AI &Tien Yewisk Periodical Gehl

Thursday,

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Page 4

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

Allied Jewish Campaign Is the Key

Published by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
WOodward 1-1040
2827 Cadillac Tower, Detroit 2(i, Michigan

BY RABBI MAX KAPUSTIN
Wayne Hillel Director

OUR RELIGIOUS TRADI-
TIONS by Sterling P. Lamp-
recta (Ilarvard University Press,
Cambridge, Mass.).

GERIIARDT NEUMANN
Editor

Sivan 23, 5710

Thursday, June 8, 1950

Arms-and

Authors Seek
New Approach

•
to •r Religion

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

June 8, 1950

THE WAY TO GOD by Max-
well Silver (Philosophical Li-
brary, New York).

No Peace

Lamprecht's book has set for
itself a rather ambitious goal: to
describe and define the essence of
the three great religions which, in
the course of history, have influ-
enced and molded what is com-
monly called western culture.
The author proceeds from the
basic assertion that without an
understanding of the component
forces of this culture it will elude
the grasp of the searching mind.
The book is bent on transmit-
ting information on Judaism,
Catholicism and Protestantism.
This is done in a fresh and inter-
esting manner without compro-
mises of scholarship. The reader
will learn much concerning the
origin and development of the
three faiths, and along these lines
the book will serve a useful pur-
pose and stimulate much thought.
In a concise presentation it is
probably inevitable that little or
no room is given to dissenting in-
terpretations of historical facts.
In tracing the history of Juda-
ism Prof. Lamprecht follows the
"acceptetto procedure of biblical
criticism, notwithstanding the fact
that much of it has become ques-
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
tionable in recent years. The cen-
is
S A RABBINIC body liable for damages resulting from the pro- tral importance of revelation
religious
precept?
We
will
know
the
answer
to
minimized
both
historically
and
a
nouncement of
this question some months later when a decision on the issue is philosophically.
While the decisive role of the
reached before the New York
covenant between God and Israel
Supreme Court. Of course this purchased tickets.
Israel's offer to the United Nations to put the holy sites of
Things passed quietly until re- is duly emphasized, the correlate
will not be the first time that a
Jerusalem under international control has been interpreted by
cently,
when one of the cantors concept of the 'Mitzvah,' the life
Jewish
controversy
has
been
"retreat."
some papers as a
dragged into court. But never in participating in the concert began under divine law, fails to gain its
Undoubtedly, it is not. If there has to be any international
the memory of the American a $20,000 damage action against proper perspective. More than
control at all—and we doubt that it is necessary—this is the only
Jewish community has a rabbinic the Vaad Horabonim. His com- 2,500 years of Jewish creativity,
sensible solution. Israel certainly has no intention of taking over
body been questioned in court on plaint is that rabbinic interfer- following Isaiah's vision of the
the Christian shrines. No purpose would be served by such a
the right of exercising its re- ence hampered the sale of tickets. suffering servant, appear to be of
move.
Interestingly enough the cantor scant importance to the author.
ligious functions.
The Vatican, however, does not believe in Israel's sincerity.
It is impossible to do justice to
whose
four-daughter choir pre- ,
Vatican circles made it clear that they considered the new pro-
The story goes back to Chanu-
posal as inadequate. they feel that nothing but an international
kah of last year. A week or so cipitated the controversy was not the treatment of Catholicism and
Protestantism within the limita-
regime would give'Sufficient guarantees for the protection of the
before the holiday the Yiddish a party to the litigation.
With the lawyer for the rabbis tions of a short announcement.
press in New York City carried
holy places.
ads of a concert that was to take himself a rabbi, the law suit The struggles in the early church
These sources, according to a Rome dispatch in the N.Y.
Times, believe that unilateral guarantees by Israel or bilateral
place in one of the leading ortho- promises to add a bit more of are vividly portrayed, and the dis-
dox synagogues of the East Side. color to that colorful corner tinction between the "Catholic"
guarantees by both Israel and Jordan would be worthless because
and the "Romanist" motivation in
People rubbed their eyes when known as the East Side.
they "could be rescinded easily by governments succeeding
the Church of Rome seems to
they
read
that
the
concert
was
them."
have a valid claim.
The Vatican goes even a step further in that it believes that
to feature a choir composed of
"the truce between the Arab states and Israel will, in all likeli-
females. Since when had the
• Protestantism then presents it-
as the long brewing revolt
Slonimer
Shul
turned
reform,
self
renewal
of
hostilities."
in
a
hood, end
against
"Romanism," posing the
We do not know on what facts this assumption is based, but
they asked.
problem of individual freedom
is it not probable that in case of war the holy sites would be open
They could not believe, the East
rather than offering definite so-
to destruction, regardless of any international regime? Instead
Siders, that such an innovation as
lutions.
of speaking of war, we would rather like to see the Vatican do
a female choir was possible in the
A thoughtful and thought-pro-
