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MEY)ErRordiwisti RoNicuq
and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE
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Sabbath Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal portion—Ge. 37:1-40:23.
Prophetical portion—Amos 2:6-3:8.
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sa
Chanukah
Trees Planted In
The Butzel Forest
Again, Chanukah challenges the Jew.
Now, it is the challenge of history to the
eternal people to be strong and resolute.
It is the challenge of thousands of years
of experience for Jews to refuse to despair
and to adhere to faith that right will con-
quer might.
Chanukah had its origin in such a strug-
gle. It was the fight of the Hebraic idea of
justice against the Hellenic aspiration to
enslave the then-known world and to to-
talitarianize everything under the control
of the conquering hordes. The totalitarian
idea failed then as it must fail in our day.
The Chanukah spirit is challenge to the
world to be faithful to the historic ideal of
justice and decency. It is the spirit that will
prevail in the final reckoning.
Dr. and Mrs. Otto A. Hirsch Plant
25 Trees in Honor of 25th
Wedding Anniversary
The Jewish National Fund Coun-
cil of Detroit announces the plant-
ing of the following trees in the
Fred Si. Butzel Forest in Pales-
tine:
One tree in memory of Bella
Gould by Mr. and Mrs. Max Green.
In the Meyer Berlin Forest, two
trees in memory of Samuel Mor-
ris Stein and Morris Aaron Ro-
senberg by Mrs. V. Rose.
Chanukah Scriptural Selections
Thursday, Nuni. 7:1-17; Friday, Num. 7:18-29.
December 1, 1939
Kislev 19, 5700
Center's Chanukas Ha-Bais
The Jewish Community Center has se-
lected an ideal time for the Chanukas Ha-
Bais—the dedication of the new Aaron
DeRoy Memorial Building.
Chanukah is a period of dedication—and
in our time it is occasion for re-dedication
to tried and universally accepted ideals.
The new Jewish Community Center has
great opportunity to make unprecedented
contributions to Jewish communal life and
to Americanism. It now has the facilities
to teach principles of justice and interest
in prophetic Jewish teachings, to young
and to old; and it is well equipped to im-
bue its membership with a spirit of true
Americanism, which must carry with it de-
termined effort to prevent inroads upon
this country of destructive ideas the spread
of which is evident on the public platform,
in pulpits, in newspapers.
The Community Center is faced with
great responsibilities, and it can be true
to itself if it remains true to established
traditions. In a Jewish Center, Jewish
ideals must be fostered, the aspirations of
the entire people must be given chance for
expression, the historic language of the
Jewish people must be fostered not only
among those who have a direct interest in
Hebrew revival but also among others who
can be interested in it. A center must not
be merely a place. for sports and for so-
cial events. It must be a place of assembly
for Jewish ideas, and a center for the ex-
change of Jewish viewpoints. It is also, of
course, a health center.
When the pew Detroit Jewish Center is
dedicated next Wednesday, it will have the
good wishes of all Detroit Jews, as well as
those elements in the non-Jewish commu-
nity who recognize the value of such struc-
tures for America. May the responsible
leadership of the Jewish Center be blessed
with the kind of inspiration that is neces-
sary to make its program workable and of
benefit to American Israel.
Palestine Labor Drive
It is easier today to advocate the causes
of a rebuilt Palestine than it has ever been
before. The need for Palestine is recog-
nized now by all elements. Eretz Israel is
the only center that is prepared to welcome
large numbers- of Jews, and it is futile for
any one to labor under false dogma at a
time when it has become a matter of life
and death for the Jewish people to protect
its position as a national entity.
In a time like the present, Jews will have
to realize, as many are already realizing,
that it is not enough to speak in terms of
collecting a few thousand dollars or of
conducting a national campaign for twenty
million dollars. Conditions today demand
the pooling of resources for a great na-
tional effort and millions may prove to be,
to use the vernacular, "only small changev
in an effort to save an entire people.
Whatever we do therefore to aid in re-
construction and rehabilitation work must
be given unstinting encouragement. What-
ever we do will at best be a drop in the
bucket and the bucket of human kindness
must be filled as near the top as possible.
It is encouraging to know that Hadassah
was successful in raising its assigned quota.
