The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 25

BR'OOiaiTM AGILE Peek at Education's New Look Section 2 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11. 1951 25 BROOKLYN'S MAN OF THE WEEK 4 i it I JJ i I I. Twice Retired, H. Abrams Re-enlists in Charity Work A' 1 BUft Photoa br Oelltr ULTRAMODERN Some day, says the Board of Edu-ation, every school in New York City is. going to look like brand-new P.

S. 20 at Adelphi St. and Wilfoughby in the Fort Greene section. Meanwhile, some 1,350 pupils, who had to swallow their education in doses of double sessions, antiquated buildings and facilities, are. still reveling in the thrills of becoming accustomed to their new ultramodern surroundings.

In "new look" classroom, os shown at the left, Mrs. Gertrude LeVita of 636 2d St. takes odvantage of moveable desks and chairs to keep her sixth graders quietly occupied in six different units of activity. Below, the pupils troop happily through the striking new portal on Adelphi St. at the end of a day's work.

1 If 'JJflU If i 71 1 JUST LIKE HOME Little things like cozy wood-burning fireploce in the kindergarten add up to make going to school an attractive daily event. The hearth is believed to be the only one of its kind in a local school and bolsters Assistant Superintendent of Schools Joseph C. Noethen's claim that P. S. 20 is "the most modern school In New York City." All the comforts of home and more.

By BERT HOCHMAN Retirement from a given field of endeavor has come to be little more than a temporary action with Harry L. Abrams. He's tried it twice already and the only permanent aspect of his retirements has been a complete continuance of his manifold charitable activities. Twenty years ago, acting under strict doctor's orders, he withdrew from the retail ladies-wear business after spending 16 years in that line. The warning was to take it easy.

The advice was to slacken, in addition, the pace of various commitments to philanthropic agencies to take a back seat, if nothing else, and lend moral support while others shouldered the heavy work. Ten days ago the same Mr. Abrams retired again this time as president of the East Midw-ood Jewish Center at 1625 Ocean Ave. after years at the helm of what is considered one of America's leading Jewish community institutions. Today, while awaiting several surprises at a testimonial dinner the congregation is tending in his honor next Sunday evening at the Flatbush center, Harry Abrams surveys the future in characteristic Harry Abrams style.

"Of course, I'm going to try to devote a little more time to my family," he stoutly maintained the other day, settling back behind the desk in his real estate office at 32 Court St. "And thish time" his eyes twinkling "I've got two grandsons to consider." But, after mentioning hopes for an early revisit to Israel with his wife he's been there twice before, in 1931 and again in 1939 Mr. Abrams swiftly arrived at other phases of his "retirement" plans. "I don't expect to retire from charitable work now, or at any other time," he said slowly, but with a distinct note of decisiveness in his voice. "I'm now looking forward to assuming a more active role in the affairs of other institutions." No, that didn't mean that Mr.

Abrams is deserting the East Midwood Jewish Center in any way. It's just that such strides have been taken by the center during his seven years as president that now he feels he should concentrate his capacity for accomplishment on other charitable areas. Statistics reveal that since Mr. Abrams was elected E. M.

J. C. president, it has constructed a $1,000,000 Hebrew School and Youth Building; its annual budget offering a good index of its community functions has risen from $70,000 to a current peak of $200,000, and its 1944 membership roll of 400 has now soared to 1,300. This rather amazing growth and expansion within such relatively few years is completely in line with Mr. Abrams' oft-stated conviction that a religious institution should not only be a temple or church, but serve as a center for all community activities.

The new four-story structure on E. 21st between Avenues and incloses, among other things, an auditorium seating 800, a kindergarten and nursery with every modern facility, a Hebrew school with an enrollment of 1,000 children, a Boy Scout troop of 500 and 34 clubs with varied activities for youngsters from 6 to 21; all in addition to civic, social and religious groups to fit any adult interest. On many evenings' the lights glow brightly from every corner of the Flatbush center, with upward of 3,000 persons attending a variety of its functions. Mr. Abrams' objectives of 1944 are now the realities of 1951.

Today his retirement to honorary president of the center finds him planning new fields to succor. A long- 7 OF 8 BROOKLYNITES AGREE OPS Isn 't Fair in Okaying New Rises on Top of Taxes 1 I La Ma Ml LatMHl tiiil Brookl unites agree in Jiejcreases, thus probably causing main that prices are too high more strikes. Harry Abrams standing Interest in other institutions appears headed for a new shot in the arm. As a director of the Infants Home of Brooklyn and a member of the national planning board of the Theological Seminary of America, Mr. Abrams has his work cut out for him.

He won't mention anything specific at this time. The inference is clear, however. Most of the motivation toward charitable endeavors has stemmed from his father, the late Jacob Abramowitz, a personal friend of Dr. Chaim Weitzmann, now president of Israel. The second oldest of five sons, Harry was born on St.

Valentine's. Pay in 1894 in a small Russian village near Minsk. In 1900 the family migrated to Manhattan's East Side. Two years later Harry Abrams became a Brooklynite for keeps. He was graduated from Public School 84 in Brownsville at the age of 13 and two days later started out on a $3-a-week job in a Manhattan ladies shop shining shoes, delivering orders, sweeping the floor and handling a bit of bookkeeping on the side.

