Detroit Federation Raised $40, 000, 000 in 8 Years; Fisher Honored

The Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation raised $40, 000, 000 in the last eight years, allocating half of the total to overseas relief and rehabilitation, Max M. Fisher, president of the Federation, reported last night as Detroit’s central Jewish body held its 38th annual meeting here. During the period, Mr. Fisher has been president of the Federation for the last five years, and headed the Allied Jewish Campaign during the three preceding years.

During that eight-year period, Mr. Fisher reported, increasing attention has been given by the community to Jewish cultural activities, and a program has been implemented for the strengthening and protection of Jewish rights. Other advances noted by the Federation president included the doubling of the bed capacity of Sinai Hospital; the addition of a 40-bed psychiatric department at the Schiffman Clinic; the construction of the new Jewish Center and the expansion of the Center’s services to the aged; the planning of an additional Home for the Aged building; and the affiliation of the Beth Yehudah afternoon schools with the United Hebrew Schools. The annual Federation meeting also marked the 45th anniversary of the United Hebrew Schools.

Mr. Fisher paid high tribute to Isidore Sobeloff, executive vice-president of the Federation, who is leaving his post here, to become the executive head of the Jewish Federation Council of Los Angeles, for his years of “identification with the Detroit Jewish community and with its distinguished record of growth.” He noted that, when the Federation was founded in 1926, it had 3,185 members, whereas the membership in 1963 totaled 25, 000. In 1926, Mr. Fisher said, the Federation had nine incorporating agencies, including the United Hebrew Schools and the Allied Jewish Campaign. Today, he reported, the Federation has 13 member agencies, while its Allied Jewish Campaign supports a total of 55 local, national and overseas agencies and services.

Mr. Fisher expressed the confidence that Mr. Sobeloff will continue to help “strengthen the American Jewish scene.” He announced formally that William Avrunin, Federation’s associate director since 1948, will become executive director.

Mr. Fisher was given the 1964 Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award “for distinguished communal service.” The award was presented to him by Judge Theodore Levin, chairman of the Federation’s executive committee. At the meeting, also, Mr. Fisher extended anniversary greetings to the United Hebrew Schools. Acknowledging that tribute were David Safran, president of the UHS, and Albert Elazar, superintendent of the schools.