a m o n g the Jews of Cincinnati , are interest ing to notice that in the examinat ion est ing in this connect ion: held in June. 1918, no child of a de-

1911 34 cases pendent fami ly showed the necess i ty for 1912 23 cases remova l of tonsils or adenoids; m o s t of 1913 21 cases this w o r k had been done for them dur-1914 19 cases ing the past four years. A t the present 1915 16 cases t ime special emphas i s is being placed 1916 13 cases upon proper care for the teeth. In order 1917 9 cases adequate ly to carry out this p r o g r a m .


the dispensary e n g a g e d the half-t ime services of a dentist. T h e closest c o o r dination exists be tween the w o r k of the dentist and the physician. Rout ine dental examinat ion is made of all cases

, c o m i n g to the dispensary. T h e thoroughness of the w o r k is demons tra ted by one feature: quite a large n u m b e r of children are rendered unattractive by

• reason of crooked teeth, which frequent ly change the contour of the face, and here in the dispensary these teeth are being straightened by the m o s t m o d ern methods . T h e result is that when these children b e c o m e of w o r k i n g age they will not be handicapped on these grounds . T h e cost of such work , when done commerc ia l ly , usually runs to about $400 to $500, but the actual cost

, to the dispensary averages about $1.85. F o r quite a n u m b e r of years we have

been directing special attention towards the menta l health of the children w h o are under the care of the organizat ion. T h e p sycho log ica l laboratory of the Board of Educat ion examines all the children under our care and m a k e s reports to us. W e then base our educational p r o g r a m for the children of dependent families upon this rational ground. T h r o u g h such intimate examinations we have also learned of the necess i ty of provid ing for feeble -minded children, for w h o m the State has not sufficient quarters. W e are therefore contemplat ing the open ing of an Inst i tution for Feeb le -minded Children, either under separate auspices, or by s o m e cooperat ive arrangement .

T h e general dispensary w o r k c o m prises all departments usual ly found in well ordered dispensaries. A l l of the

families and individuals receiving assistance f rom the U n i t e d Jewish Charit ies report there regularly. Special nourishment , such as mi lk and eggs , is g iven on the doctor's orders for fixed periods of time. D u r i n g this period each patient reports regularly to the dispensary, so that proper attention might be given to the deve lopment of the case. T h i s is particularly true in h o m e treatment for tuberculosis cases. A l l the routine examinat ions are made in the dispensary and, in cases requiring specialized services, they are referred to the various specialists in the city. T h o s e cases which are sent to the Jewish H o s p i t a l are followed up by the physician of the dispensary, w h o has Staff prerogat ives at the Hosp i ta l . A l l cases discharged f rom the Jewish H o s p i t a l are referred to the D i spensary for after-care.

T h e Conva lescent H o m e is the apex of our medical work. H e r e are sent patients discharged from the Hospi ta l , as well as patients needing such care w h o have not been at the Hospi ta l . T h e s e latter are usual ly w o m e n w h o are in run-down condition and men w h o s e w o r k in industry has sapped their strength. D u r i n g the t ime of their stay at the Convalescent H o m e their families are of course cared for by the Uni ted Jewish Charities.

In short, there is constant and definite integration of the relief and medical work of the Organ iza t ion , an integration which has been developed by reason of the character of the Federat ion of the Jewish Charities in Cincinnati, which centralizes the d i sbursement of funds, as well as their col lect ion. \

The Registration of Jewish social workers, authorized by resolution of the 1918 Conference, begins on January the first. Social workers desiring to register are urged to file their names and addresses with the Field Bureau.


T H E H E A R T O F B E T H I S R A E L

There are no well-kept lawns sweeping up to the hospital building, no imposing doorways , nor gleaming pillars. The East Side c rowds in upon it from all sides, presses against its weatherbeaten walls and pushes into its doorways . A n d if you approach on a sunny afternoon you see shawled women and never-still children and rickety perambulators, swarming about the Dispensary -door like myriads of bees. T h e bewigged old lady w h o sells hot sweet potatoes from her stand at the nearby corner will tell you in singsong Yiddish, that the Beth Israel Hospital has a kind heart, and you learn that it is this big, Jewish heart one would call, in scientific parlance, its social service department. There 's a neat little office across the street from the hospital, with "Beth Israel Hospital Social Service Department" printed on a little sign by the door, and five desks in a r o w ; that is the office of the five social service nurses of the department.

T h e East Side apparently accepts it as the natural agency for advice, consolation, information, assistance and congratulation. Perhaps last year Minnie was at the hospital with a bad eye, so of course, when Minnie's father loses his j ob , her mother comes to the Hospital Social Service Department. A n d the nurse will stick to her, she knows , until j o b and husband are well in hand. W h e n Mrs. Cohen left the hospital, she found the rent long overdue and the landlord a trifle irritable. So the department settles the rent question. Perhaps Mr . L e v y deserts his family. Mrs. L e v y places her troubles in the hands of the social service department, for doesn't she come to the Dispensary whenever there's anything w r o n g with the children? A n d so on, through piles of case records. The nurses use every agency available, to handle their cases, but of course nurses are notoriously prodigal in their standards of relief. So the actual relief, in money , food and other necessities, furnished by the department itself, reaches a tidy figure.

There 's another pile of records that are a great deal more cheering— and those are the invitations that the department workers, the doctors , and the nurses get, for Benny's Bar Mitzvah, and Hannah's wedding, and the big party up the street, where the Levine family celebrated the arrival of another son and heir, just as though he were not the sixth.

Then there's a special department of the hospital run by a man w h o has invented and patented a new method of hospital social service.

T h e y tell you that he go t tired of just making money and about eight years ago he discovered this new method of service and has since given every day, from nine to five, to his self-appointed j ob . He is cheerful and of reassuring rotundity and his task is this—every day he sees each patient at least three times, morning, noon and night. Somehow, before he leaves the ward, there's a smile on every face. There 's technique to it. no doubt. At first, he tells you , the smile-is forced and means nothing, but as the days


go by and the patient thus smiles three times a day, it becomes spontaneous and then begins to work.

