PAGE SIX
MICHIGAN'S JEWISH HOME PUBLICATION
Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
Joseph J. Cummins, President
'entered as second-class matter
March 3, 1916, at the Postoffice at Detroit,
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
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Editorial Contributor
The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on suklecta of interest to
the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the
view expremed by the writers.
May 12, 1922
lyar 14, 5682
The Free Synagogue and the Union.
EDETROIT I
ei RON ICLE
-
-
- -
—
legitimately a difference of opinion as to the advisability of a
system that keeps children at work in the school room beyond
the ordinary hours of the public school routine. But there can
be no question that if the study of Hebrew is a necessary part
of the preparation of the Jewish child for an understanding
of the spirit of his religion, such study ought to be carried on
under the best possible auspices.
We believe that the United Hebrew Schools of this city are
more advanced in their methods than are the similar schools in
most other cities. The work is graded and the schools are super-
vised by competent teachers. Even those who are not them-
selves patrons of the schools should therefore out of their inter-
est in things Jewish, support these schools for the benefit of
those to whom what they offer is a vital necessity.
The argument advnaced by some that Hebrew as a cultural
subject is un-necessary, is obviously foolish. The spirit of the
old Jewish prayers can best be grasped by those who are able
to read them in their original setting. The whole great litera-
ture of our people is available only to those who are not stran-
gers to the Hebrew tongue. Of course we do not expect that the
pupils of these Hebrew schools will all become great Hebrew
scholars but we do believe that those who really desire an ac-
quintance with what has been called our sacred tongue, should
be given the opportunity to acquire it in the best possible way.
For this reason, we trust that the drive undertaken by the
sponsors of the Hebrew schools will be a complete success.
Inspirational Readings for the Home.
The correspondence that has recently passed between rep-
Under the above title, a very attractive little booklet has
resentatives of the Free Synagogue of New York and the offi-
cers of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in regard been editied by Rabbi Horace J. Wolf of Rochester, and pub-
to the proposed Jewish Institute of Religion has not left a pleas- lished by the Berith Kodesh Sisterhood of Rochester, N. Y. It
ant taste in anybody's mouth. When the open letter which follows rather closely upon the heels of a similar volume pub-
President Charles Shohl of the Union addressed to the commit- lished by the women of Mizpah of Chicago. The booklet con-
tee of the Free Synagogue appeared and in which he stated tains as its name implies, a series of very well selected readings
categorically the terms laid down by the Free Synagogue for for various occasions in the Jewish life. Many of these are tak-
the taking over by the Union of the Jewish Institute of Religion, en from our liturgical literature, some from the Talmud, and a
It semeed unbelievable to most readers that the latter organi- few from the more modern writers.
A volume of this sort is always welcome. And the fact that
zation could have had the temerity under any circumstances to
propose such terms to the Union of American Hebrew Congre- two such books should have made their appearance within the
course of a very little while and both of them met with a hearty
gations.
Entirely aside from the need of the desirability of the es- welcome, indicates how deep is the need for the reparation of
tablishment in this country of a second college for the training a volume of inspirational reading for every day in the year.
of rabbis for Reform congregations and without any critical Indeed, such a volume has been in course of preparation for the
consideration of the plan proposed by the Free Synagogue for past several years by a committee of the Central Conference of
the establishment of such a second institution, one is justified American Rabbis. To gather the material for such a volume,
in saying that the basis of discussion submitted to a committee however, is a stupendous piece of work and it cannot be quick-
of the Union by the committee of the Free Synagogue as now ly accomplished. It is definitely believed, however, it will wield
published by the latter organization and submitted to the rab- a tremendous influence over those who now turn to the litera-
bis of congregations affiliated with the Union for comment, is ture of the newer cults for help and inspiration in their time of
unthinkable as a serious document presented by the men of the need.
