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DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle

November 7, 1941

1

.ary I
p urely Commentary

A Christian Learns About Hebrew

ur

What do Christians know about Jews?,
How do they react towards the teaching of
Hebrew in the public schools, and to Jewish cul-
tural values?
An experience this Commentator had a few
(lays ago throws some light on these questions.
At Ann Arbor, Mich., the seat of the Uni-
versity of Michigan, death recently called the
Rev. George Washington Patterson, senior deacon
of St. Andrew Episcopal Church, of which the
Rev. Henry Lewis is the pastor. The church has
decided to erect a tablet in memory of Rev.
Patterson, and upon it is to be reproduced the
emblem of his alma mater, Yale University, which
includes the Hebrew words "Urim V'Tumim."
Architect Lewis W. Simpson of 2457 Wood-
ward Ave., Detroit, was called in to plan the
tablet and he was perplexed by the Hebrew words.
In his anxiety to achieve perfection in reproduc-
ing foreign letters, lie came to us, and the dis-
cussion was most illuminating.
•

Hebrew Source of American Liberty

st

The Christian architect, a handsome, tall, eld-
erly gentleman was anxious to learn something
about the origin of the phrase he was asked to
reproduce. As good fortune would have it, there
happened to be at the moment, on the Commen-
tator's desk, a copy of the very scholarly study,
"Hebrew in American Higher Education" by
. Abraham I. Katsh of the School of Education
of New York University. The New York Univer-
sity Bookstore of 18 Washington Place, New
York, published this most interesting analysis of
the influence of Hebrew on American life in
multigraphed form—an indication of the appal-
ling lack of readers for such a studious work.
I took Architect Simpson to Page 45 of this
book and showed him the following paragraph:

"The spirit embodied in the Scriptures
found expression in other ways. Inscribed on
the Liberty Bell is the Biblical verse: 'Pro-
claim liberty throughout the land unto all
the inhabitants thereof' (Leviticus 25:10)-
a Biblical motto which has since been one
of the pillars—if not the main pillar—of
our constitutional democracy. Yale Univer-
sity immortalized the Hebrew expression
'Urim V'Tumim' as its theological and edu-
cational emblem, commemorating the decora-
tive and c eremonial breast-plate worn by the
Jewish high-priest during special occasions of
sacrificial services. Columbus University has
chosen the Hebrew Tetragrammatan YAH-
WEH as its emblem. Hebrew inscriptions are
also engraved on the walls of Yale and New
York University libraries."

A footnote to this paragraph in Mr. Katsh's
study tells of another interesting influence upon
American practices, as follows:

rally consisting of a mixed swim
with dancing to follow this Satur-
day evening, Nov. 8, at 8:30 p. m.
Boys and girls between 14 and
17 are invited to attend.

mind might have been poisoned by libels against
Hebrew but who had just learned something, ex-
claimed.
That's just it! The Christians who should know
are not told these things. Otherwise, half of our
woes would be wiped out.

With the goal for the Jewish
Community Center's membership
enrollment month set at 1,000
new members, Samuel H. Rubiner,
chairman, has urged active Cen-
terites to canvas their friends to
acquaint them with the excep-
•
tional facilities the Center has
The Louis LaMed Foundation
to offer. A prize of one year's
free membership, in each Center
Time may heal such wounds.
There is need, for instance, that Jews them- membership classification, both
selves should first understand the value of their male and female, is offered to the
own culture before their neighbors fully com- person bringing in the greatest
number of full members in each
prehend them.
And therefore, it may be an act of fate that group.
The Center's board of directors
a Detroiter should be responsible for creating a
und to encourage Jewish literary activities.
fund
the entered
work of
the drive and into
has
Louis LaMed formed what it known as the has
enthusiastically
Louis LaMed Literary Foundation. Several months undertaken to enroll its quota of
ago, it published a Yiddish volume by S. Niger. new members. Mrs. Benjamin E.
A few weeks ago it awarded a number of prizes. Jaffe heads the women's contin-
The Yiddish journalist Jacob Gladstein was given gent of the board. Mr. Rubiner,
an award for his book "When Jash Came" and in addition to his duties as gen-
the Hebrew poet, Abraham Regelson, was re- eral chairman, has undertaken the
warded for his Hebrew essays. Dr. Israel Efros leadership of the men in the direc-
won one of the prizes for his Hebrew poen, torate.
Under the supervision of Leon
"Gold." Now, under the sponsorship of this fund,
Mr. Regelson is working on a history of He- Wayburn, associate chairman, in
brew literature in Yiddish. Later, an autstanding charge of publicity, colorful pos-
writer will be sponsored in the preparation of a ters and window cards have been
history of Yiddish literature in Hebrew. placed in strategic points through-
It is a creative and constructive piece of work. out Jewish neighborhoods, and
Mr. LaMed began his career as a Hebrew the Center itself has been deco-
teacher. Later, he studied law, earned his degree, rated. Attractive literature is on
but never practiced the profession. Instead, he hand for workers and prospects
joined his wife's family in the furniture business in the membership booth in Sub-
the
and became one of the well-to-do Detroit mar- lobby, and members of the
chants. He never forgot his interest in Jewish Senior and Intermediate Councils
culture, and he translated his love for Yiddish are on duty to serve as guides for
and Hebrew by establishing his foundation to those who wish to make a tour
sponsor bi-lingual cultural work in both tongues. of In
the connection
building. with the Center's
As an aside, it is interesting to note that Enrollment Month, the seniors
LaMed's brother is one of the most enthusiastic and sub-seniors are sponsoring an
Detroiters who became Chalutzim in Palestine.
affair Sunday evening, Nov. 9.
In the auditorium, a swing band
•
will hold sway, led by Jack Green,
Jewish Issues in Politics
who will also present an array of
There was a Jewish issue in the politi- novelties. Dramatic skits and
acts will be given.
cal campaign for the Mayoralty of New dancing
Samuel H. Rubiner will speak
York. Dr, Stephen S. Wise saw fit to make and a tour of the building will
the following statement during the cam- follow. Activities will be presented
in the gym and an exhibition in
paign :
the swimming pool. Guides will
"There is no Jewish issue. There is no
be available to show prospective
Jewish vote. But when a candidate's only
members through the Center.
platform becomes—'Jews ought to vote for
There will be no charge for ad-
me because I am a friend of the Jews'—
mission. Dancing will begin at
that is enough for me as a citizen of New
8:15 p. m.
York. It is a disgraceful state of affairs. No
The intermediates will hold a

