Sukkot Festival of Thanksgiving
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.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co , 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 8-9364
Subscrption $4 a year, Foregin $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
October 15, 1954
Page Four
VOL. .XXVI, No. 6
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Hol Hamoed Sukkot Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal• portions, Ex. 33:12=34:26, Num. 29:26-28. Prophetical portion, Ezek..38:18-39:16.
Hol Hamoed Sukkot Selections. Sunday: NUM. 29:26-34. Hoshanah Rabbah Scriptural Selec-
tions, Monday: NUM. 29:26-34.
Scriptural Selections for Final Days of Sukkot
Pentateuchal_ portions: Tuesday, Deut. 25: 19-16:17, Num. 29:35-30:1; Wednesday, Dent. 33:
1-14:12. Gen. 1:1-2:3, Num. 29:35-30:1. Prophetical portions, Tuesday, I Kings 8:54-66 or -9:1;
Wednesday, Josh. 1.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Oct. 15, 5:21 p.m.
Tercentenary's Cultural Shot in the Arm
Detroit Jewry's Tercentenary Dinner, at
which we shall be privileged to have the dis-
tinguished, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, as the
community's guest, is the proper occasion
for an evaluation of the results that may
be expected from the "spiritual birthday
party," as the Tercentenary has been re-;
ferred to.
For several years the American Jewish
community has suffered from a sad trend
in communal affairs. A drop in attendance
at public meetings may have been respon-
sible for the escape of last resort: the use
that was made of - vatidevillians, burlesques,
bar-room entertainment. In some quarters,
even in some fund-raising activities, there
was no censorship' on burlesque—as long as
it drew the other-unapprOachable crowds.
The Tercentenary theme appears to have
obviated the need for vulgarity. It has given
our community a purpose, a subject for dis-
cussion, a cause for celebration. And, while
celebrating, our people are learning Jewish
history, they- are acquiring knowledge about
their background as Americans and as Jewt.
We are not whistling in the dark when we
make this assertion. Let there be a review
of the topics which herald our public dis-
cussions, the subjects used by our rabbis for
their sermons, the ideas injected in program-
ming, and the point we have just made will
have been proven conclusively.
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There • are constructive elements in the
Tercentenary celebrations which indicate
conclusively that the 300th anniversary
of the settlement of Jews in America is pro-
ducing good results.
Several important contributions to edu-
cational media were made in the past few
weeks on the occasion of the American Jew-
ish Tercentenary. Two of them have been
made known by Wayne University.
Through the generosity of a Detroit
family, the first in a series of Jewish courses
is being made possible in our community's
great university: "The History of the Jews
in America" is offered as a new course hon-
oring the Tercentenary. This is welcome
proof that the "spiritual birthday party" is
being taken seriously and that the emphasis
is on the term spiritual.
From Wayne University recently came
another important announcement: the gift of
$175,000 made by the Helen L. DeRoy
Foundation towards the construction of the
Wayne University Medical Center. This, too,
is a welcome Tercentenary contribution.
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*
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to steps in the right direction. An historic
event is inspiring historic perspective and is
conducive to great - results.
These are things to boast about as we are
about to gather for the Tercentenary Dinner
on Sunday evening when we will welcome
our distinguished guest, Dr. Abba Hillel Sil-
ver. The eminent Cleveland spiritual leader
and author 'symbolizes the three great pur-
poses which are emphasized by the Tercen-
tenary celebration: the contribution of our
great philanthropic effortS, uninterrupted
aid to Israel whose establishment was aided
primarily by American Jewry and the
strengthening of the educational agencies in
our communities. Dr. Silver has been in the
forefront of the three movements: philan-
thropy, the redemption of Israel and the ad-
vancement of Jewish cultural values. That
is why his appearance here on the historic
occasion of the celebration of the Tercen-
tenary serves to 'elevate the Tercentenary
Dinner to a position of great significance in
our community's history.
"Zeh ha-yom . ." ... This, indeed, is the
day that was created for rejoicing. When
people re-dedicate themselves to lofty ideals,
they earn the right to rejoice. And in our
community we have, indeed, re-dedicated
ourselves to Israel's loftiest purposes on the
occasion of t h e American Jewish Tercen-
tenary.
The Plea for Peace
In his - moving appeal to the United Na-
tions for "bi-lateral". peace talks between Is-
rael and the Arab states, the Jewish state's
chief delegate to the UN pointed out that
-"the only successes in international relations
in the past decade have arisen from pro-
cesses of direct negotiations."
This is a realistic approach to the issue.
It is most unfortunate that the Arab spokes-
men haVe, until now, completely ignored the
appeals of the Israelis.
But there are happier indications. Many
more people are speaking in terms of getting
Arabs -and Jews together for peace talks.
Even Pakistan's Prime Minister Mohammed
Ali ; whose country was a chief supporter of
all anti-Israel moves in the UN, has come
forth with the suggestion that a "friendly"
country to both Israel and the Arabs should
serve as mediator in bringing about peace
in the Middle East.
With hope for peace at hand, the im-
portant need today is for firm steps in sup-
port of the move for "direct negotiations"
between the contending forces by the United
States and Great Britain. Success depends
primarily, however, upon the efforts of our
Meanwhile, in our own community, the own Government. We pray that the Eisen-
impressive Exhibits at the Detroit Historical bower Administration and the State Depart-
Museum and the Detroit Public Library, the ment should recognize this obligation in the
planned art exhibits, the various educational quest for world peace.
efforts undertaken by our many organiza-
tions and by the congregations, by the vet-
erans', women's and youth groups—in the
For a number of year's, a group of De-
series of events made possible. by a special
troiters
has labored zealously in support of
Jewish Welfare Federation allocation—point
the City of Hope, the national non-sectarian
medical center at Duarte, Calif.
