Pa g. Four
THE JEWISH.. NEWS
THE JEWISH NEWS
Member of Independent Jewish Press Service, Jewish Tele-
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Published every Friday by the Jewish News Publishing Co.,
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Friday. Sepfenitirre 18, 1942
The - Weekly
Sermonette
The Return of the Sabbath
(Shabbos Shuvo Sentiments)
By Rabbi M. J. Wohgelernter
Congregation Beth Tefilo
Emanuel
On this Sabbath, observed, as Sabbath Shuvah, occurring before
Yom Kippur, the following Scriptural selections will be read in our
"Remember me, 0 my God, con-
synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Deuteronomy 31; Prophetical
cerning this, and wipe not out my
portions, Hos. 14:2-10; Joel 2:15-17, 27.
On Yom Kippur, occurring on Monday, the following Scriptural pious deeds which I have done for
selections will be read: At the morning services: Pentateuchal the house of my God, and for
portions, Leviticui 16; Numbers 29:7-11; Prophetical portion, Isaiah those that had charge of it• • •
57:14-58:14. At the afternoon services: Pentateuchal portion, Leviti- And it came to pass, that, when
cus 18; Prophetical portion, The Book of Jonah.
the shadows were lengthened in
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ and PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Publishers
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
MAURICE ARONSSON
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
FRED M. BUTZEL
ABRAHAM SRERE
THEODORE LEVIN
HENRY WINEMAN
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
VOL. 1—NO. 26
SEPTEMBER 18, 1942
Mankind's Atonement
We are to gather in our synagogues from sundown on
Sunday to sundown on Monday for atonement.
We are to atone for our sins and for the wrongs we
have committed against our fellow beings.
On this Yom Kippur, we shall be searching our
hearts and we shall pray for guidance in the days and
years to come, as well as for forgiveness for the evil days
of the past.
But this is not a Day of Atonement for Jews alone.
This is a Day of Atonement for all mankind.
All humanity has sinned, else we would not be in the
sad plight we are in today.
All mankind has transgressed, else the forces of
tyranny and destruction would not be ruling over a great
portion of the world today.
Mankind should atone, not Israel alone.
May the voices of the repenters be heard, and may
peace and justice be restored in the world for all human-
ity.
The Sabbath Day
the gates of Jerusalem before the
Sabbath, I gave the order, where-
upon the gates were locked, and I
ordered that they should not be
opened till after the Sabbath: and
some of my young men did I place
at the gates, that there should be
brought in no burden on the Sab-
bath-day. • • • And I ordered the
Levites that they should cleanse
themselves, and that they should
come and keep watch at the gates,
to sanctify the Sabbath-day. Also
this remember unto me, 0 my God,
and shield me according to the
abundance of Thy kindness."—
(Nehemiah XIII, 14-19-21).
The Hebrew New Year sig-
nificantly began with the Sab-
bath day one week ago. Few
Jews stayed away from the Syn-
agogues and the great majority
observed that seventh day of the
week as commanded. Shops were
closed in Jewish neighborhoods,
streets were deserted, and families
:1-:,zagathered in the
qprivacy of their
homes for fes-
tive meals and
,quiet hours of
reflection. It
was an auspici-
o u s
beginning
for the year
5703 in the Jew-
ish calendar.
The Shofar
was not sound-
Rabbi M. J. ed on the first
Wohlgelernter day
of
Rosh
Hashanah this year, in accord-
ance with the Code of Jewish
law, for fear lest the instru-
ment be carried through the
streets in violation of the Sab-
bath. Only at Temple services
in Jerusalem was the ram's horn
blown on the first day of the
seventh month even if it oc-
curred on the Sabbath. Greater
precaution is required every-
where else that the divinely or-
dained abstention from all kind
of work (as defined in Biblical
precept and interpreted by the
Oral Tradition) be adhered to
meticulously.
The Sabbath is known in Rabbinic literature as God's
gift to Israel.
The Hebrew word Sabbath means "rest," and its ad-
vent in the history of mankind marked the first effort to
break-the chains of slavery and to introduce a period of
rest for those who toil for a living.
In Jewish history, the Sabbath day has been one of
the elements contributing to Israel's survival. It has given
our people faith and courage ; it has served as a day on
which to commune with God and from which to derive
spiritual and physical sustenance.
This issue of The Jewish News features appeals: in
behalf of the perpetuation of the Sabbath. Rabbis. A. M.
Hershman and M. J. Wohlgelernter have written scholarly
articles on the subject. The Sabbath Observance League
presents its appeal in support of the program to make this
day holy, in accordance with our sacred tradition. We
A Test for the Masses
commend these appeals to the attention of our readers in
The second Sabbath of the
the hope that much good will come from the movement to year
will constitute a test for
strengthen our people's religious ties.
the masses who throng the syna-
Food for Jews in the Ghettos
A Jewish Telegraphic Agency report from Berne
states that the Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland are making
urgent appeals for food to be sent to them "in the same
manner a:4 it is being sent to the starving population in
Nazi-held Greece."
The plight of our people in Poland is so depressing
that emphasis on the need for relief is unnecessary. The
disturbing element in the latest plea from our suffering
kinsmen is that food shipments are encouraged by the
Nazis, thus giving the impression that they may be con-
fiscated for use by the Germans.
An important angle is contained in the following
paragraph in the J. T. A. cable: "A check made by in-
terested Jewish organizations establishes that while not
all food packages sent from Switzerland, Portugal and
Sweden to Jews in Poland are being delivered by the Nazi
authorities, a large proportion of them reach the people to
,whom the parcels are addressed. This is particularly true
with' regard to food packages sent from neutral countries
i these packages
during the last six months. The articles in
are limited mostly to canned goods and do not exceed one
pound in total weight."
