PAGE SIX
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 -
May it be given unto them to know the beauty of that sacred
heritage which is transmitted to them and to feel the duty that rests
upon them to guard it sacredly, and in turn to hand it down inviolate
to those who shall come after them.
The Yahrzeit
A Forward Step
Lion on, shine on, thou l'ahrzeit lamp—
Towards Ileasen cast thy undimmed rays;
And symbolize to all bereaved
The hope and dawn of brighter day.
-
President
Secretary-Treasurer
-
-
In abolishing the secrecy of its ritual, One Constitutional Grand
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Postoffice at Detroit, Lodge of the Independent Order of Wisai Writis took what is definitely
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Offices, 1334 Book Building
Telephone Cherry 3381
$3.00 per year
Subscription, in Advance
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 subiects of interest to
the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the
views expressed by the writers.
Sivan 4, 5680.
Friday, May 21, 1920.
When the Truth Hurts
A local paper published On Monday morning last what purported
to be a report of a sermon delivered in a local Jewish pulpit upon the
causes and the cure of prejudice. The many hundreds who heard the
sermon delivered were practically unanimous in their expression that
the subject had been treated scientifically and objectively and that
responsibility for existing prejudice had been placed where it belongs—
upon the shoulders both of Jews and non-Jews.
The statement that prejudice roots in three basic causes—religious,
economic, and social-4an scarcely be disputed. That touch of the
prejudice against the Jew is due to the fact that the survival of Judaism
is a standing challenge to Christianity can not be denied. Nor can any
argument be brought forward to counteract the glaring truth that so
long as Christian children in their religious schools are taught that the
Jeves arc "Christ killers," prejudice will grow greater instead of less.
This classic lie of the ages must explain in large part, the feeling of
repugnance that some Christians have toward some Jews.
Nor does it require keen insight into the situation to realize that
,
the success of the Jew in every department of human endeavorovhether
in the commercial and the industrial world or in the domain of the arts
and sciences or in the sphere of scholarship and statesmanship has been
As a thorn its the side of many of the Jew's detractors and that the very
achievements of the Jew have been a source of irritation to the anti-
Semite.
But equally true it is that some unpleasant traits in the Jew himself
are responsible for a feeling of antagonism against hint. While, as was
emphasized in the pulpit address, only a handful out of the great multi-
tudes are socially objectionable, it must be remembered that the Jews
represent a minority in the community and minorities are always judged
by their worst rather than by their best representatives. Therefore, as
was pointed out, so long as it is true that even a comparative handful
of Jewish men and women make themselves socially obnoxious, a feel-
ing of prejudice will manifest itself against all Jews. So long as some
—however few—of our girls and women parade the streets looking
figuratively as well as literally like painted women; so long as some
Jewish men—again no matter how few—indulge in disreputable business
practices, the world will hold that all Jews are represented by these,
with the result that with their inherited prejudices to shape their mis-
judgments, they will forget that blanket indictments of Jews cannot
fairly be based upon the misdoings of a few.
It is to be regretted that in the newspaper report of the sermon
above referred to, overemphasis was laid upon this phase of the rabbi's
utterance with the result that soma of our Jews have, taken offen s e not
so much that these words should have been spoken from a Jewish pulpit
as that they should have been given any measure of publicity.
To such ofkfur friends as share a feeling that wrong has been done
the Jewish cause by publicizing these utterances, we would say two
things: in the first place, we believe definitely that anyone who heard
the address as given from the pulpit would recognize at once that the
stress was put where it properly belongs, and that its the newspaper
report the emphasis was wrongly placed. In the second place, however,
wt , believe that anything that is fit for pulpit utterance is proper matter
for wider publicity than the pulpit can offer. For one, we would most
suenuously object to having executive sessions in the synagog.
