PAGE FOUR
THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
MICHIGAN'S JEWISH HOME PUBLICATION
Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co.. Inc.
JOSEPH J. CUMMINS
NATHAN J. GOULD
.
President
Secretary-Treasurer
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Postoffice at Detroit,
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Officer 307-308 Peter Smith Bldg., Detroit, Mich.
'Telephone Cherry 3381
Subscription, in advance
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To insure publication, all correspondence and news matter must reach
this office by Tuesday evening of each week.
RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN
Editorial Contributor
The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of interest to
the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the
views expressed by the writers.
The Cincinnati Conference
By common agreement of those who participated in it, the
Thirtieth Annual Session of the Central Conference of American
Rabbis which was held in Cincinnati last week, was by all odds the
most inspiring as it was the most constructive of the meetings of
that great organization. A number of factors contributed to the
eminent success of this gathering. l'rimary among these was the
fact that the Conference met at this time, several months earlier
than it usually. does, to celebrate the One Hundredth Anniversary
of he birth of its immortal founder—Isaac M. Wise. The spirit of
Wise hovered over every stage of the Conference, proceedings and
the men felt that the great master builder of Reform was really
among them.
Let it be said in answer to carping critics that there is no ten-
dency on the part of his pupils to canonize Dr. Wise, though they
love him with a love that cannot be exceeded by that of children for
a father. But they recognize the fact that he was the great con-
structive genius in American Israel; that he was the far-sighted
prophet who understood as perhaps no other leader of Jews has
ever understood,-the lines along which Judaism must develop if it is
to become a dominant force in the shaping of humanity's ideals.
He was a man unafraid because he knew that right was on his side.
He was a man without the taint of selfishness, his only care being
for the victory of the holy cause of religion and humanity. He was
a man of deep conviction who believed tvith his whole heart and
soul in the cause to which his life was dedicated.
On the occasion of the celebration of his eightieth birthday,
Dr. Wise said, "Within a quarter of a century, the ideals of Israel
will have become the ideals of the civilized world." In those days,
this seemed like a wild assertion and those who heard it smiled
indulgently at the impossible dream of an octogenarian who per-
mitted his ideals to run riot with his reason. But Wise knew
whereof he spoke. It is not to exaggerate the truth today to hold
that the very things for which through uncounted generations, the
Jew has been struggling, are the ends toward which humanity is
striving and for whose sake we fought the bloodiest war in man-
kind's history. But Wise knew that mere dreaming could not bring
about the realization of human ideals and therefore, he organized
his forces with a genius such as few men in any age have manifested.
Union, College, and Conference were but so many instruments with
which to actualize the vision of his great soul. It was eminently
appropriate that at a gathering called to honor this master-builder
in Israel, the constructive note should be sounded as it was.
•
A second factor making for the value of the deliberations at
Cincinnati was the character of the program itself. A large part of
the routine business of the Conference having been delegated to the
Executive Board, the sessions of the Conference proper were devoted
almost exclusively to the reading and discussion of papers bearing
upon the vital problems now Confronting American Jewry. When
these papers and discussions shall have been printed in the forth-
coming Year Book of the Conference, it will be seen that the Cin-
cinnati gathering has made more than one contribution to'the liter-
ature of Judaism that is sure to become classic.
Chief among these is undoubtedly Dr. Kaufman Kohler's paper
on "The Mission of Israel and Its Application to Modern Condi-
tions." With rare scholarship, Dr. Kohler traced the history of the
mission idea in Israel and showed by reference to original sources
that practically from the beginning of his history, the Jew has
sought as his part in the world, to spread among all the peoples with
whom he came into contact, the knowledge of God and of human
duty. Not the least pregnant of the many striking thoughts tersely
expressed by Dr. Kohler was that suggested in his declaration that
"the Jew must find a place not in a League of Nations but in a
League of Religions." The failure of the little handful of political
Zionists who were present to degrade the discussion of this great
paper into one on Zionism as against Anti-Zionism, showed clearly
the temper of the Conference on this particular problem.
Never since the glad (lay when according to tradition the hosts
of Israel—standing upon the shore of the Red Sea—intoned their
song of gratitude to Freedom's God, has the Passover come to our
people burdened with a more significant message than at this season.
While it is true that the signing of the armistice in November of last
year did not spell the breaking of every chain that bound either the
limbs or the souls of men, it did mark the end of an age in which
the conception that Might couk dominate Right, could prevail.
