Purely Commentary Campaiorn Reaches$3 000,090
As Workers Seek to Cover Slips
s _
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
d i the Schools' , • Release Time and Non-Sectarianism
' G od .
Catholics recently have undertaken an advertising campaign Having reached the S3.000.0001
to promote their public relations program in support of parochial mark, Allied Jewish campaign '
schools. The following Christian Science Monitor editorial, "God workers are making every effort
in the Schools," makes these interesting observations which serve to cover a minimum of a "slip --
as a basis for further discussion of the question that has been ! a-day" each, to finish their job
given new status by the Supreme Court's approval of the "released in- double-quick time, Abe Kasle,
campaign chairman, stated.
time" plan for religious studies in New York:
Leading . division among the
A magazine advertisement published by the Knights of trade and professional groups is
Columbus asks, "Should children learn about God—in school?" the Professional, led by Dr. Mar-
Virtually every religionist would answer "Yes"—to this extent, tin Naimark and Arthur S. Pur-
that God is worshipped by nearly all of mankind through var- dy, with better than 651'2 of their
ious faiths, that the conception of God is at the center of moral 1951 total already raised, on
codes which hold society together, and that belief in God has close to 1,600 pledges—out of al
inspired nearly all the outstanding figures about whom we total of 2,677 prospects in the
study in history.
group. First _section in the cam-
Many besides Roman Catholics would agree with the state- paign to go "over the top" of last
from
other
apart
to
be
set
,
ments: "Religion. . . is not a subject
year's final figure is the social
fields of learning. It is the very core . . . of human knowledge.
It is the governing factor in our understanding and rapprecia-
tion of other learning. It relates all of the knowledge'we acquire
to the divine purPoses for which we were created."
But many will not agree with the subsequent statement
that "children cannot . .. get this kind of education in public
schools" because ... "there is a law against it," and so forth ...
What the laws of practically all the American states forbid is
the teaching of any one sectarian doctrine in the public schools.
They do not prevent; -and good teaching does not neglect; the
relating of secular knowledge to moral, ethical purposes in life
and society, nor the acquaintance of pupils with the iniyor-
tance of religion in general as a force in nation-sand commun-
ities.
Beyond this, the home, the Sunday school, and other re-
ligious surroundings . should succeed in equipping the child with
a faith that will sustain him. Those who wish denominational
schools for the further training of their children have the
constitutional right in the United States to maintain them.
But it should not be thought that the public schools are de-
barred from teaching in a nonsectarian way about the existence
of God. Nor should sectarianism ever operate to diminish that
freedom. •
.
While, in the main, the Monitor argues well in support of
its theory that in a non-sectarian fashion the God-idea is and
should be taught. in our schools, there remains the danger of
interpretation, of attempts by some teachers to introduce the
sectarian angles. To avoid these dangers, there is only one way
out of the dilemma: to adhere scrupulously to the idea of sep-
aration of church and state and to battle to the end that this
sacred principle should not be abused.
We differ with the Monitor's subsequent endorsement of the
"released time" idea. Once we begin to legislate in support of
religion, we face the danger afterwards of being legislated into
one or another form of worship.
Properly; religious studies should be confined to the home
and to the synagogue or• church. The moment they are linked
with the schools, no matter how remotely, they are menaced by
secularism. First you submit to "released time," then you have
"dismissed time," with its enlarged dangers, and the next ap-
proach would be control by the majority.
Joseph Martin Dawson, in his book "Separdte Church and •
State Now," makes the point, in discussing tize question
leased time," that "it is unwise to sacrifice the meaningful
principle of separation of church and state in a democracV for
the dubious benefits to religion in a set-up which emasculates
religion and at the same time introduces so many complica:-
tions."
-
The most recent decisians on "released time" point to another
danger: the rise of groups that may seek- to capitalize' on the
green light given sponsors of the idea by the SUpreme Court. In,
New York, a group that calls itself "Committee for -Furtherance
of Jewish Education," qualifying its title -by a statement that it is
the only leading Jewish organization sponsoring Release Time
classes in religious education and training for the past 11 years
in the public schools of New York," acclaimed the Supreme Court
decision and announced the extension of "plans for propagandiz-
ing the Release Time program amongst the Jewish.- population-."
It is sponsoring a dinner, it refers to Its -chairman as a "well-
known communal leader and philanthropist," and it is glamorizing
its affair by announcing the selection, of "the outstanding Jewish
Father and Mother of the year." -
Any one paying attention to such capitalizing on principle
by an unknown group inadvertently harms the existing - educa-
tional movements. Support of upstartS serves to destroy the es .-
tablished cultural movements which have developed after many
years of study and planning. The go-sign in support of the Re
leased Time idea encourages the rise of irresponsible movements
that make capital of sacred ideals.
