THE JEWISH NEWS
Shavout-Torah - Harvest Festival
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., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35-,
Mich. VE 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. -6, 1942 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879,
SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Advertising Manager
Editor and Publisher
Circulation Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fifth clay of Sivan. 57 18, the following scriptural selections will be
read on our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Bamidbar, Number s 1:1-4:20. Prophetical portion, Hosea 2:1-22.
Shavuot Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal portions: Sunday, Exodus 19:1-20:23, Numbers 28:26-31; Monday, Deuter-
onomy 15:19-16:17. Numbers 28:26-31.
Prophetical portions: Sunday, Ezekiel I; Monday, Habbakuk II.
Licht Benshen, Friday, May 23, 7:05 p.m.
Page Four
VOL. XXXIII. No. 12
May 23, 1958
Shavuot--Festival of the Emergence of the Law
Shavuot is the Hag Habikkurim, one of
the great agricultural festivals on the Jew-
ish calendar, the Feast of the First Ripe
Fruit. But it is primarily the festival that
marked the emergence of the great code
of principles embodied in the Ten Corn-
. rnandments. It is the Festival of the Law.
Thus, its significance lies in its link
with the Land of Israel, with the needs
and activities of the People of Israel. It
is major in importance as the festival
that reflects the spirit of the people.
*
*
The festival's link with nature is re-
flected in the reading on Shavuot of the
Book of- Ruth. A great loyalty is empha-
sized in the first chapter of Ruth:
"And Ruth said, 'Entreat me not to
leave thee, and to return from follow-
ing after thee; for whither thou goest, I
will go; and where thou lodgest, I will
lodge; thy people shall be my people;
and thy God my God; where thou diest,
will I die, and there will I be buried;
the Lord do so to me, and more also, if
aught but death part thee and me'."
On this festival also is read the Ara-
maic poem by Meir Isaac Nahorai, "Ak-
damut," as an introduction to the story
of Revelation read from the Torah. These
famous lines are from "Akdamut":
"Could we with ink the ocean fill
Were every blade of grass a quill
Were the world of parchment made
And every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor would the scroll contain the whole
Though stretched from sky to sky."
*
The combination of Jewish traditions
that lay emphasis on the festival of Sha-
vuot serve to inspire us with new dignity
and with loyalty to the Laws of Israel.
On this holiday we rededicate ourselves
to the code of laws in our Decalogue;
we recall the beauties of nature as they
influenced our ancestors; we place em-
phasis on good will, on justice, on learn-
ing and on cultural values.
These ideals are reflected in the sea-
son's traditional graduations, confirma-
tions and consecrations. It is a season
not only for the conclusion of school
years but for the commencement of new
periods of studies.
Shavuot is a festival with which we
seek to inspire our youth to continue the
great traditions inherent in knowing the
Law, in studying its principles, in striv-
ing for their recognition and enforce-
ment.
May these ideas continue to inspire
the People of Israel.
Deserved University Honor for Professor Levin
A much deserved honor will be ac-
corded to Prof. Samuel M. Levin when
Wayne State University will honor him at
a dinner next Tuesday evening, on the
occasion of his retirement from the fac-
ulty and of his seventieth birthday.
It is no exaggeration to state that the
history of Professor Levin's services with
the university is a history of the univer-
sity itself.
He began his career as a teacher in
economics when the school was the City
College of Detroit. He advanced to a full
professorship and for many years was the
head of the university's economics de-
partment.
Nationally recognized for his scholar-
ship, Professor Levin's monographs and
widely published essays have attracted
wide interest and have been and continue
to be widely quoted.
He has been an inspiration to the fac-
ulty members as well as to the students.
As the man who holds the record of hav-
ing held the university professorship
longer than any other man, he is naturally
looked upon as the guide and leader of
all who either study or teach at Wayne
State University.
Professor . Levin has played an impor-
tant role in the Jewish community as well
as in civic affairs. As president of the
Jewish Social Service Bureau he helped
in the establishment of high standards of
service. He has traveled to Europe and to
Israel and has lectured extensively on a
variety of subjects.
He has carried on a noteworthy family
tradition, following in the footsteps of his
father, the late Rabbi Judah L. Levin who
was one of American Jewry's most re-
vered Orthodox leaders.
We join heartily in extending to him
the very best wishes on his seventieth
birthday and in his continued scholarly
activities in the planned preparation of
economic treatises.
Central High School's Centennial Celebration
Central High School is 100 years old.
When it first came into being, Detroit
was hardly more than a village.
When Central first began to func-
tion here, there were only a few Jews
in our community.
Detroit's growth, the rise of Detroit
Jewry to a position of leadership, are
well known and need not be recounted
anew.
The fact is that, as it is related to
our overall community, and to the Jew-
ish community, Central High School's
history is, in fact, a history of our City
and its people.
