DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Lek d Chronicle

Page Six

Friday. September 7, 1,1

"Al Tashlichenu Le-Es Ziknoh"
Reflections of a New Year's Prayer

Rosh Hashonah and the Synagogue

By RABBI JOSEPH THUMIN of Congregation Beth Abraham
spoke of the churchlike atmos-
phere prevailing in a reform syn-
Once again we stand at the threshold of a New Year. The yea r
Many aspects of the significance of Rosh Hashonah have been agogue which he stated was much
5706 is approaching on the wings of the Angels of Peace, and the
presented to the Jewish reading public. It is well, however, if we more than the one prevailing in
exit of the old year is accompanied with jubilant sweet melodies
consider one view which may turn out to be less pleasant than the church itself.
of man's FREEDOM — freedom from the destructions of war, free-
If
any
Jew
should
think
that
any other because it focuses the spotlight on a condition which is
this condition only affected the dom from tyranny and suppression — freedom for all!
worsening instead of improving.
Our prayer that God shall "make the rule of arrogance pass
synagogue, he failed to see how
Rosh Hashonah is t e time
of the Jews, this ancient people ', Itch it affected the character of from the earth" was heard and answered. Those who ruled by th e
when the Jew suddenly realizes rebuilt their synagogues time and Jewry. The backing and solace arrogant might of force have been conquered and subdued. Put the
his ties to the synagogue. The again and brought them back to which the Jew had derived from other part of the same prayer: "And all the evil shall be utterly
the shul was as much non-exist- co nsumer!" still has not been fulfilled.
role this ancient institution has their destined purpose.
ent as the atten dance of the Jew .
VARIOUS
MEANINGS
played in Jewish life ever since
In our modern times with al- at shul. The rabbi had practically I The remnants of the millions maid at my brother's home .
its inception should be familiar
leged culture, the synagogue has nothing else to do but to attend of Jews tortured and murdered Now you see why I cannot keep
to every Jew acquainted with the assumed various meanings. On I movies for further critical re- at the hand of the "rule of arro- him in the house," concluded the
history of his people. The Beth one hand, it became less and less ports, and read the latest best- gance" are still desolate in con- young woman. "The nice GEN-
Hakneseth, as the synagogue is the house of assembly for the sellers, otherwise his job was jeo- ' cent' ation camps, or in exile as TILE LADY left in great em-
called in Hebrew, the House o f Jews. With the beginning of the pardized, and he found himself homeless refugees. The lands barrassment, and the whole party
Assembly, has throughout the last century, those who preached without an audience. And worst whence they were deported still was spoiled!"
generations been the focal point and advocated emancipation and of all, he had to share his pulpit would not have them back, and
As the woman finished her
with representatives of other the doors of the victorious dem-
of Jewish life.
assimilation tried to put the syn- faiths. No wonder the Jew got ocratic countries remain closed story, I said to the OLD MAN:
The gatherings of the Jews in agogue out of their minds and
Now I understand the meaning
nothing out of the shul. The im- to them.
the earliest times of our history out of the life of the Jews.
of "AL TASHLICHENU LE-ES
took place in the desert to listen I We see today the synagogue portance of the synagogue was CITES STORY OF JCAOB
ZIKNOH" . . . from one son to
to the Heavenly commands. Moses not the House of God, but a fo- a goed measure by which the I I Of our Patriarch Jacob it is the other. And I advised my
assembled the children of Israel, rum for the discussion and cri- Jew's interest and adherence to said in the Bible (Genesis XXXII, friend to go back and live in his
24-31) : "And Jacob was left
thereby creating a signpost for ticism of latest books and movies, his faith could be judged.
own old home.
alone; and there wrestled a MAN
times to come that Jewish effec- profanity at its worst. The assi- FINDS HIS WAY BACK
The Jewish people, the OLD
(the angel of Esau, according to
tiveness is only in unison and as- milationists who wanted to do
What has all this to do with tradition) with him until the MAN amongst the nations, suf-
sembly, not in divisiveness or sep- away with the synagogue did,
Rosh Hashonah: This period in breaking of the day. And when fers under the same kind of tra-
aration. These assemblies made however, away in most cases with
the Jewish calendar is the proof he saw that he could not prevail gedy. When other peoples boast
the Jew conscious again and themselves. Their next step to
