Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
2 — DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 1, 1953
A Opening of Allied Campaign
Advice to Aging
Offered by JSSB
Family Counsellor
The Bridegroom's Father Has His Day
Less than a month ago, Dr. Max Lerner, in one of his stimu-
lating columns in the New York Post, described how Gave the
Bride Away."
In that personal description of his experience as he led his
If . you're one of more than
daughter the day before "to the dizzying heights of her world,"
Dr. Lerner—the able scholar • who recently inspired a Detroit 12,000,000 Americans over 65,
Allied Jewish Campaign audience—said of himself: "The only one and feel, now you've re-
who gets a chance to retrieve • his ego is the bride's father, who tired you're a little "out of
struts down the stairway with a floating dream on his arm, and things," bend an ear toward
Mrs. Lena • E _ isler, a family coun-
carries his shoulders higher than he ever will again."
And he made these interesting observations: "I don't know sellor and social caseworker
with,. the Jewish . Social Service
how man?' American industries would crash if weddings were
done away with. After the engagement is announced, you be- Bureau.
Mrs. Eisler haS made some in-
come a target for high-pressure sales campaigns. Your mail
teresting findings. during her
suddenly doubles in volume. For days the phone rings, and you
work; and is available •for con-
become entangled in endless conversations. The man wants to
sultation. at. JSSB headquarters,
sell you flowers, or furnish you with an , empty-piece band. He 13327 Linwood, for advice.
will make the most distinctive looking marriage announcement,
The first thing to remember,
engraved with a delicate embossed art on priceless paper. He Mrs. Eisler says, is to find in-
can contrive just the wedding-cake you want, built with intri-
teresting, useful work—perhaps
a hobby or a part-time job. An-
cate skill to tower into the sky. He has a photographer's studio,
and will do a dozen pictures for a trifle just a little short of other, if it is possible, is to be
financially independent — don't
your total income tax ."
To all of which, no doubt, every Father of the Bride will attest rely on your children.
To women, she warns, don't
as truth. Dr. Lerner said more: he wrote that, compared with
marriage, in the life-cycle, "very little else counts in life"; that forget your . husband while de-
voting all attention to grand-
anthropologists call it the "rites of passage"; that:
"The marriage of your first child is not unimportant in these children, and above all, don't
rites. Somewhere between a man's reaching middle-age and his interfere with the raising of
oncoming dotage he finds that his relation to his child has sud- your children's children.
Mrs. Eisler states that grand-
denly changed. Up to then the child has been a projection of
you—an extended vertical line that no longer runs out of you, but parents are vital for youngsters
runs parallel to your own, generating a new source of the life- for "their added warmth and
force that will in time and in turn be paralleled by still another .. . wisdom," but setting the rules of
I really didn't give the bride away. I brought her up to where conduct is not your place. She
her husband-to-be was standing, and then I faded into the ranks admonishes older people, also,
of those enclosing them. The bride gave herself away, and so did not to be "used" by their chil-
the groom. There can be no other way, ever, of being married." dren as baby-sitters.
As a final rule, Mrs. Eisler
The Father of the Bridegroom, upon reading this piece, asks
for a Day in the of Life, for himself and the Mother of the says, keep "as physically fit as
Bridegroom. He reclines in reverie and meditation. He had not possible. Invalids are not so
strutted, and his telephone was not assaulted by the inevitable much in style as around the
commercialism of the marriage. He studied the suggested paral- turn of the century." Older peo-
lelisms and examined his traditions. Only the day before, their ple, she concludes, owe it to
son had crushed a glass, after placing a simple,' unadorned ring themselves to keep fit and to
upon the bride's forefinger. What significance is there in life in keep health and ailments from
these sentimental traditions, in these practices that date back to being the constant topic of con-
the Ages, in ceremonies which some call outmoded but which, in versation.
truth, bind many generations together?
The parallelism disappeared, and in its stead there arose
a cycle: the unending, round binder which keeps Jewish life
rolling and makes the bride and bridegroom a part of a life
that is their parents', that is linked with their great-grand-
parents, that will be their grandchildren's: provided that tradi-
tion is sanctified and noble heritage is respected.
Why such utter solemnity? Because in Jewish life marriage
is "kidushin," meaning sanctification; because the Bridegroom had
just recited to the Bride: "Harey at . . ." — "Be thou sanctified
unto me with this ring in accordance with the laws of Moses and
At a recent meeting of the
Israel." Because established practice called for a simple, un- Music Study Club of Detroit's
adorned ring. The law says that the exchange of any object committee for the Dora and
from Bridegroom to Bride is sufficient to sanctify her unto him Julius Green Foundation. for
as his wife; but the ring has become a symbol: of a lasting life, Music in Israel, the founders of
like the circle, like a wheel that has no end, like an undisturbed the program, Mr. and M r s.
life in which the couple is fused with one another—and with the Green, made an additional con-
tradition which was in evidence in the merging of the two lives. tribution to the fund.
