Importance of personalized social service in this day of growing public social control was stressed in a speech yesterday by Rabbi William F. Rosenblum of Temple Israel before the Guardian Mothers of the Pleasantville Orphans’ Home at their golden anniversary luncheon at the Hotel Biltmore.
Commending the organization, headed by Mrs. Joseph Layman, on its service record of fifty years, Rabbi Rosenblum declared:
“Twenty-five years ago it was the fashion at welfare conferences to stress scientific methods in social work and in institutional problems. The advocates of greater efficiency in method did not realize what deficiency in morale would result. Now, after a generation of super-emphasis on scientific approach, we understand how tragic has been the depersonalization of our interest as individuals and as neighbors in the lives and well being of those who need our help. Too many men and women as well as children who, through no fault of their own, look to others for sustenance or assistance, have become numbers on a relief roll or index cards in a file.”
Mrs. I. M. Levy was chairman of the luncheon and Harry Hershfield acted as master of ceremonies. Speakers included Borough President Samuel Levy, Mrs. Rebekah Kohut, Mrs. David E. Goldfarb, Judge Levine, Leon Goldfarb and Adolph Lewisohn.
Mrs. J. Rittenberg was in charge of the musicale.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
