THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, April 17, 1959- 18
The Suburban Community
1
New York Suburban Study NBC's Agronsky
to Speak Sunday
Is Contrast to Local Scene at Emanu-El
By the Oak-Woodser
A survey of new Jewish
houses of worship, either now
constructed or being built in
the new York suburban area,
is not without its impact on our
local suburban scene.
The survey, conducted by
New York Times' staffer John
Wicklein, indicates, above all,
the need of the modern Jew to
identify as a Jew—and the syna-
gogue or temple offers the best
means of obtaining that identi-
fication.
The writer interviewed many
leaders from all three branches
of Judaism to obtain source
material for the story. The
thoughts expressed by Victor
Geller, a full-time organizer of
Jewish congregations through-
out the country as a representa-
tive of Yeshiva University, are
most interesting.
Geller makes the comment:
"In the city, men and women
pass the synagogues by and
never notice them. They're
surrounded by Yiddish news-
papers, kosher food—a com-
plete Jewish environment.
"But when they get to Syosset
(a New York suburb), there
are no Hebrew schools around
the corner to send the kids so
they stay in the Jewish tradi-
tion. And there are very few
grandmas and grandpas around
to help give them identity.
"Before you can stay away
from synagogue in the suburbs,"
Mr. Geller smiled, "you have
to build it."
In his facetious comments,
Geller indicates the more seri-
ous proposition that belonging
to a religious community in the
suburbs is a sociological experi-
ence more often than a religious
expression.
Often, he adds, a man joins a
congregation to preserve his
Jewish heritage, which seems
to be falling away from him.
Geller continues, he may join
out of a sense of common need
—a need for friends, a sense of
place and also for specific re-
ligious services, such as reli-
gious school for his children
and a place to worship on the
High Holy. Days.
Like most Jews who are
wrapped up in the total stream
of Jewish consciousness, Geller
does not believe the sociological
emphasis is good, but he admits
it as a fact.
The Times' survey goes on to
state that 68 Conservative syna-
gogues have been opened for
worship in suburban New York
since 1947; 57 Reform temples
have been opened since 1949;
and 35 Orthodox congregations
have begun, most of them com-
paratively recently.
gregation in Oak Park, and, at
present, only one Conservative.
Cong. Bnai Moshe, which is de-
dicating its chapel this week-
end, however, will mean a
second Conservative group.
In addition to Cong. Bnai
David in Southfield, which is
an Orthodox synagogue, Cong.
Shaarey Zedek is now conduct-
ing a building campaign to
erect a new Conservative syna-
gogue in that city. And, only
this week, the Livonia Jewish
Congregation announced its
formal establishment with the
election of officers and the
establishment of a constitution.
Only four of these syna-
gogues are newly-established,
the other six being trans-
planted from older areas of
the city. This indicates both
a continuation of member-
ship, PLUS the affiliation of
new members.
While we must look realisti-
cally at the same sociological
aspects of membership, as did
Mr. Geller, we also must note
that the large number of new
affiliations is not nearly as
great as is being witnessed in
New York.
Then, too, we have to rec-
ognize the vast programs of
adult study, the workshops,
seminars and cultural programs
that are not only being offered,
but are being participated in
by members of the suburban
community. . .
Still another factor that can-
not be overlooked in the total
picture of suburban identifica-
tion is the large number of
suburbanites who retain mem-
bership in Detroit, not subur-
ban, congregations. After all,
suburban developMent here is
within only a few miles of
established synagogues in the
Northwest area of the city.
"The United States in a
Changing World" is the topic of
NBC News commentator Martin
Agronsky, who will speak at
Temple Emanu-El, 14450 W. 10
Mile, Oak Park, at 8:15 p.m.,
Sunday.
The lecture is sponsored by
the Temple Emanu-El Men's
Club, of which
Al Weinberger
is president.
Agro n sky,
42, has been in
t h e reporting
field since
1936. Follow-
ing his gradu-
ation from
Rutgers Uni-
versity, he Agronsky
joined the staff of his uncle's
newspaper, the Palestine Post.
His uncle, of course, is Ger-
shon Agron, now the Mayor of
Jerusalem. The paper's name
has since been changed to the
Jerusalem Post, Israel's only
English-language daily.
From - there, Agronsky did
free lance work during the
Spanish Civil War, worked for
INS in Paris and became NBC's
correspondent in the Balkans in
1940.
He was with the British Army
in Libya, at Singapore when the
Japanese attacked, with Gem
Douglas MacArthur in Australia
and covered the RAF bombing
raids over Italy.
In 1953, Agronsky joined ABC
as its Washington correspon-
dent, spending 14 years with
that network covering election
campaigns and political conven-
tions, before re-joining NBC in
1957. '
In 1952, the news commenta-
tor won the George Foster Pea-
body Award for his "penetrat-
ing analyses of highly controver-
sial matters." He now conducts
several news shows for NBC,
Friedman to Head
including his "Look Here" por-
trait-by-interview program.
Livonia Synagogue- ,
Tickets for the Agronsky lec-
Newly-organized Livonia Jew- ture are available from mem-
ish Congregation, at a general bers of the Men's Club or at the
meeting of the group, ratified temple office, LI. 7-5015.
its constitution and elected offi-
cers for the year.
