THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

6

Should Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo succeed, as we have little
doubt
they will, in engaging the services of an experienced, aggressive
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
leader, they will not only be serving their own cause to the utmost,
Issued Every Friday by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Company.
but they will also be setting an example that will surely be followed
elsewhere in this and other states.
Michigan's Only Jewish Publication.
At any rate, the experiment upon which they arc entering will he
Editor
watched with the greatest of interest. Its ultimate success will, of
Samuel J. Rhodes,
Manager
course, depend upon the enthusiasm, the loyalty and the ability of
Anton Kaufman,
$1.50 per year the man whom they will call to their joint pulpits. The call will
Subscription in Advance
represent a high opportunity both to the congregations and to the
rabbi concerned.
Offices 701 Penobscot Bldg.
Telephone Cadillac 2588.

The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of inter-
est to the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorse-
ment of views expressed by the writers.

The Community Needs a Forum

The present period will go down in the Jew's history as epoch-
making. In many respects it marks the climax of his existence, the
All correspondence and society notes to insure publication must turning-point of his eventful career. Never before has the crisis been
be sent in so as to reach this office Wednesday morning of each week. as keen. Never before have his problems been as tremendous. Never
before have they pressed as urgently upon his attention.
Entered as second-claw matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of
March 3, 1879
There is the World War, its huge shadow blotting out all else
from view. What about it and the problems it has created—the prob-
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1916.
lem of relieving those who suffer its unspeakable horrors ; the problem
of securing for our brethren in Russia those elementary civil and po-
litical rights to which by the laws of Nature and of Nature's God they
are
entitled ; the problem of an unprecedented flow of Jewish immi-
The Pesach Symbols
gration, which is sure to follow upon the heels of this War?
the
symbols
of
Pesach
are
eloquent
of
the
idea
and
the
ideal
Then there is that other great question, one which has been keen
All
of freedom, but it is far more than a physical freedom of which Matzos enough before the war and which the latter has intensified in meaning
and Moror are emblematic. They remind us that the shackles which a thousandfold. We refer to the question of the Jew's status among
bind must not only be shaken from off the limbs of men, but also from the nations, a question which Zionists and anti-Zionists are endeav-
inter souls. Only the individual and the people that have risen to oring to answer in ways diametrically opposite. There are also a
intellectual and spiritual freedom can be said to have read with deep- dozen other questions of a purely local nature, small in comparison
est understanding the message of the Jews' Passover.
with the above, but which agitate us as profoundly and are of as vital
these
days
especially
we
need
to
be
reminded
of
this
fact.
We
In
concern to us.
need to have a saner interpretation of our freedom. We need to
We cannot step aside all of these issues. Some must De met.
understand, that no man and no people is actually free save it under- They must be met squarely, unflinchingly, with the firm attitude born
stands those limitations of freedom which insure the rights and liber- of a definite resolve. They cannot be so met unless they are under-
ties of every individual and of every people. The symbols of the stood, for intelligent action on any subject is incompatible with ignor-
Passover Festival all tend to inculcate this lesson. May the Jews In ance upon it. The doctor cannot prescribe for a disease unless he has
free America recognize this to the full in this significant but tragic first thoroughly diagnosed it. Similarly, we are in no position to deal
with any of the numerous problems concerning us as Jews, unless we
year of their history.
first thoroughly know and understand them.
One of the best channels through which such knowledge and
understanding may come to us is that of public discussion. "Public
Congratulations to a Christian
debate and discussion," says Emerson "is the greatest factor in the
dissemination of knowledge and in the moulding of public opinion."
Congregation
The truth was realized thousands of years ago by the Greeks and
The hearty congratulations of the Jewish community are sin- Romans, and every Greek or Roman city possessed its forum, where
cerely extended to the Church of Our Father (Universalist) upon the men freely aired their views on all matters of public concern. It was
dedication of its beautiful new church home on Sunday last. The realized by the founders of this republic, and they incorporated into
Church of Our Father has for many years occupied a unique place in our Constitution a provision against the abridgment of the freedom
the religious life of Detroit. Among its sister Christian congrega- of speech, which is today one of the organic laws of this country. It
tions it has stood out as an overtowering mountain peak, as a sponsor is realized by every civilized nation on the globe, and freedom of
of liberal religion and as a servant of every humanitarian cause. It speech forms a fundamental maxim of all civilized government.
has stood consistently for the right of every man to live according to
In view of the above facts, we advocate the establishment in De-
the dictates of his conscience. Through its open forum the Church troit of a forum for the orderly and supervised public discussion of
of Our Father has greatly served the intellectual and cultural life of
problems of Jewish concern.
our city, and none of our citizenry of whatsoever faith but stands
Such a forum is not an experiment. On the contrary, its worth
indebted to this congregation. The new building with its splendid
has been several times successfully demonstrated. In many com-
lecture hall is a fitting monument to the high endeavors of Dr. Lee S.
munities, it takes its place beside the synagogue and the lodge as a
McCollester, for almost a quarter of a century the minister and now
recognized Jewish institution. A Jewish forum is conducted in Bos-
Dean of Tufts Theological School, and to his successor, the present
ton under the auspices of the Young Men's Hebrew Association. It
incumbent of the pulpit, Dr. Willis A. Moore. We are glad to
exists in Cincinnati, and only several weeks ago there took place in
extend our felicitations to this great congregation in the hour of its
that city a great public debate on Zionism, participated in on both
triumph.
sides by men of unquestioned prominence and authority.
Detroit Jews need a forum. Let some progressive, wide-awake
local organization take up the idea and make a forum a successful
reality. The local Young Men's Hebrew Association can do it be-
A Step in the Right Direction
cause their brethren in Boston have done it. The local B'nei B'rith
Temple Emanuel at Grand Rapids and Congregation Bene Israel can do it because the establishment of a forum for the public discus-
at Kalamazoo, by joining together in the engagement of a rabbi to sion of questions of Jewish interest is a project which falls clearly
minister jointly to their spiritual needs, have set a most commendable within those great educational objects to further which that order
example to other congregations similarly situated. Throughout the stands pledged. The Jewish Collegiate Club can do it because college
land there are many congregations w ose membership is not suffi- men, enjoying themselves the blessings of education, are particularly
ciently large to justify them in calling o their pulpit men whose fitted to take up the burden of a movement having as its goal the
recognized ability and long experience may insure efficient results, education of others.
but who could easily acquire such leadership by joining with nearby
There is a splendid opportunity awaiting someone to prove of
congregations situated like themselves. Such union of forces might, service to the Jewish community of Detroit. We shall see whether
for example, be possible between the Jewish communities of Saginaw or not it will be embraced.
and Bay City, situated only sixteen miles apart.

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