THE DETROIT JEWIS H NEW S — Friday, Sept. 25, 1959 — 12

Letters to Editor on Center Sabbath Issue

(Editor's Note: The letters appearing on this page are
representative of the communications we received during the
week in comment on our editorial urging the Jewish Com-
munity Center's board of directors to reverse its decision to
open the Center's facilities on Saturdays. Scores of telephone
calls and other letters endtp-sed our editorial position. As of
late Wednesday afternoon, there was not a single comment
in defense of the Center board of directors' decision.)

Sol King Joins in Plea Mizracht Applauds JN Editorial
to Center to Rescind
thousands of members of our
Editor, The Jewish News:
Sabbath Opening
At a meeting of our execu- community are with you in

Editor, The Jewish News:
tive committee which was held your excellently worded ar-
You are to be commended for today (Sept. - 21), it was re- . ticle.
your courageous editorial of solved to send you a letter of
We hope and pray together
Sept. 18 which takes issue with commendation for the editorial with you, that the board of
the `recent decision by the Jew- concerning the Jewish Center directors of the Jewish Center
*
*
ish Center board to open the in Detroit.
will reverse its unwise and
Center Action Assailed Center on the Sabbath.
Feinberg 'Shocked'
The Jewish News took a improper decision to keep the
As a present member, former clear and honest stand on be- Centers open on the Sabbath
by Detroit Young Israel
by Center Decision
officer and member of the half of the sanctity of the and, in this way, create a split
Editor,
The
Jewish
News:
E
Center board for many years, I Sabbath and its meaning to in our wonderful Jewish com-
Editor, The Jewish News:
May I take this opportunity
• I read your editorial on the to commend you for your forth- am outraged at the imprudent the Jewish people and its munity of Metropolitan De-
.
decision by the present board
munity of the Jewish Corn- right position
on the Sabbath. to formally contribute to the survival. It is inconceivable troit. Sincerely yours,
munity
Center
on the Sabbath,
PHILLIP STOLLMAN
and I have
wondered
how it Attached is a copy of the pro- desecration and destruction of that a public Jewish 'institution
should openly "violate • these
DANIEL TEMCHIN
. I sent to the Center's the most fundamental keystone holy basic principals of our
is possible for a Jewish insti- test
MAX STOLLMAN
president.
in Judaism by opening the faith.
tution to approve of a policy
IRVING W. SCHLUSSEL
CHARLES
T.
GELL1\IAN
Center's facilities on the Sab-
so contrary to our. religious
ZVI TOMKIEWICZ
We are sure that many
President,
Young
Israel
bath.
teachings.
The text of Gellman's tele-
Let's not be deluded by such
I have written a letter to
shallow reasoning that the Cen-
Mr. Samuel Frankel, president gram:
"As president of Young Israel ter cannot fulfill its responsi-
of the Center, and I enclose a
PHYLLIS WOLFF says:
copy in the hope that you of Detroit I wish to register bilities to the Jewish commun-
will publish it. It voices my shock and amazement at the re- ity in the areas of Jewish cul-
cently published notice that the tire and informal education be-
approval of your editorial.
Jewish Center would be opened cause its facilities are not in
,
Sincerely
CHARLES E. FEINBERG for activities on the Sabbath. operation on the Sabbath. Those
Young Israel has been close to who are close to the Center
872 W. Boston
The text of Mr. Feinberg's the Center movement since its know this to, be far from the
inception from Melbourne Cen- truth. Lack of an adequate and
follows:
ter
ter to Farnsworth where we qualified staff, low salaries, and
"I was deeply shocked when held services, and to the very many other factors 'are perhaps
I read that the board of di- present day Young Israel has the more legitimate reasons for
moo° A "haimishe" standby
rectors of the Jewish Com- viewed with satisfaction the the Center's not being in a posi-
... for old-timy good Kasha
munity Center approved a poi- growth and development of the tion to do an outstanding job of
Varneshkes, Kasha Knishes, and
icy of permitting the Center Center movement in our city. service to the community.
other treats. Less than 2 a serving!
to open on the Sabbath for The most recent resolution,
Previous boards pondered for
activities. however, strikes at the very many years over this problem
Also enjoy Wolff's Creamy Kernels (grits) .
"It is unthinkable that an heart of traditional Judaism. and always concluded that the
