April 25. 1941

2

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle

The Romantic Story of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations and Its Affiliated Groups

YOUR HOST CONGREGATION

colTnongus

By RABBI LEON FRAM

the
v,
l
r the cseerreorr ngoNoef
Temple
e e n o p u l e n e t th o
AReading service
ot4th
.
n o ly an occasion for exec- gationa singingt each
is not
cising the tradition of hospitality the congregation as a whole rises
upon which our congregation to sing one or more hymns.
administrator, this department is prides itself, but it is, we hope,
What will make our Sabbath
revitalizing Judaism through its out opportunity to acquire from Eve service especially interesting
scientific approach to the individ- you, the delegates, new ideas that to the delegates, are the things
that happen after the service.
ual economic and religious prob- shall guide our own progress.
In exchange for your ideas we First, there is a social hour in
of
the
local
synagogues.
le
By aiding congregations in the can offer you the results of some the Social Hall following each and
service. It is our Oneg-Sha-
In Addition to Cementing Activities of American Syna- solution of economic problems, of our own experiments and ex- every
bat—our delight in the Sabbath.
gogues, Union Sponsors Theological College
the Commission on Synagogue Ac. periences.
Judging from the many letters Our Sisterhood women take turns
tivities is freeing the minds of
and Other Educational Efforts
d personal inquiries I have re- in supplying and serving the tea
laymen for consideration of the an
ec I know that and cake.
In order to appreciate the place cation. Curricula and textbooks religious program of the syna- ceived
on the subj th t, council wl
the pei
After this social hour, still an-
of the Union of American He- were developed from a survey of gogue. "The Synagogue" maga- he delegates to e
other event is on the program.
brew Congregations, as the heart the needs of congregational schools zine including "The Jewish Scene," be interested in our successful The young people who have at-
of the American Liberal Jewish and from the foresight of edu- published monthly by the Union transfer of our principal weekly tended the service now gather in
Movement, it may be interesting cators such as Dr. David Philip- Commission, keeps Boards of Trus- service from Sunday morning to the Men's Temple Club Room for
to trace the growth of Union en- son, who for many years was tess and congregational members
.1 a "Youth Discussion." These dis-
president of the Religious School abreast of current affairs and
deavor and achievement.
cussions are altogether informal.
their relation to the synagogue.
Most frequently the young people
Perhaps, to outsiders, it seemed Union.
The
"Jewish
March
of
Time"
fur-
When the Union Department of
discuss the sermon which they
as if the Union sprang up with-
ther aids those planning the local
have just heard, but they are just
out notice in the midst of the Synagogue and School Extension congregational program.
Cincinnati heat of July, 1872. was organized in 1905, the Reli-
as free to begin a discussion on
Reaching
Jews
in
isolated
or
Those who had been following gious School Union was disbanded
any other subject that seems at
small
communities
has
been
ex-
the moment to concern them. The
American Jewish life during some as a separate body and became
tension
work
of
interest
to
the
discussions frequently grow heat-
decades before that time, rea- a standing committee of the de-
Union
since
the
last
century.
The
ed. They are always illuminating.
lized the error of such an impres- pa•tment. The Commission on
will
to
carry
religion
and
reli-
sion. Jewish Education, still headed by
Many young people are frank to
As early as 1849, Dr. Isaac Dr. Philipson, dean of Liberal Rab- gious education to those not within
say that they come to the service
range of a synagogue was al-
mainly because of the discussion
Mayer Wise, an ardent liberal, bis in America,was set up. In ways present. Finding the means
f th Con re ation 1923, a Union Director of Educa-
that will follow.
of doing the work was a difficult
th en
Thus, hundreds of our people in
in Albany, N. Y., had sounded tion The
was work
appointed.
has gone forward Puzzle. For several years, volun-
Detroit have come to think of
a call for a Union of Jewish con-
gregations. Dr. Wise had a rea- by leaps and bounds. Jewish edu- teers carried on as best they could.
the Sabbath Eve as a regular oc-
son for union. He wished to see cation of today is as liberal as Finally, with the organization
