2
AJC Message in Synagogues
During Shevuoth Observance
At Shevuoth services in Detroit congregations, worship-
ers will be urged to serve as Allied Jewish Campaign workers.
Conservative and orthodox rabbis will deliver the cam-
paign message to their congregati( ns after Yizkor services
on the second day of Shevuoth. Reform leaders will make
their appeals at services the first day.
"Shevuoth commemorates the gift of Torah on Mt. Sinai,
when our ancestors with one voice proclaimed, 'We will do
and we will hear'," Rabbi M. J. Wohlgelernter, chairman of
the campaign's congregation section, states in his holiday
message.
"In the same spirit, and in the face of the urgent needs
of Jewish life abroad and at home, let Detroit Jews proclaim,
We will do' and enlist as workers, to complete the drive of
the Allied Jewish Campaign."
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 19, 1950
Simons Takes Post
With Hospital Fund
Leonard Simons has accepted
the associate chairmanship of
the $19,720,000 Greater Detroit
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
`Religion in Israel i—Unrealistic Reports
A report submitted by Rabbi Ben Zion Bokser to the Rabbini-
cal Assembly of America in behalf of a special commission to
Israel, which also included Rabbis Maxwell M. Farber, Ralph
LEONARD SIMONS
Simon and Sanders Tofield, justifiably deplores the weakness of
religion and the decline of religious observance in the Jewish state. Hospital Fund's memorial gifts
Unfortunately, the lengthy observations made in this report are committee.
far from realistic and at times are contradictory.
With more than $16,000,000 al-
A careful study of this report will reveal that conditions in
ready subscribed by corpora-
Israel are in no sense different from those in other lands; that
tions; foundations and individu-
there are some very pious people there as elsewhere and also
als, the Fund's general cam-
some who show hostility to religious dogmas and practices.
paign to obtain subscriptions
Israel has her extremists just as we have them here and else-
from top level executives of cor-
where. Israel's saints and patriarchs do not predominate, but
porations and business and pro-
they are in evidence.
Naturally, much more is expected from Israel. The Rabbinical fessional concerns will continue
Assembly's observers are disappointed that the Jewish state has through May 26.
created a "secular culture"; that Israel's, "goals on the cultural
Simons pointed out that De-
level were the revival of the Hebrew language as a medium of troit's Jewish Community has a
common discourse and the transvaluation of Jewish tradition into special stake in the campaign.
national terms." They point out that "in the dominant culture of
"One of the four new hospit-
Israel, the Bible is studied as national literature; the festivals are als to be constructed through
observed as nature celebrations or as national demonstrations; this movement," Simons said,
the customs and ceremonies of Jewish life are continued as group "will be the 222-bed Jewish Hos-
folkways which were only of historical or national interest."
pital which will rise on a 34-acre
The rabbinical reporters fail to indicate that in the Diaspora, site bounded by Outer Dr., Whit-
where Hebrew remains a dead tongue, even the "secular culture" comb Ave., McNichols Rd. and
is lacking, understanding of the traditions is limited to a small Lauder Ave.
element in the population, observance has been reduced to several
Jewish Hospital Grant
days in the year and there is neither religion nor knowledge. In
"Five years ago," he said, "the
Israel, on the contrary, there is complete understanding of the
basic ideas of our faith—because the people think in and speak Jews of Detroit succeeded in
Hebrew—and there is a better chance for the revival of religious raising about $2,500,000 for their
practices because of such knowledge as well as the emphasis on hospital only to find that be-
the Bible as literature and the festivals as national demonstra- cause of increased construction
costs, the .kind of hospital we
tions. The rabbis' report indicates, in fact:
"As water flows underground until it finally breaks through wanted would cost $5,000,000-In
1948 - the Greatet:iDetroit Hos-
to the surface to create fresh, living springs, so does faith often
pital .Fund was created and our
live on in the human, soul as a half-conscious yearning until
it deepens and matures to finally break through in acts of project .was accepted as part of
explicit religious affirmation. Such a religious undergrOund the program.
"With the successful comple-
exists in Israel, and it is perhaps the most hopeful fact about
tion of the fund, the Jewish
the present situation."
Hospital Association will receive
Why, then, the panic—especially in view of the drastically- an allocation of $2,500,000, to
reduced interests in religious affirmations in the very communi- supplement the funds we now
ties from which the reporting rabbis hailed?
The trouble with their report is that they did not deal mere- have in hand. This sum will en-
ly with religious observance but with forms of religious observ- able us to go ahead with the
ance. They disliked the extremists' failure to accept modernism construction of the hospital."
Approach 11,000 Concerns
as much as they deplored the hostility of the Mapam. But if they
More than 800 members of the
truly wanted to find religion, then the manner of observance
should not have mattered and the hope held out in the paragraph campaign organization of the
we have just quoted should have caused them to cone back with Greater Detroit Hospital Fund
attended the opening dinner of
hope rather than despair.
