National Council of Jewish Women Greater Detroit Section History The National Council of Jewish Women is the oldest national Jewish organization in the U.S. – the Detroit Section of N.C.J.W. is the oldest Jewish women’s organization in Michigan. The rich and influential history of this organization is indicative of our continuing impact on the Detroit community. We are now in our 112th year as a non-profit organization committed to advocacy, community service and the empowerment of women, children and families.   NCJW/GDS has moved into the millennium with the same challenging spirit that has marked its programs and services since 1891. Some historical points of interest: 1891 The Jewish Women’s Club of Temple Beth El is formed to better the conditions of girls and women. 1902  The Education Assistance Program, our longest continuing service, begins. 1911 Penny lunches are prepared and served to public school children  in hardship areas. This program is later taken on by the Detroit Board of Education. 1925 The Jewish Women’s Club becomes the Detroit Section of the  National Council of Jewish Women. 1931 The National Convention is held in Detroit. 1934 The First Council Resale Shop opens. 1955 The first Angel Ball is held at the Sheraton Cadillac Hotel, in  downtown Detroit. 1962 The Orchards, a Jewish oriented residential treatment home for emotionally disturbed young boys opens in Livonia. It is owned and operated by NCJW/GDS. 1966 Operation Friendship received a Matching Fund Grant under Michigan State Mental Health Act #54. Section was awarded a U.S.O. citation for Outstanding Volunteer Services. Detroit Section hosted National Volunteer Fellowship Visitor, Mrs. Peggy art Leviton of London, England. 1967 TREASURE AISLE, 16011 Hamilton, opened as a Resale Antique and Home Furnishing Shop Operation Friendship expanded under the Federal government "Older Americans Act."  The program received special commendation and was suggested as a role model program. Mrs. Fred H. Keidan was named "Outstanding Woman of 1967" by Jaycees. "Education in Living" series was given by the Public Affairs Department. 1968 Formal agreement was reached between the Orchards and JFCS for handling the admission of Jewish children to the Orchards. 1969 Detroit Section becomes Greater Detroit Section NCJW with its move to the suburbs. NCJW adopts a resolution to work for abortion rights and to eliminate obstacles that limit this right. NCJW was instrumental in forming RCAR, a coalition of religious organizations advocating pro-choice and the legalization of abortion. 1970 Oakland Operation Friendship was established, patterned after the Detroit model. 1971 Orchards expanded its services to include camping, after-school groups for boys and girls, nursery school and family counseling.  The project changed its name to Orchards Children's Services. "Council House" moved to larger quarters in Southfield, to permit greater flexibility in programming and increased membership participation. Operation Friendship became Operation-Friendship-Wayne, an independent community agency, operated and supported by community and government grants. GDS hosted the NCJW National Convention. "Summit Conference" held in Jerusalem to recognize NCJW's Silver Anniversary of service in Israel.  Mrs. Victor Shiffman, Mrs. Joseph Klein and Mrs. Frederick Shevin were delegates.  Mrs. Leonard Weiner was Chairwoman of the Conference. 1972 Hannah G. Solomon Award was given to Dr. Kenneth Bateman for his services to the Orchards. 1973 NCJW funded a bus to take Federation Apartment residents grocery shopping. Hannah G. Solomon Awards were given to Mrs. Gerard Slattery and Mrs. Joseph H. Welt for their volunteer efforts on behalf of the community. Meals on Wheels was established to provide Kosher meals to shut-ins. 1974 NCJW donated $15,000 for staff housing to enable emotionally disturbed children to attend Silverman Village at Camp Tamarack. 1975 Service to the Foreign Born was established in conjunction with the Jewish Community Center to provide a series of Jewish cultural and social events for Russian immigrants. 1976 We helped initiate legislation to remove status offenses for juveniles and to divert children out of detention facilities. We supported the HIPPY project in Israel with a gift of $10,000. 1977 A pilot project on burn prevention was approved to educate children in the public schools. 1978 A workshop for single parents, followed by the establishment of workshops and a newsletter called "Jewish Single Parent", started a community service later named SPACE. Orchards presented a plan for a summer camp for emotionally disturbed pre-school children. Burnie Bird, the burn prevention program, began presentations in the public schools. The Suzanne S. Hopp Memorial Library was established at the Orchards. 1979 We joined the Adopt-A-Family program to advocate for the right of Jewish families to emigrate. The first SPACE Retreat was held at Camp Tamarack with 40 adults and children in attendance. 1980 CASA, a new GDS project began in Oakland County Juvenile Court. A new Orchards home was established in Oak Park to house referrals from Oakland County Mental Health Board for children making a transition from institutions. The Ted Schwartz Day Camp was dedicated. Orchards was honored by a joint legislative resolution commending NCJW for its work in the mental health field. 1981 First Fashion Spree was held at the Southfield Civic Center. Oakland Operation Friendship was discontinued. A one-on-one tutorial project was established to aid children in the Southfield schools. A new Orchards residential home in Southfield was dedicated. The Business and Professional Branch, a new group of professional women was formed, as part of NCJW/GDS. 1982 Orchards opened a residence for adolescent girls. 1983 The Tutorial Program was discontinued. 