PAGE FOUR

THE DETROIT IEWISH CHRONICLE

THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Confessions of a Non-Jewish Jewess.

It is because unfortunately there is a dearth of teachers thus adv-
quately prepared, that two years ago, the Normal Department was added
to the Religious School of Temple Beth . E1. The present class is the
''flue story r f a young wounds, horn I r Cason taught me.. I explained to him
Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co.. Inc.
first to receive teachers' certificates from this institution, but we have Jewess,
whose parents "did not believe It ow he was the only one to whom
reason to believe that front year to year, the classes will grow tn num- 's religion,' and raised her accordingly could turn in my distress of spirit
.
President ber and eventually
JOSEPH J. CUMMINS
-
-
prepare teachers not only for the school of this Con- std ;chat happened when she learned now that my parents were no more.
Secretarv-Treasurer
NATHAN J. GOULD -
I begged him to forgive me fur
gregation, hut perhaps also to do a larger work elsewhere. Certainly hat she was "Jetvish,' shefells here in troubling
him with my personal diffi-
a remarkable ha wan &willows: ',Ai'
the
training
of
teachers
ought
to
be
a
part
of
the
curriculum
of
every
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916. at the Postoffice at Detroit,
"The London Jewish Chronicle," from culties, but 1 told him how sufficiently
well-organized
religious
school.
In
a
few
cities
in
the
country,
the
plan
hard
it
was
for me to have to turn
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
which UT republish the story, calls "The
and earn my livelihood by long and
has been tried out most successfully. There is no reason why it should Tragedy of a Soul."
strenuous work without haying the
OFFICES, BOOK BUILDING
not succeed in Detroit.
"Ought we to subject our religious added burden of a soul in doubt and
practices and our religious observances
spirit torn with questioning.
Telephone Cherry 3381

