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First Village Unit Assured:
Mrs. Aaron DeRoy Gives $6,000
For Fresh Air Camp Expansion
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, January 7, 1949
Speaks Here Jan. 17
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Early construction'of the first village unit in Fresh Air
Camp's new expansion program has been assured by a gift
of $6,000 from Mrs. Aaron DeRoy.
Announcement of Mrs. DeRoy's gift was made this week
by Barney Smith president of the Fresh Air Society, sponsor-
ing agency of the Brighton, Mich., camp. Mrs. DeRoy has been
a .member of the Society's board
of directors for almost 20 years.
The gift will provide for five
cabins and a wash house, grouped
together in village fashion, hous-
ing 40 campers and five coun-
selors. Expansion of Fresh Air
Camp along these lines is in ac-
cordance with the newest trends
of decentralization in children's
camping and group work, Irwin
Shaw, Fresh Air Camp director,
explained. The Fresh Air So-
ciety has long been interested in
the development of decentralized
camping, Shaw declared, not
only for its group work possibil-
ities, but as a means of gradual
expansion of camping facilities,
to help ease the current crowd-
ed conditions at the camp and
to provide additional facilities
for accomodation of many chil-
dren _who must be turned away
each summer.
In honor of Mrs. DeRoy's ef-
forts in behalf of Fresh Air
Camp, the new unit will be nam-
ed the Helen DeRoy Village,
Smith announced. This gift is
in accordance with Mrs. DeRoy's
long-standing interest in youth
activities in the community, he
stated, noting her previous gifts
to the Jewish Community Cen-
ter. In addition to membership
on the Fresh Air and Center
boards, Mrs. DeRoy is active on
Jewish Welfare Federation Board
of Governors and on the board of
its Women's Division.
The DeRoy village will be a
self-contained unit, for housing
and programming, with camp-
ers in one age group, either boys
or girls. Their only regular con-
tact with the rest of the camp
will be at meals and at special
all-camp activities, Shaw said.
This decentralization will make
possible more individualized at-
tention for each camper, as well
as allowing for more camper-
planned activities he added.
Fresh Air Society has been
providing summer vacations for
children . of the Detroit Jeikish
community since 1903. The
present campsite on Blaine Lake,
seven miles from Brighton, was
established in 1925. Last sea-
son, 625 different boys and girls,
51 per cent of whom received
part of full camperships, were
cared for at the camp.
Further camp expansion in the
village unit plan may be made
possible by similar gifts from
members of the community,
Smith stated.
In Israel It is
`Who WAS Who'
The practice of changing_
names • and the adoption of
Hebrew names in Israel by
prominent educators, lead-
ers, government officials
and military men is causing
minor difficulties. There
have been so many name
changes, that, to avoid con- '
fusion, it has been suggest-
ed that the country's "Who's
Who" should be called
"Who WAS Who."
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Religion and State to be Separate in - Israel
Interesting assurances come from Israel that religion and state
will operate as separate entities and that there is little to fear from
the warnings that have come from some quarters against theocratic
threats in the Jewish State. -
Israeli leaders, interviewed for the Bnai Brith National Jewish
Monthly by the noted Jewish author, Prof. Joseph Patai, made their.
positions very clear. Rabbi Judah L. Fishman, Minister of Religion_
in the Israeli Cabinet, dispelled the expressed fears and declared:
"We will not rule the State with the power of religion, but we
will use the spirit of religion to uplift our people and our land and to
raise its place as a moral force among the nations of the world. We
will not force our way into the private life of the individual, either
by religious law or religious taxation; but we want to see to it that
the taxpayers' money will not be used against religion."
Rabbi Fishman was emphatic in his statement that there is
nothing in Judaism "which strives to impose theocratic rule on
the State of Israel. There is nothing to justify any fear of
casuistry. We do not seek the imposition of the 613 command-
ments. We request that only three be recognized. The first of
these is that the State shall not oblige a person to break religious
law against his will, such as he might be forced to do in main-
taining public services. Above all, therefore, we demand that the
Sabbath be the official day of rest for the people of Israel.
When we demand kashrut, we do not intend to snoop into the
housewife's kitchen, but we do feel that State institutions should
consider the feelings of the observant Jew . . . The third point
concerns Jewish jurisprudence. Every nation has its typical law
and we too have ours . . . I do not recommend the rejection of
international law, but the source of our jurisprudence should
derive from Jewish law."
A qualifying statement made by Yitzshak Gruenbaum, Minister
of the Interior, adds the following interesting comment to these
views: "Israel's sages have always interpreted the letter of the law
to the spirit of the times and to conditions prevailing in their day."
The Chief Rabbis of the Tel Aviv AShkenazic and Sephardic com-
munities corroborated Rabbi Fishman's statements, thus giving them
authoritative status. Prof. Patai expresses the view that Rabbi Fish-
man's interview "left me more with a feeling that Judaism, far from
being on the offensive for the creation of a theocratic state, was on
the defensive to maintain its rightful place in Israel."
