Page Four
THE FEDERATION JEWISH NEWS
THE FEDERATION JEWISH NEWS
Member of Independent Jewish Press Service, Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious News
Service, Palcor News Agency, Bressler Cartoon Service, Wide World
Photo Service.
Published every fourth Friday of the month by Jewish News
Publishing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit, Mich., in collabor-
ation with Allied Jewish Campaign and Jewish Welfare Federation
of Detroit. Club subscription, 50 cents for 12 issues, Allied Jewish
Campaign contributions.
Application for Second Class matter pending at Detroit, Mich.
Remember Me?
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ and PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Publishers
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
HENRY WINEMAN
SEPTEMBER 25, 1942
The War Chest
of Nazism ; and we have the added duty as Jews to carry
on the normal activities as well as the Jewish relief efforts
whick...a.r..e cumulatively represented in the cause financed
by the Allied Jewish Campaign.
Inclusion of the Jewish funds in the War Chest car-
ries with it many significant possibilities. When we, as
the first victims of Nazism, become the full fledged part-
ners of all elements in the community in the greatest
mercy campaign on record, we become an outstanding
symbol in the drive. And when our Christian neighbors
say to us that they desire to emphasize the significance
of this symbol, we witness the elevation of the United
nations' objectives in this war to a high plane which
-
should lead to the removal of prejudices in our midst.
It is well that it be made clear that even if the Allied
Jewish Campaign had not been included in the drive, we
GUEST EDITORIAL
A Synagogue Council for Detroit
By DR. B. BENEDICT GLAZER
Rabbi of Temple Beth El
There are not many members of the Jewish com-
munity of Detroit who are aware of the existence of the
Synagogue Council of America. This important organiza-
tion was chartered in 1925 in New York City, with the
following statement of purpose : "To organize national,
congregational and rabbinical associations of America
for the purpose of speaking and acting
unitedly, and furthering such religious in-
terests as the constituent organizations in
the Council have in common." The con-
stituent agencies of the Synagogue Coun-
cil, from its inception, have been the Union
of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of
America, the Rabbinical Council of Amer-
ica, the Union of American Hebrew Con-
gregations, the Central Conference of
American Rabbis, the United Synagogue
Dr. Glazer
of America, and the Rabbinical Assembly
of the Jewish Theological Seminary. of America.
The rise of the Synagogue Council represented a
salutary turning point in the history of the American
Jewish community. Not so very long ago organized
Judaism • in this country did not possess an authoritative
voice. Instead, every challenge to Israel's soul evoked
conflicting counsels and, sometimes, contradictory pro-
cedures from the many and varied Jewish religious bodies.
This condition not only reflected internal weakness, but
presented a dismal and undignified portrait of Judaism
in action to the non-Jewish world. Moreover, it became
comparatively easy for some secular agencies to employ
this disunity to play off one Jewish group against the
would still be partners in the War Chest as participants
in the Detroit Community Fund which includes six local other and thus neutralize or destroy the potential influence
Jewish social service agencies, and as citizens of this of organized Judaism in local or national affairs.
great community. It is not a new existence, therefore,
for us to be partners with non-Jews in fund-raising efforts.
But the forthcoming War Chest program is a much vaster
undertaking than any other in our experiences. It is cer-
tain to bring us and our neighbors closer together. It is
definitely leading towards keener understanding of the
mutual problems of all American citizens, regardless of
race or creed.
Much good can come of such a new partnership with
our non-Jewish fellow-citizens, provided we will it so.
And we must will it so.
Only a month remains before the opening of the War
Chest campaign. It is a trying, a challenging period and
we must respond to its appeal in an unprecedented man-
ner. May we be equal to the task ahead of us.
During the past 17 years, the Synagogue Council of
America has steadily grown in influence and has helped
to dissipate an almost fatal divisiveness in Jewish religious
life. Now, whenever there is any issue in which the in-
tegrity or well-being of Judaism is involved, the Syna-
gogue Council speaks with authority for most of the orth-
odox, conservative and reform Jews in the United States.
What the Synagogue Council of America has been
able to do on a national scale, may be achieved in the in-
dividual community through the formation of local Syna-
gogue Councils. In fact, this plan has been suggested by
the National Organization and encouraged at the con-
ventions of its constituent bodies. The value of a Syna-
gogue Council in Detroit was in evidence a few' days ago
when a group of local Rabbis, representing the organized
community of Detroit Jewry, met to formulate a joint
statement of policy regarding the absence of Jewish
workers from the defense industries on the High Holydays.
There will be many other situations arising in the days
Nate S. Shapero will be 50 on Sunday and will be the to come; which should stimulate this sense of cooperation
recipient of deserved tributes from national, state and and unity among the Rabbis and laymen of our synagogues
city officials; from Jewish leaders in every 'walk of life ; and temples.
A Synagogue Council in Detroit will be a far-sighted
from associates in professional, business and civic activ-
and helpful step in the progress of our community toward
ities.
He has a remarkable record in everything he has maturity. The religious agencies of Christianity have
undertaken. His successes have brought him public ac- discovered the power of this kind of association. The
claim as a man of vision and as one who was able through Federal Council of Churches in America and the local
his own achievements to bring glory to his city and state. Federation of Churches are cases in point. In a Synagogue
Council, each representative group will preserve its
Mr. Shapero's record for public service is encyclo- historic convictions, but in matters affecting "K'lal
pedic. As president of the Board of Fire Commissioners, Yisroel" they will close ranks to present a common front
as a member of welfare commissions, as a leader in more and to articulate, wherever possible, the voice of unanimity.
than a score of important movements benefiting all faiths, The suggestion to form a Synagogue Council has been
he has become recognized as one of the outstanding per- made already to many of the local Rabbis and has won
sonalities in the State of Michigan.
their approval. Preliminary steps will soon be taken to
We join in congratulating Mr. Shapero on his 50th perfect such an organization; The Jewish citizens of
Greetings to Nate S. Shapero
Dr. Heller Views
Faith of the Jew
VARIETY OF SUBJECTS
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
Detroit's Jewish Welfare Federation and its Service
Group have taken a momentous step in accepting the in-
vitation of the War Chest to make the Allied Jewish Cam-
paign a constituent agency of the forthcoming *5,800,-
000 drive.