of old cultures, of high civiliza-
again of his complete alliance and baptism was only a very short of the above made statements. against him, he touched the hol- tions, and of superior racial de-
Only once a year, for three days, low of his thigh; and the hollow
adherence to the Almighty. As one. But despite all their efforts
Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, of Jacob's thigh was put out of scent, the prehistoric aged Jacob,
the times progressed, the assem- they still remained Jews, and
by his very presence, is pointing
blies in the Bote Kenesioth were Hitler's aim was directed against the Jew finds his way back to joint." The angel of Esau said: a finger at them: I remember
this ancient institution in Jewish "Thy name shall be called no
the spiritual injections from them with the same fury as
life. That is about all the time more Jacob, but Israel; for as a your ancestors! The Huns and
which the Jew derived new against their synagogue — true
he can spare from his daily Prince hast thou power with God the Mongols, the Romans and the
strength for his life amidst a brothers and sisters.
chores for some devotion to God. and with men, and thou host pre- Celts, and whatever the names of
world of enemies.
The sorry spectacle of syna-
those barbarians were—I saw and
Then, these three days over, the vailed."
No wonder that the enemies of gogues equipped with all the most synagogue sinks back into obli-
knew them all!
And what was the result of Is-
the Jews directed the brunt of modern installations of churches vion for another year.
The age-wise Jewish people is
rael's victory? "The sun rose
their wrath against this institu- is the most disgracing thing
thorn in their eyes; therefore
Is
it
not
a
deplorable
situation
upon
him,
but
he
halted
upon
his
which
the
Jewish
people
had
to
tion in Jewish life. The syna-
we still must pray: CAST US
that
Rosh
Hashonah
should
be
thigh."
Jacob
triumphed;
the
sun
gogue was the first to be plun- suffer not at the hands of their
NOT AROUND IN THE TIME
dered and looted always, but un- enemies, but at the hands of the time when the Jew gathers seemed to shine again for him, OF OLD AGE . . from one
at
his
synagogue
for
just
the
just
as
it
did
for
the
whole
perturbed by all strokes of fate Jews. No wonder that a minister
country to another! The only an-
which always meant a decimation in one of America's larger cities only time a year: If we now look world, but when he lifted his feet swer is: Back to our own old
am.
at the second significance the to move out of that place of hor-
■
■
■
IDM•mo•on ■••■•■•■■
synagogue has in our modern ror, he discovered that he was home! The only solution is—Pal-
estine as an unrestricted free
times, we must only feel more limp! . . .
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Lesser
for deserting our houses of wor-
And such is still Israel's fate home for a free Jewish people.
May the coming new year
ship.
today. With the rest of the Unit-
of
When the Nazis set out on their ed Nations the children of Israel bring realization of this old
plans to destroy and conquer the triumph over their enemies; the dream to the oldest of nations,
world, the houses of worship of sun of freedom is again shining and may all our prayers he an-
OMENA, MICH.
swered. Amen.
flam es all over the world '
the Jew, going up i in flames,
Wishes All Their Friends and Patrons
B the
were the torches of warning on when they try to get . out
the horizon to which the demo- Places of horror, they still find
A Happy and Prosperous New Year
erotic world turned blind eyes.lall doors closed before them.
1■
•••
Had the world realized what I And so the 4.000 years old Ja-
I
these burning synagogues meant, cob stands before God and the
MICHIGAN — Betty Hutton
A Happy and Prosperous New Year To All
our youth would not have had to nations of the world and prays:
roaches the peak of her career in
"AL
TASHLICHENU
LE-ES
fight this war.
the technicolor triumph, "Incen-
But even we Jews who were ZIKNOH !" CAST US NOT diary Blonde," Paramount's third
AROUND
AT
THE
TIME
OF
cutside
the
path
of
conflagration
Joe
Mendlovitz
•
of a century anniversary story of
failed to see the significance of OLD AGE!
the life of Texas Guinan which
Offering a Complete Line of
The real meaning of this
the burning Bote Kenesioth. On
arrived today. Second feature is
prayer
may
be
best
illustrated
by
Rosh Hashonah we pray to our
an action-packed special starring
GROCERIES, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Heavenly Father for all the good the following story: An old Ann Savage and William Gargan,
TO. 6 9232 i we desire, for physical and finan- member of my congregation "was "Midnight Manhunt."
12540 DEXTER at Fulerton
cial security, for tranquility and left alone" after his wife's death.
