"Fill 'er Up.
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 55 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Offic..., Detroit, Mich. under act of Congress of March
187:.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Circulation Manager
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CP•06
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
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Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-seventh day of A dar I, 5719, Shabbat Shekalim, the following
Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentate•chal portion, Vayakhel, Ex. 35:1-38:20; 30:11-16. Prophetical portion, II Kings
12:1-17.
Licht Benshen, Friday, March 6, 6:10 p.m.
VOL. XXXV. No. 1
Page Four
March 6, 1959
Be Modified?
Will 'Separation' Doctrine
mutual understanding among diverse religious
Considerable interest is being shown
nationally in the assertions of Senator
John F. Kennedy, of Massachusetts, who is
seriously considered as a potential Demo-
cratic candidate for the Presidency, that
he believes firmly in the Constitutional
separation of church and state and that
he is opposed to the sending of an Amer-
ican Ambassador to the Vatican.
A Detroit Catholic Chancery spokes-
man is quoted as having said that 'corn-
- ments of Senator Kennedy as published in
Look Magazine have been made before by
him and are of a political nature." The
titular head of the Republican party in
Michigan, Paul Bagwell, said he would
not "get into an argument about religion."
Other political leaders refused to com-
ment on Senator Kennedy's statement.
Meanwhile, however, there appears to
be a movement afoot to modify the prin-
ciple of separation of church and state.
There are Jewish as well as non-Jewish
educators who believe that the teaching
of religious principles in our schools
would not be detrimental to our school
systems. A doctrine that has been the
topic for much discussion and for several
court cases, calling on several occasions
for rulings by the U. S. Supreme Court,
is threatened with revision.
* * *
Emphasis on the need to "encourage
religious studies because of the acknowl-
edged necessity of religion in the lives of
men" was placed in an address during
Brotherhood Week by Dr. Carroll V. New-
som, president of New York University,
who spoke during an NYU Interfaith
Council program. 6 D r. Newsom stated
that "a person can hardly profess to
be educated unless he has a thorough
apprehension of his cultural heritage and
its significance, and is prepared to provide
useful criticisms toward strengthening or
modifying that heritage."
"So far so good. In this statement he
offers encouragement not only to the reli-
gious elements in our communities, but
also to those who seek to strengthen other
elements in their heritage,—an idea that
may be interpreted as applicable to Jews
and Irish and Poles and peoples of other
nationality backgrounds, in addition to
those professing Judaism and Catholi-
cism as religions.
* * *
Dr. Newsom then proceeded to dis-
prove the views of those who insist upon
total adherence to the principle of separa-
tion, and he made these declarations:
.
"Every anthropologist, whether or not he
i_s a personal believer in a system of religion,
would give strong emphasis to the religious
element in the culture of any people, for he
knows from long and meticulous analysis
of many cultures that no component is more
influential in the beliefs and actions of men.
"Increasingly narrow interpretations of
the doctrine of the separation of church and
state are placing an intolerable handicap upon
the honest efforts of the most honest and
the most dedicated of educators. Even some
religious groups have been a party to move-
ments that can only be regarded as a dis-
service to their own ideals.
"The tendency to slight our religious heri-
tage in the educational program of this
country is especially unfortunate because the
reputation of the United States as the 'melt-
ing pot' of cultures is justified in a signifi-
cant way with respect to our religious ac-
complishments. Representatives of the major
religious faiths and innumerable smaller re-
ligious groups, including their own organized
segments, live side by side in a remarkable
spirit of harmony; discords are the exception,
not the rule. In fact, no other country has
achieved such coordination of effort and such
groups.
"The citizen of the United States has still
another and fundamental obligation to be in-
terested in the religious traditions, especially
the Judaeo-Christian, that dominated the
founders of this nation. The concept of de-
mocracy and its related notion of freedom are
much more complex than many persons sus-
pect. A democratic nation assumes mutual re-
spect of the rights of men; it assumes that
an individual is willing to subordinate his own
desires to the general good if there is con-
flict of interest. In brief, if democracy is to
be a success, a man does not permit selfish
interests to control the manner in which he
casts his ballot. Many of our forefathers be-
lieved that the doctrine of the brotherhood
of man, taught so fervently by the Jewish and
the Christian faiths, was sufficiently a part
of our culture that democracy would work. It
is understandable if some men and women
in this country have inner doubts, usually not
expressed, about the continuing validity of
.the democratic process among us — unless
there are major changes in attitudes and in
values on the part of large numbers of Amer-
icans. These are serious words, and, un-
fortunately, they differ only slightly from
Soviet warnings upon the unworkabality of
democracy. One must never assume that our
kind of government will prevail into perpetu-
ity irrespective of the tensions to which it is
subjected.
"The world of scholarship, as typified by
a university community, must also encourage
religious studies because of the acknowledged
necessity of religion in the lives of men.