In his reverie, the Father of the Bridegroom takes note of
Mrs. Jerome Blum, Music
possible criticism: "what a peculiar people: that on so happy Study Club p r e s i d e n t, stated
an occasion the Bridegroom is required to introduce dissonance that the money will be used to
through breaking of glass." The answer is part of the sanctifi-- purchase, a, much-needed piano
for the Hebrew University in
cation: that even in time of joy one must not forget sorrow;
that life is not all a bed of roses, but like a bed of roses it may Jerusalem.
Mrs. Julius Chajes, who leaves
at times be trampled upon, and the gardener must know how to next
week for Europe and Israel,
make it bloom again. The glass is broken as a reminder to the will purchase the piano while in
couple that flaws may occur in life and the engineers and Vienna. The gift is given to
fashioners of a new family must know how to face difficulties augment the music department
with the same ease .as they embrace joys. The breaking of the at Hebrew University, to which
glass is a reminder of the Destruction of the Temple: it is a
the late conductor Serge Kous-
reminder not' to forget Israel's indestructibility in spite of the sevitzky donated a basic collec-
constant dangers faced by our People, and it is an admonition tion of music.
Another recent purchase of
to youth to apply it to personal lives.
the
Green Foundation fund was
The strutting is over. The Parent of the Bride has come to
terms with the Father of the Bridegroom: in truth, neither Bride for choral music by American
nor Bridegroom was "given away": they formed a new union, Jewish composers for the Israel
conceived in tradition, sanctified by laws that are ancient but Broadcasting C o m p a n y. Two
indestructible, fused into the cycle that accepts a heritage out of cantatas by Julius Chajes, which
which have come forth the Laws of Moses and Israel which have will be performed by the Detroit
conductor and composer in
given inspiration for faith to many faiths.
A Sage in Israel, Rabbi Hose ben Halafta, when asked what Jerusalem this summer, are in-
God has been doing since He ended the task of making the cluded in the collection.
T h e Foundation also fur-
world, replied that He has been engaged in matching couples in
marriage. The Newlyweds' parents have found an answer to all nished Kol Israel with a new
his reveries in this famous story: they have just participated In a microphone, m u s i c, recordings
sanctified event. Blessed the Bride 'land the Bridegroom, whose and various equipment.
People wishing to give a don-
matching is considered, in Israel's traditions, as an act of God!
In such acts, all—Families and the entire People of Israel—must ation to the Foundation, which
is working for the cultural re-
be blessed!
birth of Israel, are invited to
send remittances to Mrs. Ber-
nard La.chs, chairman, 224 W.
Windsor Peretz School Students to Present
Grand River, Detroit 26, Mich.
Julius Greens Add
To Original Gift
Shown at the formal launching of the Allied Jewish Cam._
paign, held in Temple Israel, left to right: SAMUEL H. RU- .
BINER, president of the Jewish Welfare Federation; IRVING W.
BLUMBERG, who with Harvey H. Goldman is chairman of the
1953 drive; General CARLOS P. ROMULO, Philippine Ambassador
to the United States and Permanent Delegate of the Philippines,
to the United Nations, who was the principal speaker at the meet-
ing; GOLDMAN, Rabbi MOSES LEHRMAN of Cong. Bnai Moshe,
chairman of the religious services section of Professional Division,
who offered the invocation; and Rabbi MINARD KLEIN, Temple
Beth El, who gave the benediction.
Local Educator's Plan Memorial to
Deceased Literary Stalwart's. May 11
A committee of educators
from leading religious schools in
the area has been formed to
plan a program dedicated to
the memory of three great Jew-
ish leaders who passed away in
recent weeks.
The tribute, to be held at 8:30
p.m., May 11, in the Rose Sit-
tig Cohen Bldg. auditorium, will
honor Abraham Reisin, famed
novelist and poet; Dr. Hayim
Greenberg, world renowned
scholar, publicist and Zionist;
and Dr. Nisson Touroff. noted
teacher and psychologist, each
of whom has enriched the life
and culture of the Jewish peo-
ple
Between You and Me
By BOR IS SMOLAR -
'(Copyright, -1953, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
For Music in Israel
Annual Concert May 24; 'Plan Graduation
Two plays and a program of
song will be - presented part of
its annual concert by junior and
senior students of the I. L.
Peretz School, in Windsor, at
6:30 p.m., May 24, in the Cong.
Shaar Hashomayim auditorium.
"Riverside Drive," a drama in
three acts by Leon Kobrin,
which tells of the conflicts and
relationships of two . Jewish gen --
erations in America, is one of
the plays. The other is "The
Happy Prince," a two-act. work
by.M. Elkin and J. Kligman.
The third feature of the pro-
gram is a series of 16 lieder-
krantz in Yiddish and Hebrew,
which will be sung by an . 80
voice choir.
