The Suburban Community
Compromise and Chauvinism
and the Future of Orthodoxy
Jacobs Elected
to Pontiac Posts
1
Mishkan Israel Planning Banquet
The first banquet to be held
at recently-opened Mishkan Is-
rael Synagogue, in Oak Park,
will take place at 6:30 p.m.,
June 30. All members, worship-
ers and friends are invited to
attend.
The congregation, which has
been a leading force in the tra-
ditional Jewish community for
nearly 50 years, was previously
located at Blaine and Linwood
for 32 years.
Much of its progress is at-
tributed to Rabbi Isaac Stoll-
man, currently president of the
Religious Zionist Organization
of America and spiritual leader
of the congregation.
The banquet will serve to
honor Abraham Shainak, for
many years president and now
honorary president of the syn-
agogue, and Jacob Bacow, treas-
urer, through whose efforts the
congregation re-established it-
self in Oak Park.
Rabbi Stollman will deliver
the major address at the ban-
quet,
Nathan Wolok is chairman of
the dinner committee, with res-
ervations being handled by Isi-
dore osnick and Phillip Stoll-
man. Committee members are
Seidel Ravin, Julius Hechtman,
Max Tyner, Sheldon Saltzman,
Lazar Hammes, Norman Lopof-
sky and Nick Gonte.
Charles Jacobs this week at-
tained the presidency of two
ord, it is only in this short of the Pontiac Jewish commu-
By the Oak-Woodser
OPEN SUNDAY 11-3
Assuming that Baruch Lit- span of years (and Mr. Litvin nity's leading organizations. He
yin's motives were not personal, is in his 70's) that he became was re-elected to head Cong.
but that he spent the last five conscious of his Jewishness.
Bnai Israel at that synagogue's
Like many who newly find annual meeting, and was also
years fighting for cause he
their
faith,
after
searching
for
thought was for the good of
voted into the
highest office
the Orthodox Jewish commun- many years, it would appear as
of Pontiac's
ity, one cannot help admire the if Mr. Litvin was deeply moved
Lightweight
by the religious fulfillment of-
only Bnai
man's tenacity.
fered
by
the
Judaism
he
pre-
However, one might question,
Brith lodge.
Jacobs, who
as many people now do, Mr. viously had ignored.
Wash 'n' Wear
Being a scholar, Mr. Litvin
will be serv-
Litvin's wisdom in wishing to
ing his fourth
force a court decision prohib- studied — the Torah, the Tal-
term in the
iting mixed seating (voted this mud, the Commentaries, all the
Featherweight
Bnai Israel
month unanimously by the religious literature that is re-
presidency,
Michigan Supreme Court) at quired of any Jew, and chauvin-
will be assist-
Cong. Beth Tefilas Moses, in istically he was to be guided
by every word he read.
ed by the f ol-
Mt. Clemens.
And to Mr. Litvin's think-
lowing:
The spiritual leader of the
Jacobs
ing, there is no compromise
Synagogue, Rabbi Louis Kauf-
Milton Ressler, Melvin Gold-
with the Law — either writ- man and Fred Niedelson, vice-
man, says that when he be-
For All Occasions
ten or oral.
came rabbi 10 years ago, he
Perfect Individual Fitting
presidents; Ben Smith and Ed-
To
Rabbi
Kaufman,
raised
found that seating took care
ward Avadenka, secretaries;
and educated in he Orthodox and Alvin Jacobson, treasurer.
of itself. Some couples pre-
DRIVING LESSONS
tradition, the matter of mixed
ferred to sit together; others
Morris Bletstein, Marvin Fin-
LESSON $2 5
seating was a hot potato that kelstein and Sol Newhouse were
steeped in long-time tradition
COURSE .0
was
much
better
overlooked
sat apart from each other,
elected to the board. They will
Dual Controls
Clothiers and Cleaners
than
made
issue
of,
no
matter
either on the main floor or
No Permit Needed to Start
serve with Morris Blumeno,
what might be his personal Norman Blumeno, Charles Ei-
with the women seated in
Professional Instructors
22155 COOLIDGE
feelings.
Day or Evening
the balcony and the men on
lender, Lazarus Hershovitz, Jo-
So. of 9 Mile Rd.
For a rabbi usually knows seph Jacobson, Morris Kamp-
Appointments
the main floor.
FREE PICKUP & DELIVERY
and
considers
the
human
ele-
Safeway Driver Training
Coming from an Orthodox
ner, Meyer Simon and David
background and being a recog- ment, and, in the instance of Utley, who remain on the
LI 7-1511
LI 2-6742
TO 9-7600
nized member of national Orth- mixed seating, Rabbi Kaufman board.
odox rabbinical movements, knew that synagogues in com-
Rabbi Israel Goodman is spir-
Rabbi Kaufman was surprised munities all over the country itual leader of Cong. Bnai Is-
had
completely
lost
their
Ortho-
to•find the seating arrangement
dox affiliation over the same rael.
as it was.
