Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Interesting Evaluation of Jewish Education
In his illuminating book," "Elementary Education in Ancient
Israel," (published by Bloch), Dr. Eliezer Ebner offers an in-
teresting evaluation of the Rabbis' views of the religious-ethical
aspects of Jewish teaching. These are the concluding two para-
graph& in Dr. Ebner's book:
"The following Boraita with which we bring our treatise to
a close is an idealistic account of all the qualificatons, which
according to the Rabbis are necessary to a greater or lesser degree
for the acquistion of Torah knowledge. It presents at the same
time an index of the aims to which Jewish education in tannaitic
times was dedicated. Entirely in keeping with the religious-ethical
aspect of Jewish teachings is the faCt, that nearly two-thirds of
the 48 virtues enumerated here are of that nature:
"The Torah is greater than priesthood and royalty; for royalty
is acquired with 30 virtues and priesthood with 24, but Torah is
acquired with 48 qualifications. And these are: study, attentive
listening, distinctive pronunciation, emotional discernment, intui-
tive grasp, awe, reverence, humility, cheerfulness, attendance on
scholars, attachment to colleagues, discussion with students,
sedateness, study of Scriptures and Mishnah, moderation in
business, moderation in worldly affairs, moderation in pleasure,
moderation in sleep, moderation in conversation, moderation in
laughter, patience, a good heart, faith in the sages, resignation
under chastisement, recognizing one's place, being content with
one's portion, guarding one's words, claiming no merit for
oneself, being beloved, loving God, loving people, loving
righteousness, loving reproof, shunning honor, not boasting- of
one's learning, not delighting in giving decisions, bearing the
yoke with one's colleague, judging him favorably, leading. him
to truth and peace, being composed in one's study, asking and
answering, listening and adding to one's knowledge, learning
with the intention to teach, learning with the intention to
practise, making one's teacher wiser, being accurate in one's
learning and quoting a thing in the name of the person who
said it'."
This is a most interesting code. It sets forth so many
valuable principles, involving human behavior, every day living
and cultural aspirations, that we consider it a worthwhile message
for our Annual Education Month. It is especially valuable as
a guide for those concerning themselves with adult Jewish
education. It encourages learning, teaching, accuracy in approach-
ing Jewish cultural measures.
Observance of Education Month must not be limited to
dealing with problevis: let us also concern ourselves with
principles. The above quotation offers the "idealistic account"
in dealing with the desired principles.
Jewish War Veterans Plan One-Time Fund Drive;
Movement's Activities Reviewed by Ben Kaufman
In a full day's leadership con-
ference, held Sunday, at the
Jewish War Veterans' Memorial
Building, - JWV leaders re-
viewed current Jewish needs
and set forth a platform for
action during the coming year.
Under the chairmanship of
Lawrence Gubow, Michigan
Department commander, the
issues were reviewed at sev-
eral workshops, and a decision
was reached for a one-time
fund-raising effort to secure
means with which to carry on
the JWV program for the de-
fense of Jewish rights in
Michigan.
Features of the conference
were the address, at the morn-
ing session, by Ben Kaufman,
Unified Schools
or Individualism?
JWV national executive direc-
tor, and the presentation of an
emblem to Leonard N. Simons
signifying his recent election to
honorary membership in JWV.
Gubow made the presentation.
Participants in the meeting
included Lt. Gov. Philip Hart,
who welcomed Mr. Kaufman,
holder of a Congressional Medal
of Honor, to. Michigan; Samuel
J. Rhodes, president of the Jew-
ish Community Council; Mrs.
Jack Schwartz, president of the
Ladies' JWV Department; Ben
Shiffman, Spanish - American
War veteran, who gave the
opening prayer; I. L. Feuer, of
Youngstown; Fred Tourkow,
Henny Littman, Sol M. Hober-
man, Ralph Epstein, Carl Poll,
Sam . Spolan, and other Michi-
gan JWV leaders.
Establishment of a national
museum to honor the memory
of the 20,00 Jews who died
in the wars of the U.S. was
urged by Mr. Kaufman.
Reviewing JWV activities. in
this country, Mr. Kaufman told
of the veterans' efforts against
the McCarran-Walter Act, the
organization's intercessions in
defense of Israel, work among
veterans in hospitals, activities
of anti-Semites in the Mon-
Mouth case and in unfair se-
curity investigations.
