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. -