It will be well also to proceed to co-oper-
ate in the campaign of the Gewerkschaften
(Palestine Labor Appeal) with determina-
tion that goals assigned must be raised.
Every successful attempt at strengthening
the hands of the builders of Palestine is in
turn a word of encouragement to the brave
pioneers who are straining their every
nerve to build a home for Israel in Pales-
tine.
The Gewerkschaften drive deserves the
co-operation of every element in the com-
munity in spite of the partisan sound of
its name. We commend its work whole-
heartedly and we invite for the Palestine
Labor drive the liberality of all Detroit
Jews.
The Genius of Olgin
The death of Moissaye Joseph Olgin,
editor of the Yiddish Communist Daily, the
Morning Freiheit, will create a topic for
discussion in literary and socio-political
circles. Mr. Olgin was a stormy petrel for
many years. He began his careed on the
Socialist Forward, at first mistrusted Lenin
and later left the Forward to become the
editor of the Communist daily Freiheit and
in recent weeks has been a staunch de-
fender of Stalinism in spite of the unholy
Nazi-Communist alliance.
Unfortunately Olgin's career was marked
not only by contradictions but by actions
which both cramped his brilliant style and
prevented him from making the contribu-
tions that he surely would have made to
literature and to political thought had he
not aligned himself with the worst ele-
ments in international affairs. He was a
brilliant writer, a great student of the clas-
sics and would have made a splendid lead-
er were it not for the fact that submission
to Communist dictatorship got the best of
his natural talents.
The New Hebrew Monthly
Not only Hebraists but all who are con-
cerned that the Hebrew language and its
cultural aspects be perpetuated, will join
in greeting heartily the appearance of the
new Hebrew monthly Bitzaron, edited by
the brilliant scholar, Dr. Chaim Tchernow-
itz, who is famous in the Jewish world un-
der the pseudonym of Rav Tzair. This new
journal already bids fair to become an
important factor in the advancement of
Jewish culture. In addition to articles by
this brilliant editor, the first issue carries
essays by Dr. Mordecai Kaplan, Dr. Nisson
Touroff, Rabbi Solomon Goldman and
other outstanding scholars. As the name
of the journal—which is the Hebrew for
strength—implies, this new contribution to
Hebrew literature should serve to strength-
en the position of Hebraists in America. De-
voting itself to a discussion of philosophic,
literary and Zionist issues, the success of
this magazine should be a factor not only
in advancing Hebrew learning but also in
encouraging those who are not in Hebrew
ranks to join their forces.
We greet our new contemporay with
all good wishes for success and for the ac-
quisition of the hope contained in its name:
Strength.
Sending Money Overseas
From time to time, persons who are mis-
led by biased propaganda will raise ob-
jections to the sending of money overseas
for relief purposes. If the prejudice of
such persons were to be carried to ex-
tremes Americans would have to stop giv-
ing money to the Red Cross and for relief
of Jews who are suffering from persecu-
tions; some Christian denominations would
have to abandon their foreign missions,
and educational institutions would be com-
pelled to stop exchanging teachers and
gaining from one another's experiences.
The truth of the matter is that all de-
nominations conduct a certain amount of
relief and educational work overseas and
that it is to the, credit of Americans that
they have not narrowed their viewpoints
down to extreme isolationism.
A recent issue of the Presbyterian
Magazine of Philadelphia carried the fol-
lowing interesting comment on this sub-
•ject:
It is encouraging to realize that not all
Americ•ns are so disturbed by business con-
ditions or ao absorbed by their own ambitions
or so drugged by pleasure seeking or simply
so indifferent to suffering as fo forget the
agony of millions in other lands. This con-
densed statement in the religious press indi•
mites what some of our own institutions are
■
doing by their gifts to help the unfortunate
abroad:
Contribution, by religious, charitable and
other institutions in the United States to resi-
dents of foreign countries totaled $40,000,000
in 1938, according to the Department of Com-
merce. This was an increase of $5,000,000
over the 1937 contributions, with the gain be-
ing attributed to American response to dis-
tress in Europe and Asia. About 60 per cent
of all foreign remittances for charitable pur-
poses last year went to Asiatic countries,
while 20 per cent went to Europe, 10 per
cent to Africa, and the Immo, amount to Latin
America. Contributions through Jewish organ•
izations, which went chiefly to Palestine, Po-
land and Germany, rose from $6,000,000 to
$8,000,000; Catholic and Protestant contribu-
tion. aggregated $20,000,000, or about the
same as in the previous year. Nonsectarian,
philanthropic, educational std scientific agen•
cies increased their offerings from $6,000,000
to $9,000,000.
