America ,fcwish Periodical eatter

May 15, 042

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO

PLAIN TALK

II

AL aGAL

This is the month our theological seminaries

project many new young rabbis into the world.
Baccalaureate sermons by seasoned old rabbis

will commend them into the Most High and

forth to the mercies of congre-
they will go
gations.
I think, though, they would rather hear from

one of tile dues-paying members. For, after all,

members are ultimate consumers of rabbis, you

might say. and some of the consumers leave a
rabbi scarcely with more than his bones when

they are through with him.

(I hear it reported that in some congrega-

tions rabbis are handled like burnt offerings

unto the Lord.)
I am one of the reasonable members and,

perhaps, young rabbis will esteem it a rare treat

to her a baccalaureate address from one of the
more reasonable people who occasionally sit in

the pews. Yes: Baccalaureate Address by Alfred

Segal. So the Hebrew Union College program

read. Mr. Segal ascends to the high place on

the altar, trembling.
.
"My friends

Mr. Segal is not puffed up by vain-glory as

he takes up the manuscript of his address. He
is a humble man yet courageous withal, and

after the early tremors of doubt he takes hold
of himself. He is sustained by an awareness of

the unique nature of the occasion: For the first
time a synagogue member has been allowed to

speak to new young rabbis at the moment of
their ordination. He is one of. the people they

will have to do with in all their days to come,

and he must speak up.
"Yes, my friends, I am Zilch, you might say.

Zilch, the Average Member. Zilch who pays
his dues regularly. Zilch who isn't very happy

about his religious life. He keeps on paying

his dues as a matter of old custom. He doesn't

pay his dues to the synagogue with the same

dutiful devotion with which he pays his insur-
ance premiums.

"Not that he is ever churlish about paying
his synagogue dues. He feels that it's one of

those things that have to be done. What will

people say if he, Zilch, doesn't belong?
"That's Zilch and that's me."

I seek the good way of life and I should wel-

come a rabbi who can show me the way. I am

a poor stumbler who is always falling and the

the Zilches in their congregation and their ser-
mons have to do with making a better, more
spiritual man out of every Zilch.

"That's all the Jewish Zilches require of you.

They stay away from the synagogues where
rabbis compond the inky darkness that is al-
ready upon the world. They might be grateful

to the rabbi who provides them with a bit of

In short, gentlemen, I do not feel sure that

any time but especially in a darkness like this.
"And, for goodness' sake, don't, in your

I am getting much out of the synagogue. You
will at once tell me that a man gets as much

sermons, play at being statesmen who can solve
all the problems of the world, or try to be

out of a synagogue as he brings to it; but
I do bring a willing heart to it, though I con-

political or war experts. The regular, hired,
professional statesmen have been doing the job

fess my mind sometimes wanders far from the
pew. It runs off to far-away places, such as

badly enough and God save us from the ama-

teurs. And an amateur war expert can't do
any better than the professionals who have been
wrong most of the time.

"Anyway, a rabbi who takes up being a
statesman or war expert suggests that he is

It is a wailing wall, isn't it? Over there by
the river's side, it's divinity."

rather empty in his rabbinical function which
has to do primarily with showing people the
way to go in their own lives and as members

"Ah, gentlemen, I slap my mind sharply (Iowa

of the social community. There is so much for

for this heresy and yet I must agree there's

rabbis to do in this little corner called Jewish

considerable truth in it. It's true enough that
the synagogue too often is a wailing for the

life; the world somehow can manage to keep
on swinging in its orbit without their aid and
counsel.

lamentation of the rabbi on the pains of Israel.

"I have a wailing wall of my own where

The National Council of Jewish
Juniors, Detroit section, will hold
its annual installation of officers
at its final meeting of the 1941-
4'2 season on Sunday, May 17, at
p. m., at the Jewish Commu-
nity Center. The mothers of Jun-
ior Council members will be the
honor guests at the installation
and the social afternoon wh:ch
will follow it.
Prances Cohn will succeed
Helen Goodman as president for
the coming year, while Ruth Rab-
inowitz will take over the duties
of first vice president. Also serv-
ing for the 1942-43 season will be
Sylvia Collins, as second vice
President; Matilda Skwor, record-
ing secretary; Evelyn Koppleman,
corresponding secretary; Ruth
Sher, financial secretary; Bluma
N agler, treasurer. Shirley Golieb,
Anne Stern, Ruth Plotnick and
Shirley Small have been nomi-
nated for election to the two va-
cancies on the board of directors.
Girls who wish to make reser-
vation s
for council's final social
event of the year, "Paradise-on-
the-Lake," may do so at the meet-