Serving with Jacobs in Bnai
Now Accepting Applications for
He asked only one question, matter, turning mostly to Con-
Brith
office will be Eugene Ket-
servatism.
however: "How long has this
Is it better to have half a loaf chell and Alvin Jacobson, vice-
been the practice?" The rabbi
was told that separate seating than none? Baruch Litvin thinks presidents; Jerome Weiss and
had not been enforced for at otherwise. According to the Paul Mandell, secretaries; Sam
TUESDAY EVENINGS
least six or seven* years and letter of the law, regardless Levin, treasurer; John Roths-
child, warden; Fred Niedelson,
of
what
else
a
synagogue
offers
probably longer.
Sherman Birnkrant and David
So, it would appear. from in the way of ritual and tradi-
Rabbi Kaufman's statement tion, there is no such institu- Utley, trustees; and Mitchell L.
Bacow, retiring preSident, as
that optional seating — if we tion that can call itself Ortho-
chaplain.
can use that term to indicate dox if it has mixed seating.
Bowling at
Depending
upon
his
personal
that there were no pre-arranged
methods to seat men and wo- feelings, the by-stander, who 19th Jewish Member Wins
men and that they sat where cannot help but be partial to Seat in House of Commons
they would — has been in exist- one or the other viewpoint, de-
LONDON (JTA)—J. Mendel-
Telephone
ence for at least 16. years and cides who is right in his own son became the 19th Jewish
MARTY OLSHANSKY
DAVE
WEISBERG
-
mind. But can we say actually member of the House of Com-
probably closer to 20 years.
Diamond 1-5899
Lincoln 2-3345
Why, all of a sudden the de- that either is wrong in the mons, after winning the Labor
NO DEMITS ELIGIBLE
sire to change — to insist on eyes of God? Not definitely. Party's seat in by-elections in
rigid enforcement of separate Not with complete assurance. Penistone, Yorkshire.
But one thing would appear
seating?
Mr. Litvin, who took it upon certain, judging from the tern-
himself to organize and lead perment of present-day Ortho-
the campaign for strict separa- dox Jewry and most of its
tion of men and women, is a younger spiritual leaders.
fairly new (under 10 years)
If the practice of banning
member of the Mt. Clemens
mixed seating is permitted,
synagogue. As a matter of rec- especially in the larger cities,
For the school year 1959-60, beginning September 9th
there will be a departure
from Orthodox Judaism that
in the
will make the past genera-
tion's vast rejection of strict
Orthodoxy seem infinitesimal.
Enjoy this
Maybe, Mr. Litvin, you have
won the battle, but for sure you
Delicious
19350 Greenfield Road
will lose the war. We still like
the idea of half a loaf.
Dessert Treat
Special For
FATHER'S DAY
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RADOM TAILORS
7
Israel Lodge
B'nai B'rith
1959-1960 BOWLING SEASON
Early League — 7:00 p.m.
Late League — 9:30 p.m.
Oak Park Lanes — Oak Park
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o
SHOLEM ALEICHEM SCHOOL AND NURSERY
Center Plans Summer
Fun for Pre-Schoolers
Summer play group for . pre-
school boys and girls at the
Ten Mile branch of the Jewish
Community Center, 15110 W.
10 Mile, Oak Park, is open
to both members and non-
members, it was announced.
The play group, which will
feature both outdoor and in-
door activities in morning and
afternoon sessions, is under
the supervision of trained
nursery personnel.
Bnai David Sisterhood's
New Board Sets Luncheon
Luncheon will be served at a
board meeting of Bnai David
Sisterhood on Monday after-
noon, in the synagogue. Host-
esses will be Mesdames Morris
Simon, Meyer Berman, Louis
Get it at your
favorite Super Market Beigler and Joseph Greenberg.
Mrs. Simon, the newly-elected
Carry-Out Food Store
president, will outline plans for
or Restaurant
the coming year.
GRADE SCHOOL
NURSERY
Offers an integrated and compre-
hensive program for the educa-
tion of Jewish children
Afternoon session, 1 - 3 :30
p.m.
Attendance and instruction
according to ages of learners:
Program follows latest de-
velopments in Nursery in-
struction.
5-6 years - once weekly - 2
hours
7-8 years - twice weekly - 4
hours
9-13 years - thrice weekly -
6 hours
Children exposed to Jewish
atmosphere
Hebrew and Yiddish songs
Stories and Holidays
.
Qualified staff, under the direction of Moishe Haar Transpor-
tation provided for both Grade School and Nursery. For further
information and literature, call VE 8-7440.