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, National Editorial Asso- eiation 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 S5. 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 FRANK SIMONS City Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the twenty-third day of Elul, 5715, the following Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Dent. 29:9-31:30. Prophetical portion, Is. 61:10-63:9. Licht Benshen Friday Sept. 9, 6:31 p.m. VOL. XXVIII. No. 1 September 9, 1955 Page Four North African Jewry Must Be Rescued "Tomorrow may be too late" was the warning of responsible leaders in their ap- peals in behalf of the Jews of Morocco and Tunisia. Only a short time ago, the irresponsible anti-Zionists of the Council for Judaism had tried to confuse the thinking of American Jews with assertions that North African Jews are secure in their present positions. Recent events substantiate what we have known all along: that those who stand in the way of liberty are blind to reality. It is fortunate that there is an Israel to save these people, and it is to Israel's credit that, in spite of all her difficulties, . she is ready to take in all Jews who are under the ,heels of oppression. In this respect, world Jewry owes a great debt of gratitude to David Ben-Gurion. He, more than any other man, has insisted, Our Neighbors Did It' "Everything is finished for us here. There are 2,800 of us left, and we are all ready to leave." This statement was made by a leader of the Jewish community of Magazan, in South- ern Morocco, in behalf of the men, women and children who were crowded in a sports stadium on the outskirts of that town, await- ing a reply from the Israel government to whom they appealed for immediate transfer to the Jewish state. Eight Jews were killed and 30 wounded by fanatical MorOccans who stormed through the Magazan Jewish section and remained there on a rampage for 36 hours. Hysterical women led the crowd as they killed people and „burned stores and homes. One Jewish woman, who managed to escape the mad- dened and bloodthirsty crowd, saw her home in flames and reported: "It was our neigh- bors who did it. We had been living next door to them for twenty years." That's how it has been in lands of op- pression—in Russia and in Poland and in North African countries: "our neighbors did it." That's what we are trying to avert in free lands, where wg , are trying to teach people to live in harmony, side by side. In the meantime, the North African tragedy is great and the problem remains grave. These people must be taken to Israel, at once, as a life-saving measure. It is the blessing of our time that Israel is here to rescue the downtrodden and oppressed. And while Israel rescues lives, mankind must continue to strive for such moral and spiritual uplifting that will teach neighbors to live in harmony and to guide the stronger to refrain from killing the weaker. LaMed Professorship The LaMed Professorship of Jewish studies, established at Wayne University by Mr. and Mrs. Louis LaMed, finally has taken root. Beginning with this semester, the courses to be offered under this grant will be conducted by a full-time professor. When the professorship first was estab- lished a year ago, in celebration of the Amer- ican Jewish Tercentenary, it was found necessary to offer the courses in Jewish history and communal trends by guest lec- turers. The appointment of Dr. Isaac Rabi- nowitz as Associate Professor at Wayne Uni- versity, to be in charge of the courses, places the new venture on a basis of equality with other subjects taught at Wayne. Both the university and the sponsors of the courses are fortunate to have been able to secure a man as well trained for the posi- tion as Dr. Rabinowitz. His coming here un- doubtedly will inspire greater interest in Jewish scholarship. The two courses he will offer—in Jewish history and Jewish philos- ophy — should attract many registrants among undergratuate and graduate students as well as non-matriculated students of Jewish affairs. In welcoming Prof. Rabinowitz, we again commend the LaMeds for their thoughtful gift. It may well prove, in time, to have been the outstanding achievement of the Amer- ican Jewish Tercentenary Year in Detroit. with determination, that—as he declared at a Moshav Gilat ceremony last week—"des- pite all obstacles we will bring in Jews from North Africa and then those of the other countries of the Diaspora." Now it is the duty of the free Jewries throughout the world, especially American Jewry, to back him up in his practical stand. Must we wait for tragedies to make a reality of kibutz Galuyot—the ingathering of the exiles? All of us, Israel and her kins- men everywhere, must act promptly, for, tomorrow it may be too late. Second Volume of 'Memoirs' Our New Buildings An interesting analysis of our communi- ty's capital investment program, in the con- struction of new buildings for our Centers, Hebrew Schools and Camps, is scheduled for publication in our next week's issue. It will enlighten Detroit Jewry regarding the prog- ress that has been made in improving the various communally-sponsored programs. Other important Detroit groups have recognized the need for buildings in which to house their manifold activities. Chief among those who have realized the ambition of possessing their own homes and thereby improving the efficiency of their programs is the Detroit Chapter of Hadassah. Another important movement that is undertaking a building program is the Jewish National Fund Council of Detroit. Hadassah, whose important contributions towards Israel's development stand high in the record of the rebirth of the Jewish State, has reason to look forward to vastly en- larged functions as a result of the organiza- tion's end of "homelessness"—if rentals of inadequate quarters may properly be refer- red to in such a term. In congratulating Detroit Hadassah upon its entrance into its new building on Seven Mile Road and Murray Hill, and its dedica- tion of the new building on Sept. 11, we are fully aware of the women's Zionist organiza- tion's activities not only in behalf of Israel's health program, but also its interest in cul- tural and civic-protective causes. Hadassah strives to develop educational programs and to train a well-informed membership. It takes an interest in democratic American movements and in efforts to protect Israel's position. For all these programs, Hadassah needs the facilities in which the movement has begun to