Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SL•MOVITZ
'Derekh Eretz'—Deportment that Guides ALL Etiquette
Amy Vanderbilt (in private life she is Mrs. Hans Knopf, wife
of the prominent photographer and yachtsman), member of the
famous Vanderbilt family, the first of whom to settle in this
country in 1628 was Jan Aoertsen van der Bilt, has written an
exceptionally good book, due to come off the press on Oct. 6. Her
"Complete Book of Etiquette: A Guide to Gracious Living," (Pub-
lisher: Doubleday, 575 Madison, NY 22) into whose 700 pages she
has packed every available regulation on situations in a person's
life, may become a best seller over-night. It will be well earned,
the author having gone to great pains not to offend any one and
at the same time to make - certain that those who will henceforth
guide through her book may not be offensive. She has first set
out to learn the rules herself and now, by her own admission in
her introduction, "I might have to refer to my own book" when
in •need of information because she did not memorize its contents.
Etiquette calls for good manners, for proper behavior, but
Amy Vanderbilt is against stilted rules. She advises unpreten-
tiousness, thus:
"I have a respect for people who do things with their brains
and with their hands, who are not afraid of hard physical and
mental work. I respect, too, people who are unpretentious yet
mannerly, considerate and honest, forthright yet kind and tact-
ful. I dislike display and foolish expenditure in the sense of
what Veblen ,called 'conspicuous waste,' that is, spending to
impress those who have less, as well as to impress associates.
I dislike chi-chi."
This, basically, is the approach of this clever writer who, in
order to be right, has set out to learn the rules about many peoples
and about all faiths. In the process of her research she also has
tried to learn about Jews. She discusses Jewish marriage and
funeral laws, Jewish dietary regulations, describing ceremonies at
weddings and existing customs. She is full of awe and respect,
and even quotes the view of a friend who believed that the im-
pressiveness of Jewish wedding ceremonies are vital factors in
holding Jewish couples together and in keeping the Jewish di-
vorce rate "the 'lowest of any religious group." She guards her
readers against attending Jewish weddings bareheaded, describes
marriage regulations, including the glass-breaking custom, and
differentiates between Orthodox and Reform practices.
There is no doubting her sincerity, yet her Jewish descrip-
tions are inadequate and at times faulty. She errs especially in
her review of dietary laws. Some one must have given her a wrong
steer, and it may well be that she was misled by friends, about
whom she writes: "Never assume that your Jewish friends ad-
here to the old restrictions. It is better to ask. I have known
Conservative Jews who, as my guests, would condone the garlic
butter on the steak, eat baked ham, but refuse a lobster. Reform
Jews have no food restrictions, but they do have fast days."
Since, as we assume to predict, Amy Vanderbilt's "Com-
plete Book of Etiquette" bids well to become a "best seller," our
advice at the outset• is that she refrain, in future editions, from
making herself ridiculous with such statements and plan, at
once, to rewrite the Jewish discussion.. If she deals with Jewish
regulations, she must treat them according . to law, not accord-
ing to the practice of individuals who break the law. That's a
bit of gratuitous advice `which, we believe,,will be taken in good
spirit by an able woman who, in the main, has performed a
line job with her etiquette book.
Since we offer advice, let it be complete. Amy Vanderbilt
does not have to go to' a rabbi or a lay scholar for advice on the
points we have indicated in her book. The available Encyclope-
dias state the rules quite clearly. And since she is dealing with
manners. and deportment we would like to point out a basic rule
in Jewish life that dominates all rules of conduct. It is summed
up in two words: derekh eretz. While the literal translation is
"the way of the world," it actually means proper conduct, good
manners, ETIQUETTE!
• "Derekh Eretz" is demanded of every _decent person in Jew-
ish society. A lack of it denotes ignorance, disrespect, and lack
of honor. There is a rich Jewish literature on the subject of
"Derekh Eretz." Every detail in good living, in honorable treat-
ment of one's neighbors, in self-respect and good deportment
is covered in this literature. We have no hesitation in stating
that the Hebraic Derekh Eretz Literature . will prove a good
match to Amy Vanderbilt's "Complete Book of Etiquette"—and
this is meant as a compliment, since the eminent lady of the
Vanderbilt Dynasty could not possibly have been informed
about the existence of the basic rules of good. living which have
guided Jews through many generations.
We mention the Derekh Eretz principles as reminders to
Jewry of the existence of a basic principle in Jewish life: that
one must have derekh eretz if he wishes 'to retain his own and
__ his people's honor, at the same time perpetuating the glory that
is Israel's. And, at the same time, we refer to this noble ideal
in Jewish living—we can do no more than refer to it, in view of
the vastness of the subject and the literature written about it—
so that the Vanderbilts, as they expand their studies of the sub-
ject called Etiquette, may interest themselves in its source. We
are vain enough . to say to Amy Vanderbilt that the source of all
Etiquette is Derekh Bretz.
