--,..4.40,

THE r ,JEWISO NEWS

111111.11.0PIONINPINOWNINIPIT

`Let's Build A Real' Biodeade

'rnco'rpqrating the Detroit .Jewish throrticle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of English Jewish New spaper/, 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 $5 a year Foreign $6.
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

Advertising Manager

Sabbath Scriptural selections
. This Sabbath, the third day of iyar, 5716, the following Scriptural selections will be

read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions,
II Kings 7:3-20.

Tazrict, Metzora, Lev. 12:1-13:59,_ 14:1-15:33. Prophetical pgrtion,

Licht Benshen, Friday, April 13, 6:53 p.m.

VOL. XXIX —

No. 6

' April 13, 1956

Page Four

8-Year-Old Israel: Anniversary and Crisis

Our salute to the State of Israel, on
her eighth anniversary, is accompanied by
anxieties.
Israel is in crisis. Unfriendly nations
are threatening her destruction. The small
nation, pressed for time, constantly faced
with the responsibility of welcoming new
immigrant groups from lands of oppres-
sion, is compelled- to devote all her ener-
gies to building up her military defenses,
instead of concentrating on her economic
develophient.
It is. a sad commentary on the consci-
ence of the world. It is an indictment of
the United Nations through whose en-
couragement, and with whose approval,
Israel came into being.
Our kinsmen in Israel are less dis-
turbed. They recall the • difficulties they
encountered when Israel's independence
first was proclaimed in 1948. They have
not forgotten the concerted attacks by all
the Arab nations whose armies were re-
pulsed by the new nation, whose citizens
es to protect their
fought for their liv
newly-acquired freedoms. They believe
with all their hearts that they can repulse
another--'attack. Their friends also believe
it: a people fighting for its very existence
dare not yield to despair; it must believe
in the ultimate triumph of justice; it must
adhere to the faith that those who have
the will to live will not be destroyed.
.*
*
- We share this confidence. We refuse
to accept a verdict of death for Israel, in
spite of the overwhelming forces working
against her; in spite of the negative influ-
ence of the oil interests, in defiance of
those who, while recognizing her right
to exist, nevertheless den_y her the wea-
pons she needs for her defense and for
the protection of her citizens.
Of course, we acknowledge the crisis.
We recognize its seriousness. We deplore
the hesitancy of our own Government in
providing the defensive weapons for Is-
-rael. There must be no relaxing in appeals

in Israel's behalf. On this score, too, we
must retain faith that Israel soon will be
granted the weapons she needs for the
protection of her borders - and her people.
Israel's friends must demonstrate
anew their concern over the fate of their
kinsmen. The young state's eighth anni-
versary must be utilized as an occasion to
mobilize all our forces- in support of a
struggling nation. This is the time for us
to send word to the embattled Israelis that
we won't let 'them down in their hour of
need. We repeat our appeal to our Gov-
ernment for help; and we urge Jewry to
stand by Israel in her crisis.

4

*

Jewish communities everywhere are
marking Israel's eighth anniversary this
Week-end. Our own community's gather-
ing, this Saturday night, Should serve as
a demonstration of kinship with the Is-
raelis. We pray that Israel's Christian
friends again will affirm their interest in
the reborn state's security.
There must be practical and concrete
demonstrations of friendship — through
the United Jewish Appeal and other
means at our disposal to help Israel.
Those who realize the dangers that
are in Israel's path at this time must take
into consideration also the menace to
world peace that lurks in the Middle East.
It is not Israel alone that is involved but
the security of the entire area. The Mid-
dle East is the battleground of the world,
and a lack of peace there may lead to
another world conflagration. Suppqrt of
Israel — the only true democracy in that
entire area—may avert the dreaded world
war.
It is in the hope for peace — peace that
must benefit the Arabs as much as the
Jews — that we salute Israel's eighth an-
niversary. May this Yom Ha-Atzmauth
be a day of recognition by all mankind
that acknowledgement of genuihe inde-
pendence for Israel will justify the aspi-
ration for freedom for all the peoples of
the world.

The BeShT and His Disciples

'

The Romance of Hassidism '

