Purely Commentary Thousands Tour New Jewish Center; Impressive
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
20th Anniversary of Education Association
When the American Association for Jewish Education con-
venes in New York this week, special interest will be focused
on the results of the survey of Jewish educational standards
conducted in a number of cities, including Detroit.
Since the formation of ,the association 20 years ago, new
standards have been set in cultural activities conducted by
American Jewry.. The association has devoted itself diligently
to the task of evaluating Jewish educational needs, of guiding
communities towards higher goals in the conduct of our Jewish
schools, of striving for maximum results even under the handi-
caps from which many communities are suffering for lack of
teachers or adequate buildings or sufficient funds or all three.
The Jewish community of Detroit is especially anxious to
hear the results of the survey conducted here by representatives
of the American Association for Jewish Education. Our commun-
ity has been striving seriously towards the attainment of the
best results from our rapidly-expanding school system. Whatever
new suggestions may come forth from those who have surveyed
our problems, our needs and our aspirations will be all to the
good, and we have no doubt that those who are responsible for
the conduct of our schools will do their utmost to facilitate the
attainment of newly-proposed goals.
We join in congratulating the American Association for
Jewish Education on its 20th anniversary. It has served Ameri-
can Jewry well and we are confident that it will continue to
render even greater services in the years to come.
Philip M. Klutznick's Message Heard in Jerusalem
Program Marks Building's Official Dedication
More than 4,000 people toured
the new Jewish Community
Center, on Meyers and Curtis,
Sunday, and joined in acclaim-
ing the most modern and larg-
est structure of its kind in the
-quntry.
At the formal dedication pro-
gram, which took place from
2:30 to 4 p.m., 650 people filled
the Aaron DeRoy Theater and
an overflow audience of an-
other 600 watched the program
over closed-circuit TV in the
auditorium opposite the theater.
Governor Williams, Mayor
Miriani and heads of local so-
cial service agencies joined
with Center officials in marking
the occasion.
The Governor declared that
"the services this building
can perform for people" rep-
resents a great spiritual crea-
tion for the community. He
congratulated t h e Jewish
community "with warmth in
my heart," and congratulated
the Jewish Center for "the
inspiration you gave to all."
Philip M. Klutznick, the retiring president of Bnai Brith,
proved his genius as a Jewish leader in the remarkable address
he delivered early this week on the occasion of the official
In the course of • his brief ad-
opening of the sessions of the Bnai Brith convention in Jerusalem.
He has once again- evinced a splendid understanding of Jewish dress, Governor Williams paid
values, a realization of Jewry's position in and outside of Israel tribute to the memory of Fred
and an appreciation of the needs that are relevant to Jewish M. Butzel who, he said, "was a
survival as well as to inter-community cooperation by Jews. household word in my home."
At the outset, Klutznick admonished the Israelis: "Do not He recalled that the late Mr.
detract from our sympathy and support because we do not live Butzel and his father worked
among you. . . . Suffice it that the hearts of Jews everywhere together in a number of enter-
beat in sympathy with the just ambitions of a nation prises.
Mayor Miriani, in the ad-
redeemed. . . -." - • - - • -
`Turing our life," he affirmed, "and into the distant future, dress that followed the Gover-
whether we be Zionists or not, much of what we conscientiously nor's, elaborated on the Butzel-
undertake as Jews will - be colored by our relationship to .Israel." Williams cooperative commun-
He then proceeded to outline the categories of Jews who ity efforts and recalled that the
live outside Israel. He spoke of the "law of return" as "one of Governor's father, Harry Wil-
the great moral justifications for Israel's statehood," but never- liams, was active with Mr. But-
theless warned that aa.:110ise•._-and.-:Unproductive centure zel in community planning pro-
for Israel to anticipate any :didtitegratiOn of Jewish life in free grams. "It was an art to watch
them go over budgets," he said
lands, such as my own, as a boon to large-scale aliyah."
"The Center is a milestone in
It took courage to say these things, but they needed to be
the cutural history of Detroit,"
said—and Klutznick stated his case with great dignity.
He made the additional important appeal that "we restore Mayor Miriani said. "This is a
dignity to the word Diaspora by recognizing there is no pattern far-reaching event, and it is
or justified authority for preaching it as synonymous with with pride that we look to a
something greatly inferior." He added: "The DiaspOra must be building of this kind and its
judged by its people, their work and their deVotion to the Jewish character. The two million De-
mission, and not by its geOgraphy." ThiS is .solind statesmanship. troiters who make up our city
join with me in congratulating
It is a- realistic defense of the position of Jews - outside Israel.