Certain it is that there is no help to be found in the writings
character and calibre of those who have signed it. The basis
of discussion published first in Mr. Shohl's open letter and now of these newer religious cults which is not also to be found in
again appearing as Appendix D in the booklet sent out by the the literature of our own people. The Jewish liturgy is a very
treasure house of inspiration for those who turn to it sympath-
Free Synagogue reads as follows;
"1. The Jewish Institute of Religion, a school for the train- etically and with understanding. It is to be hoped, therefore,
ing for the Jewish ministry, established by the Free Synagogue, that the committee in charge of the preparation of the Confer-
is to become an activity of the Union of American Hebrew Con- ence volume will be ready to report at the next meeting that
gregations co-ordinate with the Hebrew Union College of Cin- progress is being made in the work and that the completed
manuscript will be ready for submission to the members in the
cinnati.
"2. The Jewish Institute of Religion shall be an indepen- not distant future. In the meantime, however, such volumes
dent and autonomous institution and no arrangement or agree- as those published in Chicago and Rochester are very welcome.
ment of any kind shall qualify its independence or limit its They deserve a wide circulation.
autonomy.
"3. The Board of Trustees (in number from five to twenty-
Mothers and Daughters.
five) of the Jewish Institute of Religion which, being created
Mothers and Daughters Week which is being presently
by the Free Synagogue, shall thereafter remain a self-perpet-
uating body ; shall inculde representation of not more than 20 celebrated and which will culminate in Mothers Day on Sun-
percent of its number to be appointed or elected by the Union day next ought to be very potent in the reminder that it brings
of the mutual responsibilities that rest upon mother and daugh-
of American Hebrew Congregations.
"4. There shall be such interchange of professors, students ter. In these days, there is much loose talk about the deterior-
and arrangement of student credits as may be deemed desir- ation of the standards of motherhood and especially of young
able by the governing bodies of the Jewish Institute of Religion womanhood. The "flapper" has become the target of every
and the Hebrew Union College, or the faculties thereof if so penny-a-liner's jest. To some extent, perhaps the derision in
which she is commonly held is not undeserved. But the young
empowered.
"5. The Union of American Hebrew Congregations shall woman of today is not the frivolous creature that many imagine
make necessary budgetary provision for the Jewish Institute of her to be. Back of her apparent care for nothing but the frivol.
Religion; for the first three years of this agreement, the budget ous is frequently to be found a very serious purpose. Moreover,
shall be the minimum sum of $45,000 per annum. At the ex- if she is less than she ought to be, the fault is as often her
piration of the three years there shall be a reappraisal of the mother's as her own. The mother, too, in these days is not al-
ways spoken of as reverentially and with the same deference
budgetary needs of the Institute.
"6. The officers of the Institute, including its President, as was once the cause.
As a general rule, however, we believe that the modern
Dr. Wise, shall, upon the acceptance of the plan herein propos-
ed, place themselves at the disposal of the officers of the Union mother is no less worthy of respect and esteem than was the
for the purpose of securing funds for the maintenance of the mother of other days. True, she no longer finds her life's in-
Hebrew Union College and the Jewish Institute of Religion, all terests limited by the walls of her own home, but the fact that
funds by them secured to be credited to a joint College and her interests have greatly widened has in no sense caused a
deterioration in the quality of her womanhood and of her moth-
Institute Fund."
How men of the type of Abram I. Elkus and Lee K. Frankel erhood. When a mother falls short of the obligations that are
and Judge Mack and others represented on the committee of natrually hers, she is the exception rather than the rule.
Let us beware then lest we fall into the habit that has be-
the Free Synagogue could arouse themselves to the apparent
state of indignation in which they find themselves at Mr. Shohl's come all too common of speaking lightly of the ideals of women
reply to these terms passes understanding. What did they ex- of today. The Mother and Daughter Week should perhaps tend
pect of Mr. Shohl and the Union? Did they seriously contem- to bring mothers and daughters a little closer into one another's
plate for a single moment that he and his organization could confidences, a condition that must obtain if the best in mother.
