Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Tragic 'intrusion' and 'Typical Fakery'
It is never too late to expose a fake and to assist in alerting
our people to be on guard against destructive elements in Jewish
life. We undertake, therefore, to refer to a Rosh Hashanah mes-
sage in which the destructive Council for Judaism attempted to
make use of a sacred day on our calendar to divide Jewry.
The anti-Zionist, anti- Israel Council's "religious director"
Rabbi Samuel Halevi Baron, in a message issued from the Coun-
cil office, made these assertions:
"We shall be praying and working for spiritual regeneration
in harmony with the universal ethical and social teachings of the
great Prophets of the Bible who envisioned the future of Judaism
as a world religion rather than as a set of tribal totems and
taboos or a nationalistic cut.
"From these principles arise our conviction that any intrucion
of the fiscal or political affairs of any nation into the sanctity
of Holy Day or other religious services in American Synagogues or
Temples is a direct violation of our long-established constitutional
doctrine of the separation of Church and State. Such an intrusion
is all the more questionable when it is done on behalf, not of
our own government, but that of a foreign state.
"This is not religion but politics, not divine worship but state
idolatry, not the universal and mature faith of Prophetic Judaism,
but a parochial and immature retrogression to an alleged 'Jewish'
racialism and nationalism. We, of the American Council for
Judaism, hold that our single spiritual allegiance, under God, is
to the faith of Judaism; and our sole national loyalty, under
God, is to the United States of America."
It was to be hoped that Rosh Hashanah would not be utilized
for such a divisive message. But the Council is out to destroy
and does not respect even our most sacred days.
The Mizrachi Organization was justified, therefore, in con-
demning the Council's statement as a "palpable .fraud." Rabbi
Aaron Pechenick, Mizrachi's national director of synagogue activi-
ties, made this statement:
"The 'foreign state' which this anti-Israel group delicately1
-
refrains from naming is Israel, a land sacred to hundreds of
thousands of American Jews as their Holy Land. During these
very same services, such Jews will pray, in common with millions
of other Jews throughout the world, as they have done for cen-
turies, for the welfare of that land as the spiritual source of
their Jewish identification.
"The same democracy which permits and indeed _=encourages
diversity of viewpoints also requires that the minority group 'I
avoid the - error of confusing its opinions with fact:
"If the members of this_„group reject the support of Israel,
either on Jewish Holy Days or any other days, they may have the
dubious distinction of being the only Jewish • group which does so.I
"But the implication that sudh opinions are more than the
'View of a -minority which has been repudiated even by American
Reform. is a _piece of palpable fraud and quite in line with the
delusions of persecution and grandeur which have always charac-
terized the activities of this noisy minority!'
Rabbi Pechenick said this "typical fakery" was in "sharp
contrast with the 'Spiritual regeneration in harmony with the
universal' ethical and social 'teachings - of- the great Prophets of
the Bible' which we are told is the objective of attendance at
High Holy Day services of members of this group.
• "It is unfortunate that the 'selective JudaiSm'_ of this group
omits one of the endUring elements. Of faith of one , Of the greatest
of the Prophets of the Bible to which thiS grOup • pays such a
doubtful honor," he said. "-We would remind them of the prophecy
of Isaiah that 'Out of Zion shall go forth' the Law and the word
- ,
,
_
• •
of God from Jerusalem'." •
We wish to make use once again of a very prophetic state-
ment by a great American, Dr. Israel Friedlaender, who made
this augury, nearly 50 years ago:
We perceive a community great in numbers, mighty in pow-
er, enjoying life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; true life, not
mere breathing space; full liberty, not mere elbow room; real
happiness, not that of pasture beasts; actively participating in
the civic, social and economic progress of the country, fully
sharing and increasing its spiritual possessiOns and acquisitions,
doubling its joys, halving its sorrows; yet deeply rooted in the
soil of Judaism, clinging to its past, working for its future, true
to its traditions, faithful to its aspirations, one in sentiment
with their brethren wherever they are, attached to the land of
their fathers as the cradle and resting place of the Jewish
spirit; men with straight backs and raised heads, with big
hearts and strong minds, with no conviction crippled, with no
emotions stifled, with souls harmoniously developed, self-
centered and self-reliant . ."
Dr. Friedlander, like the overwhelming majority of our people
in all ages, like the Jewish leaders in all walks of he today, fore-
saw a future for American Israel that embraced also the right
to be true to traditions and "attached to the land of their fathers
as the cradle and resting place of the Jewish spirit." But the
Council differs! It does not understand! All but this destructive
minority respect a sacred heritage! The indomitable spirit of
our spirit rejects the fearful and destructive fragment. Would
that we did not have to feel -a sense of shame that even a hand-
ful of people should emerge in our ranks to desecrate sacred hu-
manitarian ideas. Our sense of shame is accompanied by a sense
of pity for the unhappy , group of frightened Councilites.
