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DETROIT . JEWISII CHRONICLE

Page 4

On Finn Ground

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

Published by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
WOodward 1-1040
2827 Cadillac Tower, Detroit 26, Michigan
SUBSCRIPTION:
$3.00 Per Year, Single Copies, 10e: Foreign, $5.00 Per Year
Entered as Second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at
Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.

SEYMOUR TILCHIN
Publisher
GERHARDT NEUMANN
EMILY SOMLYO
Editor
Business Manager

Thursday, March 23, 1950

Nisan 5, 5710

Beth El Centennial

A hundred years is comparatively little against the back-
ground of Jewish history—and yet, in the life of American
Jewry, it is a milestone of highest importance.
Temple Beth El, Michigan's oldest Jewish congregation,
looks back at a century which, probably more than any other
period in modern history, confronted Jews settling in the New
World with problems of extraordinary scope.
Adjustment to a timber state that offered many oppor-
tunities and little civilization, the problems of the Civil War,
the absorption of the immigrant waves in the first decades of
our century, the transition of Detroit to an industrial city, the
first and second World Wars, the Hitler period and its after-
math, the reconstruction of Palestine and the founding of the
Jewish state:
All these and many more questions had to be answered
and all sources of spiritual and material strength had to be
mustered in order to cope with the exigencies of the most hectic
era in Jewish history.
It is against this background that Beth El must be seen.
Did the congregation live up to its tasks?
It is, indeed, a rhetorical question. Temple Beth El is the
fourth largest congregation in this country. Its record of
religious and civic leadership speaks for itself.
Kaufmann Kohler, Leo M. Franklin, Martin Butzel, Samuel
Heavenrich, Israel Himelhoch, Morris Garvett, Joseph M. Welt—
these names picked at random show the quality of leadership
in the past. Such illustrious names as B. Benedict Glazer and
Nate Shapero pr .e that the congregation intends to keep up
this record of at five participation in civic affairs and the
development of re:orm Judaism.
One of the outstanding accomplishments of Beth El is its
excellent record of relationships with the city's other congre-
gations. The rabbis of Detroit are working together harmoni-
ously on many committees.
While in other cities reform rabbis often keep aloof from
orthodox rabbis, and vice versa, Detroit is fortunate in having
worked out a system under which real cooperation between
the religious groups can be achieved. Beth El certainly deserves
at least part of the credit for this notable achivement.
Another important trait is Beth El's democratic attitude.
There are quite a number of reform congregations in this
country which are snobbish enough to be interested only in the
"upper crust."
Not so Beth El. Its attitude toward its members is not
determined by considerations of wealth or standing in the
community but their desire to do their part in the work of the
congregation.
And what about the future? After all, the congregation's
tasks are not finished. A new generation is growing up. It has
to be taught and, we are almost tempted to say, re-converted
to Judaism.
A new field of educational efforts is opening up, and we
feel sure that Beth El will again take a lead in such efforts,
as it did in the past.
We wish to extend our heartiest congratulations to Temple
Beth El on completing 100 years of service to the community.
May it always have the strength and the wisdom to lead and
inspire the young and the old, to rebuild and perfect the House
of Israel, and may it see the day when brotherhood and toler-
ance are no longer mere words.
There is hope. The foundation has been laid. We pray it
may be strong enough to serve the many generations to come
an they continue the work of their fathers.

Why Not a Butzel Street?

