Isidore Sobeloff, director of the Jewish Welfare Federation here, was the recipient of countless plaudits from both lay and professional leaders on the occasion of his 50th birthday this week.
The contribution that Mr. Sobeloff has made to the Jewish community of Detroit was emphasized in messages from local leaders who pointed out that during the years he has been associated with Jewish community activities in Detroit, the local Jewish community has compiled one of the finest records in the country–both in fund-raising and in organizing for social planning.
Mr. Sobeloff came to Detroit in 1937. The local press publishes a list of Mr. Sobeloff’s offices, past and present, which indicates the many and varied areas of Jewish social work in which he has been active. His major concern today is the Allied Jewish Campaign which raises in Detroit funds for the national United Jewish Appeal. His keen understanding of national as well as local problems has earned for the Detroit Federation director numerous appointments to important national committee posts. He served on the national allotment committee of the U.J.A. and as chairman of the many important national committees. During the war, the National War Chests recognized his leadership ability by naming him to important positions and by calling him to assume, on a year’s leave of absence from Detroit, the post of director of the New York Committee of the National War Fund.
In Detroit, Mr. Sobeloff has served on numerous boards of Jewish and non-Jewish agencies and has been given responsibilities of leadership by the Community Chest, the USO, the Council of Social Agencies and other important groups. He is a member of the national board and executive committee of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds and was at one time the director of public relations of the New York Federation for the Support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies. He was also president of the National Conference of Jewish Social Welfare and editor of “Better Times,” a social work publication.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