*
*
*
Personalities in the News: Msgr. Ciarrocchi and Pat McCarran
The passing of the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Joseph Ciarrocchi, founding
pastor of the Santa Maria Roman Catholic Church, awakened
memories about the courage and sense of fair play of this interest-
ing preacher. When Mussolini rose to power, he was among the
firsts to speak out against him. When Coughlin started his anti-
Semitic campaign, he fearleSsly devoted his newspaper, La Voce
del Popolo, .to excoriating repudiations of biogotry. He often de-
voted most of the space on the front pages of his newspaper to
refutations of Coughlin's charges. Catholic and Italian, he was
effective in both areas. He was an occasional guest at meetings
of the American Christian Palestine Committee. He was a man
of good humor, good sense and fair play. It was a privilege to
know him.
Senator Pat McCarran, who was feared for the dangers that
were incorporated in a bill bearing his name that nullified all
the principles of Anierican hospitality to, immigrants, could have
corrected the evils of his ways before he died. He was asked to
help amend the vicious Walter-McCarran Bill. He refused. He went
along with President Eisenhower's very limited corrections in our
immigration laws under protest, only when he was assured that
the basic ideas contained in his own measure would be retained.
Perhaps the generation that follows him will remove some of the
stains on his memory by effecting emendations in a law he has
country,- _ .
kuthOr.ed hat5_10:WeXPd, t1).0 Preptige,
Painter Saul Raskin)
Holds Exhibit Herel
'Old-Timers to Hold Reunion
At Davison 'Center on Oct. 27
A two-week exhibition of re -
cent watercolor paintings by
The first official reunion of "old timers" have not been con-
Saul Raskin will open Monday, the Hannah Schloss Memorial
tacted it means that the com-
Building Old Timers will be held mittee does not have their
at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, in names and addresses. He urged
the Davison Jewish Center.
that these persons send this in-
Plans for the reunion were formation to the committee so
sparked following the annual that they will be placed on the
meeting of• the Jewish Commun- mailing list and be included In
ity Center held last May. Men, the sponsorship of the reunion.
some of whom had not seen
The committee has set forth
eah other for 20 years or more,
talked over the days gone by that "any male who participated
and wished for a real old- hi- any of the activties, clubs,
fashioned get-together. The teams and related organizations
article in the Rosh Hashanah of the old Hannah Schloss Mem-
issue of The Jewish News on orial Building is considered an
"Detroit's Old Timers" helped Old Timer."
enliven this desire.
The Hannah Schloss Building
Because of the high interest, a was, in essence, Detroit Jewry's
temporary committee was ap- first community center offering
pointed and is headed by Sam- recreational, educational and
uel Raskin.
cultural programs..
The committee has been con-
"Old-Timers" who have not
tacting every "old-timer" it can yet been contacted should write
find and reports that a great to the Jewish Community Cen-
many of those reached have in- ter, 8904 Woodward, Detroit 2,
dicated interest in such a re- attention Abraham Kastenbaum,
SAUL RASKIN
union.
or should phone him at TR,.
at Garelick's Gallery, 20208 Liv-
Raskin explained that if any 5-8450.
ernois.
Raskin, the famous 76-year- .
old artist of Jewish life in Amer-
lea and Israel will be making , •
his third Detroit appearance for
a showing in five years.
A preview and reception for
the artist will be held from 8 to
VIENNA, (JTA) — The Aus- nal Innitzer, archbishop of Aus-
11 p.m., Monday, with the entire trian League for Human Rights tria, two years ago, but were
exhibition extending through has notified the Union of Jew- informed that this matter was
Oct. 23. The show is part of the ish Communities of its inten- not "within the competence" of
nation-wide celebration of the tion to lend full support to re- the archbishop, who refused to
American Jewish Tercentenary. newed efforts to ban festivals intervene. According to the Rinn
Raskin, as one of the foremost based on the "ritual murder" fable, St. Andreas of Rinn, after
Jewish artists in the country, libel in Rinn, in the Province whom the present church is
has played a leading role in de- of Tyrol.
named, had been "slaughtered
Rinn is the spiritual center of by Jews because of their hatred
veloping the culture of this na-
tion through his paintings. His Christian festivals which, like of Christ."
content is not only IeWish, but. the Passion Play at Oberam-
The issue of the Rinn festivals
American.
mergau, are performed chiefly will be placed on the agenda
According to Robert Garelick, by local inhabitants. The festi- of 'the Austrian League for Hu-
director of the gallery, his workS vals are performed at St. An- ' man Rights when it meet's in
have been exhibited in museums dreas Church which is well Vienna later this year. Mean-
here and abroad for many years. known for its possession of 31 while, the secretary-general of
His paintings are contained in medieval paintings which, to- ' the League has suggested to
the permanent collections of 15 gether with its so-called "Jew- Union of Jewish Communities
Slab," are supposed to "illus- that efforts to ban the Rinn
museums.
trate" an old "ritual murder" festivals be coordinated so that
libel against Jews. Reproduc- the drive against the festivals
Detroit Musicologist
tions of the paintings are sold may have greater weight of
during the tourist season at public opinion.
