THE JEWISH NEWS
NO BETTER WORDS TO DESCRIBE "BROTHERHOOD"
Incor-porattng the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue 01 July 20 1951
American Association of Engli,h-Jewish Newspapers. Michigan Press Association .
Membei
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co.. 17100 West Sever Mile 'Road. Detroil 36. Mich. VE.
Stlhccriptinr 1i4 so "ear
foreign
Krtered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942. at Post Office, Detroit. Mich. under Act of March 3, 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Edith , .ne Publisher
VOL. XXIV. No. 24
S1ONEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manger
Page 4
R - 9364
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
February 19, 1954
Sabba th Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath. the sppenteenth day of Adar Rishon, 5714, the following Scriptural selections
will be read. in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Ex. 30:11-34:35. Prophetical portion. I Kings 1R:1 (or 20)-39.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Feb. 19, 5:54 p.m.
Brotherhood Can America ns Get Together?
Brotherhood Week starts on Sunday.
Its theme this year is "Let's Get Together."
The purpose of the annual observance of
this week is to encourage people to re-
dedicate themselVes to the ideals of self-
respect for human beings and human rights.
Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, the president of
the sponsoring organization of Brotherhood
Week, the National Conference of Christians
and Jews, approaches the objectives of his
movement objectively when he warns against
lip service. He makes this interesting
assertion:
"By getting to know the other fellow, the
one who has a different creed, race or
national origin than yours, by understanding
his viewpoint, his ambitions and goals, you
will find old prejudices disappear. You'll
find that we are all one family made strong
and great by the very differences that so
many times divide us .as individuals and
groups. You'll learn to accept or reject a
person strictly on his merits as a human
being and not because he happens to be
different from you.
"We hope that during Brotherhood Week
people will get together with people they
-know, people they don't know, and with
people they wish to know, in the informality
of their own homes. By planning simple dis-
cussions about the meaning of brotherhood;
and what it means in their own lives, they
can contribute to the real spirit of Brother-
hood Week."
Preaching being. easier than practicing,
- the approach to true brotherhood emerges
more difficult than it would appear on the
surface. A mere week set aside for good will
does not necessarily assure the elimination
of bigotry, the abandonment of hates and
suspicions, the injection of feelings of good
will among men.
How are we to attain this goal? We are
striving for an age-old ideal. Every genera-
tion has had its searchers for truth and
for the better way of . life. Our generation,
like the preceding ones, experiences diffi-
culties in attaining the great objective.
In this country, the goal should be
reached more easily than anywhere else
because the entire American structure is
based on the equality of man. The answer
to the quest for genuine Brotherhood lies,
therefore, in adherence to the fundamental
principles of this country. The obstacles that
have been placed in the path of true Ameri-
canism by the obstructionists, by politicians
who would demolish the faith that underlies
our American ideals, stand in the way of
reaching the goal to which all men of good
will aspire. Without untrammeled political
freedom there
can be no eco-
nomic freedom,
and without both
`there can be no
freedom of
BROTHERHOOD WEEK
thought. When
February 21-28
the fundamental
Sponsored by The National Conference of Christians and Jews
liberties are de-
stroyed, the con-
fidences that go M
odern Renaissance of Jewish Music'
7ith liberty and modern
'
ustice are en-
pokiat4 angered.
In striving for Brotherhood, we must
also aim at an unfettered political existence,
we must aid in assuring economic security
for all, we must practice the preachments
of good will. Only by aiming consistently at
the attainment of these ideals will we be
able to put in place the keystone in a divided i
society of Catholics, Protestants and Jews, !
as portrayed in the accompanying cartoon.
Interesting History Traced
Albert Weisser, composer and conductor, author of musical
criticisms, has made a valuable contribution to the history of Jew-
ish music with his book, "The Modern Renaissance of Jewish
Music" (Bloch).
The sub-title, "Events and Figures, Eastern Europe and
America," offers a partial explanation of the contents. This bcok
deals with history as well as with personalities. It traces the origin
of Jewish folksongs and the background of organizations formed
to advance them.
Of particular historical value is the history of the Scolety for
Detroit's observances of Brotherhood Jewish Folk Music that was formed in Russia at the beginning of
the century. This group, whose achievements in gathering folk
Week include special congregational services, I music
will astonish Jewish music lovers, functioned until the
programs dedicated to the cause of better I Bolshevik
revolution.
understanding among all faiths by many
Because the story of Jewish folk music
organizations, the annual Brotherhood con- is traced to the Russian Jewish community.
cert and the functions in honor of this year's the opening chapter. 'which reviews the
Michigan Brotherhood Week chairman, history of the Jews in Russia under despotic
George Washington Stark. 1 czars, emerges as valuable for the student
Mr. Stark, our present City Historian, of the subject that is so well covered by
has watched our community grow. He has Mr. Weisser.
Many prominent Jewish musicians
worked with all elements in his capacity as played
important roles in the gathering
City Editor and Columnist of the Detroit of the folk songs and in making musical
News, and he therefore is well equipped to history through the Society for Jewish
direct this year's activities. We join in con- Folk Music. The man who emerges as hav-
gratulating him on his birthday and on his ing made especially great gifts in this
direction is Lazare Saminsky, "throughout
communal achievements.
life a central and zealously directive
At the same time, we subscribe to the call his
force in the renaissance of Jewish music."
Lazare Saminsky
Detroiters
to
defy'
.
that has gone forth to all
Throughout his book, Mr. Weisser refers to Saminsky as one
barriers that may have kept various cate- of the great authorities on Jewish music.
gories of our citizens apart. Let us strive for
Among the Jewish leaders to whom Mr. Weisser_traces the
true amity. It will assure us internal peace collection of Jewish folksongs is the great Yiddish writer I. L.