1984 Access Guide for the handicapped was launched with a publication of 5,000 copies to be distributed free to any facility requesting it. A Juvenile Justice Survey was undertaken in Oakland County as part of a national NCJW program to find out how the system worked across the country. Our fundraising cookbook, Fiddler in the Kitchen, was published. Orchards celebrated its 20th anniversary. The NCJW office was relocated to larger quarters in Southfield. Dor L' Dor, from generation to generation, began by pairing students from Hillel Day School with seniors from Federation Apartments. 1985 Call Police Banner was started a fundraising project. The first Billie Barak Leadership Seminar was held at Butzel Center. Up and Out, a new community service for seniors, was inaugurated. CASA volunteers, working through the Oakland County Courts, began the Legal Guardian Program for adults. 1986 Orchards Children's Service was licensed by the State to become an adoption agency.  Orchards severed its connection to NCJW by becoming a non-profit corporation with its own bylaws and board of directors. GDS with the B&P Branch participated in a National survey of women in the Workplace. An Assisted Listening Device project was begun to provide fifty hearing aids for impaired patients at Sinai Hospital 1987 Adopt-A-School was launched with the Continuing Education for Girls Schools in Detroit helping pregnant girls. 1988 B&P Branch discontinues LAW project. 1989 CASA expands its Adult Legal Guardian program to include children. In response to great demand, a revised Access Guide, of 15,000 copies was printed. Family-to-Family, co-sponsored with Jewish Welfare Federation, was established to match Russian immigrant families with families in our community. The Archive Committee was established. Hakol, a branch for young women who wished to do volunteer work, became part of our section. 1990 A project to distribute school supplies to Pontiac school students was started at the Baldwin Human Services Center. A new Council Thrift Shop was opened in Berkley. Jewish News on Tape became a service for the sight impaired and blind. 1991 The Baldwin Human Services project was extended to provide parties and dinners for low income seniors. Crossroads Productions, LTD, a professional acting company, was sponsored by SPACE and the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation to give performance in high schools dealing with substance abuse and AIDS. 1992 CASA expanded its program to include Legal Guardians for Minors, to implement new laws for cases of children under six years old. A second cookbook, Still Fiddling in the Kitchen, was published. Passport to Israel was launched to teach children in the metro area about Israel. 1993 A Day of the Working Parent, a seminar featuring noted speakers, publicized the problems of working parents.  The program was done in conjunction with National NCJW. We fund a second shopping bus for the new Federation Apartments. Safe Place, a kosher shelter for abused women was opened as a joint project with Jewish Family Service. 1994 The Archives Committee completed an archival center to house Greater Detroit Section's first 100 years. 1995 The Education Assistance Committee announced that GDS was responsible for one-third of all college loans and scholarship awarded in the 1994-95 school year. HIPPY, Home Instruction for Pre-School Youngsters, was presented at Oakland Schools to fifty representatives of the school district and social service agencies. Baldwin Human Services Committee became the Human Resources Committee. NCJW Archives from 1891-1941 were moved to the Walter Reuther Library at Wayne State University. Adopt-a-School, a reading program for kindergarten and first graders, started at the Ferndale schools. 1996 NCJW/GDS hosted the National Convention in March at the Westin Hotel in Detroit.  Hillary Clinton was one of the many nationally known speakers. We partner with the Jewish Community Council to sponsor the College Fair at the J.C.C. SPACE produced a curriculum manual for pre-schoolers to be distributed nationally. 1997 Just 4 Kids Committee was formed to sponsor a Bingo for Books party.  300 books were collected for the Ferndale schools. We joined with Kadima to host bi-monthly Sunday brunches for the mentally ill. In cooperation with Oakland Family Services, a HIPPY program at the Farmington Public Schools began with funding provided by the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation. Irma Starr, Director of SPACE, was presented with the Hannah G. Solomon award. More than 100 needy school children received backpacks filled with school supplies from the Human Resource Committee at a supper at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Pontiac. NCJW office moved to 26400 Lahser Road in Southfield. The 25th Anniversary celebration of Meals on Wheels was held at Temple Beth El.  Ruth Westheimer was the speaker. The Josephine S. Weiner Award was established to honor individuals whose community service reflects the mission statement of NCJW.  The first recipients were Mayor Dennis Archer, Judge Edward Sosnick and Jeanette Shallal of Kadima. 1998 Kadima Outreach changes its name to Project Friendship. Adopt-a-School changed its name to Adventures in Reading. Human Resources gave 200 Chanukah gifts to Yad Ezra families and gave 275 backpacks to area youngsters. 1999 Just for Kids sponsored a behind the scenes tour of the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade. Ship-a-Box, a national and local program which sends educational materials and toys to Israel, changed its name to Yad B' Yad. The second HIPPY Information Day was held.  At the HIPPY holiday party 30 preschoolers in the Farmington program received books. Carol Sue Coden received the Hannah G. Solomon Award. Josephine Weiner received the ADL Lifetime Achievement Award. NCJW/GDS is part of the National NCJW, which has 100,000 members in over 200 sections throughout the United States. Return to Top   © 2001 NCJW-GDS