Co demean themselves as to accept such terms even as a possible hood and daughterhood is to come to the surface. The institu-
basis for negotiations? What do they ask? That the Union tion of such a week was a happy thought. It ought to serve to
out of its attenuated treasury shall hand over during the first exalt the relationship between young and old and to make both
three years of the life of the new college. the sum of one hun- mothers and daughters feel the dignity of their womanhood
dred and thirty-five thousand dollars and that thereafter, there and inspire them to strive through word and speech and dress
shall be a reappraisal of the budgetary needs of the Institute, to exalt their womanhood and not as sometimes happens, to de-
under which reappraisal who knows the demands of the Insti- grade it.
tute upon the Union may even be greater than during the first
three years?
Moreover, the Free Synagogue sets it down as a condition
that the new college be "an absolutely independent and auto-
nomous institution and that no arrangement or agreement of
any kind shall qualify its independence or limit its autonomy."
In other words, the Union shall have the privilege of paying the
expenses of the Institute without the right to say a single word
as to the character of its curriculum or the methods of instruc. HEBREW LITERATURE IS
JR. Y. P. A. TO GIVE
DISCUSSED AT M. A. C.
tion to be pursued by it.
MINSTREL SHOW FOR
Moreover, of the new Institute, Dr. Stephen S. Wise shall be
EAST LANSING, Mich.—As the
President, apparently in perpetuity. As to the choice of the climax
NEW TEMPLE FUND
to a series of meetings pre-
head of the organization, therefore. the Union which shall pay sented by the Cosmopolitan Club of
the expenses shall have no say. Nor is that all. The Board of the Michigan Agricultural College, in The Junior Young People's Society
Trustees in number from five to twenty-five shall remain a self- which each nationality presented to of Temple Beth El will give a min-
college town their respective
perpetuating body. That is, if there be five men on this Board, the
Hebrew literature had its strel show and dance at the Women's
four of them shall be chosen by the Free Synagogue and one literature,
say at a meting held on Frieday even- Federation clubhouse on Monday
the Union may appoint; or if there be twenty-five. twenty shall ing. May 1, at the People's Church. evening, May 29, to help raise the
be chosen by the Free Synagogue and five the Union may se- Herman E. Segelin, a senior at the club's pledge of $350 for the new
college, is the only Jewish represent-
lect.
Temple building.
of the club.
Has such a proposition in the history of congregational or ative
Rehearsals for the minstrel are
The program consisted of interest-
educational institutions ever before been laid before a body of ing remarks by Mr. Segelin in the now under way, Harold Sandelman,
intelligent men with the expectation that it would be seriously form of glimpses of Hebrew litera- president of the society, announces.
dealt with? Is it not an insult to the intelligence of the officers ture. Mr. Segelin also spoke of the The cast consists of 15 of the most
talented boys in the organization, the
of Ilebrew literature.
of the Union to believe that it could be seriously contemplated renaissance
Professor William Jonston spoke show bidding fair to be a success.
by them? We believe that we do the gentlemen of the Free on "The Spirit and Poetry of the The show is under the direction of
Synagogue and their eloquent rabbi no wrong when we say that Bible." The musical program con- Rabbi Henry J. Berkowitz. Tickets
it is our conviction that they did not at any time and could not sisted of violin selections by Ben Kas- will be placed on sale this week. The
vocal solos by Eva Kasner and cast and program will be announced
at any time have believed that the Union would deal seriously ner,
piano selections by Beatrice Kurtz. next week.
with such a proposition.
In return for all that the Free Synagogue asks at the hands
of the Union, they offer that Dr. Wise and the officers of the In-
stitute shall assist in gathering funds for the maintenance of
both institutions. Why, the thing is so utterly preposterous and
so entirely absurd that it is a challenge not merely to the intel-
ligence but as well to the self-respect of the officers of the
Union. The stand that Mr. Shohl and his colleagues have taken
was the only one that was possible to them. To have assumed
Pride and humiliation hand in hand
any other attitude, would have been to sell out the Union and
Walked with them through the world where'er they
the Hebrew Union College to a group whose friendliness to the
went,
Union and its institutions has more than once been justifiably
Trampeled and beaten were as the sand,
questioned. Why at this time and in this wise, the Free Syna-
And yet as unshaken as the continent.
gogue should have approached the Union at all is their own
secret. Try as we will, the rest of us cannot fathom it.
