DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Lek tl Chronicle Pays . , 513 Rosh Hashonah and the Synagogue Friday, September 7, "Al Tashlichenu Le-Es Ziknoh " Reflections of a New Year's Prayer 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 niadie the church itself. consider one view which may turn out to be less pleasant than free- If any Jew should think that of man's FREEDOM — freedom from the destructions of war, any other because it focuses the spotlight on a condition which is dom from tyranny and suppression — freedom for all! this condition only affected the worsening instead of improving. Our prayer that God shall "make the rule of arrogance pass synagogue, he failed to see how Rosh Hashonah is the time ' of the Jews, this ancient people ”.tich it affected the character of from the earth" was heard and answered. Those who ruled by the 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- consumer!" still has not been fulfilled. role this ancient institution has their destined purpose. f the Je I ent as The remnants of the millions played in Jewish life ever since VARIOUS MEANINGS In our modern times with al- at shul. The rabbi had practically of Jews tortured and murdered maid at my brother's home . , its inception should be familiar Now you see why I cannot keep nothing else to do but to attend to every Jew acquainted with the leged culture, the synagogue has !movies for further critical re- at the hand of the "rule of arro- him in the house," concluded the assumed various meanings. On 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- centration camps, or in exile as TILE LADY left in great em- Hakneseth, as the synagogue is the house of assembly for the ' sellers, otherwise his job was jeo- called in Hebrew, the House of Jews. With the beginning of the pardized, and he found himself homeless refugees. The lands barrassment, and the whole party whence they were deported still was spoiled!" Assembly, has throughout the last century, those who preached without an audience. And worst 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 the doors of the victorious dem- of Jewish life. ' assimilation tried to put the syn- with representatives of other ocratic countries remain closed story, I said to the OLD MAN: The gatherings of the Jews in agogue out of their minds and faiths. No wonder the Jew got Now . I understand the meaning nothing out of the shul. The im- to them. of "AL TASHLICHENU LE-ES the earliest times of our history out of the life of the Jews. CITES STORY OF JCAOB took place in the desert to listen 1 We see today the synagogue portance of the synagogue was ZIKNOII" . . . from one son to Of our Patriarch Jacob it is the other. And I advised my to the Heavenly commands. Moses not the House of God, but a fo- a goed measure by which the assembled the children of Israel, . rum for the discussion and ell- Jew's interest and adherence to said in the Bible (Genesis XXXII, f b k and live n s 24-31) : "And Jacob was left own old home. thereby creating a signpost for ticism of latest books and movies, his faith could be judged. 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 MAN amongst the nations, suf- What has all this to do with tradition) with him until the 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 the above made statements. against him, he touched the hol- of old cultures, of high civiliza- again of his complete alliance and baptism was only a very short Only once a year, for three days, i low of his thigh; and the hollow tions, and of superior racial de- adherence to the Almighty. As one. But despite all their efforts scent, the prehistoric aged Jacob, the times progressed, the assem- they still remained Jews, and Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, of Jacob's thigh was put out of by his very presence, is pointing the Jew finds his way back to joint." The angel of Esau said: blies in the Bote Kenesioth were Hitler's aim was directed against this ancient institution in Jewish "Thy name shall be called no a finger at them: I remember the spiritual i n j e c t i o n s 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 hast 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 knew them all! synagogue sinks back into obli- And what was the result of Is- the Jews directed the brunt of modern installations of churches The age-wise Jewish peal le is • nn for another year. rael's victory? "The sun rose their wrath against this institu- is the most disgracing thing thorn in their eyes; therefore upon him, but he halted upon his Is it not a deplorable situation tion in Jewish life. The syna- which the Jewish people had to we still must pray: CAST US thigh." Jacob triumphed; the sun that