al Carter
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
Page 31
DETROIT. JEWISH CHRONICLE
Friday, April 20, 1951
Reconstructionists Hail
Kaplan on 70th Birthday
By LAWRENCE W. CROHN
President, Zionist Council of Detroit
•
•
•
MORDECAI
KAPLAN
celebrated
his
70th
birthday
on April 17. This gives us an oppoi-
ROF.
to take stock of the accomplishments of this great scholar who will certainly be ac-
tUnitV
counted as one of the great Jewish figures of our century.
The popularization of Dr. Kap- '
word of God. In that world which
Ian's ideas is yet to come, but
, coincided in many ways with the
his influence upon American Ju-
;medieval outlook, Jews were able
daism has been profound and
to adjust their lives pleasantly
penetrating. Among the rabbinate
and with a minimum of confusion.
and professional Jewish groups, I
For more than three centuries,
the principles of Reconstruction- .,
the Shulchan Aruch has been an
ism — the movement which he
almost universally accepted code
founded have taken deep root.'
of law. To reconstruct such a
Prof. Kaplan's great work, "Ju-
world, so that the best and most
daism as a Civilization," remains
vital aspects can be retained, and
the sounding board for his ideas.
allowing for the more recent cre-
He has sought to reshape tradi
CLEARING TIIE GROUND. A bulldozer prepares land for the construction
ative trends in Judaism, is no
tional Judaism into a way of life
of a factory on the outskirts of Haifa. Israel'* chief port will be the center of
mean task which Dr. Kaplan and
greatly expanded industry under the country's three. ■ ear development pro-
for modern Jews.
his associates are undertaking.
gram. Development of all brandies of agriculture and industry will be mode
Unlike others who have sought
Jewish usages, prayers, customs
possible by the $300,000,000 State of Israel bond issue.
new pathways, he has always
are bound securely to tradition,
built upon the past. The Society ,
but all are put to the test of pres-
for the Advancement of Judaism
ent-day usefulness. Dr. Kaplan's
has experimented in ways to
conception of God as the power Mizrachi Pledges Aid
HOLIDAY
make the synagogue fulfill the
that helps man to attain a great for Isiael Bond Drive
goal is broad enough to satisfy
needs of Jews.
NEW YORK— (WMS) —The
GREETINGS
many diverse personalities.
Founder of the Teachers Insti-
American Mizrachi movement
Some will seek a more personal has announced the launching of
tute of the Jewish Theological
PROF. KAPLAN
God. Judaism has never dogma- a nationwide effort on the part
Seminary, Dr. Kaplan has wrestl- _
. • • • tized its basic beliefs, and there- of the religious-Zionists to sell
ed with the problem of training
fore the Reconstructionist move-
qualified Jewish teachers. As pro-1
$25,000,000 in bonds as an ini-
fessor of homiletics, he has di- , ' proved so valid in the confusion ment allows for varied personal tial contribution to the $500,000,-
views. The Reconstructionists do
rected the thinking of many of our time.
What are the basic principles of not aspire to be a new sect in 000 Israel Bond Drive which is
young rabbis.
scheduled for 'formal launching
Reconstructionism? By now it is
1343 THIRD
A proponent of community cen- widely accepted that Dr. Kap- Judaism. They are bound togeth- on May 1, it was disclosed here
ters and the organized Jewish lan's definition of Judaism as a er only by their acceptance o in a statement issued by Dr.
community, a life-long Zionist, religious civilization is full of the general outlook and view- Pinkhos Churgin, president of S.
Hebraist — these activities are meaning to the modern Jew. It points of the movement. Thus, the movement.
not enough to explain the unique is a civilization within a civiliza- there are among Kaplan's follow-
ers reform rabbis, conservative
The Chronicle deadline is on
character of Dr. Kaplan's place in tion, one not conflicting with the
la t and
Jews, secularists, Heb•iss
Tuesday
noon. .
the Jewish world.
other; Judaism witi,in_ western Yiddishists.
Sea Food and Chop House
• • •
• • •
civilization.
extends their best wishes to
HIS SPECIFIC suggestions
a living, creative DR. KAPLAN is not concerned'
Judaism
is
their friends and custo-mers
all
were devised to put his ideas and satisfying mode of existence, with orthodox problems, since the
A
into practice. To those thinking encompassing all aspects of Jew- basic principles of orthodoxy are
American Jews who are confused
.HAPPY
PASSOVER
immutable.