There is, of course, powerful argument
in defense of the American policy of help-
ing relieve the sufferings of millions of
people abroad. The statement we quote
from the Presbyterian is significant for the
factual information is presents to show
that Jews are not the only ones who are
interested in overseas relief work ; it
shows, on the contrary, that all denomina-
tions have a share in mercy work.
Study of Bible Simplified
Honoring their 25th wedding
anni y, which they ob-
served on Nov. 24, Dr. and Mrs.
Otto A. Hirsch planted 25 trees
in Palestine-13 trees in the
Meyer Berlin Forest and 12
trees in the Fred M. Butzel
Forest. Both forests are pro-
jects of the Jewish National
Fund.
December 1, 1939
PURELY COMMENTARY
By
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
"Then Was Our Mouth Flied With Laugh- years will happen to Christians also. If civil lib-
ter, And Our Tongue With Singing"
erties are denied to Jews in the United States, the
It is a happy sign when people sing. The worst
effect upon Jewry of the present tragedies has
been in the direction of the people's humor. There
has been little laughter and a minimum of singing.
But at the convention of the religious school teach-
ers here on Thanksgiving Day, the Hebrew song
was heard, and the singers gave a note of reality
to the words of the Psalmist:
w hen the Lord brought bark More that returned to Zion,
be mere like unto them that dream.
Then nun our mouth Wiwi alth laughter,
,ed our tongue atilt singing;
Then odd they n ..... ng the nations:
'The Lord bathdone great thing', with there.••
Th e Lord hat,, done great (hinge 9,1111 no;
31 e ore rejoiced.
The convention here had nothing to do with a
"return to Zion," but for those of the Sunday
School teachers for whom the Hebrew word has
been strange, there is important analogy in this
quotation. The singing of Hebrew songs at a con-
clave of Sunday School teachers is like a "return"
to traditions of old.
When teachers sing, it is one of the signs of an
Information regarding the plant-
ing of trees in Palestine may be era in which the children will also sing. Their "Ila-
secured from Mrs. Philip Slomo- vah Nagilah" and "Naaleh Le-Artzenu" is merely a
vitz, 17417 Stoepel Ave., Univer- signal of a transformation in young Jewry, "Then
sity 1-6972.
was our mouth filled ... with singing." It is com-
pensating for the pioneers of the new educational
program who have been working towards the ex-
pansion of the religious school curriculum into a
three-day-a-week system rather than the limited
one-day-a-week school. In a three-day-a-week
school the child can be taught some Ilebrew—and
incidentally the Hebrew song—as part of a more
Committees Comb City 'for This intensive Jewish course of study. For those who
Year's Quota of $30,000
have been striving to that end, the second portion
of the Psalm (126) we have just quoted has
reality,
An active committee represent-
ing close to 100 local organiza-
They that .w In learn
tions this week proceeded to comb
Shan reap In joy.
Though he gent!, on his vay weeping that beareth
the community in the annual drive
thetomato, of need,
for the Gewerkshaften—the Pal-
Ile ellen come home with Joy, bearing
11111
estine labor committee.
Having net the year's quota at
•
$ 3 0,000—$8,000 more than was
raised last year—the committee Late Dr. Niemirower and the More Judaico
is confident that the need of the
One of the most humilating taunts of the Jews
times will be of great assistance inherited by the Christian world from the seventh
in aiding it in raising this sum century was the insulting More Judaico—the so-
which is considered the minimum called Jewish oath. Jews were compelled to take
that Detroit should contribute to it in cases involving sums exceeding 25 florins in
Palestne labor's needs in the pres- which their opponents were Christians. From 13th
ent crisis.