Entirely conscious of the grim fact as we may be, that mighty forces
are yet striving in the countries of the old world and even in some
small degree in this fair land, to hold men in physical and spiritual
bondage, we are vet heartened by the conviction that a new era is
struggling to its birth in which .religious and political freedom will
lie the portion of minim- as well as major groups and in which the
force of numbers will not ultimately decide questions of human
rights.
So far as the Jew is concerned, the new age which is upon its
holds promise of the best and brightest day in all his history. We
recognize that the rights of the Jews the world over are not yet
assured and that he is still the victim of pogroms and persecuion
is well as of political disadvantages and social discrimination.
But unless we are willing to concede that the world war with all
the tremendous sacrifices of life and treasure that it has involved
has been fought in vain, we cannot believe that the few shall con-
tinue to be the pariah of the nations; the target for the poisoned
arrows of bigotry and fanaticism ; the butt of ridicule and the victim
of the oppressor. If even the least of the ends for which the civil-
ized world has fought its battle shall be achieved, then the Jew
everywhere shall have gained his full citizenship rights which entail
complete freedom of religious belief and practice and the opportunity
of developing his genius to the fullest. Unless into the Covenant
which shall be basic to the proposed League of Nations and through
the establishment of which alone, the permanent peace of the world
shall be secured, there shall be written the guarantee of the full
rights of minor racial and religious groups in all the countries signa-
tory to the Covenant and in the new nations which the League shall
establish, all talk about humanity's victory in the great struggle
will represent but empty words without meaning and without truth
behind them.
It was because of the full recognition of this fact that the
Central Conference of Atnerican Rabbis in convention assembled
during the past week, sent to President Wilson its demand that the
American representatives at the Peace Conference shall insist upon
the religious freedom and the full Citizenship rights of all peoples in
the various countries.
Because it is entirely likely that these rights will be safeguarded
for all peoples and notably to the Jew, who has so long been deprived
of them in many countries, the coming Passover should be to him a
Feast of Freedom as full of joy and of promise as was the greak . day
when the bondage of Egypt behind him, he stood upon the shore of
his Promised Land and praised the God who had broken the bonds
that bound him. Thus, Pesach will take on a new and greater mean-
ing this year and the Jews the world over will have good reason to
hail the coming of the symbolic Elijah, who, according to tradition.
is to usher in the new and better day for Israel and by that token,
for all humanity.
A Community Sedar
Under the auspices of Pisgah Lodge No. 34, L. 0. B. B., and
with the co-operation of the Young People's Society of Congrega-
tion Shaare Zedek, there will be held in the assembly rooms of that
congregation next Monday evening a Community Sedar, to which
all members of the community as well as soldiers and sailors and
other non-resident guests are cordially invited.
While the Sedar is traditionally a home service and while,
wherever possible, its character as such should be maintained un-
impaired, there is an undoubted value in the community service as
planned. Many hundreds of people there are in every great city
who for one reason or another are deprived of the opportunity of
participating in the Sedar in a private home. To these, the larger
Sedar gives the opportunity of hearing recounted the wondrous story
of Israel's deliverance from the bondage of Egypt and to be inspired
anew with the love for that freedom which the Jew has ever held
sacred.
CONFERENCE OF
RABBIS' CONVENTION
Perhaps the keynote to the reconstruction of Jewish life is to be
found in the greater democratization of Judaism and its institutions.
It is,Dr. Morgenstern's contention that German Reform transplanted
to American soil will not suffice to meet the spiritual needs of the
Jew in America, but that there must grow up a Judaism indigenous
to this soil in which the very soul of America must find its expres-
sion. While agreeing with this fundamental thesis, not all who
discussed this paper were willing to agree with the writer that what
we call American Reform is in fact, only a replica of its German
sources.
It is impossible in an editorial to review at length or CVO.' to
mention all of the splendid contributions that were made to a solu-
tion of the problem of the Jew by those Nrho participated in the
Conference. Much stress was laid upon the need of a new religious
education ; upon the absolute demand that the pulpit deal less than
has been its custom in glittering generalities and reach the hearts
and the souls of the people; that social service in all its many forms
link itself up more closely with religion and that religion -become
less a matter merely for the synagogue and ever-more the inspira-
tion of the home and of the Jew's daily routine. Throughout the
Conference, the optimistic note was struck. Never in all history has
liberal Judaism felt more sure of itself than it does today. The
future is in its hands. From the liberal sy'hagogue is bound to go
forth the message not only that shall shape and mold the character
of our own future but also one that win greatly influence the living
and the thinking of peoples of every faith and every clime. Indeed,
to sum it up in a word, there is a feeling that amounts well nigh to
conviction, that Dr. Wise's phophecy will be fulfilled, that within a
quarter of a century of the time he spoke his words, the ideals of
the Jew will become the ideals of humanity. To this sentiment, the
Conference gave voice in no uncertain way. The program laid down
by it will surely help to bring nearer the day of its realization.
