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., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35.
Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign S6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Otfic,, Detroit, Mich. under act of Congress of March
5, 187:
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Circulation Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-fourth day of Kislev, 5719, the following Scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Vayesheb, Gen. 37:1-40:23. Prophetical portion, Amos 2:6-3:8.
Light First Hanukah Candle on Saturday Night
Licht Benshen, Friday, Dec. 5, 4:43 p.m.
VOL. XXX1V. No. 14
Page Four
December 5, 1958
Hanukah Challenge--Courage on Many Fronts
On Hanukah we always speak of, -and over the conditions that were deplored
write about, courage — the courage of a in Mr. Marshall's letter. But the basic
people in its efforts to survive, the deter- need, always to strive to solve educational
mination of heroic Jews to defend their problems, and to seek the best advan-
kinsmen, as was the case in the battle for tages for our youth in training them for
freedom in Israel and in defense of Jew- a full understanding of Jewish values, is
ish lives in the ghettos of Europe.
as valid today as it was then.
* * *
There are other methods of showing
courage. There are manifestations of self-
Mr. Marshall had taken a strong posi-
respect and evidences of adherence to tion in defense of Hebrew and in behalf
dignity which are of the Spirit. ("Not by of its introduction as a language to be
might, nor by power, but by My spirit, taught in our universities. Repudiating
saith the Lord,"—Zechariah 4:6).
the stand that was taken, in 1908, by
We are thinking of the courage to up- Benno Lewinson, who then voted against
hold Jewish traditions, of the spiritual the establishment of a chair for the study
Herzl Press (250 W. 57th, N.Y. 19), the Herzl Institute's
strength to adhere to our heritage, of of the Hebrew language at the College publications department, is pursuing with remarkable vigor the
sufficient community interest to keep of the City of New York, Mr. Marshall issuance of a number of important books and pamphlets dealing
aloft the banner that stands for the basic said that "Hebrew is as much a part of with Israel, the Zionist movement, the history of Zionism and
a curriculum in an institution such as the life stories of outstanding personalities in the movement.
principles of Judaism.
As part of its efforts, it now has released the first volume
yours
as Latin and Greek, French, Ger-
Indeed, we are thinking of the cour- man and
of the "Herzl Year Book," which was edited by Dr. Raphael
Spanish,
botany
or
zoology
or
age that is needed, on Hanukah and any of the sciences."
Patai, with a preface by Dr. Emanuel Neumann.
throughout the year, to advance Jewish
The Year Book, according to Dr. Neumann, is intended as
In
behalf
of
Hebrew,
Mr.
Marshall
cultural needs, and to elevate our educa- wrote that "it has a cultural value which a forum "to stimulate scholarly work" in the related fields of
tional standards. It is our conviction that is fully as important as the subjects Israel and Zionism. He states that the Herzl Institute "will
an informed people is even better pre- enumerated. It is the language in which publish studies on all phases of the movement which transformed
the tone and tenor of Jewish life everywhere, and which became
pared to use its physical might in its own the
world's greatest ethical teachings, its the parent of the State of Israel," and he expresses the hope
defense, and that a cultured nation can most
enduring moral precepts, its most that "in response to it, colleges, universities, scholarly institu-
never be destroyed. Hasn't our cultural powerful
lessons in human conduct, have tions and individual researchers will devote more of their
and spiritual position been a reason for been uttered. It has a literature which attention to this relatively neglected area in modern Jewish
our survival?
began thirty centuries ago, and which is history."
* *
Several of the essays, of varying length, already have been
today as full of life, vigor and power as
And so, on Hanukah, we choose to almost any of the modern languages. It reviewed in The Jewish News, including the first, Oskar K.
speak of Jewish education and of the is not a dead tongue, but a living one. It Rabinowicz's "Herzl, Architect of the Balfour Declaration."
There are a number of articles that have great hiStorical
need for advancing our cultural needs as is spoken by thousands of cultured men merit.
For instance:
one of the major lessons of the great and women throughout the world."
A fascinating chapter in Zionist history is the account,
Maccalpean festival. It was for the preser-
It is to be remembered that this was by Josef Fraenkel, of the activities of Colonel Albert Edward
vation of Judaism and of the highest written in 1908 — 40 years before the Williamson Goldsmid, who was the model for George Eliot's
ethical values that were adhered to by establishment of Israel where Hebrew is "Daniel Deronda." In Colonel Goldsmid and Theodor Herzl,
observant people in Judaea that the the official language of an autonomous Fraenkel tells of the friendship between the two and of
Hasmoneans took to the sword. It is for State. It is also to be remembered that Goldsmid's keen devotion to the Zionist ideal.
In Dr. Patai's documentary record, "Herzl's Sinai Project,"
the preservation of the same principles at the time Mr. Marshall was an anti-
that we seek renewed inspiration on Zionist. But the principle of Jewish edu- are included important statements and exchanges of correspond-
ence and revelations of Herzl's negotiations with the Turkish
Hanukah.
cation, and the ideal strongly inherent Sultan.
