No Defense with Empty Hands! THE JEWISH NEWS 1951 incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers. Michigan Press Association, National Editorial 'Ass°. .ciation 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 FRANK SIMONS SIDNEY SHMARAK City Editor A dvertising Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections in selections will be read This Sabbath, the twentieth, dal of Heshvan, 5716, the following our synagogues: Prophetical portion, II Kings 4:1-37. Peritateuchal portion, Gen. 18:1-22:24. Licht Benshen, Friday, Nov. 4, 5:05 p.m. - VOL. XXVIII—No. 9 Page Four Nov. 4, 1955 A New Plan for Progressive Jewish Education Dr. Theodor H.. Gaster's enlightening and thought-provoking book, "The Hay and the Profane," published by William Sloane, in- eludes in its review of the "evolution of Jewish folkways" a valuable section on Bar Mitzvah. He makes proposals for new ,pro- gressive Jewish educational methods that are deserving of consideration by the Ameri- can Jewish community: Describing the "valuable contribution to the concept of social responsibility" in the principle of "antecedent training" prepara- tory to Bar Mitzvah, Dr. Gaster calli atten- tion to the thangeS that haVe taken place in modern life; to the fact that today a boy of 13 . still is a minor to the perfunctory pre- liminary training; to the: fact that, while in the past introduction into the synagogue on Bar Mitzvah meant - induction into the com- munity, "today almost all communal activities that are not strictly religious are distributed over extra-synagogual organizations." He adds that "in point of fact, therefore, the new Bar Mitzvah is introduced only into a con- gregation of worshippers (and even that is not usually present in full force), not into a community." His viewpoint, especially because of the frankness of his approach, merits serious consideration. Indeed, he mentions the fact that the more enlightened rabbis and educa- tors now insist that the Bar Mitzvah should be predicated upon a number of years' con- tinuous attendance in a religious school. But he insists that this does-not suffice; i"for_moim. is needed at the present time to equip a re- sponsible Jew in a predominantly. Gentile world than was required in the days..when life was concentrated in a more exclusivley Jewish environment and less liable to be buffeted, at almost every turn, by the impact of different and conflicting ideologies." He offers this solution: "A more constructive approach to the problem might be, perhaps to recognize the present cere- mony as a kind of initial matriculation, and to add another, at a more mature age, which would have the value of full graduation, and which would really •take over the function of the Bar Mitzvah institution. "At the present moment, what happens is that the two stages are confused. The lad of thirteen is, so to speak, being handed a cap and gown but denied any graduate standing, or a certifi- cate of citizenship without enjoying civil rights. And the fact of the matter is that he is indeed not yet qualified by age, knowledge or experi- ence to receive such standing or enjoy such rights. On the other hand, when he -really attains majority and is actually qualified to be Bar Mitzvah, there is no test of his qualifications or of his intention ,actively to play his part. "By the approach here suggested, the first ceremony—the present Bar Mitzvah at thirteen .7–would have the force of confirmation. It would mark the clsose of initial religious educa- tion—a graduation from high school. But it Dov Joseph s Visit The visit here, on Monday, of Israel's Minister of Development, Dov Joseph, in be- half of the Israel bond drive, deserves the encouragement and active 'support of an alert Detroit Jewish community. Mr. Joseph, himself a personality of great importance in Israel, comes here as sub- stitute to Israel's Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett who has been compelled to cancel _ake an ap- his American trip in order to m pearance at the Conference of Foreign Ministers in Geneva where•Israel must fight for her security against the arming of the Arab states by the Communist countries. The very fact that a crisis has caused the substitution should inspire community-wide interest in the bond drive, as an encourage- ment to the ISraelis that American Jews will not let .them down. The lives of 1,700,000 Jews are at stake in Israel. It is not too late for all of us to assert ourselves against a revival of Hitler-like policies aimed at the extermination of the Jewish people. The Nov. 7 dinner, featuring Dov Joseph and geared for the extension of the Israel bond drive, is the immediate oc- casion at hand to declare our solidarity with , - a people fighting for its ,very would not admit to adult status in the House of Israel, nor to membership in the adult congrega- tion. The confirmed could become, however, a member of the junior congregation, which would thus acquire an organic place in Jewish life. Then, after a further period of preparation, _ when he is indeed legally an adult, he would be admitted to the senior congregation. But such admission would again be dependent on a , test of qualification and an accompanying cere- mony of induction. In this way, a guarantee would be furnished that every congregation of Jews really consists of trained, conscious, re- sponsible, and active members of the House of Israel. It would be a method of turning the pro- fession of Judaism into an active campaign, instead of a mute acquiescence; it would elimi- nate malingering in the ranks of God. "By the proposed system, the progress, of Jew- ish education could be properly organized and graded, and there could be a proper and methodical distinction—which there is not to- day—between high school and undergraduate instruction." This proposal must be considered either as revolutionary or as a stab-in-the-dark at an issue that is puz .Zling community leaders, who are deeply concerned over the lag in our educational progress, as well as responsible educators. At this point, we seem to have failed in our efforts to create a serious in- terest in advanced studies among the post- Bar Mitzvah and post-confirmatiott youths. We are not succeeding with the young adults, the exceptions, among a handful of young- marrieds—the new fad in our congregation- - proving the rule. Ita.lmir,hette- fore; every- valid proposal must. be considered seriously. That is why we con- sider Dr. Gaster's plan worthy of considera- tion by ‘ our. communities. ' Worthy of note is Dr. Gaster's additional proposal that the term "confirmation" should be abandoned and