His concluding remarks also contained a great. message:
`It is a distressing truth that we Jews of the Diaspora-seem
Pratt Raised to
to bO seizing upon psychological crutches in the_ discharge of
our
negligence
It
is
a
mark
of
Ministerial Post
our traditional responsibilities.
when high government officials of Israel are compelled to
forego important responsibilities of statecraft and travel half-
way across the world to remind us of our simple duty.
"To Israel and to ourselves, such responsibilities as the
migration of Jews must provoke the kind of self-motivation
and idigenous ability to cope with a challenge that historically
has been the joy of every Jew to meet, whether it happens in
Israel or elsewhere.
"A binding and permanent bond among us should be the
language of our people, Hebrew. Even as the sabra learns
English and French, so it must become a matter of personal
interest for every Jew to master modern Hebrew. This must
be the language of our common cultural attributes. We must
make it unfashionable, as well as unthinkable, for JeWs such
as myself to lack a limited understanding of conversational
Hebrew-. This is a mission which can encourage the very best
in mutuality and understanding among us. . . ." ,
This is a valued message by a valued public servant. But
Dr. Nahum. Goldmann does not agree with Klutznick's viewpoints
relative to Jewry's securities in the Diaspora. We often share
Dr. Goldmann's views that the assimilationist threats represent
grave dangers to world Jewry. But we recognize the importance
of having in our midst personalities who" have optimistic faith
Israel's Foreign Minister
and confidence in our strength as an entity. Even in their possible
Golda Meir announced in Je-
unrealism such men of faith serve a great purpose in - our struggle rusalem last week the promo-
for retention of Jewry's traditional purposes. Klutznick has lent
tion of SIMCHA PRATT, Is-
prestige to Bnai Brith. His understanding of Jewish life has
rael Consul General in New
earned for him continuing high posts in Jewish life after he
York, to the rank of Minister
will have retired from Bnai Brith leadership.
the Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion, spoke of the partner.
ship in the establishment of
the Center in which the
Greater Detroit Building
Fund, the Torch Fund, the
United Foundation and the
Jewish Welfare Federation
have played important roles.
"Now, through united effort,
in the completed structure,
we are all members together
in a great city club for all,"
he said.
Milford Pregerson, president
of the Jewish Family and Chil-
dren's Service which is now
housed in a building adjoining
the new Center, spoke in behalf
of his organization and ex-
pressed joy over the attainment
of a new goal for JFCS.
Andrew Barr, president of
United Community Services,
greeted the gathering. Max J.
Zivian, a former chairman of
the Federation capital needs
committee, spoke as an officer
of the Metropolitan Detroit
Building Fund.
The guest speaker, Irving Ed-
ison, of St. Louis, former pres-
ident of the National Jewish
Welfare Board and now presi-
dent of the World Federation
of YMHAs and Jewish Com-
munity Centers, was introduced
by Samuel H. Rubiner, a na-
tional vice-president of JWB.
.
Edison spoke of the "per-
sonal and group integrity rep-
resented in the name Jewish
Community Center. He
brought the greetings of the
4111M. MM. 411 ■ 0
II I
-
Henry Edward Schultz, chairman of Bnai Brith's Anti-
Defamation League, made the statement in Jerusalem that "the
United States and Israel represent two radically different, but
happily successful, solutions to the problem of anti-Semitism;
that the two solutions were made possible because both countries
made "a clean break-away" from European institutions which
have "brought Jews so much misery, tragedy and bloodshed."
Schultz's viewpoint undoubtedly will please the Israelis and
must flatter Jews who live in democratic countries. The ADL
chief's viewpoint is based on the assumption that freedom is
possible wherever and whenever there are political and economic
freedoms. Insofar as Israel's role is concerned, credit must he
given, in the battle on anti-Semitism, to the dignity and pride
that has been acquired by Jews everywhere as a result of the
rise of the Palestinian Jewish community to political autonomy
Plenipotentiary.
Boston Jewish Centers
Merge; Plan $400,000 Gym
BOSTON (JTA)—Two of the
nation's oldest Jewish recrea-
tion centers have been merged
into the Boston YMHA-Hecht
House, and will build a $400,-
000 gymnasium in Dorchester.