Plans are being made for 'the
school's annual graduation ex-
ercises, to be held in June. Each
candidate is currently preparing
a thesis on one of the f011owing:
Jewish literature, history, pro-
phets, authors, ethics or customs
and traditions.
A number of awards, includ-
ing the Peretz Study Club
awards and the Bogin Memorial
Fund prize will be given to de-
serving students.
Aesculapian Pharmacist Ass'n.
Plans Annual 'Drug Shower'
AescUlapian Pharmaceutical
Association has extended an in-
vitation to all members and
friends to attend the annual
"Drug Shower" at the Jewish
Home for Aged on May 11, at
8:30 p.m.
A spring festival, "Juniors on
Parade," with a cast of 35, will
be featured. The show is directed
by Mrs. LeClair Knox. Other en-
tertainment also is planned,
and refreshments will be served
by the Ladies AuXiliarY.
The committee is composed of
members of the Hebrew Teach-
ers Association of United He-
brew Schools, Kvutzah Ivrith,
Sholem Aleichem Institut e,
United Jewish Folk Schools and
Workmen's Circle School.
An evaluation of the three
men's achievements in their
various fields will be given by
the following: Samuel Sigal will
speak on Reisin; Bernard Isaacs
will talk on Dr. Touroff; and
Movsas Goldaftas will deliver an
address on Dr. Greenber g.
Moshe Haar will be chairman
of the evening.
The publid is invited to the
program, at no charge.
Diplomatic Notes:
•
Speculation is rife in Israel on what the visit next month tO
the Middle East by U. S. Secretary of 8tate John Foster Dulles .
may mean to the Jewish State . . . The visit is "something new"
in America's policy on the Middle East . . . It is the first time
that a U. S. Secretary of State goes to negotiate personally in
and about the Middle East . . . Mr. Dulles' visit is, therefore, seen
in Israel as an important step toward stabilizing the Middle East
and eliminating all major points of friction . . . The question what
the average man in Israel asks now is: how will. Mr. Dulles win
agreement with the Arabs to the formation of the projected
Middle East Command without sacrificing Israeli interests to their
chauvinist demands? . Many Israelis fear that some American
diplomats might be induced to seek improvement of American-
Arab relations at Israel's expense ... Others, more hopeful, believe
that American prestige, combined with American financial and
military aid, will enable Mr. Dulles to win over the Arab rulers
to Western strategy without impairing Israel's territorial integrity.
. .. The optimists also hope that the Secretary of State will : go
further than this ... They believe he can and should settle the
Israel-Arab problem once and for all, by persuading the Arabs to
make peace with Israel ... It seems that most Israelis are pinning
their hopes on Mr. Dulles to bring about a formal peace in the
Middle East . . . Signs point to the fact that negotiations to this
end have been begun at various points . .. There is certain ac-
tivity in Turkey, a Moslem neutral state, which is prepared to
act as go-between in any such negotiations.
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Communal Trends:
Reform Jews in the United States are certainly drifting back
to Jewish customs and traditions which for many years were tam
boo in the Reform movement . . . This can be seen from the re-
sults of a survey, presented to the convention of the Union
American Hebrew Congregations, which established that members
of Reform congregations in all sections of the country are eager
to restore old rites and observances, and that many Reform rabbis
comply with this trend . It is significant that the laymen are
far ahead of their rabbis in the desire for an increase in ritual
and ceremonial practices . .. Thus, the proportion of laymen who
insist on employing a mohel for circumcision rather than a sur-
geon is much larger than the proportion of rabbis who take the
same stand . • . About 80 percent of the laymen declared that they
believe in Bar Mitzvah, but the percentage was much smaller
among the rabbis ... Laymen also appeared to be more eager than
the rabbis about traditional practices at weddings, and advocated
the use of a "Chupah" at wedding ceremonies, the wearing of a
hat, the breaking of a glass . . . While 69 percent of the rabbis
said they believe in cremation after death, only 52 percent of the
laymen expressed such a belief .. . The survey established that
only 8 per cent of the laymen and 10 per cent of the rabbis ob-
serve dietary laws in their homes . . . About 80 per cent of the
rabbis and laymen reported that they mix milk and meat at
meals • . . Only 62 per cent of the rabbis do not eat pork .
Fifty-two per cent of the laymen and 93 per cent of the rabbis
fast on Yom Kippur . . A third of all the laymen reported at-
tending synagogue worship every Sabbath, while another third
reported attending once a month, and the remainder replied
"seldom." . . Ninety- percent of the laymen like the practice of
lighting candles at Friday evening services in the temples and the
singing of Kiddush there . . . On Passover x '74 per cent of .the lay-
men have a Seder at their home, and on Hanukah 81 per cent
of them light• candles . . . At the same time, 21 per cent of them
reported that they have a Christmas tree in their home.
of
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