MICHIGAN'S JEWISH HOME PUBLICATION

Mr. Taft's Denial

to the test of what reason we have
"'I thought your parents were well-
within us?" asks a yang woman cor- off?' seas his first remark. I detailed
respondent of Mentor, the special to him the financial fool's paradise in
In reading
Taft's categorical denial of the interview anent writer in the London levy's!' Chronicle. which my father had lived—that it
To insure publication, all correspondence and news matter must reach Zionism that was given wide publicity by the Zionist Publicity Bureau, 'Reason teaches us that we should, but was only after my mother's death, a
this office by Tuesday evening of each week.
one wonders why it should be deemed necessary by the leaders of Zion- CNi.erience points in the very contrary few months before his own, that any
Let me explain.
glimmering of the true state of his
ism to resort to this kind of propaganda to uphold their cause. The direction.
"My early years and those of the affairs was presented to hint. 'And
RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN
Editorial Contributor
interview, which is supposed to have taken place between Mr. Taft and family to which I belong Were passed you, a bit of a girl, dare come to me
The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of interest to Mr. P. M. Raskin, a member of the Speakers' Staff of the Zionist Or- in utter estrangement from Judaism, with such ideas! l'ou have the tem-
the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the ganization of America, appeared originally, in "The Day," a Yiddish either in its home practices or in its erity to question this and that and
obligations. Religiously, our the other. You are not fit to come to
views expressed by the writers.
daily published in New York City, and was then published broadcast in synagogue
training was merely elemental. that is my Synagogue or to call yourself a
both the Jewish and secular press. According to this interview, Mr. to say, it was purely ethical. Till I Jewess!'
"Oh! hots' those words of his burned
Taft asserted positively that he was a Zionist, and that he could not was (elite grown-tip I did not know of
into my very soul, with all that they
understand the zttitude of those Jews who did not sympathize with the my Jewish origin.
meant, and how I could translate his
"I
shall
never
forget
the
day
that
I
If there is one thing that is more to be regretted than another in rehabilitation of the Jewish nation in Palestine.
of tr., being one of the Jewish mind: 'The impertinence of a poor
So contradictory was this statement to the well-known attitude of learned
the present Jewish situation in America, it is the unfortunate 'Instituter-
people! I look back upon it with the working girl—a poor working girl in
an office—daring to call in question
standing that exists between the various sections of Jewry. Crimination Mr. Taft on this subject, that the matter was called to his attention by a horror which the memory of a night- sacred things about my synagogue!
and recrimination, the calling of unpleasant names, and mutual antag- leading non-Zionist, in reply to whom Mr. Taft wrote among other mare evokes. For I felt like an un- If `she had been a rich girl it woul d
ballasted vessel or like one adrift upon have been bad enough—but a working
things:
onism between the Orthodox and Reform elements among Jews in
the limitless ocean without compass, girl! Ecrasez l'infame
"I was traveling on a Pullman car front Pittsburgh to
America have become all too frequent. No doubt our opposite convic-
derelict. ,
". . . And now I understand
Washington. Two men of foreign type sat on the other side
"The hot tears of hopeless despair what my parents meant when they
tions upon the Zionistic question have defined and perhaps deepened
of
the
car.
One
came
over
to
me
and
asked
me
what
my
opin-
welled from my eyes that seemed to said they kept time ignorant of my
these differences. But the fact remains that our people may differ
ion of Zionism was. I expressly declined to give an opinion.
look out upon a life that had been so Jewish origin so that the knowledge
very widely among themselves upon Zionism and other questions of vital
bright, so happy, so free from care, and the 'fact of it should not militate
* * * * * Mr. Raskin was evidently a poet and admit-
interest to all Jews and yet retain a fine mutual respect for one another's
and now was to me so black, so dark. against my career. • . .
ted it. Ile was an ardent enthusiast and expressed great con-
convictions.
I, Jewish!
"I have definitely closed the door of
tempt for those Jews who disagreed with him. * * * * *
"The thought was torture to me, the Religion against my soul. It may be
As was set forth in these columns a few weeks ago, the differences
As 1 look over the report of the interview, it seems to me that
idea made me shudder.
wrong
to subject our religious prac-
between the Zionist and the non-Zionist and for that matter, between the
"I knew' what it meant to he Jewish tices and our religious observances to
I recognize remarks attributed to me, as those of Mr. Raskin.
Orthodox and the radical Jew bave to do in the main with the inter-
That
I
had
learned
from
a
dear
good
the
test
of what reason we have with-
* * * * * / hare no hesitation in saying that the inter-
pretation of principles that all alike agree to be fundamental to the out-
Christian soul, who, when I teas at in us. And it may lie glorious to see
view as given, is not correctly reported or in denying categor-
school, never tired of warning me al- God face to face. Rut--if we must
working of Jewish destiny. And so long as this is the case, there is
ically that I said I was a Zionist."
ways to show respect to, to love and not see Him with our eyes open—?"
hope that some day, through calm discussion and through consideration
It is misrepresentation of this sort that has greatly influenced many Senerate. the Jewish people. 'Never
for the interests of the larger cause involved, these differences—many
non-Zionists in their distrust of Zionistic leadership. It is by no means mind,' she would say, 'how ugly is the RUMANIAN JEWS
of them purely formal—will be overcome. The only Jew to whom no
exterior of the average Jew or Jewess.
OF AMERICA HOLD
the first time that eminent men whose opinion would go far to sway the 1.earn to understand their souls—those
concessions can be made either by the Reform Jew or the Orthodox, is
CONVENTION IN N. Y.
views of the public upon this matter, have been called upon to deny the of them who are truly Jewish—and the
the one who voluntarily reads himself out of the circle of Jewry and
sympathetic views attributed to them anent Zionism. No good cause greatness of the test of hem. For to
denies both the power and the right of Judaism to affect his thinking
NEW YORK—At the twelfth an-
need resort to falsehood to bolster itself up. Something must be wrong be a Jew or Jewess.' she would go on, nual
and his living.
convention of the Federation of
'means to be one whose religion is life
when methods of this sort are invoked. It behooves the rank and file itself ; to be Jewish is to partake of h Rumanian Jews of America, held this