"It should be apparent that no university
can continue to ignore religion. It will do
so at the risk of being superficial, of missing
those elements within our heritage that make
life meaningful, of not carrying out its obli-
gation to present and future generations."
* * *
We agree thoroughly with the eminent
president of New York University that
studies of religious ideas should be a part
of university curricula, and we thoroughly
endorse the idea that people must become
acquainted with the spiritual aspirations
of their fellow men. How far, however,
are we to go in advancing religious studies
in public schools, especially among the
very young?
Dr. Newsom does not stand alone in
his views. A number of prominent Ortho-
dox Jewish leaders hold similar opinions.
Dr. Will Herberg, eminent author and
evaluator of religious principles and de-
nominations, has endorsed emendations in
the church-state separation idea.
Nevertheless, we must take exception
to this viewpoint. We remain strongly op-
posed to any changes in the separation
doctrine. It is our firm belief that the
moment even very minor changes are
made in the established principles of
keeping church and state separated, they
may open an avenue for further intru-
sions by the church into the state, and
just as we would not wish to see our
Government become embroiled in re-
ligious matters, so, also, we hold fast to
the idea that any influence upon our
Government from a religious body would
be damaging to our democracy.
Senator Kennedy was wise to assert
himself on the issue; and Dr. Newsom
is correct in advocating religious studies
in schools of higher learning so that our
cultural heritages may continue to leave
their imprint upon future generations of
Americans. But religious influences
should be kept away from our public
schools, from Government spheres and
from all avenues wherein partisan relig-
ious influences may tend to weaken our
democratic structure.
A Guide to Traditions
Valuable Holiday Handbook
For Entire Jewish Family
A great many books have been published explaining our
festivals and the Sabbath. Some provide outlines for proper
observances, others are mere analyses of the festive days' origins
and meanings.
The newest volume dealing with our festivals, described as
a book for "understanding and enjoying the Sabbath and holi-
days," written by Rabbi Alex J. Goldman, of Philadelphia, and
published by Bloch under the title "A Handbook for the Jewish
Family," goes beyond the previous attempts at making our fes-
tivals understandable and observable.
Rabbi Goldman's book not only explains the Sabbath and
the festivals; it provides a complete program of activity for
each holiday — in the home, for all members of the family,
and in schools.
Take, as an example, his section dealing with Purim. It
starts with a poem, proceeds to explain the festival, and to
give its historical background. It goes on to show how Purim
is observed in the synagogue, tells about shalach monos and the
Purim seudah — the festival gift-giving custom and the traditional
feast; suggests the type of decorations for parties, tells how to
make Purim masks, includes several Purim songs, with . the
musical notes; offers an outline of Purim games, and concludes
with a Purim short story and two poems.
Note how the festival of Passover is treated, at much
greater lengths:
It, too, opens with a poem, proceeds to give an historical
analysis of the holiday, with special reference to its background,
Israel's struggle for freedom and the comparable American
libertarian beginnings; there follows the Passover narrative and
suggestions for matzah covers, a Seder centerpiece and a guide
in activating children for the Seder.
A poem by Jessie Sampter is followed by explanations of
what is needed for the Seder, suggestions for the Seder service
and then come actual portions of the Seder service, with the
Hebrew texts, the Four Questions, the Kiddush, with musical
notes and the major selections from the Hagadah. The most
important musical selections are included in this outline for the
Passover and the lengthy section concludes with two short stories.
In this fashion, all the other festivals are developed, and
the author's guidance provides valuable help for those desiring
to perfect their methods of observing the festivals and the
Sabbath.
"A Handbook for the Jewish Family" has the additional
merit of containing a 10-year calendar of Jewish festivals, sug-
gestions on how to acquire a knowledge of Hebrew reading,
prayers for children, the Benshen, a glossary of Jewish terms
and a list of suggested Hebrew names for children.
Rabbi Goldman has produced a good book. It will, indeed,
be helpful as a handbook for family observances of important
days on the Jewish calendar.
Israel-Published Magazine
Focus Has Many Features
Youth and Hechalutz Department of the World Zionist
Organization has issued another volume of "Focus" — a journal
for youth leaders — edited by I. Halevy-Levin.
This volume has many exceptionally valuable historical
analyses of Israeli and Zionist activities.
"Planned Production in the Kibbutzim" by Chayim Gvat'i
includes facts and figures about Israel's cooperative settlements.
It expresses the hope that the kibbutzim will utilize to the full
their skilled personnel, equipment and experience to 'become
models "of efficiency and productivity."
"Basic Writings in Zionism" by Israel Klausner describes
the writings of the pre-Herzlian Zionist books and brochures.
This article is illustrated with the photos of the precursors
of Herzl — Kalischer, Hess, Pinsker, Birnbaum, Ahad Ha-Am.
Other features in this book include poems and short stories
and a thought-provoking article, "Whither Jewish YOuth?,"
by Benzion Benshalom.