Here he excitedly asks the nurse if this lady doesn't get a change of dressing on her wound. Here he comes into the ward and, apparently shocked at its gloominess, calls for the lights to be turned on (and they are, which shows that it pays to be the director of a hospital). Here he arranges to have the ambulatory phonograph, which makes the rounds of the wards, sent down to the men's surgical for a special concert. Here he exchanges airy persiflage with a silvery-haired grandmother, who giggles sympathetically at his foolishness. And here he stops silently to pat the hand of a miserable child, who huddles under her blankets and tries to hide her pain-drawn face. It must be worth a great deal to be hailed as he is hailed, when he enters the wards. It's a purely medical service, he assures you, and sure enough they tell you that the official cheerer-up has reduced the average duration of the patients' sickness by an average of between two and three days In each case.

There a spirit of old-fashioned Jewish informality among the staff, apparently. You meet the doctors and nurses and social service nurses stopping in the hallway to talk about this trouble or that, and whether the boy with the strange limp will be able to get a shoe that will hide his lameness altogether—and the social service nurse says that she has just such a shoe all ready for him, which makes them all look very happy—and the cheerer-up looks cheerier than ever.

It's a free hospital, but of course, they tell you, people who can afford it are supposed to pay. "And do you ask them if they can pay?" the scientific but unitiated social worker might ask. "Why," with a royally Yiddish gesture, "why should one ask? If they do not offer to pay, we know they cannot afford it." Which probably, better than any rank outsider could do, sums up the spirit of the social service department at Beth Israel.

T h e annual report of the Federated Jewish Charities of St. Joseph, M o . , announces that the Jews of that city, which has a Jewish populat ion of but 3,300, have raised for various charities and philanthropies ( inc luding W a r Relief, Jewish W e l f a r e B o a r d and the local philanthropic endeavor) m o r e than $47,000 during the past year, or an average per capita contribution of about ten and a

half dollars. O f this sum, $15,000 w a s

raised by the Federat ion, which expended

$7,547.45 for charity purposes . A m o v e

ment has been set on foo t for the estab

l i shment of a Jewish c o m m u n i t y center

and m u c h has been accompl i shed in the

w a y of c o m m u n i t y organizat ion and in

educat ing persons to greater generos i ty

and central control .


T H E I N S T I T U T E A S A C E N T E R O F C O M M U N A L H E A L T H

PHILIP L.

T h e P l a y g r o u n d as a F a c t o r in C o m m u n i t y Hea l th -Bu i ld ing .

T h e end of last summer ' s season marked the tenth annual experience of conduct ing under the auspices of the C h i c a g o H e b r e w Institute one of the largest open air play grounds in the city. In the heart of the conges ted part of C h i c a g o over six acres of open space is devoted to open air recreation. A n aggrega te attendance of over 275,000 was recorded between M a y 28th and S e p t e m b e r 3rd. F r o m the early m o r n ing hours w h e n the fence gates s w u n g open, until the t ime w h e n the last l ight was turned off, this play g r o u n d was the center of j o y o u s exc i tement to the large n u m b e r of people w h o came f rom the immediate n e i g h b o r h o o d — and -from s o m e distance as we l l—to e n j o y the fresh air and facilities for recreation that was offered.

A day on the play grounds is c r o w d e d with m a n y features. T h e r e is no standsti l l—no dull hour for a n y b o d y — f r o m the tiny infant w h o spends the first m o n t h s of its life in the h a m m o c k to the old g r a n d m o t h e r w h o m a y watch over it.

T h e g r o u n d s are divided into the Infant Sect ion—the section which is used for the children between the ages of two and five, separate sections for men and w o m e n , the basebal l field (which is flushed in the winter for skati n g ) , the M i l k Station, the W a d i n g Pond , tennis courts , the hand ball courts , running track, outdoor g y m n a s tic apparatus section for b o y s and girls arid the barfd stand pavil ion. A b o u t three acres of lawn are open for the benefit of the ne ighborhood . T h e s e lawns are especial ly used on very hot nights until the wee hours of the m o r n ing.

T h e children's t ime is occupied during the day and evening b y careful ly con-

5 E M A N

ducted supervised contests in charge' ' ' trained workers . Besides the daily contests, a n u m b e r of special features are planned for, such as B a b y Contests , B o y H a n d Ball T o u r n a m e n t , B o y s ' T e n n i s T o u r n a m e n t , Boat Contes ts , D o l l C o n tests. Guess ing h o w m a n y beans in a jar, L a r g e Ki te Contests , Sewing , B o o k -reading and C o o k i n g Contests . T h e baby section occupied by the wee h a m m o c k s for the new born babes up to the t w o - year - o ld child has been used throughout the entire season to the extent of an aggrega te of 3,000 infants. T h e s e babes were under the best of care, in charge of a trained nurse. T o what extent this session has been patronized m a y be best seen on a hot day, when every h a m m o c k is filled with a s leeping infant and m a n y others are held in the a r m s of their m o t h e r waiting for their turn. T h e y sleep for m a n y hours at a t ime, and get the rest that is imposs ib le in their h o m e s , lacking in fresh air and sunshine. W h i l e these little ones are having their much needed sleep and rest and air, their m o t h e r s en joy a t w o fold benefit—the rest f rom their labors and h o m e , and ease of mind that c o m e s f rom the k n o w l e d g e that their precious little ones are breathing the only kind of air intended for them.

T h e activities in the B a b y Section during this year have been considerably improved . O u r nurse was not only of service to the infants and their m o t h ers, but was responsible for the organization of a "Sanitary Squad" consisting of b o y s and girls w h o felt the responsibi l i ty for keeping the g r o u n d s around the infant section in an i m m a c u late condit ion.

T h e C a m p .

N o one can appreciate what it m e a n s to the average b o y l iving in a conges ted ne ighborhood , under physical condit ions and general env ironment , the m o n o t o n y


of which has a tendency to depress and discourage, very often causing that b lank "I don't care" and " W h a t ' s the difference" att i tude—unless they witnessed the four different groups of 40

ys' each that left for C a m p every two w 'ks f rom the doors of the Institute. A charge of $3.50 was made for b o y s of schoo l age f rom twelve years old up, and $7.00 for t w o weeks for w o r k i n g boys . T h i s camp was conducted in cooperat ion with the local B 'Na i B'Rith. N e e d l e s s to say that just as soon as announcement was hung out to the effect that b o y s can g o to C a m p , and that those that cannot afford C a m p m a y apply for scholarship, we had m o r e applications on file than the C a m p was able to a c c o m m o d a t e by the t ime the first batch left the city. W h e n the first group returned f rom C a m p there were again as m a n y applications on file than the C a m p was in a posit ion to a c c o m m o d a t e for the rest of the season—so that we were forced to "shut d o w n " on taking applications before the C a m p season was over, and returned m o n e y to a considerable n u m b e r for w h o m there was no room.