We are delighted with the decision of the Detroit Common
Council to name a playfield at the corner of Lyndon avenue
and Meyers road after the late Fred M. Butzel.
The Jewish Chronicle has been asking for action on this
issue for a long time.
We especially wish to express our gratitude to Councilman
Edward Connor who took a deep interest in this matter and.
whose initiative finally was crowned with success.
However, the question may be raised whether the solution
of the Common Council is satisfactory.
Fred M. Butzel was a man of unusual importance to Detroit.
His efforts to bring the city's racial groups together and find a
common denominator in their endeavors is hardly equaled by
anyone else. His name is engraved in the hearts of the thous-
ands who came to know him and who admired his wisdom.
We believe that our city would only honor itself by naming
• a, greet after Butzel.
A precedent has been set with the renaming of Six-Mile
road to McNichols road.
Several streets suggest themselves immediately. Twelfth
street or Fourteenth street could be named after Butzel for the
reason that that district is now becoming a mixed area in which
Jews and Negroes try to work out•a pattern of good neighborly
relationships.
Equally, Seven-Mile road could be renamed Butzel road;
it would be very appropriate since the Seven-Mile area will be
heavily settled by Jews within the near future.
In any case, we feel that the Common Council should have
gone further in honoring the memory of Fred Butzel. The first
step in the right direction has been taken. We see no reason
why Detroit should stop now and not pay homage to a man
who during his long lifetime did so much to make the city a
better place to live in.
In honoring Fred Butzel, Detroit will honor itself. What
could be greater and more thoughtful than making Butzel's
ideals ours? He preached democracy and lived it. We would do
well to follow in his footsteps.