"The Romance of Hassidism" by Dr. Jacob S. Minkin, just
published by Thomas Yoseloff (11 E. 36th, N.Y. 16), will take
its place among the most authoritative books on the fascinating
subject.
Hassidism is defined by Rabbi Minkin as "not a cult but
a culture. All that men vaguely felt and experienced is
represented in it . . . It is mystical, 'it is poetical; it is
ecstatic, it is philosophical; it possesses the simplicity of the
child and the subtlety of the scholar."
Approached from these viewpoints, Dr. Minkin's highly
scholarly work reveals a great deal of research, the delving
into all sources for material about the movement itself and its
great leaders.
The able author does not limit himself to a mere evaluation
of the mystic movement. He traces its beginnings to the "halo
of romance" cast upon it by hopes and aspirations of the people
in the ghettos, in lands of oppression. He analyzes the historical
background of an era, the Messianic hopes and the activities of
-false Messiahs, the "darkness and the dawn" which led to the
rise of the creator of the Hassidic idea, Israel Baal Shem Tab
(BeShT—abbreViation for Baal Shem Tab). Delineating the great
leader, Dr. Minkin makes the comment that "it is a pity that
Thomas Carlyle had never heard of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem
Tob, for he would have found in' him a man after his own heart."
If it were only for the chapters on the Baal Shem, Rabbi
Minkin's work would emerge as a great study. He-describes the
BeShT's "deep and understanding tolerance," his reactions to
the false Messiah movements of the Frankists, his "burning up
with the mystic yearning for God," his rejection of "lifeless
prayers" since "his own prayers were deep and stirring, aglow
with unsuppressed emotion."
Replete with parables and legends, "The Romance of Hassid-
ism" is a combination of interpretative philosophy, biographies
and narratives.
The BeShT's interesting followers, the manner in which
scribe the -balance that must be raised, they joined in expanding the Hassidic movement, the conflicts
even in small sums.
and victories of the preachers of the Hassidic doctrine, emerge
The present urgency, therefore, is to as enlightening and entertaining material. • •
Rabbi Nachman Bratzlav, the poet-rebel, the mystic story-
achieve total coverage, thereby assuring
success for this year's vitally important teller; the Rabbi of Ladi, Levi Yitzhok of Berditchev, Azriel of
Plotzk, the Gerer Tzadik, Rabbi Dob Baer, Rabbi Jacob Joseph,
campaign.
Rabbi Hershel of Zlotzov, Nahum of Chernobyl, and many others
*
*
in this history.
This is a time for action! Every pros-, figure There
is an interesting explanation of the system. of
pect must be seen, every available ,dollar Hassidism based on HaBaD, the abbreviatiOn of the Hebrew
must be secured, every possible increase words Hakhma, Binah, Deah—Wisdom, Reason and Knowledge
must be encouraged, for the sake of our —and the story of Sheneir Zalman, "a rabbinical rationalist.
own community, and in the best interests all ,his -life," who originated this system,.
The dancing and the singing of the Hassidim, their enthusi-
of embattled Israel.
Unless we have a strong and conscious aSm, is defined to show the character of the Hassidic religion's
Jewish community, our kinship with Israel ritual. The test of Hassidism and its workability is described,
will be weakened. If we. do not have a thus: "Hassidism has established its claim to the attention, even
good educational system, 'a fine recrea- love, of the Jews. There is' much in Hassidism that can
tional program, a well functioning system revitalize the life of the Jews today, much that can be utilized
of camps and centers, means for caring for the artistic and spiritual creativeness ,of the Jewish people.
for our aged, sick and needy, our com- It has given new wings to the poet and fresh impulse to the
munity will be emaciated spiritually and writer, thinker and dramatist. It has uncovered cultural vistas
physically. Such a community will be that were hitherto closed to them. It has spread a glamor of
unable to come to the aid of Israel, where romance and poetry over a life that was cold and prosaic."
Dr. Minkin contends 'that we are now experiencing a neo-
we must provide means for the settle-
ment of new immigrants, where we must Hassidism and that "sons and grandsons • of the Hassidim who
help build air raid shelters, and for whose had deserted their 'sires' religion are returning to the faith their
has been
people we must assure the stockpiling ancestors worshipped. . For 300 years Hassidism
ignored by its opponents and decried as a superstition by the
of food.
enlightened Jews, but of late it is being re-evaluated,' and
These needs represent the totality of More
the opinion seems to be general that, : when ;properly used and
the significance of our Allied Jewish Cam- directed there may be in it a potential ereative forge Which may
paign. =We are on the road toward a new yet pave the way for a new Jewish development. Who can
fund-raising triumph. Let us assure it by tell what other horizon§ may yet open up for the Jews:once - they
avoiding over-confidence and by retaining have learned to use this untapped..- source of spiritual strength
the., faith ;through our labors—that we and wisdbm!"
Thus, Dr. Minkiri'§ book 'is both instructive anU'.6hallenging.
won't -foriSake‘ either Isra0 or our own
"*r1r-Stif ely -haile"' it.
eserves a 'larg e' reacliti
M.
.
. •
.°

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4

For a Successful Drive: Avoid Over-Confidence

The Detroit Jewish community has
again demonstrated its interest in Israel's
security with the excellent gifts an-
nounced thus far by the Allied Jewish.
Campaign. Running far ahead of schedule,
we have approached the total amount
raised in 1955. Now, we are faced with the
responsibility of securing an additional
$1,250,000—our minimum obligation to-
wards the United Jewish Appeal Emer-
gency Fund. While we are jubilant over
the accomplishments thus far, the 71956
• campaign is far removed from success.
Unless the emergency fund is secured, we
cannot exped a triumph in the great
duties inherent in the Allied Jewish Cam-

pagin.

This, therefore, is a plea and a warning
to the valiant campaigners who are sin-
cerely striving to secure all the funds
that are needed for Israel and for our
important local causes: do not become
over-confident! Continue your work dili-
gently. until the entire sum needed is
secured! * * *
• At the opening campaign meeting last
week, it was announced that the record
sum of $3,800,000 was secured from 6,000
contributors 'and that 24,000 more par-
ticipants are yet to be enrolled in the
drive. While -the major gifts available in
a drive like ours already have been - se-
cured, the large group—ao per •cent of our
community's 'prospective :contributors t-40

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