00

cn
r-t

A Hero Away from Home .

Litvan Bears Wrath of Mt. Clemens e Jewry

•

"Does the Jew who is still
Shavuot passed without - inci- to submit the question to "an ligious services.
By FRANK SIMONS
"Can it really be derived loyal to the great spiritual leg-
Baruch Litvin this week dent, as synagogue officials important rabbinical court" for that the mingling of sexes in acy of our people have to stand
emerged paradoxically both as made no attempt to force sepa- arbitration likewise was re- the synagogue detracts from by and watch (his heritage)
>7; the hero and villain of a three- rate seating or encourage mixed jected.
rd
"All they were willing to ac- one's concentration of prayer? being eroded by the changing
act tragedy that has been visited seating. According to Rabbi
cept,"
Litvin adds, "was arbitra- It follows that the prohibition drifts of current thought?" Lit-
;.T.4 upon the Michigan Jewish com- Louis Kaufman, spiritual leader,
vin asks.
the congregation has not yet tion by a lay group, which obvi- of mixed seating in the syna-
munity.
gogue is a fundamental part
His answer is that "Jewish
outly
could
not
rule
on
the
received
the
official
court
de-
The real-life drama, which
of our traditional order of law has never been subject to
religious'
questions
involved.
cree.
has had a sensational four-year
The rabbi stated that, at serv- There was therefore no choice worship and cannot be set these changes; instead, it has
run at Cong. Beth Tefilas Moses,
aside as out-dated or old- sought to set up timeless bea-
in Mt. Clemens, should have ices on Shavuot, there were bUt to protect the permanent fashioned."
cons to guide the Jewish com-
had its final curtain last week men and women seated sepa- - wishes of the congregation by
munity through all changes."
having
the
civil
courts
define
In
seeking
the
answer
to
his
rately
on
the
main
floor;
other
2,
following
a
critique
by
the
Mich-
-1
second
question,
Litvin
com-
to
what
purposes
the
property
His statement concludes with
couples
sat
together;
some
igan State Supreme Court, but
women preferred the balcony of the congregation was dedi- ments on the "thousands of an appeal to members of the
•0., the epilogue is still being pre- while
their menfolk worshiped cated. Needless to say, this was years of tradition that have Mt. Clemens congregation who
sented.
been an ennobling force for favored mixed seating "to be-
a matter of last resort. . . ."
The issue over mixed seating in the main floor pews.
our people," adding that reform come aware of the deeper impli-
Rabbi
Kaufman
said
that
this
However,
when
Litvin's
at
the
Mt.
Clemens
synagogue—
g
:. E.,
(from outside the cations of the traditional Jewish
first prevented by injunction, arrangement of optional seating comments were read to mem- movements
community)
have been intro- character of their synagogue
bers
of
the
synagogue
board
was
as
he
found
it
when
he
took
• c:z but later reversed in Circuit
Court—was supposed to have over the spiritual ministrations and Rabbi Kaufman, there duced but "have been diverted and reconcile themselves to it."
the main stream of Jewish
He believes that the deci.-
been resolved by the Supreme of the synagogue some ten years appeared to be another ver- from
history. -
sion of the story.
-• E Court's unanimous decision, ago.
sion of the Supreme Court
"In
our
time,
too,
we
notice
Although trained as an Or-
According to Rabbi Kaufman,
"will lead to a general—even
which ruled against mixing of
thodox rabbi, he claiMs that an address actually was deliv- efforts to modify historical tra- a nationwide—re-thinking of
the sexes.
But, instead, it appears as if he had studiously overlooked ered by Rabbi Hollander at a dition, and these efforts," Litvin all the issues involved: the
the war of words will continue, the matter of seating because combined meeting of the syna- continues, "have met with par- fundamental character of the
as will the bitter animosities of its known repercussions gogue's committee on mixed tial success because of the fail- historical insistence on sepa-
of traditional Jewish edu- rate seating and the need for
that have been engendered and also because he felt there seating and members - of the ure
cation adequately to relate the traditional Jewish standards
among members of the congre- were more important affairs board of trustees.
Rabbi Kaufman added that relevance and meaningfulness as against the likening of
in the life of a congregation
gation.
every self-styled religious in-
with which to be concerned.
Rabbi Hollander had been in- of the Jewish heritage."
In Detroit, traditional Jew-
He challenges whether "sub-
Litvin, meanwhile, sent to vited to come to town earlier stitute religious teachings, novator.
_ ish circles will roll out the
red carpet for Litvin, who, The Jewish News a 1,000-word or later when it• would be pos- which may be most inspiring,
"It is deeply to be regretted
- with his wife, will be hon- "statement of clarification," in sible for the entire congrega- are any longer the historical that such a high price had to be
tion
to
hear
his
message;
how-
. ored at a banquet being given which he presents the back-
Judaism as it has been prac- paid to achieve this, but per-
by rabbis and lay leaders at ground of "our side" of the ever, he could not arrange his ticed for untold generations and haps it required a major and
schedule accordingly.
court litigation.
Rainbow. Terrace.
painful crisis to bring about
Rabbi Wohlgelernter, the Mt. is still clearly defined in rab- historical revaluation."
Enclosed with his message
At that time, words of praise
binic literature.
con-
Clemens
