Friday, July 19, 1957 — THE DETROIT JEWISH; NEWS -8
Mixed Seating Controversy
Continues in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (AJP)—On
one point only did plaintiffs
and defendants agree in a suit
brought here against officers
and board members of Cong.
Chevra Thilim.
The point of agreement was
that Judge Frank J. Stitch, of
the Civil District Court here, is
receiving a liberal, though con-
fusing, education in Judaism.
Closing arguments are still
to be presented by the attor-
neys for the defense and plain-
tiffs, but there is no question
that the Bible, Talmud and
Shulchan Aruch have been
quoted at length during the
past two weeks here.
The suit being tried by
Judge Stich is brought by
a group of members of the
congregation seeking an in-
junction to prevent the con-
gregation from implementing
a family seating plan ap-
proved by the membership.
Four experts — Rabbi Solo-
mon- J. Sharfman, president of
the Rabbinical Council of
America; Rabbi David Hol-
lander, past president of RCA;
Rabbi Eliezer Silver, past presi-
dent of the Union of Orthodox
Rabbis; and Rabbi Samson R.
Weiss, national director of
Young Israel—testified for the
plaintiffs.
In substance, they agreed
that the separation of the sexes
in the synagogue is a cardinal
principle of Orthodox Judaism
and that synagogues permitting
miffed seating were not Ortho-
dox.
Temple Israel Sets
Auxiliary Services
for High Holy Days
For the first time in its his-
tory, Temple Israel will conduct
supplementary High Holy Day
services. The services will be
held in the new Activities
Building, which will make pos-
sible accomniodations for sev-
eral hundred new members.
The Leon Fram Hall in the
new building will be equipped
with an ark and an organ. The
rabbis of the congregation will
officiate, and an additional can-
tor is being engaged to chant
at the services.
Like the services in the main
sanctuary, the auxiliary services
will be exclusively for Temple
Israel members and their fam-
ilies. The congregation will
welcome all families who wish
to avail themselves of its serv-
ices of worship, its religious
school, its youth and social
activities.
A special invitation has been
extended to all families inter-
ested in Liberal Judaism to at-
tend sabbath services through-
out the summer at 8:30 p.m.,
each Friday, in the air-condi-
tioned sanctuary. •
Inquiries may be addressed
to Temple Israel, 17400 Mander-
son, UN. 3-7769.
For Your
Social Events
CARD PARTIES
LUNCHEONS
BUY DELICIOUS
HAMILTON
... CHICKEN PIES
... MEAT PIES
. FRUIT TARTS
1111
Delivered Piping Hot
Phone TW 3-3400
THESE PRODUCTS ALSO
SOLD IN THE STORES
HAMILTON
MEAT PIE CO.
3401 E. McNichols Rd.
They further agreed that no
congregation had the authority
to change Jewish law by a
show of - hands or even to in-
terpret the law. Only duly
ordained rabbis who have de-
voted years to the study of
Jewish law, they said, have
the authority to interpret the
law.
Two experts testified for the
defendants. They were Rabbi
Jacob Agus, of Baltimore, Md.,
and Rabbi David Aronson, of
Minneapolis, Minn.
Although both are conserva-
tive rabbis, because they are
"students" of Jewish law, they
were qualified as experts on
Judaism. Rabbi Aronson is a
sixth generation descendent of
the Gaon of Wilna. In sub-
stance they agreed in their
testimony.
They presented a brief his-
tory of the development of
Orthodox Judaism, stating that
the word came into use re-
cently, comparatively speaking;
and that it meant "right doc-
trine."
The fundamentalists, they
said, believe not only that their
doctrine is right, but also that
it is the only doctrine. The
non-fundamentalists, on the
other hand, they stated, believe
that their doctrine is right, but
that there are doctrines which
others accept as right.
They pointed out that the
Orthodox doctrine has differed
in various countries and in
various eras. They testified
that there has never been
unanimity in Judaism, that
there has always been dis-
agreement among Jewish
authorities.
They pointed out further
that the Talmud, the Shukhan
Aruch and all other Jewish
codes deal at great length with
the construction of synagogues,
but in no instance is the separa-
tion of sexes mentioned. All
quotations citing separation. of
the sexes, they testified, had
reference to the Temple in
Jerusalem and not to the syna-
gogue.
