Detroit Jewish Chronicle (9
_
VOL. 46, NO. 14
and The Legal Chronicle _
SEON061•4110
DETROIT, MICHIGAN, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1944
10c Single Copy: $3.00 Per Year
A SPIRITUAL EXODUS
By DR. SAMUEL BELKIN
President, Yeshivah and Yeshivah College
Passover is the eternal symbol which possesses the most popu- assuming the educational, intel- tion will not be intellectually must make all efforts to offer a
of inspiration for freedom loving I ous and the most powerful Jew- lectual and spiritual leadership equipped to carry over our torch more intensified Jewish religious
people, and the immortal source sh community in the world. We, of world Jewry, we shall have of learning to future generations. education, and we should encour-
of hope for all enslaved nations n America, who possess politi- betrayed our own past and made If our generation is to witness age the establishing of Jewish
of the world. We, as Jews, are cal and intellectual freedom must our future meaningless.
the spiritual experience as though parochial schools.
required, however, to look upon assume the final defense and the
Let us not permit the historian
If our system of Jewish edu- it had actually gone forth from
Passover, not as a mere symbol ultimate vindication of our peo- cation will primarily consist of Egypt, then it must be taught of tomorrow to point his finger
of past and future emancipations, ple and spiritual history. It is our transmitting to our younger gen- the original source of Torah and at our American generation which
but it is rather incumbent upon duty to make America the cen- eration a certain pride in our its oral tradition as the divine has not experienced the degrada-
each of our generation to feel ter of resurrection of all the ancient heritage but without word of God and the Jewish his- tion of the
golut, but which has
as though it had actually ex- lofty ideals which were trans- maintaining the proper educa- tory as a living embodiment of
perienced the exodus from Egypt. mitted to us from generation to tional program which will pre- our sacred heritage. In order to enjoyed the true citizenship of
Our people, throughout many cen- generation, and unless we shall serve Jewish learning and prac- accomplish such a system of Jew- a great democracy, as having
turies of physical slavery and fulfill that great responsibility of tice, our contemporary genera- ish education, the Talmud Toran a great democracy.
material degradation, have al- ■
ways possessed within their inner
selves, the dignity of spiritual
princes, for we have been incul-
cated with the firm belief that
while physical and material free-
dom are unquestionably essential
for the normal functioning of a
people, still for us there also
exists a higher sense of cherut,
of freedom, which primarily con-
• • •
sists of a sanctified mode of liv-
ing, of a. Torah life, of our
search after God's knowledge.
This spiritual exodus every gen-
eration must experience.
Even in Egypt there were Jew-
My personal and heartfelt greetings to you
ish masses who preferred the
all
during this Passover Holiday.
making of bricks and the mixing
of mortar to the spiritual and
Godly freedom of Mt. Sinai. But
Working together, the problems of the
Moses, the prophet-leader, pos-
World can be met. We face it with hope
sessed the sacred confidence that
the Jewish people, once the di-
and confidence that right will prevail and
vine way is shown to them, can
that a new day, bright with Peace and
he (lifted to the highest spiritual
levels. Unfortunate is the gen-
Happiness, will dawn. ere long, in our
eration whose spiritual leaders
troubled
world.
are satisfied with the minimum
fulfillment of Judaism, the mini-
mum requirements of Jewish ed-
For
We can be thankful for the past:
ucation and observances, and the
minimum devotion to the plight
it has brought us new friends and the op-
of our people.
portunity and obligation to serve. We look
If we wish to experience the
to the future confidently and with the re-
exodus from Egypt, then our
spiritual leaders must once more
solve to continue to render the service on
possess the divine confidence of
Moses that the slaves of yester-
which the reputation of Moe Leiter and
day may become the spiritually
Associates has been built.
chosen people of tomorrow. Our
leaders should follow in the foot-
steps of Moses who in his demand
MOE LEITER
for the physical emancipation of
the Jews made no compromise
with Pharaoh, and when he was
dealing with his own brethren he
firmly believed in the potential
qualities of the Jews to achieve
their intellectual and spiritual
freedom.
•
We, as Jews, were born into a
great spiritual and ethical heri-
tage which was made possible by
the divine vision, sweat and
blood of inspired and devoted,
courageous and sainted men. It
is our duty now not to squander
LET US SERVE YOU—OUR LINE OF LIFE INSURANCE AND
this great inheritance, but to
transmit this great heritage to
ANNUITIES IS COMPLETE-- OUR ATTENTION TO PERSONAL
our younger generation which is
capable of receiving this great
DETAILS IS APPRECIATED BY HUNDREDS.
sacred treasure and make our
accumulated reservoir of learning
and our spiritual and moral val-
ues a creative force in our daily
life. If our generation is to feel
as though it has experienced the
eman2ipation from Egyptian slav-
ery, it should remain true to the
golden chain of our spiritual be-
ing and continue to carry the
torch of Jewish learning which
Was lit long centuries before
1766 PENOBSCOT BUILDING
Western civilizations came into
existence. And, indeed, which
places in our present world are
best suited for a spiritual and
intellectual exodus?
HEAD OFFICE—WATERLOO, ONT.
Let us hope and pray that the
uropean Jewish intellectual and
aintly aristocracy will once more
Brokerage Business is appreciated--and liberally dealt with
■
ou•ish in the postwar period,
nd that the European Yeshivot,
•ademies, higher institutions of
•arning, libraries and museums
ill survive this great cataclysm.
"e certainly should entertain the
The local agency of the Dominion Life Assurance Company has been the lead-
prophetic belief that a remnant
ing agency of the Company for five consecutive years.
will remain, but to the best of
our knowledge there remain two
safe places where the learning
We have an attractive contract for ambitious men of the right type. If you
of Torah and Jewish culture
can prosper. One is Palestine,
would like to better yourself financially and believe yourself fitted for the life
which is witnessing the great
insurance
business, you may avail yourself of the opportunity of joining this
miracle of the rejuvenation of
Torah, Jewish piety and Hebraic
outstanding agency. Why not drop in to our office and talk it over?
culture. We hope that Palestine
will soon become not merely a
home of refuge for the Jews but
a Jewish commonwealth, both in
the political and spiritual sense.
The second place is our own
blessed United States of America
,11
10-
To You of the House of Israel
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My Best Wishes and Happiness to You All
MOE LEITER
Moe Leiter &
Associates
The Dominion Life Assurance Co.
•