T h e m o s t astonishing feature of the situation was that in spite of the fact that the n e i g h b o r h o o d k n o w that C a m p could be secured free on application, on ly eight applied for such a privilege.

Chi ldren's Y e a r .

L a s t Spring, the U . S. G o v e r n m e n t through its children bureau—in conjunction with the various social agencies in this country—started a campaign to help save 100,000 babies of the 300,000 that die every year, and w h o s e deaths are avoidable . Il l inois had a quota ass igned to it of 5,625. T h i s quota was subdiv ided again throughout the entire state, and natural ly C h i c a g o had the largest share.

T h e various agencies in C h i c a g o vo l unteered their facilities and cooperat ion, and in the same spirit,, the Institute offered its cooperat ion. T h e Bureau w a s open f rom 1:00 p. m. to 5:00 p. m. daily, beg inning with the first of June.

D u r i n g this time the infants and babies under six were we ighed and measured and otherwise examined as to their general physical well being. T h e station was in charge of a trained nurse. A volunteer registrar was ass igned each af ternoon to assist the nurse in m a k ing out duplicate records. A n y child that was underweight or under meas ure or did not pass the general inspection was reported for medical and other attention to the general child welfare bureau and the V o l u n t e e r Nurses ' A s s o ciation.

In connect ion with the Bureau, an Infant W e l f a r e E x h i b i t w a s in constant progress . S o m e sixty charts in Y i d dish and in Eng l i sh graphical ly illustrating the step by step deve lopment of child welfare f rom prenatal t imes until it passes its youthful period were described to the m o t h e r s w h o visited the Bureau. T h o s e w h o were unable to read and appreciate the Eng l i sh charts had the opportuni ty of reading and s tudying and observ ing the charts in Y i d d i s h placed next to the Eng l i sh ones. It is the Institute's intention to continue this educational w o r k throughout the entire year and to send the exhibit, which is probably the on ly one in the c i ty—especially the Y i d d i s h charts—to the different set t lements and . schools in our immedia te vicinity.

I t is rather difficult in the l imited space permit ted by the Edi tor to do just ice to the many- activities which carry a tendency, prophylact ical ly , a long health lines. T h i s article will therefore have to carry a disjointed, s o m e w h a t very informal appearance. T h e r e are so m a n y things conducted by the Inst i tute in this connect ion—each of them on so large a scale—that m e r e l y to ment ion the fact of its existence, does not give any idea of its scope and accompl i sh ment . *

T h e M i l k Stat ion.

F r o m A p r i l 21st to N o v e m b e r 1st, which covers a period of approx imate ly 19 weeks , w e have sold 36,779 quarts of mi lk at 9c. a quart and 21,230 quarts at 10c. a quart, m a k i n g a total of 58,009


quarts, were sold through the only milk station of its kind in the city of Chicago , and p r o b a b l y outside of N e w Y o r k City. Outs ide of these quarts, 95,840 g lasses of mi lk at a penny a g lass and 65,321 packages of crackers at a penny a package, were sold, making a total receipts of $7,607.00. T h i s is an e n o r m ous business to conduct in pennies for so short a period. T h e station is open daily f rom 7:00 in the m o r n i n g until 10:00 at night. W e do our o w n sterilizing, filling and capping of bott les .

T h e Garden .

W i t h i n the spirit of the t ime, and the e m e r g e n c y of the occasion, we this year for the fifth season conducted our garden activities a long the lines m o s t effective in the interest of our c o m m u nity. O n e hundred and four children have been under daily instruction, both in class r o o m and in the field under expert scientific instruction. T h e theoretical as wel l as the practical w o r k accompl i shed has been demons tra ted m o s t effectively in the F o o d Exhibi t ion conducted under the auspices of the D e p a r t m e n t . A t the end of the season the children had their annual public examinat ion fo l lowed by a banquet . A p p r o x i m a t e l y 100 students and s o m e of their parents were seated at tables and par took of the feast a lmos t entirely m a d e up of the products of their gardens. It was voted a very enthusiastic and m o s t inspiring evening.

E a c h student's garden after the crop began to yield w a s responsible for furnishing the daily vegetables required in each of the student's h o m e s . It w a s a pleasant sight to watch the b o y s and girls leaving their garden plots daily with an armful of their "labor's love." T h e y o u n g people surely had a profitable, healthy, and I m i g h t even say entertaining s u m m e r , in spite of their daily contact with the school for a period of three hours each day. T h i s Agr icu l ture D e p a r t m e n t is not a "joke." It is a serious undertaking. N o t the average "make shift" of "once in a whi le get together ," not the "start the garden idea and never mind what happens to

it,"—but until the very last day each garden was cared for with added interest as the days of their course went on.

T h e y o u n g folks continue their interest during the winter m o n t h s through the m e d i u m of a Nature Study Club, which originated as the result of garden study activities and was organized a few years ago .

F o o d Conservat ion .

T h e F o o d Conservat ion Exhibi t ion under the auspices of the Agr icu l ture D e p a r t m e n t invited the n e i g h b o r h o o d through the m e d i u m of the schools and other institutions to attend the exhibition. F o o d Conservat ion bulletins are issued periodical ly and carry a standard which has been very favorably c o m mented on b y the F o o d Admini s tra t ion D e p a r t m e n t of the various states and the G o v e r n m e n t Depar tment . T h o u s a n d s of these bullet ins have been printed and requisit ioned by libraries and food conservation bureaus.

Phys ica l Culture .

