Planted to Stay As the Editor Views the News... Dr. Kaplan s Provocative Book Highly Praised No Fear in Israel There will be ups and downs in the for- tunes of the State of Israel for many years to come. Even after the brave forces of Haganah will have checked the onslaught of the over- whelming masses of Arabs converging upon the small Jewish state, there will be need for defense and protection, and for being constantly on guard against marauders who can not tolerate the progress made by Jews in Zion and their introduction of civilized methods of living into the neglected deserts. There will be great responsibility on the part of Jewries everywhere and upon friend- ly governments which have recognized Israel to assist the small band of modern Maccabees in their fight for progress and for freedom. Jews outside of Palestine will have the added responsibility of being patient, of con- trolling their tempers and fears, of having and retaining faith. It is easy to become panicky every time we hear of a defeat by our gallant men. It is saddening to learn that outstanding Jew- ish leaders, their sons and daughters, either have been killed or taken prisoners. But in order to win the battle and to help the fighters for liberty to carry on, WE must be as confident and as fearless as they are. We must have faith in ultimate victory and we must provide the means for victory. There is no room either for fear or niggard- liness in the hotisehold of Israel. During his recent visit in Detroit, David HaCohen, vice-mayor of Haifa, was ap- proached by an anxious Zionist with a ques- tion relative to Israel's security. "If we are not afraid under so many trying circum- stances, why should you be," was his reply. Let's remember that and let it spur us on to greater effort for surer victory. Jewish Centers' Program At the recent meeting of the National Council of the Jewish Welfare Board, a very significant statement of principles w a s adopted as an outline of the purposes of our Jewish Centers. Declaring that Jewish con- tent is fundamental to the program of the Jewish Center, that the total program seeks to develop and enrich human personality and group association by employing all re- sources and skills of informal education and leisure-time planning, the preamble to the statement of principles asserts: "The individual American Jew is identi- fied with every phase of American life and is politically, economically, culturally and intellectually a part and parcel thereof." Emphasis is placed in the outlined pro- gram on Jewish content. on service to the community, personality development as mo- tivated by traditions of our religion and American democracy, furtherance of the democratic way of life and assistance in the integration of the individual American Jew into the total American community. This program is of more than passing importance and significance. It aims to strengthen Jewish and American ideals and strives to advance the Center's educational and recreational objectives. In Detroit, such a program has been in effect for many years, due to the sincere approach to the chief objectives by the di- rectors and their staff. The earnestness with which the parent .organization of the Jewish Centers — the National Jewish Welfare Board—approaches the needs in the Centers promises progress along these lines through- out the country. THE JEWISH NEWS -- Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Palcor ,1-ncy, King Features, Central Press Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish- ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1155. Subscription, $3 a year; foreign, $4. Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Of- Lee, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879. Board of Directors: Maurice Aronsson, Fred M. Butzel (deceased), Judge Theodore Levin, Maurice H. Schwartz, Philip Slomovitz, Isidore Sobeloff, Abraham Srere, Henry Wineman. PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor VOL. 11 Page 4 MAY 28, 1948 Sabbath Scriptural Selections this Sabbath, the twentieth day of Iyar, 5708, the following Scriptural selections will be read in )ur synagogues: Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 25:1-26:2. Prophetical portion—Jer. 32:6-27. American Jew's Future THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN JEW By Dr. Mordecai M. Kap lan. The Macmillian Co. 1nieRwywa4.. A(.!PK Israel Must Stand United Only three days before the establishment of the State of Israel and its recognition by the United States, former As- sistant Secretary of State Sumner Welles, in an article in the N. Y. Herald Tribune, made the following important asser- tion: "The conclusion is now inescapable that if the "Jewish commonwealth survives the approaching crisis, and if the Jewish refugees eventually find a home in Palestine, it will be solely because of the strength and devotion of the Jewish people, and in spite of American policy. The State has been established, Jewish refugees are en- tering Israel and our fighting forces are putting up a heroic battle to defend Israel's lifeline. Mr. Welles points to our achievements as being "solely because of the strength and de- votion of the Jewish people." While we do not go as far as that and contend that important forces in the world have been helpful in our battle for justice—after all, there are Christians in the U. S. (Sumner Welles is one of them) and other lands who fought and are still fighting for our cause—it will gen- erally-be admitted that without the strong fight put up by our people in Palestine we would not have reached the pres- ent status as a nation among the nations of the world. * • * Israel's battle remains two-fold: the internal struggle to survive and the imperative need to enroll international sup- port for the Jewish State. On the score of the latter, it is of the utmost importance that the United States and other friendly nations should provide Israel with arms for self- defense. The United States and the other member states of the United Nations owe it to their self-respect and to humanitarian considerations to demand that there should be an end to Arab aggression and that the British stop conniving with the aggressor Arab nations against the State of Israel. The N. Y. Herald Tribune has pointed out editorially, in its condemnation of the direction of the Transjordan Legion by Brig. John Bagot Gitlin) Pasha: "Much better uses could be found for the British officers, the arms and the money that are being used against the Jews. The British government might well consider whether there is any objective it is likely to achieve in Palestine that is worth the price Britain will pay in good will all over the world for connivance in Arab aggres- sion." The United States can, on the other hand, remain the world's unchallenged humanitarian leader by de- manding an end to British connivance, by supplying Is- rael with arms