Our Jewish community thus becomes a part of the
great war movement to merge all relief organizations into
one unified effort in order to eliminate duplication of
appeals and to avoid overlapping of activities and in-
creased expenses during these trying times.
- The decision to include all Jewish causes in the War
Chest is a challenge to the entire community. We are
obligated to exert all our efforts in behalf of this fund
as citizens who owe a responsibility to the millions of
Hitler's victims who look to us for pittance to assure
existence until the day when they are freed from the yoke
I
"The saga of the faith of the
Jew" is the brief description ap-i
plicable to Dr. Bernard Heller's!
"The Odyssey of a Faith" re-:
cently published by Harper &
Bros.
Rabbi- Heller's scholarly inter-i
pretations of Jewish life and
movements are well known to
Michigan Jewry. Many of the
thoughts incorporated in this
volume have been expressed by
him on numerous occasions in
addresses before audiences in
this state, and especially in Ann
Arbor, where he served for at
number of years as director ofl
the Bnai Brith Hillel Foundations
at the University of Michigan, 1
and in Detroit before several!
congregations, at the Temple=
Beth El College of Jewish Stud- 1
ies and at rallies of Bnai Brith
lodges.
On the Sabbath of this week, which corresponds with the first
day of the festival of Succoth, the following Scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portions, Lev. 22:26-
23:44; Num. 25:12-16; Prophetical portion, Zechariah 14. On Sunday,
the second day of Succoth. the following Scriptural selections will
be read: Pentateuchal portions. Lev. 22:26-23:24; Num. 29:12-16;
Prophetical portion, I Kings 8:2-21.
During Chol Hamoed Succoth, the following Scriptural selec-
tions will be read in the synagogues during morning services: Mon-
day, Num. 29:17-25: Tuesday, Num. 29:20-28; Wednesday, 29:23-31;
Thursday, Num. 29:26-31.
Next Friday, Hoshanah Rabbah, the following Pentateuchal
selections will be read during synagogue services: Num. 29:26-34.
VOLUME 1—NO. 27
Friday, SepTemEier 25. T94!
"The Odyssey of a Faith" is an
intriguing evaluation of the var-:
ions diametrically opposed
osophies among Jews. The au-
thor deals with such varying,
subjects as Zionism and Reform-
Judaism. Hassidic leaders and
the False Messiahs. the great
Gaonic scholars and the Kara- ,
ites.
Dr. Heller commences his study
with a description of the no-
madic Jews turning farmers and
the adoption of the agricultural
ideal by the modern Zionist.
movement. He proceeds to slit'' ►
that old vearnincs remained af-
ter the Destruction of the Tem-
ple and that "Judaicm did not
dispen with the Temple and
Zion. The rnnnle still dreamed
of Zion and Jn ,.usalpm" and sang
the songs of Zion in a spirit of
nostalgia for the homeland.
JEWISH PARTIES
There is a chapter dealing
with Hellenism and the conflicts
between Jewish and Greek ideal-
ogies. Another chapter shows
how the Pharisees democratized
the faith of Israel_ The resume
of the philosonhical differences
between the Sadducees, Phari-
sees and Essenes is of particular
interest and is most revealing as
an indication of the deep study
made of the subject by Rabbi
Heller.
Anan ben David of the eighth
century is dnscrihnd as "A Lu-
ther in the Jewish Camp," and
there is a description of the sim-
ilarity of Anan's and Luther's
battlecry "Back to the Sripture."
HISTORY OF THE
-BEsnir
Another chapter. "The Saint
of Podolia," deals with the
teachings of the BESHT---the
Baal Shem Tov, Israel ben Elie-
zer. founder of Hassidism.
The religious aspects of Zion-
ism find an able exponent in
Rabbi Heller, who criticizes in
friendly terms the jingoism • of
some Jewish nationalists.
"The Odyssey of a Faith" is
richly annotated. and is on the
whole a very balanced interpre-
tation of Jewish movements and
philosophies.
The Progress of
Hebrew Teaching
In Eretz Israel
JERUSALEM (Palcor)—There are
now over 6,600 adults in this country
receiving Hebrew lessons from 200
teachers in 125 centers in urban
and rural areas, it was reported
by Dr. Yehuda ibn Samuel Kauf-
man, Director of the Vaad Leumi's
Cultural Department.
Dr. Kaufman made his report at
the fourth meeting of the Central
Council for Popagating the Hebrew
Language, held in the Jewish Agen-
cy Building's assembly hall here
at the beginning of January. The
meeting was attended by most
ld
Agehnecy
ancdilwas
heumiCoun
of tLe
beersvaa
and th Vaa d
under the Chairmanship of Mr.
Isaac ben Zvi, Rabbi Meier Berlin
and Dr. Ismail Grumbaum. The body
will meet every three months and
the administrative work will be car-
led out by the Vaad Leurai's Cul-
birthday and in wishing him continued success in all his af- Detroit need and should welcome a strong and effective
Utral Department.
filiations.
Synagogue Council.