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Detroit Jewish Chronicle

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Thursday, September 14, 1950

Jews' Mission:
to Propagate
High Morality

By GERHARDT NEUMANN
THE GENTLEMAN AND
THE JEW by Mauric amuel
SEYMOUR TILClIIN
(Alfred A. Knopf, ew York,
Publisher
325 pp., $3.75).
GERHARDT
NEUMANN
NORMAN •KOLIN
Editor
Together with Meyer Levin's
Advertising Manager
"In
Search," these two books are
Tishri 3, 5711
by far the most important becks
Thursday, September 14, 1950
on Jewish subjects that have
come to our attention this year.
This Crisis Is a Challenge
We hope that a vivid discussion
will follow the publication of
Last week brought a lot of alarming news from Israel:
Jewish Committee, speak- Samuel's book. It contains many
the economic crisis has reached a danger point; leading Ameri-
American
Jacob Biaustein, president of the
can Jewish businessmen meet with Ben Gurion in Jerusalem
ing at the luncheon given in his honor by Prime Minister David Sen. controversial statements which,
Gurion and other Israeli Cabinet officials in Jerusalem
August
23. however, are always though',
to discuss plans for alleviating Israel's economic ills; the Israeli
Mrs. on
Golda
Meyer-
provoking.
(I. to r.) are Mr. Ben-Gurion,
government considers new austerity measures in order to
Scaled
at
the
table
son, Minister of Labor, and Foreign•Minister Moshe Sharett.
The„ first part is devoted to
speed up recovery:: and Ben Gurion reminds the world that
childhood reminiscences in Eng-
600,000 Jews in Moslem and Communist countries must be
land and the detrimental effects
saved within the next three years or be left to a fate of extinc-
of the Cheder on Samuel's Jew-
tion. year 5711, indeed, was ushered in not by the rejoicing
ishness. The second part is an
evaluation of the Bible and the
of free Jews but by the anguish and desperation of the per-
prophetic ideals which Samuel
secuted and the SOS of the only community in the world which
considers an antidote to the ra-
could give them a haven.
tionalism of our century. The
Ben Gurion stated the issue in terms of human life. Even
"It lived and thrived in the third part, finally, attempts a
if it is politically irrational or economically unfeasible, he said,
By ALFRED SEGAL
the Jewish state cannot shrink from its obligation to save those
R MR. HILLEL asks to be dingy store rooms in which our new formulation of the Jewish
allowed to break into this impoverished forefathers estab- ideal and a discussion of the
whose lives are in immediate danger and who have no other
column again. If he needs any lished their synagogues. It lived probable effects on this ideal by
place World
to go Jewry
to. will now have to decide what special e,f forts
in the Hebrew schools they start- the existence of a Jewish state.
further introduc-
ed in back rooms. I, Mr. Hillel,
can be made to prevent another catastrophe in Jewish history
It is this last part, of course,
tion I should tell
am myself a product of one of which
and, at the same time, how to speed up the adjustment of the
will provoke most of the
you that he is
these. back-room schools called discussion.
newcomers who now are waiting out their time unproductively
It is Samuel's basic
the Hillel of the
cheder. I don't remember much contention that
Zionism was in-
until jobs and homes can be provided.
renowned Hillel
of
what
the
old
cheder
teachers
At the conclusion of the Jerusalem meeting, the American
vented.
as
an
instrument
to pre-
Widget Corpora-
taught me but they imparted to
leaders pledged that U. S. Jews would provide the billion dol-
serve world Judaism.
tion.
me
the
feeling
of
being
a
Jew.
lars asked by Israel through United Jewish Appeal donations,
"What's wrong
Although living in Israel •aS
"If Judaism lives in the hearts considered
private investments and the floating of an Israeli government
with widgets this
Samuel
of its people it stands firm far says, "there meritorius,
time?" I asked
was no propaganda
bond issue.
beyond
the
strength
that
a
seven-
It will be up to the financial experts to devise the best
him when, the
a total return . . . and there
story habitation with the deepest for
ways of attracting capital. Israel is willing to do its part. Ben
other day, he
was certainly no intimation that
foundations
can
give
it
Unless
re-
Gurion told his American guests that Israel does not believe
appeared at my
Segal
form Judaism lives that way they remaining outside of Palestine
in a regimented economy, and from all indications it seems that
desk.
WaS a forfeiture or even a dimi-
the Jewish state is attempting to give the investor every ad-
"Widgets!" he exclaimed with are only building a $700,000 mau- nution of one's Jewishness. The
vantage and as much security and economic mobility as can be
an air of considerable disgust. "I soleum on Fifth Avenue.
Jewish state was not a self-justi-
