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THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
The only Jewish publication in the State of Michigan
Devoted to the interests of the Jewish people
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Vol. II. No. 32
DETROIT, MICH., OCTOBER 5, 1917
$1.50 per Year
Single Copies10 Cents
Rabbi Samuel S. Mayerberg is Installed as
Assistant Rabbi of Temple Beth El
there are no leaders, become thou
find its expression, and I feel that I
\Iv 'TIT ceremonies appropriate "The end of education is not to avoid can do no better service for the young the leader." How can he preach char-
and impressive, and in liar- error but to be guided through error man whom I shall be proud to call ity who does not practice it? How
molly with the celebration into richer experience."
my co-worker and my colleague, as can he make workers of his people
We pledge ourselves to be your
for years I have been privileged to wlio himself is content r.o sit with idle
of the Feast of Succoth, the installa-
tion of Rabbi Samuel S. Mayerburg loyal helpers and supporters. Again call him my friend, than to speak a hands? The works of the rabbi must
as assistant Rabbi of Temple Beth- welcome and may God bless you and
brief word regarding each of them. exemplify his words. His own en-
El, took place on Sunday evening, your labors among us.
The modern prophet, the synagogal thusiasm must kindle the spark of de-
leader nmst voice his message sire in his people.
September 30.
The main auditorium of the Temple
But yet greater titan good preach-
INSTALLATION SERMON BY through his words, through his work
was filled to its capacity by members
and through his personality.
ing, more important than wise leader-
RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN.
and friends of the congregation, who
It may as well be said at the. outset ship along the lines of active work,
came to participate in the Succoth
that the pulpit work of the rabbi is the third essential requirement of
services as well as in the installation
Should, in the last analysis, be his first the rabbi who is truly consecrated to
"V'hoyiso ach so-me-ach." "And
ceremony. The spirit of the joyous thou shalt truly rejoice."
and greatest concern. While there his work. Vain the most inspired
holyday was expressed concretely by
Never in the history of our beloved arc many who would minimize the i in- eloquence and worthless to the cause
a beautiful booth or "succah" which congregation have our hearts been fluence of the pulpit, it must be borne for which the congregation stands,
had been erected on the pulpit under
open to this Succoth injunction to re- in mind that here is the rabbi's op- even heroic work, if words and works
the auspices of the Woman's Auxiliary
portunity to persuade, to inform, and he not the offspring of the soul 'of a
Association. Great baskets, teeming joice,
with
so
much
reason
as
is
the
case tonight. Rich have been the to inspire his people. It will not do man dignified in his manhood and of
with fruits, vegetables, and dainties,
fruits
of our planting during these to excuse slovenly work in the pulpit character unselfish and unstained. The
f
representing the Succoth offering of
on the ground that the modern minis- conviction behind them must give to
the children of the congregation and latter
times, of
and
abundant
has which,
been
the harvest
spiritual
reward
ter has to speak too often, and t6 re- the minister's words their powers of
their parents, surrounded the booth,
under the providence of Almighty call that anciently the rabbi was persuasion. "Words that spring from
beautifully symbolic of the festival.
God, it has been ours to reap. This called upon to speak only on great the heart appeal to the heart" is an
The regular Succoth services were
is indeed, then, an occasion of joyful and special occasions. The fact re- old Jewish maxim. There is a tend-
read by
y Rabbi Franklin , at the con- ingathering, and we stand before God, mains, however unfortunate it.may be, ency in some modern congregations,
elusion of which, Mr. Louis Welt„ our hearts filled with deep gratitude that our people do not come to the and who shall not deplore it—to exalt
president of Temple Beth-El, made a that He has privileged us to enjoy the
synagogue so much to pray as to be the eloquence of the leader above his
short address. Dr. Franklin then de-
fruits of our labors as we do tonight. edified, uplifted and instructed. For manhood, yea to set scholarship upon
livered the charge to his young col-
Not more significant to the young this reason every sermon preached a throne and to cast character, as
league in an address that stirred the
man whom we are to welcome as our must breathe forth the Jewish spirit. though it were a weak and an unwor-
hearts of the congregation to a full
co-worker tonight, than to you, my It need not of necessity be about thy thing, beneath its feet. There is
realization of the impressiveness of people, is this occasion, for if to him
Jews or Judaism, but it must be the a shoddy aristocracy in the intellec-
the occasion. His young colleague re-
it signifies the taking up of a holy and offspring of a soul so thoroughly per- lectual as well as in the social world.
.5ponded feelingly. The full text of consecrated life work, to you it means meated with Jewish ideals through a Let the rabbi guard well against the
he several
addresses
are printed be of larger and more re- familiar acquaintance with' ewish his- temptations that it holds out to him.
the
low.
the
assumption
sponsible obligations to this com- tory, literature and tradition that its It is a deceitful master and will play
. Following the services a reception munity, to this congregation, to the
Jewishness will be its distinguishing him false. A congregation that is fed
was tendered Rabbi and Mrs. Mayer- cause of faith and of humanity than
characteristic. Not that I hold that on insincerity will soon enough be-
burg in the Assembly Room of the
the rabbi should t'e a mere bookworm. come infected with. the germ. But a
temple. During the course of the re- were
ever
yours
before.
