Page Three

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Friday, November 14, 1,47

•

SERIVION OF THE WEEK:

Creation Story Teaches Optimism to Man

IN

A RECENT issue, the Detroit
Times, which every Saturday
carries a ,serinonette by a Detroit
minister, published the following
on "The Story of Creation" by
Leon Fram of Temple Israel:
In every Synagogue in the
world at the Fall season, the
parchment scroll of . the Five
Books of Moses is rolled back to
its beginning and the Rabbi reads
the opening verses of the Book
of Genesis—"The0Story of Crea-
tion."
• • *

Equally remarkable for its in-

fluence upon human progress is

another verse from the same
opening chapter, namely, "And
God created man in His own
image." This verse, too, has

long been under attack from
those who ha -ve not realized that
moral truth is more important
than scientific, reasoning. It is
this conviction that man is cre-
ated in God's own image that
transforms every human being
from a material thing into a
"IN THE BEGINNING God spiritual personality.
created the heaven and the
earth." It is remarkable how
ALL TOTALITARIANISM is
this story of Creation has sur-
vived all the attacks of agnostics based on the idea that human
and atheists and all the criticisms beings are things to be.used by
of the natural scientists. This is the powerful for their own pur-
because it expresses a moral poses. All democracy is based
truth far higher and far deeper on the idea that each human be-
than any statement of scientific ing is clothed with the honor and
fact. It expresses the basic con- dignity that is his as a child of
viction of our civilization that God, fashioned in God's own
this is One World and One Man- image, and therefore possessed of
inalienable rights.
kind—the children of One God.

•

The Story of Creation comes of the Sabbath Day—the day of
to its clihiax with the institution rest. The Sabbath Day is the
first of all human institutions to
exemplify the idea of democracy.
The Sabbath gave every indi-
vidual, no matter how humble
his status, the right to a day of
leisure. ThiS establishment , of
economic or industrial democracy
in the very opening chapter of
the Bible is a remarkable illus-
tration of the beneticient influ-
ence of the Bible in the life of
the common man.

taught to hold fast to the ele-
mental truth that the world is
essentially good and life is es-
sentially worthwhile.

• • •

• • •

• • •

RABBI JLEON FRAM

•

• • •

IT IS DOUBTFUL whether the
Jewish people could have sur-
vived all the catastrophies and
disasters of its history if it had
not been ushered into being with
this elemental belief in the sheer
joy of life. It is authoritatively
reported that even in the dis-
placed persons' camps in Ger-
many, Jews manage, by way of
their faith, still to find a measure
of happiness. By way of the first
chapter of Genesis, the Jewish
people have contributed to al l
human civilization this essentia l
optimism which ie. a decisive fac-
tor in its survival.

IN THIS DAY when men's
minds are so susceptible to doc-
trines of pessimism, cynicism and
despair, it is refreshing to read
in the first chapter of Genesis
the words "And God saw eyery-
thing that he had made, aria be-
hold, it was very good." There
is something deliberate about the The Story of Creation in the
introduction of this theme of op- Book of Genesis is the basic liv-
timism at the very introduction ing charter of democracy and the
to the Bible. fundamental document upon
Despite all adversity, in the which a just and peaceful world
face of all vicissitudes, men are will ultimately be established.

Plain Talk

1,500 Rabbis
Check Spouse-to-Be to Participate Beligions of Would
Before Bites, Not After
krBookMonth Basically the Same

Personal Problems

' Save Yourself Miseries of Divorce
and Alimony by Careful Inquiries

By W. A. GOLDBERG, Ph. D.
IS THERE JUSTICE TODAY in the alimony problem? Mrs. F.

writes, giving a typical example of her efforts to collect alimony:
"I have been divorced for 10 years. Life with my former husband
was plain hell, but it's all over now . . . The boys ar• now 11 and
13. The court awarded me $25 a week for their support . . .
My ex-husband made many promises but never 'delivered.'
"My folks took us all in and
So, too, with a man. Who
I went back to work. . . . We
knows him? What do they say
have had about $1,000 in 10
about him? Is he steady at
years, less than $50 a year for
work? Can he be trusted? Has
each child. . . . My experience
he changed jobs often? Does he
in fighting him, to get support
have ambition without being
for the chil-
flighty? Does he keep his word?
dren, tells me
And other similar questions.
the effort is
It isn't necessary to hire a de-
not worthwhile.
tective to find out these things.
There is no
Yet, I marvel at the slipshod
way of malting
ease with whichieople accept
an irresponsi-
strangers into homes as
ble man sup-
husbands, wives' and in-laws.
port his fam-
ily . . ."

By Understanding Neighbor's Faith
We See Ilim as Spiritual Kinsman

NEW YORK—As their tribute
to Jewish Book Month, organiz-
ed by the National Jewish Wel-
fare Board (JWB), and being
nationally observed until Dec. 7,
By ALFRED SEGAL
hundreds of Rabbis affiliated
HAD MY friend Bill as guest at Yom Kippur services in our
with the Synagogue Council of
Temple. Bill is a Catholic. I didn't just drag Bill into the
America will devote their ser-
mons Friday, Nov. 14, and Sat- Temple. I was on my way to the Temple when I met Bill on the
urday to the theme of the Jew- street.
"Good morning, Bill," I said, "I'm on my way to the Temple."
ish book.

