▪
Lifesaver for a Free World
As the Editor
Views the News ...
The Sukkah . _
Thanksgiving Symbol of
Israelis Harvest Festiv al
The Jerusalem Issue
By DR. MAEANNA CHESETON-MANGLE
Director, Religions Press Committee
Instead of speeding a solution for the
Palestine area, Israel and Jerusalem, the
UN Conciliation. Commission has muddled
the entire affair. From present indications,
the new battle before the UN General As-
sembly will create more bad blood' and, as
the New York Herald Tribune has pointed
out editorially, enclaves such as the one
proposed will have .a tendency to create rath-
er than settle a problem. The Herald Tribune
viewed the situation most realistically *Alen
it charged that the new plan is "outdated,"
in the following editorial
The proposal of the United Nations Pal-
estine Conciliation Commission for permanent
internationalization of Jerusalem, whatever its
theoretical attractiveness may be, appears to
have been lar outrun both by time and events.
It is not merely .a question of the Israelis'
refusal to• cede their rights in Jewish Jerusa-
lem, although this alone would make the UN's
task of taking over the entire city a formidable
one, but also of the practicability and effect-
iveness of the Conciliation Commission's pro-
posal. There was a time, perhaps, when in-
ternationalization, which was suggested in the
UN's original partition resolution of 1947, might -
.have been imposed; but it was the Israeli
Army and not the UN which saw to it that
the partition of Palestine became a reality.
The fighting for Jerusalem proper left the Is-
raelis in possession of the New City and Bing
in-control of the Old-
Abilullah's Arab Legion
•
City, and the complete acquiescence of both
- sides would be a „prerequisite to any Plan -for
treating the city as a whole.
The commission's plan, as a matter of fact,
envisages the internationalization not only of /
Jerusalem but of a sixty-square-mile• enclave
around the city, including Bethlehem. Al-
though many of the city's administrative func-
tions would be reserved to the UN, each side
- would police its own zone, and the holy places,
riwhich constitute the crux of the-entire gems-
alem question, would be open to all. But the
important question of what kind , of citizenship
the residents of the area would hcild is left
untouched, and there is, as yet, no 'UN police..
dforce powerful enough to make international-.
ization effective on all levels, or even to guar-
antee access to the holy places in case they
should be threatened. Furthermore, enclaves
, pf this sort have a way of creating problems
_rather than settling them, and the Jerusalem
area is lacking, in the natural advantages that
sometimes enable a port, for example, to exist
as an entity.
Sukkot, a time for rejoicing and thanks-
giving for the fruits of harvest, is one of the most
colorful and best-loved of traditional Jewish.
festivals. The celebration dates back to
times when it was commanded;
"When you have gathered in the fruits of
the land, ye shall keep the feast of the Lord
seven days; on the first day shall be a solemn
rest, and on the eighth day shall be a a solemn
rest ..."—(Leviticus XXIII: 39/40.)
Corning in the fall, five days after Yom Kip-
pur, when all the harvest tasks had been done
for the year, Sukkot in ancient days was a
natural time for a joyous pilgrimage to the
Temple at Jerusalem, where special prayers
were offered and sacrifices made. Since the
winter rains were so essential ,to the success of
crops, a "Drawing of tche Water" ceremony took
place an the first night of Sukkot
The Sukkah is a booth constructed of boughs
and festooned with fruits, grain and other tokens
of the earth's fertility. In some places it is also
decorated with hanging' or rugs. The Sukkah
recalls the huts in -which the Jews took refuge
when the escaped across the desert from op-
pression in Egypt. ,
The roof of the Sukkah must be laid so
that the stars may shine through by night and
the sun by day. This frail construction symbol-
izes the transitory life of man and his depen-
dance upon God.