function, and it has earned the entire community's blessings on the occasion of the dedication of its headquarters. Similarly, the Jewish National Fund, which functions in behalf of all Zionist or- ganizations as the agency that sponsors Israel's reafforestation, the new state's water development projects and the settlement of newcomers on land which remains the prop- erty of the entire Jewish people, needs the building which is contemplated on the lot it has recently acquired as a gift from one of its supporters. All such efforts should serve to encourage greater effort for Israel and increased interest in local educational activi- ties. There are, of course, frequent murmur- ings in opposition to the vast construction programs in our communities. We hear the criticism of those who believe that the con- struction of new buildings diverts funds from important causes to brick and mortar. But the sponsors of building plans counter such attacks with assertions that their gifts for public buildings are being given as extras —in addition to their charity gifts. In the instance of the Zionist construction programs, the criticisms assume a different form. The contention is that all Zionist groups should have combined their forces to acquire large enough quarters to house the activities of all groups, on a cooperative basis. When we learn truly to get together cooperatively in our community, perhaps this, too, will be possible. But it is evident at this time that such an accomplishment — if the fantastic dream of internal unity can become a reality —has been relegated to the future—and if we are to continue to see developing popu- lation movements, perhaps such a "future" is not far off. Dr. Marcus Reconstructs Stories Of Isaac Leeser, Other Notables The Jewish Publication Society has released the second volume of Dr. Jacob R. Marcus' "Memoirs of American Jews, 1775-1865," and we now have the complete set of the eminent historian's ex- cellent collection of biographical and autobiographical sketches of noted American Jews. The first volume already has been reviewed in this column. Among the most *interesting sketches in the second volume is that of Dr. Isaac Leeser, whom Dr. Marcus calls "without doubt the most important and most influential American Jewish religious leader in the ante-bellum period." "It was he," Prof. Marcus writes about Rabbi Leeser, to whom he refers as 'American Jewish Missionary,' "who was responsible for the first American Jewish publication society, the first Jewish theological seminary, and the first over-all national American Jewish association of congregations: the Board of Dele- gates of American Israelites. American Jewry owes much to this man, who was its prime builder. If Isaac Mayer Wise was able, in the second half of the nineteenth century, to organize large groups of American Jews, it was in no small part due to the pioneering work of the tireless Philadelphia minister." Dr. Leeser was the editor and translator of prayer books and the translator of the Bible for Jews. A number of the most interest- ing of Rabbi Leeser's memoirs are incorporated in this book: "New Jewish Settlements," "New York," Synagogue Congregation in New Orleans," references to Baltimore and Cleveland and other reports. are included here. Isaac Mayer Wise, "Organizer of American Jewry," is among the other leading personalities whose memoirs 'are in this book. We also read about, and from the works of Simon Wolf, "Am- bassador to Washington;" Oscar Solomon Straus, "A German Im- migrant to Georgia;" Isidor Straus, "A YOung Confederate Busi- nessman." Also included in the second volume are: Abraham Kohn, New England peddler; Philip Sartorius, southern merchant; Julius Weis, peddler in the deep South; Jacob Hirschorn, volunteer in Mexican War; Aaron Hirsch, Arkansas merchant; Toby Edward Rosenthal, California artist; Henry Stern, Milwaukee merchant; August Bondi, Kansas freesoiler; Max Maretzek, impressario; Morris Shloss, '49er; Sophia Goldsmith, "The Story of a Courtship;" Leopold Mayer, Chicagoan in the '50s; Michael Kraszewski, "A Brush With Bandits;" Isaac A. Meyer, "Bad Luck Incarnate;" Amelia Tillman, "Frontier Days on the Upper Mississippi." The titles themselves reveal the great variety of subjects cov- ered, the places embraced, the various fields of endeavor of charac- ters who emerge in interesting and historical fashion. The collection helps us understand America and provides us with greater knowl- edge about the history of the Jews in this country in the 90 years 1775 to 1865. Dr. Marcus and the Jewish Publication Society have rendered a real service with this two volume set of fascinating "Memoirs." Synagogue Described as 'Living Reality in Book by Holisher Proper: arrangement of material and wise selection of photo- graphs combine to give special status to "The Synagogue and Its People," by Desider Holisher, an attractive volume published by Abelard-Schuman (404 4th, NY 16). The more than 200 illustrations in the book serve an important purpose in assisting the reader who gains a lot of knowledge about Jews, the synagogue, religious customs and ceremonies. Preceding the chapters which. describe the early American Jewish congregations—starting with New York's Shearith Israel and its rabbi—Dr. David deSola Pool—the author devotes a chapter to "The Heritage of the Jews." A good understanding of Torah Judaism is provided in this section. The author points out: "A re- ligion of human rights and cooperation, of individual freedom with strict moral laws for the subordination of the self to the common . good, of practical rationalization to foster advancement and of universal brotherhood to ensure peace for mankind, Judaism has decisively contributed to the spiritual foundations of the American nation whose pattern of life is rooted in these principles." A very valuable chapter in the book is devoted to "The Cele- bration of the Sabbath. Mr. Holisher describes the Sabbath customs in all their - details. He outlines the observance of the day of rest in the home, in the synagogues, from start t© finish—explaining the Sabbath services, the Kaddish, benedictions, etc. The functions of rabbis, laymen, community centers when they are a part of the synagogue; the Bar Mitzvah ceremony; holiday celebrations; ceremonial objects and artcrafts—these and many more subjects related to Judaism and synagogue services are outlined in this book. Mr. Holisher has accomplished his aim: to present the synagogue as "a living reality."