THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
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THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
Issued Every Friday by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Company.
General Manager
ANTON KAUFMAN
Michigan's Only Jewish Publication.
Editor
SAMUEL J. RHODES,
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Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of
March 3, 1879
FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1916.
Religion and the Schools
"Straws indicate the direction of the Wind." The protest of Dr.,
J. 1). MacDonald of the Highland Park Presbyterian Church to the
Board of Education of highland Park, against permitting dancing in
the public schools of that suburb, is an indication of the tightening
grasp which the Orthodox churchmen of Highland Park are getting
upon the public educational system there. Dr. MacDonald, as well as
Rev. Martin of the Methodist Church and Rev. Colter of the Baptist
Church, who support his protest, really spoke in the name of the Fed-
eration of Men's Church Clubs of the Village of I lighland Park. That
their protest against the teaching of dancing in the schools was based
upon absolute. ignorance of the true state of affairs,—the truth being
that dancing was never taught in the Highland Park schools,—only
emphasizes the fact that these men and the coterie which they repre . -
sent are trying to put the educational system of Highland Park under
the control of the churches. Their success in enforcing the rule that
certain verses of the Bible be read at the opening of each session has
strengthened them in their aggressive attitude.
Now this whole matter is of concern to us from two standpoints.
In the first place we hold that the introduction of religion directly or
indirectly into the public school system is a violation 'of the basic
principle of the separation of church and state, and that if for no other
reason it should not be tolerated on the ground of its tin-Americanism.
More directly we are concerned in the matter because a very consid-
erable proportion of the pupils attending the public schools of High-
land Park are Jewish children and we have a right to protest against
their participation in religious exercises other than those of their own
c }lurch.
The argument that Bible verses are read without interpretation
by the teacher has been so often and so adequately answered that we
will not take it up again at length at this time. Without interpreta-
tion the Bible is a sealed book to adUlts, and correspondingly a
mystery of mysteries to children. Interpreted by a teacher it at once
becomes a sectarian book, for no teacher can escape the psychology
of her own religious traditions; so that the Catholic teacher will inter-
pret the verses from the standpoint of the Catholic Church, the Protes-
tant from the Protestant standpoint, and the Jewish teachers,—though
we question incidentally whether there are any in Highland Park,—
will by the same token put a Jewish interpretation upon the verses.
In a word, the public schools, which are supposed to be free from all
sectarian taint, are not the place for Bible reading. The Bible should
be taught in the church and in the home. It behooves the Jewish res-
idents of Highland Park to keep their eyes open in this matter and to
be ready to make a strong protest against the insidious methods by
which the churchmen of their village are trying to influence in a sec-
tarian manner the secular education of the children.
The Indianapolis Charity Conference
The Jew has always been recognized as a leader in philanthropy
not only because of his generous living, but also because of the intelli-
gence with which he has organized his many charitable enterprises.
Indeed, there arc few forward steps that have been taken by experts
in this domain that have not been foreshadowed in a large or small
way by Jewish workers and organizations. The meeting at Indian-
apolis covered a very wide range of activities, and those who were
fortunate enough to attend the sessions must have gone to their
various homes inspired with a new zeal for their work, and prepared
to meet the ever-growing problems of Jewish philanthropy in a sym-
pathetic spirit. The determination of the Conference to employ a
Field Secretai y is perhaps the most notable concrete achievement of
the meeting. Such a Secretary will be in position to aid the workers
in the various cities of the country ; to spread the gospel of federation
and to co-ordinate the efforts of those who are now working toward
the same ends from different angles. When the various papers and
reports that were presented to the Conference shall have been pub-
lished in full, they will undoubtedly be read with interest.
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Scholem Aleichem
Sholem Aleichem is dead, and thousands of Jews in the Ghettos
of the Old and the New World bow their heads in mourning and grief.
For Sholem Aleichem ranks among the greatest of Yiddish
writers. Unquestionably lie was the greatest humorist who ever
wrote in Yiddish, being sometimes referred to as "Yiddish Mark
Twain." Thousands have read his works, laughed over the quaint-
ness and charm of his humor, and momentarily forgotten their woes
and sorrows.
But Sholem Aleichem was more than' a humorist. I le was also a
historian. His works are the best records of a period of Jewish life
concerning which future generations otherwise would know but littl, ,
Thanks to his magic pen there will live forever in the annals of history
a type of Jew who is fast disappearing—the small-town Jew of Poland
and Russia, reared in an atmosphere of religious rigor, a devoted fol-
lower of his Rabbi, whose life was a curious combination of hard- .
headed business philosophy and a half-mystic Chassidism.
Had he written in any language other than the little-known 'Yid-
dish tongue, poor in words and in the facility for expression, he would
have been hailed as one of the world's great men of letters. But per-
haps it is just as well that he did not write in any other language, for
then the field of Jewish letters would have never known him. Besides,
a greater reward than to boast of the plaudits of a world is to be
enshrined forever in the hearts of an appreciative and loving people.
Flower Day
The Jews of Palestine have not escaped the sad lot of their
brethern in Poland and Galicia. Yet, in the collection and distribution
of war relief funds, the Palestinian Jews have been almost wholly
overlooked.
It is for that reason that the purpose of Flower Day—to raise
additional funds to alleviate the plight of the Jews in the I loly Land—
must be met with the unstinted support of local Jewry. And the fact
that all moneys collected on Flower Day - will be distributed through
the National Fund Committee, whIch is a part of the Zionist organiza-
tion, should deter no one from doing his duty. For whatever may be
our religious affiliations, whether we be Zionists or not, first and fore-
most we are Jews—and no Jew will fail to respond to the call of a
fellow Jew in distress.
The success of a congregation is measured not in the terms of an
increased membership or of 'a swollen treasury, but only in the terms
of a deepening of the religious spirit of its people and of their readi-
ness to sacrifice more willingly for the sake of their faith and its ideals.
The high cost of living is frequently given as an excuse by the
prosperous men and women of the community for not giving more
liberally to charitable enterprises, but they forget that it is the very
poor whom the high cost of living affects first and most deeply.
The reports of the Conference of Jewish Charities recently held
at Indianapolis make very interesting reading. Problems of very "Speak little and do much" is an old Rabbinical proVerb that
great significance to the Jewry of America were discussed by men and might with benefit he repeated to some of our people who are con-
, women eminent in the field of social service. stantly telling of the fine things that they are going to do sonic day.
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