T h e Institute G y m n a s i u m and T a n k s which celebrated its tenth anniversary this m o n t h is considered by experts one of the finest if not the finest e x a m p l e of physical education in this part of the country. Phys ica l ly its building and equipment rank a m o n g the few largest in the U n i t e d States. It is the on ly g y m n a s i u m which offers facilities for men, w o m e n , b o y s and girls m s imultaneously. I t contains one huge g y m n a s i u m for men, a smal l g y m n a s i u m for w o m e n , t w o s w i m m i n g tanks, dress ing r o o m s , correct ive exercise r o o m s , wrest l ing r o o m s , running track, hair dress ing parlor for w o m e n , barber shop for men and lobby. I ts staff is m a n n e d b y experts of national reputation in physical education.

T h e D e p a r t m e n t has been responsible for deve loping m e n and w o m e n w h o in the past f ew years have passed with a very high average compet i t ive civil service examinat ions for pos i t ions as physi cal, p lay ground, and park directors of our city.


R E C O N S T R U C T I O N I N P A L E S T I N E

• T h e drive for $ ; i , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 , which began on December 15th to continue for a month, for reconstruction work in Palestine should and must have a united American Jewry behind it.

Wha teve r may be one's opinion of Zionism and one's attitude towards the movement , there can be but one opinion about the reconstruction work in Palestine.

• This is not merely a question of bringing succor to the long suffering Jews in Palestine, urgent and important as that task i s ; it is not on ly the problem of restoring the ruined orchards, the war-shattered homes, the torn fields upon which the lives of thousands of our people depend, irresistibly as that need pulls at the heart-strings of every Jew, no matter what his political, social or economic setting might be. There is a b igger and still more important reason for 1 0 0 per cent, of the Jews of Amer ica to stand behind this drive and push it over the top. And that reason is this : if ever the Jews of the wor ld faced a test of the sincerity of their protestations of constructive vision, if ever there was a task that challenged the best that Jewry has to give of intelligence, idealism and practical organization genius, that task and that test lies before us in Palestine today!

The eyes of the wor ld are upon Palestine, and the judgment of the world is about to be passed on what the Jews accomplish in Palestine, in

the way of constructive social service endeavor. This endeavor involves every phase of social service development, from the collection of funds, to the organization of forces, the planning of work programs a^d the actual reconstruction activity itself. But it begins with the col lection of adequate financial resources, and the success of the later steps depends to an enormous extent, if not entirely, upon the success of

this initial effort. ^ ,• —t

W i t h this necessity in view, and with the realization of its urgency and significance in our hearts, there is but one thing for us to do, and that is to give to the fund ourselves, help to organize others into giving, and do all in our p o w e r to make this effort a success. In the big United W r ar W o r k Drive, in the Red Cross Drives, the Liber ty Bond Campaigns and our o w n drives for funds for the relief of Jewish war sufferers, religious, political and racial differences that, in days gone by , were, perhaps, the causes of hatred and even of bloodshed, were laid aside for the purpose of uniting human energy for big humanitarian endeavor. Let it not be said that the Jews, with the eternal tie of Golus to bind them, were unable to lay aside their o w n differences, and join hands to serve this cause, which, rearing itself high a b o v e the contending forces in Jewish life, calls them to the task of social and economic reconstruction in far off Palestine.

B O R I S D . B O G E N .


P E R S O N A L S

M r . Joseph Bonaparte , Ass i s tan t Superintendent of the Pacific H e b r e w O r p h a n A s y l u m recently returned to San Francisco , after an extended vacation spent in the East .

T h e officers and Execut ive C o m m i t t e e of the Jewish W e l f a r e B o a r d recently passed a resolution express ing their appreciat ion for the services rendered b y M r . Jacob Bil l ikopf in the U n i t e d W a r W o r k C a m p a i g n .

I. I rv ing Lips i tch has been elected treasurer of the newly created San Francisco Social Service E x c h a n g e .

M r . O s c a r L e o n a r d is chairman of the Organ iza t ion C o m m i t t e e of the Missour i C o m m i t t e e on Social Legis lat ion , which is organiz ing the state for a n u m b e r of important bills to be placed before the c o m i n g legislature.

Julius Drachs ler , Secretary of the Facul ty of the Jewish Schoo l for C o m munal W o r k , recent ly delivered the first of a series of nine lectures on " A m e r i canization and Race Fus ion" in the lecture r o o m of the Tra in ing Schoo l for C o m m u n i t y W o r k e r s . T h e subject of this first lecture was " T h e Great W a r and Nat iona l i sm in A m e r i c a . " T h e course of lectures is open to the public at a fee of $2.00 for the course, and the subjects discussed covers the various p r o b lems of Amer ican iza t ion , including the quest ion of "Reconstruct ion P r o g r a m s of Ass imi la t ion ," "Studies of I n t e r m a r riage a m o n g Ethnic E l e m e n t s in A m e r ica-Interpretations" and "Immigrant C o m m u n i t y Life and Organiza t ion ."

M r s . O s c a r L e o n a r d is heading the C o m m i t t e e on Amer ican iza t ion of the St. L o u i s Counci l of W o m e n ' s Clubs . A survey is now being conducted to find out what is be ing done in this field, preparatory to m a p p i n g out a p r o g r a m for future activities.

Dr. S o l o m o n Lowens te in , w h o recently returned f rom a R e d Cross miss ion to Palestine, has been again appointed b y the R e d Cross , as special c o m m i s sioner to Palestine, and will leave in the near future, an extension of leave having been granted by the B o a r d of Directors of the H e b r e w O r p h a n A s y l u m .

Dr . L u d w i g Bernstein, for m a n y years superintendent of the H e b r e w Sheltering and Guardian Soc ie ty of N e w Y o r k City and pioneer in m o d e r n child caring work, has announced his resignation, to take effect January the first, in order to enter the field of extensive research work. T h e H e b r e w Sheltering and Guardian Soc ie ty announces the appointment of D r . L e o n W . Goldr ich to the posit ion of superintendent.

The Americanization Division of the Bureau of Education (Department of the Interior), has appointed M r . Isaac Spec-torsky, N e w Y o r k representative of the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society, as Special Collaborator and Racial Advisor on Americans of Jewish origin. It will be his task to interpret the ideals and contributions of the Jews to the land of their adoption, as well as to interpret to the Jewish communities the ideals, traditions and standards of this country.