For in the background, figures vague and vast,
Of patriarchs and of prophets rose sublime,
And
all the great traditions of the past
The United Hebrew Schools of Detroit.
They saw reflected in the coming time.
A band of earnest men and women are at work gathering
ANONYMOUS.
funds for the support of the United Hebrew' Schools of Detroit.
The cause is a worthy one and should meet with a willing re-
sponse at the hands of the Jewish community. There may be
JEWS
Air
(guntempornric o
(Copyright, 1921.
By Judith Ish-Kishor.)
A YOUNG FOLKS' PAGE CONDUCTED BY JUDITH ISH•K1SHOR.
Our Star
The sky has got so many stars,
They come at night in crowds,
And even when it rains we know
They're hidden in the clouds.
Yet I don't like these stars so well,
I don't know what they say,
But the star upon my little flag
Just speaks to me all day.
It tells me tales of Palestine
And every noble Jew,
So I love best my little star
Upon the white and blue.
By Sulamith Ish--Kishor.
The Jewish Way of Doing
Things.
By Israel Goldberg.
On many store windows in the
cities, especially in those parts
where the poorer people live, can be
seen, painted in gilt and looking very
innocent, three large balls joined to-
gether by arcs. These glittering balls,
as most people know, form the sign
of the so-called "pawn-shop." If by
some magic stroke you should be gift-
ed with the power to see what is hid-
den in the hands and hearts of men,
and then stand in front of these shops
and use your magic power upon those
who pass in and out, you should see
many curious and sad things. You
would see these people taking into
the pawn-shop some precious posses-
sion, usually a piece of jewelry, not
to sell it there, but to leave it is N
pledge, in order to be allowed to bor-
row some money. And when they
come to return the money they bor-
rowed, you would see that they are
returning more than they borrowed,
for they must pay a large interest,
otherwise they could not get back
their pledges. And in the hearts of
these poor people you would read
care and sorrow.
To take interest from poor people
for lending them money has always
been considered wrong. In the Bible
it is called "usury" and is strictly
frobidden. "If thou lend money to
any of my people that is poor by
thee," says the Torah, "thou shalt
not be to him as a usurer, neither
shalt thou lay upon him usury."
(That is in Exodus xxii:25.) It is
clearly ordered in the Bible that the
poor shall be helped, even though he
be a "sojourner or a stranger, ' but
"Thou shalt not lend upon usury" is
always added. A Jew must not lend
money to a poor man and then charge
him for the loan.
And yet you will hear the enemies
of the Jewish people accuse them of
being usurers, and it is true that
many of the names on the pawn-shop
windows are Jewish names. Why,
then, is this so?
The answer to this question is to
be found in the unhappy history of
the Jewish people. For many cen-
turies the Jews were not allowed to
work at the same trades and profes-
sions as other men. Most of them
had to engage in trade, some of them
became rich and were allowed to live
in peace as long as they had money.
They had to have more and more
money in order to buy the right to
live . So they took to lending out
their money at interest, and some of
them really became usurers, not be-
cause they wanted to, but because
they had to.
But now times are changed. Jews
can now engage in all sorts of occu-
pations, and although the money
lending habit has remained with some
of them, Jewish communities all over
the world have built up institutions
which are in complete obedience to
the command of the Bible and which
give the lie to their enemies; institu-
tions for the purpose of lending
money to the poor without pledges
and without interest. These institu-
tions are called "Benevolent Deeds."
But they are better known by their
Hebrew name, which is "Gemilas Cha.
sodim," or by the English name of
Free Loan Societies. These Free
Loan Societies are the best an-
swer to the enemies of the Jewish
people who call them usurers. For it
is only in Jewish communities that
such societies have been created. In
fact, to lend without interest is the
Jewish way of doing things And the
Hebrew Free LoanSociety of New
York is the largest of them all.
It may appear at first glance that,
if a man is poor, it would be better to
held him with charity than with a
loan. But this is not so at all. Every
man should be self-supporting and
independent. Most men when they
are in need think it a disgrace when
they have to accept charity. There
are even some who would rather die
than beg. And they are the people
whom we all respect very much.
