1.iday, November 30, 1945
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
Chaplain Returns
I
By RABBI PHILIP S. BERNSTEIN
,„4
E
,)
Two disturbing facts emerge from recent conferences with chap-
litiqs. The first is the opinion of a large liercentage that they have
no definite jobs to return to. Th e other is the feeling of many that
th , ; will not wish to minist er in synagogu es after the war. These
po,. such serious problems for the future
of American Judaism that
I t ike the liberty of discussing them here with both the chaplains
and the congregational leaders. For THE JEWISH CHAPLAIN is
real by both.
'I 'lie treatment of the returning the war.
chaplain will be of historic ire-
Present needs should be met on
portance in the life of American a temporary war-time basis but
jee.Ty. Never before in the whole permanent arrangements
should
histo r y of Israel h as th ere be en I b e
withhold until chaplains are
such an outpouring of rabbi s f or aVallahle. 'Phis
will result in ben-
war service as in the conflict just efit not oelv to the chaplains but
ceased. Never before has there also to the congregations. For
been such a voluntary outpouring' every
chaplain will return to the
of sacrificial idealism. For rabbis
synagogue enriched by his expert-
were not drafted. They volunteer- ence and with increased ability to
ed. More than half the rabbis of i
render it significant service. Con-
the country offered their services
gregations and rabbinic associa-
to the chaplaincy.
tions will he wise as well as cor-
Of course they have rendered rect to give reassurance to the
this service out' of a sense of pa- rabbis in uniform.
triotic duty and they do not ask
On the other hand, it would be
to be rewarded for it. However,
very
unfortunate if the chaplain
they are entitled to certain rights
and consideration. Any congrega- were not to meet his obligation
tion that does not fulfill its com- to the synagogue. I think I un-
mitment to its rabbi in the mili- derstand the problems some of
tary service deserves the censure the chaplains will face — small
congregations, inadequate in-
of the entire household of Israel.
comes, interfering officers, de-
WARNS CIVILIANS
manding congregational organiza
Any civilian rabbi eligible for tions and outworn policies. I can
the chaplaincy who maneuvers to understand why some of them,
advance himself at the expense after their military experience,
of a chaplain should be expelled will not wish to return to such
from his rabbinic body. I have synagogues. But they must not
talked with most of our chaplains let their present mood prevail,
in this country and overseas And for it too will be very bad for
I know that many of them at this the future of American Judaism.
stage are tired, strained, holm-
DEPEND ON STRENGTH
sick. Any failure of congregations
They should not accept these
to meet their obligations will
conditions as final. These rabbis
lead to a bitterness and cynicism
will have achieved a new strength
which will be very bad for the through their chaplaincy experi-
future of American Judaism.
Congregations should give chap-
lains preferential consideration
for vacant positions. Pulpits that
become vacant should be held
open for chaplains returning from
ence. They have learned a good
deal about organization. They
have acquired the experience of
working closely with youth and
should be able to surround them-
selves with young people who
like themselves will be intolerant
of pettiness and narrow denomin-
ationalism. Don't give up the
synagogue without a fight! It is
too precious.
And it is too necessary. Euro-
pean Jewry is virtually destroyed.
Some small communities may be
restored but not again as the
fountain springs of Jewish spit-
ituality. In all the lands of the
diaspora, American Jewry alone
has the possibility, the influence,
the surviving institutions and the
sheer numbers to maintain a Ju-
daism that will offer hope, susten-
ance and example to Jewries out-
side Palestine. If it goes under;
if it gets weak and anaemic; if
it cripples American religious life
by making its best young rabbis
unhappy in existing unprogressive
synagogues it will be guilty of
the final hillul Hashem.
Every rabbi knows that we
need in America a synagogue-
centered Jewish life. Federations,
welfare funds, community cen-
ters, community councils, Jewish
education associations have their
place. But in the long view of
Jewish history they are transitory
institutions reflecting a partic-
ular phase of Jewish life at a
particular time. The synagogue is
eternal. It alone gives meaning
to Jewish experience. It alone has
a philosophy to sustain Jews
through these times. If its present
program is not commensurate
with its history and its aims, that
is where the chaplains have a job
to do. They dare not forsake the
synagogue now when, confronting
the worst catastrophe in J v. ish
history, it needs them most.
T
Chanukah Greetings
CHANUKAH
GREETINGS
Ambassador
Lunch Co.
1412 Woodward Ave.
Sincere Chanukah Greetings!
Wayne Laundry
AND DRY CLEANING CO.
12641 Woodrow Wilson
CADILLAC
STORAGE CO.
TO. 8.2330
11745 TWELFTH ST.
BUY VICTORY BONDS
TOWNSEND 8-9400
A aro am.oemommoom ■■
CHANUKAH GREETINGS
PORTER'S
DRY CLEANERS
Chanukah Greetings
MOSS KOSHER
CATERING CO.
"Dry Cleaners of Distinction"
MADISON 2870
5445 RIVARD
M=100.111MOMO
Weddings, Banquets, Parties
RIVIERA HALL
5028 JOY RD TY. 4-9221
2715 CORTLAND
TO. 8.4113
A ' 1 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1 2 =
sEE
, CHANUKAH
GREETINGS
HOLLAND
tr-
t
Page Fifteen
VAPORAIRE HEATING
Sincere Chanukah Greetings!
Ridal's Service
Station
HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING
SYSTEMS FOR THE HOME
"That Good Gulf Gas"
Brakes Lined and Adjusted
Cars Washed
Cot. Milwaukee and John R.
PETER R1DAL
TRINITY 2-9698
;1
-47
4-
CHANUKAH
GREETINGS
Let Holland Solve Your
Home Heating Problems
-
Chanukah Greetings
KELLY COAL
COMPANY
"A YARD NEAR YOU"
1.900 GREENFIELD ROAD
YEetnont 6-3300 — FL 0380
32 Convenient Offices
Before you buy or build a home—
THE DETROIT BANK
Winter. Do this by consulting the
Holland man in your locality. The
Commercial and Savings Banking
Holland representative is a heating
Main Office . . . Griswold at State
expert—capable of properly planning
Member of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
your heating system or if your pres-
,---
ent plant is not heating satisfactorily
Sh,ere Chanukah Greetings!
MICHIGAN
B L U
HI
make sure it will be comfortable in
SCRAP IRON
METAL
. 4
CO.
:lest Prices - Quick Service
'551 Caniff at G.T.R.R.
■
TO. 8-2830
Y VICTORY BONDS
he can tell you just what is wrong
WE JOIN OUR JEWISH AGENTS
Herman J. Agins
Israel M. Malek
R. Blumer
Abraham Schmidt
William Meisler
THERE'S A FACTORY BRANCH NEAR YOU
C. H. CARPENTER
REFER TO YOUR TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
GENERAL AGENT
IN WISHING
Joyous Chanukah to All!
K. SHAPIRO,
A JOYOUS CHANUKAH TO ALL!
VEAL and LAMB
The Michigan Mutual
Auto Insurance Co.
1531.3 WINDER ST.
OF TRAVERSE CITY
INC.
Wholesale
CHerry 1291
and what to do to correct the trouble.
314 Fox Theatre Bldg.
CHerry 5605
HOLLAND FURNACE CO.
HOLLAND, MICHIGAN
World's Largest Installers of Furnaces
"HOLLAND FURNACES
MAKE WARM FRIENDS"
BRING THEM HOME
BUY VICTORY BONDS
7-'7 I " iI 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111110111111111111111111111111111111116,