its utmost to promote peace in the Middle East, not only to save
bulwark of orthodoxy. Had there
voking book, important rather
the holy sites but to give the tired remnants of the Jewish people
been a mistake? Had reformed To the Editor:
a chance to settle down and fop et about persecution and war.
I regret very much the report through its historical material
JeWs suddenly taken possession
of the famous orthodox strong- given in your issue of May 4, than its philosophical and theo-
The time of the crusades Dyer. The world will no longer
suffer a bloodbath over the question of who is in possession of
hold on Norfolk Street? Men and relative to an article appearing logical implications.
• • •
the holy places in Jerusalem. The church should concentrate on
women and children raised be- in the Argentine Catholic month-
the spiritual message of Christianity and leave the political de-
wildering eyes. Was Jewishness ly "Presencia," which charged
Dr. Silver, already known as a
on the East Side yielding its per- Jewish soldiers with desecrating writer of consequence in the field
decisions to the United Nations.
severance? Was the foe raising Christian holy places in Palestine. of Judaism and religion in gener-
his flag of victory? And droves of I am informed that Protestant al, tackles the eternal problem in-
people did what their forebears scholars from the United States dicated by the title of his book.
had done for centuries. To the have visited Palestine for the
As a technique of presentation
For several months the Barden bill has been bottled up in
rabbis they went.
purpose . of checking on such he employs the perennial strug-
committee, and there is reason to believe that after the death
• • •
rumors and that no evidence of gle of generations. In the form
of Rep. John Lesinski the fight over this bill may be resumed.
THE VAAD HORABONIM of such desecration was found.
of a dialogue between father and
In fact, the Detroit Council of Churches has already stated
Greater New York summoned the
May the day soon come when son, the discussion runs the
the Protestant viewpoint by giving full support to the bill which
president of the shul and advised we shall motivate the communi- whole gamut of theological prob-
seeks federal funds for public schools but implicity excludes
him it was against Jewish law to cants of our respective faiths by lematics. The various approaches
such aid to private and parochial schools.
permit a choir of women to sing challenging them to good works found in the philosophy of Juda-
The Michigan Catholic, the unofficial organ of the Detroit
in a synagogue. The president was to be done, in the world, the ism, or rather in the philosophy
statement
in
which
it
attacks
the
diocese, has published a
amenable. He agreed to make a friendly competition that will of religion, are examined and
Protestant stand. The paper states that "we believe in the First
public announcement in the press
make us forget whose church is evaluated.
Amendment according to Jefferson and the Founding Fathers,
that the female choir would be "the one true church" or whose
The treatment is rather general
not according to Felix Frankfurter and company."
barred from the synagogue.
be
religion is the only religion of and centers largely around la vali-
matter
of
general
interest
and
concern
is
about
to
The announcement said th't
Thus a
dation of the "prophetic faith"
salvation.
transformed into a Jewish issue. The reference to Felix Frank-
step had been taken following a
without giving sufficient emphasis
May
I
assure
you
there
are
furter cannot be interpreted otherwise.
strong protest by the rabbinic
many within our Christian to the fact that this very faith has
We believe that it is time for the Jewish community to make
organization. But when time for
churches who resent all attempts found some of its most lofty ex-
its stand clear, too. The Detroit Jewish Community Council
the concert got around the presi-
pressions in post-prophetic liter-
should no longer hesitate to support the Protestant position.
dent was ill and the concert with to slander those of Jewish faith. ature.
as the
You
will
be
glad
to
know
that
in
As we see it, there is no other way out. As long
the feminine singers was held as
a
The book impresses by its intel-
many of our Protestant Sunday
First Amendment stands, the separation of state and church is
scheduled.
lectual and moral sincerity, its
magic wand. The
a
schools
we
are
studying
the
great
fact which can not be waved awaywith
Before the concert the rabbini-
genuine concern with the subject
Michigan Catholic does not offer any proof that Jefferson would
cal
organization, in its weekly work being done by your co-
different manner than Justices
matter and the presence of an
religionists
in
Palestine.
That
a
Friday broadcast over one of the
have interpreted the law in
abiding faith on the basis of hon-
work
is
more
sacred
in
our
eyes
Frankfurter or Douglas. All the evidence, in fact, points to a
radio stations, called the situation
est and searching reflection.
than ever places could be.
to
the
attention
of
the
Jewish
similarity of viewpoints.
The concreteness of Judaism as
may seem out of step with the American tradi-
ALBERT
W.
KAUFFMAN,
public, reminded the listeners it
We admit it
,
an historic faith, however, does
D.D.
tion to deny children federal funds for lunches or transportation ,
was a sin to hold such a concert
not impose itself too strongly by
constitute a support o
Congregational-United
in a synagogue and advised them
but such funds would undoubtedly the traditional American
Church, Vernon, Michigan. Silver's presentation.
to boycott the function and return
parochial schools and therefore violate