An important problem appears to have been clarified by these
views. Equally as important are the attitudes of other members of
Israel's Cabinet. Thus, the Israeli State Council recently decided, by
a vote of 29 to 7, to approve a kosher food ordinance for the Israeli
army, and the Ministers of Defense and Religion were authorized to
put the new law into effect, thereby fulfilling one of the wishes of
the religious community. By continuing such policies, conflicts on
the score of religious differences should be avoided in the Jewish
State.
Another interesting point which should be mentioned in this
connection is the provision in the Israeli constitution that:
"The Sabbath and the Jewish Holy Days shall be days of
rest and spiritual elevation and shall be recognized as such in
the laws of the country. The Holy Days of other religious de-
nominations shall equally be recognized as legal days of rest for
the members of such denominations."
The constitution also provides for the establishment of religious
courts which should have "jurisdiction in matters of personal status
and of religious foundations and endowments." With such guarantees
in force, the fears of suppression among religious elements should
be allayed, just as the anxieties of those who desire to separate state
from religion should similarly be relieved.
An important issue appears to have been solved, by the state-
ments of the Israeli leaders and by the Israeli constitution itself.
NATHAN AUSUBEL
Nathan Ausubel, eminent au-
thor, traveler and translator,
whose latest work, "Jewish Folk-
lore," is rated among the best
works of its kind ever published,
will speak in the Butzel Hall of
the Jewish Center at 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 17. Admission will
be free.
Congress Leaders
File Protests on
Cyprus Detentions
A delegation representing the
Michigan Council of the Ameri
can Jewish Congress, headed by
Mrs. Samuel Green and Albert
Silber, presidents, on Monday
met with Detroit British Con-
sulate officials to protest the
policy of the British government
in forcibly detaining thousands
of Jews on the Island of Cyprus.
A statement addressed to Sir
Oliver Franks, British' Ambassa-
dor in Washington, left with the
local Consulate, denounced the
British government for flaying
the articles of the Magna Carta,
the original manuscript of which
was returned to England last
week.
"There are thousands of Jews
forcibly detained on the Island
of Cyprus,. by order of your gov-
ernment, where they are lang-
uishing in concentration camps
. . . Their only crime is their
pasSionate belief in and dedica-
tion to the principles ‘ of the
Magna Carta. Yet they continue
to be imprisoned, in violation of
every principle of law, justice
and humanitarianism and in de-
fiance of the guarantees of in-
dividual freedom your fore-
fathers won . . . unless your gov-
ernment immediately provides
for their release it will have to
suffer inevitable judgement of
mankind" . . . the statement de-
clared.
Midrasha• Opens
Second Session
The second quarter of the Mid-
rasha (College of Jewish Studies)
will open on Thursday evening,
Jan. 13, in the Rose Sittig Cohen
building.
In addition to Hebraic courses,
there will be offered courses in
the teaching of Jewish history,
arts and crafts and music. These
courses are especially designed
for Hebrew and religious school
teachers.
A series of lectures and discus-
sions on the American Jewish
community will be given. Thurs-
days, from 8:10 to 10 p.m., the
subjects will include: "Jewish
Community Organization," Jan.
13, 20, 27, Isidore Sobeloff, ex-
ecutive director, Jewish Welfare
Federation; "Community Rela-
tions," Feb. 3, 10, Oscar Cohen,
director, Jewish Community
Council; "Social Agencies," Feb.
17, 24, Harold Silver, director,
Jewish Social Service Bureau;
"Religious Trends," March 3, 10,
17, Rabbi Morris Adler, Rabbi
Leon Fram.
Registration will continue
through Jan. 13. There will be a
$2 registration fee. The Midrasha
is conducted under the auspices
of the United Hebrew Schools.
For further information call
TO. 8-0063.
Dr. Ruth Gruber to Addres s
JNF Women's Event on Jan. 16
Dr. Ruth. Gruber, noted jour-
nalist, lecturer, author and world
traveler, whose last book, "Des-
tination Palestine: The Story of
Haganah Ship Exodus 1947" has
been hailed as one of the most
important volumes dealing with
the Palestinian issue, will be the
guest speaker at the annual donor
event of the Ladies' Auxiliary of
the Jewish National Fund, at 2:30
p. m. Sunday, Jan. 16, in the main
auditorium of the Masonic Tem-
ple.
Mrs. Jack Rosenthal, president,
Mrs. I. Walter Silver, chairman
of the program committee, and
Mrs. Peter Chodoroff, fund-rais-
ing chairman, stated this week
that more • than 4,000 people are
expected to attend this gather-
ing, every donor being entitled to
bring an escort to the annual
event. They stated that admis-
sion cards still are available to
all contributors who may send
their gifts. either to =members of
the auxiliary, the fund-raising
workers or through the JNF
Council office, 11816 Dexter, TO.
a-7384.
•Featured Artists
The Jan. 16 program will fea-
ture Shoshana Damari and Joseph
Goland, Israel's outstanding mus-
ical revue stars, in "Israel Fights,
Sings and Smiles," with Mosheh
Wilensky, Israeli composer, at the
piano.
