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. 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