Unfortunately, the number of those who take this attitude is con-
of Zionists, for their own sakes and for the sake of. the cause that they heritage more glorious than that of any week at the Hotel Astor, resolutions
stantly increasing. What the fundamental causes of this religious an-
cherish, to trace the responsibility for such misrepresentation to its people on earth, because of what and were adopted to petition President
archy may be, we need not now attempt to analyze. Suffice it that all
whom the Jewish people have given to Wilson and the American Peace Dele-
parties who are open-eyed concede its existence. The great problem source.
mankind. I have never thought it hy- gation to intercede onbehalf of the
perbole;she would sometimes say, and Jews of Eastern European countries.
before the Jew today is to stem its growing tide, and to win back to
a wistful, placid look would steal over The resolutions read:
allegiance to the faith of the Jew those who are not wholly lost ; but
Information has reached its of the
ber dear fare, 'but mere truth, that
most of all, it is to save the children of those who have voluntarily read
of Jews in Poland, and the
The Jewish community extends to Rev, Augustus P. Record, who Moses saw God face to face. And so massacres
themselves out of the pale from falling into the ways of their fathers.
has the Jewish people alone been priv- United Jewry of the world has public-
has just conic to Detroit to take up his duties as pastor of the First Uni- ilegedto.'
ly
and
openly
protested against the
The more important is this task and the more impressive is this duty
tarian Church, a very hearty welcome. Dr. Record comes from
"'Saw God face to face,' I thought. massacres of our brethren in Poland
because religious anarchy is the first step toward moral anarchy; toward
.class., with a magnificent record not only as a preacher of 'That is the t6t of the child of Israel.' and other Eastern European coun-
social anarchy; and toward political anarchy. Such Bolshevik and an- Springfield, '
And here was I who knew God not at tries. The Federation of Rumanian
archistic element as is to be found among the Jews is recruited almost power but as a man who has deeply interested himself in every social all flow could 1, I asked myself, stif- Jews of America has this 8th day of
and civic problem of that progressive community. He is the sort of a fer life itself now I knew I was of the June, 1919, assembled at the Hotel
entirely front those upon whom religion has loosed its hold.
man of whom we have but too few in the present day pulpit.
Jewish people and was such a poor, Astor and herewith joins with the
Now, how is this to be accomplished? The question, let it be said
of the world in protests against
We are particularly interested in the fact that the pulpit of the outcast, abandoned creature; that of Jest's
the outrages committed against our
clearly, is not one that concerns either Orthodoxy alone or Reform
local Unitarian Church should be filled by a man of broad vision and of Judaism I knew nothing, and of Re- brethren in Poland and other Eastern
alone. It is a matter, the proper solution of which is vital to all Jews
ligion even the first principles were
high ideals. That pulpit has for manay years voiced the message of hidden from me?
European countries; lie it
of every shade of religious opinion. The fact stands out boldly that
Resolved, That we raise our voice
brotherhood and of personal righteousness clearly and courageously.
"And this was the strange thing.
the children who arc receiving no religious training must be gotten hold
and
protest against these massacres
\\'e feel assured that its finest traditions will be upheld by Dr. Record. When 1 asked try parents why they in connection
with the voice of the
of by one agency or the other for their own good as well as that of or-
\\'e wish him God-speed in his work and believe that in him,,Detroi . :ail so shared r,:v ∎ ,aing Ife that the rest of the Jewry of the world, and
ganized society. That there are many hundreds of such children in the
now ledge of ni) true origin came to
hereby
utmost
respectfully
petition the
will
find
a
new
power
for
righteousness.
me as a disaster, they pleadingly, al-
City of Detroit, only the blindest partisanship or the most stupid indif-
nost asking pardon, extdained that they Hon. Woodrow Wilson, the President
ference can doubt or deny. Despite the countless numbers of congrega-
of
the
United
States,
and
the
Ameri-
Sere so anxious that my life-career
tions and synagogues in the congested sections of our city, a survey of
he old not I e trammelled and bur- can Peace Delegation to intercede on
the situation indicates that vast numbers of our Jewish children arc
l( ad by Judaism and Jew ish observ- behalf of the Jews of Eastern Euro-
ance, while they would not, of course pean countries, and thus save the in,
utterly beyond the range of synagogal influence.
nocent lives of men, women and chil-
(in truth, I venture, they had not the dren.
To meet this situation, it is clearly the duty of large and well-estab-
•urage to) have me brought up as a
Resolutions also were adopted ex-
lished congregations in this city to take hold of the problem systematic-
Christian.
tending the thanks of the federation
ally. and aggressively. Many of these children, perhaps most of them,
". . . The ordinances and ceremon- to PresidentWilson for his attitude
sold•.. for Chicago, and the other to ies of Judaism appealed to me, for I
can best be reached through the agency of Orthodox. or conservative
Poles Join In Protest
attend to the organization work out- had voraciously read 'everything upon at the Peace Conference regarding
congregations. It is obviously the duty of such congregations to plant
sine of affiicago. Detroit, as the sec- ,which I could lay hand concerning the minority rights, including the rights
(continued From rage One.)
religious schools in the heart of these congested districts and to bring
ond largest city represented at the history of our people in its broadest of the Jews. Thanks were also ex-
convention,
was promised a special and most extended aspects. I was in- tended to the delegation of the Ameri-
their Jewish message directly to those children who cannot he reached quoted from the Duluth "Herald," is-
organizer to spend a month at Chi- deed proud to know that 1 belonged to can lewish Congress, headed by Judge
by the synagogs or by the religious schools situated at a considerable sue of June 9th:
cago and organize junior Zionist the Jewish people, and that it had fallen Alacic and Louis Marshall, who have
THE RIGHT WAY.
represented the Jewish interest at the
distance from them.
"Applause cannot be too loud for circles.
to my lot to share its splendid heritage.
But there are also many hundreds of these children whom Orthodoxy the spirit and methods of the local The convention was addressed by "The Synagogue service I joyed in. Peace Conference.
A committee of eleven delegates