N .,

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Thursday, March 23,

1950

Jewish Book
in Review

I

JEWISH SURVIVAL by Trude
iVeiss-Rosmarin. (Philosophical
Library, New York.)
The complete annihilation of
Jews in Europe confronts Juda-
ism with a new situation, and it
is still difficult to fathom the
consequences of the radical
change which took place during
the last 15 years.
Mrs. Weiss-Rosmarin, who is
well known as the editor of the
orthodox magazine, The Jc%tisliai)
Spectator, approaches her prob-
lem from a philosophical view-
lem
point. However, we know only
too well that this is not a theo-
retical question but a matter of
survival.
The author believes in what
she terms "the eternal Jewish
future." This, of course, is the
only possible approach and justi-
fication for writing such a book.
Tracing the development of
iWill11110,11•111", Judaism through the centuries,
Mrs. Rosmarin comes to the con-
clusion that Israel, the state as
well as the people, is destined
to make a major contribution to
the solution of the problems
posed by the atomic age.
Esser, tially, the author sees the
- -wish survival in a re-
•ish traditional values.
t.
) her mind, is an op-
Ji
religion which does not
.
look backward but forward. "Ju-
even to the time of life when in daism is progressive and conse-
By ALFRED SEGAL
quently committed to the fu-
NE OF THE MORE faithful many people the heart has be-
ture," the author says.
readers—a lady—takes me come poisoned by prejudice and
"The real cause," according to
suspicion
and
the
eyes
seared
by
back 10 years—to this season of
the author, "is doubt in the
the year 1940. "And so," she distrust.
• •
worthwhileness of Judaism. This
says, "the other day I came across
IN MARCH OF 1960 I should is why 'the rationale of Judaism'
a column o f
like to write a further'chapter of must be taught, expounded and,
March 1940. You
the Ellen story in these words: if need be, 'glamorized,' so that
were announc-
There
has been no separation of it may become again the com-
ing the birth of
Ellen and Toni. To this day they mon and treasured possession of
your first grand-
know each other as worthy peo- our people."
child, Ellen, in
ple and neither makes anything
The "rationale" is the urn
February of that
of the other's inherited ethnic or total of the achievements of the
year.
religious label. You see, they are Jewish genius. It is this belie f
"As Ellen's
well educated girls.
our own creativeness which NA ill
biographer y o u
I am aware that there are those keep the Jewish people alive and
owe us more of
who are saying Ellen would be make it a useful member of the
the Ellen story
Segal
better off without a grandfather family of nations. —G.N.
now that she
• • •
has 'come to a good, round num- who doesn't know what being
ber of years-10! At her birth Jewish really is, and God save ISRAEL DIARY by Bernard M.
Bloomfield (Crown Publishers,
you told us the kind of Jewish her from him and his ideas. He
New York).
person you would want to see doesn't seem to know that being
The most difficult task for an
her grow up to be. Is she fulfill- Jewish is many other things be-
sides being good. It is to be the American Jew is to undeictand
ing your program and how?"
Well, there are happy signs, I heir of a body of holy laws, a the new culture and environ-
might say. I remember writing culture, a national identity. He ment of the people of Israel. No
I hoped Ellen would turn out to doesn't seem to know that and is matter how much political nt ws
be Jewishly as broad as the content to call Ellen Jewish if is carried in the newspaper the
world— one who would know she is merely good and keeps on real story of life in Israel is
there is nothing exclusive in be- loving Toni.
difficult to obtain,
Therefore it is welcome news
ing Jewish. She would know that
Yes, that's precisely my idea.
her place in the world was not Ellen, I hope, will be greatly that a Canadian citizen, a Jcw,
separate in a ghetto, whether a Jewish in the sense that Rabbi has written a simple, non-pro-
ghetto built by others or made by Hillel gave to the heathen. The fessional book, "Israel Diary,"
herself.
heathen said to the rabbi that he which records his day by day ex-
I said she must not be a child in would embrace Judaism, provid- periences during his visit to the
a separate racial or religious ing Hillel could declare to him new state.
compartment, like the varieties the entire Torah while he, the
His observations and discus-
of poultry in a fancier's store. heathen, was standing on one sions about the small land -make
Her Judaism must never be a foot.
interesting reading. for the au-
line of separation but an open
Hillel replied: "Do not unto thor is concerned with the simpl
way by which she could find as- your neighbor what you would everyday experiences that mea
sociation with all kinds of chil- not hhve him do unto you; this is so much to the average person.
dren, in accordance with the the whole law, the rest is com-
Bloomfield was in Israel fi em
American idea.
mentary."
March 29 to May 16, 1949, and
• • •
• • •
his work is a perfect Baedecker
ON HER 10TH BIRTHDAY I
IN THAT WAY I want Ellen to for those who wish to visit the
find that being Jewish is not yet a continue to be Jewish. It is a country. He includes such home-
heavy identity on Ellen's mind. way of the heart whose education ly things as the customs of taxi
This is to say, she takes the fact should be the main purpose of drivers, the accommodations at
of being Jewish in the way of a our teachers. All the rest is out- hotels, interesting places to visit
normal child. Her Jewish educa- ward decoration.
and life among the various
tion has not been directed toward
He is a Torah Jew in the high groups in Israel. —II C.
• • •
making the Jewish identity an sense of Leviticus that tells him
obsession in her.
to love his neighbor as himself. PASSOVER: ITS HISTORY AND
Ellen has a good friend—Toni
He is a Jew who does not wrap
TRADITIONS by Dr. Theodor
—who is Christian. Ellen goes to himself in isolation. His Jewish
IL Caster (Henry Schuman
her Sabbath school and Toni to teaching is a mandate toward
New York.)
hers and they know their re- brotherhood, to carry the ethical
Gaster's book probably is
spective religions as equal ways light of Torah and prophets be- known to a number of our read-
toward being good girls. Neither yond the ghetto. It was the same ers. It was published last year,
of them has been touched by any Rabbi Hillel who said: "Do not although it came too late for
of the hates, fear and prejudices separate yourself from the com- the Pesach season. Now it has
which later in the lives of people munity . . loving thy fellow been reissued in good time for
make them feel they don't belong creature."
Passover, and we recommend it
to each other.
This is Ellen as I want her strongly to all those who have
Ellen's grandfatherly biograph- Jewishly to be. It is being Jewish not yet seen it.
er hopes to give a later chapter enough. As for her loving Toni
The book not only gives on
of the Ellen story-10 years unto late in life, I have men- excellent history of the Passover
hence—in which he can report tioned Toni not sentimentally but festival and Passover customs
that Ellen's and Toni's apprecia- by way of setting up a symbol of but also contains many illustra-
tive understanding of each other the brotherhood that only chil- tions and translations of Pass-
continued through the years— dren know.
--G.N.
over songs.

Growing Up Jewishly
No Problem for Ellen

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