Friday, January 10, 1958—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEW S-2

Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Back on Agenda: Religious Question in Census

The issue over the inclusion of a question on the religious
identity of Americans in the forthcoming U.S. Census question-
naires is back on the agenda.
It has been revived by the New York Association of Rabbis,
"a division of the Rabbinical Association of America," an ortho-
dox group that has broken away from the United Synagogue of
America.
In view of the fact that a major Jewish organization—the
American Jewish Congress—had led the fight against the inclu-
sion of the religious question in the census data; had acquired
the cooperation of other leading Jewish movements and of im-
portant non-Jewish groups; and had triumphed in the battle
against the destruction of the church-state separation principle
through the wedge -that would have been provided by the census
questionnaire's reference • to- religion, it is worth probing the
thinking of the orthodox group that has chosen to separate
itself from the balance of the American Jewish community on
this question.

The Difference of the Canadian Approach

The situation is entirely different in Canada. A Jewish
Telegraphic Agency report from Ottawa states that the Canadian
1961 census questionnaire will include questions pertaining to
the racial characteristics and religious affiliations of Canadians.
No objections to this question are anticipated and the informa-
tion that is obtained through such a question apparently is
welcomed in Canada.
It is pointed out, for example, that the 1951 census figures
established that there were 181,670 Canadians of Jewish origin
at that time. The information was broken down by provinces,
cities and towns and there was an "official language and mother
tongue" classification. In that year, it was established that 103,593
(52,473 males and 51,120 females) gave Yiddish as their mother
tongue.
Those who defend the inclusion of census questions dealing
with race, religion and nationality argue that these facts would
have been unobtainable if not for the official census inquiries.
For example, it is indicated that in 1931 Yiddish-speaking
Canadians numbered 149,520 and in 1941 129,806; that on a
percentage basis Yiddish represented 1.4 in 1931, 1.1 in 1941
and .7 in 1951.
Accumulation of such facts is possible In Canada where
the census seeks information on the "language and mother
tongue" of all residents. A comparison with conditions in this
country won't hold up because our Government is not interested
in the language backgrounds. Any group concerned in such
matters must conduct its own study; else, there is no limit to
the subjects that could be included in a census.
In this country, there denitely is involved the question of
anyone's right to delve into another's beliefs. It would be an
intrusion into the people's privacy and would be a violation of
the First Amendment to our Constitution: "Congress shall make
no law respecting an establishment of religion . ."
•
•

The Position of the N.Y. Association of Rabbis

Michigan Catholic Backs Real Estate Ban
on Sundays; Endorses Provision Assisting
Saturday Observers of the Sabbath Day

The Michigan Catholic, in a
front page editorial in its issue
of Jan. 2, endorsed the Council
resolution banning Sunday real
estate sales and urged its read-
ers to write to Mayor Louis C.
Miriani to sign the act.
But the editorial emphasized
the validity of the provision in
the act that those who observe
Saturday as the Sabbath day
should be permitted to operate
their real estate sales on Sun-
day.
The Michigan Catholic editor-
ial appeared under the heading
"Sunday Ban Heeds Will of
People" and stated:

The Common Council took a big
step in the right direction last
Monday when it passed an ordi-
nance to prohibit the sale or
rental of real estate on Sunday.
It remains only for the mayor to
affix his signature to make it
Detroit law.
We are proud of our council-
men. We realize there will be
criticism of their action by some
members of our populace.
But how could the councilmen
have acted otherwise? They were
elected to carry out the will of
the people. In this instance the
will was expressed by the realtors
themselves, who polled their
membership. Seventy-five per cent
stated they were in favor of Sun-
day closing.
Many who did not indicate
their choice said they were more
than willing to follow the de-
cision of the council. To us the

.

Boris Smolar's

'Between You
... and Me'

(Copyright, 1958)
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

The American Scene

tions, as he does "to be open
and articulate about his reli-
gion."
But those who refuse to an-
swer census questionnaire
queries are subject to fines
and imprisonment, and the im-
position of a religious ques-
tion upon any one—even if
those who oppose the insertion
of such a question represent
a fractional minority of our
population—would be an im-
pairment of their inalienable
rights as Americans.
The fact is that the injec-
tion of any religious inquiry
into a public questionnaire
would abuse the basic idea pro-
claimed in the First Amend-
ment. By opposing a religious
question in an American docu-
ment, we fight for the protec-
tion of the First Amendment.
The so-called New York Asso-
ciation of Rabbis has become a
party to abuse of an American
principle by its request for the
reconsideration of the decision
of the United States Census
Bureau to bar that question
from the 1960 census.
*
*