"A great deal of our legal procedure is
taken from the Scriptures and the Talmud.
Thus we find in the United States Supreme
Court, just as was the custom with the San-
hedrin, the junior justice votes first and the
senior last so as not to be influenced by age
or tenure."

Our Christian visitor literally gasped. He did
not know that the motto for American liberty
came from the Bible. He was visibly impressed.
Imagine the difference in the attitude of most
Christians if they were truthfully informed on
the position of the Jew, on the background of
his culture, on the influence of Jewish thought
upon the movements that strive for freedom!
•

When There Is Lack of Information

In line with this goes another, rather unpleas-
ant, experience.
Detroit had an incident a short time ago. (De-
troit is full of such incidents!).
A new Reform Temple was organized in our
Auto City, and it found it necessary to conduct
its school, on Sundays, at a public school, and
to hold Sabbath services in the auditorium of
that school. A church group resented it, called
a protest meeting—in that very school!—and
stirred up antagonism. Your Commentator had a
call from one of the men at that meeting. He
pleaded for understanding why lie had to re-
main anonymous, said he was a Christian lawyer,
explained his reactions to the meeting he attended,
said he was frightened by its vicious character
which may cause riots. He added that he was
afraid for his little son who went to that school
and who may be hurt if there is trouble. Then
he went on the say that he and others had been
told that Hebrew was to be taught in that school
—and there was fright in his voice as he spoke
of Hebrew.
Came our turn again: Hebrew, we explained
to the well-meaning gentleman, is the language
of the Holy Scriptures. Hebrew, we informed
him, is a requisite in the course of study for the
Christian ministry. Theologocal students, we told
him, are expected to know sonic Hebrew in order
to understand a little of the Holy Bible in the
language of its origin.
"We are not told these things," the man whose

H MEN NIORYT OF

Prizes Offered to Spur
By Philip Slomovitz Efforts During Center
Enrollment Month

one cares to know whether the Tammany Hall
candidate for mayor is a friend of the Jews.
"A true friend of the Jews would not
stoop to talk about his friendship for Jews.
I never heard President Roosevelt or Governor
Al Smith or Mayor LaGuardia make any
such claim. It is a cheap and vulgar election
device. I as a Jew do not want to elect any
man who offers as a qualification for his
election the fact that he proclaims himself
a friend of the Jews. There is nothing that
we as Jews want from the city or from its
mayor that is not wanted by citizens of every
faith and race."

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planet, to fertilize the deserts, to improve
creation undEr the eyes of the Creator: and
to assure thd g reatest benefit for all by com-

bining these two infinite forces: the brother-
hood of man, and the might of God!"

Read in the light of today's tragedies, one can
only hope: may this prophecy come true!

AT A PUBLIC MEETING
Thursday Evening, Nov. 13, 8:15 o'clock

DEFEND
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"The day will come when these two huge
Unions, the United States of America and
the United States of Europe, will face and
greet each other across the ocean, exchanging
their art, and their genius to civilize the

World President of the Jewish National Fund

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The world crisis, with its attendant prophecies
of the creation of closer bonds between an united
Europe with these United States, brings back
to memory a prophecy made nearly three-quarters
of a century ago by the great European, Victor
Hugo (1802-1885) who said:

ONE OF WORLD JEWRY'S GREATEST LEADER—President of the General Zionist Council and

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FREDSON'S

This statement rivals in significance the
declaration on Jewish issues in political
campaigns made many years ago by the
late Louis Marshall.
For the sake of self-respect, it is about
time that Jews begUn to think clearly on
certain issues, and more especially on po-
litical matters, and that they insisted on
the elimination of appeals based on
group line-ups.
Dr. Wise's is a practical statement. It
should serve as a lesson to Jews and as a
warning to unscrupulous politicians.
•
Prophecy: "Two Huge Unions"

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