BY FRED LOCKLEY
("An' ice taught 'ern to resteck the British soldier," sings a Tommy in one
of Kitting's martial ballads. In like manner might those wh o take just pride
in the Pavidie tradition exult, and with as just cause, in the light of the records
as cited by .11r. Lockley today. In the annals of the treat It'ar there shine
resplendent the devotion and the daring of the Jewish fighting man.)
A week or.so ago I sat at the speakers'
table w ith Bishop NV. T. Sumner. In the
course of our talk 1 said, "1 believe the
war will do much to wipe out the har-
riers of racial antipathy and religious
prejudice." My remark reminded Bishop
Sumner of an incident that happend at
a ‘Western cantonment. Ile said a so-
ciety woman wrote to the commandant
of the forces stationed there, saying, "I
will be glad to have you send two sol-
diers to my home to share our Sunday
dinner next Sunday. \Ye will see that
they have a good dinner and a pleasant
time." In a footnote she added, "Send
anyone except Jews." The next Sunday
there V1 as a ring at her door bell, and
when she answered it two six-foot ne-
groes in uniform were On the doorstep
with a note from the commandant say-
ing he took pleasure in sending two
soldiers to take dinner with her. The
note was signed "Major Moses Moses-
sohn."
•
IVIten I was in France a Jewish ser-
geant asked me if I could help him lo-
cate Passover bread for 140 of his com-
rades, all of whom were from Hester
and Elizabeth streets in New York City.
1 not only located the Passover bread
for him. but I was able to direct him to
an English-speaking French rabbi, who
lived in a nearby village.
•
•
We have been rather accustomed to
look upon the Jew as the very reverse
of a fighting man, but if we have thought
this in the past, we have another think
coming. I do not know how many Jews
sited in the army. navy or marines of
the American forces, butt I know that
the Jewish Welfare Board has more
than 100,0t10 registration cards of Jews
in the service. Of the 80,000 records
which have so far been classified, the
records show that there are 69,000 in
the army, 8,800 in the navy and 1,700 in
the marine corps. Of those in the army
more than 25,000 were in the infantry,
6.500 in the artillery, 9,300 in the medical
corps, 3.964 in the signal corps and the
aviation corps, 1,895 in the engineer
corps, 1.213 in the cavalry, 1,019 in the
ordnance, 3.521 in the quartermaster
corps and 8,814 in other branches.
• • •
There were more than 5,000 Jews com-
missioned officers in the army. There
are 30 who are colonels or lieutenant
colonels, 202 who are majors, 782 who
are wearing captains' bars and more
than 400 lieutenants. In our navy we
have 205 Jewish commissioned officers,
one of whom is a rear admiral. In the
marine corps there are twenty-five Jews
serving as commissioned officers, one of
whom is a brigadier general. Of the
Jews in the army, more than 30,000 came
from New York City alone; Chicago
supplied 2,700. As the Jewish popula-
tion of the United States is about 3 per
cent of our total population, it will he
seen that the Jew's contributed more
than their quota, when it is known that
at least 4 per cent of our armed forces
are Jews.
Approximately 10 per cent of the Jews
in service are not within draft age lim-
its, which means that they were volun-
teers. In addition to this there were
not less than 10,000 Jewish sailors and
marines, all of whom, of course, are
volunteers. This means that at least —
per cent of all the Jews in the service
of the United States were volunteers.
Up to November 1 the record showed
that 451 Jew's were killed in action, 142
died of wounds, 96 died from disease
and 73 died from accident and other
causes, while, in addition to the dead,
1.590 Jewish soldiers were wounded.
Moreover, in this year of all years, it gives to the Jew the
opportunity to raise his paeean of praise to God for the promise that
has come to men the world over, that chains shall be broken and that
to mankind, a new Land of Promise shall be opened—not in one
corner of the earth only, but wherever men may choose to dwell.
The appreciation of Detroit Jewry is due to those who have
made the Community Sedar possible. It is a step in the right
The fame of the "Lost Battalion" will
never die, but it is not generally known
direction.