and by acting to put an end to Arab ag- gression. To these ends we appeal to President Truman to act at once for the c. Implete fulfillment of American objectives in recognizing and supporting the State of Israel. Insofar as the internal problem is concerned, the Jewish people has a great obligation in the present crisis. We owe it to ourselves not to lose faith, to be courageous, to refuse to be driven into a state of panic and fright. *e must be ready to fight at all costs for the protection of the little State of Israel and we must seek the encouragement that is so sorely needed. This is the last fortress. Having sacrificed 6,000,000 lives to Nazism, we now must reject every manifestation of Hit- lerism=even if it is a British brand—and must not abandon the right of Jews to statehood and independence. We must remain united as a people and must enlist all possible help for our people's independence. It is possible that the most serious fight is yet ahead; Therefore we must be prepared for it. We are on the verge of lasting victory and peace if we stand united against a corrupt enemy who is trying to keep his own people in bondage by engaging in a war against the progress that is being brought to the Middle East by Israel. * * * It is regrettable that a great empire should be respons- ible for all the present troubles in the world and that the present government of Great Britain should assume a role which had driven the Nazis to destruction. We retain hope, however, that the saner people of Bri- tain will reject the Bevin tactics and that a new era of sanity will dawn for the British who traditionally are friends of the cause of Israel's rebirth. A REVIEW by RABBI HAROLD B. WAINTRUP of Steubenville, 0. Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan, distinguished. Jewish scholar, who has been professor at the Jewish theological Seminary since 1910, and who -is the :ounder of the Jewish Reconstructionist movement and of the Society for the Advancement of Juda- ism. is well qualified to write this provocative gook on Modern American Judaism. T;, :s is a must book for every intelligent lay- ;flan, leader, rabbi and educator. Dr. Kaplan util- izes the progressive approach of modern educa. tion, namely the problem tech- nique of the John Dewey school of education. Thus, Kaplan poses many problems of the American Jew and sug- gests many stimulating an- swers for them. One of these problems, for example, the problem of the Status of the Jew in his relation to other groups and to the individual American is answered as fol- lows: The Jew, in order to maintain a social and cultural bond with the Jewish past and to lead a healthy normal life, and to exist as a civilization within another civilization, Dr. Kaplan should form himself into some- thing resembling a Kehillah. But Kaplan_believes that this social structure should be a replica of the Catholic Church with a democratic foundation. Another problem attacked by Dr. Kaplan is I the lack of a program for modern Jewish living. I To this end there is suggested a change in our sanct, ritual and worship, and our Theology. All this, that Judaism -might be compatible with mod- ern science and nationalism. Also, to the Recon- structionist Kaplan. Eretz Israel stands as the heart of Jewish life. All in all, the Jews of America are presented as a religio-cultural group, with a Commonwealth status in Palestine, a -- group, indeed, engaged in the religious quest for human salvation. As a group in Palestine and in America, Dr. Kaplan points out many Jewish virtues and faults. So, the problems of law, the status of women, of a code of Jewish conduct, all are ex- amined and tentative answers given for the wel- fare of Jewry and Judaism. One of the most in- teresting answers to the problems confronting the Jewish insecurity in America is the educational one. Here Dr. Kaplan believes that the problem and answer technique would be very valid. Thus, instead of teaching religion in the public schools, Kaplan would have a combination of Judaism and American history, personalities, and events. We might imagine therefore, that to teach civil war period would necessitate dealing with Lin- coln, Moses and the Exodus. The problem of pri- vate property and human rights would be tackled by studying Ahab and Naboth's vineyard and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal. Supreme Court Decisions regarding restrictive covenants and religious education would be happily united with both Talmudical and Biblical teachings. To say the least, this book is well worth study- ing the length and breadth of America in temples and synagogues. A critique of this - book now would take us too far afield. However, to be criticized is Dr. Kaplan's conception of the social structure of American Jewry. For he seems to suggest that some element of compulsion and in- timidation would be necessary to keep the Jew ethical and moral. His treatment of the chosen people concept may arouse a controversy also when he advocates the elimination of it in order to alleviate any suspicion of Jewish superiority. Aside from giving a searching interpretation of present day Jewish life, Dr. Kaplan has provid- ed a homelitical treatment of many aspects of our Jewish obligation. He applies, thereby, Judaism and the ethical "new deal" approach to social living for the welfare of Jewry. Dr. Kaplan has given us an able—if debatable and moot—declara- tion of Judaism to coincide with our present dec- laration of Jewish independence. This book points the way indeed to some sort of workable Ameri- can Judaism. God grant us the "strength to ac- cept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, for courage to change what can and should be changed, and for wisdom. to distinguish one from another." Facts You Should Know Answers to Readers' Questions ... What is "R,osh Chodesh?" The beginning of a new Hebrew month is called "Rosh Chodesh." The word "Rosh" is a Hebrew word meaning "the head" or "the be- ginning." The word "Chodesh" is a Hebrew word meaning "month." The word "Chodesh" means "new" in Hebrew. It is taken, according to some lexicographers, from an old Semitic term meaning "to glitter" or "to shine," the idea being that something new is recognized by its glittering shine or "newness." Others relate it to the word "Kodesh" which means "Holy" in the sense that only God made things that were really "new." * * * What is a "Shochet"? A "Shochet" is the name commonly given to one who is licensed to kill animals or fowl accord- ing to Jewish ritual. "Shechita," the act of kosher slaughtering is an old Biblical term. Slaughtering, which is done with a sharp instrument, is denoted with a word which stems from a Semitic root indi- cating sharpness. By transposing the letters, one might arrive at the root "Shotach" which means to expose. This might imply that ritual slaughter- ing is an act of exposing the animal's throat.