Investing for the Future of Israel 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 Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 1'7100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6. Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1952 at Post Office, Detroit. Mich., under Aot of March 3, 1879. —.• PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher SIDNEY SHMARAK Advertising Manager CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Circulation Manager FRANK SIMONS City Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the twentieth day of Ab, 5717, the following Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: "Pentateuchal portion, Ekev, Deut. 7:12-11:25. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 49:14-51:3. Licht Benshen, Friday, Aug. 16, 7:12 p.m. VOL. XXXI. No. 24 Page Four August 16, 1957 Miriani Incident Repudiating Hate-Mongers People have a habit of becoming un- necessarily alarmed whenever men in public life challenge hate-mongers. If there is sufficient pressure and audacity, by professional bigots, these public ser- vants stand in danger of being accused of vote-seeking. This was the case in the incident in which Council President Louis Miriani became involved last week. The fact is that the Moslem conven- tion here was mainly political; that the two chief speakers originally listed to appear on the program had been guilty of making anti-American statements; that the Syrian Ambassador, Dr. Farid Zein- nedine, had delivered the most violent anti-Jewish speeches ever heard in this country, and his cohort, Dr. Fayez Sayegh, is the propaganda front in this country for the notorious Arab League. A number of leading American news- papers had published editorials demand- ing the expulsion from this country of Zeinnedine for his violently anti=Jewish addresses which were more anti-Ameri- can than anti-Jewish. That being the case, a public official' who refuses to greet a foreign bigot should be commended rather than condemned. Zeinnedine's expulsion by our Govern- ment on Wednesday may not prove this particular point, since the action taken was in retaliation against the new Syrian anti-American propaganda, but it cer- tainly adds weight to our contention. It is of more than passing interest that a Christian anti-Israeli, Dr. Garland Evans Hopkins, who is spreading venom against American Jews as well as against Israelis, should have been chosen to substitute for Zeinnedine who could not come here due to illness. That's exactly how we feel about Act- ing Mayor Miriani's action, in spite of the chicken-hearted comments that were made by other city officials, including Mayor Cobo—and we therefore commend Mr. Miriani for a courageous stand. He acted in good conscience in defense of an American principle: he refused to be a party to an anti-Semitic convention. The orchid of the month, for good courage, goes to Louis Miriani, President of the Detroit Council and Acting Mayor at the time that bigots threatened to inject poison into our healthy community. American Synagogue Music In the Choir Loft' While Dr. Eric Werner, professor of liturgical music at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, answers the questions of his students in his interesting book, "In the Choir Loft," which was published by the Union of American Hebrew . vot:gmol,;: Congregations as "a manual for organists - and choir directors in American syna- gogues," the historical analysis of synagogue music incorporated in the book elevates it above the position of a technical manual. Prof. Werner, in his description of the development of synagogue music, states that many civilizations had added to this musical treasure house, and that "during the last century even a small amount of hillbilly music was used for some Hebrew texts." Usually, he adds, the latter was "in poor taste." Synagogue music, and Christian hymns as well, he states, began in Palestine 2,000 years ago. With the destruction of the Temple in the year Dr. Werner 70, Jews carried with them the old tunes but their "revered legacy was contaminated by all refuse to answer - the census taker." To kinds of foreign influxes." After the so-called "emancipation," with the shedding of avert conflicts involving the religious conscience of Americans, it would be everything that was reminiscent of the ghetto "the care of tradition was in serious danger." The European Reform safest not to insert questions of religion musical movement started in an atmosphere of "abnegation of traditional in Federal questionnaires, even if replies values." But worshippers missed "the warmth of tradition" were not to be made compulsory. and "did not respond." The musical tradition of the synagogue at its lowest ebb in 1800, and then "fortunately, a But there remain serious differences of was generation of synagogue musicians arose that was deeply opinion. It has been pointed out that concerned with the preservation of our musical heritage." questions regarding church and synagogue Prof. Werner proceeds to describe the rejuvenating efforts affiliations, about religious buildings and of Cantor Solomon Sulzer of Vienna and many others whO their seating capacities and monetary followed him. He describes the works of the East European values were inserted in previous census composers. Referring to American congregations, Dr. Werner makes questionnaires. Nevertheless, the danger of a breakdown in the principle of separa- reference to the fact that "during the anti-traditionalist tion of church and state can be created generation of 1890-1920, most cantors of Liberal congregations dismissed." Reform synagogues "adopted as their main anew by religious questions to be asked were musical form type the Protestant choral. This was a grave by census takers, and it is wisest to mistake; for ,this form has been and will always be alien eliminate them. to the spirit of Hebrew poetry and synagogue worship." At issue, of course, is the basic prin- But, "led by A. Z. Idelsohn at Hebrew Union College a ciple of separation. The moment conces- generation of composers arose and grew which created in sions are made, one link after another can a spirit combining depth of knowledge of the Jewish tradition with a critical approach in the free air of be broken in the chain that separates musical America . . . The cantor has once again taken his place in church from state in this country. That is more and more Reform temples and all temples begin to why the position taken by the American sponsor, albeit slowly, more good Jewish music." Jewish Congress and the American Civil Prof. Werner's interesting book has a fine chapter on the Liberties Union must be supported. development of American synagogue music and he reaches this conclusion: "It can be said without qualification that American synagogue music in its best creations has surpassed anything of Jewish music in the past." Tonality and Its Bypaths, Characteristics of Style, Form tian arrived in Canada on the same plane but that he was ignored. He said: "We and Structure, Policy and Performers and a Bibliography form can't even reach these people for a excellent follow-up chapters that are illustrated with musical scores. friendly chat that might ease tension." Laymen as well as choir directors will find this book Another sad incident is reported ' by interesting. The historical portion of "In the Choir Loft" is an Leonard Lyons, who wrote in one of his especially important portion of the book. Religious Questions in Census Fact Sheets An appeal issued recently by the American Jewish Congress against the inclusion of questions regarding religious affiliations in the 1960 Federal census aroused considerable discussion and the reactions were not altogether in the affirmative. At the outset, the American Civil Liberties Union opposed the stand taken by the American Jewish Congress. But the ACLU now has reversed its posi- tion and is backing the Jewish Congress attitude. The ACLU and the AJC base their joint stand upon the First Amendment to our Constitution which states that "Con- gress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," holding that the insertion of questions regarding religion in census questionnaires would infringe upon such guarantees of religious freedom. Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the . Jewish Congress, has warned that "under Federal law persons questioned by census takers are subject to conviction and im- prisonment as criminals should they M. E. Problems: Will Only Miracles Solve Them? When it comes to harming Israel, Arab can show hatred even for a fellow-Arab. We have heard of this type of iron curtain before. An incident in Toronto a few days ago re-emphasized it. At the 33rd annual convention of YMCA's Men's Clubs, one of the three Israeli delegates, an Arab, George Haddad, approached the Egyptian delegate, Ayad Morgan, but when the latter noticed the Israel insignia on Haddad's name tag, he rejected the outstretched hand and turned away. It was a world fellowship meeting, but good will was rejected there. It caused one of the other Israeli delegates, Samuel Shirlinsky, to comment: "You can see what we have to face. They won't even talk with us at a YMCA meeting which is non-political." Morgan refused to pose with the Israelis and insisted that "our countries are at war." He said he did not think his attitude was contrary to world fellowship. On the other hand, the Israeli Arab said he could not blame the Egyptian. "It was not his fault," he said. "He prob- ably did not dare do anything else.' Shirlinsky said that he and the Egyp- columns a few days ago: Red Skelton and his family, who are touring Europe, had been scheduled to visit the Middle East. Skelton's ailing son wanted to see the Holy Land and its holy sites, particularly those in Jeru- salem. The Skeltons were invited by the Israeli government, which agreed to let them cross into the Jordan-held side of Old Jerusalem and then return to the Israeli side. But the Jordan government would give no approval. That's how Arabs are interfering with good neighborliness. These are occurences that may well be regarded as tragedies. There can be good will, but bigots and war-mongers stand in the way of the kind of progress and good will that could benefit all the peoples in the Middle East. It may take miracles to solve these sad problems. Fortunately, Israel never stops believing in miracles. Perennial Education Problem By NATHAN ZIPRIN The American Association of Jewish Education has issued a. call to Jewish parents to observe the' forthcoming Jewish Educa- tion Month by enrolling their children in Jewish schools. The idea of an education month is a splendid one, though no one is naive enough to believe that it is .a sufficient stimulant against the lethargy that ,seems to have gripped a large segment of Jewish parenthood in our midst. According to the Survey of Jewish Education in New York prepared this year by Louis L. Ruffman under the aegis of the Jewish Education Committee of New York, the Jewish child population of Greater New York for the period 1954-55 was about 415,000, but Jewish school enrollment was only about 128,000 or 31% of the total. An encouraging aspect of the report is the disclosure that Jewish enrollment has increased 31% over the 1951-52 figure though the overall increase in Jewish child population was only nine percent. With the "cheder" bells about to ring again, pondering of this problem is not only appropriate but imperative. All our elocution and speculation about Jewish survival will be in vain if we neglect our roots and permit searing of the young vineyard.