century Germany Europe inherited a formula of
Officers of the present drive enforcing the More Judaico'by which the Jew was
are: Chairman, Morris L. Scheyer; compelled to stand on a sow's hide and swear on an
vice-chairmen, Benjamin M. Lai- open Torah. At different times, varying methods
kin, Joseph Haggai, Dr. Alexan- of enforcing insults through this oath were prac-
der W. Sanders, Isaac A. Liebson, ticed by European governments which retained
William Hordes, Mrs. Sarah Sher- their semi-barbaric character.
aga, M. Ross; treasurer, Harry
It was not until 1818 that Holland abandoned
Schumer; financial secretary, Mor-
ris Ginsburg; recording secretary, this oath. In France it was dropped in 1827. Other
David Sislin; correspondent secre- European governments gradually began to elimi-
tary, Morris Leibowitz; chairman nate it. Prussia dropped it in 1869, and Russia
of evecutive committee, Morris abolished it in 1860. But backward Rumania did
Lieberman; publicity committee, not eliminate it from its statutes until 1914.
Dr. Jacob Niemirower, chief rabbi of Rumania,
Morris Lieberman, Joseph Ilaggai.
The organizational committee was responsible for the abandonment of More
and speakers who are visiting or- Judaico by official decree in Rumania. If it were
ganizations in behalf of the drive only for this achievement, this great leader of a
are: A. Belkin. 0. Goldberg, 11f. Jewish community of more than 800,000 would
Teich, Mr. and Mrs. D. Sheraga, have earned the gratitude of , world Jewry. But
Mr. and Mrs. J. Ilaggai, Louis Le- Rabbi Niemirower had much more than that to his
vine, M. Ross, D. Sislin, William credit. This great leader, who died at the age of
Hordes, M. Haar, B. Rosenthal, 67 of a heart attack on Nov. 18, was a great
J. Petcherer, Mrs. F. Schultz, Zionist leader, a distinguished spokesman for the
Bnai Brith, a member of the Rumanian Senate—a
Mrs. S. Levine, M. Kramer. .
post of life tenure—and a brilliant scholar who
sought to re-establish a modern Jabneh for Jewish
learning in a spiritual center for Jews in Rumania.
Dr. Niemirower was president of the Bnai Brith
District Grand Lodge in Bucharest. Ile has earned
it that Zionists and Bnai Brith should honor his
memory. A joint meeting for this purpose would
The 28th annual donor banquet not be out of order. It could be utilized for a
re-evaluation
of Jewish cultural needs, from the
of the Mizrachi Organization of
Detroit has been set for Feb. 11, viewpoint of the deceased leader; of the fight for
Jewish
rights
and Jewish self-respect, as it was
1940, and will be held in Lachar's
considered and approached from the standpoint
Ballroom, 3153 Cass Ave.
of Rumania's Chief Rabbi; of the need for Pales-
Those interested in Mizrachi
reconstruction and the method of cooper-
work for the upbuilding of Eretz tine's
Israel are asked to reserve the ating with the Christian community, as the two
issues
were pursued by Dr. Niemirower.
date of Feb. 11.
•
A Wave Malke affair will be
Anti-Semitism—Humanity's Problem
held on Saturday night, Dec. 9,
at 8:30 p. m., at Lachar's Hall,
Establishment of a "we feeling" was urged by
8939 12th St. This affair will be Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, executive director of the
devoted to the reports of the dele- National Conference of Christians and Jews, at the
gates who attended the Chicago convention of the northeast region of the Union
emergency conference of the of American Hebrew Congregations in New York
Mizrachi, Nov. 17-19. The usual last week. Dr. Clinchy, who has rendered great
Ml ave ,Ialke program, including service to the cause of good will and better under-
zrniros, musical solos. renditions standing among Christians and Jews, pointed out
by members of the Detroit Can- that anti-Semitism is a problem of Protestants and
tors Association and refresh- Catholics as well as Jews. He warned his audience:
ments, will be carried out.
"Whatever happens to Jews in the coming 25
Gewerkshaften's
Drive in Progress
Annual Mizrachi
Banquet Feb.