Aiming to alleviate the miseries of suf-
ferers from cancer, leukemia, tuberculosis
A serious responsibility devolves upon all and heart ailments, the City of Hope is con-
Detro-",ers to support the Torch drive with ducting important research work and is ren-
dering great service to the medical profes-
our traditional generosity.
There is not a single element in our great sion.
Serving the needs of people of all faiths,
city that does not have a stake in this cam-
paign. All faiths and all races are repre- offering • hospitalization to the • sufferers of
serious ailments without charge', the City
sented among the beneficiaries in this Com-
munity Chest. All of our needs are cared for of Hope depends upon the contributions
by the agencies financed by the over-all from groups like Detroit's to be able to
carry on its activities.
campaign.
The annual dinner of the Detroit Busi-
It is especially to the credit of the Torch
Fund that it treats all faiths equally, that ness Men's Group of the City of Hope, sched-
it heralds the finest principles of good will uled for Nov. 7, is this community's means
of supporting the City of Hope. These din-
among all Americans.
The causes it represents and the manner ners have become traditions for service by
in which it faces responsibilities have earned our community. The tradition undoubtedly
for the Torch Fund the prompt and generous will be retained with a successful response
this year.
response. of our . entire • community. - – •
The City of Hope
The Torch Drive
A Complete American Jewish History
Rufus Learsi's Splendid Book
The history of the Jews in America is in itself a great ad-
venture. It is an integral part of the fascinating story of our coun-
try and it is replete with experiences that require an able student
to evaluate it. Rufus Learsi (Israel Goldberg) has risen to the
task of creating just the kind of history that is needed in this •
Tercentenary year.
In his new bOok, "The Jews in America: A History," published
by World Publishing Co. (2231 W. 110th, Cleveland 2), Rufus Learsi •
has incorporated the basic facts about American Jewry. As in his
earlier works, "Israel: A History of the Jewish People" and "Ful-
fillment: The Epic Story of Zionism," he has gathered the basic
facts to make it a complete history. But he has done even more .
than that: he has written, his story in the proper spirit, with a
feeling of reverence for the people's traditions and with respect •
for the basic ideals of a group that seeks survival as a religious
entity while being inseparably linked with the finest principles of
Americanism and with this country's history.
He does not leave anything to imagination. He makes no
apologies. He reviews the American Jew's share in the struggle
for democracy with pride. He understands the significance of :.
Jewish contributions to America. And he has faith in American
Israel's future.
Every creative effort of American Jews, all the important per-
sonalities who played roles in the history of the Jews in America, .
are given recognition by Rufus Learsi.
There is a significant note in this new history. It is Rufus
Learsi's recognition of the spiritual genius of Israel. Thus, he
`closes his volume with this message:
"A deeper and more potent sanction of group survival has
operated in the four millennia of Jewish history. Without it -
all others have sooner. or later proved of no avail; with it all
others fall into place as part and parcel of it. It is, of course,
the religious sanction. For the Jews of America it also has the
great merit of being in harmony with the spirit, traditions and
institutions of their country,. For religious pluralism is something
all Americans understand and take for granted; 'cultural
pluralism' the average American does not understand, and he
would probably be dubious about it, if he did.
"If the past is to guide us, we may fairly affirm that the
American Jewish community must be, as indeed it has been in
the first 300 years of its career, essentially a religious com-
munity, or it will not be at all. if that is so, some will ruefully
rejoin, it is doomed. But with all that may be adduced to support
their pessimism, their verdict is premature. Religion in general
is not to be dislodged from the human spirit, and Judaism will
in all likelihood speak its ineluctable truths to the human heart
and mind, as it gil.as already done, through a people that haS
lived and endured by it and for it."
In this spirit, Rufus Learsi has, throughout his book, ably in-
terpreted Jewish values and American Jewry's position. He has
produced an outstanding history. It deserves a place in every
Jewish home and has earned recognition as the best history of
our people in this country.
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Children's Tercentenary Gem
'Jews Settle New Amsterdam'
Samuel's Grand's text . and William L. Steinel's illustrations in
the children's Tercentenary picture book, "The Jews Settle in New
Amsterdam," is a worthy addition to Tercentenary literature for
the younger reader.
Published by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
this small book continues a fine tradition of providing informa-
tive literature for youngsters.
Produced in attractive form, told with simplicity and charm,
this miniature history tells how Jews settled in New Amsterdam
—now New York—after escaping from persecution in Brazil. It
traces the background of Jewish settlement on this continent,
their search for freedom when the settlers in Recife were con-
fronted with bigotry, the obstacles placed in their - path by Peter
Stuyvesant.
The non-Jewish Dutch settlers in New Amsterdam helped the
Jews and in the course of time orders came from Holland that
the new Jewish settlers should be treated fairly. The small Jew-
ish community faced other challenges, especially when they were
denied the right to stand guard. Again, the determined band of
freedom-seekers won the battle for justice. They built a syna-
gogue—the first in this country, Shearith Israel (also known as
the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue)—where the sons of the pio-
neers recalled the stories of their parents and grandparents, the
"twenty-three weary but resolute refugees, seeking a home where
they could worship God and serve man in freedom."
Author, illustrator and editor (Dr. Enianuel Gamoran) have
produced,. jointly, a .good story about America's first Jewish., set-
tiers,. thereby enriching Tercentenary literature.
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