The
time
is
psychological for the assumption by There is an honored place in the ministry whose influence is centered
ception brief addresses were made by the synagogue of greater virile tasks. scheme of life for the man who de- in a character that men necessarily
Mrs. Isaac Goldberg, president of the Under the influence of the bitter ca- votes himself to the decipherment of respect, shall endure and grow in
Woman's Auxiliary Association, and 'amity that rests upon the world, and ancient manuscripts and hieroglyphic power. Independent that ministry
by Mr. Louis I. Frank, president of in a time when the souls of men are
inscrintions, but it is not in the pul- may be and free in the best sense that
the Young People's Society.
pit. The rabbi, dealing with living pulpit. The flattery of men shall not
being tried in the furnace of affliction,
the very citadels of religion are being conditions in a living world, must be its spur, but what is infinitely of
attacked
from every side. , The charge know men as well as books. He must higher worth, their wholesome respect
ADDRESS BY LOUIS WELT,
that
religion
has utterly failed is be- be able to touch the springs of human and esteem. Let us have manhood in
PRESIDENT OF TEMPLE
ing spoken with more assurance than character and conscience and to awake our pulpits—manhood that bespeaks
BETH EL.
ever before, by the skeptic and the
in men their loves, their sympathies an ideal from which life itself takes
and their affections. His message on a character of consecration.
scoffer.
As
never
before,
the
"little
Rabbi Mayerberg:
scientist"
is
exalting
himself
and
try-
must be timely and not vague. It And now to you, my dear friend
With great pleasure do I accept the
ing
to
read
God
out
of
His
universe.
must have in it a certain fearlessness and colleague, just a word of wel-
invitation, as president of this con-
and
frankness. Without stooping to conic, and if I may add, of fraternal
grcgation, to extend to you a hearty Now if ever it needs that in church
and synagogue there shall be an ex-
petty personalities in the pulpit, the admonition and encouragement. If
welcome.
rabbi's message must yet be personal to this whole assembly I have spoken
As assistant to our beloved leader alted and a consecrated and a fearless
leadership,
through
which
the
mes-
to his people. How insipid and how my words, they have been intended
M.
and standard bearer, Dr. Leo
l• ranklin, you have a wonderful ex- sage of faith in the eternal God shall
puerile sound the pulpit utterances of chiefly for you. You are henceforth
some men beside the ringing denun- to share in the privilege and in the
ample before you. His teachings and be proclaimed as a source of courage
ciations of such men as my sainted high responsibility of leadership in
ideals are of the loftiest character; to the downcast and of inspiration to
and community.
his sympathetic feelings for his parish- those whose way is dark. Never has teacher, Isaac M. Wise, or of Emil this congregation
Levy
May
you
be
worthy,
as I believe you
G.
Hirsch
or
of
the
lamented
Dr.
ioners have endeared him to all. the knowledge of God been so needed
To few
whom
the
pulpit
word
was
will
be,
of
so
high
a
dignity.
—men
to
The auspices under which you enter in the human world as now. In the
sacred
opportunity
to
crush
wrong-
men
does
the
opportunity
of
service
supreme
crisis
of
human
life,
science
a
upon your lifework are most happy.
doing and to exalt righteousness. such as shall henceforth be yours,
cannot avail, for beyond God the
Fresh from the great college in
But the words of the minister must come at your age or for that matter
you
have
made
an
enviable
rec-
scientist
cannot
go
and
without
God
which
be reinforced by his works. He must at any period of their career, You
ord, and establishing a home with the evolutionist cannot begin. Mere
in reality practice what he preaches. have been called to serve a congrega-
your young helpmate, you come to a rationalism is no more sacred in the
realm
of
science
than
is
superstitution
Although it is true that often too tion that through more than three
congregation not weak, not decay-
much is demanded of the rabbi, so score years has with dignity and with
in
the
domain
of
religion.
ing, nor indifferent; but you come to
To
the
Jew
especially
these
that
he
is expected to preach and to honor sponsored the best for which
a community vigorous, growing,
ready to grasp new ideas and to em- thoughts should come freighted with teach, to be an organizer and a social Judaism and Americanism have come
high meaning in this hour, for to be
leader, to be at home in ancient phil- to stand. It is a congregation grown
brace all opportunities for activity.
Dr. Franklin and you will help not a Jew and not religious is a contradic- osophy and to be able to pass wise from small beginnings to one of the
be true, the judgment on the ephemeral novel largest and • most influential Jewish
only the people of Detroit but the tion in terms. And if this
Jewish population of the whole state synagogue in times lik e these must fresh from the press—despite the folly organizations in the land. To us
of all this, there are certain practical congregations in every part of this
of Michigan, to raise high the stand- take on increasing power. The syna-
ing and dignity of Judaism among the goguc, whose function it is to inspire works in which he. must assume the great country have begun to look for
Works pertaining to leadership and inspiration. We have
an intenser religious sentiment among l ea ders hip.
citizens of this great state.
our
life
philanthropy,
to education and to been pathfinders and pioneers in
the
people,
must
be
central
to
Your special field, no doubt, will be
among our young people and also and to voice its message is the bur- good citizenship are legitimately his many directions. To us, perhaps more
among the students who are the spe- den that is laid upon the rabbi. What concern. Where they exist he must than to any single congregation in
support them; where they are want- the world, is due the new spirit of
cial care of our rabbi. HITCH YOUR a dignity, what an honor, what a re-
STAR.
sponsibility!
How
shall
he
meet
it?
ing
he must inspire their creation. democracy that is forcing its way, de-
WAGON TO A
Sometimes he must do so in the spirit spite all sorts of opposition, into the
There are to my mind three ways.in
Mistakes you will make as we all
must
of
the Mishnaic mandate, "Where modern synagogue. This power of
which
the
message
of
the
rabbi
have made them. Goethe has said: