A Guide to the 'Jewish Life' Exhibition
Esther Berman Hebrew School Branch
To Be Dedicated on Sunday Evening
is troublesome to many Jews in explaining and
which will , aid non Jews to a more complete
Detroit Historical Museum and its staff started
understanding of the Jew.
from scratch. Being for the most part non-
Dedication ceremonies of the , precede the dedication Sunday,
The next four panels delve briefly into the
new Esther Berman Branch of 1 p.m. The staff of the United
Jewish, staff members asked themselves ques-
history of the beginnings of Jewry—through its
Hebrew
Schools
and
leading
De-
tions as to what they needed to know, as non-
the United Hebrew Schools and
birthplace, Israel.
election of the school's officers troit educators have been in-
Jews, to help promote a better understanding
ABRAHAM TO THE PROMISED LAND This
and board of directors will' be vited to the seminar. The sub-
of Jewish cultural contributions and of the
panel quickly covers the period from Abraham
held Sunday, 8 p.m., at the new ject under discussion will be
Jews as an entity.
through the Exodus from Egypt in the 13th Cen-
building on Schaefer and Seven "Changing Approaches to Jew-
From this beginning and after many meetings tury B.C.E.
ish Curriculum Development." with members of the Jewish community who
Mile Road.
The
THE KINGDOM RISES AND FALLS
Ira Kaufman, chairman of Dr. Honor also will speak at comprise the Detroit Tercentenary Committee of various Jewish empires are historically shown, as
the annual meeting, will open this event.
300, the exhibits were drawn, first in scale, then Judah, David and Solomon. Judah in Nehemiah's
the first part of the program.
later in the lasting form which will run the Time and the Kingdom of Israel and Judah in
Elijah's Time.
The presidential report will then
length of the exhibition—to Jan. 12, 1955.
THE DISPERSION—This panel is illustrative
The afternoon's program, which was • con-
be submitted by Abe Kasle,
ducted by Philip Slomovitz, chairman of the De- of the scattering of the Jews from Palestine to
president of the schools.
troit Tercentenary Committee of 300, served as the capitals of the ancient world. '-
Prior to the election of officers
CHRONOLOGY 537 B.C.E. TO 70 A.D. Many
and directors, the educational
This Sunday, at the Hotel De- an introduction to the showing, brought forward
report will be given by Albert troiter, the Michigan regional the many people who worked so diligently in important events are highlighted here with the
Elazer, the schools' associate Defamation League of Bnai getting the exhibit together and introduced a Return to Zion, Palestine under Hellinist Rule,
superintendent. Lawrence Crohn Brith will convene in its annual number of local dignitaries who greeted those the Maccabea.n Revolt, the Hasmonean Dynasty,
' the Roman Tributory State and the ultimate
will present the nominating meeting and for I election assembled.
Opening with the invocation by Rabbi Ben- Destruction of Jerusalem.
committee's report.
of officers. Nominated to suceed
THE HERITAGE CONTINUES—While Pales-
Dedication Program
jamin H. Gorrelick, of Cong. Beth Aaron, Slomo-
Harry Yudkoff as chairman is vitz
introduced in turn Louis C. Miriani, presi- tine no longer is the center of Jewry, the culture
At the dedication ceremonies,
over which Philip Slomovitz will Ben M. Rose of Wyandotte, a dent of the Detroit Common Council, who ex- of the Jews continues through Maimonides, Sho-
preside, the following program member of the State Committee tended the city's official greetings; George W. lem Aleichem, Heinrich Graetz and Chayim
on Continuing Education, of the Stark, Detroit News columnist and city histori- Nachman Bialik.
will be presented:
MODERN ISRAEL CONTINUES Shown is the
A dedication hymn by the Adult Education Association of grapher; Henry D. Brown, Museum director, and
pupils of the Esther Berman Michigan and the Hospital Charles E. Feinberg, co-chairman of the Ter- rebirth of Israel, and the story of its develop-
Branch, formerly the Schaefer Board of Wyandotte, and a centenary celebration in Detroit and chairman ment as an old-new nation.