BNAI BRITH'S MEMBERSHIP
DRIVE EXTENDED TO JAN. 9
Class to Honor Dr. Abram L. Sachar Who Will
Be Principal Speaker at Initiation Jan. 14
The national Bnai Brith mem- versity in England. In 1923 he
bership drive, conducted in De- joined the faculty of the Univer-
troit jointly by Pisgah Lodge No. sity of Illinois, instructing in the
34, Louis Marshall Lodge No. field of modern European and
1203, Detroit Lodge No. 1374 and English history. In 1928 he left
Theodor Ilerzl Lodge No. 1377, his teaching post to become direc-
has been extended to Jan. 9, by tor of the Bnai Brith Hillel Foun-
permission of the national head- dation at the University of Il-
quarters. The new members will linois. Four years later he suc-
be initiated on Jan. 14, with Dr. ceeded Dr. Louis L. Mann of Chi-
Abram L. Sachar as speaker.
cago as national director of all
Detroit is honoring Dr. Sachar Foundations.
by naming the class of candidates
Dr. Sachar is the author of 'His-
received during this city-wide tory of the Jews', published by
drive as the Dr. Abram Sachar Alfred A. Knopf, which has sev-
Class. Dr. Sachar is national di- eral printings. The name publish-
rector of the 12 Bnai Brith Ilillel ers will soon release Dr. Sachar's
Foundations which are now aug- latest book, "Sufferance Is the
mented by 18 extension units. In Badge of Courage." It will deal
Michigan there is one foundation with the Jews from 1918 down to
at the University of Michigan and November 1939 .
wo extension units, at Michigan
The Detroit membership drive
State College, East Lansing, and is under the chairmanship of Sam-
Nrichigan State Normal School, uel W. Leib; Aaron Droock, chair-
Ypsilanti.
man of speakers bureau, and Ru-
Dr. Sachar was born in New dolph Meyersohn, publicity chair-
York City in 1890; received his man. The lodge membership chair-
I. A. (and Phi Beta Kappa key) men are: Pisgah Lodge, Elias
at Washington University in St. Goldberg; Louis Marshall Lodge,
Louis in 1920 and was awarded Dr. Albert Prussin; Detroit
his Ph. D. after three additional Lodge, Harold E. Ziv; Theodor
years of study at Cambridge Uni- Ilerzl Lodge, Eugene Roth.
A posthumous tribute to the genius of
A. II. Friedland, the brilliant educator,
poet and story teller, is represented in the
appearance of what he had intended to be
the first in a series of Bible primers and
which we are assured by his co-author, Dr.
Emanuel Gamoran, is to be continued until
the entire Bible is covered. It is the book
"Torah-Li" and is one of the most fascin-
ating volumes of its kind to make its ap-
pearance in this country. It takes passages
from each chapter of the first book of the
Bible, presents them in simple fashion in Friday Night Gatherings of Bnai
the original Hebrew, for the children, sup-1
David Will Be Resumed on Dec. I0
plements it with music written by the emi- '
nent Cantor David Glinkowsky of Cleve-
Friday, Dec. 10, at 8:30 p. m., bi Sperka and Mr. Samuel.
land, and makes the study of the Biblical
the Friday Night gatherings of
story a thrilling experience.
The Friday night gathering
Congregation Bnai David, Elm- committee, headed by William
It is not only the simplicity of the book hurst at 14th, will open for this Hordes, has on its schedule to in-
and its enrichment with a glossary of the season. Rabbi Joshua S. Sperka vite this season Dr. Ludwig Lewi-
deliver the opening address sobs, Dr. Chaim Greenberg, Dr.
important words used in it, but the man- will
on the
ner of approach to the subject which is out- Might." topic "When Right Was Joachim Prinz, Dr. Leo Jung and
Mrs. Avis Schulman.
standing as a children's text book. The
Maurice Samuel is scheduled to
Cantor Abraham Singer and
National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods speak
on the following Friday,
is to be commended for making publication but confirmation will have to be his choir will be in charge of the
musical
portion of the evening.
of such books possible, and Dr. Gamoran announced next week.
A social hour will follow in the
should be encouraged to continue this ser- Prominent speakers will share social hall; the hosts of the eve-
rrn o f these forums dur- ning will be the Sisterhood of the
ies until the entire project is completed.
ing thin season
in addition to Rab- synagogue.
same liberties will be denied to Christians. Anti-
Semitism is not a Jewish problem; it is a disease
which Protestants, Catholics and Jews must study
and cure for their collective safety."