LEONARD N. SIMONS re-
ceives Honorary JWV Mem-
bership Pin from LAW-
RENCE GUBOW.
By RABBI JOSEPH ELIAS
Principal, Yeshivath Beth
Yehudah
Two tendencies are always
noticeable in the life of a com-
munity: the striving for indi-
vidual self-expression, and the
desire for unified effort.
A great deal of thought is
given these days to the con-
Yes, there certainly is a prescription for
cept of a unified "community
school" system; but what does
Better Schools — and it's utterly painless. All
this idea mean? Do we want
you have to do is clip the coupon attached and
a school teaching only what all
send
today for free booklet, "How Can Cit4ens Help
sections of the community have
Their Schools?". Address your card or letter to The National
in. common? That would surely
Citizens Commission for the Public Schools, 2 West
be a very watered-down and
meaningless type of education.
45th Street, New York 36, N. Y. Do it today!
Those of us associated with
the effort of Yeshivath Beth Ye-
.••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
• • Bettor Schools
hudah to provide an intensive
*
*
education, along traditional
2 West 45th Street, New York 36, N. Y.
•
•
lines, feel very strongly that
A Million Dollars °a Year for Education
send me free booklet, "How Can Citizens.
•
Please
Abe Kasle, president of the United Hebrew Schools, who has there should be no interference,
• Help Their Schools?".
•
dedicated himself to the cause of Jewish education, estimates but rather full support, for an
•
that Detroit Jewry spends in excess of a million dollars a year autonomous educational effort.
• • Name
as well as
new
We
are
conscious
of
the
he
niir
children—in
the
communal
-0, +
Address
congregational schools.
demands made on traditional
• City
Such an expenditure represents another i.iuuie tc the gen- Jewish education by the move
Zone_State
•
erosity of our community and to the realization of a major need. to suburbia and the upsurge of
It indicates a recognition of the priority of educational needs public interest in religion.
The campaign for better schools is being sponsored by the
to nearly all other communal causes.
One of the problems that, in National Citizens Committee for the Public Schools, in co-
The million dollars may not be all we need, but it is proof this connection, gains increasing
Of the magnitude of the obligation we owe our children and it is urgency, is that of Federation operation with the Advertising Council of America. The Detroit
an encouragement that if more money is needed it will—as it Support for all services rendered Jewish News is indebted to the two co-sponsors for the illus-
should—be forthcoming. If we do not train a well-informed by the Yeshivah. While its trations accompanying our Annual Jewish Education Month
youth, we may lose our next generation as a participant in our afternoon students receive a Issue.
community's affairs. Our fulfillment of obligations to our com- share of the community's edu-
■
■■■■■
■
■
■ ■ ■
■ ■
munity needs is one of the most heartening developments in cational spending, its 530 day
Detroit Jewry's communal life.
school
students
do
not
enjoy
*
*
*
Boris Smolar's
•
any community support what-
In 1829: A High School Education for $13.50 a Year
soever. Obtaining a more com-
If there are any among us who think we are spending too prehensive Jewish educational
much money for education, we are prepared to hearten them, than afternoon students, should
too, with an historical item.
they not at least receive the
F. Clever Bald, assistant director of the University of same encouragement and sup-
Michigan Historical Collections, pointed out this week that a port as these?
high school education was offered in Ann Arbor 126 years ago
(Copyright I956,.
Questions such as these
for $13.50 a year. The U. of M. historian calls attention to should be given full consider-
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
this advertisement in the first number—Nov. 18, 1829—of "The ation. By common positive
Emigrant"—Ann Arbor's first newspaper—by Merrill's Select thinking, and by sincere encour- Jewish Affairs:
School, which was started by Thomas W. and Moses Merrill: agement of all constructive
With the return of Dr. Nahum Goldmann to the United
"Select school for young gentlemen and ladies in Ann forces in our midst, new heights
Arbor Village. Reading, spelling, mental arithmetic, modern of achievement can be reached States, after an absence of six months, internal Jewish life in
this country will be intensified . . . Dr. Goldmann will attempt
geography, and English grammar at $2.50 per quarter (three by our community.