—one of the necessary steps towards world Peretz who was "seeking out servant girls and Jewish youths to
sing Yiddish folksongs to him." Similar activity is ascribed to
peace- and brotherhood among all peoples.
Sholem Aleichem who discovered the folk singer and poet Mark
Warshawski.
Sketches of a number of outstanding musicians form -a major
portion of Mr. 'Weisser's book. Included are Joel Engel, Joseph
cal Mass at Church of. Annunciation in Achron, Moses Milner, Lazare Saminsky, Alexander Krein and
Nazareth.
Michael Gniessen. In each instance, the works of the musician
We list these affairs to indicate the earn- are listed, to indicate their valuable contributions to music.
A "Complete List of Publications of the Society for Jewish
est desire of the young state to make -it
Music in St. Petersburg" also is of great historical value.
possible for adherents to all faiths to visit Folk
The reProductions of some of the folk songs will undoubtedly
Israel and to feel at home there in the create a great deal of interest among musicians and students of
observances of their festivals.
Jewish history.
Many well known names of American Jewish musicians will
Judged by the fanatical reactions in New
found in the chapter dealing with this country. A great deal
York last week, it would not surprise us to be
of attention is paid by the author to the development of synagogue
receive protests from unreasonable people music
and the trends in Reform, Conservative and Orthodox
against the listing of Moslem and Christian cantorial ranks. Of interest to Detroiters is the reference made
events side by side with our own Rosh by Mr. Weisser to Jason Tickton, music director of Temple Beth El.
Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Shevuot -. The development of Jewish music groups in this country is
and our other festivals. But we take pride in only partly covered, the author apparently being unaware of the
presenting these facts as an indication of the existence of music groups in Detroit and in other communities. In
totality, his book has great merit and is a real gift to the history
readiness of our kinsmen in Israel to provide its
of music.
Elements of Good Will in the State of Israel
How can good will best be attained
among peoples of varying ideologies?
The small state of Israel this week pro-
vided a clue to the puzzle in a Tourist Sup-
plen- ient to its news bulletin in which it listed
events Israel looks forward to in 1954.
Included in the list of events are the
following, in addition to the regular national
and religious events on the Jewish calendar:
Feb. 11, Feast of Notre Dame de
Lourdes; March 19, Feast of St. Joseph;
March 25, Feast of the Annunciation; April
16-19, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and
Monday; April 25, Easter in Armenian,
Coptic and Orthodox Churches; April 25,
Shueib, Feast of Jethro, the Druze Prophet;
May 4, beginning of Ramadan; May 27, Feast
of the Ascension; May 31, close of Mary's
Month, observed during Marian Year; June
24, Feast of St. John the Baptist at Church
of St. John of the Mountain and. Church of
Visitation in Ein Kerem near Jerusalem;
Aug. 6, Feast of Transfiguration; Aug. 9,
Eid el Adla, Moslem Feast of the Sacrifice;
Aug. 15, Feast of the Assumption; Sept. 8,
Feast of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin;
Oct. 3, Feast of Notre Dame du Rosaire;
Oct. 15, annual International Swimming
Championship across the Sea of Galilee; Oct.
24, United Nations Day; Nov. 19, Mawlid
E'Nabi, birthday of the Prophet Mohammed;
Nov. 21, Feast of the Presentation in life of
Mary; Dec. 8, Feast of the Immaculate Con-
ception— close of Marian Year with special
service at the Church of the Dormitian,
Jerusalem; Dec. 25, Christmas Day, Pontifi-
the freedoms they have fought for and won
to all who come to the Jewish state.
Insofar as the small group of fanatical
critics is concerned, all we need do is refer
them to the condemnation of their riot in
front of the Israel Consulate by Rabbis Max
Kirshblum and Issachar Levin, presidents of
Mizrachi and Hapoel Hamizrachi, charged
that those who demonstrated represented
only "an infinitesimal percentage of religious
Jewry" and who declared that the rioters
"offered aid and comfort to the enemies of
the new democratic state" and that their
demonstration was "a shameful desecration
of religious principles."
The reasonable elements in Jewry, who
join in condemning "rioting" by irresponsi-
ble elements, undoubtedly endorse every
effort at assuring freedom for all, regardless
of race, creed or national background.
Illustrated. Sholom Aleichem Stories
"The Old Country by Sholom Aleichem," translated by Julius
and Frances Butwin, published by Crown (419 4th Ave., N.Y. 16) is
out in an illustrated edition.
Ben Shahn's appropriate pictures, used through the courtesy
of the producers of the dramatization "The World Of Sholom
Aleichem," adds color to the already-colorful book.
The Butwins 'already have acquired acclaim for their ability
to treat the Sholom Aleichem characters so well in their transla-
tions. The stories deal with simple people. But the results are
powerful tales which will inspire all-Jews and non-Jews—and will
lead to a better understanding of the period in which the emi-
nent humorist lived and the people about whom he wrote.
The .famous selection, "I'm Lucky—I'm An Orphan," is among
the featured stories. "The Town of the Little People," "Dreyfus in
Kasrilevka" and the other stories will thrill the reader. But it is
impossible to select any single group for distinction: all the stories
are distinct, all are equally charming, denoting the genius of the
great writer, Sholom Aleichem. There are 27 stories in this book.
They represent 27 excellent treats. No one can afford to miss
reading this splendid book.