■
peace and good health. If our He felt lonesome and forlorn and
UNITED ARTISTS — The sea-
•■ •-••• wishes are fulfiled, we are satis- asked me to prevail upon one of son's happiest musical hit, "An-
■ ■
1 fied, if not we grudge. But we his children to spare a place for chors Aweigh," co-starring Gene
fail to see that we, too, must give him in their home. I spoke to his Kelly, Kathryn Grayson and
daughter, and she agreed to take Frank Sinatra, with Jose Iturbi,
something in return.
Should not Rosh Hashonah be him in.
sailed into this theatre yesterday
Ile had stayed with her but a on dazzling technicolor waves of
the highlight of our regular at-
tendance at the synagogue, in- short time when she came to me song and laughter.
stead of the sole instance? Should complaining that her children did
Extends Best Wishes To All Jewry
PALMS STATE — Hollywood's
we not desire to derive more and not like the "OLD MAN'S" man-
For A Happy and Peaceful New Year
more inspiration from the High ners and she must send him topical drama, "Back to Bataan,"
Holidays to make the synagogue away. I then tried to quarter him starring John Wayne, Anthony
411W. ■•■■■■ •=loo ■■•■.■■ ••=soomm•
.6f.111.
•=.
once more the Beth Hakneseth? with one of his sons. His young- Quinn, Beulah Bondi and a cast
Should we not doubly pray for est son gave him a room in his of thousands, will continue for a
second week at this theatre.
enlightenment to seek the place house.
But soon his wife, too, ordered
for our spiritual guidance in the
FOX — "Junior Miss," the
synagogue instead of other the "OLD MAN" out. I went to
places? And finally should the inquire. and she told me the rea- Broadway stage sensation that
fate of our brethren across the qm: "We often give parties," she kept New York howling for two
Cor. 12th Street on the Ocean
seas
be not enough forceful re- said frankly, "and are visited by straight years, has been tinned by
MIAMI BEACH, FLA.
is
minder not to burn synagogues prominent ladies who became 20th-Century-Fox into what most
t h e
as the eternal light, but keep the rich not long ago. As usual, they being called one of
joyously uproarious hits of the
eternal light of God burning in- pose as descendants of high-
ranking families. Because the year. Starring Peggy Anne Gar-
side the synagogue?
ner with an outstanding support-
Rosh Hashonah this year is OLD MAN remembers their an-
ing cast, it is said to surpass even
cestors,
he
is
a
celebrated in a world rid of Hit-
thorn in their
the stage version in heart-haPPY
ler. But we Jews can only feel eyes.
Le Shono Toro Tikosevu
Only last night we had a gath- hilarity and gay excitement.
victorious if we have conquered
our apathy towards the syna- ering of friendly ladies. One of
•
gogue. The return to the syna- them brought a new guest and
gogue is only complete and has introduced her as a gentile who, Rosh Hashonah
Sept. 6
.
Rosh Hashonah Greetings
Sept. 17
served its nurpose when the syn- nevertheless, confessed to like
Yom Kippur
Sept. 22
agogue is once more the center Jewish company. This made us Succoth, 1st Day
And Best Wishes To All
of Jewish life and activities. May proud. But then the OLD MAN Shemini Atzereth ....... Sept. 29
Sept. 30
God not only grant us our indi- happened to pass by. He stop- Simchath Torah
Nov. 30
vidual wishes on Rosh Hashonah, ped, stared at the noble guest, Chanukah, 1st Day
Dec. 7
but give us enough insight and and pointing at her with his fin- Chanukah, 8th Day
enlightenment to return to our ger, he said:
Chamisha Osor B'Shebat Jan. 17
Mar. 16
"NUTS TO YOU" FROM KAR,S
Bote Kenesioth not for three days
"Aren't you Baily Yenty, the Fast of Esther......
Mar. 17
a year, but daily and weekly to daughter of Josel the Shoemaker Purim
3055 - 18TH STREET
April 16
find there inspiration to carry on from my home town ?" She sank Passover, 1st Day .
April 23
our dutie s to ourselves and the her head in shame, but he con-
Passover, last Day
Lafayette 4255
May 19
•orld in the holy environment in tinued: "I also remember your Lag B'Omer ...... .
June 5
mother Chany Dwoshy; she was a Shevuoth, 1st Day .......
• the house of God.

By JULIUS L. WEIL

,

141

0.10.9

11.11• • •

LESSER'S CLOVER LODGE

I Theatres

144.0...

DEXTER - FULLERTON MARKET

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ENNIMMGNIMOMIINI”.1.0.0

•• •••0411•11.

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DETROIT CHAPTER OF THE
AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS

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CTI HOTE

DAVID ROSNER

Wishes His Friends and Patrons a Very
Happy and Prosperous New Year

CALENDAR

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KAR NUT PRODUCTS INC.

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