There remains the question of the validity of the position
of the orthodox group associated with the New York Association
of Rabbis.
In a press release, signed for this association by Rabbis Max
Felshin, president, and Leonard Bronstein, secretary, a resolu-
tion is made public urging "reconsideration by the United States
Census Bureau of its decision to omit all references to religious
identity in its questionnaires."
We doubt whether this dissenting opinion will have the
weight of forcing reconsideration of the Census Bureau's de-
cision. But since it is certain to provide ammunition for those
who constantly are trying to break down the "separation"
principle—by attempts to inject religion in our schools and, in Don't Blame Orthodox
this instance, by forcing a religious question upon the American Rabbis for Such
people in the census data—we quote the resolution in its entirety: Irresponsibility
"We, the New York Association of Rabbis, believe that the religious
There is only one reason for
identity and spiritual life of an individual are too vital and sacred a
portion of our God-given being to be ignored or silenced in ascertaining our having given so much space
the basic facts concerning America's population. After all, we do live to the irresponsible action we
in a free and blessed country, where no one need fear repression, have just quoted: that a group
reprisals or persecution because of denominational loyalties, as do the
regimented subjects of totalitarian dictatorships. America, thank God, of self-appointed "rabbis," hav-
is not Russia. Here every American has an inherent moral and legal ing undertaken to use the Jew-
right to be open and articulate about his religion.
"Our entire American heritage has been built upon the deep-seated ish name to negate the action
spiritual values and convictions of sturdy, stout-hearted pioneers. The of an entire Jewish community,
very foundations of our Republic were laid down by people who s-aught
new frontiers for freedom of worship. Our historic Declaration of may thereby mislead non-Jews
Independence stresses the spiritual endowment by our Creator of the as well as some Jews into be-
`inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness'. All
our literature is filled with expressions of tolerance and veneration for lieving that a substantial ele-
religious beliefs, motivation and living. The father of our country, ment in the- Jewish community
General George Washington, and all the U.S. presidents who have
Succeeded him, were dedicated, God-fearing men. Every oath of office favors the insertion of a reli-
to uphold our constitution and every oath by litigants to tell the truth gious clause in a state docu-
in all the courts of justice throughout the land are taken on the Bible ment.
and Holy Writ. Even our coins are minted and stamped with the
Therefore, in order to avoid
hallowed words: "In God we trust".
"Separation of Church and state simply means that one shall not misunderstanding, we state the
interfere with nor abridge the rights of the other; but they can and
Should co-exist in mutual respect and in co-operation with one another. facts and now we call atten-
"The United States Government's traditional enterprise with respect tion to the irresponsibility of
to the forthcoming 1960 census need not and should not fail to take the so-called "New York As-
account of our religious leanings and affiliations. The questions can be
formulated so as not to cause embarrassment to any atheist, skeptic or sociation of Rabbis." This group
unbeliever. Instead of putting it directly as was originally proposed:
'What is your religion?' to which objections have been raised by a has no status whatever, it is not
few organizations, the question can be framed thus: 'If you are recognized by the existing and
affiliated with any religious denomination, what is Its name?'; or words recognized Orthodox rabbinical
to that effect and meaning.
"We cannot take the true measure of America or arrive at an organizations and its quest for
accurate picture of our national life without recording our religious publicity is part of a disrupt-
attitudes, difference and affiliations. We therefore strongly urge the
reconsideration by the U.S. Census Bureau of its tentative decision to ing scheme that smacks of very
yield to pressure groups' adverse advice; and we call upon these well- poor taste.
meaning groups to relent in their opposition to the overwhelming
A responsible spokesman for
consensus of American opinion upholding our inherent right to a proud
declaration of our religious identification."
a recognized Orthodox body
This statement is worth studying. On the basis of the used strong language in his
arguments it offers, there would be objection to the introduction reference to this group. He
of religious courses in our schools. If we are to "co-exist in called it "unscrupulous,
mutual respect and in cooperation with one another, why not in phoney" and used even harsher
religion as well as in politics? Does a person's right "to be articu- language. Let the facts be
late about his religion" also give him the right to expound his known, so that the U. S. Census'
Bureau and responsible leader-
views to a minority when he is in the majority?
There are many reasons for opposing a question that would ship in Jewish and Christian
impair the privacy of individuals. An American has as much right ranks should not be misled by
i t
•
• II
II I
t e " tants.