Ben-Gurion Backs UJA
Cash Drive for $35,000,000
Prime Minister David. Ben-
Gurion of Israel urged last week
that American Jews close ranks
behind the United Jewish Ap-1
peal's three-month nationwide
drive for $35,000,000 in cash to
help his country gain new
ground in its effort to win eco-
nomic independence.
Mr. Ben-Gurion declared in a
cabled message to UJA General
Chairman Edward M. M. War-
burg and Jack D. Weiler, UJA
National Cash Chairman, that
„there has never been a "more
crucial moment" in Israel's his-
tory and that his country "needs
the free gift dollars that come
through the United Jewish Ap-
peal" if it is to ride out its cur-
rent economic storms.
"Never since Israel's War of
Independence," the Prime MiT17
ister declared, "has the sig-
nificance of a United Jewish Ap-
peal special cash campaign been
as great as at this moment."
Asserting that the United Jew-
ish Appeal "has been and con-
tinues to.. be , a most vital and in-
dispensable part of the four
point program of economic aid
to Israel," whose other three
points are the sale of Israel
bonds, the obtaining of Ameri-
can. grants-in-aid and the stim-
ulation of private American in-
vest, Mr. Ben-Gurion stressed
that the funds raised this fall
through the Appeal's $35,000,000
cash drive can help Israel score
new victories in its drive toward
economic stability and self-de-
pendence.
1Remain Unfrightened by Scare Words of
Agencies Quitting NCRAC, Eisendrath Urges
At a luncheon of the Jewish f Committee the right of dissent ed, of a mature community at
Community Council's executive and independent action to the Atlantic City.
and community relations com- member agencies as had here-
Council president Sidney M.
mittees at Bel Aire Terrace, last tofore existed. The proposed Shevitz announced that Philip
Friday, Rabbi Maurice N. Eisen- American Jewish Committee and M. Klutznik of Chicago, vice-
drath, president of the Union of Anti-Defamation' League solu- president of ADL, will be the
American Hebrew Congregations, tion had been characterized as speaker at the next Council
discussed the recent decisions of committees consisting of "two luncheon-forum on Oct. 17. and
the National Community Rela- lions 'and one lamb," said Dr. Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of
tions Advisory Council (NCR. AC) Eisendrath. • the American Jewish Congress,
Plenary Session with regard to
Rabbi Eisendrath said that the will address the December
recommendations of the Evalua- luncheon.
the Maclver Report.
Rabbi Eisendrath stated that tive Studies Committee, which
Samuel J. Rhodes, chairman of
he had accepted the invitation would have implemented the the Council's Community Rela-
Maclver
Report,
could
have
been
to addreSs the Community Coun-
tions Committee, introduced the
cil committees because the late passed at the Plenary Sessions speaker and presided.
but
that
every
effort
was
made
Dr. B. Benedict Glazer, vice-
president of the Council and a for harmony and that the Barr
close personal friend, would, he resolutions, a substantial depar-
felt, have tried to bring wisdom ture from the Maclver recom-
and leadership, in the complex mendations were passed as a
problem of coordination among compromise. The American Jew-
national agencies, to the local ish Committee and the Anti-
community in which he served. Defamation League rejected
Dr. Eisendrath quoted from even this compromise which did
The illustrations on the First
Rabbi Morris Adler's address at not, in Eisendrath's view, elimi- and Editorial Pages in this issue
nate
the
departments
or
prac-
the Community Council's mem-
are from the set of engravings
orial meeting for Dr. Glazer, in tices of the two agencies which by Bernard Picart (1673-1733), •
had
been
questioned.
Rabbi
which he said that to Dr. Glazer
the noted French designer. They
"defense activities would be a Eisendrath concluded that this are part of the collection that
time
of
crisis
was
no
time
for
by-product of the will-to-live,
were brought here from Holland
not a substitute for it . .. The such disunion and secession and by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Kur-
that
the
plan
advanced
in
At-
Jewish community, democrati-
lantic City offered an appro- I land of Ann. Arbor. Norman is
cally organized and conducted, priate
vehicle for greater har- the son of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron
would gain in strength from the
mony
and effectiveness. He I Kurland of Huntington Woods
masses of Jews whose interest
prayed
that
the American Jewish who studied in Holland for a
could be evoked and loyalty won
Committee
and the Anti-Defa- year on a Fulbright Fellowship.
as they were permitted to parti-
mation
League
would return to
cipate in the policy-making de-
cisions of the group. A Jewish the NCRAC. He foresaw that, the
Attend German Schools
community which was less than American Jewish Committeeand
the
Anti-Defamation
League
democratic, must perforce be
MUNICH, (JTA) — An esti-
less than creative and less than would be constrained in the
mated
50 to 60 Jewish stu-
course
of
events
to
coordinate
affirmative in its . Jewishness."
dents are currently attending
Rabbi Eisendrath said it was in within the NCRAC their activi-
ties with those of the American
West German universities
this spirit that he is discussing Jewish
community as a whole.
here, in Berlin and elsewhere.
the problems presented at Atlan-
That was the judgment, he end- '
tic City.