Miss Rose Kallet was recently appointed by the United Jewish Charities of Syracuse , N . Y . , to do social service w o r k for that organizat ion . M i s s Ka l l e t has been identified with c o m munal w o r k as a volunteer for s o m e time, and her organizat ion feels confident of her success in the profess ional field.

M i s s Gussie W e x l e r , a recent acquisition to Jewish social service, has just accepted a posit ion as visitor with the Uni ted Jewish Charities of B r o o k l y n .

T h e C h a m b e r of C o m m e r c e of T o l e d o . Ohio, has appointed M r . Tsidor Kadis superintendent of the Jewish Educat ional L e a g u e of that city, to w o r k out a definite plan of Amer ican iza t ion for the City.


T h e Counci l of Y o u n g M e n ' s H e b r e w and K i n d r e d A s s o c i a t i o n s has r e m o v e d to offices at 114 Fifth A v e n u e , N e w Y o r k City. T h i s brings the Counci l in close prox imi ty to the offices of the Nat iona l Conference of Jewish Charities, the N e w Y o r k Kehi l lah and the N e w Y o r k Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropies .

T h e Jewish L o a n A s s o c i a t i o n of St. Loui s , which is sponsored by the Jewish Educat ional Al l iance and m a n a g e d by O s c a r L e o n a r d , has arranged to lend m o n e y on L i b e r t y Bonds , in order to prevent holders of b o n d s f rom sell ing them. N o endorsers are necessary, if the applicant for a loan br ings his L i b erty B o n d with him. " A $50.00 loan, if paid back in 40 week ly instal lments , costs you only $1.25 interest," says the announcement issued by the Assoc ia t ion .

" A T e m p l e survey" to ascertain what the T e m p l e m e m b e r s can do for themselves, as well as for one another, is being planned by the Temple Judea in Chicago, as announced in the December number of the Temple Judea News . For this purpose the members of the Temple, about 400 in number , are urged to c o m municate with the officers of the T e m ple and explain in what particular fields they are interested and wish to c o o p erate.

T h e Junior Counci l of Jewish W o m e n in St. Lou i s is act ively cooperat ing with the junior w o r k of the Educat ional A l l i ance, and M r . L e o n a r d is conduct ing a special training class for those w h o have undertaken this work .

A mee t ing of the recently organized Soc ie ty of Jewish Social W o r k e r s of San Franc isco w a s held at the M t . Z i o n dispensary on O c t o b e r 9th. T h e society

already has 85 m e m b e r s , with prospects for a great increase. T h e subject presented at the mee t ing was, "The R o l e of the Social W o r k e r in the Prevent ion and Reduct ion of Infant Morta l i ty ," with Dr. E C. Fleischner, Chief of the Chil dren's D e p a r t m e n t of the Hospi ta l , as *'ie speaker of the evening.

It is hoped that, in addition to subjects of general interest to social w o r k ers, quest ions of particular Jewish bearing will be taken up during the year.

T h e N o v e m b e r n u m b e r of the A l l i ance N e w s , published by the Jewish E d u cational Al l iance of St. Lou i s , announces the resumption of its activities, which had been suspended during the epidemic. A n interesting feature is the c o m m u n i t y singing, led by a well k n o w n c o m m u n i t y chorus leader.

T h e Ba l t imore Sun, for D e c e m b e r the 8th contained a fascinating "human interest" s tory about the w o r k of the H o m e of the H e b r e w Children's Shel tering and Protect ive Assoc ia t ion , e m phasiz ing particularly the moni tor sys tem, the individual w o r k with each child, and the recent deve lopment of an alumni association. "Applied psychology" is the term applied to the methods used in dealing with the complex and varied personalities of the children of the home, and high tribute is paid to Saul Drucker, the Superintendent of the H o m e . Another article describes the Monitor, the monthly publication published by the children of the H o m e , and printed b y them.

T h e friends of D r . Kaplan , physician and friend of the E a s t Side, w h o died last year, recent ly met to devise plans for a fitting m e m o r i a l to him. A clubhouse, a m a s s mee t ing in his m e m o r y , and various other m e a n s of express ing the universal es teem in which he was held, were suggested , and a c o m m i t t e e to develop these plans was appointed.


T H E E P I D E M I C A N D I T S S O C I A L A F T E R M A T H CHARLES W. jMARGOLD

T h e recent epidemic struck the Jews of this city very heavily. A l m o s t every family was touched. T h e deaths were many . T h e facilities for e m e r g e n c y relief were few. T h e e n o r m o u s a m o u n t of duplication in medical attention for s o m e of the sick deprived hundreds of others of any care whatsoever . T h e fact that the sickness was highly contagious paralyzed in m a n y instances, the desire of k ind-hearted ne ighbors and relatives to do the ordinary domest ic w o r k in the h o m e s of the sick. In scores of families both father and mother and s o m e of the children were sick, and there was no one to help. T h e situation was similar to that in other cities and need not be described in detail here. Hosp i ta l s were filled b e y o n d capacity; for days and days it was imposs ib le to secure hospital ization for the m o s t urgent cases, for a n y a m o u n t of m o n e y . S o m e t h i n g had to be done, and the Uni ted Jewish Charities, in cooperat ion with other local organizat ions , did what it could.

In the first place, the propos i t ion to turn the H a r t f o r d Gol f Club into an E m e r g e n c y H o s p i t a l was pushed and m a d e a reality. A K o s h e r C o m m u n i t y Ki tchen was opened. Nourish ing , special ly-prepared food was taken daily to the h o m e s of all the Jewish sick, rich and poor alike. T w o graduate nurses m o t o r e d all day long, from fami ly to family, report ing regularly at the office. W e were in constant touch with all the physicians, nurses and hospitals treating Jewish patients, the Board of Heal th , the Vi s i t ing Nurses ' Assoc ia t ion and the R e d Cross . Physic ians and nurses were called only through the office. Prescript ion bills were as sumed. H e l p was brought to all the sick quickly, regularly and at s tandardized prices. A b o u t one hundred men and w o m e n , m o s t l y volunteers , under nurses' and doctors' supervision, did all the d o m e s tic w o r k in the h o m e s of sick families, watching over them at night, preparing

their medicine, g iv ing them the food sent f rom the Ki tchen, and assist ing in every way to make them as comfortable as possible . Espec ia l ly reliable w o r k e r s were a lways on hand to investigate, report and deliver financial relief without delay wherever necessary. M a n y families took t e m p o r a r y loans, which they are n o w beg inning to refund.