There is no disputing this statement. It is im-
possible in a democracy to keep a part of the
population free and to subject the rest to disabili-
ties. Either freedom is shared alike or it is not
freedom.
But there is another angle that must not be over-
looked. It is an angle that strikes at the very root
of Jewish self-respect. There is a tendency among
Jews tp glorify the actions of theit friends and
to place their activities above everything else in
Jewish life. Jewish pulpits have been turned over
to Christian ministers. Non-Jewish spokesmen are
placed on a pedestal, and they are always assured
an audience in a Jewish meeting place or the syna-
gogue. Such practices have been carried so far that
it becomes difficult for Jewish scholars to gain an
audience while their non-Jewish colleagues pack
any hall for a Jewish gathering.
Such practice is a waste of energy. If Christians
are to cooperate with Jews in the fight against
bigotry, they must do their missionary work among
non-Jews. It is fallacious policy to spend untold
energies preaching against anti-Semitism to Jewish
audiences. Furthermore, only in isolated instances
are Christian pulpits made available, in an exchange
of courtesies, to Jewish spokesmen.
Let the Christian carry the message for freedom
and decency to the non-Jews and, further, let
them also invite Jews to speak in defense of the
Jewish position to Christian gatherings. Otherwise,
the message will be lost. Sinclair Lewis, interviewed
for National Jewish Monthly of the Bnai Brith,
brands anti-Semitism "treason to America." But
what is the use of telling it to Jews? We know it;
if we do not, we should know it! Why not carry
this message to the non-Jews?
Of interest in this connection is the following
editorial comment that appeared in a recent issue
of the Reconstructionist Magazine:
Prof. Hans Kohn, of Smith College, cor-
rectly states that "The fight against Anti-
Semitism should be conducted exclusively by
Christians. Then, and then only, will it be
effective." How ironic therefore is the &dyer-
tisement published in an Anglo-Jewish weekly
by the Protestant Digest appealing to Jews
to support that paper, and quoting in the ad
the very words of Prof. Kohn. If the Prot•
estant Digest wishes to spread the message of
tolerance and good-will among the Protestant
, it will do best by not permitting any
one to accuse it of being subsidized by Jewish
money. Incidentally, isn't it rather defeatist
to ask people to become "life subscribers" to
the fight against anti-Semitism?
Lecture by Cole
Tuesday, Dec. 12
Unitarian Minister to Speak Un-
der Auspices of Men's Club of
Congregation Bnai Moshs
Considerable interest is being
shown in the forthcoming lecture
by the Rev. Walton E. Cole. min-
ister of First Unitarian Church of
Toledo, Tuesday evening, Dec. 12,
at 8:30 o'clock, in the main audi-
torium of Congregation Bnai
Moshe, Lawrence and Dexter. Rev.
Cole will speak under the auspices
of the Bnai Moshe Men's Club.
Since he commenced his weekly
broadcasts, on Wednesday eve-
nings, Rev. Cole gained a large
following among Americans of all
creeds by his able expose of meth-
ods used by the sowers of class
and racial hatred and discord. His
advocacy of true American ideals
of justice and tolerance commend s
him and his work to all who seek
peace among men in a hate-rid-
den world.
As the seating capacity of the
Bnai Moshe auditorium is limited,
the Men's Club president, Theodore
Curtis, urges all who want to hear
Rev. Cole to purchase tickets in
advance of the lecture date, at
the congregation office.
Chanukah Program
at Emanuel Forum
Cantor lorolikel Flusberg to Lead
in Community Singing Dec. 8
Rabbi M. J. Wohlgelernter, who
began his Detroit ministry two
years ago on Shabbos-Chanukah,
will speak at the Beth Tefilo
Emanuel Forum next Friday eve-
ning, on "American Jewry's Dedi-
cation." The occasion will mark
the opening,of the new Commu-
nity Center Aaron DeRoy Memor-
ial Building.