Guest Editorial
Federaiion Community Planning
By ABRAHAM SRERE ,
Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Jewish Welfare
Federation of Detroit
Modern Jews continue the colorful tradi-
tion of the Sukkah as a family function, often
placing it in the yard or on the roof of the
home. The mother blesses the candles and the
father and children recite the Kiddush. The
family also partakes of festive meals in the
Sukkah. Sometimes it is erected in the syna,-
gogue, Where the whole congregation helps to
make decorations of cornstalks, grapes, apples,
punakins, autumn vegetables, et cetera! It is
customary for pious Jews to drive in the first
nail or stake for the erection of the Sukkah
at the end of the Day of Atonement.
Second in importance to the .Sukkah are' the
Lulav and Etrog (palm and citron). Leaves of
these characteristic trees of Israel are useful in
all the =Sukkot services. They are endowed. 'with
various spiritual meanings, symbolizing coopera-
tion, understanding, beauty or usefulness.
Some American Jewish congregations Cele-
brate Sukkot for eight days; others, nine. On
the final day, Simhat Torah, or Festival of the
Torah, the annual cycle of weekly readings from
the Torah (the Pentateuch) comes to an , end
and then immediately begins again. On Simhat
Torah, the scrolls of the Torah . are carried
through the synagogue at the head of a joyful
procession.
While the Sukkot is a harvest festival, it is
also a spiritual one fraught with reminders of
the heroism of both ancient and modern Jewish
pioneers.
The development of the Jewish Welfare Federation in
planning and caring. for our community's social needs has
been a gratifying one; Its record of steadily increasing sup-
port from the community has been impressive. There has
been a substantial increase in dollars oiven by the commu-
nity. They have increased from $350,000 through the Allied
JewiSh Campaign and .$212,000 from the Community Chest
in 1937 to :$5,770,000 from the Allied Jewish Campaign and
$385,000 from the Chest in 1948, and about $5,300,000 and
$400;000, respectively in 1949. Also, there has been a growth
in the number -of subscribers to the Allied Jewish Campaign
from 9,900 in 1937 to 31,000 in 1949.
The bulk of the moneys collected has • quite properly
gone to help our overseas coreligionists. However, local
That the United Nations, as the representa-
'Religious Librty: Able
needs have not been forgotten.
tive of the world community, has a rightful
As the number of its supporters has -increased, the de- Study of Important Issue
place in Jerusalem, is denied by none. The
sirability of broadening group representation on the Board
Israeli government -has - repeatedly and eon-
In his interesting book, "Religious Liberty"
sistently expressed its willingness to have the
of Governors has been appreciated. That Board now totals
UN supervise the holy plaCes, not only in Jeru-
65 members. Of these, 27 are members at large, 9 of whom (Macmillan) Cecil Northcott, Home Secretary
salem but elsewhere, and there is no reason to
are elected at each annual meeting for staggered three-year and Literary Superintendent of the London
Society, displays remarkable toler-
doubt that both the letter and spirit of such
terms. The various trade divisions of the Detroit Service, Missionary
ance towards all faiths and appeals for free
an agreement would be \rigidly adhered to. It
Group and the Women's Division select 18 men and women expression even by unbelievers.
is conceivable, also, ,that the UN could per-
to represent them on this board. In addition, various com-
The concluding words of his able analysis
form valuable service as a mediator in the
munity groupings select specified n.umbers of their mem- of the question are:
-city and as a guardian of the rights ,of -outside
bership to serve on the board as their representatives. The
"There must.4be freedom for belief and un-
-._ parties. There it no reason why -a satisfactory
belief, for these who hold that religion is the
Junior Service Group sends a representative not merely to
compromise along the lines set forth by the
crown of human life and for those who see in
Israeli government should not be worked out
the Federation Board, but also to the boards of each of our
it is only a mass of superstition and ignorance.
• and, in time, become acceptable to all inter-
local agencies. We believe that this has been an effective
Only on the grounds of toleration for all re-
ested parties. But stability in Palestine scarce-
way to broaden the representation on the board. It has
ligious opinions, and for none, can true re-
ly seems likely if the UN persists In a now
helped a large number of our community groups to acquire,
ligion itself flourish."
outdated plan of setting up a third state in a
Federation
is
and
has
helped
a better" knowledge of what;
Northcott's study shows that "the lands
-country that .is barely large enough for two.