He charged that agencies had,
by quoting out of context, at-
tempted to misrepresent the pos-
ition of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations on the
question of the conduct of the
inter-religious phase , of Jewish
community relations work. He
Credo of Freedoms Foundation, Valley Forge
also revealed that, by the appli-
cation of pressure, some 'of the
national agenices had attempted
to change the decision of other
WAY OF LIFE
THE AMERICAN
national organizations and of
local communities who had voted
for the Barr compromise at the
POLITICAL AND
NCRAC Plenum.
Rabbi Eisendrath pointed out
ECONOMIC RIGHTS
that it was misleading. to say
WHICH PROTECT THE DIGNITY AND
that those who were not criti-
FREEDOM Of THE INDIVIDUAL
cized by Prof. Maclver were in
favor of the Maclver Report and
• OUGHT TO WORK IN CALLINGS
• RIGHT TO WORSHIP 000 IN
that those who were criticized
ONE'S OWN WAY.
AND LOCALITIES OF OUR
were against the Report. The
CHOICE.
• RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND
Jewish community of America
• RIGHT TO BARGAIN WITH
PRESS.
OUR EMPLOYERS.
has for some decades been con-
• **HT TO ASSEMBLE.
• RIGHT' TO 00 INTO SUSI.
cerned with the organization of
• RIGHT TO PETITION FOR
NESS, COMPETE, MAKE A
GRIEVANCES.
•
the Jewish community relations
PROFIT.
• RIGHT TO PRIVACY IN OUR
field. He reviewed its history,
• RIGHT TO BARGAIN FOR
HOMES.
the organization and demise of
GOODS AND SERVICES IN A
• RIGHT OF HABEAS CORPUS-
FREE MARKET.
the General Jewish Council and
NO EXCESSIVE BAIL
• RIGHT TO CONTRACT ABOUT
the founding of NCRAC, refer-
• RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY - FN.
OUR AFFAIRS.
ring to the statements by Henry
NOCENT TILL PROVED GUILTY.
• RIGHT TO THE SERVICE Of
Epstein, former NCRAC chair --
GOVERNMENT AS A PROTEC-
• RIGHT TO MOVE ABOUT
TOR AND REFEREE.
man, who is now a National
FREELY AT HOME AND
ABROAD.
• RIGHT TO FREEDOM FROM''Alt-
ADL Commissioner, and to the
BITRARY" GOVERNMENT REG-
• RIGHT TO OWN PRIVATE
resignation as President of the
ULATION AND CONTROL.
PROPERTY.
NCRAC, of David Sher of the
American Jewish Committee who
strongly criticized the disorgan-
CONSTITUTIONAL GOVERNMENT
ized and chaotic pattern of oper-
DESIGNED TO
ation which it hoped the Mac-
SERVE THE PEOPLE
Iver study would end.
Our Current
Illustrations
Freedoms Foundation Offers $100,000
In Prizes for 1952 Awards Program
:• •
Duplication and waste, said
Eisendrath, have not been
denied by the agencies. He
quoted Jacob Blaustein, presi-
dent of the American Jewish
Committee, as stating at the
November, 1951, Plenary Ses-
sion of the •NCRAC that "the
most expendable item we have
. . . is money." Rabbi Eisen-
drath, referring to the desper-
ate shortage of funds in re-
ligious institutions, in Israel,
and in many local, national
and overseas fields, character-
ized this view as "morally in-
decent."
The Jewish community of the
United States was called upon by
Rabbi Eisendrath to remain un-
frightened by the scare words
used by the agencies which left
the NCRAC. He raised the ques-
tion as to why there is resist-
ance by good Americans and
good Jews to democratic process-
es. He pointed out that the
NCRAC in its decisions early in
September had left its Executive
2
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, October 3, 1952
BELIEF IN GOD
FUNDAMENTAL
sidimummir
•
■
4 / ,`, ;1
4, ,,[,,s‘; .1.,, •
To Maintain The American Way Of Life And Pass It Intact To
Succeeding Generations Is The Responsibility Of Every True American
The Credo of Freedoms Foundation, Inc., was originated t4
express the concepts adding up to the American Way of Life. This
credo is the sole basis for judging all Freedoms Foundation award
programs.
• • •
• • •
Every American is eligible to is non-voting chairman of the
nominate his own or someone
else's material of a patriotic na-
ture in the 1952 awards program
of Freedoms Foundation, Inc.,
Valley Forge, Pa.
The Foundation offers 242
cash awards, totaling $100,000 as
well as 265 honor certificates
and 325 certificates of merit to
those who "speak up for free-
dom" by doing, writing or saying
something which brings about a
better understanding of the
American way of life.
Dr. Albert C. Jacobs, chancel-
lor of the University of Denver,
awards jury, and Kenneth D.
Wells is president of the Foun-
dation,
Awards will be made in the
following categories: general,
advertising, cartoons, college
programs, community programs,
company employee publications,
editorials, essays, magazine ar-
ticles, motion pictures, photo-
graphs with captions, public ad-
dresses, radio programs, sermons
and television programs.
Entries Must have been com-
pleted by Nov, 1, and PilliSt be
postmarked no later than NM
11.