Vacation Time
THE JEWISH NEWS .
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association.
Puhtsheti every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co.. 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 8-9384
subscription $4. a year, foreign • $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 8. 1942. at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
•
This Sabbath, the sixteenth day of Tammuz, 5714, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num: 25:10-30:1. Prophetical portion, I Kings 18:46-19:21.
Scriptural Selections for Fast of Tammuz, Sunday
•
Pentateuchal portion, Ex. 32: 11-14: 34: 1-10. Prophetical portion, Is. 55:6-56:8.
Licht Benshen, Friday, July ib, 8:05 p.m.
VOL. XXV, No. 19
Page 4
July 16, 1954
Training of Teachers: Jewry's Major Task
Stillness of the summer must not lull us
into false security in facing our major issues.
It is too easy to be soothed into smug com-
placency . and righteous indifference during
months of inactivity. But it is now that one
must think of the problems ahead.
Jewry has many issues to deal with. We
are faced with tasks that challenge our meth-
ods of approach to Israel and our attitudes
towards those in our own Government who
are playing inconsistent roles in matters in-
volving foreign policy and Middle Eastern
affairs. We are defied in our efforts by a
minority of Jews who, with their destructive
tactics, are harming not only the established
Jewish communal structures but are at the
same time endangering the security of all
American Jews through libelous attacks on
their loyalties. Our internal affairs constant-
ly call for vision and for devoted support of
the great institutions we have created—our
–synagogues, our philanthropic agencies, our
Centers, our social agencies.
But by far our major responsibility is to
our educational agencies. Our communities
will be strong as long as our people will be
well informed. Our future will be secure only
when our heritage is protected and our tra-
ditions are adhered to. Active participation
in the upbuilding of Israel will be assured by
the spread of knowledge of the position of
the Jewish state and of our obligations to our
kinsmen. Similarly, our duties to synagogues
and social service will be better understood
through proper information. All of these
things hinge upon good school systems, since
training for public service must begin with
the very young—and also because the young
so often inspire their- elders. to action. There-
fore this reminder to our community, at the
risk of repetition, never to forget that our
major obligation is to our schools and to
Jewish education. And in the interest of this
obligation we must begin to act with in-
creased vigor in the solution of a serious
problem-: the shortage of teachers.
This problem will be dealt with in the
fall at a special conference of the National
Conference of Jewish Education. It is a uni-
versal one. Our Canadian neighbors are try-
ing to tackle it and this statement in the
official organ of the Canadian Jewish Con-
gress is worth studying:
"The Canadian Jewish communities' Grati-
fying activity in Jewish. education would seem
Weak Negotiations
Departure of Jewish negotiators from
Vienna, after a month's discussions with the
Austrian government of claims for heirless
property and individual indemnification and
restitution for Nazi victims, was accom-
panied by a sense of "deep disappointment,"
in the words of Moses Beckelman, who
headed the team of Jewish spokesmen.
It is believed that the fear of losing votes
of former Nazis in the coming election has
motivated some of the actions of the Aus-
trian leaders who have reduced their original
indemnification offers. It is believed also that
Austrian Chancellor_Julius Raab aims to
force the Jews into a position of breaking
off negotiations, instead of retaining respon-
sibility for Austria for the failure to fulfill
obligations to the victims of Nazism.
Lame excuses have been offered by the
Austrian authorities for the collapse of the
negotiations.. After more than a year's dis-
cussions, it is a bit untimely now to state
that legislative measures are necessary,
thereby necessitating postponement of all
considerations until October. The Austrians
are beating around the bush when they state
that their government has pledged ad-
herence to a principle of no discrimination
in restitution and indemnification between
Nazi victims now living in Austria and those
residing abroad.