It may be stated with the utmost assurance that while contro-
versial discussion was held to the absolute minimum on the floor of
•
the Conference, it was clearly apparent that among the Reform
(continua tram page one)
rabbis, those who held to a belief in the political restoration of
Palestine are so few as to be negligible, even though among the few which the blessing was bestowed upon
each graduate by the venerable presi-
there be those who are constantly in the public eye and whose fame dent of the college.
as orators is widespread.
Ott Sunday morning three excellent
A second paper of permanent value was that of Dr. Julian
Morgenstern on the subject, "If Isaac M. Wise Were Alive Today—
a Program for American Judaism." Like Dr. Kohler's paper, this
too, was a scholarly and well constructed presentation Of the change
that must come in the synagogue and in the Jewish community, if
Judaism is to take its well-merited place in the sun.
THE JEW AS A FIGHTING MAN
Israel's Feast of Freedom
papers were presented—one on "The
Jewish Conception of Justice" by Rabbi
Max Reichler, of New York, in which
he traced the idea of justice in Jewish
literature and privet that the claim
made by non-Jews that Judaism ex-
pounds the doctrine of uncompromising
justice as distinguished from mercy is
erroneous and that Judaism has always
recognized the element of mercy and
love as a necessary comixment in the
administration of justice. The paper
was scholarly Ind inspirational.
Dr. Kohler's Scholarly Paper.
Perhaps one of the most scholarly
papers presented during the Conference
was that of Dr. Kaufman Kohler upon
"The Mission of Israel and Its Applica-
tion to Modern Times." In this paper
Dr. Kohler brought out vividly what he
conceived to be the mission of Israel
and he maintained that Israel is as much
a priest-people as it was when first called
to the service of God. Dr. Kohler pre
tented the paper from the historical
viewpoint and those who heard it could
not question the existence of a mission
and were deeply and earnestly inspired
to carry it on until the world has finally
accepted it. The discussion of this
paper was brilliantly led by Rabbi Samuel
Schulman, of New York, who amplified
in a measure some points introduced by
Dr. Kohler. Rabbi David Lefkowitz
read a paper on "Religious Education
and the Future of American Judaism"
in which he proposed a standardized
curriculum for all religious schools and
a method by which more instruction in
Judaism could be given to Jewish chil-
dren than the one or two hours a week
at present allowed by the average syna-
gogue. Sunday evening at the Rockdale
Temple the Conference was addressed
by ex-President Wm. Howard Taft, on
"The League of Nations"
The place of meeting of the next con-
vention of the Conference will be de-
cided by the executive board at its meet-
ing next October. '
that this battalion, composed of New
York troops, was formed largely of
Jews from the sweatshops of the East
Side. One of these Jewish lads, Abra-
ham Krotoshinsky, was awarded the
distinguished service cross for his valor.
\nen the "Lost Battalion" was cut off
from the rest of the army, runners were
sent nut to secure help and reinforce-
ments. One after the other the runners
The Destruction of Pharaoh.
were killed without being able to secure
help, and when volunteers were asked
for this East Side Jewish boy volun-
Mourn, Mizraitn. mourn! The weltering
teered for the task and made good.
wave
• • •
%Valls loudly oer Egyptia's brave
In the sweatshops of New York City
and in the big clothing lofts I have seen
Where, lowly laid, they sleep;
thousands of Jews sitting cross legged
The salt sea rusts the helmet's crest:
on tables sewing busily. They did not
The warner takes his ocean-rest,
seem to lie heroic figures. Yet I have
Full far below the deep—
seen these same East Side clothing
workers clad in khaka at the front.
The deep, the deep, the weary deep!
They
had as much snap, precision and
Wail, Wail, Egyptia l Mourn and
prude in their job as any one.—Portland
weep
(Ore.) Journal.
For many a mighty legion fell
Before the God of Israel.
NOTED RUSSIAN JEWS
HOW TO SET THE
SEDER TABLE
On the table set for the Seder
service on the eve of the l'assover,
there should be one or more de-
canters of raisin wine or l'assover
wine. A wine glass and a prayer
book, with which to follow the set-l-
ice, should be at each place. The
wine is to be poured into the glasses
at the appropriate time.
Two large napkins folded in halves
and then re-folded into quarters
should be laid upon a large china
plate or upon a tray. In the folds of
the napkin, thus made, are then hid-
den, one by one, the "mitzvoth" (the
square matzoth prepared especially
for the Seder service).
The roasted egg and bone of Iamb
(symbolizing the Paschal Lamb), are
put side by side on a small plate,
and the root of horseradish (symbol-
izing the bitter herbs) is put upon
another small plate.