T h e social af termath of this emerg e n c y w o r k is surprising even the m o s t far-visioned of its advocates . T h e sick were given opportuni ty to b e c o m e wel l ; mothers were saved for their children, children for their parents . T h e people obtained a clear realization of the a ims , purposes and advantages of organized social service agencies . A c o m m o n need, met successful ly in a construct ive , organized way , has' inspired a c o m m o n spirit of cooperat ion and understanding of organizat ion methods , as years of public education might not have done.

T h e e m e r g e n c y volunteer service had an emot ional appeal, affording romant ic exc i tement , and on a scale large enough for m a n y lay citizens, men and w o m e n , to participate in it. T h e happiness of taking part in a big, publicly-approved w o r k gave them a c o m m o n zeal and a united purpose, s m o o t h i n g out rough edges and over - shadowing individual differences. A s they went into the h o m e s of the sick and encountered actual misery , distress and suffering a m o n g the poor, they became consc ious of the maladjus tments and the needs existing in their communi ty . Consc iences were awakened and hearts touched. T h e emot ional reaction to the s igning of the Armis t i ce and the achievement of a victorious peace served to intensify the sent imental after-effects of these experiences.

L o n g pent up social energies are loosed. Shape and direction is be ing given to energy hitherto unorganized and undirected. T h e pulse of exist ing agencies has been strengthened and quickened. A constructive spirit of

N E W S L E T S


philanthropic endeavor peryades the c o m m u n i t y , and m o r e adequate relief to dependent families, l oans , on a large scale, large expenditures for rehabilitation in individual families are being planned.

T h i s new spirit, together with the fact that the epidemic left dozens of new orphans , has given focus to the m o v e m e n t for a T e m p o r a r y H o m e for Jewish Children. F o r years a group of O r t h o d o x w o m e n have been giving annual picnics, col lect ing small week ly membersh ips , and soliciting small donations for the purpose of establ ishing an O r p h a n A s y l u m , but the m o v e m e n t did not have the s y m p a t h y of the wealthier Jews of the c o m m u n i t y . T h e mainspring of the m o v e m e n t was the idea of putt ing up as large a building as their funds would al low, and it mattered little whether the boarding-out plan was

not preferable to the institution sys tem in the major i ty of cases. T h a t the children of H a r t f o r d can easily be boarded out or placed in thriving h o m e s of the Jewish farmers in Colchester , Rockvi l l e and E l l ing ton w a s not considered relevant to the question. B u t n o w an amal gamat ion is be ing effected between the U n i t e d Jewish Charities and the H e b r e w Ladies O r p h a n A s y l u m Assoc ia t ion , a T e m p o r a r y Shelter is to be built, and the children w h o s e m o t h e r s cannot p o s sibly take care of them will be boarded out.

T h e desire for a Jewish social wel fare federation in H a r t f o r d is s t rong and our Board of Direc tors is searching for a new, inclusive n a m e for the organizat ion. T h e aftermath of the epidemic in our c o m m u n i t y has brought a new spirit and a new vision to Jewish social endeavor.

W i t h the change in the age limit since the armist ice was declared and recent a g r e e m e n t s with the British and French embass ies , great ly mod i fy ing the previous s tr ingency for the obta inment of visas, the Jewish W e l f a r e B o a r d is planning great ly to s trengthen the overseas work , in order to preserve the mora le of the Jewish soldiers, released f rom the actual w o r k at the front. M e n and w o m e n especial ly fitted for this type of service are urged to c o m m u n i c a t e at once with the Personne l Divis ion of the Jewish W e l f a r e Board .

j T o train the largest n u m b e r of w o r k ers in the shortest poss ible t ime, the Jewish W e l f a r e B o a r d has instituted a one w e e k e m e r g e n c y course at Nat iona l H e a d q u a r t e r s , 149 Fifth A v e n u e , N e w Y o r k City, for welfare w o r k e r s for demobi l izat ion and debarkation camps . T w e n t y students compri se the first class. T h e m e n will be sent to the thirty demobi l i zat ion c a m p s throughout the country, and will be ass igned to other phases of demobi l izat ion w o r k n o w be ing planned.

T h e n e w course features vocat ional guidance , e m p l o y m e n t , and pos t -war

p r o b l e m s . T h e first day's ses'sions are devoted to a review of the organizat ion and activities of the Jewish W e l f a r e B o a r d ; the second to a revised p r o g r a m of c a m p work , and to personal service prob lems . V o c a t i o n a l guidance, industrial, agricultural, and c o m m e r c i a l opportunities cover the third day of the course. A s tudy of the W a r Ri sk Insurance A c t , and reeducation of wounded , and phases of the R e d C r o s s Po"St-War P r o g r a m , wil l feature the fourth day. and the c los ing sess ions will be devoted to a revised c o m m u n i t y service p r o g r a m .

T h e lecturers include D r . L e o n W . Goldrich, Supervisor of the Jewish W e l fare B o a r d Tra in ing Schoo l , Chester J. Te l ler , Execut ive Director , D r . F r a n k Rosenblat t , Joseph Pincus, Dr . L . B. Bernstein, Chas . B. Barnes , and m e m bers of the Jewish W e l f a r e B o a r d N a tional Office Staff.

T h e Jewish W e l f a r e B o a r d Is n o w conduct ing a nat ionwide campaign for workers for h o m e and overseas service during the demobi l izat ion period. I t s regular four-week training course, which had graduated its twelfth class, has been condensed into the shorter e m e r g e n c y course .


J E W I S H W A R R E L I E F C A M P A I G N I N N E W Y O R K C I T Y .