Rosh Hashonah should be gogue was the first to be plun- suffer not at the hands of their NOT AROUND IN TIE 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 at the second significance the to move out of that place of hor- ■ ■■• • 111•0 ■ 11.11••• ■■•■•• synagogue has in our modern iror, 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 dream to the oldest of nations, plans to destroy and conquer the triumph o e veedroni is g and may all Our prayers be an- their again shining world, the houses of worship of sun of freedom OMENA, MICH. swered. Amep. world get the Jew, going up in flames, nll ovterthtewoo Wishes All Their Friends and Patrons ' O ut. B the t were the torches of warning on , en they try to the horizon to which the demo- I Places of horror, they still find A Happy and Prosperous New Year cratic world turned blind eyes. all doors closed before them. IMMMIM111101.041MO Had the world realized what 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 nations of the world and prays: our youth would not have had to reaches the peak of her career in "AL TASHLICHENU LE-ES fight this war. the technicolor triumph, "Incen- But even we Jews who were ZIKNOH !" CA ST US NOT diary Blonde," Paramount's third Joe Mendlovitz cutside the path of conflagration AROUND AT THE TIME OF 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 Rosh Hashonah we pray to our prayer may be best illustrated by an action-packed special starring GROCERIES, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Heavenly Father for all the good the following story: An old Ann Savage and William Caron, we desire, for physical and finan- member of my congregation "was "Midnight Manhunt." TO. 6-9232 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- wammo ow momiwommo ■ milm 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 He 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 ■••■■■■ '''''•'''''''"""''''"'"—""'"'".* 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 Mi....." Or synagogue ins t e a d of other the "OLD MAN" out. I went to Broadway stage sensation that inquire. and she told me the rea- places? And finally should the two fate of our brethren across the qm: "We often give parties," she kept New York howling for Cor. 12th Street on the Ocean straight years, has been t ■ imed by said frankly, "and are visited by seas be not enough forceful re- MIAMI BEACH, FLA. is minder not to burn synagogues prominent ladies who became 20th-Century-Fox into what t h e most as the eternal light, but keep the rich not long ago. As usual, they being called one of eternal light of God burning in- pose as descendants of high- joyously uproarious hits of the ranking families. Because the year. Starring Peggy Anne Gar- side the synagogue? OLD MAN remembers their an- ner with an outstanding support- Rosh Hashonah this year is even ing cast, it is said to surpass celebrated in a world rid of Hit- cestors, he is a thorn in their the stage version in heart-happy ler. But we Jews can only feel eyes. Le Shono Tovo 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 Sept. S gogue is only complete and has introduced her as a gentile who, Rosh Hashonah .......... Rosh Hashonah Greetings served its purpose when the syn- nevertheless, confessed to like Yom Kippur ....................Sept. 17 agogue is once more the center Jewish company. This made us Succoth, lot Day .......... Sept. 22 And Best Wishes To All of Jewish life and activities. May proud. But then the OLD MAN S emini Atzereth ... Sept. 29 h God not only grant us our indi- happened to pass by. He stop- Simchath Torah .......... Sept. 30 0 0%e.r. 3 0 . 7 vidual wishes on Rosh Hashonah, ped. stared at the noble guest, C C p h : a a rin n mo uk k a a h h : 8 1 t s h t Day . " ..N but give us enough insight and and pointing at her with his fin- enlightenment to return to our ger, he said: Chamisha Osor B'Shebat.. Jan. 17 "NUTS TO YOU" FROM KARS not Kenesioth not for three days "Aren't you Bally Yenty, the Fast of Esther ................ Mar. 16 a Year, but daily and weekly to daughter of Josel the Shoemaker 3055 I8TH STREET 1176 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, s e svouvaetr h,, last Da Lafayette 4255 world in the holy environment in tinued: "I also remember your Lag B'Omer ........ .... . . ........May 19 the house of God. . Jane 5 mother Chany Dwoshy: she was a By JULIUS L. WEIL 1.1 11.•11111•11 LESSER'S CLOVER LODGE Theatres 1 DEXTER - FULLERTON MARKET DETROIT CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS ...41•1111,0.1 ••110 CT a ft NOTE DAVID ROSNER Wishes His Friends and Patrons a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year CALENDAR l KAR NUT PRODUCTS INC. I I ( - A1111 -. ■ _