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.

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Editorial Contributor
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RABBI LEO M.. FRANKLIN,
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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

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firmed. To the disgust of almost every rabbi in the land, the Con-
firmation has become a social rather than a religious occasion some
communities, and accordingly has furnished another nesting place
for the vicious germ of present giving.
The Confirmation Class of Temple Beth El of this city has set a
noteworthy example in asking us to publish the fact that they do not
desire and will not accept gifts from their friends on the occasion
of their forthcoming confirmation. Should friends insist upon spend-
ing their mobey for them, they are requested to add it to their con-
tribution to the Jewish War Relief Fund. This is an example that
might well he followed by the confirmation classes in other cities.
Indeed, it w ere well if at this time, when every available penny is
needed to buy food and clothes for starving thousands, if all useless
gifts of every sort, were done away with. Those who are looking
for ways to save could find none, we believe, nearer at hand than this.
For who is there among us all who has not been infected by the dis-
ease of gift giving-?

Belgians and Jews

Magnificent and inspiring was the manifestation of generosity on
the part of a few of our fellow Detroiters when, in the course of a
little less than an hour last Monday night, they contributed upwards
Dr. J. Leonard Levy
of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars to the alleviation of
In the passing away of Dr. J. Leonard Levy, rabbi of Congrega- suffering among Belgian children. Nor is it the first time that the cry of
tion Rodeph Shalom of Pittsburgh, Pa., American Israel has lost a
Belgium has been heard by our people here and throughout our land.
leader of intrepid courage, a preacher of rare gifts and an organizer
Never before in the history of the world has such lavish generosity
of extraordinary ability. Cut down in the prime of his manhood, with
been bestowed upon any calamity-stricken country as has been the
a record of achievement that augured even greater things for the case with this little land ruthlessly devastated by a grim foe, and
future, the loss sustained by his congregation as well as by the larger turned from a beautiful and pleasant home well nigh into a howling
house of Israel can scarcely be estimated. To his own people he had . wilderness. Yet whatever has been done has fallen far short of the
linked himself by strong ties of personal affection. If there were need and we rejoice that the continued appeal of the Belgians for
those in his community who did not admire him, it was because he help is meeting with a continued and hearty response at the hands of
had fearlessly cried out against the social injustice or the personal American men and women.
vices that characterized their lives. For Dr. Levy feared no man. If
But it should not be forgotten that Belgium is not alone in her
there was one quality in his leadership more marked than another, suffering by reason of the devastation of war. They who know tell
it was his high courage in voicing his conviction as to what he be- us that whether measured by the actual numbers of the victims or by
lieved to be right. The cause of Reform Judaism had no more valiant the depth of their calamity, Belgium well nigh pales into insignificance
champion than he. Without giving undue offense to those who dif- before the want and the woe of Jewish men, women and children
fered from him, he did not compromise his own convictions as an in the war stricken areas in which they form the great bulk of popu-
earnest Jew of the Reform school. To 1)r. Levy, perhaps more than
lation. And yet who raises a hand in their behalf and who lifts a
to any other single individual, the Union of American Hebrew Con- voice to plead for them save their own co-religionists? To them suc=
gregations is indebted for raising the vast sums of money that was cor can come from only one qua'rter, it would seem, and that is from
necessary to carry on the work of the Department of Synagogue and their prosperous co-religionists in America. Three million of them
School Extension. Gifted beyond most men in persuasive eloquence, are turning their pleading faces to us and outstretching to you and
he seemed able to obtain money in large amounts for any worthy to me their gaunt hands for the help which we alone can give. The
cause. His service to the Union was perhaps the more noteworthy appeal which the Jews of Poland and Galicia and the other stricken
since he represented one of that very small group of prominent reform, countries make is personal to every Jew in America. And that appeal
rabbis in America who did not graduate from the Hebrew Union we must answer in no uncertain way. While some of us arc lolling
College.
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in luxury, while sonic of us are filling our storehouses with food and
In his own community Dr. Levy occupied a foremost place in even with raiment against the day of our want, millions—among them
every field where unselfish service was called for. Among Jews and little helpless children—are dying for the very elemental needs of
non-Jews alike he was recognized as a leader of men. His contribu- life over yonder. To the Jew the appeal of our co-religionists in the
tion to Judaism and to humanity has been that of the practical man war zone ought to mean fully as much as the pitiful plea of the Bel-
who seeks to touch life at every point rather than that of the book-
gians means to the general community. To leave their cry unan-
worm, whose essential contribution takes the form of learned books swered is to take their lives from them. In Heaven's name, then, let
and treatises. For all that, Dr. Levy was a man of real intellectual the Jews of this land give up their foolish vanities and turn their
acumen—a clear thinker and a forceful speaker. His life and per- means to the preservation of their people.
sonality will not soon be forgotten. - He has builded an enduring
monument in the hearts of the thousands who, as learners, have
The Retirement of Mr. Lipman Levy
sat at his feet, and of those unnumbered multitudes who in their hour
Rarely does it fall to the lot of a single individual to serve an
of need have had the benefit of his kindly counsel and generous help,
organization
so long and so well as Mr. Lipman Levy has served
and of the house of Israel of which, through many years, he has
stood a loyal and devoted champion, fearlessly and faithfully preach- the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, as secretary from its
inception in 1873 until now, when because of advancing years and his
ing the doctrines of an old faith to a new world, and .giving forth a
message that was marked by sincerity and earnestness. His memory removal from Cincinnati he has tendered his resignation.
At the time of Mr. Levy's eightieth birthday, which was cele-
shall be a blessing.
brated recently, we took occasion to pay him our tribute of respect,

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1917

A Way to Save

In these times when the warning against wastefulness in all its
forms needs to be clearly sounded, it may not be amiss to call atten-
tion to one possible form of saving which should appeal to all of us.
It refers to the stupid, and one might almost say sinful, expenditure
of money for gifts on all sorts of occasions. Time was when a proper
sentiment demanded the giving of some appropriate token of affec-
tion on rare and great occasions, but today gift giving has become a
disease which afflicts all classes of society. From the cradle to the
grave, a person is beset with the presents bestowed by well-meaning
friends, but which add little to the real pleasure of the recipient, while
they serve to put upon him a constant burden of obligation. For
the fact is that gifts as they are given today really lack a sentimental
value. They are in most instances bestowed as a matter of form,
often at the cost of real and unwilling sacrifice on the part of the
giver, and of embarrassment and social indebtedness on the part
of the receiver. It is especially worth while calling attention to the
folly] of gift giving at this time when throughout the length and
breadth of the land thousands of Jewish children are about to be con-

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but we cannot refrain now from calling attention once more to the
efficient manner in which he has discharged, through all these years,
the duties that devolved upon him. •It was largely due to his con-
scientious labors that the business affairs of the Union have been so
well administered. In retiring from office he carries with him the
good wishes of every supporter of the Union and the College, who
hope that he may be spared for many years to enjoy his well earned
leisure.
A new magazine, "The Jewish Teacher," is being published by
the Jewish Teachers' Association of New York. Published by an
able editorial committee, assisted by a competent advisory board,
the magazine ought to become a source of real benefit to the hundreds
of teachers in the religious schools throughout the land, who are con-
stantly in need of direction and guidance. We shall watch the prog-
ress of the magazine with interest and we trust that it may have a
long career of real usefulness.

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