"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 tt*Atfl . • • CP•06 FRANK SIMONS City Editor 6.(4.. , ..;;; 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.