The late Louis Marshall, who was one in him of encouraging the study of the
Several essays deal with Herzl's relationships with a num-
of American Jewry's ablest and most Hebrew language, was so strong that he ber of Jewish leaders.. Among the essays are: "Theodor Herzl
courageous leaders, frequently made his incorporated it in his devotion to the and Joseph S. Bloch," by Chaim Bloch; "Scholar and Visionary:
Correspondence Between Herzl and Ludwig Gumplowicz," by
appeals for the cause he was most deeply cause of Jewish education.
Werner J. Cahnman; "Theodor Herzel on Israel Stamps," by
* * *
interested in — the cause of Jewish edu-
Landin Blumkin; "Herzl and Aron Marcus," by Willy
cation—on Hanukah. He linked the ideal
We refer to these interesting develop- Helene "Herzl
and Freud," by Leo Goldhammer; "Herzl's Polish
with the festival. In 1920 he wrote to the ments of so many years ago in order to Aron,
Contacts," by N. M. Gelber.
late Dr. Kaufmann Kohler, at the time indicate that the cultural needs always
Israel Klausner is the author of an article on "Adam Rosen-
president of Hebrew Union College:
remain basic and that they are ideals to berg: One of the Earliest American Zionists." Erwin Rosen-
berger describes "The First Congress."
"The time has arrived when it is strive for.
Hanukah is, in our opinion, an ideal
Alex Bein, Herzl's biographer, is the author of "Some Early
necessary for American Jewry to grapple
Letters." There are excerpts from Herzl's early diary. A
with the problems that relate to the de- time to plead for higher cultural stan- Herzl
number of interesting illustrations add to the value of several
dards
and
for
the
advancement
of
the
velopment and preservation of Judaism
of the essays.
in our own beloved country. There exists cause of Jewish learning.
This historical volume merits the consideration that is in-
At
this
time,
when
we
speak
of
cour-
unfortunately, in many circles, indiffer-
vited for it among scholars. It deserves the interest of Jewish
age
of
action,
of
having
the
courage
of
ence . . . The fundamental difficulty lies
readers and especially of all those who seek information about
in the fact that, although we have been our convictions, we must emphasize anew a very fascinating chapter in Jewish history—that dealing with
most liberal in looking after our philan- the importance of placing higher values Herzlian and post-Herzlian Zionism.
thropic institutions, we have done com- on programming by Jewish groups. When
paratively little in the direction of pro- programs are planned by Jewish organ-
viding adequate religious instruction to izations, they should ' have Jewish con-
A vast collection of important books, brochures and
our children and adolescents. A terrify- tents. Programmatically, many of our
children's literature, in English and in Hebrew, has been -made
ing percentage of our young peple are Jewish communities have been total fail- available
the world office of the Keren Kayemeth
absolutely without the slightest religious ures in the past two decades. A better the Jewish by
National Fund—in Jerusalem.
understanding
must
be
acquired
by
pro-
training. They are growing up in total
In addition to attractive calendars, the JNF has released
ignorance of the noble traditions of our gram chairmen in the need to promote a Hebrew book. "Moladti"—"My Homeland"—with valuable
the
highest
values
in
seeking
support
for
faith, of its glorious history, of the con-
chronological data and numerous essays.
tributions of its sages to the thought of philanthropies and other causes.
"Make 'Em" is a splendid collection of drawings for crayon
The trend is in that direction. But it work for youngsters. This is entirely in English, with Hebrew
the world, and the Bible itself is to them
a sealed book. It will not suffice to is a slow trend and we must speed its phrases.
Another English book, with Hebrew terms is "Travel
lament over this untoward state of af- accomplishment.
Book", illustrated by Jossi Stern. This was published by the
fairs. We must not merely recognize the
We have faith that the spirit of Hanu- British
JNF. It teaches important Hebrew terms, while also
presence of the problem, but we must kah will, as it can, encourage us in the providing
information for travel in Israel and Israeli geo-
seek to solve it . . It is the concern of right direction — towards the highest graphical facts.
every Jew, and the effort should there- standards in Jewish education, towards
Another British JNF book for children, suitable for drawing
fore be made to bring about unity of an expanded Jewish cultural program, and for study, and for acquistion of additional Hebrew know-
purpose and of action, to the end that towards wiser choice of material for our ledge, is "Bible Story Book," illustrated by Walter Herz, who
also made the drawings for another British JNF volume, "Round
the universal obligation. of the duty of organizational programs. • •
the Year," which instructs children about the holidays on the
dealing effectively with the problem may
We plead for the attainment of such Jewish
calendar.
be recognized."
goals as we wish our community a very
"Picture Book" illustrated by Yehudit Yellin, also from
Perhaps there are improvements now pleasant Hanukah.
London, enriches the series.
Herzl Year Book: Valuable
Historical Data on Zionism
Educational JNF Publications