that we should substitute for it "religious graduation." In a footnote to his evaluation of the ceremonies "of grad- uation and affirmation of faith," Dr. Gaster states: - "It should be observed, in this connection, that the name `confirnmation' is misleading. The term has been adopted, albeit unconsciously; from Christian practice, where confirmation is a sacrament. What it confirms is not, as is often . thought, the adherence of the individual to the Christian faith, but rather the baptismal be- stowal of grace. Originally, in fact, baptism and Confirmation (called 'sealing') took place at the same time or within a very short interval. To avoid misunderstanding, therefore, it would be will if the use of this name were given up; `religious graduation' would be more to the point." • We are intrigued by this suggestion, and we are deeply interested in the educational proposal for a new form of instruction for our growing youth. We have no way of knowing whether these proposals have a chance of succeeding. But they are worth experiment- ing with. We have just concluded the ob- servance of a special Education Month. Per- haps we can institute a genuine Education Year during which we should try out the new scheme for drawing our youth into more advanced Jewish studies. Our Book Fair For the fourth consecutive year, the De- troit Jewish community is launching its Book Fair with the aim in view of encourag- ing the reading of Jewish books, their pur- chase and the consequent encouragement to writers and publishers. Our Book Fairs, which were arranged by the -Jewish Community Center, with the assistance of cooperating organizations,- in Celebration of Jewish, Book Month, have at- tracted nationwide attention by the vastness of the planning and the heartening response from the community at large. This year's Book Fair, which again will include impressive exhibits and noted guest speakers, has the special significance -of par- tial dedication to the creative efforts of the Jewish Publication Society of America, one of the very great cultural undertakings of American Jewry. The cooperation we give to these important efforts, the support that comes from our ranks to the Jewish Publi- cation Society, enhance the already justly acclaimed Detroit Book Fairs. I Supreme Court: Political History Brandeis, Cardozo, Frankfurter • • I Evaluated • in Rodell s Nine Men "Nine Men: A Political History of the Supreme Court of the United States From 1790 to 1955," by Fred.Rodell, Yale University law professor, published by Random House (457 Madison, N.Y. i3 one of the year's most revealing books. Lawyers will find it especially intriguing. They will learn some things about our Justices, and Chief Justices, which will amaze them. They will find that politics played a major role in the thinking of our Supreme Court. But lawyers will not be the only ones to be shocked - out • of their wits by the facts accumulated by Prof. Rodell, who sub- stantiates what he writes with facts, figures and the enumeration of events. The layman will find "Nine Men" to be a most intriguing volume. It is a work that should be read by all who are interested in the major structure.of our Govern- ment. - All of the Justices in the history of the high Court pass in review in this volume, and Luis D. Brandeis. Benjamin Cardoza and Felix Frankfurter are, of course, referred to and evaluated. Prof. ,Rodell recalls the "rare unanimity" with which "practically the entire legal profession" urged. Brandeis the selection of Cardozo for the Post:vacated by Oliver Wendell Holmes; how Harlan Stone even made the gallant offer" to resign when President Hoover raised the objection that two New Yorkers already served on the Supreme Court , bench: Of course, Prof. Rodell speaks of Sardozo as "the great" jurist. _ Of Brandeis he (writes: "As a Justice, the thin, stooped, deep- eyed aristo c rat, though regularly teamed with Holniesz in his votes, reached the same results by a' quite different route; where Holmes was human and tolerant; Brandeis was austere and ruthless; where Holmes was the philosopher, Brandeis was the crusader." Prof. Rodell is most critical of Frankfurter: "Felix Frank- furter, technical successor to the magnifiCent Holmes and the great Cardozo, stands out as the New Deal Court's most controver- sial and unhappy figure, its great 'tragically wasted' brilliant mind." Some of the -feuds in the Court are mentioned, and Frankfur- ter and justice William 0. Douglas are com- pared: -"Where Frankfurter was the cautious and self-conscious scholar, Douglas was get- it-over-and-done-With . • Where Frankfurter was the circumspect backer- away from issues, Douglas, like Brandeis, his predecessor in crusade, wanted always to hit them head-on. Where Frankfurter was the whisperer, Douglas was the shouter. Where Frankfurter was ingratiating, Doug- las was blunt. . . .-" Professor Rodell tells of Justice James Frankfurter McReynolds' bigotry: "A crusty lifelong bachelor, whose intense and narrow prejudices led him to snub . first Brandeis, then Cardozo, because they were Jews. . . ." He also makes reference to the fact that Holmes interceded in • the unfortunate Leo Frank case: "He dissented against the Court's refusal to save, by habeas corpus writ, a radical Northern Jew who had previously been framed for a murder rap and then convicted by an anti-Semitic lynch jury in the South." • These are just a few of the fascinating elements in "Nine Men." Once You start reading this book, you won't be able to put it down until you have finished it: and you'll return to it again for reference because -of its revelations and evaluations - of the men, who make up our great Supreme Court. • The Exciting Altmark Affair' Dr. Willi Frischauer, whose "Rise and Fall of Hermann Goering" created a sensation, has co-authored with Robert Jackson another exciting book, "The Altmark Affair," just published by Macmillan. It is the true story of one of the most interesting events of the war—about the Nazi supply ship, the Altmark, the scuttling of the German ship Graf Spee, the determination of the Nazi cap- taM to bring 300 British prisoners to Germany, the manner in which his plans were spoiled by the British, resulting -in another victory for the British. There is this interesting episode about the Nazi Cook Schwill who "with suspicious wonderment watched the Indians (of the British crew) cooking their ration of mutton." "They don't eat pork," he reported, gathering his information from a conversation which was carried on in pidgin English on both sides. "Qopite like the JeWs—the Fuehrer has 'always said they , are the.same." 7