Lover of Liberty, Father of His Country
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20. 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspape rs, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co,. 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 8-9364
Subscription $4 a year, Foreign $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
VOL. XXVI, No. 24
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
Page Four
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
- -
February 18, 1955
BROTHERHOOD
WEEK
Fnbreory 20.27
- Ono Notion Under God".
Ito+. ina
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
OF CHRISTIANS ANO JEWS
Sabbath Scrip tural Selections
This Sabbath., the twenty-seventh. day of Shevat, 5715, the following Scriptural selections
win he read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Ex. 21:1-24:28. Prophetical vnrtion. Jer. 34•8-22; 33:25. 26.
Rosh. lIodesh . Adar Pentateuchal reading, Tuesday and *Wednesday, NUM. 2R:1-15.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Feb. 18, 5:47 p.m.
Brotherhood Week: Human Chain Reaction
Adopting' as the theme for the observ-
ance of the current Brotherhood Week the
Mogan "One Nation Under God," the Na-
tional Conference of Christians and Jews .'
will supervise the nationwide celebration,
Feb. 20-27, f o r
Alt% BROTHERHOOD the purpose of giv-
iffiest
WEEK ing people "an op-
8 57,1
February 20-27
portunity to re-de-
"One Nation Under God-
dicate themselves
as individuals to
THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
OF CHRISTIANS AND JEWS
the ideals of re-
spect for people and human rights."
Although this celebration recurs from
year to year, during the week that includes
Washington's Birthday, it remains a chal-
lengine, event.
Freedom in the relations among men, .
recognition of the naturalness of cultural
pluralism,. the justification for competition
and rivalry 4nd many more factors emerge
as wholesome human elements out of under-
standing that comes with true Brotherhood.
A -"modern Socratic dialogue" between
two men of note, the president of the Na-
tional Conference of Christians and Jews,
Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, and the Nobel Prize-
winning atomic physicist, Dr. Arthur H.
Compton, is worth recording as an indica-
tion of a human chain reaction that could
change the world. Here is the interchange
of views between these two men:
11C.SORLD .
Dr. Clinchy: The , time has come, it seems to
me, when the study of man and the knowledge
of society should take their place along with
physics and chemistry. And economics will be
the science of translating technological gains
into that kind of production, distribution, and
consumption of goods which best will meet the
human family's needs. Philosophy and ethics
will perennially work for righteousness in this
process.
Dr. Compton: The study of history can help.
Dr. Clinchy: No one wants to stop the ad-.
vancement- of natural sciences, but all should
strive to match their gains with .advances in
social research.
Dr. Compton: In part this is a quantitative
task. A century ago there were barely 25 men
devoting all their attention to research in phys-
ics. Today perhaps 250,000 individuals are en-
gaged by governments, indusffies, business per-;
sonnel, universities, and private laboratories to
find out ever more information and to apply
new knowledge to human needs through tech-
nology.
Dr. Clinchy: Suppose throughout the world
250,000 people would be put to work on research
into the facts about man that can . be scienti-
fically explored. Then, suppose that 250,000 edu-
cators became the social technologists who
would investigate and test ways of getting this
new knowledge into human experience. And one
step more, equally important, suppose 250,000
philosophers, religious teacherS, and dedicated
practitioners of •religion would work on the ways
and means of investigating the dynamics and
moral power of understanding, love, and religi-
ous dedication to brotherhood.
Dr. Compton: Such a development can come
only with cultural pluralism. Cultural progress
requires the stimulation that results from indi-
vidual freedom of learning, association, exL-
pression, and experimentation. As a physicist
I can testify that progress is dependent on the
varied approaches made by different schools
of thought at work in a plural number of free
nations, one provoking the other with fresh
ideas and rival theories. Cooperation among
specialists is a sine qua non of scientific 20og-
Tess.
. Dr. Clinchy: Brotherhood permits competi-
tion and rivalry. Brotherhood means giving to
others the same respect and rights you want
to keep for yourself. It involves agreeing to
disagree agreeably. It is the rule of good sports-
manship. It' promises co-existence without ag-
gression.