given under the circumstances.
wish I'd never hear of widgets "No Judaism doesn't need a Eying thing; it had a higher pur-
It should be emphasized strongly that the financing of the
again. That would be all right Fifth avenue monument to live
"
pose
than itself.
Israeli economy cannot be done by Jews alone. Here_is a splen-
with me. Ever since the war in by, even though they call it The
Samuel
stresses the necessity
and
House
of
Living
Judaism
did opportunity for the non-Jewish world to come to the aid
Korea started people have started
of seeing clearly the unity that
make believe there is a living
of a struggling race has contributed so much to the
hoarding widgets.
thing
inside.
Isn't
there
too
much
exists
between Israel and the Ga-
not
progress of civilization.
"I had to get a bit of relaxa- being made of the physical, busi _ lut. He urges American Jews and
We feel sure that American manufacturers and business-
to think in terms of "We-
tion for myself. I don't play ca- ness side of Jewish religion?
men will have enough confidence in the future of Israel to set
"They." A Jewish framework of
nasta or golf. So, by way of re-
up factories there or to invest in bonds. Israel is the natural
"A house of living Judaism, as reference, he says, is a sense of
locked my office door,
laxing,
I
economic center of the whole Middle East. Although the Arab
unity in time, space and destiny.
sat down and sashed off a col- it is called!
countries are continuing their boycott of Israel goods—their
"Million dollar synagogues! A The "We" and "They" approach,
umn for you This is it."
grip makes itself felt heti•ily—it is certain that this cannot
Mr. Hillel's manuscript was lot of the machinery of Judaism according to Samuel, can only
go on forever. Some time in the future peace will have to
headed simply: "Big House." It but little of the spirit! Fund- lead to dissolution. "A common
return to the Middle East and normal economic relations be
had to do with the so-called raising for Jewish religion! Is concern for the total spiritual sig-
Judaism a collection agency or
of the Jewish people,
resumed.
House of Living Judaism that is is it the living thing our ances- nificance
Aside from producing goods for the Middle East, Israel
with maximum suppression of lo-
being
built
by
the
organization
has first of all to produce goods for itself. This is where the
tor's knew and cultivated in their calisms, must guide all practical'
of the reform persuasion (Union
main difficulty lies. Almost everything has to be imported.
discussions."
of American Hebrew Congrega- poverty?
Many things cannot be manufactured because there are no faci-
"I will be asked, Mr.
Since there is no guarantee that
tions)
on
Fifth
Avenue,
New
lities to do so. If enough machinery were brought to Israel
you talk a lot but what are you Israel will for all times remain
York,
for
something
like
$700,000.
without any drain on the country's foreign currency reserve,
Seven stories of living Judaism! going to do about it? Well, I "more Jewish" than the diaspora
a good deal of the problem would be solved.
Mr. Hillel was asking: "Can wouldn't consider a big house on —historical parallels even indi-
Since Israel is pioneer country, economic possibilities are
they
really believe that Judaism Fifth avenue as in the least nec- cate the opposite—the tradition of
unlimited. Housing, clothing, everything that is needed by
needs
a big house on Fifth Ave- essary for the preservation of Ju- the exile, Samuel says, must flow
modern man cannot be obtained. A greater opportunity has
nue
to
live by and in? Isn't a daism. I'd rather go out to build to Israel (Israelis will need such
never presented itself to capitalism.
seven-story building for Judaism up the hearts of Jews for Juda- tuition), while the counter-tradi-
Israel should do everything in its power to extend its
tion of purely Jewish living flows
on Fifth Avenue only pomp and ism .
agricultural potentialities. Israeli visitors reported here that
circumstance and can Judaism "Amid the competitive clamor back from Israel."
almost 80 per cent of the arable area is not yet under cultiva-
Samuel, like most open-minded
live by that? And by what can for more and more funds for the
tion. The main factor in this retardation is the lack of irriga-
Judaism keep on living? It's about preservation of Jewish religion people today, is alarmed over the
tion. The Negev as well as the northern parts of Israel could
time we thought about that. Ju- you hear scarcely anything about spiritual "pauperization" in Zion-
be transformed into blooming gardens like the Emek if enough
daism has become too much a the essentials of Judaism. Scarce- ism. He demands more educa-
money were around to finance the work. Another factor is
tion in Judaism and Zionism.
business of gathering money for ly a word of inspiration.
that many of the new immigrants shun farm life. Proper train-
