Only Way to Put Out a Flame
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
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Member American Association of English-Jewisb Newspap ► rs, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 36, Mich.. VIC
gubscription M. a year, foreign S5.
Kntered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3. 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
VOL. XXV, No. 4
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FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
April 2, 1954
Page 4
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath. the twenty-ninth day of Adar Sheni, 5714, the following Scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions, Lev. 12:1-13:59, Ex. 12:1-20; Prophetical portion, Ezek. 45:16-46:18.
On Sunday, Rosh Hodesh Nisan, Num. 28.1-15 will be read during morning services.
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Licht Benshen, Friday, April 2, 6:41 P.ril•
A Deserved Rebuke to Anti-Israel Council
Dr. J. Coert Rylaarsdam, associate pro-
fessor of Old Testament Theology at the
Federated Theological Faculty of the Uni-
v6rsity of Chicago since 1945, -knows what
he is talking about when he refers to the
Zionist movement and to the State of Is-
rael. He was a Near East missionary and
instructor at the American School for Boys
in Basra, Iraq, from 1931 to 1935, and there-
fore knows and understands conditions in
that area. He is a member of the Dutch
Reform Church, studied at the New Bruns-
wick Theological Seminary where he later
was professor of Old Testament, and re-
ceived his Ph.D. degree in Old Testament
Theology at the Divinity School of the Uni-
versity of Chicago.
This distinguished theologian has been
approached for support by the destructively
anti-Israel "Judaism" Council. His response
is a masterpiece of expose. It not only ex-
plodes the anti-Zionist views of the handful
of deleterious Jews but offers strong de-
fense. of Israel's position, as follows:
"I have received your letter of Jan. 14,
together with various, pamphlets and state-
ments explaining the position and work of
the American Council for Judaism.
"I am a Christian who has been an out-
spoken friend and supporter of the Zionist
movement. I rejoice with Israel, the inter-
national community of faith, at the establish-
ment of Israel, the political State. I do not
believe that the American loyalty of a Jew is
compromised by the existence of the State of
Israel, nor do I believe that it destroys the
universality .of the faith he professes. I ,realize,
with most of my Jewish friends, that it is
not . always easy to make clear the distinction
between Judaism as a universal faith, and
Israel as a political state. But it is impossible
for me to conclude therefrom that either one
or the other is illegitimate. As a Protestant
Christian, and an American, I stand for a
pluralistic approach to American life and cul-
ture. I fear any encroachment toward a mono-
lithic cultural structure in American society.
Jews and Catholics bring to our common
scene patterns of life and culture inspired by
a religious tradition and heritage which can
be enriching for all of us, and help to ensure
variety and freedom. The relation between
faith and culture is always open to a variety
of interpretations, but I can see little point
to a faith which does not exert some very
emphatic and distinctive cultural influences.
"I would view with dismay any attempt
to assimilate Judaism so readily to a secular
American pattern of life that could no longer
exercise a critical cultural influence.
"I am not at all persuaded that your coun-
cil is rendering either Judaism or America
a positive service. I rather fear that you are
an embarrassment to Judaism that comes at
an unpropitious time. I am also afraid lest
you 'sell short' and fail to appreciate as you
should, the great civilizing and critical func-
tion which is the historic mission and heritage
of Israel."
Dr. Rylaarsdam's declaration is espe-
cially welcome at this time, when Israel's
enemies have ganged up to seek the destruc-
tion of the young state that exists against
great odds amidst violent enemies. It is
valuable, too, because a number of Chris-
tians who have taught at American Uni-
versities in the Middle East are generally
known to be unfriendly to the Zionist cause
and in many instances to Jewry. It is heart-
ening, therefore, to hear the friendly words
of an eminent Christian who takes a strong
stand in defense of our people's just posi-
tion in a struggle for survival.
Socio - Economic Data About Michigan Jewry
The socio-economic data on the Jewish
population of the United States, published
in the 1954 volume of the Ainerican Jewish
Year BoOk, lists the Jewish populations of
Michigan cities which have a record of 100
or more Jews...