Dr. Compton: In atomic chain reaction an
atom of uranium splits when a neutron is added.
In this fission the atom emits - 2 or 3 neutrons,
which are caught by other atoms. In turn, they
split, emit more -neUtrons, and others catch
them. So the force of a chain reaction accumu-
lates. A human chain reaction takes place when
an individual gives off the spirit of brotherhood.
Others catch it and, in turn, by the creative
force of love, they radiate the spirit to. others.
And so a..family extends its power to a neigh-
borhood; a neighborhood to a nation; a nation
to a continent. Individuals can change the
world.
Ideologically, there is complete accept-
ance of these ideas, and there can be no
dishgreement in the view that individuals,
who approach issues in a spirit of harmony,
"can change. the world" — always for the
better.
There have, however, been exceptions to
the rule. Catholics in England have broken
the unity by withdrawing from the existing
good will movement. Bigots in this country
have injected harmful ideas in the human
relations' discussions. •
Much remains to be done to enlighten
people and to guide them in the proper
directions in order that the full program of
the inter-faith movement may be accepted
— and practiced.
Brotherhood Week is the occasion for
the advancement of this idea. We pray, on
the eve of the annual observance of this
week, that the full impact of Brotherhodd
and inter-faith amity may reach into the
hearts of men of all faiths, and that the
ideal of good will and true brotherhood may
become rooted in all of .,us, regardless of our
nationality origins, our racial backgrounds
or our religious beliefs.
Our Maior Campaign and Its Leaders
The impressive annual meeting of the
Jewish Welfare Federation served as a sig-
nal to the community that the Allied Jewish
Campaign will begin before the month is
over — at the United Jewish Appeal con-
ference in Miami Beach — and that all our
resources and all our manpower must be
mobilized for the purpose of assuring the
success of the 1955 drive.
Last week's Federation meeting was
replete with revelations. The analytical re-
ports showed the remarkable progress at-
tained by our community—in behalf of Is-
rael as well as in the advancement of our
local causes.
Marking the completion of five years of
presidential services by Samuel H. Rub-
iner, there were moving moments at that
meeting, when the large gathering.gave an
ovation to its president in recognition of
his devoted service. Mr. Rubiner's five
years of service were eventful. Our school
system has progressed, all our agencies
were adequately cared for and $12,500,000
was given by our community through
the Federation for the upbuilding of Is-
rael. This is a record that well deserves
commendation, and Mr. Rubiner gets
rightful acclaim for his able leadership.
It is this type of leadership that has
helped make Detroit an outstanding corn-
munity. Now, as we enter upon another cam-
paign period, we owe it to ourselves and to
the causes we serve—to Israel and . to Detroit
Jewry—to pool all our forces for this sin-
gle, major fund-raising effort, the Allied
Jewish Campaign. All other conflicting
undertakings should be abandoned and we
should avoid introducinc, competing efforts.
It is the only way of working together and of
assuring the success of the 1955 campaign.
Success for the Allied Jewish Cam-
paign incorporates the assurance that the
United Jewish Appeal will receive funds
that are urgently needed to evacuate
pogrom-threatened communities in. North
Africa and to bring the endangered Jews
to Israel. It will mean manpower for
Israel whose security depends so vitally
upon the protection given its borders by
an adequate armed force.
The current United Jewish Appeal, to be
set into motion at the Miami Beach confer-
ence Feb. 25-27,, will be the signal to Detroit
Jewry to proceed with its efforts for the
1955, Allied Jewish Campaign. Let it be a
signal to all of us for united efforts for the
great causes in behalf of Israel, the relief
of oppressed Jewries and the very important
local movements which combine to make
Detroit an outstanding Jewish community.
Dr. Kallen's . Thought-Proyoking Essays
of Them Which Say They Are Jews'
Edited by Dr. Judah Pilch, whose introduction is a deserved
tribute to the scholarly attainments of Dr. Horace M. Kallen,
"Of Them Which Say They Are Jews" (Bloch) is a collection of
Dr. Kallen's thought-provoking "essays
on the Jewish struggle for survival."