A year's studying in an evening commercial high school served as the only other formal education in his life. In 1915 he opened up his own retail business and the following year he married the former Edith Mozell of' Baltimore. They now reide at 1701 Albemarle Road and have two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Fields and Mrs. Hannah Marks, and two grandsons, Jeffrey and William Marker, aged 3 years and 9 months, respectively.

His father, an ardent Zionist, lived In Israel from 1929 until his death in 1939. Mr. Abrams is a director Of the Flatbush Zionist District and a board member of the Brooklyn Zionist Region. In addition, he is a past master of Victoria Lodge, F. A.

a member of Midwood Lodge, B'nai B'rith; the Men's League, of Brooklyn and the Flatbush fund-raising Boy Scout committee. Meanwhile, there's a lot of buckpassing going on at the East Midwood Jewish Center these days. Whatever success his presidency has enjoyed there, says Harry Abrams, has been due to the fine caliber of men with whom he worked, led by Rabbi Harry Halpern. The men of whom he speaks so glowingly, however, single out one person to bear the burden of their outspoken praise. His name Is Harry L.

Abrams. and thnt inflation, like death MRS. LILIAN SCHLIETER and tares, will he with vs or; a In response to 3oth St. question, "Do you think thatl 0, I don't think that the the Office 0 Price Stabilization OPS is right in granting in-ts justified in allowing a in some cases, it's rWic- markup of prices on top of the 1 0 to raise the prices of various 0 fnmodl- tax increases? eight Brooklyn-ites replied: CLAIRE CORRIS E. 55th St.

No, I don't think that the Office of Price Stabilization is Justified in allowing some man ties. Then one is forced to get a I A 1 cost-of-liv- ufacturers, i ng wage wholesalers then the Government and retail-! lnclease: pra ra t3 men uic icia is increases -isf 1 1 on the tax'Passed on t0 consumer, and inrrpase to; then you're right hack where the started from. It's a vicious It's an even more vicious After w.f our taxes were increased, too. JOSEPH J. LOMBARDO Court St.

I think that the OPS should not have granted increases. But what can you do about it? It's the same Why didn't they make a price reduction for us to absorb the new tax cost? It seems to me that the consumer always loses. W1LLTAM E. CROSS E. 16th 8t.

Where there hasn't been an appreciable increase in the last ten vears. a markup is justified. Manufac-1 turers need old ques 1 1 0 i death and taxes. It will just create in flat ion ary pressures. If we're not 13b a -i raise if they' haven't been passing on their rising costs to the consumer to careful 'his could lead to a situation like that of 1029.

The I '4 i -i 1 I liif I 111 ntj, 1 1 1 1 1 1 Irfc" 711 4iit ftnrrffinr- ifrrnn n-iMiminiii inmnii "-jfiini wiwwMwi.iiii.Liijimji.il-iwi ni a mum mm mmi tmtnwmtwmmtmmvMiim juauuiuiu-l financial history of the United States shows that. MRS. ETHEL GROENEXDAAL Ryerson St. People are already paying so many taxes, hidden and other-, wise, they don't know what absorb the new tax costs. Of course, the OPS has been rather liberal in allowing markups.

In a sense It is an inflationary TO EACH HIS OWN A typical 1st grade classroom boasts knotty pine-paneled walls. Instead of one large clothing closet for the whole class, each youngster has his own wardrobe bin. Along with asphalt tiling on the floors and radio facilities in each room, P. S. 20 serves as a perfect model of "things come" in the field of education.

thev re nav- move. '4 MRS. MARIE KELIHER 7th St. Money doesn't seem to go as far as it used to. But speaking seriously, as If that weren't i for.

What's more, you don't even know how you're going to pay for it. However, com serious enough, we are paying enough now. It I I 1 i plaint' gets one nowhere. This cycle of inflation must stop! somewhere, sometime, and I seem fair that tax in creases should be say now's the time. FRANCIS X.

EGITTO 7th St By granting increases and making exceptions, where does the OPS expect to hold the line passed on to us. After all, our taxes were raised too. They're getting us twice. FRANK KEETOX 40th St. It definitely Is not justifiable.

It might create a cycle of raises which would be discriminatory or even draw the line, for that matter? It seems to me that, in al and Inf la 4NsjSrr H'. i ary thereby lowing the lowering tax increase to be passed on to those the value of money and also MOVING EVERY DAY Perhaps the chief advantage of the ultramodern facilities is the moveable classroom furniture, from the teacher's desk to each pupil's desk-and-chair combination. Different class activities demand different seating alignments all easily effected amid the new facilities. As Marie Warnat of 269 Cumberland St. starts to read a story to her 1st grade class, a bevy of youngsters at the left simply take their chairs in hand and move up closer.

In addition to her modernized classrooms, Dolores Chitraro, the principal, also enjoys the luxuries of a new auditorium, library, gymnasium, lunch and nature-study room. who have just had their own taxes increased, the OPS is cir causing de cumventing the reason for pav NO TREK TO LAVATORY And when a youngster wants to wash his hands, the traditional upraised palm and "Teacher, may I leave the room?" query isn't necessary, In the rear of each room is a shiny new sink and soap dispenser, as used above by 2d graders RcTsemary Nigro, 7, of 99 Adelphi left, and Julia LeVita, 6. mands for another and price in- ing price control what there is round of wage of it, that is..