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DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Music: Language of Peace

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

Published Weekly by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
WOodward 1-1040
900 Lawyers' Building, Detroit 26, Michigan
SUBSCRIPTION
$3.00 Per Year. Single Copies, 10c; 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

Maimonides'
Philosophy Is
Re-Evaluated

By DR. MAX KAPUSTIN
Wayne Mild Director

SEYMOUR TILCIIIN
Publisher
GERIIARDT NEUMANN
NORMAN KOLIN
Editor
Advertising Manager
Shebat 12, 5711
Friday, January 19, 1951

THE LEGACY OF MAIMO-
NIDES, by Ben Zion Bokser
(Philosophical Library, New
York, 128 pp., $3.75).

TIIE DEVELOPMENT OF
TIIE SOUL IN MEDIEVAL
JEIVISII PHILOSOPHY, by
Philip David Bookstaber (Maur-
ice Jacobs, Inc., Philadelphia,
104 pp., $2.).

The Time for Unity Is Now

The Jewish community of Detroit, after years of wrangling
with this question, is still trying to define itself. Endless dis-
cussions about a unified community setup so far have led no-
where, and a solution seems still to lie in the far future.
We feel that Detroit Jews are taking the whole matter much
too lightheartedly. Many people feel completely indifferent to-
ward the whole problem. It seems clear that the discussions be-
tween the Jewish Welfare Federation and the Jewish Com-
munity Council will continue to be fruitless as long as there is
no public opinion which makes its weight felt and forces the
organizations to speed up their deliberations.
The Chronicle feels that it has the duty to keep reminding
the community as well as the organizations of their obligations
in this matter. The Jews of Detroit do not realize that our
present organizational setup suffers from over-organization and
lack of integration.
We do not wish to imply that our large organizations have
not done a good job. On the contrary, Detroit is generally
known as one of the best functioning communities in the coun-
try. There cannot be praise enough for the efficiency and de-
voted work of the Federation which over the years was able
to interest Detroit's Jews in contributing their money, time and
energy so that relief could be brought to Jews overseas and
national and local institutions could be maintained and im-
proved. This is an achievement of the first order.
Likewise, the Jewish Community Council has done some-
thing which may not be understood in its full impact until later:
it has created a forum for discussion and self-expression for
many smaller organizations which, in the past, stood alone and
had no voice in the community. The Council's efforts in behalf
of a better understanding between Jews and Gentiles, its fight
against job discrimination, its mediation service and its educa-
tional endeavors have been of great importance and will bear
fruit in due time.
The trouble wtih all these commendable efforts is that
they are going in different directions.
This fact has long been recognized by all responsible Jewish
leaders who agree that a unified Jewish community organiza-
tion is needed in order to make the most economic use of our
facilities and communal undertakings.
It appears that in the course of their labors, the two or-
ganizations have developed different outlooks which are hard to
harmonize. Negotiations are presently going on to find a new
approach to a possible solution. Although the Community
Council has not released officially its plan on reorganization and
unification, we understand that the plan would try to democra-
tize the Detroit Jewish community by introducing city-wide
voting procedures in which the contributors to the Allied Jew-
ish Campaign as well as the various organizations would elect
representatives.
Under this program, those Detroit Jews who—either finan-
cially or organizationally—participate in Jewish life would elect
a supreme body out of which would come the committees neces-
sary to conduct the business of the community.
The Federation point of view is that such a plan is un-
realistic. It is pointed out that through the years the Federa-
tion has developed a structure of its own and that it cannot be
torn down to be replaced by unproved schemes on the chance
that they may work. The Federation denies that it is undemo-
cratic. It says that all of its branches are composed of people
from all walks of life, a true cross-section of the Jews of
Detroit.
The Council, on the other hand, emphasizes that it is com-
posed of more than 260 groups, both large and small, including
the congregations, and that it therefore is, in a sense, the demo-
cratic conscience of Detroit Jewry. Its Delegates' Assembly, it is
pointed out, is more representative of the Jewish community
than any division or even the annual contributors meeting of
the Federation.
Well, the Federation replies, there is nothing undemocratic
in our setup. Our divisions are democratically elected. Besides,
aren't we doing as important a job in public relations as the
Community Council?
Yes, answers the Community Council, it is true that the
Federation is trying to develop the Jewish community of De-
troit. The erection of a Jewish hospital, for instance, is an ex-
ample of this activity. But does the Jewish community have a
voice in its affairs? Shouldn't we establish a sort of parliament
where, through debate and compromise, decisions may be made
which otherwise are only the decisions of a selected few?
This is about where the matter stands now. We could con-
tinue our imaginary dialogue but we are afraid it would be
only repetitious. Is there a solution?
Obviously, the parties are deadlocked. Further talks based
on the present premises appear useless. In our opinion, both
organizations ought to take the matter before the public . The
negotiations cannot be carried on in secrecy Indefinitely. We
have sufficient confidence in the judgment of the Jewish public
and believe tnat after the facts are laid before it, a discussion
of the merits of each viewpoint will evolve and clarify the
wishes of Detroit's Jews.
We believe that the Federation should discuss the question
of a merger at its next annual meeting and that the Council
should ask its delegates to study the facts and voice their
opinions.
Such a procedure would not only make a final solution
easier but also would strengthen the confidence of the Jewish
public in both the Federation and the Council. It would be the
beginning of a new era in Detroit's Jewish life, because never
before has the public been asked to make its intentions known
in such an issue.
Let every congregation, every organization take a vote in
the matter. If the public is informed sufficiently and objectively,
it should not have any difficulty in arriving at its conclusions
and serve as a guide to the further actions of the leaders of
our community.