THE RELIGION OF THE JEWS This impor-
Branch; greetings by Mr. Kasle Jewish W a r Veterans' leader. of the Tercentenary's exhibit committee. Dr.
for the- board of directors, Ber- Nominated for vice-chairman Richard C. Hertz, of Temple Beth El, gave the tant panel explains the major holidays, Rosh
Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover and
nard Isaacs for the staff, and are Aaron J. Pearlman of Battle benediction.
Robert E. Lee, the Museum's chief prepara- others. In front of the panel is a display case
Mrs. Herman Wetsman, presi- Creek and Irving Fidelman of
tor, was asked how long it took to plan prepare, featuring religious artifacts used in the various
dent of the Woman's Auxiliary. South Haven.
The ADL advisory board will assemble and present the exhibition as it looked holidays.
Greetings from the P.T.O. of
The next group of exhibits show Jewish life
the Esther Berman Branch will hear evaluation of human re- on opening day. Working from June, Lee said
be given by its president, Har- lations workshop held this sum- the job was finished at 4 p.m., the Saturday be- in Detroit—its first Jewish resident, its syna-
gogue beginnings, its role in culture and devel-
mer at the University of De- fore the showing opened to the public.
vey Goldman.
opment, both on a city and community basis.
The work, as testified by an enthusiastic
Samuel Rubiner will speak for troit and at Wayne University,
EVIDENCE OF THE FIRST JEW IN DETROIT
from Mrs. Ma- opening day crowd, will be thoroughly enjoyed
the Jewish Welfare Federation.
Taken
from the collection of Irving I. Katz,
tilda
Mindel
and
by
all
who
see
it.
The
Museum
features
a
sign
Greetings also will be given by
M r s . Mariam on its lawn, proclaiming to all who pass by, Michigan's foremost Jewish historian and execu-
Dr. A. M. Hershman. Mandell
tive director of Temple Beth El, the panel shows.
Elisberg. A D L that inside is an exhibit on Jewish culture in
L. Berman will represent the
actively partici- Detroit. Inside the lobby of the Woodward and letters and other data showing the existence of ,
Esther Berman family.
:Toted in these Kirby institution, another sign guides visitors one Chapman Abraham in Detroit, in the year
Honor to Speak
•
1762.
to the show on the ground floor.
functions.
Musical selections specially
BEGINNINGS OF DETR O I T CONGREGA-
As you approach the exhibit, you see on the
The luncheon
prepared for the occasion will
organ-
speaker will be . right a panel with greetings to the American TIONS Shown are the first synagogues
be sung by pupils of the schools.
in 1850; ,
Nathan Perl- Jewish community and the official resolutions ized in this area: Temple Beth El
Guest speaker of the evening
will be Dr. Leo L. Honor, pro-
mutter, a ssis- by the City of Detroit, State of Michigan and Shaarey Zedek in 1861; Bnai Israel in 1892; and
fessor of education at Dropsie
lt a n t national the State Congressional proclaiming. the Ter- Bnai David, also in 1892.
In a glassed-in declivity on the right side
College, One of the most out-
director of the centenary.
On the left, as you enter the exhibit, 4s one of the hall are shown settings of tables, the
-se• • community ser-
standing leaders in American
,,,,„„A
of its most stirring displays—the city flag of first showing a complete setting for the home
Jewish educational circles.
Peri fter vice division of
The program will close with a ADL, who will report on recent Detroit—a stirring addition to any exhibition observance of Passover, prepared by the Bnai
prayer by Rabbi Jacob M. Chin- occurances in ADL'S areas of which has to do with the history of Detroit, and Moshe Sisterhood; the second a sabbath table
made doubly significant by the fact that's its setting by the Adas Shalom Sisterhood. Both of
itz, of Ahavath Achim Syna- interest on the national level.
these tables, beautifully decorated and 3 aligiouse
was a Jew.
gogue. '
Reservations will be accepted originator
ly significant, drew the attention of all of the
In
1907,
David
E.
