THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue al July 20. 1952
Spiritual Value Has Its Place
lientioer American Association of English-Jewish Newspapn's, Michigan Press Assoc Cation.
Publishekl every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co.. 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich.. VE. 9.49384
?tab,-eription 54. a year- foreign 35 "
ii,:ntered as second class matter Aug. 8. 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., un der Act of March 3, 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVIT2
Editor anti Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
PRANK SIMONS
City Editor
•
Sabbath Scriptural Selections.,
This Sabbath, the twenty-ninth dau of Ab, 5714, the following SCriptural selections will be read
in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Deut. 11:26-16:17. Prophetical portion, Is. 54:11-55:5.
Rosh Hodesh Elul Scriptural selections, Sunday and Monday, Num. 28:1-15
Licht Benshen, Friday, Aug. 27, 7:17 p. m.
VOL. XXV, No. 25
Page Four
August 27, 1954 •
Michigan and American Jewish Tercentenary
Detroit Jewry has cause for deep satis-
faction over the manner in which all ele-
ments of the Michigan population have re-
sponded to the plans being formulated by
the Detroit Committee of 300 for the ob-
servance of the American Jewish Tercen-
tenary.
The Proclamations by Governor Williams
and Mayor Cobo, declaring the period of
Sept. 20 to Oct. 20 as Tercentenary Month;
the Testimonial Resolutions 'adopted by the
Detroit Common Council and the Michigan
State Legislature and the cooperation given
the Detroit committee by the Historical Mu-
seum, the Public Library and the Art In-
stitute, are indications of sincere interest
in the development of the Jewish commu-
nity, whose constituents have contributed
and continue to contribute towards the de-
velopment and prOgress of this great democ-
racy.
Such wide interest in the Tercentenary
underscores the theme of the celebration:
"Man's Opportunities and Responsibilities
under Freedom." The • dramatization of
Jewry's role in upholding American tradi-
tions of liberty and equal opportunities for
all is reflected in the 300 years' activities
of the Jews of this country — their pioneer-
ing efforts as settlers in all States in the
Union and as participants in the work of
transforming wildernesses into great agricul-
tural and industrial centers, their work on
the farms and• in the factories, their share
in the advancement of cultural and educa-
tional movements, their efforts as scientists,
as members of several Presidents' Cabinets,
as Justices of our Supreme Court, as Sena-
tors, CongresSmen and Governors of States,
We are especially proud of the Biblical
influences on American life and of a heritage
replete with spiritual values which we have
passed on to this great land, whose citizen-
ship we cherish on a par with our inherit-
ance from our Prophets and Sages.
On the occasion of the Tercentenary
celebration, as we review the great benefits
of our Americanism, we are dominated by
a sense of deep gratitude to our fellow
Americans • for the encouragement we have
received from men of all faiths in our crea-
tive efforts for the advancement of Jewish
spiritual values, in the defense of our kins-
men when their lives were threatened in
lands of oppression, in the' historic task of
the re-establishment of the State of Israel
whose rebirth is due in great measure to
the assistance given it by the United States.
The American Jewish Tercentenary com-
memorates the escape from persecution in
Brazil of 23 Jews who came to New Amster-
dam 300 years ago and founded the first nterestin9 Tercentenary Volume
American Jewish congregation in 1654.
a.
There were. Jews on this continent before
them. The first man in Christopher Colum-
American Jewry's Tercentenary Year is inspiring the writing
bus' crew to set . foot on American soil was and publishing of histories of American Jewish communities.
Columbus' interpreter, Luis ...de Torres. Among them is the "History of the Jews -of Petersburg (Va.) , 1789-
There were other Jews in Columbus' party. 1'1 50," by Louis Ginsberg. It is available (in either paper—or
But the fact that the first organized move- cloth-bound copies) by writing to the author at 927 Northampton
ment for Jewish settlement in this country Rd Petersburg, Va..