Will not reach, and it is therefore the bounden duty of Reform congre- campaign against the mistreatment of Leon Zolutkoff, head of the Central It brought to my life that stream of was appointed to undertake relief
Bureau; Max Shulman, Rabbi pirituality, that something above and
gations to go into these thickly settled districts, carrying the message of Jew's in Poland and elsewhere. Noth- Zionist
work
for Jews in the Eastern Euro-
Aaron Cohen, who was also the chair- wyond Earth the material and the hu-
pean countries and to collect and
the Reform Jew. This represents on the part of the Reform rabbi no ing finer could possibly happen than man of the convention meetings, and nail,
which transfused inc With an ideal- traneonit food, clothes and other ne-
the joining of local Polish-American
attempt to win Orthodox children to Reform. We do not believe in and Jewish leaders in a resolution by Mr. Emanuel Neumann, educa- ;srn that made the world and all within
cessities. Solomon Sufrin, Chairman
congregational competition. Time and time again, we have refused to urging the thorough investigation of tional director of the Zionist Organi- 't great and glorioOs and beautiful, de- of the American Jewish Congress,
zation of America. Alt. Samuel AI. line its (wit and its ugliness:'the work
accept as pupils in our Religious School, the children of members of the charges that have been made.
will issue an appeal for food and
Levin, of Detroit, was elected to rep-
other congregations. All that we have in mind is that the children of It Might so easily have been dif- resent the \fiddle \Vest at the na- If man.' The cruelty and selfishness of clothing to send to the suffering
lankind.
the
inexorable
hardness
of
ferent! l'oland being charged with
tional Young Judaea convention to be Native; became in my eves nothing tint Jews in Eastern Europe and Ru-
the unaffiliated classes in our community must be saved to Judaism and cruelty
to Jews, local Jews might
mania. Air. Sufrin also intends to go
through Judaism, to social usefulness. There is a tremendous work have attacked the new Polish republic held at Long Branch, N. J., June
lie design of Cod formed in His good- to Washington and interview the Food
to July 1.
less,
and
for
the
benefit
of
His
crea4
here to be done by congregations, Orthodox and Reform.
in a somewhat natural spirit of vin-
Board for the purpose of obtaining
cures. The inequalities, and what you space on steamers going to Europe
It may lie urged that the conduct of a religious school under the dictiveness, local Poles might have
Temple
Beth
El
Notes.
ecently termed the inequities, of the to carry supplies.
been
stung
into
tart
rejoinders,
and
auspices of a Reform congregation in districts where most of the pop-
Sabbath services—Regular Sabbath vorld faded and melted away before my
presently we should have the spec-
ulation is presumed to be Orthodox, would lead to unpleasant relations tacle of local Jews and local Polish services will be held throughout the ryes; for I was of the Jew ish people. PALESTINIAN ARABS
between the two branches in Jewry. For our part, we believe the very Americans both forgetting that they summer at the Temple, beginning and I had seen the Almighty face to
PROTEST ZIONIST STATE
face.
reverse is the Case. The Orthodox Jew and the Reform Jew are fre- are Americans, both forgetting what until further notice, at 10 o'clock.
my happiness of sool was not
Normal
School
Graduation-s-The
they
owe
to
the
disinterested
and
quently antagonistic to each other because they do not understand each
LONDON—In a characteristic
fairmined public, and both joining in graduation of fifteen teachers from o live. How the shattering came I
Other. Let them booth be broad-minded enough and fair enough to an unseemly wrangle that would the Normal Department of Templ, teed not tell you'With any exact detail; cable to the London Press, the Anti-
sentitir
Arabs in Palestine, calling
realize that it is the historic task of the Jew—Reform and Orthodox profit neither but would harm both. Rea' El Sabbath School was a notable an it arose from my subjecting our
eligious practices and our religious ob- themselves "The Afusselman-Chris-
Instead, the resolutions which were event last Sunday. Well-written es
alike—to bring men and women to a respect•for the law of God and for
says dealing with the efficient Sabbath eli ances to the test of reason. It may tian Committee of Jaffa," protested
personal righteousness. Let them see that the task of both branches of adopted—adopted at a mass meet- School were read by five of the grail ie the test was faulty.
It may be that against 1'alestine's becoming a na-
of Jews called to protest against
tional home for Jews, on the ground
Israel's household is identical. Let them be impressed with the truth ing
pogroms and also at a meeting where .sates. The certificate given - these ny reason wag, deficient and at fault. that it is now a Musselnian-Christian
that:both (tie- working earnestly and loyally 'toward the establishment of Captain (Father) Iciek addressed pupils entitles them to teach unde• Rut I could not help questioning some
land, giving as their opinion that the
Israel's ideals and a new mutual respect and sympathy will be born. Polish-Americans and other local supervision in an approved Sabbati' pings and' setting them in the light Jews
wandering into Palestine in the
school for the period of one year afte
.f modern needs and modern de-
And instead of the breach being widened between them, a forward step citizens—were prepared and signed which they will be given a teacher's mands.
last twelve hundred . years, have
by Jewish and Polish American lead-
shown
themselves unequal to living
toward unity shall have been taken.
"The questioning was a trouble to
ers, and in form and spirit admir- diploma.
It is with this idea in mind that We suggest to all the Jewish con- ably express the tightest and fair,est Change of Address—Members of me; but my native rebelled at the in social-economic unanimity with
the Temple are requested to send dea of securing peace and comfort the Arabs. They appeal to the pow-
gregations of this'citv, an earnest stiulY• of the problem of the unaffili- sentiments of both.
change of address to the Secretary of
the moral cowardice of ignoring ers to save the land for them.
Those responsible for this splendid the Congregation, Ale \I \ Hirsch- by
ated child, with the hope that together they may meet that problem in a
doubt and pretending to believe what
way, that shall make for the strengthening of Israel's cause through the feat of turning what might have been feld, 253 Hazelwood avenue,
without
The I brought
Civic Music Association o
I did tot.
To my minister
a disgraceful strife into a noble joint delay. This is absolutely essential if my qoestionings. He had always been Chicago. Ill., has elected Mrs. Mose.
moral and spiritual salvation of our children.
appeal for justice and mercy cannot the mailing list of the Temple is to so kind, so sympathetic. so amiable L. Purvis as secretary. Mr. Julius
be praised too highly.
to me—so 1 told him all. just as my Rosenwald is a director.
be kept nn-to-date
And beyond question their appeal
should and must be heeded,"