We concur with the Nation in reaching this conclusion in
opposition to Released Time:
It is impoisible to escape the force of the conclusions reach-
ed by Justice Jackson—who also dissented—that the New York
released-time program utilizes the public schools "as a tem-
porary jail for students who will not go to church." In other
words, the coercive power of the state is used to assist religious
sets in violation of the First Amenden,t. The consequences of this
initial breach in the wall separating church and state were
dramatically foreshadowed in Jackson's dissent: ". . . The day
that this country ceases to be free for irreligion it will cease
to be free for religion—except for the sect that can win political
power .. . We start down a rough road when we begin to mix
compulsory public education with coMpulsory godlinesi . . ."
Dentists Among, Campaign Leaders
Proud of the lead their division has taken, in percentage of
1951 funds -raised, are these dentists' section workers in the pro-
fessional division of the Allied Jewish Campaign. Left to right:
Drs., ALLAN GOLDSTEIN; THEODORE. GLASS, 'MAURICE J. HIM-
EL/114N, LOUIS I. GLASIER. and MILTON IlLANIN.__
services, whose chairman is Ir-
win Shaw.
Professional chairmen singled
out three workers in the govern-
ment services group for special
praise Sigmund Cohen, who has
covered 22 slips. Max Smi' h.
with 25, and Earl Weber, with 38.
All divisions are holding indi-
vidual report meetings simultan-
eously today in the Fred M. But-
zel Memorial Building, 163 Madi-
son, campaign headquarters,
where a newly-insl -alled kitelie!ri
affords luncheon facilities for
workers.
Mrs. Samuel A. Green and
Leon Kay, chairman of the met-
ropolitan and organizations di-
visions, have announced that 15
section chairmen are taking re-
sponsibility for workers on a
geographic basis for the first
time in this year's Allied Jewish
Campaign. Workers in this
group have to date secured a
73% average increase on gifts
from the same prospects in 1951.
the pattern by covering plenty
of slips and getting nice in-
creases. Charles --Himelhoch and
Stanley J. Winkelman have
come to the front to take over
the chairmanship of the wom-
en's apparel' section. Burt Hy-
man, as chairman of the men's
apparel section, has got his
group off to a good start.
Chairman Samuel J. Green-
berg has urged his workers to
put in a final spurt to -try to
take the lead. as his groun re-
ported in over 60% of 1954 gifts
on $95.697.
Nathan Balaban, chairman of
the Arts and Crafts Division,
cited his Printers and Publi s hers
group, which is at the 90%-ma -rk
of 1951 figures. Section chairmen
Sydney Levison, David Safran
and Harvey Willens, have
pled ,r,ed to work toward a bet-
ter-than-100% final figure.
In the mechanical tra ,..es di-
vision, David Shiffman, co-
chairman of the machinery and
manufacturing section, is a one-
man campaign, covering all 40
slips himself and collecting pay-
ments on all showing an out-
standing balance. Completing
the organization of all sections
in this division,-. Albert Fruman,
chairman has announced that
Samuel Herman will serve as
chairman of the tires group.
William P. Greenberg, chair-
man of- garages, - is running
Shiffman a close second, accord-
ing to Fruman, and has prac-
tically completed" solicitation of
all prospects. -
Entering the • final phase of
their campaign, the Attorneys'
Section will hold a workers get-
together at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Mark Birnkrant, 1525 Bal-
moral, at 8:30 p.m., Monday.
Featured will be a new Eddie
Cantor film, "Frontline '52" and
a Shelley Winters film, "Doing
the Impossible." Abe Satovsky is
chairman of the Attorneys' Sec-
tion with Birnkrant, Sidney J.
Karbel, and A. Joseph Seltzer.
2
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 23, 1952
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 19.12, Sc'; 1-h Telegraphic Agency,
Inc.'
Communal Issues
Whether or not the American Jewish Committee and th•
Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith will quit the National
Community Relations Advisory Council is the question that now
interests Jewish communities .. . However, it can be predicted
that the issue, emanating from the recommendations of the
Maclver Report, will not be settled at the meeting of NCRAC
executive committee in New York on May 26 . . • It will probably
Mrs. Benjamin Arkin is chairman of not be settled even at the plenary session of NCRAC in June . .
workers from the Women's Auxiliary,
at
Jewish Home for Aged. The Gladstone This, despite the fact that the final decision must be reached
team is headed by Joseph Gladstone. the June meeting . . There will be plenty of bargaining. but it
Other chairmen and their groups are is questionable whether this will lead to definite settlement of the
Bernard Isaacs, Michael Michlin and
Morris Nobel, United Hebrew School issue which revolves around the division of labor between the
teachers; Leo Majzels, Junior Division; organizations engaged in combatting anti-Semitism in this coun-
Monroe NI. Title, Title Family Club;
Fred Schwab, Self-Help: Harry Nathan. try . . . It will not come as a surprise to Jewish leaders if the
American Jewish Congress; Meyer June deadline is postponed for a number of months in order to
Schneider, Workmen's Circle; Fly Cry-
stal, Bnai Brith; Sam Belkin, Lands- explore all possible avenues that. may lead to agreement . . .
