As the Editor
Views the News .. .
`Sorry, Gentlemen Steel Shortage'
'
Dr. Theodor Herzl Gaster, Dropsie College
professor, whose earlier work on Passover has
gotten deserved good reviews, has produced an-
other excellent work which stands out for its
high qualities of scholarship.
His "Purim (Feast of Lots) and Hanukah
(Feast of Lights) in Custom and Tradition," pub- .
lished by Henry Schuman, 20 E. 70th St., New
York 21, is remarkable fOr its thoroughness, its
collection of historical facts, explanations of the
origins of the festivals, the manner of their ob-
servance, their legends, etc.
Prof. Gaster does not limit himself to the
traditional aspects of the festivals. He reviews
the critical aspects of their origin. At the same
time he links the two as freedom festivals by
pointing out that the essential element of both
"is not only opposition to tyranny from without
but equally to complacence from within." Thus:
Thanksgiving, 329 years old, is rooted in
Jewish tradition and in ideals which stem
from faith in supreme spiritual powers that
rule over us.
This Thanksgiving we utter prayers that
our security should be protected, that
American ideals should prevail, that the free-
dom of this land should prove as strong
and as firm as Plymouth Rock.
All faiths, joining in pleas to the Al-
mighty to keep America strong and to as-
sure the safety of our freedoms, must re-
solve on this day to offer our Government
assurances that we stand united in the battle
for the preservation of our common heritage.
On Thanksgiving Day we invest our
spiritual strength in faith, just as we should
resolve to make material investments in U.S.
Savings Bonds which serve to give strength
and stability to our Government.
Great Musical Culture
When Dr. Serge Koussevitsky comes to
Detroit on Feb. 4 to direct the Israel Phil-
harmonic Orchestra, he will bring with him
an enthusiasm, which only Israel has been
able to impart to men of all faiths and all
stations in life who studied conditions in
the Jewish state.
Upon his return from Israel a few days
ago after a five-week stay during which he
conducted 14 concerts of the Israel Philhar-
monic Orchestra, Dr. Koussevitsky predicted
that the American public is "in for a big
surprise" when the Israel orchestra comes
here, "because, I am sure when they hear,
they will forget that the orchestra comes
from a small and new country and will find
that they are listening to an orchestra with
a great musical culture." He added:
"They will find, not only a great orchestra,
but one which combines the greatest enthu-
siasm with a profound love and devotion to
the art—to a degree which, I must say, is
found rarely even among the great nations of
the world.
"We must understand that in Israel they
know that the cultural standards of nations is
not judged by their size or wealth, but by their
development of the arts. If we understand
Israel as a whole, we must understand why
their cultural standard is so high. It has be-
come a habit for the world that from Israel—
for thousands of years—shall come the great-
est laws and the greatest love and forgiveness.
Therefore when the Jewish people has re-
turned after two thousand years, the world is
watching thesis and the world may learn. much
Irons this new dynamic country."
Work
`Purim and Hanukah In
Custom and Tradition
Thanksgiving
By working together as one united people
for the basic ideals evolved in our American-
ism, we mike real the true message of
Thanksgiving.
Gaster's Scholarly
Hebrew Education: Priority Task
For nearly a quarter of a century, the United Hebrew
Schools of Detroit has been sponsoring Education Months
to advance the cause of Jewish education and to encourage
the enrollment of Jewish children in our schools.
This pioneering effort of our schools has inspired
similar observances in communities throughout the land and
the Education Month idea has since been adopted nationally
by the American Association for Jewish Education.
It stands to reason that the call for enrollment of chil-
dren in our schools must be repeated annually. The lure of the
outdoors, of dancing and music lessons, and the anxiety for
additional recreation hours for the youth after a full school
day combine to make more difficult the task of our Jewish
educators, who must add to the burdens of the child by in-
viting him to assume extra Hebrew school duties.