Our rabbinic reporters have failed to obsetve objectively the the Fund's general campaign
issues they set out to study. Why speak of the hostility of the May 11 at Hotel Statler. The.
dominant labor party, or at best its being "less outspoken" in its meeting inaugurated the activi-
attitude to religious observance because of its partnership with ties of the company executives
the Religious Bloc, when they found a lack of synagogues also and business and professional
among the General Zionists? Why emphasize the irreligious at- divisions which will approach
titude of the Mapai if some elements in the Hapoel Hamizrachi top level executives in large
settlements also are prepared to make changes in traditional ob- corporations and some 11,000
business and profesional con-
servances? Where will you draw the line, gentlemen?
cerns in Greater Detroit during
Granted that religion is in a sad state in Israel, the fact
the next two weeks.
remains that only in Israel is the Sabbath the day of rest; only
Benson Ford, Vice president
in Israel do the people converse in the language in which they
and general manager of Lincoln-
pray; only in Israel are the national traditions observed by all.
This is a period of transition. Changes eventually will have to Mercury and president of Henry
be authorized by an official Sanhedrin or other recognized body Ford Hospital, speaking on
speaking for all the rabbis. In a state, the railroads and planes "Greater Detroit Invests in
do not halt, the telegraph and telephone wires are not discon- Health," pointed out that the
nected, public services must continue to function, on the Sabbath Hospital Fund program is part
and holidays. When the proper emendations are made, the prob- of an all-out movement to cor-
lem will be less serious.
rect shortages of hospital beds
The rabbis, while failing to offer constructive advice for the and educational facilities for
amelioration of the conditions they object to, make this con- training professional personnel
cluding comment: "One thing is clear, Israel is not yet the great and "will result in our com-
center of Judaism toward which we may look for guidance in our munity becoming certainly one
own religious problems.. Indeed, Israel must still be served before of the truly great medical cen-
it can begin to serve. us.". How is Israel to be served by us? Are ters of the nation."
we to transfer to the Jewish state our form of irreligiosity, our
own non-observance, the uncultured mannerisms of our
three-
daY-a-year Jewish observers?
Browdy Accepts Call
Much more could be said about- the report of the Conserva-
To Run for ZOA Post
tive rabbis,
space does not permit 'it at this time. An addi-
tional
word, but
however, is in order at this point about. the Orthodox
NEW Y 0 R K — Benjamin
viewpoint. The (
orthodox) Rabbinical Council of America, in an
G. Browdy, president of the
appeal for religious articles to be sent to reception centers and
Zionist Organization of
immigration
America, announced that he
binical Council camps
is cO - in Israel, makes this statement: "The Rab-
operating with the Religious Bloc in America,
has accepted a call addressed
which is taking an active interest in preserving traditional
to him by a committee of 100
Judaism in Israel." We heartily endorse the effort to secure Sifre
outstanding Zionist leaders
Torah, Taleisim, Prayerbooks and other
religious items for ship-
from various parts of a coun-
ment to Israel, and we are convinced that through practical help
try to stand for re-election to
we can encourage a revival of religious observance in Israel. But
the presidency of the Zionist
we question the ability of a group, or many groups, or an entire
Organization of America at
people, that finds it difficult to preserve traditional Judaism to
the forthcoming annual con-
the fullest degree in its own midst, to enforce such a revival else-
vention of the organization
where—especially in the Land of Israel! And we doubt 1.Thether
to be held in Chicago July 1-
any element, Conservative, Reform or Orthodox, has a right to
4.
speak in terms of exerting its influence within Israel.
Halevy 25th Anniversary Acclaimed
At Annual Concert; Soloists Cheered
On the eve of her departure
for Israel, with Mrs. Aaron De-
Roy, Marguerite Kozenn (Mrs.
Julius Chajes) was given an
ovation Tuesday evening at the
annual concert of the Halevy
Society, at the Masonic Temple.
Mr. Chajes ably directed the
well - arranged program which
also featured as guest soloist
Norman Atkins, the New York
baritone.
The Halevy choir was well re-
ceived by the enthusiastic au-
dience which acclaimed the ef-
forts of the local musicians in
their program of advancing the
Jewish musical art.
Singing with the choir in solo
parts were Minnie Lakritz, Ilse
Roberg and Harry Kobel.
The choir was exceptionally
effective in the concluding num-
ber, Havdalah, in which miss
1-1.- ozenn also was at her best.
This selection, however, was
not the only highlight of the
concert. The fine voice of the
out-of-town guest, Norman At-
kins; the perfection with which
Miss Kozenn interprets her mu- ,
sical assignments, the able di-
rection of Mr. Chajes as well as
his brilliant work at the piano,
made this concert stand out - as a
great achievement in the history
of the music society.
Mr. Chajes accompanied Mr.
Atkins and Miss Kozenn. The
choir's piano accompanist was
Miss Betty Kowalsky.
A banquet in honor of the
Halevy performers was given at
the Halevy Music Center after
the concert Tuesday.