D'r. Gruber recently returned
from Israel and Europe where
she has visited many times. She
covered the United Nations Spe-
cial Committee on Palestine hear-
ings, UN sessions in Lake Suc-
cess and Paris and was. with the
Exodus 1947 passengers in Haifa,
upon their arrival in Israel, in
France and in the German camp
where they were sent by the
British. She saw them again
upon their return to Israel. .
When President Franklin D.
Roosevelt invited 1,000 refugees
from Europe to settle in Oswego,
N. Y., in 1944, Dr. Gruber was
sent by the U. S. government to
bring them to this country. On
the ship, which narrowly escaped
disaster from air raids and sub-
marines, she got to know the
refugees individually and record-
ed their sagas. Later, she helped
Prepare them for life in this
country.
Noted Foreign Correspondent
As foreign correspondent for
the New York Post and later for
the New York Herald Tribune,
on whose staff she continues to
serve, she has traveled tens of
thousands of miles and covered
the world scene wherever it af-
fected Jewish refugees and set-
DR. RUTH GRUBER
•
tiers in Israel. Her
articles on
Cyprus, where she made a study
of Jewish conditions, the DP
camps and Israel have appeared
in Collier's, _Survey Graphic, Life
and numerous other magazines.
Born in Brooklyn, N. Y., Miss
Gruber was acclaimed the young-
est Doctor of Philosophy in the
world when she took a Ph.D.,
summa cum laude, at the age of
20, at the University of Cologne.
On recommendation of the Gug-
genheim Foundation she was
awarded the Yardley Foundation
Fellowship by the New Jersey
Federation of Women's Clubs.
Open Meeting Monday
The Ladies' Auxiliary of the
JNF will hold an open meeting at
12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 10, at
the Beth Shmuel Syangogue,
Dexter at Buena Vista. Hostesses
for the afternoon will be Mes-
dames A: Ilson, B. Harrison and
M. Katinsky. •
Additional donors of $100 and
more include: Mrs. N. Linden,
$450; Mesdames J. Lipshitz, David
Iwrey, I. Liebson, S. Levine,
Breznitzer Aid Society, $100 each.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Presidential Notes
President Truman may attend a dinner which will be tendered
in New York in honor of Israeli President Dr. Chaim Weizmann in
February . . . By that time the national elections in Israel will be
over and de jure recognition of the Jewish State will have been
granted by the United States . . . The dinner is being arranged by
the group which is financing the Weizmann Institute in Rehovoth
. . . Originally, Dr. Weizmann was to have addressed this dinner
from Israel over the radio . .. However, iri view of the indication
by President Truman that he may honor Dr. Weizmann personally,
the Israeli President will come to New York to attend the affair.
Communal Affairs
Will Henry Morgenthau, Jr. -, accept the chairmanship of the
United Jewish Appeal for 1949? . .. This question is being asked
now, on the eve of the national conference of Jewish leaders at
Atlantic City where the UJA quota for the new year will be decided
upon . . . Delegates at the conference will hear a report that only
about $160,000,000 has been raised toward the $250,000,000 goal of
the 1948 drive . . . In the light of this report the question will be
what the 1949 goal should be . . . There is strong sentiment in favor
of again proclaiming a $250,000,000 quota for 1949, since the JDC
obligations for the new year are no smaller than of the year just
concluded .. . Not to speak of the fact that the obligations of the
UPA this year will be much greater than any other year in its
history . . . An analysis of the obstacles met by Jewish community
organizations trying to reach their goals will be made at the General
Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds
which will open its sessions in Philadelphia a day after the UJA con-
ferences concludes in Atlantic City.
About 100 Jewish social agencies in 43 cities have enrolled
in the National Health and Welfare Retirement Association plan,
receiving annuity coverage and other protective provisions for their
employees . . . The workers in these agencies are not now included
in the Federal Social Security provisions.
*
*
This and That
Here is a tip to philatelists in the United States . . . The Israeli
Government will soon issue a series of new stamps bearing the name
Israel in Hebrew, Arabic and Latin characters . . . One will be a
special stamp commemorating the adoption of the national flag
of Israel . . . The others will depict ancient Jewish coins and Jer-
usalem, Negev and Galilee . . There will also be a stamp com-
memorating the 70th jubilee of Petach Tikvah .. • The philatelic
services of the Israeli Post Office Department are already accept-
ing orders from philatelists abroad for these issues which can be
secured for approximately $4 . . . Festival stamps issued by the
Israeli Government three months ago are no longer sold except to
philatelists.
A unique Jewish institution in the United States is the Vinaver
Chorus organized by the Friends of Choral Art . . . Its concerts
in New York's Town Hall, under conductor Chemjo Vinaver, are
attracting great attention on the part of many non-Jewish music
lovers . . . It is composed of music of the synagogue, music of Israel,
music of the Hasidim and. Biblical music .. The music critics of the
leading New York newspapers have nothing but praise for these con-
certs . . . They consider them "exquisite" and "captivating" and pay
high tribute to Mr. Vinaver's ability as a trainer and conductor .. •
(The Vinaver chorus will be brought to Detroit in March by the
Jewish Community Council.)