Friday, January 19, 1951

In the gallery of medieval Jew-
ish philosophy Rabbi Moses ben
Maimon has always held a spe-
cial position. In enthusiastic
agreement and in violent opposi-
tion his contemporaries and later
generations acknowledged the
towering greatness of the man.
To be sure, he was not the first
nor the last to tackle the problem
of faith and reason. But in origi-
nality and boldness of approach,
in depth of treatment and sov-
ereign mastery of the material, he
has no peers.
Dr. Bokser's book presents it-
self as "an attempt to portray the
inner system of ideas which in-
forms the various writings of
Maimonides." He has the happy
faculty to couch difficult thoughts
in lucid language.
Behind the popular presenta-
tion, however, the reader will find
the results of technical scholar-
ship. This is also evident from
the spare but relevant notes and
the carefully prepared index.
Maimonides emerges as cham-
pages of ancient books, at the
By ALFRED SEGAL
pion
of reason, vigorously deny-
fan-like
pages
of
the
prayer
Y FRIEND, Edgar Mills, re-
ing "that traditional Judaism was
ports something fine of our books of the Chinese Jews, at
unfriendly to the life of reason."
town which he discovered in a the relics of Jewish life from the
Rather does it object to "people
ages—Hanukkah
lamps,
arks
of
New York Central dining car the
entering speculative pursuits
the law, Torah covers.
other day.
There is the cross left over without being adequately pre-
Mr. Mills, just out of New York
3n his way from the Spanish inquisition. pared for them."
On the other hand, Maimonides
home, had seat- Jews on the way to the inquisi-
2d himself in the tion's burning place were made to demonstrates the insufficiency of
dining car. The carry it. The thoughtful inquisit- reason in the human quest for
waiter handed ers hoped it might help their vic- truth. The commanding role of
him the menu tims to get some mercy from divine revelation in the Maimo-
card. But Mr. heaven if they were seen carry- nidean system is duly empha-
Mills' attention ing this cross to the fire that con- sized. He is portrayed as a great
religious thinker, firmly rooted in
was rather on sumed them. e
New York Central said: "The the totality of Jewish tradition,
the front cover
of the card. It College is housed in five stately notwithstanding those who have
a picture buildings on an 18-acre campus been trying to take his name in
carried
Segal
of a group of and has entered upon a $7,000,000 vain in support of their own dis-
buildings, as of a college campus, campaign of expansion. In addi- senting views.
and underneath the lines: "He- tion to the rabbinical curriculum,
Perhaps a more extensive treat-
brew Union College at Cincinnati the college offers courses for lay- ment of the Halakha would have
students
for
development
of
their
on the New York Central."
cultural and religious back- given added color to the imposing
So, from the picture of the
picture of Maimonidean thought.
Hebrew Union College on its ground; conducts a graduate This, of course, would have neces-
school for Jewish and Christian
first page, the New York Cen-
sitated a thorough examination of
tral's menu went on through its scholars; exchange lectures with the relationship between the
Protestant
theological
seminaries.
grilled halibut and charcoal broil-
It has a school of religious edu- Guide for the Perplexed, the ma-
ed sirloin, (on the second and cation in New York. Dr. Nelson jor philosophical work, and the
third pages) and on the fourth
Mishne Torah, Maimonides' great
page resumed its story of the Glueck is president."
• • •
code, a task most likely beyond
Hebrew Union College.