The banquet, at which 65 mem-
bers celebrated the 25th anni-
versary of Halevy, was utilized
to honor outstanding members.
Dr. William Klein, president,
Mrs. Klein, William Gayman, as-
sociate conductor, and Mrs. Gay-
man were presented with hon-
orary life memberships in the
society. Speakers included Mr.
Gay-man, Mr. and Mrs. Chajes,
I. Woodrow, Dr. Klein and Rabbi
Jacob Segal.
h. O
anj e s-
Mrs.
triiAprill
her Mrs. sD
eaesROy
in Paris, where Mrs. Chajes will
sing with the National Orches-
tra. In Israel, she will appear
with the Israel Broadcasting
Orchestra in Tel Aviv. For the
first time h1 12 years, Mrs. Cha-
jes will see her parents who re-
cently fled to Israel from Bu-
charest, Romania. She was pre-
vented by Iron Curtain regula-
tions from seeing them on her
annual trips to Europe in the
last three years. Mrs. DeRoy
first visited in Palestine 30 years
ago.
On the Record
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
(Copyright, 1950, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Inc.)
From Many Corners
But for a last moment change, President Truman would have
publicly referred to Israel as a democracy where "liberty and
freedom of worship" are "absolutely" secure . . . The President
was to do that in a message hailing Israel's second anniversary.
He abandoned that phrase when he was advised by sources close
to high State Department echelons that his statement might be
construed as a suggestion that the next 'UN abandon the idea of
inernational aegis over Jerusalem . Mr. Truman yielded re-
luctantly and only when it was pointed out to him he would be
acting inappropriately at a time when internationalization was
still on the UN book . .. It is against •the background of thiS
incident that the Arab League •propagandists in this country have
intensified the falling-into-Soviet-arms-threat . . . Zionist leader-
ship is putting up a strong effort in Washington on the problem
of Arab arms.. . . But thus far without success . . . Washington
officials are under great presurre by diplomats and others who
claim that the U. S. cannot afford to lose Arab goodwill . .. The
Prime Minister of Pakistan now visiting this country refuses to
answer questions re Israel .. . If the Catholic bloc which voted
solidly. for internationalizing Jerusalem could be released from
the commitment made to certain sources the issue of Jerusalem
would melt quickly . . . People close to Garreau, president of the
Trusteeship Council, who was recently reported to have had an
audience with the Pope, say there isn't the slightest possibility
of a change of attitude by the Pope . Informed Lake Success
circles have no doubt however that the whole issue is now purely
academic • . . There is a chance the next General Assembly will
reverse itself on the trusteeship idea . But whether it does or
not the internationalization decision is destined to remain a dead
letter.
About People
Charles Zunser is headed for the presidency of the National
Conference of Jewish Social Welfare at its June convention to
succeed George W. Rabinoff, director of the Training Bureau
for Jewish Communal Service.
San Francisco's Jewish p'opulation, we hear, is close to 75,000.
In 1850 the city had about 100 Jews . .. The name San Francisco
doesn't sound Jewish but it was a half-Jew by the name of Wash-
ington Bartlett who named it so . . .- Bartlett's father was a gen-
tile and his mother was of Sephardic Jewish stock . . . Young
Washington is said to - have received a strict • religious education.
According to rabbinic interpretation he was a Jew, since religious
status is determined by maternal origin . .. On that basis it can
be said that San Francisco's first mayor was a Jew . . . Later he
was elected governor of California but he died before taking the
oath of office.
The new movie star Kirk Douglas comes from Jewish parents.
He was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., where for a time he taught in
a Jewish Sunday School .. . Kirk is a distortion of Irving and
Douglas a derivative from Danilowitz'. . How his publicity agents
arrived at that transformaticn is a deep secret.
A recent newspaper story about the death in Rome of the
Duke of Terruzzi stirred no ripple in Jewish circles .. . The Duke
was married for some years to a New York Jewish girl but that
didn't prevent him from becoming a leading figure in the Fascist
movement.
Society Notes
The Felicia Warburg who was recently engaged to David
Sarnoff's son is a granddaughter of Felix M. Warburg . • Tier
father, Paul Felix Warburg, is, next to the Ambassador, the most
important official in the U. S. Embassy in London . .. He is
steering clear of the Palestine issue Some 30 or 40 years ago
such an engagement would have caused a sensation . . . In those
days Jews of German and East European origin rarely inter-
married .. . George Backer was the first Jew of East European
origin to marry into the Warburg-Schiff family . . . Herbert Bay-
ard Swope introduced Backer to Dorothy Schiff . . So pleased
was Felix Warburg with Backer's Jewish activities that at a certain
period he expected Backer to inherit his position of leadership.
He was impressed by Backer's keen brain and cultural attain-
ments . . .. Louis Marshall once resigned in disgust from a well-
known German Jewish club because it refused membership to an
East European Jew . . . The East European Jew was David S17.*
noff . . . There is today no club which would not welcome Sai-
noff . Times have changed ... Sarnoff speaks an excellent
Yiddish.