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Friday, August 13, 19-18

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

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Published Weekly by Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc., 548 Woodward, Detroit 26, Mich., CA. 1040

SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 Per Ytar, Single Copies, 10c; Foreign, $5.00 Per Year
Knitted as Second-class matter March 3, 1916, dI the Post Office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879

SEYMOUR TILCIIIN, President

Vol. 50, No. 30

GEORGE WEISWASSER, Editor-in-Chief

Friday, August 13, 1948 (Ab 8, 5108)

DETROIT 26, MICIL

The Rabbi and His Message

Tishah ll'Ab

The passing of Dr. Leo M. Franklin will
call forth brilliant eulogies and expressions
of loss from many sources. We feel that no
greater tribute can be paid to our beloved
Dr. Franklin than to reprint the foreword
by Dr. Julian Morgenstern, former president
of Hebrew Union College, to Dr. Franklin's
book, "The Rabbi—The Man and His Mes-
sage," published in 1938.
"Dr. Franklin served in his initial post at
Omaha until 1899, when he was called to De-
troit to fill the importadt pulpit of Congrega-
tion Beth El. To this congregation and this
community Dr. Franklin has ministered faith-
fully and fruitfully for almost 40 years.
"In 1899 Detroit was a city of less than
one-fourth its present size, while Temple
Beth El numbered but 140 members, less
than one-eighth of its constituency today.
It is evident from this that during the period
of Dr. Franklin's ministry his congregation
has expanded at twice the rate of the growth
of the city.
•
•
•
"To meet this initial increase of member-
ship early in Dr. Franklin's period of service
a new Temple building was erected, one of
the most beautiful and impressive in the
country which, it was felt, would serve the
needs of the congregation for many years.
"But barely 20 years later the congrega-
tion had grown to such dimensions and its
activities ramified so greatly, that this still
comparatively new and quite modern build-
ing had become altogether inadequate for the
multifarious congregational needs, and a new
Temple had to be erected, larger, more beau-
tiful and more adequately equipped for an
even wider and more varied service.
"For, remarkable though the growth of
the congregation had been in size, far more
extraordinary and significant had been the
expansion of its activities, the widening of
the range of its service, and the deepening
and broadening of its Jewish spirit. Above
all else this congregation has been distin-
guished by its social vision, its democratic
organization, and its educational program.
"It was the very first Jewish congregation
in America to introduce the system of un-
assigned seats. It was likewise one of the
first congregations to establish a college of
Jewish studies. Within the city of Detroit
we may witness a closer coordination of the
various elements of an American Jewish com-
munity, orthodox, conservative and reform
and a more intimate affiliation of synagogal
organization with the Jewish and the com-
munal social service program than in almost
any other city of this country.
•
•
•
"All this and many other unique qualities
of both congregation and community are due
undoubtedly to a variety of causes. But
among these varied causes certainly not the
least must , have been the personality, the
genius and the idealism of him who has been
for 40 years the spiritual leader of this old-
est and most influential congregation and the
foremost spiritual leader of the larger Jew-
ish community of Detroit.
"For, after 40 years of an inspiring, wise,
and constructive ministry a congregation
and the larger community as well inevitably
reflect the dreams, the plans, the achieve-
ments, the spirit, and the personality of its
Rabbi.
fully comprehending all that he
has hoped and labored that they might be,
nontheless, they do become gradually and
surely the macrocosm of which he is the mi-
crocosm, the large figure of which he is the
artist and which quite unconsciously he chis-
els and shapes after the pattern of his own
self, his own inner, truer self.
"If one would know what a Rabbi, or for
that matter a minister of any denomination,
after 40 years of service really is, one need
only observe his congregation and commun-
ity, and see what they have become under his
devoted guidance and leadership.
"All this is true beyond doubt and question
and the Jewish community of Detroit and
Congregation Beth El within it are all that
they are largely because of the long and dis-
tinguished service of this one Rabbi in their
midst and on their behalf, Rabbi Leo M:
Franklin "

For the first time in almost 2,000 years the
Jews of the world will observe the annivers-
ary of the destruction of the Temple in Jeru-
salem with mixed emotions. The dominant
mood of the Tishah B'Ab observance will be,
as in the past, one of sadness.
Yet the mood will be softened, as it must
be, by the knowledge that the day is not far
off when the Holy City is to again become
the center of Jewish learning and spiritual-
ity, the core and fount of Jewish existence,
the seat of prophecy and fulfillment.
The Jewish people in its peregrinations
through the centuries has met and overcome
every physical and spiritual obstacle. It
has survived time and tide and Hitler on its
road to destiny. Today it beholds the miracle
—Israel.
We of this generation who were privileged
to witness the miracle are too close to the
event to discern or evaluate its historic sig-
nificance and effect on Jewishness and Jew-
ish life throughout the world in the future:
We can only stand in awe.
Yet, as we gather in the Synagogues this
Tishah B'Ab and chant the Book of Lamen-
tations, we must not lose sight of the fact
that the paramount factor in Jewish life to-
day is Israel, that only with it and through
it is there hope for a Jewish renaissance, for
a rebirth of Biblical values.