The greater the difficulty, however, the more earnest
must be our effort in this priority obligation among our do-
mestic community duties. The American Association for
Jewish Education recently approached the problem of Jew-
ish education in a most realistic manner when it indicated
that "only by acquiring the great inheritance of • Jewish
knowledge, wisdom and ° beauty, created through the cen-
turies, will the child be able to share ,these riches with his
parents and pass them on, in turn, to his own children."
A two-fold objective has been indicated in the effort to
advance our educational program : that it helps to enrich
the contributions to American democracy by Jewish cultural
and spiritual values, and that it makes possible a better un-
derstanding of our • people's relationship with Israel and
Jewries in other lands. The emphasis placed on the Hebrew
language in our schools is of great importance in this pro-
gram. Some very pertinent comments were made on this
score recently by the Israel Foreign Minister, Moshe Sharett,
who said, speaking of Hebrew as a basis for Jewish unity :
The Jews of Israel would never have been able to become a
nation had they not possessed their own language and had
they not proved themselves capable of reviving it. On the
other hand, the Hebrew language would never have attained its
present high degree if the people had not attained statehood.
To learn Hebrew means to become really a Jew. If you can-
not do it yourself, see to it that others do it, that your children
do it, or help the organization which is engaged in the task to
disseminate it, but see that it is done. Thereby you will feel the
infinte worthwhileness of being a Jew far more than you are
able today. You may say it is too much to expect of the average
person that he should know two languages. Is it really too
much? Look at us in Israel. You will hardly find a well educated
person there today who is not bi-lingual. Very many of us are
tri-lingual. We teach our children both English and Arabic in
addition to Hebrew and it is our aim that as many people as
possible in Israel know three languages.
A people cannot be proud of itself if it is not conscious of its
cultural heritage. And this heritage cannot be conveyed satis-
factorily, effectively and adequately through translation alone.
Our great national poet Hayyim Nahman Bialik, once said that
to read the poetry of one's own people only in translation is like
being doomed to kiss one's own bride through a veil.
A veritable treasure-trove of knowledge and a source of
pride and spiritual satisfaction await you. It is up to you to
make it your own.
Such remarkable tributes, from so great
a musician as Dr. Koussevitsky, must be
earned. Apparently, it is well deserved. Upon
Dr. Koussevitsky's return to the United
States, the Israel orchestra continued its
activities under the direction of the Brazilian
conductor Eleazar de Carvalho. In Decem-
ber, Leonard Bernstein will direct it and will
thereupon come to this country to conduct
the Israel orchestra's first concert, at the
Waldorf Astoria . in New York, before pro-
ceeding on the planned countrywide tour.
Detroit will be privileged to welcome the
Israel musicians on Feb. 4. We are confi-
dent that overflow audiences will greet these
musicians wherever they go. For the Jews
This magnificent appeal by one of Israel's ablest states-
of America it will be a real holiday—to be men is the most convincing argument that could be advanced
able to say "shalom" to an orchestra that in support of the program aimed at in the current Education
has emerged to greatness by adhering to Month. But there is much more to be said. In the several
high cultural standards.
articles evaluating Jewish educational needs in our own
community, appearing in this issue, which The Jewish News
THE JEWISH NEWS
is happy to dedicate to the cause of Jewish education and
to the United Hebrew Schools, some of the difficulties are
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News.
papers. Michigan Press Association.
ably analyzed and the status of our schools is presented in
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a practical fashion. Among the major problems, as indicated
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in the challenging article by Bernard Isaacs, the esteemed
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
Detroit Mich.. under Act of March R. 1879.
superintendent of the United Hebrew Schools, is the decline
PHILIP .SLOMOVIT2.. Editor
in the number of girls enrolled in the schools. Mr. Isaacs of-
SIDNEY SHMA.RAH Advertisins Manager
fers an excellent argument for greater interest among par-
Vo. XVIII—No. 10 Page 4 November 17, 1950 ents in treating the needs of the girls for a Jewish education
on lines parallel with those of the boys. If Mr. Isaacs suc-
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
ceeds in this appeal alone, the Education Month program will
have
proved a great success.