An additional splendid feature of
the book is Dr. Milton R. Konvitz's essay,
"Horace M. Kallen, Hebraist."
Dr. Kallen is properly presented as
"a philosopher whose philosophy keeps
him in active and responsible participa-
tion in the issues of the daily life." The
eminent teacher's courage in taking
up the struggle for Jewish survival
"amid the realities of the present-day
world" will be applauded upon reading
this splendid collection.
"To Kallen," Dr. Pilch states, "the
ideal of assimilation is . . . totally un-
worthy. As an American, he recognizes
Dr. Kallen
that assimilation would be detrimental
not only to American Jews but to our country."
"Hebraisni" as an ideal—as the ideal of Dr. Kallen—as "the core
and course of the lives of Jews throughout history"—as "the core -
And course of the lives of Americans and of all free peoples"—is
len's Hebraisni :
analyzed by Prof. Konvitz, who describes Dr. Kal
also as "pragmatism or humanism."
Dr. Kallen's essays must be studied, read and re-read, for an
appreciation of the ideas and principles attributed to him. There
is an interesting explanation of various conversionist experiences.
There was little conversion in the United States compared with
other lands, he indicates, and makes this interesting comment:
"Heine and Disraeli were 'converts whose conversion appeared
to have freed them, each in his own way, to exalt that which they
had converted from. Most converts, however, found it necessary
to justify their turning, not by a freed appreciation, but by a
greater than conventionally Christian hatred; and conversely,
most Judaists regard shmad as the ultimate betrayal and the
ineshumed as the most corrupted of men."
He warns against "fragmentation," exposes the fallacies of
assimilation, dissects anti-Semitic trends, shows the existence of a
Marxist anti-Semitism rid indicates the existence of anti-:
Semitism not only of the' Christian Socialists but alsO of "Jewish
and non-Jewish communists." "Jewish self-hatred," too, comes in
for excoriation. -
Conversely, he describes the "peculiar identification of Jews
with democratic ideals" and points out that a phrase "ever in
the mouth of Hitler and his apostles is "degenerate Jewish
democracy."
The selection of essays in this volume is commendable. There
is a very instructive department on Jewish education, the opening
essays on modernity and survival, and a thrilling section,
"Appraisals and memories," in which the eminent scholar pays
tribute to Louis D. Brandeis, with whom he had worked closely
in the Zionist movement, Judge Julian W. (erroneously referred
to as William in the list of contents) Mack; Stephen S. Wise and
Ben Rosen. There is a tribute to a great Living scientist—Albert
Einstein.
"Of Them Which Say They Are Jews" is a remarkably fine
book. It serves to keep alive the affection of his many admirers
for Dr. Horace M. Kallen.
Alsops' Expose of .Oppenheimer Case
The famous Oppenheimer Case is the subject of thorough
scrutiny by two noted c o 1 u nil. n i s t s, Joseph and Stewart
Alsop, in the sensational "We Accuse!—The Story of the Miscar-
riage of American Justice in the Case of J. RObert Oppenheimer,*
published by Simon and Schuster (630 5th, NY20). The title ex-
plains the authors' approach. They point to the obsessions which
have afflicted many people in government when dealing with
secret documents and-with security problems and they indicate
how such obsessions often lead to injustice.
The Alsops conclude that the Oppenheimer Case has disgraced
not Dr. Oppenheimer but "the high name of American freedom,"
and they express the hope that "good may yet come" from this
disgrace,—just as the ugliest forces - in France "broke their teeth
and their power on their own sordid handiwork in the Dreyfus case."
Outlining Dr. Oppenheimer's background, the Alsops point to
the liberal attitude of his family, to its household that was "im-
bued with a rabbinical respect for the things of the mind, and
with the hope of progress made all the sweeter by the memory of
dark things left behind, that so often distinguish Jews of their
sort in that simpler and better time." Dr. Oppenheimer's interest
in politics, they assert, "was stimulated by Hitler's persecution of
the Jews in Germany. where he still had relatives whom he helped
later to escape."