Heineman,
then
a,
member
A reception, at which refresh- at the ADL office, 140 Cadillac
of the Common Council, and one of this city's women visitors.
ments will be served, and a tour Square, WO. 2-9686,
In front of the section, in a glass showcase,
first prominent civic leaders, drew a sketch for
of the new building will follow
the
official
flag
of
Detroit,
which
was
accepted
were
various religious symbols, menorahs for
the ceremonies.
2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
and
reproduced.
On
this
panel
is
the
original
the
Sabbath
and Hanukah, the Megillah for
A luncheon and seminar will
Friday, September 17, 1954
Purim, the Lulov and essrig for Simhat Torah
sketch of Mr. Heineman's.
As a sidelight, it is interesting to note that and, of course, the prime symbol of the Jewish
Heineman, together with Dr. Leo Franklin and people, the Sefer Torah.
RELIEF AGENCIES IN DETROIT BEFORE
Prof Max Winkler, was a co-chairman of the
culture
1904 celebration that observed the 250th an- 1900—Continuing the panels on Detroit
niversary of the colonization of the Jews in is this testimony to the philanthropy of the
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
America. community's Jewish population. Featured are
the Beth El Relief Society, 1869; Frauen Verein,
Entering the heart of the exhibit from the
The Emergence of the New American Jew
1863; Jewish Relief Society, 1891; Hebrew Ladies
left,
the
viewer
sees
a
display
of
religious
ob-
A new type of Jew- is developing in this country.
Sewing Society, 1892; and Self-Help Circle, 1889.
jects from the Harvey and Ethel Goldman
This great community, whose beginnings date back to this
JEWISH WELFARE FEDERATION The vari-
Ceremonial Collection of Temple Beth El,
month three hundred years ago, began with the Jews from Por-
ous and multi-purpose functions of Detroit
which features the tablets of law, a beautiful
tugal, the Marranos from Spain, the settlers in the Dutch-estab-
Jewry's social service program of today are
copy of the Megillah, tefillin boxei and other
lished New Amsterdam, the present New York.
this display case, on
outlined here.
items.
Directly
behind
We grew slowly. The German Jews began to arrive in the
CONGREGATIONS IN DETROIT TODAY A
the wall, are Torah curtains and a Torah
middle of the last century. Then, after the progroms of 1882 in
statement by Rabbi Joseph Elias, Orthodox;
cover from the collection of Charles E. Fein-
Russia and the wave of Russian persecutions under Nicholas II
Rabbi Morris Adler, Conservative; and Dr. Leon
berg.
in 1904-05—simultaneous with'the trek of some immigrants to the
Proceeding around the room from the left, Frain, Reform; explains what each group stands
Holy Land—there began the large influx of Jews from Russia
for. An accompanying map, dotted with pins
there begins the first in a series of panels ex-
.
and Poland.
plaining Jewish life, Jewish customs and Jewish shows the location of this city's many Jewish
The overwhelming number of Jews resident in this country at contributions to the history of the world and congregations.
the present time is of East European origin. But the amalgam is,an
The remaining three showcases in the exhibit
unification of Jews from all parts of the globe. We now are wit- more specifically the United States.
This panel shows also proved tremendous attractions to first-day
AMERICA'S
FIRST
JEWS
nessing the emergence of a new American Jew.
the original letter of protest by the States Gen- visitors at the Museum. • Twb are devoted to
He is an interesting type. Even when he does not go to syna- eral of Holland to the King of Spain concerning veterans in all of our country's wars, with - infor-
gogue regularly, he is the strong supporter and defender of the Brazilian Jewish refugees. It was written in 1659. mation on the Civil and Spanish American War
religious community of Israel. He sends his children to a religious
THE PERIOD OF THE REVOLUTION Fea - supplied by Irving Katz, and prepared by the
or Jewish community school. He supports the state of Israel and
portraits of leading Jewish Revolutionary Jewish War Veterans.
all efforts to provide security and freedom for his less fortunate turing
In one case was a display of all of the medals
leaders, an item of prime interest is a letter
kinsmen overseas.
written by George Wolton, one of the signers this country awards and the number of Jewish
Yet, he has much to learn. Perhaps the very minimal presence of the Declaration of Independence, in behalf servicemen to receive each medal. A portrait of
at religious services is his major fault. The fact that so many of ,Cushman Pollack, a patriotic refugee of Lt. Raymond Zussman, a Deteroit serviceman.
only
content themselves, with sending their children to a one-day-a-
killed in World War II and this city's
winner,
week school may even be labelled as shockingly sinful. Some do Georgia, in. 1780.