Thus, Austria defies Jewish claims and
yields to' pressure from former Nazis. It is
not a pretty picture and it may have its
effects, in fomenting anti-Semitism. •
to lay the ghost of • the oft-repeated charge
that parents are apathetic. Leaders who are in-
different to many important community en-
deavors have certainly given considerable at-
tention to ways and means of educating the
younger generatiori. The Canadian Jewish
Congress has given Jewish education a high
priority in its agenda and thereby reflects
public opinion, if indeed it was not to some
extent ahead of it; modesty forbids a value . 'Judaism in Islam'
judgment.
"Loud huzzahs however are premature and
could prove to be embarrassing. There re-
main many very serious problems. Parents may
be enthusiastic (Particularly since they are not
called upon to study nor to take classes) but
there is little doubt that children are much
less so. Young Canadians are not interested
in continuing beyond the barest minimum of
Hebrew studies and most certainly evince lit-
tle desire to engage in the teaching profes-
sion in our Jewish schools. Herein lies our
greatest concern! In past generations the corn-
*unity could rely on newcomers to form the
teacher corps. More recently, when the immi-
grant source from overseas was less avail-
able, lay-boards, principals and committees
were alarmed and a Teachers' Seminary (two
in fact operated for the first years) was estab-
lished to prepare foreign-born residents for
the profession. No Canadian-born. were appli-
cants. We are now at the second stage where
no foreign-born reservoir exists and we must
look for other 'applicants. Israel as a Source
presents many formidable obstacles. There is
a teacher shortage in, Israel: it is to be ex-
pected that the better `teachers will remain in
Israel; it is too expensive to bring them to
Canada; and to use an inelegant maxim, "who
wants to buy a pig in a poke?" The third
stage will face us in a few. years. There will
be an= alarming teacher shortage here and in
the United States: Only the Willingness of Ca-
nadian youth to become teachers can prevent
a crisis.
"Looking ahead it seems. obvious :that there
is little relationship between the desires of the
Jewish community to instil Jewish education
and plans for a supply of teachers. There is
even less relationship between the desires , of
educators and lay boards, who are not con-
. tent merely with a system which gives a smat-
tering of knowledge and a general familiarity
with Jewish tradition, and this problem of
Jewish teachers. Thoreau agreed it is fine to
build castles in the air if you can - find the
foundation stones to support them. Canadian
plans are mostly in the 'build-the-roof-first'
blueprint.
-
"Taking all factors into consideration, it is
realistic to confess that there is no call for
heady optimism. All interested parties will have
to recognize that education generally is a dif-
ficult program, restoring a classical language
even more so and educating beyond a very
superficial level in a western culture most •dif-
Pettit of all. Perhaps it is 'necessary to reach
for the stars even to succeed in scaling a few
peaks. If. so, we should know where we are
going and realize the formidable nature of
the obstacles. Teacher training of Canadian
youth who don't want it is the priority prob-
lem. It is a good thing that we can obtain
some comfort from the Talmudic injunction
that we are not required to complete the job
though we must not desist from it altogether."
This is an analysis of the problem. It is
not a solution. But the recognition of the
existence of the need for teachers should in-
spire the sort of thinking which must, in
the near future, bring a desired :solution.
Rabbis' Convention
Leading spokesmen for orthodoxy will
convene here next week. On the agenda of
the annual convention of the Rabbinical
Council of America are items calling for dis-
cussion of the orthodox rabbinate's concern
with Israel, Jewish learning and the Ameri-
can Jewish community. ,
The prominence of many of the visiting
rabbis and the importance of the issues to be
reviewed lend importance to these sessions.
The deliberations here will be watched with
keen interest by all who seek the solidifica-
tion of Jewish ranks in support of Israel and
the advancement of Jewish lemming.
Biblical and Talmudic Backgrounds'
Of the Koran and Its Commentaries
Growing out of his doctoral dissertation submitted to Dropsie
College is Abraham I. Katsh's "Judaism in Islam."
For the first time in English, this book, published by New
York University Press and distributed by Bloch, presents a verse-
by-verse study of the Koran and the Islamic commentaries.