Detroit is credited with having only
72,000 • JewS and the other recorded • cities
are reported as having the following Jewish
populations :
Ann Arbor, 240; Battle Creek, 160; Bay
City, 800; Benton . Harbor, 830; Flint, 3,000;
Grand Rapids, 1,400; Iron City, 161; Iron.
Mountain, 104 ; Jackson, 200 ; Kalamazoo,
640; Lansing, 700; Marquette City, 175; Mt.
Clemens, 300; Muskegon, 400; Pontiac, 700;
Port Huron, 130; Saginaw, 600; South
Haven, 450.
Compilation of Jewish population figures
usually being, at best, an estimate rather
than a thoroughly accurate computation,
we cannot accept with certainty the infor-
mation that there are only 72,000 Jews in
Detroit. It is our belief that the actual
figures for Detroit have been underestimat-
ed, although we concur in the view held in
some quarters here that the claim of a
Jewish population of 100,000 for our com-
munity is an exaggeration.
The figures for the other cities are,
undoubtedly. more accurate. It is so much
easier to secure the desired facts in a
closely-knit community, where everyone
knows his neighbors where it is less difficult
to contact all the Jewish residents during
fund-raising for the United Jewish Appeal
and for the major Jewish causes.
Of special interest is the rise of the pop-
ulation figure in Flint, which now is the
second largest Jewish community in Mich-
igan. Twenty years ago it was believed that
this position was held by Grand Rapids.
Pontiac Jewry is among the more pro-
gressive of Michigan's Jewish communities
and its rise in numbers attests to its strength.
Except for Ann Arbor, no other Michigan
Jewish community has made any particular
advance in population numbers.
The 1954 Year Book lists 10 Michigan
Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.
Topped by Detroit's Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion, which sponsors the Allied Jewish
Campaign, there are the foliowing: South-
alt
The 1954 American Jewish Year Book
AMERICAN JEWISH YEARBOOK, 1954, Volume 55. Editor, Morris Fine;
Associate Editor, Jacob Sloan. Published by American Jewish Committee and
Jewish Publication Society of America.
In September, 1954, the Jewish communities in the United
States will begin a year's celebration of the 300th anniversary of
Jewish settlement in the United States. A number of communities
plan community histories, to supplement - the documentary history
of the Jews in the United States announced for preparation by
the American Jewish Tercentenary Committee, headed by the
well-known scholar, Prof. Salo Baron.
'One of the best sources that those engaged in compiling
these histories will be able to refer to is the American Jewish
Year Book, which has been appearing since the beginning of this
century, and whose fifty-fifth volume has just appeared. The new
volume again presents the complex picture of Jewish life against
the background of world events. Basically factual, the Year Book
still manages to indicate the dramatic highlights of 1952-53, the
year under review. One naturally turns to the Year Book for the
latest estimates of the populations of various Jewish communities
in this country (the present volume adds. new estimates for New
York City and its environs, which have grown considerably since
World War II). Turning the pages, one also uncovers a wealth of
relevant information that illuminates today's headlines, as well
as yesterday's. What was the full story of the Finaly Affair that
-so exacerbated relations between Jews and Catholics in France,
and whose reverberations were heard all over the world? Why
.was the ex-Nazi Werner Naumann's unsuccessful bid for Power '
in Western Germany so important? How do turbulent Middle
I Eastern politics and violent nationalism influence the history of
Arab-Israel relations?
Though it ranges over the globe in its meticulous coverage of
subjects of Jewish concern, the American Jewish Year Book natur-
ally devotes. more than half its pages to chronicling the life and
interests of the largest Jewish community in the world, that in
the United-States. Articles dealing with discrimination in educa-
tion, employment, housing, and immigration reflect American
Jewry's desire for equality of treatment and opportunity in our
democratic society. Naturally, a large section of the - American
Jewish Year Book reports communal affairs, so basic to Jewish
life in this country.