The Arab DI'

Letters to the Editor

COOPERATION URGED
Dear Editor:
It is noted with regret that
Labor Zionists propose to es-
tablish a picketing front at Ir-
gun affairs in Detroit. Betar be-
lieves that there are better
methods to help Israel. Coopera-
tion, not dissension, is the com-
mandment of the hour. Even
so, there is no reason why we
cannot agree to disagree in a
Yiddish, democratic way.
We invite our Labor friends
to the public forum. If truth is
what they are after, what better
medium is there of getting at
it than through public discus-
sion?
It would help to crystallize
our differences. And if it were
possible to compose or forego
them, should it not be right to
differ, and to try to- influence
others? Is not this more demo-
cratic than picketing?
Not that we are averse to the
latter, nor are we less adept
than Labor in carying placards
and pamphleteering. We might
challenge attention to the de-
gree with which the Gewerk-
schaften collections will be cur-
tailed, and the extent with
which those who are not mem-
bers of the Histadruth are
sharing in the public subsidies,
in the absence of separate cam-

paigns and the centralizing of
all fiscal endeavors.
Still we would rather col-
laborate in positive programs.
For example the one enunciated
by Menachem Beigin, "Love of
truth, love of the people and
country, efficiency, integrity and
brotherly devotion which trans-
forms a community into a fam-
ily."
B. ROSENBERG

The Arabs and their friends, both within
and without the United Nations, are at-
tempting to gain public sympathy on the
ground that the Jews caused 300,00(1 Pales-
tinian Arabs to become homeless. Serious
RAPS HOUSING CURBS
efforts are being made to force Israel to per-
Dear Editor:
mit their return.
What are people to do when
Let no one be blinded to the true facts.
they have children? No one will
What is the world doing about the Jewish
rent you a house when they
Displaced Persons who have been rotting
hear you have youngsters.
away in camps for the past years? Great
If I should separate from my
Britain, with its policy of barring Jews from
children because I haven't a
place to raise them, I would he
Palestine and which is still detaining illegal-
called an unfit mother.
ly thousands of Jews in Cyprus, suddenly has
It just makes , my blood boil
become the champion for these Arab refu-
when I read an ad that says,
gees and her heart bleeds for them.
"adults only." Were not the
Let it be remembered that the Arabs
landlords children at one time,
themselves are responsible for this situation.
or were they adults all their
The Arabs were not forced from the country
lives?
nor were they threatened with persecution,
I have three daughters with
but left on the advice of their own leaders.
no place to live. But, you see,
They were called upon to leave Israel and
they aren't adults as yet, so I
to arm themselves for a holy war. The plan
am out of the picture complete-
boomeranged. These destitute and homeless
ly.
Arabs flooded the neighboring Arab states
MRS. EDITH PAM,
and refused to bear arms, thus becoming a
3210 Lawrence avenue.
serious problem to the Arabs, whose econ-
1416*
omy and hospitality they are exhausting.
Israel should not accept those Arabs until
there is total peace, and there will be no
peace until Israel is . recognized by the Arab P
countries as a sovereign state. To accept gimpiwisimainemmumm By Seymour Ti lc h i n iftwommiNgsweimpa
these displaced Arabs during the truce peri-
od, which is a phase of war, would easily "A TREASURY of Jewish Folk- their best white horse as a ges-
lore," edited by Nathan Au- ture of friendship.
open up a fifth column within Israel and be
That a delegation represent-
subel, is one of the best compila-
a severe drain on the State's economy.
ing Italia Arabs announced in

:Random Thoughts

Educational Initiative

The establishment of the Institute for
Israel and the Middle East by the Dropsie
College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning is
a happily conceived and well-timed public
service to the Jewish community of the
world. For its initiative, Dropsie College, and
its president, Dr. Abraham A. Neuman, de-
serve our commendation.
Designed, in the words of Dr. Neuman, "to
prepare scholars and historians in Middle
East studies with emphasis on the contem-
porary scene" and "to train personnel for
consular, administrative or other govern-
ment or commercial service" in Israel and
the nations of the Middle East, the new in-
stitute will meet a real need, one that will
steadily grow as the new State of Israel pros-
pers and develops.
Although the labor of political birth is not
quite ended, it is apparent that Israel exists,
and will continue to exist. Therefore, what is
most essential to its growth is cultural, eco-
nomic and administrative "knowhow."

tions of the stories, traditions,
legend, wit, wisdom and folk-
songs of the Jewish people to ap-
pear in English.
One of the finest divisions of
the book deals with Jewish wit
and humor. For example, Rab-
bis in Europe were paid very
little and were very poor. When
somebody inquired how a cer-
tain village Rabbi could sur-
vive on such a small salary, he
was told:
"Our Rabbi would have died
of hunger a long time ago. It's
just his luck that on account of
his piety he has decided to fast
every Monday and Thursday.
That sustains him."
• • •

DID YOU KNOW

THAT BEDOUIN tribesmen of
Galilee wearing brass helmets,
carrying Jewish arms and com-
manded by a Jewish officer
fought• on the side of Israel and
stormed the Lebanese village of
Amrah? They were led by a
Jewish farmer from Rosh Pina
and recently presented him with

writing their intention to coop-
erate with the Jews and serve
as loyal citizens of the State
of 'Israel?
That Arabs continued to sell
land to Jews during the early
Palestine disorders, and that
more than 9,500 dunams were
purchased from October, 1947 to
February, 1998?

• • •

COURT OF JUSTICE
THE ARABS WOULD

now
like to refer the Palestine prob-
lem to the International Court
of Justice. Why not? They have
nothing to lose and besides it
would delay the question for
another two years.
A few years ago the Jews
would have accepted it gladly.
I am convinced that if an im-
partial court of justice would
have been asked to interpret
the legal status of the Palestine
mandate, eliminating political
and economic pressures, the
Jews would have received all of

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