Dr. Katsh, who is chairman of the Hebrew department at
New York University, has traced the background of the Koran in
the Old TeStament as well as in Jewish legends and in rabbinic
folklore. Thus Dr. Katsh reveals that Islam owes a great debt
of gratitude to Judaism.
The author's acquaintance with the original sources assists
in substantiating his conclusions. He outlines the early stages of
Islam and he points out that "Arabic sources abound in incidents
attesting to the friendly relations between the Jews and the
Arabs in the pre-Islamic period."
Dr. Katsh paints out that "the southwestern part of the Ara-
.
bian peninsula, known as Yemen, was generally considered a
Jewish state ... The Jews of Yemen wrought a tremendous change
in the religious life of the Arab people, hundreds of years before
the advent of Mohammad." Some Arab tribes had accepted Juda-
ism, and we are informed by Dr. Katsh that "Jewish customs and
traditions were known to and practiced by many Arabs, and Mo-
hammad who knew many of these laws and customs incorporated
a considerable number . of them into his religious teachings."
The fundamental teachings of Islam, analyses of verses,
transliterations of Arabic and Hebrew letters are extensively de-
veloped in this book.
It is a timely•wori'i'Well annotated. It is appropos in an era -of -
strife, and it would be well if all elements involved were to read
it, in the best interests . of an Arab-Jewish peace. -
The Jew in American Sports
Ribalow, who has gained fame as a book reviewer,
Harold
son of the late editor of Hadoar, himself an able Hebraist, has
emerged in recent years as an authority on Jews in sports.
He has revised his book, "The Jew in American Sports," and
it is now available, as a Bloch publication, in a revised and en-
larged edition.
.A deserving tribute to the young author is incorporated in a
preface to the revised edition by Barney Ross, to whom a chapter
is devoted in this book under the title "The Frail-Waisted
Champion."
A sad note creeps into the revised edition. Ribalow writes
in his introduction: "This new edition has nowhere been con-
tracted, except in the basketball section. Nat Holman, an in-
terview with whom had appeared in the earlier book, has been
omitted because of the tragically unsavory conclusion of his
glorious coaching career. No stigma attached to' Holman per-
sonally, but it became impossible, to judge fairly the teams under
his command when a basketball betting scandal broke and
revealed that some of his finest players succumbed to the
gamblers. Nevertheless, basketball, like many other sports, is
dealt with in detail."
We wonder whether this is not an unfair approach to an im-
portant issue. The right. thing to do is to come to the defense of
a great player and coach, and . if he is guiltless he deserves to
be defended.
Ribalow's book is replete with fascinating stories—about Hank
Greenberg, Johnny Kling, Saul Rogovin, Goody Rosen, Andy
Cohen, "Dolly" Stark, Benny Leonard, Al Rosen, Samuel 'Resliev-
sky, Sid Luckman, Sidney Franklin, Benny Friedman and many
others. It remains the outstanding book available on the subject
of Jews in sports.
Dr. Slaughter's 'Song of Ruth'
Dr. Frank G. Slaughter makes use of all available Biblical
studies of the Book of Ruth in the material he • has gathered for
his novel "The Song of Ruth," published by Doubleday . (575 Madi-
son, NY22). •
Embellished, greatly enlarged upon, taking into account con-
ditions of the times, Dr. Slaughter's panoramic view of the famous
old Testamern, story portrays the heroes—kings and slaves—the
women of fame—Naomi and Ruth—and gives an interesting ac-
count of the land and the people.
• The author points to the disagreements over the story's .au-
thenticity, but he treats the facts on the basis of their origin in
the Old Testament.
Interestingly enough, he gives his story a Christological twist,
and the concluding lines are a quotation from the New Testament,
Acts 13:23, with reference to Boaz, thus: "Of this man's promise,
raised unto Israel a Savior, Jesus." He therefore leads his story
away from the Old Testament into the New Testament, making his
novel a Christological work.