When people are in need, the beat
help for themselves, as well as for
the community, is the kind that helps
them to help themselves. Now when
a man receives a loan he receives that
kind of help. And besides, a loan
does not lower him in his own eyes,
as charity does. It keeps him inde-
pendent. So it is clear that the Ile-
brew Free Loan Society helps the
poor in our communities in the best
possible way.
Then, also, think of this. A needy
person receives, let us say, $25 in
charity. The money lasts him a cer-
tain time and then he needs more.
Such a person may lose his pride in
himself and always expect to have
money given him. The money he gets
is really lost. But supposing that per-
son receives that sum as a loan. The
money helps him in his need, he works
hard and after a while repays it.
Then that same money can be loaned
to another person in need. In this
way the money of the Free Loan So-
ciety is never really lost and is for-
ever doing its good work.
The Hebrew Free Loan Society of
New York has been doing this good
work for over 25 years. Besides its
large headquarters at 108 Second
avenue, Nev.. York, it now has three
more branches. Loans range from $5
to $300 'and they are made to non-
Jews as well as Jews. The borrower
repays his loan in small weekly' pay-
ments and the records prove that the
losses of the society are very small.
For each dollar loaned out, only
one-half cent has been lost. Is there
any further proof necessary that our
Jewish community is made up of
honest men? And because the money
is returned promptly and the losses
are so small, every dollar in the treas-
ury of the society can be loaned out
five times in the course of the year.
So the Hebrew Free bunt Society
of New York has served as an ex-
ample to Jewish communities in other
cities of the land. Almost every city
now has a free loan society of its
own. Ask your father if there isn't
one in your town. For it is to be
hope that in time those glittering
balls on the store windows that mean
so much sorrow and misery will dis-
appear. Then the poor will receive
the help that will save their pride and
independence without having to give
pledges and without being made still
poorer through interest and usury.
And then the command of the Bible
will be obeyed by all men, after the
example set by the Jews.
RIDDLE BOX
Three good II e b r e w students
guessed the Charade that Frieda
Urisman, a St. Louis reader, made up
and sent to us. They all deserve
credit for working it out. I was'won-
dering myself—although I didn't
tell you so—whether anyone besides
Frieda Would know it.
By the way, don't get discouraged,
any of you, if I seem to be a long
time answering your letters. I am
thinking of each one of you, only we
haven't enough space.
Now try to guess the names of
these Palestinian trees that have been
hidden in these sentences. All these
trees are mentioned in the Bible.
1. Stop quarreling, do; a kind
word is better than all these argu-
ments.
2. Do not blame him; he tried to
live a good life.
4. What a beuatiful opal; may I
take it in my hand?
5. If you save regularly, Marie,
you will own a large sum of money.
START MOVE TO FOUND
JEWISH EMIGRANT BANK
BERLIN.—(J. C. B.)—The immed•
late organization of a Jewish Emi
grants' Bank was decided at the three
day conference here of representatives
of the various organizations interest-
ed in the problem of Jewish emigra-
tion. The capital of the Bank is to be
f50,000, of which £20,000 is said to be
available.
It was decided also to liquidate the
Paris Bureau of the Central Emigra-
tion Committee, making London the
formal and financial center, and Ber-
lin the center for practical work in be-
half of the immigrants. Regulation
of emigration of Jews from Soviet
Russia and negotiations with the Soy-
iet authorities will be conducted from
the Berlin office.
The conference decided to send a
delegation to Russia probably consist-
ing of Adolph Held, representing the
Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of
America, Dr. Jochelman of London,
and Mr. Efroiken, of the Committee
of Jewish Delegations of Paris.
Another delegation will proceed to
Warsaw to unite and co-ordinate the
different emigration activities, this
delegation to include Dr. Leo Motzkin
and Mr. Latsky.