The lifting of the arms embargo by the United States, Great
Britain and France has not had the pacifying effect in the Middle
East which was expected by the big powers. On the contrary,
another wave of unrest is sweeping the Arab countries, and
Israel, far from being jubilant, is quite sceptical as to whether
the move was a sincere attempt to serve the cause of peace, or
just a futile gesture of political despair.
We do not know what were the real motives behind the
decision, but some of the reasons given are completely uncon-
vincing. Arming the Middle East against a possible Russian in-
vasion? Even the best equipment and the most modern planes
would not transform the Arab countries into dependable allies.
The history of the last two wars has demonstrated very clearly
that the Arabs are willing to connive with anyone who promises
them most, but beyond that are hardly interested in putting up a
'
good fight.
The whole mentality of the Arabs makes them an easy prey
for totalitarian ideologies. This was proved not only in their
alliance with the Nazis in the last war, but also by several sug-
gestions recently proffered by leaders of Syria and Egypt who
proclaimed their willingness to become allies of Russia.
"Though we hate Communism, we must protect ourselves,"
was the reason given by Nureddin Tarraf, a leader of Egypt's
Nationalist Party.
The idea of a restoration of the balance of power in the Mid-
die East is repugnant to the Arabs. Their policy is to consider
Israel as non-existent, and therefore any recognition by western
powers appears as an insult to them.
Israel has applied to Britain for arms, and the Foreign Office
promptly denied that Britain would relax its embargo, despite
the three-power agreement. This shows how little the Jewish
state may expect of the western powers. There is every reason
to believe that the arms promise will be one on paper rather than
in fact.

New Jerusalem Proposal

Rabbinic Council Sued
for 'Damaging Verdict'

I

Pastor Spikes
Accusations
Against Israel

The First Amendment Still Stands

attitude toward church-state relations.