His
appeal
is
to
the
ish experience. Jewish art, music,
by the conflict between modern folklore, education, language, many modern Jews who seek a
thought and traditional Judaism, modes, all in a united community, way to retain their faith in Juda-
Famous for
his conclusions are ever excit- are authentic aspects of Judaism. ism. The superficial allegiance re-
Lobster and Seafood
ing. One may not agree in all de-
Direct trom the 'Seashore
At the center of Jewish life, sulting from charitable and Jew-
AGED STEAKS. CHICKEN,
tails, one may cling to the old Kaplan posits a vibrant concept ish protective associations is not
CHOI'S
concepts which Kaplan rejects — of God which is congenial to the deemed sufficient to provide for
Private Dining Room for
but the basic principles of the
Parties,
Banquets
.
mind of the 20th century. The
creativity.•
Reconstructionist movement re- Reconstructionist movement ,puts Jewish
Kaplan has sought to recon-
ON WOODWARD AVE.
main, it would seem, the one val- the spiritual needs of man in first struct Judaism, so that these and
1 Blk. S. of 7 Mlle Rd,
17630 WOODWARD
id direction toward which think-' place, but anyone with any Jew- other motivations would fit into
TO. 9-3760
inA Jews can turn.
a fuller pattern of Jewish living.
ish
interests
is
accounted
as
mem-
No other view of Judaism has
This writer, like many others,
bers of the Jewish community.
Ancient creeds and medieval has found Judaism congenial be-
thought-patterns are of necessity cause Dr. Kaplan has pointed to
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
put to the severest test. Judaism the direction toward which our
must live in the present to be tradition must be turned. His
effective. No mere surface re- views grew out of the needs of
forms, or thoughtless negations, his own life. Those who have
but fundamental concepts are the worked with him understand his
basis of Reconstruction ist ap- consuming desire to perpetuate
Judaism. He is not easily deceived
proach.
• • •
about the potentialities of Jewish
SALES - SERVICE
IN THE PAST, Jews lived in survival. Of the future, he is not
9669 GRAND RIVER AVE.
their own communities and their greatly optimistic.
Ruby Gage and Gene Larges
Near Livernois
lives were governed by the Tora.
But it is fortunate that many
Back the Service to Serve You As translated into every-day life, younger men have been influenc-
HERB KESSLER
Halacha, that great body of civil ed by him. He has fought in an
19928 Livernois Ave.
and religious law, represented the armageddon of Jewish mental
confusion. His 70th birthday is in-
deed a significant event in Amer-
PASSOVER GREETINGS .. .
ican Judaism.
P
CHUNG'S
RESTAURANT
Miller's
Happy
Holiday
PARADISO
CAFE
Happy
Holiday
Phil Bloomgarden Inc.
Town & Country
Restaurant
DE SO TO - PLYMOUTH
WE. 3-7845
BEST WISHES
For
HAPPY PASSOVER
From
Vannelli's Restaurant
18300 WOODWARD
■
•■ •••••• ■ •• ■••
•■•■•■■••■•■•■■ •••••...11.. ■ ••■■••■••••■••
495,000 Jews Given
Help in First 3 Months
NEW YORK—(WNS)—During
the first three months of 1951, the
three agencies that receive funds
from the United Jewish Appeal's
campaign have helped 495,000
Jews in Israel, Europe, North Af-
rica and the Near East, it was an-
nounced here by Edward M. M.
Warburg, general chairman of
Park Tower Salon
310 David Broderick Tower
WO. 1-2320
WO. 2-8238
UJA.
In a quarterly report, War-
burg noted that the Joint Distri-
bution Committee and the United
Service for New Americans—had
sNnt $42,492,000 during this pe-
riod in the settlement and ab-
sorption of homeless Jews.
Happy Holiday
Wishing All Our Friends
A Happy and Prosperous
Pcusiover
LEVIN
HOE HOE
INN
GLOVE MANUFACTURING CO.
CHINESE - AMERICAN
DINNERS
DETROIT, MICHIGAN
4445 Second Blvd.
-