spiritual
leader
and appreciation will be heaped was another statement of 500 tinued, was in attendance at a
upon Litvin "for his untiring words from Rabbi Emanuel
meeting of the congre-
efforts on behalf of the sacred- Rackman, president of the Rab- different
gation.
Although
there was a
ness and integrity of the tradi- binical Council of America, speaker invited, representing
tional Jewish synagogue." It commending Litvin's scholar- the Conservative approach to
was Litvin who, for four years, ship and explaining the signifi- the mixed seating question,
carried the burden of the case cance of separate seating.
Rabbi Wohlgelernter had been
for senarate seating through
His comments will be used invited by Litvin personally to
the courts.
as a foreward in a forthcoming
Leading members of the 550-page book written by Litvin attend.
Told in advance that there
Council of Orthodox Rabbis and under the title of "The Sanctity
a speaker and that he would
prominent spokesmen from the of the . Synagogue," being pub- was
be invited to address the
Orthodox community will ad- lished in Hebrew and English not
group that night, Rabbi Wohl-
dress the gathering.
by the Spero Foundation in gelernter came to the meeting
Meanwhile, on Litvin's home Cleveland, 0.
anyway. He did not speak, but
grounds, officers and boar d
Rabbi Backman, in his state-
members of Cong. Beth Tefilas ment, said that "the fundamen- was invited to attend at another
Moses met this week to de- tal issue is whether the Divine time, Rabbi Kaufman said. He
n
termine the future of the syna- sanctity of Jewish law itself never
was
able to return, the
con cluded.
gogue and their participation shall prevail in the synagogue rabbi
A member of the board of
in it.
and whether Jewish law shall trustees of Beth Tefilas Moses
Although outwardly there was be interpreted by laymen ig- advances
claim that arbitra-
an aura of serenity and calm- norant of the law and devoid tion was the
sought through the
ness, it appeared obvious that of such qualification and author- Jewish Community
Council of
there is deep resentment against ity."
Metropolitan
Detroit
(the lay
Litvin, and there are many
Litvin's own comments are
questions yet to be answered an answer to three questions organization Litvin refers to).
It was suggested that each
before any decision is made he poses to himself: I. Why
side select three rabbis to
regarding the future of the should anyone seek to per-
represent its approach, with
synagogue and the Mt. Clemens petuate the separation of men
one rabbi, to be agreed upon
community.
and women; 2. Why should
by both parties, to serve as
not a congregation have the
mediator. This offer was re-
right, by democratic majority
jected by Litvin.
decision to change such a
That the case was brought to
practice; and 3. Why, even if
we agree that a congregation court, however, gives evidence
does not have this right, does of Litvin's strong feelings on
this justify anybody taking the subject of mixed seating.
the matter to the civil These he brings out in his state-
ment.
courts?"
Glossing over the decision
The answers that Litvin sup-
rendered by the Michigan Su-
plies
to
the
first
two
questions
. . . don't settle for less
and his conclusions will un- preme Court and in similar
than Leader Quality!
doubtedly receive much com- decrees by the courts of other
Loose rugs cleaned on
ment and criticism—as well as states, Litvin claims that "there
both sides in our mod-
commendation from his Ortho- is a colossal lack of knowledge
and misunderstanding of our
BOYS and GIRLS AGES 5-15
ern plant. Famous
dox supporters.
On the third point, however, great religious heritage."
Bigelow Karpet Kare
He says that separation of
there is a difference of opinion
makes your wall - to-
the
sexes "has nothing at all to
as
to
the
actual
cause
of
the
w a 11 carpeting stay
mixed seating case being tried do with any fancied disregard
cleaner, brighter long-
for women or a belief in their
in court.
er. Also, Leader - Dri
Litvin states that "every ef- inferiority. What is at stake is
me tho d for wall-to-
fort was made to enlighten the the meaning of prayer."
w all. Workmanship
After claiming that the syna-
Mt. Clemens congregation as to
guaranteed—
the issues involved, but the indi- gogue has become a "social in-
viduals (the officers and board stitution," Litvin adds, "We
Economical prices.
of directors), pressed for a therefore forget that .religious
services are meant to be. a
301- The LEADER FAMILY change in religious practice, deepl
y-concentrated, intense
blocked
all
efforts."
CALL OR WRITE:
takes a PERSONAL INTEREST
He claims that Rabbi David and ultimate communion with
SAUL SINKOFF, Manager
in YOUR CARPET CLEANING Hollander, honorary president God.
"It is against this background
of the Synagogue Council of
15021 LESLIE
America, and Rabbi Max J. that the separation of sexes
OAK PARK
Wohlgelernter, then with the must be adhered to . • . The
Beth Yehudah Schools in De- Torah has always hammered
away
at
the
need
for
sanctifica-
EMANUEL MARK, Director
troit and now secretary to the
Israel Chief Rabbinate, both tion of our natural (sex) drives.
CARPET CLEANING CO.
19161 SCHAEFER
were refused permission to ad- It provides for their expression
8700
DETROIT 35
dress the congregation on the in marriage, but also calls for
4LNWOOD
restraint in every other resnect,
issue of mixed seating.
Litvin also says that an offer above all at the time of re-

a>

z I
z

■

Rugs &Carpets

PERFECTLY
CLEANED!

r-N

He Dropped Off at

ARBAND CAMP

YOU CAN TOO!

REGISTER NOW
8 Weeks
4 Weeks
2 Weeks

$375
$190
$100

LI 5-2969

UN 4-0730

TY. 5-0400