casion for the experience of beauty
in existence a training school for the most progressive public educa- of the Department of Synagogue
and inspiration in the Temple,
American Jewish leaders. No one tion. New theories are tested and and School Extension, field work
and for the opportunity for socia-
congregation could support such tried. Experimentation is con- was started on an intensive scale.
bility and self-expression in the
enterprise. The benefit of hav- stantly going on. Textbooks pre- Since then, the Regional Rabbi of
Social Hall and in the Men's Tem-
an
ing a rabbinate well-trained in sent Jewish life in a way that the Union has become familiar to
ple Club Room.
American democratic as well as in is meaningful to the youngest stu- congregations and communities
Long before coming here, ninny
RABBI
LEON
FRAM
Jewish ideals would redound to the dent. The project method is used. everywhere. At the present time,
of the delegates have heard of our
Hebrew is taught as scientifically in addition to a North-East Re- Friday night. We had discovered school of Adult Education, Beth
benefit of all.
gional Director, resident in New
that our Sunday morning service El College of Jewish Studies.
A call was issued through the as any
language.
Far other
different
is the present York City, the Union employs two failed to appeal to the sentiment Many
congregations have groups
columns of the Occident, an An-
of our people. The Sabbath Eve and classes of Adult Education.
glo-Jewish paper published by
service, on the contrary, was felt Beth El College of Jewish Studies
Dr. Lesser of Philadelphia. Dr.
to be a Jewish occasion, and so means, primarily, that we have
Wise went to New York City to
it tended to evoke Jewish senti- centralized and vitalized our Adult
deliver a rousing speech in favor
ment. The attendance at the Sab- Education. We have made Mon-
of Union. However, the plan did
bath Eve service does not depend day night an evening which many
not "take."
00 the sermon topic. Our people people in our community devote
The year 1873 found Dr. Wise
come because it is the normal to Jewish study.
in Cincinnati as rabbi for life
thing for Jews to observe the
Our Sisterhood, our Men's Tem-
of Congregation Bene Jeshurun.
Sabbath Eve in worship.
ple Club, our Young People's
He had founded The American
We have, of course, made this Temple Club, and our Religious
Israelite later as an organ for
normal practice exceedingly plea;s- School will have many ideas and
his liberal views of Judaism. His
ant and colorful. We have a large experiences of value to contribute
progressive congregation had ac-
all-Jewish choir, led by a cantonal to your discussions.
cepted reforms in the traditional
soloist, which specializes in the
Though we feel we have much
service. His congregational presi-
singing of the traditional Sabbath
melodies. Following the suggestion to offer, yet we know we have
dent, Moritz Loth, agreed with
of the new Union Prayer Book, even more to receive. We shall,
the need for a union of congrega-
we have introduced into the Sab- therefore, while entertaining you,
tions.
bath Eve Service the magnificent seek eagerly to learn from you.
Mr. Loth sent a call for a con-
vention to mid-western and south-
ern congregations. Replies showed
message will outline the Union's
that a sufficient number were in-
activities during the past two
terested in the union project. The
years.
date was set and the convention
Page
One)
(Continued from
Addresses at Monday morning's
assembled.
As a result of that meeting,
37th biennial council at Hotel session will also be delivered by
Dr. Wise's plan for American
the following presidents of the
Statler on Monday morning.
Judaism began to come true. The
presidential three affiliated organizations
Goldman's
Mr.
Union of American Hebrew Con-
which convene here simultane-
gregations was founded with Mr.
ously with the Union, their par-
Loth as first president. Delibera-
ent body:
tions at the convention dealt large-
Mrs. Leon W. Watters of New
ly with the need for a theological
York, president of the National
seminary.
By 1875, the doors of Hebrew
Union College, a pioneer institu-
tion, were open. Seventeen stu-
dents entered. The doors at that
time did not lead to such an in-
LATE DR. ISAAC M. WISE
stitution as exists in 1940. Classes
were held in the vestry rooms of state of affairs from the early Regional Rabbis who contact Jews
C i n c i n n ati congregations. Dr. days when the Union was offering through a variety of ways and
means. Regional Rabbis serve as
Wise, the college president and an
assistant, taught all the classes. prizes for books on Jewish his- liaison between the Union and