There has never been a
"double standard" in Juda-
ism, they said, one law for
the synagogue and anotheir
for the home, and at the time
the laws regarding the sepa-
ration of sexes in the syna-
gogue during services were
promulgated, separation of
the sexes also existed in the
home and on the streets.
The two experts for the de-
fendants further testified that
synagogues were autonomous
and that each synagogue, under
the guidance of its rabbi, must
decide for itself the interpreta-
tion of Jewish law it will
accept. They stated that the
problem of mixed seating arose
in this country when it was
found that- segregated seating
was not compatible with the
mores of his country.
Rabbi Agus, a former mem-
ber of the Rabbinical Council
of America, stated that there
is a constant struggle in the
Council between the liberal
and reactionary elements on
all issues, especially the ques-
tion of rabbis serving congre-
gations with family seating. The
liberals, he acknowledged, are
in the minority.
SYNAGOGUE
TEMPLE ISRAEL: At 8:30 p.m. services today, Rabbi M. Robert
Syme will deliver a book review sermon on Robert Ruark's
"Something of Value."
CONG. BETH YEHUDAH: Sabbath services at 7:30 p.m., today.
At 9 a.m. services Saturday, Rabbi Joshua Spiro will speak
on "Jeremiah's Symbols."
ADAS SHALOM SYNAGOGUE: Sabbath services at 6 p.m.,
today; at 8:45 a.m., Saturday.
CONG. BNAI DAVID: Sabbath services at 7:30 p.m., today; at
8:45 a.m., Saturday. The Bar Mitzvah of Phillip S. Klein will
be observed. Auxiliary services at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, at
24446 Martha Washington, Southfield Township.
CONG. BETH JOSEPH: Sabbath services at 7:30 p.m., today; at
9 a.m., Saturday.
YOUNG ISRAEL OF DETROIT: Sabbath services at 7:30 pm
today; at 9 a.m., Saturday.
CONG. BNAI MOSHE: Sabbath services at 7 p.m., today; at 9
a.m., Saturday.
TEMPLE BETH EL: Vesper services at 5:30 p.m., today. Sabbath
services at 11:15 a.m., Saturday.
CONG. SHAA•EY ZEDEK: Sabbath services at 6 p.m., today; at
8:45 a.m., Saturday. The Bar Mitzvah of Michael Steven Zis-
man will be observed.
CONG. GEMILUTH CHASSODIM: Sabbath services at 7:30 p.m.,
today; at 9 a.m., Saturday.
CONG. AHAVAS ACHIM: Sabbath services at 7:30' p.m., today;
at 8:45 a.m., Saturday.
YOUNG ISRAEL OF NORTHWEST DETROIT: Sabbath services
at 7:30 p.m., today; at 9 a.m., Saturday. -
BETH ABRAHAM SYNAGOGUE: Sabbath services at 7 p.m.,
today; at 8:45 a.m., Saturday.
Sholem Aleichem Institute to Name
New Auditorium for S. Bercovich
The auditorium of the new
Sholem Aleichem Institute,
now under construction at
19350 Greenfield, will be
named for the late Shloime
Bercovich, director of the In-
stitute from 1927 to 1942.
Announcement of the honors
being accorded to Mr. Berco-
vich, a pioneer in the field of
Yiddish education, was made
by Morris Friedman, president
of the Institute's Chapter I.
The spacious- auditorium will
be large enough to accommodate
students and their parents at
holiday and social celebrations,
Friedman said. It will be en-
tirely air-eenditioned.
In addition to Friedman,
other members of • the build-
ing committee include Daniel
Robb, Leo Mogill, Henry Blank,
Herman Kanter, Irving Levine
and Isadore Goldstein.
Members of the building fund
committee are George . M. Zelt-
zer, Samuel Jacobson, Jack
Cukerman, Isaac Finkelstein,
Louis Reder, Charles Driker,
Rabbinical Delegation
to Study in Israel
A group of 28 American
Orthodox rabbis and educators
left Tuesday for a six week
study-workshop in Israel, it is
announced by the Jewish
Agency.