Now, why is it that some people object to such utterances as those
above quoted? Let us be perfectly frank about the matter. Is it because
they are untrue? Certainly not. It is because they hold that such frank
acknowledgment of- the fact that some Jews are at fault will give addi-
tional ammunition to the Jew-haters who are always on the alert foe
confirmation of their misguided views of Jest's and Judaism. This may
unfortunately be true, but we do not believe that the rabbi should be
estopped from telling the truth to his people, even when it hurts, just
because some narrow-minded bigots will misconstrue his words. The
way to stop charges of this kind is to make than untrue. Let Jews lire
lives that are above criticism and then they shall have the right to close
the mouths of the critics. Until then, we believe that it is the bounden
obligation of the Jewish pulpit to point out the faults of the people.
The ancient prophets did that without mincing their words. And it is
our conviction that the modern rabbi is in spirit the logical successor
to the prophet.
Confirmation
No more constructive piece of work has been done by Reform
Judaism than the institution of the confirmation service as a feature of
the Shabuoth celebration. Indeed, it is safe to say that but for the
confirmation, Shabuoth would have lost its appeal to a modern gener-
ation much in the same way as Succoth has done. But confirmation has
done more than merely to save a traditional holiday to us. It has in a
real sense held the allegiance of our boys and girls to their ancestral
faith. Only those who have not carefully studied the influence of con-
firmation upon the lives of our young people can speak lightly of the
i. Jitution. But those who through a considerable length of time have
1..Jed the psychological influence of the ceremony upon the confirmants
1",,,st realize that there is practically nothing that comes into the lives
of our adolescent boys and girls, the religious appeal of which is so deep
a.nd so lasting as is that of the confirmation.
To be sure, there has been much discussion in recent years as to
th.t proper age for confirmation. It is generally conceded that at the
age of thirteen, many children are not sufficiently mature to obtain the
full benefits which the confirmation ought to confer upon them, and that
sixteen is for that reason a more appropriate time for the service.
If confirmation is to be the end of One religious education of the
child, then of course it ought to be put off just as long as possible. But
for our part, we regard the confirmation rather as the beginning than
as the end of the religious schooling of the child. It is our experience
that after confirmation the rabbi and the teacher of religion can exert
a much more 'positive and wholesome influence upon the child than he
could before. For this reason, a very careful distinction must be made
between confirmation in its relation to the religious school and gradu-
ation in relation to the public school.
Confirmation must serve above all to awaken in the mind of the
child a desire to know more about his faith and his people. It must
tend to heighten the Jewish consciousness of the child, so that he shall
feel pride and privilege in carrying forward the traditions of his fathers'
faith. It is our experience that confirmation has exactly this effect upon
the lives of the overwhelming majority of the children wino under our I
guidance have pledged their fealty to our beloved faith. It is to be
hoped that the children who by the thousands shall make their confirm-
tion vows this week will be similarly affected.
a forward step at its meeting in Cleveland last week. While we are
alive to the psychological influence upon men's minds of mystery and
secret things, we have always felt that it was a mistake to shroud in
secrecy the very beautiful and inspiring ritual of the Iniai B'rith
Quite the reverse, we hold that because of its beauty and its
religious inspiration, it ought to be read as publicly as is the ritual of
the synagog. Moreover, there is another reason why this should be the
case. The Jews has nothing to hide. Ibis life and his works should be
as an open book. An organization like the It'nai Writh that is devoted
to the cause of education and philanthropy, that espouses every righteous
cause, both Jewish and humanitarian, should invite all men to acquaint
themselves with its purposes and its accomplishments, So long as there
is any element of secrecy about an organization, there are those who
will feel that there is some part of the work that must of necessity be
hidden.
of course, so far as this great Jewish Order is concerned, any such
idea has always been ridiculous. But We rejoice that this will now be
made clear to all. The abolition of the secret ritual will, we are sure,
commend itself to all friends of the Order. Nloreover, it should go far
to invite the co-operation of 111ally who thus far have stood without its
ranks.
In Jewish Exponent
BY ISADOR GRIVER
With fervor, yearly', we recall
The memory of departed soul,
With reverence say the Kaddish prayer,
In sanctity, God's name extol!.
"Visgadal v'sisgadash"
The mourner utters through that year;
"Exalted and magnified e'er he
Thy Holy Name, with lose and fear."