to reorganize the American Zionist movement so as to bring
months); including writing, practical arithmetic, ancient
about the formation of an American Zionist Federation .. This
geography, history, philosophy, chemistry, logic, astronomy, the
will require plenty of negotiations with Zionist groups which
higher branches of mathematics, composition and declamation at Maximum of Jewish
would join this territorial federation . . . Dr. Goldmann will
$3.00; including the Latin and Greek languages, $4.50.
make determined efforts to bring some non-Zionist personalities
"The instructors pledge themselves to take a lively interest Education Is Needed
Dr. Goldmann intends
in their pupils' advancement and knowledge, in good habits and By Rabbi ISRAEL L HALPERN into the Jewish Agency executive ... Then,
to
approach
important
Jewish
groups
in
this
country—Zionist,
amiable deportment; (etc.). "Boarding may be obtained at $1.00
' A maximum of Jewish educa- non-Zionist, religious and secular alike—with a proposal to send
per week."
tion is needed. Sunday Schools,
4We are informed that in spite of all the advantages offered and even three - day - a - week to Moscow a joint representative delegation, in which Jewish
by this school, it lasted for only two years, that Thomas Merrill schools, cannot deliver the communities in other countries will be represented, to clarify
moved to Kalamazoo, opened the Michigan and Huron Institute necessary well-rounded training with the Soviet government many issues affecting Jewish life
there in 1836 and that this academy later became Kalamazoo for modern Jewish living. By in the U.S.S.R.
*1/4
*
*
College. If tuition was cheap at that time, look at the boarding maximum is meant a seven-
a
week;
cost: $1
day-a-week program, which Things to Come:
* * •
How will American Jewry appear 50 years from today? .. .
will include Sabbath youth ser-
Honors for Schumer in Acco—and an Israeli Story
vices and a good Sunday pro- Dr. Jacob R. Marcus, historian, predicts the Jews will be native
Harry Schumer, one of the mainstays in the Detroit Labor gram to supplement the five- Americans by that time, living primarily in six large cities . . .
Zionist movement, will be honored by having a cultural center day formal school training. The Jewish children will resemble their neighbors even in a physical
established by Histadrut, in Acco, Israel, in his name, on the Synagogue a n d community sense . • . Thousands of Gentile converts who marry into Juda-
occasion of his 60th birthday.
afternoon school, as well as the ism will produce an American Jew who will be ethnically and
It is a well-deserved honor for a man who is generous, who Yeshivah Day School, can con- anthropologically no different from a Gentile . . . The percentage
is untiring in- his efforts for Israel, who is a dedicated leader in duct such a program, together of Jews who will observe Kashruth away from home will be
the cause of the Israeli labor movement.
with the Synagogue.
minimal, but kosher-style food will still be relished by Jews
This honor reminds this Commentator of a good story he
In the Sunday School, and in and non-Jews . . . It will be increasingly difficult to distinguish
had heard in Israel. A group of tourists, visiting Acco, (also the weekday schools, we must a Jew by his name . . . The typical Jew will be a college grad-
spelled Accho), formerly better known as Acre, learned about get away from the study about uate, a white-collar worker, preferably self-employed; frequently
Israel's successes in the War of Liberation, and the capture of Judaism to the study of Juda- a successful professional practioner . . . In suburban districts
the city by Israel's forces. They then recalled that Napoleon ism straight from the sacred Jewish centers will become clubs for the middle class, and in
Bonaparte, in his Middle Eastern aspirations, was unable to take Jewish sources — Prayer Book, smaller towns the country club will emerge as a community
the fortress of Acre. One of the tourists asked a child in that city Bible, Talmud and Codes.
agency . . . A new fusion type of religion, amalgamating the
More girls must 'be given a Orthodox, Conservative and Reform denominations, will be in
whether he knew anything about Napoleon.
thorough Jewish education. It
"Who was Napoleon?", the child countered.
the making . . . Most Jews will be members of a religious society,
"Haven't you heard about the great general of the early part would be catastrophic if half because that is part of the American concept of respectability ...
the Jewish community remained Some Jewish communities will introduce a form of overall taxa-
of the last century?", asked the tourist.
"0," the Israeli youngster then said, "you mean the French ignorant of Jewish values, prin-
tion to include even membership in the synagogue.
ciples and observances.
general who couldn't take Acre."
For Better Schools?
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