This is the fifth annual work-
shop for American spiritual
leaders and teachers, and is held
under the auspices of the
Agency's Torah Education and
Culture Department.
Earlier, on July 11, 50 Ameri-
can Jews sailed aboard the SS
Zion to settle permanently in
Israel. One group of volunteers,
under auspices of the Agricul-
tural Work-Study Project in
Israel (AWSPI), will spend a
year working in an agricultural
settlement.
Another group plans to join
cooperative settlements in the
Negev, while a third group of
Delegation to USSR
middle class men and women
will enter into business ven-
Convention Is Given
tures.
The fourth • group includes
Tel Aviv Farewell
professionals, among them many
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News
engineers, under the sponsor-
TEL AVIV—A non-Commu- ship of PATWA, Professional
nist delegation of several hun- and Technical Workers Aliyah.
dred youth to the Moscow
"Democratic Youth Convention" Repatriated Soviet Jews
was given a farewell Monday Seeking Aid in Poland
night by officials who included
LONDON (JTA)—More than
Joseph Ovidar, Israeli Ambas- 5,000 Jews repatriated from the
sador to Russia, and Alexander Soviet Union are now seeking
Abramov, Soviet Ambassador to aid in Poland, it was reported
Israel.
at a Jewish meeting in Lodz,
Another delegation, composed according to the latest issue of
of Communist youth represen- "Folkshtimme," Warsaw Yid-
tatives, also is participating in dish newspaper. Most of them
the same convention which will are in need of dwellings and
be held in August.
SERVICES
work, the paper reported.
Al Letvin, Paul Chover, Sidney
Kaye, Ida Komaroff, Minnie
Avrin and Julia Weiss.
For information on school
registration, which is now tak-
ing place for the fall term, or
adult programs of the Insti-
tute, call VE 8-7440.
Tisha b'Ab Plea
Issued by JNF for
Tr a ditional Gifts
The Jewish National Fund.
has issued a call to the rabbis
and leaders of synagogues in-
Detroiit and outstate to conduct
an intensive appeal for Jewish
National Fund in every syna-
gogue on Tish b'Ab which this
year will be observed on Mon-
day evening, Aug. 5, and Tues.
In a formal request sent to
the leadership of all synagogues,
signed by Harry Cohen,, Abra-
ham Nusbaum, Max Stollman,
Daniel Temchin and Zvi Torn-
kiewicz, co-chairmen, the syna-
gogue committee asks that "the
message of the State of Israel,
itis people, its struggles and its
triumphs should again be
brought to worshippers who are
gathered in the Synagogues on
Tisha b'Ab. We should recall
our martyrdom of the past, and
take comfort in the miraculous.
events which led to the re-
establishment of the Jewish
State in our time. "Now, more
than ever before, we must re-
d e d i c a t e ourselves to the
strengthening and securing of
the future of Medinat Israel.".
BAL MUSAF WANTED.
FOR THE HIGH
HOLY DAYS BY
EVERGREEN JEWISH
CONG.
CALL MR. KINZER
KE 3-3121
Or Write:
Box 5005, Southfield Sta.
Detroit 35, Michigan
TEMPLE ISRAEL
invites you to become acquainted with
Liberal Judaism
also called Reform Judaism, the movement to har-
monize Jewish tradition with American life, We invite
you to attend one of our
Sabbath Eve Services
Any Friday Night at 8:30
In our air-conditioned Sanctuary
We have ample parking space
Temple Israel is within ten minutes' ride of all areas
of Jewish residence in Detroit and suburbs.
OUR NEW ACTIVITIES BUILDING
is designed especially for the social activities of the
Youth and the children of the Congregation. 14 will
be used, also, for High Holy Day Services.
You are invited to make inquiries about
membership in Temple Israel; our Religious School;
our Bar Mitzvah, Bas Mitzvah, and Confirmation Cere-
monies; our educational, social and cultural programs
for children, youth and adults.
Come, write or telephone
Temple Israel, 17400 Manderson, at Mel ton
Cone block north of McNichols, one block
east of Pontchartrain.)
UN 3-7769.
Dr. Leon Fram, Rabbi
Robert S. Tulman, Cantor
Rabbi M. Robert Syme, Assistant Rabbi
Karl W. Haas, Music Director and Organist