No murmuring or discontent
Marks Israel's mournful attitude,
But patience, humbleness and prayer
And meekness, in their servitude.
Oh, may that dawn of bright day
Come soon, oh God, thou Mighty King
That all may feel, that all may know
True happiness, but Thou con'st bring,
B'NAI BRITH GRAND
DETROIT JEWS DON
GALA ATTIRE MAY 30
LODGE CONVENTION
CONCLUDES SESSION
(Continued trout page 1)
.Numbers
statement from Capt. Waiss concern-
(('ontinued from page 1)
ing the parade in general:
that its reading is :in infringement
"On behalf of the demonstration
Bigness and greatness are not the same. This fact cannot be too upon constitutional religious liberty. committee Of the Zionist Distrivt
insistently dinned into the ears of some of our organizations that seem
Board, I desire to extend through the
To Provide For War Orphans.
to imagine that efficiency is bound to follow in the wake of a large mem-
Steps Were taken to provide for medium of your worthy paper a cm -
dial
invitation to all Synagogues,
hership. Now, it cannot be denied that in numbers there is potential Jewish children left orphaned and
lodges and Jewish organizations ;old
a great power for good. Any organization that can stleak for thousands destitute in Europe in such place as I especially invite all Jewish lesion
the Jewish communal organizations
is by that token much stronger than a similar organization that can are unable to care for them. Harry narks, former soldiers, sailors and
authoritatively voice the opinion only of hundreds or tens.
of these children may be brought to marines, as well as the women's so
of the Red Star to participme
Moreover, a great solidified society unified in purpose can help in America to be placed in institutions duty
in the gigantic demonstration and pa-
or adopted by Jewish families.
the shaping of public opinion 00 great civic and social problems. Such .A program to make the Anti-De- rade which is to take place Sunday.
a socity may become a tremendous factor fur good in the community famation League broader in scope Mae 30, 1920.
" NVe are asking every Jewish snail
was drawn up. Believing that much
life.
the prejudice against the Jew and women to asist in making this
Ott the other hand, great numbers may be a power for evil as well of
arises from an ignorant superstition demonstration a memorable event in
as for good. After all, it must be remembered that in any organization, suromoling the crucifixion of Christ, the history of the city and the Detroit
the multitudes are inclined to follow the directive will of the leaders, delegates to the convention ap- Jewish community. As far as is pos-
pointed a committee which, acting in sible, we would suggest that every
and unless the leaders of great organizations be imbued with proper conjunction
with the Central Confer- place of business and every Jewish
ideals, the very fact that vast numbers are behind them may tend to ence of American Rabbis, will draw' home display the .Nmerican flag and
up
and
distribute
pamphlets entitled, the Jewish colors of white and blue.
the undoing rather than to the upbuilding of the community life.
,Nloreover, just because there is power its numbers, there is a tempta- "The True Story of the Crucifixion All organizations desiring to take
of Christ," in which the four varying
are asked to send representa-
tion on the part of organizations and their leaders to be careless and accounts will be considered and the part
tives to the. meeting Tuesday evenink.
indiscriminate as to the character and calibre of persons whom they deductions placed simply and plainly (Signed) Capt. II. ‘Vaiss, Grand Nlar-
would admit into membership in their particular organization. .\s a before the public. \\ bile attempting slial for Parade."
honestly to erad care groundless be-
result, very often agitators are taken into the ranks of societies with liefs, the Order will make no at-
DR. BLAU TO
the inevitable effect of creating disharmony and disaffection within the tempt to offend the religious sensi- DISCUSS DECRREE
ranks. Unless every applicant for admission into a social anti fraternal bilities of other sects.
Dr. Rudolph Blau, eminent
• •
organization is carefully examined as to his qualifications, it is entirely'
likely that among those taken in will be. a few who Will SOW the seeds
of dissension and strife.