A s this issue goes to press the drive for $5,000,000 f rom N e w Y o r k City is swing ing into its last lap. I t has been marked by m a n y novel and spectacular features, a m o n g them large benefit performances with H a r r y Lauder . Lou i s M a n n and the headliners of practical ly all the N e w Y o r k theatres participating. A n o t h e r interesting feature was the c o m petit ion between the various trade and business teams, each of which was ass igned a definite quota. C o m i n g at the end of a series of campaigns for funds, after an intensive U n i t e d W a r W o r k Drive , and a great L i b e r t y L o a n success, and in the face of t w o campaigns announced for the very near future, the R e d Cross Dr ive and the Drive by the Zion i s t O r g a n i z a t i o n for Palestinian reconstruct ion, the response of the N e w Y o r k c o m m u n i t y to the effort in this drive has been little short of miraculous . A n outs tanding feature of the contributions was the large n u m b e r of smal l contributions f rom the p o o r and middle class populat ion, donat ions of a day's w a g e s by various unions, and the numerous p ledges f rom the non-Jewish w o r k ers.

T h e Execut ive C o m m i t t e e of the N a tional Tubercu los i s Assoc ia t ion has announced the plan under which the $2,500,000 appropriated by the A m e r i c a n R e d C r o s s for the support of the antituberculosis m o v e m e n t in the U n i t e d States, is to be distributed. U n d e r this plan, 10 per cent, of the fund is to be set aside for the support of the Nat iona l Tubercu los i s A s s o c i a t i o n and for a "miss ionary" fund. A n a m o u n t equal to the proceeds f rom the sale of R e d C r o s s Chr i s tmas seals in 1917 (discont inued this year ) will be a l lowed to each state and general agent w h o w a s under direct contract with the Nat iona l Tubercu los i s A s s o c i a t i o n during that year. T h e remain ing a m o u n t , a p p r o x i m a t e l y $450,000 will be al lotted to the state and local organizat ions in proport ion to the R e d Cross m e m b e r s enrol led in their respective territories during the C h r i s t m a s roll call.

Hha'fl Mba in ©Iris Msnt Louis H. Levin needs no introduction to

members of the Conference. A s secretary of the Federated Jewish Charities of Baltimore he is a veteran in the field of Jewish social work and can always be depended upon to be in the lead in the development of new methods and principles of work.

Dr. Max Biesenthal, who has recently become head of the Winfield Tuberculosis Sanitarium in Chicago, made his first appearance at a Conference meeting last Spring, at Kansas City, where he captured the affections of the social workers and has since been "one of us."

Dr. Spivak is another veteran for whom an introduction is unnecessary. A s secretary of the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society he has come to stand for the cause of the dependent Jewish consumptive, and his annual battle at the Conference in this cause has come to be a regular and eagerly looked-for feature. In this issue Dr. Spivak suggests some lines along which a national program in his field might be developed.

Philip L. Seman is known as the director of the most successful Hebrew Institute in the country. T h e Chicago Hebrew Institute, as indicated in his article, is a constantly developing and tremendous factor in the Jewish community activities of Chicago.

Louis Bloch recently left Pittsburgh to take up the work of General Secretary of t h e ' Y . M . H . A . in Scranton. H e is a graduate of the first Jewish Chautauqua course in social service, conducted in 1915.

Boris D, Bogen is Field Secretary of the Conference and is at present also actively engaged in work with the Joint Distribution Committee.

Maurice B. Hexter is the superintendent of the United Jewish Charities of Cincinnati, whose activities he describes.

Charles W. Margold is the director of the United Jewish Charities in Hartford, Conn., where the Jewish community, although small, is blessed with vast energy and organization power.


P L A N N I N G F O R R E A D J U S T M E N T .

W i t h a v i ew to s impl i fy ing the readj u s t m e n t of the returning m e n to industrial life and to obviat ing, as far as pos sible, any great a m o u n t of u n e m p l o y ment , the W a r L a b o r Pol ic ies Board of the U n i t e d States g o v e r n m e n t has mai led the fo l lowing letter to the m a y o r s and chief executives of the principal cities of this country :

" T h e a m o u n t of public w o r k s postponed on account of the war is very large. If a considerable portion of these de layed public w o r k s are well under w a y during the transition period f r o m war to peace, they will great ly help in stabil izing e m p l o y m e n t and industry. T h e return of war workers into the essential industries of peace and the d e m o b ilization of our mil i tary forces can both be m a d e m o r e easily if the necessary public w o r k of the municipalit ies of the U n i t e d States are in full swing at that t ime.

T h e r e f o r e the W a r L a b o r Policies B o a r d sugges t s that y o u r city immedi ately determine h o w m u c h of its delayed public w o r k s it can and will undertake and when the different portions of it will be begun.

A s soon as your pre l iminary plans are

agreed upon, the nearest office of the

Uni ted States E m p l o y m e n t Service will

be anxious to receive the approx imate

informat ion concerning the n u m b e r and

kinds of workers needed for carrying

out your plans."

the Jewish soldiers do • not k n o w the whereabouts of these relatives. T h e i r families m a y later never k n o w what has b e c o m e of them.

U n d e r such condit ions vast n u m b e r s of w o m e n m a y b e c o m e "agunohs" ( the wives of m e n of w h o m all traces have been lost are not a l lowed to remarry, in Jewish L a w ) ; the wives parents or other dependents of such soldiers could receive no support from them and all possibi l i ty of establ ishing c o m m u n i c • t ions between them would be lost. If, however , full records g iv ing the necessary data concerning every Jewish draftee were kept it w o u l d be poss ible to establish communica t ion between families and to trace across the sea those w h o have not been heard from for s o m e time. T r a c i n g the families of soldiers abroad has been m a d e easier by reason of the opening in Y o k o h a m a , V l a d i v o s tok and H a r b i n of offices of the H e b r e w Sheltering and I m m i g r a n t A i d Soc ie ty and by the fact that M r . Samuel M a s o n has left for the far E a s t to take up this problem. T h r o u g h the offices and through the new connect ions which he is to establish with Russia , M r . M a s o n will be in a posit ion to trace the families of these soldiers and, if such families are on their w a y to this country, to extend protect ion to them.

E v e r y Jewish soldier having relatives abroad is therefore urged to get into touch with the H e b r e w Sheltering and I m m i g r a n t A i d Soc ie ty as soon as p o s sible.

T R A C I N G S O L D I E R S ' F A M I L I E S .