Subscription, in advance

-

$2.00 per year

The Unaffiliated Child

Welcome to a Co-worker

Training Religious Teachers

.. An event of no small importance was the granting this week of
teachers' certificates to fifteen graduates of the Normal Department of
Temple Beth El Sabbath School. If there is one thing more than an-
other that has militated against the efficiency of the Religious School. it
has been the inadequacy of the average teacher's preparation for her
task. The teacher who would inspire her pupils must first of all, be-
lieve in the cause which she is presenting to her children and she can In
this only after she is so intimately at home with the subject matter that
she is teaching, that it is a part of her very being -. It is little less than
tragic to realize bow many young men and young women into whose
hands is given the religious training of our young people. themselves
need to go to school and learn the very elements of the subjects which
they arc supposed to teach.
Nor does the mere fact that a young man or a young woman holds
a teacher's position in the public schools necessarily fit hint or her to
teach in a Jewish religious school. To adequately do this, one must be
at home in Biblical and later Jewish literature. One cannot prepare a
lesson a day or an, hour before its presentation to the pupil with any
hope of real success: .
,

YOUNG JUDAEANS MEET
IN CONVENTION.

The Young Judaea convention of
the Middle West held in Chicago at
the Congress Hotel on June 14 and
15 was attended by delegates from
eight cities.. representing 75 Young
ludaean societies. Outside of Chi-
cago, the cities represented were
Cleveland. Columbus, Dayton, De-
troit. Madison. Milwaukee and Omaha.
Chicago had the largest delegation,
18, Milwaukee having the next larg-
est delegation of 8. Detroit was rep-
resented by l'hilip Slomovitz and
Samuel M. L vin.
As a result of the convention, a
permanent Young Judaea bureau was
established at Chicago for the Middle
West. Two organizers were assigned
this district, one to devote his time

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