1

cil has sent a memo to all mem-
bers of the Common Council
pointing out that while it shares
"the desire to see the idea of
a day of rest translated into the
widest application for all," it
views the adopted ordinance as
"making distinctions among peo-
ple," adding that the adopted
act "narrowly restricts its appli-
cation, and raised serious ques-
tions contrary to the spirit of
our democracy."
The Jewish Community Coun-
cil's statement adds: "The pend-
ing ordinance, in effect, makes
the city arbiter of the religious
convictions of individuals,
placing upon them the almost
impossible burden of proving
what constitutes 'conscientious
The Jewish Community Coun- belief' in a particular Sabbath."

decision was democracy in action.
The Council was backed up also
by the law of God, which de-.
mands that we keep holy His day.
Lest anyone feel that the re-
ligious standards of those who
feel that the Sabbath, (Saturday)
not Sunday, is the Lord's day,
provision was made so their be-
lie,f would be respected.
Before final passage of the or-
dinance, it was amended to read:
on Sunday, or a day other
that the first day of the week to
be called Sabbath." Hence those
who hold to the Sabbath may
close that day and open on Sun-
day, but they may not open both
Saturday and Sunday.
The Michigan Catholic hopes
the mayor will go along with the
will of 75 per cent of the realtors
as expressed in the council's de-
cision.
If it is the will of you, our
readers, that realty offices close
on Sundays, we suggest you make
your will known to Mayor Louis
C. Miriani. Send a letter or tele-
gram or telephone his office in
the City-County Bldg.

Twenty Jewish communities have completed studies of the
movement of Jews from their cities to the suburbs . . . The
picture emerging is that in the near future the Jewish pop-
ulation in the suburbs may become larger than in the core
cities ... In fact, there already are cities where the core Jewish
community is the suburban community ... The reports from all
the 20 cities say that the Jews who move to the suburbs are
usually younger people with young children . • . They are of
middle and upper socio-economic status, advancing in their
careers, although many of them have the economic burden of
heavily mortgaged homes. ...
« • s

Personality Profile

One of my favorite American Jewish leaders is Max M.
Fisher of Detroit . . . His influence in Jewish Communal life in
this country goes far beyond Detroit . . . He is one of the
younger Jewish leaders who have fine national reputations among
American Jewry . . . His interest in the United Jewish Appeal
has no limit and the same can be said of his devotion to Israel,
although he is not a Zionist ... He is a member of the UJA
National Cabinet and participated in every study mission which
the UJA has sent to Israel during the last few years . . . In his
own city, he is the campaign chairman of the Allied Jewish
Campaign and active in many fields of Jewish endeavor . . . He
is also an important civic figure in the general community in
Detroit . . • A generous contributor to all kinds of Jewish causes,
he also contributed $250,000 toward a new Jewish community
center building in Detroit . . . Born in Pittsburgh 50 years
ago, he is now a leading figure in America's oil industry, and
owner of oil and gas wells ... He is a director of the American
Petroleum Institute and a member of the National Petroleum
Council at the Department of Interior in Washington . .
Amiable, unassuming and well-liked by all who come in con-
tact with him, he started as a poor boy and developed into a
successful oil man . He worked his way through school, earning
his B.S. degree at Ohio State University ... Today he is execu-
tive vice-president of the Aurora Gas Co. . . in addition to
being a busy businessman, a leader in the national UJA and in
the Allied Jewish Campaign of Detroit, he is also active as vice-
president of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit, vice-
president of the Detroit Sinai Hospital and in other Jewish or-
ganizations and institutions . . He is simultaneously affiliated
with two congregations — one reform and the other conserva-
tive.
*
*
*

Literary Notes

The New Year marks the 70th anniversary of the Jewish
Publication Society of America . . . There are very few Jewish
institutions in this country that can boast of seventy years of con-
tinued activity . . . Most of the books published by JPS during
its existence are of lasting cultural value to the Jewish home
. • . They are especially important. now, when the present gen-
eration of American Jewry cannot get acquainted with Jewish
cultural treasures except when they are presented in the
English language . . . The book with which the JPS started the
new year is "The Exiled and The Redeemed," a volume • by
Israeli President Itzhak Ben-Zvi . . . A scholar of Jewish ethno-
graphy, Ben-Zvi collected for years material on scattered Jewish
tribes in remote parts of the world . . . His book—which has
also been translated from the Hebrew into French and Spanish
—tells the story of the Crypto-Jews of Persia, the Jewish tribes
of Afghan, the Khasars, the Mountain Jews of the Caucasus, the
Krimchaks, the Karaites, the Samaritans and others . . . It is a
rare study by one who has devoted all his life to the field ..
Speaking of the Jewish Publication Society, I see that it has
joined the trend to the publication of paperbacks . . . Its execu-
tive committee has decided to join with Meridan Books, Inc., in
the publication of paper-bound books from its back list . . .
Watch for a new book to be published soon under the title
"Cholem Aleichem" . . • No, it is no misprint for Sholem
Aleichem with which Jews greet each other . It implies the
dream—the "Cholem"— upon which the book is based . . It
is a fantasy ballet, the first ballet ever written in Yiddish . . .
Its author is Aleph Katz, editor of the Yiddish Department of our
Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