"I would have a revival of "Many Zionists; 'he adds, "who
this and that."
ing, plus the pressure of necessity, should correct this situation.
Mr. Hillel was not speaking Judaism. I would send out our should know better have been in-
The billion dollars which Israel needs is a mere drop in
d
reproachfully of reform Judaism. most eloquent preachers to speak timidated into accepting this sit-
the bucket in comparison with the money the world is spening
He himself is a member of a re- to the hearts of Jews, not to ask uation as inevitable: we must,
on armaments. Here is a chance to let money work for pe ace.
form temple, one time was its for more money, but to restore they say, run the risk of spiritual
president.
to them their spiritual and ethi- pauperization for the sake of
Mr. Hillel remembered the es- cal inheritance, to call on them practical results."
The Incorrigible Germans
sential vitality of Judaism from to go marching again as a proud The situation in general is one
A recent survey in the U. S. occupation zone of Germany
history and from his own experi- people in the world.
of paralysis, and Judaism and
showed that 59 per cent of the Germans now think that Nazism
ence. It didn't need big money "It wouldn't take $700,000 to Zionism must now be rescued by
was "a good idea, badly carried out."
and big buildings to survive then. do that. Such a drive for the reactivation. This reactivation is
The analysts reassure us, however, that Germans "gener-
It lived through deadly times by hearts of Jews would be an in- doubly necessary as Judaism has
ally" joined in condemning the odious features of Nazism,
ways of life charted by sages and expensive project even if it lasted a world mission. We have to
such as the persecution of minorities, concentration camps,
saints who were not money-get- years. It's time to give back some- show the world that our concept
aggressive war and genocide. They also note that the percent-
ters at all.
for all the money that has of life is an answer to the ques-
age of Germans believing it, inferior races has dropped from
Mr. Hillel's personal experi- thing
been
invested
by Jewish laymen tion of the atomic age: How to
43 per cent in 1948 to 34 per cent in 1949.
ence has to do with his own an- in the machinery
of Judaism. survive?
We do not feel reassured at all. The idea is clear. All the
cestors who helped establish Ju- Time to make Jewish
But this mission is so heavy a
former Nazis are now sitting around in their beergardens
daism here and made it fruitful alive in the only place religion
burden
that it demands "the
it
can
trying to figure out more efficient methods to bring Nazism
even in their poverty.
maintenance of that Jewish unity
live—the
hearts
of
Jews.
back to Germany.
"They came here from Poland
time, space and destiny which
The minorities probably are one of their major headaches.
"I am sure somebody is saying, in
with a couple of dollars in their Mr.
I have so often referred to, name-
Hillel,
you
can't
run
Judaism
Unfortunately—for them—there are not enough minorities left
pockets," he says. "But in their on nickels and dimes, like our ly the intellectual and moral ar-
which could be pushed around next time. And as for Jews,
hearts they carried Judaism.
in duousness of being Jewish, so
those poor Nazis could have almost nothing to work on. With
Their Judaism was more than a grandfathers did. Of necessity
vast ma- that Zionism and the Jewish state
a
these
times
there
is
a handful of Jews left in Germany and other European coun-
memory of ancient prayers. It chinery of Judaism that has to and the modernizing of Judaism
tries, Nazism will have a hard time finding worthwhile jobs
was a way of their lives .
make life not easier for the Jew,
and paid for.
for murderers and sadists.
"With them it wasn't just a be housed
but
more strenuous."
Realizing this calamity, Neo-Nazism is now probably busy
"I answer: Reform Judaism
matter of keeping Judaism alive. functioned
The mission of the Jew is to
humbly
and
efficient-
figuring out new methods of presenting itself to the world.
They lived by it and by living ly in adequate rented quarters teach the world national morality
The sternest measures should be taken to stamp out a
that way they kept Judaism warm for 70 years. Why does it need and the principle of cooperation
we
pest that has scourged the world for so long. But what do
and alive. It didn't take money at this date a $700,000 house to in a society where the comp
instead?
to do this. Their own hearts were live? What it needs much more tive principle has reached its dia-
see The
Germans are being cuddled as if nothing had ever
spacious enough to house the
letic point.
happened. Nazism will soon be on the old merry-go-round,
is devoted Jews."
Judaism they felt.
and we will be there to survey how many are riding it.

J udaism's Foundation:

the Heart of the People

O

I