Rather, therefore, a comparatively small organization of persons
working wholeheartedly together in an ideal cause than vast numbers
of whose loyalty and fitness one may not be assured. But above all, in
a society whose numbers are large, leadership must be put into the hands
of those who themselves have high ideals and social vision. It is the
one indispensable safeguard to any organization. I.et this be borne in
mind by any of our local organizations that are tempted to mistake big-
ness for greatness and a multitude of activities for efficient community
service.
AMERICAN JEWISH
CONGRESS ISSUES
CALL FOR MEETING
(Continued from Page One.)
of Greater New York, Committee for
the Defense of Jews in I oland, Com-
mittee on Protest Against Massacres
in Ukrainia, Red Mogen David, held a
convention at the Union Square hotel,
April 17th and 18th, 19‘0, at which the
following resolutions were unanimous-
ly adopted:
Whereas, It has become clearer
daily that even the rights guaranteed
to the Jewish people at the Peace
Conference are being violated now,
and are in danger of being violated in
the future, unless there exists a body
which shall safeguard these rights;
and
‘Whereas, It has become clearer
that, owing to the disorganization of
American Jewry, individuals and indi-
vidual groups speak in the name of
the whole of American Jewry; and
Whereas, It frequently happens that
such individuals and individual groups
oppose and conflict with each other;
he it
Resolved, That it is the sense of
this Conference that the American
Jewish Congress be constituted a per-
manent body which shall Ire repre-
sentative of American Jewry and shalt
be the authoritative agency. of Amer-
curl
in all matters affecting
Jews in all parts of the world.
ll
XVIiereas, The Jews in Eastern Eu-
rope and other war-stricken countries
are in need of and will for some time
to come require assistance for eco-
nomic and cultural rehabilitation and
reconstruction; and
Whereas. It is the duty of Amer-
ican Jewry to render such aid; Ire it
Resolved, That this conference;
urges that American Jewry shall be
represented at the International Relief
Conference to be held in Europe; and j
be it further
Resolved, That the American Jew-
ish Congress shall be the agency to
direct and supervise all Jewish relief
work in the United States for the
Jews of war-stricken countries.
Whereas, The work of the Amer-
ican Jewish Congress has not yet been
concluded; and
Whereas, Important matters per-
taining to Jewish welfare are still
pending; therefore be it
Resolved, That this Conference
recommend that the Delegates of the
American Jewish Congress, which has
acted in cooperation with the Com-
mittee of Jewish Delegations at Paris,
assist the said Delegation both moral-
ly and financially in all of its enter-
prises.
War Roster Proposed.
Rabbi 1)1
Temple Waal Geshurun, New York,
will be the guest of honor at a ban-
quet given by the Palestine Restora-
tion Fund Committee at Hotel Statler.
'Thursday, May 27.
Dr. Blau will discuss the effects or
the San Remo conference on dews
throughout the world. Many prominent
lliitrolters will attend the banquet.
In order to confound detractors
and Anti-Semites who have declared
the Jew a malingerer during the war,
the Order has authorized a complete
roster to lie prepared and printed,
showing the number of Jews actually
engaged in the war, together with
those who contributed in one way or
another to the winning of the scar.
The Committee on International
Advancement recommended that the
Brith News be issued in a 22- ENTERTAINMENT AND
page monthly bulletin, setting forth
DANCE ARE SEPARATE
the activities of the Order, reports of
the actions of the Anti-Defamation
AT Y. P. S. MOONLIGHT
League, and studies in Jewish his-
tory. 'Nis was referred to the "21 Surprises" Not to Interfere
Executive Committee, together with
With Dancing—Ticket Sale
the recommendations for the estab-
lishment of a Lyceum bureau of se-
Conducted by 40 Girls.
lected speakers on Jewish topics., and
a bureau of publicity to supply to the
Of the many innovations promised
I V
general press throughout the coun- by the Y. P. S. Moonlight Conlon(
tee, none is being received with more
Resolved, That this Conference of Na- try proper items of Jewish r..•ws.
acclaim than the announcement that
tional and Central Organizations re-
Officers Are Elected.
the entertainment provided will not
iterates and reaffirms, in the name of
The convention concluded its ses-
millions of Jews whom it represents. sions Thursday after electing the fol- interfere with the dancing program.