The gymnasium will be named
the Lieutenant Joseph P. Ken-
nedy, Jr., Memorial Gymnasium
in honor of the World War II
hero. It was made possible by
gifts from the Joseph P. Ken-
the Center, who presided at the
program, - expressed pride in
the attained goal of having
completed the largest Jewish
Center in existence.
The opening and • closing
prayers were given by Rabbis
Richard Hertz and Morris
Adler.
A feature of the program
was the performance of Julius'
Chajes' "142nd Psalm" by the
Jewish Center Symphony Or-
chestra, the Center Chorus and
the Central Woodward Chris-
tian Church Choir whose coun-
terpart participated in the dedi-
cation of the Aaron DeRoy
Building on Woodward Avenue
20 years ago.
Dean Taylor and Alexander
Haddar were soloists.
Chajes' impressive composi-
tion, which won enthusiactic ac-
claim, was dedicated to the
memory of Sidney J. Allen,
Hyman C. Broder, Fred M. But-
zel, Aaron DeRoy, Judge Harry
B. Keidan, Julian Krolik, Henry
Meyers, Milford Stern and Hen-
ry Wineman.
The Center Orchestra and the
choirs also played and sang the
national anthems.
••• ■ • 0411111.3 41111.1.1i0 ••=141 MI111.4 ■ 41. ■4 I ■ =114 I
0.1.1.0.11•• 011101M OEN I 411M. 0 III&
Boris Smolar's
Between : You
.
Anti SemitiC Problem Analyzed in Jerusalem
JWB and the world federa-
tion of Jewish Centers and
declared that "we can be
proud that we have given this
building to this generation."
He said the building will be a
home of joy for our people.
"You have built for the on-
coming • generation and for
the human personality which
rests on our hope for justice
and peace," he said.
Samuel Frankel, president of
you on this very historic occa-
sion."
Max M. Fisher, president of
co.
I
• • • an-d Me
(Copyright, 1959
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Jewish Leadership
Herbert B. Ehrmann, the new president of the American
Jewish Committee, has won the hearts of the representatives of
the American Jewish press with whom he met for the first time
this week . . . There was a hearty warmth in his views on
matters concerning Jewish life in this country, in Israel and in
other countries . . And the journalists parted with him with
a feeling that the American Jewish Committee — always under
excellent leadership — is now in the hands of a man who is as
deeply Jewish as he is American. . . . The son of an immi-
grant family from Germany, he was brought up in Louisville,
Ky., in an atmosphere which .led him to cherish Jewish heritage
no less than American ideals . . . In this spirit he spent his
student years at Harvard, where he studied law and was active
in the Menorah student organization . . . He has been active
in civic affairs and Jewish organizational life in Boston where
he has been residing since his admission to the bar . .. He
rabbi, after giving him
brought up his son to become a Un
iversity
a general education at Harvard
University . . . He has quite
a rich record as a leader in Jewish and non-sectarian communal
affairs, and is passionately devoted to the protection of human
rights, as is evidenced by the fact that he was counsel for Sacco
and Vanzetti . . . . But what impressed the journalists most •
was the clarity, •simplicity and warmth with which he presented
his • views -on various Jewish problems both in this country and
abroad . . . American_ Jewry will hear quite a lot about him
during his term. of presidency, and the American Jewish Com-
mittee will certainly win many new friends under his leadership.
Middle East Affairs
-
The present situation in the Middle East is now being
watched by . •everyone interested in world peace . . . Soviet
manipulations in the Arab countries and the rift which has now
openlY developed between Iraq and Egypt are attracting world-
wide attention . . . Those who argued that the creation of
Israel led to instability in the Middle East no longer advance
this argument . . . They realize now that Israel is practically
the only stable country in the Middle East and that the instab-
ility in the area is due primarily to rivalries between the Arab
countries themselves . . They also realize that if not for
Israel, Col. Nasser — in his ambition to become the ruler of all
Arab countries — would have swallowed up Jordan long ago
. . Thus the present government of Jordan has much to be
thankful for to Israel for its independent existence . . . The pre-
carious position of Jordan vis-a-vis Nasserism, as well as the
major developments in that territory from antiquity till today,
are ably presented in "Jordan: A State of Tension," published
by the Council for Middle Eastern Affairs . .. Its author Ben-
jamin Shwadron, an expert on the Middle East, presents a vivid
picture of the power politics. in the .Arab.world and the conflicts