manschaften ; Rabbi David S. Bakst. However, should the American Jewish .Comrnittee and the Anti-
Yeshivah teachers; Manuel Rosenthal.
congregational men's clubs; Zvi Tomkie- Defamation League not see their way to remain in NCRAC, the
wicz, Mizra chi ; Philip R. IS rcu se , Amer- organization will remain functioning just the same in view of the
ican Jewish Committee; Ale xander R
berg, - retniltzth - Chaitocliint —
fact that it has .the strong backing of many Jewish- Community
Leading -.all - other divisions
Councils . . . Among the member agencies of NCRAC are the
percentage-wise in the cam- Jewish Community Councils of Detroit, Akron, Baltimore. BOSt011,
paigm the Junior Division has Bridgeport,. Brooklyn, Cincinnati. Cleveland, Hartford. Indiana-
raised $45,689, or 101% of the , polis Kansas City, Los Angeles. Milwaukee, New Haven, Norfolk,
amount raised by the 'division Philadelphia, _Pittsburgh, Rochester, St. Louis, San Francisco,
last year, from '2;600 contrib- Washington and Youngstcwn.
utors,:200 more than the num-
•
ber who pledged last year, in-
Israeli Moods
cluding 1,100 new contributors.
The marked decline in Israel's moral atmosphere is now
The•Junior Division is-the first
becoming a matter of serious concern among Zionist leaders . .
to - go "over the top" and its The Jewish Agency is discussing it quite frankly an analysis
workers are - continuing to of the moral crisis in the day-to-day life in the Jewish state . . •
swell the totalS in the clean- It establishes that although the Israel government is combatting
up phase of the. campaign. As the situation in various ways, the moral crisis progressively be-
a result- of- the. Junior leader-
comes more acute in character under the existing circumstances
ship meeting with Abe Kasle,
of inflation, -shortages in houses and commodities of consump-
the group volunteered- to cover
tion . . . It claims that the general standard of manners in Israel
an additional 600- -slips and
"has radically deteriorated" in all aspects of life . . . It stresses
promised to reach. $50,000 be- the fact that the differentiation of the Israeli population into
paign-
fore they cone/tide cam
"haves" and "have-nots" is assuming more marked and sharp
ing.
proportions . . . "The atmosphere of suspicion and double-dealing,
As mercantile division chair- of disharmony between different sections of the population is now
man, James Wineman is setting more developed," it asserts . . . It adds that the deterioration of
growth" of theft and violence, the ertent of which was unknown
growth" of theft and violence the extent of which was unknown
for
Arlazaroff
but a few years ago . . . It reveals that discontent exists with the
existing parties and political machinery of the state because of
Matoths Wednesday.
that plans
A reception in honor of Dr. their inadequacy in dealing with the situation . .. And movement
and Mrs. Matotit of the Pedi- are being put forward by members of the Kibbutz
closer
atrics Department of the Hebrew seeking ways and means of drawing the new immigrants
the
University in Jerusalem was ar- to life in villages around collective settlements . . . However,
in the
ranged, by Arlazaroff Branch of basic opinion of Jewish Agency leaders is that success through
decline can only be achieved
Farband, Labor ZioniSt Order, struggle against moral
of un-
for Wednesday evening, at the Israel's continued capacity to draw upon the reservoir
strength in the Jewish Diaspora, together with itm
Labor Zionist Institute, 13722 tapped moral raise
its standard of life and daily relationships . . .
own effort to
Linwood. — -
from American Jewry is probably
A prominent speaker will ad- In this respect, aid in manpower
dress the gathering, and, musical no less important that the financial aid which the Jews of the
United States are giving to Israel .
program is being arranged.
"The House on the Hill," a
movie narrating the story of the
Hebrew Universit y, will be
shown. Refreshments will be
served. All are invited.
-
-
.
Mercantilers Pass 50% Mark
Israel Experiences
Immigration Reversal
NEW YORK, (AJP)-01Ii-
cial Israeli statistics on immi-
gration and departures in
February reveal that 1,785 Is-
raeli residents left the coun-
try while a new low of only
1,488 Jewish immigrants en-
tered, according to a Jewish
Agency report, The figure for
departures refers only to bon-
afide residents, and does not
include tourists or one-day
visitors.
Sineellatinching their campaign at a dinner at which ALLEM
GELLMAN (second from right) was.guest speaker, the mereantaio
division, under the chairmanship of JAMES WINEMAN (right) it
now past the 50% mark. Other campaigners pictured here are
14 ,.K i MAHLER. and Jim