In many respects, Central High
School's story is the record of Jewish
leadership in our community. Many —
perhaps most — of our Jewish leaders
received their high school education in
this school. Many families boast of three
or four generations of graduates from
Central High School.
This high school, whose record for
scholarship was for many years a guide
for other schools in our state, pioneered
in many efforts. It has had prize-winning
periodicals. Its assembly halls were cen-
ters for major discussions of issues on
public affairs affecting our nation. Its
faculty aimed at high standards, and
attained them.
Presently, under the direction of its
principal, Miss Bertha M. Robinson, Cen-
tral High School holds fast to its excellent
record.
At the centennial dinner, many out-
standing Jewish leaders played an im-
portant role in reviewing the history of
this fine school.
It is a real joy to join with the rest
of our community in greeting Central
High School, its principal, faculty, alumni
and teachers on its centennial observance.
A Century of Jewish Thought
Dr. Waxman's Conservative
Judaism 'Tradition, Change'
Those who seek information about Conservative Judaism and
an understanding of the principles that motivate the movement
will find the best evaluations in the impressive 475-page volume,
"Tradition and Change," edited by the eminent scholar, Dr.
Mordecai Waxman. The book was published by the Burning Bush
Press (3080 B'way, N. Y. 27).
The most distinguished Conservative leaders—including
Rabbi Morris Adler of Detroit—are represented in this volume
with important essays, and the introductory "survey" by Dr.
Waxman offers a splendid summary of the ideas inherent in the
Conservative principles.
In his "survey," Rabbi Waxman shows how a revolutionary
change has been in evidence in congregational activities in
this country. Even Orthodoxy, he indicates, while attacking
the Conservatives, has itself undergone and is undergoing
changes. Reform, he maintains, is going in the direction of
the Conservatives—all tending towards this center.
"It is unlikely," he states, "with the organizational harden-
ing which has taken place, that Reform and Conservative can
merge, but it is undeniable that the Reform Judaism of the future
will be couched increasingly in the Conservative vein . . . So
far as Reform is concerned, the founders of Conservative Juda-
ism have succeeded in halting and reversing its bent."
Conservative Judaism, Dr. Waxman contends, "has succeeded
in partially achieving its original objective of conserving tradi-
tional Judaism. It may even be on the way to winning its goal
of a dynamic traditional Judaism in the United States."
The scholarly papers included in "Tradition and Change"
include an address delivered by Rabbi Adler to a United Syna-
gogue convention in 1948, on the subject "New Goals for
Conservative Judaism." Rabbi Adler also participated, with
Rabbis Jacob Agus and Theodore Friedman, in the preparation
of a paper on the Sabbath.
An entire century of Conservative Judaism planning is in-
cluded in this impressive volume. The essays are by present-day
and pioneer leaders. Rabbi Sabato Morais. Dr. Solomon Schechter,
Henrietta Szold, Dr. Israel Friedlander, Rabbi Zacharias Frankel,
Dr. Louis Ginzberg, Dr. Cyrus Adler and Dr. Solomon Goldman
are among the departed leaders whose ideas are presented here
in the section on "The History of an Idea."
In the section "The Philosophies of Conservative Judaism"
are statements by Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan, Dr. Robert Gordis,
Dr. Milton Steinberg, Rabbi Adler and others.
Two other sections in the book deal with Zionism and "The
Attitudes of Conservative Judaism." Rabbis Simon Greenberg,
Moshe Davis, Max Arzt, Louis Finkelstein, Ben Zion Bokser,
Arthur H. Neulander, and Ira Eisenstein are among the other
authors of essays in the book.
This enlightening book offers the desired information about
Conservative Judaism, its aims and aspirations. Even those in
Orthodox and Reform ranks will find this compilation of Con-
servatives' thoughts of great value. Surely, the lay public will find
this the most authoritative book on Conservative Judaism.
'The Copper Scrolls'--Novel
Based on Dead Sea Documents
Nathaniel Norsen Weinreb is a most imaginative writer.
He has proven it in three novels—"The Babylonians," "The
Sorceress" and "Esther."
Now, he has again taken to the Biblical scenes, in. his
fourth novel, "The Copper Scrolls," in which he utilizes the
location of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the people of that era
for his well-told tale.
"The Copper Scrolls," published by G. P. Putnam's SODS
(210 Madison, N.Y. 16), not only is based on a plot to steal
the valuable scrolls, but it also has a well-woven love story.
History and geography are interlinked here, and important
events in ancient times—the battles against Rome in the first
century, the position taken by the Zealots, the internecine
strifes—all combine to make a good story.
It is an unseal tale because the author makes such good
use of the Dead Sea Scrolls' mysteries and attaches to them
the romantic incidents of his novel.
Weinreb adds to his reputation as a novelist with this new
book. The mystery of the scrolls has given him a fascinating
subject. He has done well with it.