Federation to learn more about the attitudes and desires of of Islam present perhaps the most formidable
Jewry -and Israel, having for centuries most of the larger groups in the commimity.
examples of the denial of religious liberty as it
The steadily growing number of our subscribers re-
is known amongst the Western democracies."
uttered the sacred religious vow "If I forget
He continues: "Islam—the complete 'church-
flects, not only the growth of our community in both
thee, 0 Jerusalem . . ." will fight against
state"still forbids a change of faith away from
population and wealth, but also the steadily increasing
the present 'unacceptable plan: With, justice
Islam under dire penalties, with only Iraq, Pal-
number of activities in which Jews find they can work
on Israel's side, the new curbs must be
estine and the Northern Sudan possessing regu-
happily together. Mile there are so many -different field4
defeated. •
lar procedures for the recognition of conversion
of agreement there has, of course, been complete inde-
to another religious allegiance. While Christian
pendence of action for 'all. the many different shades of
and Jewish communities are allowed to remain
belief ln our communing.
in comparatively undisturbed peace, economic
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
The splendid results of the Allied Jewish Campaigns and cultural pressure on non-Islamic groups is
papers, Michigan Press Association.
.have effectively demonstrated a, sense of obligation to our formidable. In Egypt, for instance, the ancient
Services: Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate, King Features, Central Press Association, Palcor
fellow-Jews all over the globe. They have, also shown the
Christian Coptic community loses hundreds of
News Agency. -
splendid qualities of our -lay and professional leaders from members each year to Islam for economic and
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
Co.. 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1155.
campaign chairman all the way through the ranks of the matrimonial reasons:"
Subscription $3 ka year; foreign $4.
How did the issue of liberty of faith arise?.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6; .1942 at Post Office,
riew
est volunteers, and from the Executive Director to the
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
The author of "Religious 'Llaerty" states: "His-
newest clerk or office boy in the office of Federation.
it was the Hebrew and Christian con-
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
•
A. great •deal of thought and work has. been - spent in torically
SIDNEY •SHMARAK, Adveriising Manager
of a single and universal God that
ception
planning for our community's growth. Groups planning introduced a religious exclusivism. leading• to
RUTH L. CASSEL, City Editor
work in spetial fields covered already by existing orga.niza-
compulsion and persecution in the realm of .re-
VOL. XVI—No. 4
Page 4
October 7, 1949
tons are urged to devote their energies to other community aigion. . Ancient religions were regarded as eon-
needs not yet met.
Sukkot Scriptural Selections
-fined to each separate people believing in them,
Pentateuchal portions•: .First Day, Saturday:
and the question of ebsnge from one religious
The High Holy Day Season has always been a period
MeV. 22:26-23:44, Num. 29:12-16; Second Day,
of rededication to the pitnciples of our faith. Outstanding belief to another did not arise. It was not until
tunday: Lev. 22:26-23:44," N um. 29:12-16.
among them is the_ oft-reiterated emphasis on prayer, peni- an exclusive dogma appeared, as in Christianity,
. Prophetical portions: First Day, Zech. 14;
tence and charity.. For many centuries our forefathers prac- with its , belief, in• an exclusive fellowship, that
question of proselytism, change of belief
'Second Day, I Kings 8:2-21.
ticed them in splendid fashion. In the United. States we the
and
liberty of religion arose.". •
-Scriptural Selections for Hol Hamoed Sukkot
have followed in their spirit. Let us continue to do so. Then
Northcott's
survey of the question is . ably,
Monday, Num. 29, 17:25; Tuesday, 29:20-28;
the maintenance of our pride and self-respect and, the ,fine accomplished. In its totality, this srrill book IS
Wednesday, Num. 29:23-31; Thursday, Num.
pattern set for our children and our grandchildren. will give
a good one; It • IS invaluable for all concerned
29:26-31; Hoshanah Rabbah, Friday, • Num. us a. sense of satisfaction that will be a joy in _ail the ,years with :religious freedom and the struggles among
`29 :26-34.
to come.
faiths to•capture the souls of non-believers.
.
•
THE JEWISH NEWS
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