There are many _interesting historical incidents recorded in
was marked by the escapees from Brazilian
persecution makes the year 1654 the historic Mr. Ginsberg's story of his native city whose Jewish population.
date of the beginning of American Jewish dates its beginnings to the days of Washington and the Revolu-
War. The author has taken pains to gather information
history, and 1954 becomes the Tercentenary tionary
about all of the city's residents and has incorporated in his his-
Year in this historic development.
tc y membership records as well as lists of those buried in the
The opportunity afforded by the Ter- Jewish community's cemeteries.
Petersburg, now numbering 500 Jews, has two synagogues, a
centenary Year for review of American
Jewish historical occurrences also will pro- rdaily Hebrew school, a strong Zionist movement ("Zionists from
vide the means for study of the gifts our Petersburg attended Zionist conventions as early as 1919") and
people have , made to this country and of plans are being made for the erection of a Jewish Community
our aspirations to attain the highest goals Center.
for mankind.
Many- interesting episodes are recorded in Mr. Ginsberg's his-
Michigan's officials have issued calls to tory. For instance, there is the following:
"George Davis, in the dry goods business in 1859, was a
all citizens, of all faiths, to join in the Ter-
centenary celebration. Jews in all walks' of councilman for the East Ward. He was also father of Rebecca
life will mark the occasion with appropriate' Davis who married Anthony M. Kelley of Petersburg.
"Anthony Keiley served in the Confederate Army as lieuten-
events, starting with the impressive exhibi-
tion at the Detroit Historical Museum, con- ant - of -a Petersburg company. After the war he edited the
tinuing with exhibits at the Public Library Index-Appeal. Shortly afterwards he moved to Richmond where
and the Art Institute and to be highlighted he served as mayor for five years. At the expiration of his term
he was elected-City attorney, from which position, he resigned
with the Tercentenary dinner that will have in
1885.
the distinction of being addressed by the
"When, Cleveland became President in 1885, one of his first
eminent American Jewish leader, Dr: Abba
acts
to appoint Kelley -minister to Italy, which country de-
Hillel Silver. In recording history, we also clined was
to receive' him as being persona non grata. After this
shall be making history for Michigan Jewry. declination, Kelley received the appointment as minister to
is ory or e ers urg
National Education Month 'Call to Parents'
American Jewry's leading organizations
have combined forces in issuing a "Call to
Parents," on the occasion of Education
Month. The approach of the opening of the
school year, immediately after Labor Day,
makes the following appeal most timely:
"The beginning of the school year, this Fall,
will coincide with the opening of an historic
celebration—the observance of the 300th anni-
versary of Jewish settlement on these shores.
"During the Tercentenary, American Jews and
their fellow-citizens of all faiths will commemo-
rate the arrival of the first Jews as the begin-
ning of three centuries of creative Jewish life
in this country. During these years, Jews have
contributed significantly and generously of their
talents, their energies, and their labors toward
the growth and development of this great land.
"The accomplishments of the Jews who set-
tied here ennoble our lives, bUt they also charge
us with responSibilities. In the first place, we
have the obligation to see to it that the great
spiritual, ethical and cultural traditions which
they, among others, brought to this country,
will be maintained and cherished. In the second
place, we of this generation have the duty to
lend meaning • and dignity to our existence here
by forging new weapons in behalf of American
democracy, our own community and Jews in
other lands, including the State of Israel.
"There is an indispensable method by which
we can discharge these responsibilities, now and
for the future. Through- a program of effective
Jewish education, we can forge the links with
the generations that have passed and with the
communities of Jews in all parts of the world.
"Jewish Education Month will be observed
this year from September 12 to October 10. Dur-
ing this period we must create the conditions
of community interest and participation—in the
Fall enrollment—in a program of Jewish educa-
tion for youth and adults, girls as well as boys,
that will guarantee a future in keeping with our
past, yet attuned to present-day conditions and
challenges."
