February 20, 1942

Purel y Commentary •

Orthodox Rabbi and Federations

An interesting phenomenon in Jewish life is
about to be recorded.
An orthodox rabbi is in line to head a Jewish
Welfare Federation, and previous charges that
the Federations are run by "Yahudim" will be
exploded.
Rabbi Solomon Wohlgelernter is slated for the
presidency of the Seattle, Wash., Federation.
Delegates to the recent Chicago sessions of the
general assmbly of the Council of Federations
and Welfare Funds will recall the interesting ad-
dress he delivered in refutation of the paper pre-
sented by Maurice Hexter, lie did not like the
"meat dished out by Dr. IIexter" and he called
it "non-kosher." What he said is less material
than the way he said it. He is a fluent speaker
and his English is comparable to that used by
the Reform-Conservative men.
Rabbi Wohlgelernter has an interesting brother
—Rabbi Max J. Wohlgelernter of Detroit—who is
also making his mark in the community. He fights
for Sabbath observance, for protection of kash-
ruth, for the traditional laws. Nevertheless, he is
always to be found in the midst of Federation,
Community Council, Community Center gather-
ings. He is as free among the Reform as he is
among his own. The explanation: he is consistent
with his own views.
It is a significant commentary on the position
of the Orthodox. They are making their mark in
American Jewish life. They are regaining much
lost ground, as will be proven by the construc-
tion of Yeshivas throughout the land. The Wohl-
gelernters are the leaders in this ground-replen-
ishment for Orthodoxy.

•
A Phenomenal Business

Talk about phenomena in Jewish life: let's
jump from the rabbinate to business.
In Detroit, a father and two sons made history.
They are Sam Osnos and the sons, Max and Her-
man.
They run Sam's Cut Rate Store which is the
talk of the country. They started as a corner
store—a stand would be more exact. Today, they
run one of the largest businesses in the country—
two department stores.
The reason for their success? Straightforward
business tactics, good relationship with labor, a
fine attitude towards community obligations. It
is something to talk about.
•

Another Phenomenon: The "Harei At"

Let's stick to phenomena.
Here is another interesting episode that should
draw attention because of the uniqueness of Jew-
ish marriage customs.
A Jewish taxicab driver told the incident re-
cently to the Haaretz of Tel Aviv. He was on
the way from Machne Yehudah to the great all-
Jewish city of Tel Aviv. Six Yemenite boys and
girls were passengers. One of the boys pro-
posed to one of the girls. The driver consented
to stop the taxi. The bridegroom borrowed a wed-
ding ring from one of the passengers and in the
presence of the group pronounced the "Haarci
At Mekudeshes Li b'Tabaas Zu k'Das Moshe v'Is-
rael" ("Be thou betrothed unto me in accord-
ance with the laws of Moses and Israel"),
and the marriage ceremony was completed.
The wedding was celebrated with the singing of
Yeminite songs as the taxi proceeded on its way.
That's the way it can be done in accordance
with Jewish customs: If you pronounce the tra-
ditional phrase in the presence of witnesses and
place a ring on the bride's finger, you are mar-
ried.
That is something that can not be matched in
any other religious ceremony—to our knowledge.
•

A Jewish Street in Tolauk

From Jerusalem comes an interesting report
which may also be listed among great phenomena.
It was revealed by Captain Louis Rabinowitz,
chaplain with the British Army in the Middle
East, that a street in Tobruk had been named in
honor of Palestinian heroes fighting with the Brit-
ish forces. The street was named "Rehov Telaviv"
(Tel Aviv Street).
This is not a new occurrence. Jews and Jewish
events have been honored in this fashion before.
But there is an interesting story to illustrate the
point further. The story goes that the late Julius
Rosenwald once told the late Dr. Shmarya Levin,
with pride, that he had named his summer home,
near Chicago, "Tel Aviv." To which Shmarya
Levin, who was as witty as he was scholarly,
replied : "I would much rather that you had built
yourself a home in Tel Aviv and named it Chi-
cago."
•

Bar Mitzvah in a Reform Temple

The country at large must sit up and take
notice: A Reform Temple is introducing a
"modernized Bar Mitzvah".
Morris Garvett, president of Temple Israel of
Detroit, of which Leon Fram is Rabbi, makes
this announcement in a lengthy statement which
is quite informative.
For instance, Mr. Garvett tells us that similar
ceremonies are conducted in Temples in Cincin-
nati, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago,
New York, Buffalo, Minneapolis, San Francisco,
Providence, Los Angeles, Boston, Richmond and
other cities.