The main salon of the Steamer St.
the unanimous and firm demand of lowing officers:
Clair will be given over entirely to
American Jewry and the hope that
Adolph Kraus, Ares 'dent, Chicago. dancing, providing ample room for a
has never ceased to live in the hearts
Lucius L. Solomon, first vice-presi-
record crowd, while the upper deck
of the entire Jewish Nation that the dent San Francisco.
Jewish people be given the opportun-
Archibald A. Marx, second vice- and lounging rooms will offer a de-
lightful setting for the unusual enter-
ity to restore and rebuild the National president, New Orleans.
home for the Jewish people in Pales- Members of the Executive Com- tainment features. This arrangement
is being greeted with approval by
estine. The Conference declares that
mittee:
its whole heart and soul is with those
District No. 1—Charles Ilartman. both dancers and those who prefer
heroic Jews in Palestine who are
District No. 2—Sidney G. Kus- other amusements.
Another interesing item is the plan
ready to sacrifice themselves for the worm.
announced to sell only a limited num-
national restoration of the Jewish
District No. 3—Jacob Singer.
people and expresses its deepest feel-
I. Solo- ber of tickets so as to insure plenty
District No. 4—Lucius
of dancing and breathing space to
ing that the Jews of America will not mon.
rest until the right of the Jewish peo-
District No. 5—Dr. Edward N. Ca- c th ieen)guests of the Young People's So-
ple to restore for themselves their !inch.
The Steamer Ste. Claire will leave
District No. 6—Philip Stein.
National home in Palestine will be
recognized.
District No. 7—Archibald A. Marx. the foot of Bates street Monday
District No. 8—Dr. B. Timendorfer. night, June 21, at 8:21 p. m., docking
V
District No. 9—Dr. Adolphe Stern, at 10:21 and 12:21. The 10 o'clock
Resolved, That this Conference en-
landing will be made for the conveni-
District No 10—J. Niego.
ergetically protests against all those Members of the Court of Appeals:
ence of out-of-town guests who wish
elements which have incited the pog-
Samuel Fleischman, chairman.
to return on late interurbans.
roms in Jerusalem; and this Confer-
Tickets are now being disposed of
District No. 1—A. K. Cohen.
ence hopes that the Peace Conference
District No. 2—Karl M. Vetsburg. by a coininitee of 40 girls, headed
will he quickly as possible solve the
District No, 3—Isadore Rosenthal. by Mildred Nadle. They are $1.00
question of the inundate for Palestine;
District No. 4—Edward I. Wolfe. each, including war tax. It is ad-
District No. 5 — /stilton Strassber- vised that all who plan to attend pur-
that Palestine cannot and must not
remain divided into two political di- ger.
chase their tickets early as only a
District No. 6—Sigmund Living- limited number of passengers will be
visions and that the doors of Palestine
ston.
be opened widely and freely for Jew-
carried.
District No. 7—Charles Rosen.
ish immigration. The Conference ex-
District No. 8—Hugo Koznitsky.
presses its confidence that the British
CARD OF THANKS.
District No. 9—Dr. R. Bauberger.
Government will endeavor with all the
District No. 10—Dr. Heinrich Ro-
power at its command to put into
The
children of the late Mrs. Rae
realizations its declaration with re- senbaum.
Finsil•er wish to express their sincere
District No. 11—H. G. Reisner.
gard to a Jewish Homeland in Pal-
thanks to their many friends and
estine. Be it therefore
Impressive exercises last week relatives for their kindness and
Resolved, That a copy of this reso- marked the observance of the seven- consoling words of sympathy ex-
lution be forwarded to the President tieth anniversary of the formation of tended (luring their recent bereave-
of the United States and a copy there- Congregation Sherith Israel at San ment. Especial gratitude is extend-
of to the British Embassy at Wash- Francisco, Cal. Rev. Jacob H. Nicto ed to Rabbi A. M. Hershman and
ington.
Cantor Rosenthal.
is Shearith Israel's rabbi.
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