This Sabbath, the ninth day of Kislev, 5711,
But
it is in the general field of large enrollment of Jew-
the following Scriptural selections will be read
ish children that Education Month must triumph. Every De-
in our synagogues:
troit parent has an opportunity to play an important role
in this supreme effort. We add our appeal to those of the
Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 28:10-32:3.
educational leaders in behalf of this effort and we sincerely
Prophetical portion—Hos. 12:13-14:10 or 11:7- hope that the 1950 Education Month will spur increased en-
12:12 or 11:7-14:10.
rollment of children in our schools.
"Esther's courageous appeal to the king
was inspired by Mordecai's express assurance
that those in high station could not seek es-
cape for •themselves by concealing their ident-
ity with their people or by holding aloof from
the common cause; while the foes of the
Maccabees were not only the officers of Anti-
ochus but no less the degenerate leaders of
their- own people. To a generation which has
seen the perils of 'collaboration,' and reaped
its bitter fruits, the message of Purim and
Hanukah may well be that the race is not
always to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong."
Through such an approach to the two festi-
vals, Dr. Gaster makes an important contribu-
tion to Jewish thinking in relation to the two
festivals and to Jewish history generally. He
brings the lessons of Purim and Hanukah in a
challenging fashion to Jewry.
• Meanwhile, he performs a service as an his-
torian by evaluating the meaning of the two
feats, by explaining how •hey.began, by review-
ing the story of the Megilah and its characters,
the ceremonies of Purim and Hanukah, their
games and songs, etc.
"Purim and Hanukah" will be treasured as •a,
most informative work.
It enriches Jewish
scholarship.
'Children of the Ernek'
Mrs. Braverman's Israel
Youth Story Revised
About 10 years ago, Libbie L. Braverman,
well known Cleveland educator and Hadassah
leader, wrote a book for children which at once
caught the imagination of readers and was ac.!
claimed by schools throughout the land.
"Children of the Emek," published by Furrow
Press, 1273 E. 10th St., Brooklyn, 30, N. Y., has
now been brought up to date and is a story not
of Palestine but of Israel. By the addition of
two new chapters and the revision of the others,
the book is an up-to-the- minute story about
child life in the Jewish state.
Interestingly illustrated by Temima N. Gezari,
this book is the story of the twins, Tamar and
David, residents of Nahalal, in Emek Israel. They
are taken on tours, they see the Hebrew theatri-
cal performances in Tel Aviv, they celebrate the
holidays— in -brief, their story is the story of life,
in Israel in its fascinating aspects.
This story will enchant the young reader and
their elders will be happy to have an opportunity
to share in the joy of reading Mrs. Braverman's
ably written "Children of the Emek."
Pilgrim People' Splendid
History of Jews of U. S.
"Pilgrim People," (Harper), the new book by
Anita Libman Lebeson, is an ably compiled his-
tory of the Jews of America. As the sub-title
states; this book is "a full and lively history" of
U. S. Jewry.
This volume stands out for its all-inclusive-
ness, for its unique effort to evaluate every im-
portant aspect of Jewish history in this country,.
beginning with the earliest days. It presents an
interesting picture of Jewish conditions in Euro-
pean lands prior to Columbus' arrival on these
shores and tells of the "dream of sanctuary":.
among Jews who sought escape from persecution
and came here to strike roots in a free land.
The story is up-to-date—ending with Amerld
can Jewry's contributions to the rescue of Jews
and the establishment of the state of Israel.
Jewish contributions to America, the share of
leading Jews in our Government, the stories of '
the great in art, science, literature, the story of
the Jewish press, and scores of other aspects are
covered in "Pilgrim People." The voluminous :
notes and bibliography indicate the pains that „
were taken by the author to cover the subject as !.
thoroughly as possible.
Mrs. Lebeson formerly taught history in Chi- •
cago at the University of Illinois. One of her sis-
ters, Rose, is a former MGM scenarest and is the
wife of Ben Hecht. The other sister, Minna, is a
Chicago psychiatrist.
Her book first appeared 20 years ago and was
then acclaimed as a worthy Jewish history, and
in its present revised form it has regained a. line •
place in the Jewish literary ranks. :.•