These facts indicate that if shipments of food are to
be made from this country, they will have to be trans-
mitted through neutral sources. Furthermore, the attitude
of our Government will have to be ascertained, and those
in authority to know the value of such assistance will have
to decide whether packages limited to one pound in weight
are of sufficient importance to alter the plight of the Jews
in the ghettos.
This is a serious problem and should be decided only
after careful deliberation by agencies like the Joint Dis-
tribution Committee, the Red Cross and spokesmen for the
Government who must have a share in ultimate decisions
relative to such relief shipments. We are at war, and the
final victory must not be impeded by unwise action.
gogues on Rosh Hashanah and
Yom Kippur. Will there be an
earnest effort by large numbers
to reintroduce the Sabbath into
their private lives? Will busi-
ness men and wage earners make
a serious attempt to observe the
Fourth Commandment? Will
Jewish housewives refrain from
shopping on Saturdays—a prac-
tice which is certainly unneces-
sary and uncalled for by eco-
nomic circumstance? Will chil-
dren be given an opportunity of
imbibing the Sabbath spirit
through a proper home atmos-
phere?
Traditionally the Sabbath of
the ten days of penitence is
called, Shobbos Shuvo (meaning:
return or repentence). The very
roots of the Hebrew words,
G. L. K. Smith's Defeat
Michigan's Republican voters rendered the predicted:
verdict against rabble-rouser Gerald L. K. Smith and re-,
fused to give him the nomination for the United States
Senate.
The result of the Primary election on Tuesday cor-
roborates our belief that the people of Michigan will not
tolerate intolerance and that a defender of Father Cough-
lin does not stand much of a chance of winning confidence
from a great American commonwealth.
The next move should be to let Mr. Smith know, in
no uncertain terms, that his radio broadcasts are re - ,
volting and that the type of ranting he resorts to has no
place in our democracy.
Knollwood's Million Dollar Drive
Knollwood Country Club has inaugurated a most sig-
nificant effort to aid our country and the world's demo-
cratic forces in the present struggle against tyranny, by
initiating a million dollar War Bond campaign.
Knollwood's decision was reached before Secretary,
of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau issued the disturbing
statement that the War Bond drive was a failure. Efforts!
such as Knollwood's should go a long way in solving the
serious problem of raising the necessary funds with which
to assure the successful conduct of the war against the:
Axis.
Several weeks ago, Franklin Hills Country Club spon-
sored a party at which the sum of $365,000 was invested
in War Bonds by the audience in attendance. Now, Knoll--;
wood Country Club is following that excellent example
and is calling upon its members to attend the proposed:
War Bond party by subscribing personally and securing
additional subscriptions in the amount of one million dol-
lars.
"The Eyes of the Axis Are Upon Us—We Dare Not
Fail" is the slogan of Knollwood's campaign,. which will
culminate in a Million Dollar War Bond Banquet on Oct.
12. We are confident that this drive will be a success, and
we take this means of commending Knollwood's leaders
for undertaking such a gigantic task in this critical period
in world history.
The Pre-War Politicians
There is a tendency in some quarters- to minimize
the seriousness of attitudes adopted by Members of Con-
gress on war issues preceding Pearl Harbor days. The
Detroit News, for instance, believes that "there is likely
to be—and there ought to be—diminished emphasis on
the congressional campaigning on the pre-war considera
tions."
This is, in the main, a wholesome attitude. After
all, many Congressmen and Senators refused, honestly, to
believe that there was any danger to this country, until
:
the treacherous acts by Japan.
But what about men who have followed the pro-
Nazi anti-Semitic line not only in their votes but also in
their rabble-rousing addresses? What about the pro--
Coughlinites in Congress?
Shabbos apd T'shuvo, are one.
It is quite true that records of some men in Congress
The institution of the day of rest should be overlooked. But it is important that those who
and the idea of spiritual rebirth resorted to appeals to race or religious hatred should be
through repentence are both es- fought and their constituents should be urged not to re-
sential parts of Jewish religious
principle, constituting as they do turn them to Congress.
foundations of the world. Spe-
cial significance is attached to
the rabbinical sermon on this
day. It is one of the crucial re-
ligious occasions of the year, and
rightfully so. The high emotions
of the "days of awe" must see
their concrete realization at this
time.
A Guide in Communal Planning
Twenty-four centuries ago,
when Ezra and Nehemiah were
engaged in the reconstruction of
Jewish life on the soil of Eretz
Israel, a solemn assembly of the
exiles returned from Babylon
was held on the first of Tishri
to proclaim the Torah anew
and rededicate Israel to its prac-
tice. In the subsequent summary
of his life-work, the governor of
Jerusalem makes specific refer-
ence in the selection quoted, to
his efforts in behalf of the Sab-
bath, the observance of which
had fallen into disuse during the
years of dispersion.
. This historical allusion may
well serve us as a guide in com-
munal planning. All individuals
and groups interested in the de-
velopment of a healthy and nor-
mal pattern of Jewish living
must give thought to- the con-
crete issue of Sabbath obsery
ance. Through a return to the
sacred day of rest may we hope
to regain its blessings in these
times of unrest. Our determina-
tion as a community to "remem-
ber the Sabbath and to "keep it
holy," will give us the source of
strength now more than ever
needed for safeguarding the fu-,
ture physical and spiritual heal
of our households.
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