ugee Housing
Reading Torah from Platform Described-in Nehemiah
$css.•:* , e
The influx of 100,000 refugees during the past year necessi-
tated almost superhuman effort and huge expenditures of
money to construct adequate housing for the new arrivals and
for those who -arrived in recent years and are still living in
temporary quarters. Some 17,000 housing units were put up this
year and many more will be needed to house the refugees.
Tackling this problem is the • United Jewish Appeal.
Dilemma of Jews in South
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright, 1957, JTA, Inc.)
sentment from bigots. A short
time later Gov. Clement was
invited to address a dinner in
support of Israel. Participants
in the Jewish fund raising
affair were grieved to learn
that non-Jewish pickets rep-
resenting a white citizens
council had appeared with
signs insulting their guests.
One sign said "See You,
Later, Integrator." The af-
fair hinted at the latent anti-
Semitic potentiality beneath
the surface of the turbulent
South.
WASHINGTON—The dilem-
ma of Jews living south of the
Mason-Dixon line is best illus-
trated by a current "joke."
Two men appeared in Cohen's
clothing store in a Southern
town. One acted as spokesman
and made known the purpose of
the visit. "Mr. Cohen," he said,
"we represent the White Citi-
zens Council . being organized
here. We would like your con-
tribution."
But Cohen did not care to
eontribute.
John Kasper, the New Jer-
"Well," said the visitor, "Mr. sey born agitator, helped cre-
Cohen, would you want your ate strife in the Clinton affair.
daughter to marry a Negro?"
Kasper made it plain that Jews
Cohen replied: "I wouldn't were his target as well as
want my daughter to marry Negroes. But an all-Southern
any kind of goy."
J convicted Kasper of con-
It would be wrong .to con-
tempt of court. This indicated
sider Cohen guilty of "anti-
a repudiation of extremism.
goyism." Here was a case of a
Most Southerners opposed vio-
simple, law-abiding Jew just lence. They merely wanted. to
trying to live a Jewish life as
see the Negro kept "in his
he saw fit. His religious in- place."
stincts told him of the basic
Jews in Southern states have
evil in the anti-Negro segre-
been as isolated socially from
gation system. The Jewish or-
their non-Jewish neighbors as
ganizations to which he be-
their Northern cousins. Friendly
longed were on record for the
buSiness and civic contacts al-
peaceful integration of the
ways existed. But when the sun
public schools.
:goes down, Jews and Christians
Cohen saw the White Citizens go their separate ways.
Council as the Ku Klux Klan in
Historically, with very few
a hew guise. The more ostenta-
exceptions, the South has
tious expressions of hate had
been free of the type of vio-
been toned down and made so-
lent anti-semitism that has
cially acceptable. A few inse-
marred community relations
cure and_immature Jews joined
in Boston and other Northern
the citizens councils, craving an
cities. Emphasis of the preju-
illusory approval by their white
dice in the South has been
neighbors. But the Cohens of
directed at the Negro. The
the South wanted nothing to do
JeWs are relatively few ex-
with organized racism. Its odor,
cept in larger cities.
although even for the moment
Until recently, Southern Jews
not directed at Jews, reeked
have lived comfortably among
obnoxiously.
their neighbors. Even though
It is nevertheless true that
social segregation generally
the Cohens of the South have
caused the construction of sep-
no desire to be martyrs, They
arate country clubs, many Jews
wish good relations with
felt it was a blessing in dis-
white and colored alike. Yet
guise. Inter-marriage is a major
a growing tendency exists to
problem in communities Where
force Southern Jews, who ask
Jewish youth have few suitable
only to be left alone, to take
co-religionists to choose from as
a stand.
Alex Miller, the national com- mates. So Jews and non-Jews
went their separate ways so-
munity services director of the cially with the best wishes Of
Anti-Defamation League, re-
the same elders who gathered
ported that the Jews of the for interfaith luncheons.
South implore their national or-
Today the Jew finds himself
ganizations to avoid taking
on the spot. Ideals of brother-
stands in favor of the Supreme
hood, justice, and equality dic-
Court decision to end school
tate support of the Negro. Eco-
segregation. Many Southern
nomic and social pressures push
Jews sincerely believe in "grad- the Jews in another direction.
ualism" as the road to integra-
The Southern Jew wants his
tion. They feel that statements Northern cousin to know that he
issued in New York by Jewish is but human. It is fine to make
organizational professionals do
not reflect the Southern mem- brave statements in New York,
they point out, but Southern
ber's views.
Jews are also beginning to ask
Governor Frank G. Clement
of Tennessee last fall ordered if their Northern relatives are
happy when Negroes move into
National Guard troops to back
their block up North.
up a Federal court order
Southern Jews are striving to
opening schoolrooms in the
find an answer consistent with
town of Clinton without - re- their religious values. They
do
gard to race.. This drew re-
not want to be pushed by the
BY RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX a part of us and not just a liter-
(Copyright,' 1957, JTA, Inc.)
(Bor Chu). In general, it serves
ary piece in the abstract.
Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
The Torah is read from a to impress us that the achieve-
The Sefer Torah is read in
parchment scroll which con- ment of holy acts and purposes
the synagogue from a central
tains all five books of Moses. cannot be realized on an indi-
elevated platform.
vidual basis alone. One needs
Having
the five volumes all in
The practice is understood to
a community spirit to fulfill
one
scroll
indicates
a
unified
come from the description in
one's obligation to Heaven. Man
expression of the will of the
the Book of Nehemiah where
was not destined to live and
it is told how Ezra the Scribe Almighty. The parchment of exist alone—but rather was he
the scroll suggests a living
read the Torah in public. It is
created to act as part of an or-
tradition.
written there: "And Ezra the
ganized humanity dedicated to
Every
_public
act
of
holiness
Scribe stood upon a platform
the perfection of the human
of wood, which they • made for requires a quorum of ten men
race
and its adherence to the
this purpose . .. and they read (a minyan): Some of the rabbis standards of the Almighty.
claim that this is particulaly
. . . "(Nehemiah 8:4).
It is maintained that the necessary in view of the fact , Music is the
universal lan-
Torah must be read from an that the name of the Almighty guage of mankind.
elevated platform so that the is blessed before the reading
- —Longfellow
people understand t h at the
word of the Almighty is higher
than the word of man. It is par-
ticularly desired that the place
where the Torah is read should
be in the center of the congre-
gation while the people gather
around it.
This gives us the picture as
it was at Sinai when the Torah
was given—the people were all
On the New Year 5718, we
around the mountain and the
pray that we may be blessed
Torah was given in the midst
of them. It is also said to sig-
with peace and with recog-
nify that the Torah should be
nition of the rights of all
WaPPy new ear
White Citizens Councils at
home. They crave understand - .
ing from Northern co-rel•gion-
ists. Some have disgraced their
heritage by joining or support-
ing the Klan-like groups. But
most are confident that a solu-
tion will be worked out that
will build peace and progress in
the South on the foundations of
inter-racial and inter-faith har-
mony. They look forward to a
law, based_on social justice, that
affords all Americans the same
rights.
peoples to life and the pur-
suit of happiness. May we be
blessed- in the coming year
to witness the advancement
of Jewry's and America's
cultural needs.
Mr. and Mrs. Abe Kasle
and Family
THE WORK OF RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL BE PEACE; AND THE EFFECT
OF RIGHTEOUSNESS QUIETNESS AND ASSURANCE FOREVER.
Isaiah 32:17
HOLIDAY GREETINGS • FORD MOTOR COMPANY
THE AMERICAN ROAD, DEARBORN, MICA