Young Judaea
Purim Carnival
By Philip Slomovitz

Kass was the guest speaker,
giving sonic of the highlights of
the celebration of Chamisha Asar
B'Shvat, together with a resume
of Young Judaean activities and
plans for Detroit.
The Council welcomes Miss
Rena Margolis, the new leader
of the Vera Weitzman Aguda, a
group of girls of the ages of
12 and 13. Any young man or
woman interested in leading a
group will be welcome at Coun-
cil meetings and will be gladly
furnished with further informa-
tion by calling Miss Helen Kass,
executive director, Townsend 6-
5902.

In keeping with the tradition
set by the successful carnival
and bazaar given last year, the
Young Judaea Leaders Council
of Detroit announces that a
similar fund-raising activity will
be again repeated, to take place
on Sunday, March 15, from 3
p. lrl. On, at the Haiti David
Synagogue, Elmhurst and 14th
Ayes. The carnival will include
dancing., cultural booths display-
ing educational material and ex-
hibits of Young. Judaean projects
and work, and recreational
booths of games of skill and en-
tertainment appropriate to the
occasion. Further, details will be
announced when complete plans
Unity and the General Council
have been made. Admission will
This business of "unity" in Jewish ranks re- be 10c per person, and a nom-
mains a mooted question. The General Jewish
inal charge will be made for
Council continues to "function," but the quan- games and entertainment. Prizes
dary over its accomplishments remains to plague will be awarded.
WINDOW SHADES
Jews who are anxious to co-ordinate activities on
Estelle Stern, chairman of the
the defense and other fronts.
MADE TO ORDER
The Chicago assembly of the Council of Fed- Purim carnival, reports that the
Cleaned and Repaired
following
leaders
and
members
erations and Welfare Funds took one step nearer
LINOLEUM
to re-establishing peace by re-creating the united of the Council arc actively as-
front. The major Jewish agencies, including the sisting her in completing plans:
Inlaid
and Battleship
Jewish Congress, accepted the formula for peace. Chairman of art work and deco-
ration,
Esther
Charnas;
chair-
Rugs
and
Furniture
But will there be delay occasioned by selfish
motives instigated by the desire of individual man . 0 of Palestinean and cultural
VENETIAN
BLINDS
is, Helen Kam ; chairman
groups to retain identity of their own machinery? exhib t
Drapery
Hardware
of chairman
games, Sadie
Finkelstein
Some things have been started, and were never
of printing,
Bluma ;
Get Our Price!' and Save
finished. Some things were never started. Morale
Free Fidinusten Furnished
Greene; secretary, Esther Duch-
in Jewish ranks is not at its height—and the • chairman of publicity and ad-
8625 LINWOOD
attributable factor is the lack of genuine unity. visor, Ruth Freedland.
There are abuses in the Jewish press which
CALL
TYLER 5-1230
The first in a series of Sun-
were dealt with by the Jewish Council in a state-
ment calling for the elimination of abuses. What daY afternoon meetings of the
happened to that movement? planning committee, consisting of
There were numerous other efforts to co-ordi- representatives from the meni-
nate fund-raising, to abandon duplication of com- bership of all Young Judaean
missions—such as have dealt with the Poles and groups iii the city, together with
with out own State Department. What's hap- members and leaders of the
Economy
Council and committee' chairmen,
petted to such a move?
Comfort
Get together, gentlemen; and the sooner the will be held on Sunday after-
better, for the sake of peace in Israel and the noon, Feb. 22, at 2 :30 p. m.,
Convenience
future security of our position. at the home of Bluma Greene,
1929
Calvert
Ave.
•
On Feb. 1, the Leaders Coun-
Ireland and Palestine
cil sponsored its first "brunch,"
That special supplement on Ireland issued by at the Jewish Community Cen-
the Nation suggests a parallelism for Jews. When ter, which was a gathering for
the Irish were fighting for independence, back former as well as active Young
in 1920, many Jews took an active part in the Judaean leaders, and friends of
campaign. Jews gave their contributions to the this organization in Detroit. Sev-
Collingwood at Third
Irish cause and encouraged the Irish leaders in eral representatives form Wind-
their efforts.
I to 4 room suites,
sor Young Judaea were present.
Zionists felt, at the time, that the Irish and Greetings were extended by rep-
furnished or unfurnished,
Jewish fights were analogous, that they were both resentatives of the Zionist Dis-
Hot el service optional,
struggles for freedom, that they both involved trict, Senior, Junior, and the
dining room, garage in
definite principles calling for the establishment Business and Professional Divi-
connection.
of independence for oppressed peoples.
sion of Detroit Hadassah, and
TOWNSEND 8-2680
Read the statements by Eamon de Valera in Windsor Young Judaea. Helen
the Nation's supplement, substitute Palestine for
Ireland, Jews for Irish, and you have a Zionist
appeal.
The trouble is that liberals, including some of
the editors of the Nation, do not realize it or
FOR A QUARTER CENTURY
recognize it. The trouble is that the liberals fail
to appreciate the validity of a struggle which
—DETROIT'S FINEST FOOD
aims to save not only Jews but also to eliminate
a sore spot in world politics which must continue
The utmost care is exercised in planning Our
if Jews are to remain homeless.
menus to insure sufficient variety to please the
The same principle applies to the New York
most exacting taste.
Times. It will attack, as it did, the Palestine
Jewish army proposal, but in the next breath it
VISIT OUR COCKTAIL LOUNGE
will put up a good front for India or the
Your favorite drink mixed by experts
Philippines or any other people aspiring to
national independence.
Consistency, where is thy sting?