I

As a most religious man him-
self, Bill was happy to discover your services. Can anybody
me doing my religious duty. He's come?"
"Sure!"
a guy who • 451
It was the first time Bill ever
doesn't feel re
had been in a Synagogue. I
ligiously exclu-
guess he had the idea that a
sive as to.
Synagogue was an exclusive
It's
all
God.
holy of holies for Jews only.
right with him
He walked down the aisle hesi•
that you wor-
tantly, it seemed.
ship God in a
• • •
Synagogue or
HIS RELIGION TOO
a Protestant
The appeal urged them to de-
THEN ALL at once the deep
a
vote the sermon of Nov. 14-15 church, or
acclamation of the organ ad-
(Parshat Toledot) to Jewish mosque, f o r
Al Segal
'GET TOUGH'
monished us it was time for
books, "so that our people may t h a t matter,
IS
ANOTHER
impor-
THERE
I agree with
instead of at a Catholic altar.
services to begin.
be encouraged to participate in
tant item to confider when a
Bill fell into reverent mood.
you heartily. A
programs
dedicated
to
the
dis-
Bill
was
finding
fault
with
Dr. 'Goldberg marriage ends in divorce. So
I handed him a prayer book.
man who re-
semination of the knowledge of Jews only because so many of
fuses :to recognize his own obli- many women place themselves
The Rabbi was reading the
our literary and cultural treas- them don't observe their re-
gations 'to his children can get at the mercy of their husbands.
opening meditation: . . .
ligious duties as they should. He me strength. 0 my God, to
away without supporting them. Even in the breakup of the mar- ures."
In addition to the Rabbis ser- thought Jews would be respected cast out the complacency and
Trying to force him to pay ali- riage, these women wait for
mony is rarely worth the energy their husbands to tell them what mons on Jewish Book Month, it more if they respected their re- self-righteousness t h a t have
to do, how much money they is anticipated that Synagogues ligion more.
and process required today.
blinded mine eyes and led me
will feature exhibits, lectures
• • •
will give.
to my failings and misconduct.
"By
the
way,"
he
said,
"I'd
, TIAis is the time to "get tough," and other programs dedicated to like to go along with you to . . . Help me to look into my,
ONE WAY TO COLLECT
Jewish books.
(Continued on Page 21)
own heart and thus come to '
THE ONLY WAY to collect is
know myself. Let me find recon-1
to put him in jail, to work
ciliation with these of 'my fd-;
it out. During that time, he can- Strictly Confidential
lows whom I have grieved."
not pay any current support.
Bill was whispering: "This is
The same is almost true when a
of my religion too." He went
man remarries. His present fam-
along with all the restvmse
ily comes first and the other (and
The Rabbi read, "The law of
first children) now become a
the Lord is perfect, restorinp ,
secondary obligation.
the soul," and Bill with a full!
This irresponsibility brings
heart responded with all of us
up again ideas I have been
"The testimony of the Lord is
emphasizing In this column
sure, making wise the people.•
that
"anti-Semitic
organizational
for the past two years. Mar-
factual
and
cautious
sober,
By PIIINEAS J. BIRON
The Rabbi: "The precept of
riage is a serious business.
Christian journalist who must be activity had reached its lowest
E HOPE YOU ARE following taken seriously. And when he point in years." . . . So don't the Lord is right, rejoicing the
Mature people enter into mar-
the series of articles on writes that anti-Semitism is miss Bliven's blfttering expose. heart." . I
riage with other mature per-
Bill: "The commandment of
"Anti-Semitism Today" by Bruce "stronger in certain respects, ac- . . . You owe it to yourself to
sons.
the Lord is pure. enlightenime
The time to determine respon- Bliven, in the New Republic. cording to competent witnesses, learn the truth.
• • •
the eyes. ' (Bill whispered "Sure .
sibility in a man (as well as in They are eye-openers, because than it was in Germany when
it's One God, One faith in
a woman) is before marriage. they don't pull punches. . . . Hitler came to power," well, CONTRADICTED CLAIMS
We wonder
There should be no marriage if
OUR DEFENSE agencies and God.")
then it's, time to sit up and take
• • •
what our de-
there is a serious doubt about it.
goodwill outfits were bragging
fense agencies notice.
• • •
HIS APPRECIATION
that
they
had
succeeded
in
stop-
We said the same thing a few
th ink about
MUST KNOW MATE
ping the, leading American news- NEXT DAY BILL sent me ;
Bliven's candid years ago and were branded an papers from publishing help
book in appreciation. It's th
ADDITION
to
romantic
IN
"irresponsible,
dangerous
alarm-
stuff.
wanted advertisements specify- book "One God — The Way
idealization of a man or wom-
ist."
As
a
matter
of
fact,
the
If a Jew had
ing "Christians only." ... On the We Worship Him" by Florenc ,
an, it is vital to know the an-
authored these American Jewish Committee
basis of these claims Jewish Mary Fitch. She says: "Althoug
swers to practical questions be-
pieces the ADL shadowed us and took notes
community agencies and indi- there are differences in our re
fore marriage. Can the girl cook?
and American whenever we addressed a meet-
viduals were approached for ligions, we all agree that the
Is she neat and clean? Does she
Jewish C o m- ing. and then sent out letters
is only one God. We all
have good sense? Is her repu-
funds.
calling
us
a
liar.
mittee w ould
Now Bliven reports that Al the Bible. We all set aside o:
tation (and that of her family)
On
March
15,
1947,
the
Ameri-
label him an
P. J. *Ikon
(Continued on Page NI
( Continued on Page 4)
good or are they known as
a very can Jewish Committee reported
screwballs, morally loose, queer? alarmist. But Bliven is

In a communication addressed
to 1,500 Rabbis throughout the
country) Rabbis William F. Ros-
enblum, president of the coun-
cil, and Ahron Opher, assistant
to the president. called on the
Rabbis to direct the attention of
their congregants "to the avail-
ability of our store of classic and
contemporary Jewish literature
in Hebrew, English and Yid-
dish."

Rti

• • •

a

Anti-Semitism Called Stronger Today
Than When Hitler Came to Power

W

I.1•• ■■■•■■■ ••••F. ■■ •

-s