MR. MILLS POCKETED the the intention of Dr. Bokser's
"Oldest Jewish theological sem- menu card to show around among book.
inary on the western continent," the home folks. People just don't
This book fills a void in the
it was saying "Founded in 1875, know what treasures lie next field of Judaica in the English
by the late Rabbi Isaac M. Wise, door, you might say. On the
language.
the institution has ordained more broad highway that skirts the col-
• • •
than 500 reform rabbis who oc- lege at the foot of the hill, they
Dr.
Bookstaber
has chosen a
cupy pulpits in every state and pass by in their cars, each bent
in a number of countries abroad. on discovering treasure for him- very interesting aspect of medi-
During World War II approxi- self; though this college and all eval Jewish philosophy for his
mately 100 alumni served as its content and its meaning are presentation. How is it possible
for man to perfect himself, to
chaplains, comprising one-third their treasure, too.
utilize the potentialities of his
of all Jewish chaplains."
Old Dr. Wise still is around true being? This slim volume
• • •
there, though he has been dead obviously belongs to the category
MR. MILLS HAD been aware these 50 years. He was no Zionist; of "musar" books, concerning it-
of these things in the casual way he preached a Judaism that was self rather with moral ideas than
that most of us in our town know strictly American and brought up with philosophical theories.
the Hebrew Union College. He a generation of non-Zionist rab-
Of course, these theories have
himself had been brought up in bis. But the later generations of
the temple of Dr. Wise, the II.U.C. rabbis practically all have to be examined as the back-
founder of the college. Yes, been Zionists who exult in the ground for the moral system to
be derived from them .The author
through Dr. Wise and the rabbis success of Israel.
ordained in his school, the He-
One may guess that Dr. Wise's attempts to follow this method by
brew Union College had left its tolerant ghost isn't at all dis- sketching the major elements in
stamp indelibly on Jews in our tressed by this "heresy" in his some representative medieval
town and all over the country. college. He was a rabbi who said systems, gleaning from them
New York Central went on to that Judaism could not be static; those points which are of value in
say: "The Hebrew Union College it must go along with its time, his particular effort.
library is one of the largest of just as his own time it marched
This in itself could have pro-
the Jewish libraries in the world with him out of the Middle Ages. vided, as a by-product, a series of
But though II.U.C. rabbis have "bird's eye views" on Jewish
with 125,000 volumes and 3,000
manuscripts. The rare 16th cen- gone their own way as Zionists, philospohy.
tury books total almost 10,000. Its the essentials of the original re-
It is to be regretted that the
Jewish musicalia and Spinoza form as given by Wise keep
standing at the college: That Am- book does not completely exhaust
collection are unsurpassed."
Of this treasure among us we erican Jews must not surround its possibilities. The author would
of Cincinnati and of the U. S. for themselves by walls of self-made have done well to draw on more
that matter knew only vaguely. ghettoes; they must be men of recent studies in the field. A num-
A few of us had dropped in there the world who carry the lights ber of inaccuracies in the notes
occasionally to be shown around of Judaism into the world for will prove annoying to the stu-
dent.
and allowed to look at parchment the common good.

Hebrew Union College
Gets Plug From NYC

M

