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. General Offices and Publication Building 850 High Street West Cab!. Address' Telephone: Glendale 8326 LONDON OFFICE 14 STRATFORD PLACE LONDON, W. 1, ENGLAND Subscription, in Advance Chronicle $3.00 Per Year 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 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 Coats are Here as Low as $25 They give slim women an indescribable elegance! And large women look much more slender. They're getting more popular every minute. These Suit Coats Are 40 in. 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