At 8:30, preceding Rabbi Wohl-
gelernter's address, a special pro-
gram of community singing in ob-
servance of the Feast of Lights,
will be presented by Chazon Is-
rolikel Flusberg of New York.
Cantor Flusberg visited the con-
gregation a few weeks ago and
left an indelible impression. Ile
was born in the United States 20
years ago, was trained in New
York Yeshivoth and is considered
one of the leading Chazonim of
today.
Following the open forum dis-
cussion, which concludes at 10
p. m., there will be a social hour
sponsored by Emanuel Sisterhood.
In reality, what we are doing is becoming "life
subscribers" in a fight against bigotry, at a time
when the non-Jews, who should be deeply con-
cerned with the issue, are falling prey to an error
dictated by Jews. Cooperation in the fight against
anti-Semitism does not mean that the fight should
be centered in synagogues. It most be taken to
the churches, to the gathering places of Christians,
to the assemblies of American libertarians. The
guilt in a faulty program is not with the Christians
but with the Jews who center the opposition in
the synagogue and make the Christians spokesmen
in our houses of worship. Let the order be reversed,
if we are to strike at the root of the problem. It
is not too late to correct a faulty program.
The study of Chanukah occu-
•
pies an important place in the cur-
Is a Moratorium for Sermons Necessary? riculum of the United Hebrew
Schools. All the children are be-
A suggestion that a three-year moratorium be ing taught the history of Chanu-
declared on sermons has been advanced by the kah, Chanukah hymns and songs,
Rev. Dr. E. Frank Salmon of the Holy Trinity and are fully prepared for the
Church of Philadelphia, who believes that a plethora Chanukah festival.
of sermons threatens to make congregations "spiri-
In the lower classes, Chanukah
tually blase." Dr. Salmon stated that in his opinion genies and playlets are introduced.
"there is for too much preaching. It is bad for you. In the higher classes a thorough
Anybody at least 25 years old should be able to study is made of the Nlaccabean
find the way to God by himself."
period. A new feature of the study
Even without much concern over finding a path of Chanukah in the higher classes
to heaven, there is much to be said in favor of the is the word-quiz. All words and
Philadelphian's proposal. There is need for strength. phrases centered around the Chan-
ening spiritual values, and to do this there is need ukah festival are being studied,
for study more than there is for preaching. In and inter-class contests are organ-
Jewish tradition emphasis was always placed on ized.
study, and not on sermonizing. The Beth Home-
drash was a house of research. In most Jewish Italian Jewish Communities Name
communities in the Old World, rabbis devoted
Almansi President
their time to study and the leading rabbis seldom
ROME. — (WNS) — Leader-
preached more than three or four times a year, ship of all Jewish communities in
Even on Rosh Ilashonah and Yom Kippur, the Italy, Albania, Libya, Rhodes and
sermon was unknown as part of the services.
Ethiopia, was this week vested in
Less sermonizing and more teaching ought to Dr. Dante Almansi, Cavalier of
be introduced by the rabbis. Their congregations the Grand Cross of the Italian
will benefit by advocating a program of less ora- Crown and former prefect of sev-
tory and more study. This should be the way to eral Italian protinces, following
true cultural attainments.
a constitutional session of the 18
Who will be the first to take up this suggestion, councillors of the Union of Jew-
the rabbis or their congregations?
ish Communities in Italy.
Canukah Display at
TheologiCal Seminary
Chanukah Studies
In Hebrew Schools
A SATISFYING ANTI-NAZI PLAY
(GONCLUDEPF_
The Chanukah holiday,
which falls between Dec. 7
and 14 this year, is a commem-
oration of the almost miracu-
lous rescue of the Jewish peo-
ple in Palestine from Syrian
oppression in the year 165 B.
C. under the leadership of Ju-
das Maccabaeus.
A representative collection
of lamps used at Chanukah
time by families and communi-
ties since the fall of the Tem-
ple may be seen in the Museum
of Jewish Ceremonial Objects
at the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America in New
York City. European lamps
from the last three centuries
have been added to the collec-
tion recently through the ac-
quisition for safekeeping of the
Museum of the Jewish commu-
nity of Danzig. When these
items have been repaired and
catalogued, they will go on
public exhibition.