Serving as president will be
Jerry Friedman; while assisting
him are Harold Weiss, Gilbert
Jacobs and Robert Torgow, vice-
Ground-breaking ceremonies
presidents; Manny Bleeman, for recently-organized Young
treasurer; Lester Waldman and Israel of Greenfield, 15150 W.
Larry Fieler, secretaries; and 10 Mile, Oak Park, will take
Dr. Richard J. Bayles, Jerry Alt- place at 2:30 p.m., May 3, at
schul, Sam Rubens, Jack Oppen- the site of the future building.
heim, Norm Fellander and Sam
Representatives from the
Segil, trustees.
three existing Young Israel
Friday night services, at 8:30 branches will participate in the
p.m., and Sunday school classes program, as will leaders in city
are currently being held at the and state government circles.
Pierson School. Saturday morn-
Louis Harris, president of
ing services also are conducted the Greenfield synagogue,
Apart from the basic simi- in the homes of members.
stated this week that construc-
larity in the reasons for Jew-
The congregation has an act- tion on the building will begin
ish - identification, which to ive Sisterhood, which serves as the day after ground-breaking.
us is the significant part -of hostess at the onegei shabbat The first wing is expected to
the survey, the picture is quite which follow Friday services, be completed by Aug. 1, he
different here than exists in and a bowling league is being said.
the New York area.
established.
Along with the ground-break-
First, we must take into con-
ing exercises, the congregation,
sideration the greater numbers Emanu-El Confirmands under the guidance of member-
of the New York Jewish popu-
ship chairman David Tanzman,
lation (about 35 to 1) ; then we Set Dance, Floor Show has begun a drive for members
A dance and floor show will in the 10 Mile-Greenfield area.
should realize that congrega-
tions, especially Reform and be presented by the confirma-
Rabbi Samuel H. Prero, spir-
Conservative, in the New York tion class of Temple Emanu-El itual leader of Young Israel of
area, have smaller member- at 8 p.m., Saturday, in the Detroit, will spend this sabbath
ships, on the whole,,than here. temple social hall. Music will with members of the new con-
The population shift, too, be played by the Classics.
gregation. Services are present-
started here much later than
Entertainment has been pre- ly held at the 10 Mile Jewish
in New York—beginning with pared by members of the class, Center.
real intensity only some five with assistance from Mesdames
years ago. In that time, there Albert Stutz and Derek Cap- Radner to Speak in Pontiac
Leonard L. Radner, Detroit
have been three Orthodox syna- lane. Mrs. Harry Gordon is di-
gogues built in Oak Park, one rector, and choreography is by member of the national execu-
tive council of the Zionist Or-
in Southfield and ground for Mrs. Herschel Harris.
Tickets will be sold at the ganization of America, will
another Orthodox synagogue in
Oak Park will be broken next door. Prizes will be awarded. speak at sabbath eve services
Proceeds will be used for a of Cong. Beth Israel, 143 Onei-
month.
da, Pontiac, at 9 p.m., today._
There is only one Reform con- class gift to the temple.
New Young Israel
to Break Ground
Arolsen Shuns Waffen SS Rally Bid
LONDON, (WJA)—The Fed-
eral rally of former members of
the German Waffen SS, an ex-
treme right-wing organization,
will not be held in Arolsen near
Kassel, the World Jewish Con-
gress Information Department
learns, but has been moved a
few miles away to the neighbor-
ing town of Mengeringhausen,
where the organization is due
to convene in June.
The plan to meet at Arolsen
was abandoned following pro-
tests by the local mayor, Karl
Emde, the Arolsen Institute for
foreign students and other
bodies.
It had been pointed out in
these protests that Arolsen was
still housing evidence of the
International Red. Cross-operat-
ed International Tracing Serv-
ice on the fate of some 200r
000 Nazi victims, held in con-
centration camps, of whom
many millions had died during
the war and a large number
after the cessation of hostili-
ties.
It is not known so far whethp
er the local authorities of Men-
geringhausen have granted per-
mission for the SS rally to be
held there.
GOLDSTEIN & EIZELMAN
Kosher Meats and Poultry
( Formerly of Dexter nr. Webb)
NOW IN OAK PARK
To Serve You With the
Finest Meats and Poultry-
22153 Coolidge, So. of 9 Mile Rd.
WE DELIVER — LI 7-4122
Abe Goldstein, Benjamin Eizelman
CONG. BNAI DAVID
24350 SOUTHFIELD RD. at 91/2 MILE
Cordially invites
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF DETROIT AND
SUBURBS TO TRADITIONAL PASSOVER
SERVICES
Thursday and Friday, April 23 and 24
Wednesday and Thursday, April 29 and 30
8:30 A.M. until Noon
Sermons by Rabbi Hayim Donin
Liturgy by Cantor Hyman J. Adler,
assisted by 16 Voice Bnai DaVid Choir
For inquiries as to:
Membership, Religious School, Adult Study Classes,
Sisterhood, Men's Club, Boy Scouts, Youth Group,
Minyan Club and facilities for Bar Mitzvah, Wedding
and Social Events
Phone EL 6-8210
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