congregations. They ar-
The "library" was a small collec- tory that might be used in the member
—
me
tion of well-worn books which religious school. Now, the Union range services for a Jewish group
generous donors thought the stu- has become one of the outstanding in a small town, or a central meet-
publishers of religious school
. people from one district.
ing . tor
dents might find useful.
But the start had been made. texts. In the past 30 years, it has They _ are active in organizing
'
Regional meetings or
For many years, problems of every published over 1,000,0000 copies Union
of 108 volumes. And, following the Neighborhood Conferences. They
sort connected with the college original idea of educating the address Jewish students at uni-
presented themselves to the union
board. Suggestions for additions Jewish layman as well as his chit- versities. With the Union be-
and changes in curricula were dren, the list of Union publications hind them, they furnish impetus
solemnly discussed by the Union includes volumes of interest to for the perpetuation of Judaism
RICHARD BLUESTEIN
Executive Board. Bills filled with Jews of every age. Such books in many places where it might
out.
a thousand minor items as we ll as as "The Jewish Contribution to otherwise die out
with the salaries of teachers were Civi lization," by Dr. Cecil Roth
approved. Problems of finance re- "The Jew in the Medieval World," As a of national
organization made
309 congregations
in the
mained with the Union. The col- by Dr. Jacob R. Marcus, a "Corn. up
United States and Canada, the
lege was as much a problem to mentary on the Psalms," by Dr. Union cooperates with other
the Union as is the rapidly grow- Solomon Freehof, "Off the Capes
ing child to any normal parent. of Delaware," by Benjamin W. groups. It sends representatives
MRS. LEON WATTERS
Its needs were astonishing, but Blandford, and "Hillel's Happy to the Synagogue Council of Amer-
Federation of Temple Sister-
they were met. When, after sev- Holidays," by Mamie G. Gamoran, ica, which is the central organiza-
eral years, a building was bought fill definite places in the Jewish tion
for all branches of American
hoods.
Judaism.
as the college home, the board library. The Cecil Roth and Bland-
Albert F. Mecklenburger of
through
Religious education
felt that they had done excep- ford books present a picture of
Chicago, president of the Na-
tionally well. A campus with five what Judaism has given western training, and action based on
and American civilization. Dr. that training, is the field which
tional Federation of Temple
buildings now houses the students
and cater to their every need, edu- Marcus' book is the first source the Union has chosen as its spe-
Brotherhoods.
book of its kind on medieval Jew- cific province in American Jewish
Richard N. Bluestein of Bos-
cational and recreational.
ish
history,
Dr.
Freehof's
Com-
life.
The
scope
is
not
narrow.
It
is
ton, president of the National
Intense interest in Jewish reli-
gious education forbade the col- mentary is the first in a series as wide as life itself.
Federation of Temple Youth.
Through congregational Town
lege from becoming the sole proj- of popular commentaries on the
The presidents of the national
ect of the Union. Laymen and Bible which the Union is publish- Hall Meetings, a new Union proj-
organizations will preside at sub-
their children must be educated ing. The Gamoran volume appeals ect instituted successfully at the
sequent meetings of their re-
too. Every congregation was a cen- to the tiny tot in true story book beginning of this year in local
fashion while it conveys facts Union Temples throughout the
spective organizations and will
ter for this type of work.
country, lay participation in con-
submit reports on their activities.
Starting from scratch, the Un- about Jewish holidays.
Since the religious school is gregational enterprise will be in-
Sectional meetings of the var-
ion has made a science of Jewish
education through the years. For- but one part of congregational creased. Dr. Leo M. Franklin of
ious groups, as well as of the
.
mation of the Hebrew Religious life, the Union has set up a corn- Detroit is chairman of the Union's
Union itself, are listed in the con-
School Union was the first step mission on synagogue activities. National Committee on Congrega- ALBERT F. MECKLENBURGER vention program.
toward a uniform system of edu- Under the direction of an able tional Town Hall Meetings.

MOVEMENT ORGANIZED IN 1873 BY
DR. ISAAC M. WISE HAS BECOME
PIONEER OF MANY JEWISH CAUSES

PRESIDENTS

')