Grouped around the "mitzvoth"
are the parsley (symbolizing the
bunch of "hyssop" used by our an-
cestors to paint the "lentels of the
doorposts"), and the "charoseth"
(symbolizing the "mortar" used in
building the brick walls of the Egyp-
tian store cities).
Salt water or vinegar (in which to
dip the parsley), and salt (with which
to make the blessing over the mat-
zoth) will also be needled!. A sharp
knife for cutting the horseradish, a
dish for serving the "chareseth," and
a few plates on which to pass around
the symbolic articles of food are like-
wise required.
If the Setter service is to be given
in the traditional manlier, a pitcher of
water and a basin, with towels, should
also be in the room. This water an-
swers a twofold purpose—enabling
men of the family to wash their
hands in the traditional way at the
appointed times, and also permitting
a little water to he poured into the
basin at the mention of each of the
"ten plagues." This symbolic water
is thrown out of doors as soon as the
last "plague" is me tioned, in order
to prevent a viSitatt of the plagues
from coming upon t e household.
The preparations fo the traditional
Seder service are cow leted by plac-
ing upon the table or he sideboard a
large silver goblet , i which the wine
is to be poured for the Prophet Elijah.
PASSOVER RECIPES.
Almond Cake
One pound of almonds, pounded; one
pound sugar, one or two eggs and
enough cinnamon to give a strong flavor.
Bake in a shallow pan and while still
hot cut into small sections.
Matzoth Shalet
Three soaked matzoths, eight eggs,
two cups of sugar, two grated apples,
one and a half cups seeded raisins, one
tablespoonful cinnamon, grated rind of
an orange and a lemon, a few pounded
almonds and one and a half pounds of
suet or rendered fat..
Beat the eggs, sugar and cinnamon
until light. 'Then add the raisins, ap-
ples, almond and the rind and mix well.
Drain the matzoth, gradually add them
to the mixture and beat until very light.
Melt the fat in the dish oin which the
Shalet is to be cooked, and then pour
in the mixture. Bake in a moderately
hot oven for one and a half or two
hours and serve hot. Slower and longer
cooking is required for suet than for
rendered fat.
Charoseth
One-quarter pound almonds, with a
few walnuts, filberts, cream nuts, etc.,
all pounded together; two tablespoon-
fuls grated cinnamon, one-half pound
seeded raisins cut into very small pieces,
two grated apples, two tablespoonfuls
brown sugar.
Mix the nuts, cinnamon, sugar and
raisins together thoroughly; then grad-
ually add enough of the grated apple
to make the mixture of a consistency
to be formed into small balls. More or
less than two apples may be used, ac-
cording to their size. The charoseth can
be used in one mass or can be made into
small balls rolled in cinnamon.
Almond Pudding.
One pound blanched almonds, one
pound sugar, six or eight eggs and cin-
namon to taste. Beat the eggs and sugar
Wake, Israel, wake the harp. The roar
ARRIVE IN AMERICA together until light, then add the al-
Of ocean's wave on Nlizraim's shore
monds and cinnamon. Bake in a shal-
The
well-known
Jewish millionaire low pan and serve cold.
Rolls now o'er many a crest.
from Russia, A. Shtibel, who recently
Where, now, the iron chariot's sweep?
gave several million rubels for the dis-
Where Pharaoh's host? Beneath the semination of Hebrew literature through- SWISS JEWS TO CARE
deep
out the world, and S. Schneer, a noted
FOR 1,500 WAR ORPHANS
Hebrew Russian poet. both arrived in
His armies take their rest.
this city last Monday. They were met
The
Federated Jewish Communities of
Shout, Israel! Let the joyful cry
at the boat by many of the prominent Switzerland have unanimously decided
Pour forth the notes of victory ;
Hebrew writers of this country.
to take over and provide for 1.500 Jew-
High let it swell across the sea,
Mr. Shtibel expects to open a Hebrew ish War Orphans of Galicia. The Swiss
publishing house in this country, and is Jews hope in time to be able to take
For Jacob's weary tribes are free!
ready to contribute large sums for this care of all Jewish War Orphans of
—John Ruskin.
purpose.
Austria.
OWN A HOME
OWN A HOME
SAVE RENT
SECURE COMFORT
A SAFE INVESTMENT
GROWING IN VALUE
For the Wife and Kiddies
BUILD
NOW !
ED
Be Independent
LLITEMS S
BUY
. NOW