Wins French Awards
Murray Present, a native De- Rinn.
Jewish and non-Jewish or- I. 2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
troiter and now a member of the
Friday, October 8, 1954
music faculty at State Teachers ganizations protested to Cara-
College of New Jersey, has been
awarder the Prix Jacques Dur-
and in piano and the Prix Dinu
Lipatti in instrumental ensem-
ble by the Fontainebleau School
of Music and Fine Arts. The
By BORIS SMOLAR
presentation was made earlier
(Copyright, 1954, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
this month in France.
Among the requirements for Political Moods
Jewish groups—Zionist and non-Zionist—will present to Sec-
participation in 1 the piano corn-
petition was the performance of retary of State John Foster Dulles their views on the present
a new work written especially United States policy regarding Israel . . . These views are now
for this competition by Darius being formulated following several conferences in New York of
Milhaud. Present later recorded leaders of all major Jewish organizations . . The parleys were
this composition for the Radio- held in camera . . . Foach conference was attended by about 100
Diffusion Nationale Francaise in top men of all groups in American Jewish life, except the Ameri-
can Council of Judaism . . A suggestion to arrange a huge mass
Paris.
A graduate of Michigan State meeting in Washington was rejected because it was felt that such
College in East Lansing, and a a meeting might embarrass the Republican Party during the
graduate Fellow of Juilliard Congressional campaigns . . However, the fact was not overlooked
School of Music of New York that while the Democratic and Liberal parties, at their New York
where he also served as a facul- State conventions, adopted very outspoken pro-Israel views in
ty member, Present has made their party platforms, the state convention of the Republican
many concert appearances in Party did not . This, despite the fact that New York. State has
the East, Detroit and Lansing. the largest number of Jewish voters . . . Both the Democratic
He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. and Liberal parties demanded at their conventions that. the U. S.
Nathan H. Present of Hamilton Government should give no arms to the Arabs while they refuse
to conclude peace with Israel, but if arms are nevertheless given
Ave.
to them, Israel too should receive such arms from the U. S. . .
The State Department may soon act to meet this challenge by
Indian Jews Regret
agreeing to grant Israel a small quantity of arms, in order to
Having Left Israel
have an excuse for giving large quantities to the Arab countries
... No one would know how much arms the Arabs get since the
allocation of military equipment - is a military secret . . . At the
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Pres-
ident Ben Zvi received a letter same time, the State Department would be in a position to de-
from six Indian Jews express-. clare that it is not discriminating against Israel in sending muni-
tion to the Middle Eastern countries . .. The news of America's
ing regret that they had left
intention to give arms to Israel—although much less than to any
Israel after spending some
time in the Jewish State as of the Arab countries—may be conveyed by Secretary Dulles to
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban when the two meet soon after
'pioneers. The letter warns
other Indian Jews now living Dulles' return from Europe.
in Israel not to listen to those
Creative Spirit
among them who agitate for
Very little—almost nothing—has been published about the
a return to India.
"inside" of the American Jewish press ... This gap has now been
The six assert that they
bridged by Hillel Rogoff, editor-in-chief of the Jewish Daily For-
and their families miss the
ward, largest Jewish newspaper in the world ... In his "The Spirit
health programs and other
of the Forward," just published in Yiddish, Mr. Rogoff impres-
amenities of life in Israel and
sively tells the colorful inside story of his paper which, during
that they now have another
the 57 years of its existence, has .played an important role in
view of the difficulties of pi-
oneering life in Israel. Their American Jewish life , . . Mr. Rogoff brings out Why the paper
children clamor for a return has achieved such a high diStinction . . . He pictures with admira-
tion the character of Abraham Cahan, his predecessor, who, as
to the Jewish State, they
write, and if they were given the towering figure in Jewish journalism, made the Forward
another opportunity to live in the most popular newspaper among Jews . • . He tells how the
Israel they would gladly face Forward is run not by a private owner for profit, but by an
association of about 150 selected Members of the Socialist Party
the rigors of ,pioneer settle-
and labor union.leaders, none of whora..cari derive any profit from
ment.
Ban Q1 g ht on Austrian Festivals
Based on Anti-Jewish 'Murder' Libel
•
Between You and Me
the palier.
.1