Shaà rey Zedek
Dinner on Jan. 7
Plans Being Made for Congre
gational Gathering
Plans for the congregationa
dinner and dance to take plac
on Sunday evening, Jan. 7, i
Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, ar
being completed. Invitations ail
shortly be in the mail. This affai
will be restricted to members o
the congregation and their imme
diate families.
Dancing will follow the dinne
and will continue from 9:30 t
12:30. Dave Diamond, in person
and his orchestra will provide th
Music.
Attendance at this congrega
tional function will be limited to
500 persons. Individual tables ar e
being arranged to accommodate
10 persons each. The committe e
urges all who plan to attend t o
send in their reservations imme
diately in order to avoid possible
disappointment.
II01,1 PAGE ONE)
The drama critics in the New York
newspapers, and all over the coun-
(leered himself to playgoers fo r try, hailed "Margin for Error"
his excruciatingly funny chore c- with paeans of praise. Leading
terizations in "Three Men on a off was Walter It/niche'', himself
Horse", and "Having a Wonderful no mean hater of Hitler and
Time". The audience at the Ply- Nazism. "Margin for Error, my
mouth took this young Jewish ac- favorite play" is his latest utter-
tor to its Hitler-hating heart and ance and judging by the reaction
applauded him thunderously after of the general public, this play
every speech.
has already become a favorite
with thousands of playgoers and
The Solution: Sub-Rosa
Sam Levene plays the role of bids fair to say several months.
Anti-Nazi organizations, espe-
Moe Finkelstein whose unpleasant
duty it is to guard the German cially, have singled out "Margin
Consul, and when, during the for Errorr" as a play to see re-
play, this same consul is mur- peatedly. A noted Yiddish critic
dered, Levene rises to unprece- informed his readers that an eve-
dented heights of histrionic per- ning with "Margin for Error" is
formance. As one drama critic re- not only an enjoyable evening in
marked: "The perfect murder is the theater but affords anti-Nazis
a mystery comedy", and it is an opportunity to indulge in on
interesting to observe that rarely orgy of Hitler-hating. This form
has the murder of a human being of amusement is being indulged in
on the stage been greeted with by many thousands who are avail-
greater glee. The glee is height- ing themselves of this opportun-
ened all during the second hal f ity. Men and women who follow
of the play when Sam Leven°, a s the headlines fairly closely will
Moe Finkelstein speaks his min d have little difficulty in identifying
about Nazis, fuehrers, big and lit _ the Mayor who caused the world
tie, and incidentally, solves th e to chuckle by assigning a Jewish
mystery of who murdered the policeman to watch over the
consul. This worthy, is seems, was safety of a German consul. The
stabbed, shot and poisoned, which city in question will be recognized
gives you an idea of the affectio n with equal case. Police Commis-
felt by the several characters in sioner Louis Valentine of New
th e play. There is Bert Lytell, as York City is permitted to indulge
a Nazi-hating American physician, in some chest-puffing with pardon-
who in the words of Walter Win- able pride, for Sam Levene in the
chell, speaks not alone his mind role of policeman Moe Finkelstein
about Hitler and his barbaric is easily a composite portrait of
regime, but seems to speak out most of Valentine's finest.
WOMIKAI 1939, S. A. F. s /
what's in the minds of every lib-
erty-loving, tyrant-hating Ameri-
can; Bramwell Fletcher, as the
consul's secretary, whose grand-
mother is proven to have been a
Jewess: Philip Coolidge, as the
vain, foppish American fuehrer
aping Adolf, and Leif Ericson as
a columnist, contribute to a per-
"A Village Wedding," a three-
fectly performed play.
act operetta by II. HofTenberg.
The solution of the murder member of the cast of Littman's
mystery, which is the crux of the Yiddish People's Theater, 12th and
second half of the play, must, be- Seward, is the current attraction
cause of a program note request at this theater.
be kept cub-rota, and since this
Music for this production, which
request was observed by all drama is being presented this Friday eve-
writers, I can do no more than ning, Sunday matinee and evening
state that you cannot possibly and Tuesday evening, was written
conceive a more profitable or en- by Samuel Solomon, musical di-
joyable evening in the theater. rector at Littman's Theater.
A Village Wedding
Now at Littman's