CULTURE—Detroit's
Congressional
Medal
of
Honor
Jewish
CONTRIBUTIONS TO
not give enough to charity and a few—let it be said in all truth: Albert
Kahn is featured in this panel, which graces the exhibit.
A handful—even are the enemies of Israel.
The final display case shows the first Torah
contains thumbnail sketches of some of the
In the main, however, the newly-emerging American Jew is
to the culture of brought to Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Isaae
most
important
Jews
adding
an interesting and a good type of man and woman. He sets the the nation. Others are Emma Lazarus, Judah Couzens brought the Torah here in 1850, an
pace for giving to worthy causes and is always on top in philan-
it was used in services held in the community's
and Uriah P. Levy.
thropic endeavors. He aspires to give his children the best educa- Touro
private homes. These services led to the for-
NATIONAL THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS
tion. He is proud of his heritage and patriotic in his Americanism.
panel shows pictures and gives details mation of Temple Beth El, the city's oldest
This
There is much to be done to retain the Jewish identity. Our
Jewish Theological
Jewish congregation.
experience is that the first, the pioneering, generations of Jews- of the Hebrew Union College,
The large amount of good material displayed
University and Yiddish
Seminary.
Yeshivah
only
the
first
settlers,
who
helped
of
have disappeared. Very few
Scientific Institute, the seats of higher Jewish at the overall exhibition is a tribute not
to
establish. this great republic, are remembered through offspring
to
the
Jewish
community,
but
serves
as
well
proud
who have remained Jews. Some time back, discussing this very Jewish learning in the U. S.
of
the
most
make
members
of
the
general
community
The next group of panels is one
subject, this Commentator went on record with a statement that provocative
displays in the exhibition and caused that such a community exists in Detroit.
the only remaining member of a great Jewish family whom he
The display at the Museum will go on record
much
discussion
among Jews in the first-day
of
can mention as still alive and as carrying on the great Jewish audience who felt
that here a great service is as one of the most impressive re-creations
to the
traditions is Captain N. Taylor Phillips. If we are wrong, we would
Jewish
history
ever
devised,
and
it
is
being done in helping to promote genuine un-
be happy to correct this view.
credit of the Tercentenary committee and the
The point is that we do have an nicrease in intermarriages; derstanding toward Jewry. JEWS? Four ques- staff of the Detroit Historical Museum that such
WHO
REALLY
ARE
THE
that traditions are flaunted; that we have a great deal to correct
a • myriad of important items were gathered
to assure retention of their heritage by Jews—in the best interests tions are asked: Are They a Nation? Are They together for presentation.
People?
Are
They
a
Religious
Group?
Are
They
of our surviving people and of our country whom we serve best a
Throughout the four months the exhibit will
a Race? Each is answered in a way which is
when we give to her the best qualities in our heritage.
last, there will be changes in many of the show
not
dogmatic,
but
explains
why
Jews
feel
that
There really is only one way of correcting whatever short-
cases and panels to provide changing interest
comings we may have; it is to keep the American Jew fully in- they are one of these, some of these or all of for Detroiters who wish to revisit the li•luseurn.
formed about his status, to educate him regarding his historic these.
important events
WHAT THEN IS A JEW? This panel is a It is definitely one of the most
background, to make certain that ours is a well-informed con-
in
Detroit
Jewry's
history,
and
should
be attend-
the
previous
panel,
and
up of
stituency, If we have that, we shall surely have ,a good and natural follow
familieS • and' organizations.
sentences:
provides
the
answer
which
ed.
,by
individuals,
,a
few
short
life,
a
long life. The newly-errierging 'Amerkan Jew deserves such
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Annual Meeting of
ADI, Board Sunday
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Purely Commentary
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