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"Yes, that's what Zilch thinks about it."

ing. The affair, which this year
takes the place of council's an-
nual end - of - the - season formal
dinner-dance, will be an all-day
outing on Sunday, May 24, at the
Helfman summer home, located
two miles from Mt. Clemens on
St. Clair Shores. At least fifty
service men stationed at Selfridge
Field will be the guests of the
National Council of Jewish Jun-
iors from 2:00 p. m. Sunday aft-
ernoon until late in the evening.
The program for the day includes
dancing and games in the after-
noon, followed by a buffet supper
at 7:00 p. nr. and community
singing around a campfire in the
evening.
"Paradise-on-the-Lake" is open
to the public. Further information
and tickets of admission may be
obtained from Miss Ruth Sher,
general chairman, 3353 Calvert
avenue; any member of the Na-
tional Council of Jewish Juniors
or the following committee chair-
men : Sylvia Collins and Ruth
Sher, reservations; Anne Stern,
transportation; Frances Cohn,
program.

rooms

50 Years' 1 Ielimoloble Service

"Shavuoth," or the Biblical
"Feast of Weeks," commemorat-
ing the giving of the Ten Com-
"You can't serve me, Zilch, when your eyes mandments will be observed at
are directed to the farthest reach of Jewry the Downtown Synagogue Friday
and Saturday, May 22 and May
even unto Abyssinia. Teach me—the immidate
23, respectively.
Jew under nose—the way to the good life, what
Rabbi Herman Rosenwasser,
I, myself, should do about living in this world. who is in charge of the syna-
"I advise you to take counsel from the ser- gogue, will preach on the theme,
mon topics of Christian ministers. They don't "No Blackout on Sinai's Heights."
pretend a wisdom that takes in the affairs of Services will begin at 8 o'clock
in the morning.
the whole world; they are concerned only with

light for their own feet. It's hard going at

"Wouldn't you," my rebellious mind inquires,

REPEATEDLY
WE ADVISED

rabbi should be the gentle friend who picks
me up and sets my feet right again.

Having introduced himself, Mr. Segal wades

"be closer to God beside the majesty of the
river than sitting here at this wailing wall.

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This religious ceremony pro-
my friends and I gather to mortify ourselves
vides an additional opportunity
We meet for poker or for rummy but pretty
for parents and their children to
soon we are at the wailing wall crying against be spiritually prepared for the ex-
the fate of Israel and wondering if it will perience of confirmation, which
will take place on Sunday morn-
ever be good for us.
ing, May 24. The presence of
"Yes, that's wailing wall enough and why young and
old in the Temple
should Igo on my holidays to the wailing wall during the Festival of Shabuoth,
of the synagogue to hear the rabbi give out which is the traditional anni-
versary of the day of which the
death means for all Israel.
Ten Commandments were given
"Is there nothing but this death for me, to the children of Israel at Mt.
the Jew? Is the rabbi just my undertaker? Is Sinai, is a symbolic reminder
there anything to live for? I had better get out that adults, as well as their chil-
dren, must be reconsecrated to
of this if these ululations are my only religious
the task of knowing, practicing
expression.
and spreading the moral and
"What does this meaning-in-the-dark religion spiritual laws of God.
Dr. Glazer introduced the con-
give me? I run away from it into the sunlight.
secration service in the congre-
There is a sun-bather public garden I know
gations which he served while in
almost around the corner from the synagogu. Pittsburgh and New York. This
The tulips have been growing there so beautifully Friday evening will witness the
inauguration of this impressive'
this springtime.
ceremony at Temple Beth El. All
"No, young gentlemen, don't be rabbis at a are welcome.
wailing wall, crying for their people. Don't be
This service will be the con-
too cosmic; don't carry the whole Jewish people cluding evening service for this
on your shoulders. You have enough to do to season. Divine worship will he
conducted every Saturday morn-
look after me, Zilch, the Average Member.
ing at 11 o'clock in the main
"I have my troubles. I have my conflicts. auditorium of the Temple.

with both feet into the chilly waters on which
new rabbis are launched.

the place by the river where the Glory of God
is manifest at sunset.

Consecration Services
At Temple Beth El
On Friday, May 22

On Friday evening, May 22,
at 8 o'clock, the continuants of
Temple Beth El will participate
with their parents in a consecre-
lion service.

"Lo! A Zilch!"

Council of Jewish
Juniors to Install
Officers on May 17

5

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