The 20 major Jewish groups which have
signed this call, including American Zionist
Council, American Jewish Committe e,
American Jewish Congress, Bnai Brith, Con-
gress for Jewish Culture, Council of Jewish
Federations and Welfare Funds, Zionist Or-
ganization of America, Hadassah, Jewish
Labor Committee, Jewish War Veterans of
the U.S.A., Mizrachi Organization of Ameri-
ca, National Council for Jewish Education,
National Council of Jewish Women, Jewish
Welfare Board, are rendering an important
service. The American Jewish community's
major responsibility is to our children and
to our schools. We can advance our status
only if we have a well-informed constitu-
ency. Uninformed youths are the best ma-
terial for delinquency; spiritually-actuated
young people; on the other hand, become
the backbone of a stronger America and of
our •baSic democratic ideals.
In our own community we are well
equipped to care for the youth in our many
schools. We join in urging strong adherence
to the "Call to Jewish Parents." There is
a responsibility for every one of us to help
strengthen our educational systems by send-
ing our children to our schools, by enrolling
them in the available classes, by forging "the
links with the generations that have passed"
and by emphasizing the spiritual values
without which both Jewry and America will
be weaker.
This community has cause to point with
pride to plans for enlarged educational •
plans by virtue of the dedication, in Sep-
tember, of the new United Hebrew Schools
branch and of the annex to Yeshivath
Beth Yehuda. By being awake to Jewry's
cultural needs, Detroit Jewry is fulfilling a
major obligation to itself and to all Israel.
May the Education Month of our Ter-
centenary Year prove to be a truly con-
structive effort for the advancement of Jew-
ish and American values.
every
Austria-Hungary. This country also refused him, plainly stating
that it objected to him on the ground of his wife being a Jewess."
We learn from Mr. Ginsberg's history that Uriah 7e.dbelman,
who began as a private in the Confederate Army with which many
Jews took up arms in the War Between the States, "was ap-
pointed Chaplain in Mahone's Brigade Jf the Army of Northern
Virginia and served two years. He is the only known Chaplain
of Jewish faith to serve in the Confederate Army."
The author takes exCeption to a statement' by the .historian
Herman Schuricht that Jews advocated the secession movement
because of their interest in the "Negro trade." Pointing out that
71ws- were "small merchants trying to make a. living," Mr. Gins-
berg . states that "the Jews flocked • to the colors primarily from
pat •otic motivations rather than from any vested interests."
Mr. Ginsberg goes into detail to list kosher Jewish butchers and
to name Levi Lightstone, the owner of a slaughterhouse, who made
kosher meat available to Petersburg Jews.
Quotations from the by-laws of Congregation. Brith Achim
show how the synagogue considered the _hales of the Chazon and
the "Sochet" and barred from membership anyone "married out-
.ide the Jewish faith."
Mention is made of the activities of the Jewish Welfare Board
at Camp Lee, near Petersburg.
*
*
The following has national interest: "From late • 1923 to 1926
Rabbi M. Goodkovitz, of Washington, D. C., was employed as rabbi
of the congregation, Rabbi Goodkovitz's
son Chaplain Alexander D. Goode, vho was
one of the four chaplains who went down
on the troopship Dorchester, Feb. 3, 1943,
was bar mitzvahed in the Brith Achim Syn-
agogue. Chaplain Goode was presented with
a watch by the congregation on this oc-
casion. The watch is now in the possession
of Joseph Good, his brother."
There is reference in this history to a
Jacob Smith, first recorded president of
Brith Achim Congregation , who moved to
Detroit and died here in 1933.
While recognition must be given to the
criticisms of the state of Jewish affairs
made by Joseph E. Raffaeli, who served in
Rabbi Goode
Petersburg in 1928, the reader will agree with Mr. Ginsberg that
"Petersburg Jewry has inherited a wealth of tradition which
should make the Jewish citizen proud to be a member of his
community." Apparently serious efforts are being made to improve
the community's status. Its interestingly told' story reflects the
conditions that exist in scores of similar Jewish communities
throughout the land, thereby lending considerable significance to
Mr. Ginsberg's book.