THE JEWISH INSTITUTE OF
RELIGION
(The Hebrew Standard)
The Jewish Institute of Religion is
the name of the new Rabbinical semi-
nary which has been started !under
the auspices of the Free Synagogu e
of this city, with Dr. Stephen S. Wise,
of course, as its president, and wt.ich
will commence "operations" in the
coming autumn. We were rather
surprised to learn that negotiation s
had been under way for nearly a year
between the trustees of the Jewish In-
stitute of Religion and the executi v e
of the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations, to the end that the in-
stitute "be taken under the wing of
the Union." The terms of the ne-
gotiation included providing an an-
nual budget of $45,000 for the insti-
tute from the Union, complete inde-
pendence of the former, a representa-
tion of the Union to the extent of tale-
fifth of the entire board of the insti-
tute, a self-perpetuating body, and
last but not least the acceptance of
Dr. Wise as president. To the pro-
posals made by the institute, just out-
lined, there could be but one reply
from the Union, and this the institute
received. The interests of "Ameri-
can" Judaism can he best served by a
greater and more adequately support-
ed Hebrew Union College, which is the
rabbinical seminary of the l'ilien,
rather than by starting a new institu-
tion for the training of Reform rabbis
such as the Jewish Institute of Re-
ligion.
With this decision of the executive
of the Union, unaminously arrived at,
there cannot he any quarrel save
among the docile and unquestioning
followers of Dr. Stephen S. Wise. We
have one seminary for Reform rabbis;
let that be strengthened and built up;
we do not need another seminary of
this kind.
We said we were somewhat surprise
ed to learn that this negotiation bad
been under way, for the last thing we
looked for in Dr. Stephen S. Wise was
a lack of courage to proceed with any
step on which he has set his heart and
mind, such as is implied in and by his
aproach to the authorities of the
Union. Of course, his terms were
such as to preclude acceptance, and
here, we doubt not, he acted up to his
customary courage, perhaps best em-
bodied in the old German adage, Er
is! kein Nose der's mut, sanders its,.
der der's hit.
Now the institute is "going it alone"
with what measure of success, of rral
response to a need, remains to be seen.
('eratinly in his new role of seminary
president Dr. Wise will be delicious.
NOTHING DOING
(The Jewish Exponent)
The communications sent by the
Committee of the Union of American
Ilebrew Congregations to Dr. Lee K.
Frankel, Chairman of the Committee
of the Free Synagogue of New York,
which appeared in last week's issue of
the Jewish Exponent, is what might
have been expected under the circum•
stances. Whilst it does seem SOM . -
what strange to find the chairman of
the former committee boasting that
the graduates of the Hebrew Union
College occupy the vast majority of
"leading" pulpits in America, in view
of the fact that all pulpits are "lead-
ing pulpits" whose occupants lead the
people to the zealous observance of
their religion, it is nevertheless true
that the other reasons he advances
for the refusal of the Union to accede
to the proposition of the Wise Rabbin-
ical College are cogent and logical.
When the preliminary organization
of the latter was first announced last
year the outline of its programme set
forth a course not likely to recommend
itself to any but the most radical
school of Jewish thought. The Cin-
cinnati College is, of course, an insti-
tution committed to reform Judaism;
but there are degrees in reform, and
the Wise programme represents the
extreme and "ultra" degree. The
Hebrew Union College has the facili-
ties to supply all the reform rabbis
the country is likely to need for ninny
years to come. The demand for men
of the ultra radical school is small.
DENIES DISCRIMINATION
OF JEWISH IMMIGRANTS
Be--
JOIIANNESBURG.—(J.
Replying to representations to Deputy
Barlow, acting in behalf of his Jew-
inh constituents, against the tighten-
ing of immigration restrictions, the
Minister of the Interior declared in
Parliament that there were no dis-
criminations against Jews in the oper-
ation of the immigration laws.
Arrangements have been made for
detained immigrants to be heard per-
sonally by a board of appeals, no im-
migrant being deported unless the
board upholds the opinion of the im-
migration officials, the minister states.
Suits With Longer
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as Low as $25
They give slim women an indescribable elegance!
And large women look much more slender. They're
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These Suit Coats Are 40 in. Long
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They give a rich plain effect, but when you examine
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tiEYPI'S
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"At the Crosswalk"
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