T h e H e b r e w Shel ter ing and I m m i

grant A i d Soc ie ty of A m e r i c a has under

taken the task of securing a comple te

fami ly record of every Jew serving with

the A m e r i c a n forces and having wife,

children or other dependents abroad.

A t the last meet ing of the B o a r d of

Direc tors it was pointed out that thous

ands of Jewish soldiers have families in

E u r o p e and that war condit ions having

broken off all m e a n s of communica t ion ,

Michael Freund, of the Field Bureau Survey Staff, attended the sessions of the Jewish Congress, as special representative of "Jewish Charities."

Judge H a r r y Fisher, recently re-elected

to the bench in the Municipal Court of Chi

cago, has been named as one of the mem

bers of the commission that is shortly to

be sent to Europe by the Joint Distribution

Committee.

Lee K . Frankel has just been elected president of the American Public Health Association.


OUR CONTEMPORARIES J

T h e S U R V E Y , taking up its task of interpreting and present ing the social issues and p r o b l e m s of reconstruct ion definitely ties up to the field of actual social service, the mani fo ld p r o b l e m s in the realm of political industrial and social advance. T h e opening m o v e in this task is the presentat ion, in the N o v e m b e r 16th issue, of the p r o b l e m s with which peace chal lenges us; E d w a r d T. Dev ine , in a careful ly prepared discussion with the cooperat ion of the Survey staff, takes up these p r o b l e m s in the leading article.

"The shifting of a certain black line "on the m a p of E u r o p e is no longer the supreme interest of civil ization. W e are at l iberty to think about other th ings; to face toward the future which is to be whatever the nations choose to m a k e it."

T h e wide range of "things to think about" extends from " T h e Pursuit of H a p p i n e s s " to the "Gains to be Conso l i dated," f rom "Russia" to " W o m e n W o r k e r s . " T h e p r o b l e m s of T a x a t i o n , of E m p l o y m e n t , of Price Contro l , C o l lective Bargaining, the new republics, responsibil i t ies in the near Eas t , food for friends and enemies , demobi l izat ion, the Soc ie ty of Nat ions , and the Standards of D e m o c r a c y , are presented for the earnest thought of the social ly minded.

A m o n g the gains to be consol idated are those a l o n g the lines of c o m m u n i t y service in hospital ity, recreation and entertainment, the el imination of vice, and of s trong drink, the disappearance of loafing, the es tabl i shment of a public health service, and the d e v e l o p m e n t of industrial standards. T h e marve lous dev e l o p m e n t of volunteer service is pointed out as one of the big gains that m u s t not be lost.

T h e jo int campaign by the three Jewish W a r Relief C o m m i t t e e s for funds for the relief of Jews in the war zones is

discussed in the S U R V E Y for N o v e m ber 30th, with the fo l lowing introduction :

"The stress of war, as the m o s t recent happenings in Russia and Po land have again confirmed, falls with special severity upon oppressed racial minor i ties; if there is a shortage of f ood it is they w h o are compe l l ed to s tarve—or to migrate ; if there is disorder, they are denounced as culpable and maltreated. T h e i r civil affairs are not looked after, while the best of their m a n h o o d are sent forth to fight, m a y b e their o w n cousins. T h u s it c a m e about that in spite of a s tupendous total v o l u m e of relief the Jews in the free countries have been utterly incapable, so far, to mit igate the distress and the suffering of their co religionists in the war zone . N o w that the war is at an end, the first effort made b y them will be to survey the whole field and to m a p out the rehabilitative activities of the c o m b i n e d Jewish agencies of phi lanthropy in accordance with the relative urgency of the different wants ."

T h e N o v e m b e r n u m b e r of " T H E J E W I S H D E A F , " published m o n t h l y in the interest of the Jewish Deaf of N e w Y o r k City, announces the organizat ion of the Soc ie ty for the W e l f a r e of the Jewish Deaf Assoc ia t ion , which is m a d e up sole ly of the deaf m e m b e r s of the Soc ie ty for the W e l f a r e of the Jewish Deaf. It is expected that this n e w l y f o r m e d associat ion, by, of and. for the Jewish Deaf of N e w Y o r k , will p lay a prominent part in the activities of the C o m m u n a l Center of the S. W . J. D .

T h e mani fo ld educational, social, and recreational activities of the Society , as well as its actual personal services to the deaf, are presented and Jewish deaf are urged to jo in ; the m e m b e r s h i p dues are $5 annual ly for m e n and $3 .50 for w o m e n . T h e p r o g r a m for D e c e m b e r includes a "Kaffe K l a t c h " with dancing and g a m e s , b o x i n g contests , four so cials, t w o basketbal l g a m e s and dances, and a " W a t c h N i g h t Par ty" for N e w Y e a r ' s E v e .


niiiiimiiiiiini

Where, why, and how, is the specific Jewish aspect of recreation activities being developed?

What are the newest developments in Jewish recreational work?

How can the various types of Jewish organizations function in the community recreational program?

The next issue of Jewish Charities is to be the special "Recreation Number!"

Has your community a contribution to make towards this issue?

What is being done? What is being planned? What is being attempted?

Material for this issue should be in by January 1 Oth— do your bit.

And to help awaken interest in your community—get another subscriber.

Detach this Coupon and mail with a dollar bill.

Stye Nat ional C o t t f m n r e o f Snmfltj ©tjarittea Date 191

I enclose One Dollar (1.00) for Subscriber's Membership Fee

to the National Conference of Jewish Charities

3\Came

A ddress— FIELD BUREAU,

Room 1810, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y.

NOTE—"Individuals may become subscribing members upon the payment of One Dollar ($1.00) dues annually, for which they shall be entitled to all the publications of the Conference, but they shall have no vote."

N A T I O N A L CONFERENCE OF JEWISH CHARiTiES-~i9i9

1

•JEWISH-CHARITIES

3 •

Vol IX January, 1919 No 9

R e c r e a t i o n f o r M o t h e r s

T h e S m a l l C o m m u n i t y

T h e B i g S i s te r s

P U B L I S H E D B Y T H E

U^jational Conference of Jewish Charities H4 F I F T H A V E N U E ; N E W Y O R K

ATLANTIC CITY, MAY 27th TO JUNE 1st

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