The prevailing impression was that Reform
Temples observe only confirmations. Therefore,
this bit of news will be enlightening to many
who were unaware of the existence of the prac-
tice.
Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan's Society for the
Advancement of Judaism has a "Bas Mitzvah"
service for girls. Reform Temples do not suggest
the wearing of Tefillin but they have a "modern-
ized Bar Mitzvah". Detroit's Temple Israel,
through Mr. Garvett's statement, also announces
that simple blessings will be pronounced during
services "in connection with the naming of newly
born children".
Who said there is danger to Jewish survival
in America?

•

LASALLE

Window Shade Co

For

THE WILSHIRE

Apartment Hotel

•

A Basis for Cooneration

Will the Zionists and non-Zionists (Maurice
Wertheim calls the extremists anti-nationalists)
ever get together? And if they do, on what
basis? What is the best formula?
If there is a will, there is a way, and if there
is not, then we shall have lenty of trouble.
Since we have arrived at some basis for mini-
mum understanding through the United Pales-
tine Appeal, there ought to be a way for coop-
eration on a similar plane.
And once the internal quarrels are eliminated
there should be abandoned the unwholesome busi-
ness of washing dirty linens in public.
Take, as an example, the attack at the Jewish
army public meeting, by the Pennsylvania Con-
gressman, upon the publisher of the New York
Times. The latter deserves criticism—call it con-
demnation—for that unwarranted leading editor-
ial "A Zionist Army?" But why should it be neces-
sary to resort to attacks on personalities, to give
comfort to Coughlin who picked up the New York
Times argument for his own use, to cleanse our
souls in public?
The fault lies with those who prevent a basis
of understanding between the Zionists and non-
Zionists and who aggravate the situation through
misunderstandings created by articles like the one
in the New York Times. Arrive at an under-
standing—and we are ready to believe that
Wertheim, Becker, Butzel of Detroit, the War-
burgs—will aid in every way in achieving amity,
and the need for washing dirty linens in public
will become unnecessary.
Therefore, we repeat, get together, gentlemen !

night, Feb. 24, Esther Field, houses. This week is her final
well known as New York Radio performances in Detroit.
Yiddishe
"D i e
Supporting
Star "Dee Yiddishe Mame," will Mame" in her new play this
appear in her newest musical week are Lily Lilionon, Leon
play, "Mazel Tov Macheteneste." Liebgold, Abe Fox, Ethel Dorf,
This Sunday matinee and eve- Last week-end "Die Yiddishe Misha Fishzon and the entire
capacity company.
to
played
ning. Feb. 22, and Tuesday Mame"

"Dee Yiddishe Mame "(Es-
ther Field) in "Mazel
Tov Macheteneste" this
Sunday at Littman's

5

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•

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