In addition to its often-referred to lists and directories of
Jewish national organizations, periodicals, welfare funds and
community councils, the Year Book is again enhanced this year
by a thorough (thirty page) index that makes all of the informa-
tion in its more than 550 pages readily accessible.
eastern Michigan Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion, Bay City ; Jewish Community Fund of
Berrien County, Benton Harbor; Jewish
Community Council, Flint ; Jewish Commun-
ity Fund, Grand Rapids; Jewish Welfare
Council, Kalamazoo; Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion, Lansing ; United Jewish Charities,
Muskegon; Jewish Welfare Federation and
Council, Pontiac; Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion, Saginaw.
In the main, therefore, Michigan's Jew-
ish communities have made marked progress Kitchen Anti-Semitism—DAR Incident
in community planning and in providing
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
their populations with basic social welfare
needs. Detroit has especially advanced in
The school of thought which holds that anti-Semitism will
the field of Jewish education, an area of, I not vanish in a society where there is still need for psychiatrists
activity which the other communities aim registered another triumph at the recent convention of the New
Jersey section of the Daughters of the American Revolution where
to emulate.
The current Year Book contains valuable a so-called lady pulled an anti-Semitic strip tease, to the evident
be
facts which should serve in guiding our delight of an audience whose sensibilities would ordinarily word
expected
to
register
offense
at
the
mere
mention
of
the
communties in their planning of projects nakedness, even perhaps in so meaningful a context as "moral
for the advancement of the local population nakedness." The significant silence with which the lewd per-
as well as in providing aid for our kinsmen formance was received could not be interpreted other than a
overseas—especially in Israel.
demonstration of assent. It was not until a courageous woman
Vital Quotes
"Any failure by the UN to assess the blame
promptly for the Scorpion Pass killings can
only encourage new attacks and new killings."
—N.Y. Herald Tribune.
"The only real solution is acceptance by
the Arabs of the. reality of an Israeli state
and mutual cooperation and goodwill in a land
sacred to the religions of all the parties 'in-
volved."—N.Y. Times.
, peace, Israel is on un-
"In seeking .
assailable ground. In resisting it, the Arab na-
tions are subject to condemnation by the rest
of the free world."—Chicago Daily Sun-Times.
"The plain fact is that the Arab states
have refused to take any serious steps that
might contribute to peace and stability . . .
The Arab nations can accomplish nothing but
irritation and provocation by their tactics."
—N.Y. Herald Tribune.
The facts are plain. Israel's quest for
peace is acknowledged in civilized quarters.
Arab intransigence is being coddled by
frightened statesmen who fail to recognize
that unless there is peace in the Middle East
there may be war everywhere. U.S. and UN
statesmen should act quickly against Arab
aggression and for world peace.
by the name of Lynn dared bludgeon them with the truth that
the performance was as un-American as un-Christian that there
was a ripple of realization among the daughters that they were
witness and party to sin. True enough, another woman, an offi-
cial of the DAR, promiSed it "will not happen again," but her
assurance would have been more encouraging if it simultaneously
disclosed how it happened that a creature notorious for anti-
Jewish views was permitted to address the convention.
Trained in the skill of smearing and deception, the conven-
tion's entertainer developed a most dangerous anti-Semitic ap-
proach, kitchen anti-Semitism. Instead of rationalizing and argu-
ing, the snake dancer just moved about the kitchens and darted
poison into every pot and pan by calling the attention of the
housewives to the obvious fact that kosher products bear kosher
symbols while insiduously hinting that all that pointed to a Jewish
conspiracy to foist the cost and observance of kashruth on
Christian women. What she quite obviously failed to mention
was that there was no need for Christian women to purchase
kosher products. But since this simple truth would demolish her
argument about a bold minority imposing its religious observances
Upon an apathetic minority, she chose to hide it. Her purpose
was even clearer when she wept that the vestments Christian
ministers were wearing when performing religious duties were
being washed with cleansing products upon which, she claimed,
"another religion had already performed a ritual without their
knowledge." Here the lady is at least genuinely original, for this
is the first time it has come to our attention that kosher soap
is required for laundry purposes.
Well, if the lady is so sensitive to certain admixtures her logi-
cal step should have been advocacy of Christendom cleansing itself
of all Jewish influences, including Jesus and His disciples, eves
as her lord and master, Hitler, did. . . •