Wolff's Kasha 'N' Gravy ... Wolff's Kasha Soup.
institution with the word You are inviting desecration of Center must retain the Sabbath
Send for FREE KASHA COOK BOOK:
`Jewish' in its name, of which the Sabbath under the guise of in a positive way and therefore
PHYLLIS WOLFF, Penn Yan, New York
the entire community in De- play and recreation as a corn- keep its facilities inactive and
troit has been so justly proud, munity sponsored organization. closed on that day. How sad
should institute a policy negat- You will be making a long-to-be- that the Jewish community has
ing all the religious teachings regretted break in the spiritual lost the wisdom and counsel of
unity of our larger community such great men as Butzel, Ehr-
of our people.
"We read so much of the family. Young Israel has many lich, Keidan, Simons and many
greatly increased growth of years of experience in the area others who advocated, as an
DISTRIBUTED BY:
our religious .institutions of youth activities. Your con- essential, the identification of
NATIONAL WHOLESALE GROCERS
throughout the country, our templated step, rather than in- Jewish institutions with positive
8938 Twelfth Street, Detroit 6, Michigan
new synagogues and religious spire religious service and de- Jewish values.
TRinity 1-0606
I appeal to the Center board
schools. How do you and your votion, will contribute to the
board of directors hope to breakdown of religious life in to heed your counsel and to im-
serve the Jewish community our community. We stand ready mediately rescind its unwise
of Detroit by establishing a at any time to meet with you decision, for if we trade our
precedent that will encourage to explore every means of un- unique spiritual values for mo-
the destruction of religious doing the harm implied in your mentary expedients, we shall
lose our opportunity for en-
observance? No official Jewish announcement."
hancement of the total, commun-
non-religious institution has
•
ity in which we live.
ever dared to open for busi-
Sincerely,
ness on the Sabbath. It would Editorial Approved
SOL KING
destroy the dignity of the in-
2804 Oakman Blvd.
dividual Jew and certainly by .Rabbi Hershfield
could not be understood by Editor, The Jewish News
•
the non-Jewish community in
Please accept my congratu- Asks for - Reversal
the Detroit area. It will cre- lations for your splendid edi- Editor, The Jewish News:
ate nothing but harmful con- torial concerning the Sabbath
Your editorial asking for
troversy. How often do we stand of the Jewish Community reconsideration of the deci-
have to continue to fight our Center.
sion to open the Jewish Com-
own people to maintain our
The Sabbath has always munity Center on the Sabbath.
self-respect for religious ob- been the cornerstone of our deserves commendation.
servance?
The Sabbath principle, first
faith. Whether we are Ortho-
"How does a board of direc- dox, Conservative or Reform, taught by Jews, was accepted
tors of a Jewish-sponsored we cannot callously ignore the and emulated by most reli-
Now ... from the famous kitchens of
institution so far forget its Sabbath and its implications gions. I plead and express the
inherent responsibilities to the for the future of Judaism in hope of many others that the
Jewish community, and how America. In this connection, I dignity of the Sabbath be pre-
can its symbol of Jewish lead- know you will be interested served and that the decision
ership be explained to the to learn that the forthcoming to open the Center on the
younger generation to whom we biennial meeting of the Union Sabbath be reversed.
MITCHELL FELDMAN
teach the Commandment to of American Hebrew Congre-
18401 Littlefield
observe the Sabbath? How can gations, in November, will
you explain why you want to consider very seriously the
e
encourage- them to desecrate topic, "A Guide to Reform Sixth Canadian Chess
it?
Jewish Sabbath Observance."
"As an individual Jew, I will In my opinion conducting a Championship in Row
do all that I can do to influ- program of physical educa-
ence other individual Jews and tion on our classic day of Won by Abe Yanofsky
When it comes to real gefilte fish, the
MONTREAL, (JTA) — Abe
organizations of Jews to' op- rest, will hardly be conducive
blend's the thing. For old-fashioned,
pose the Jewish Community to any observance , of the Sab- Yanofsky, who won the Can-
home-made gefilte fish is a blend of many
adian
chess
championship
in
Center in Detroit from open- bath, in deed or in spirit.
ingredients—much like fine coffee is a
1941 when he was 16, captured
ing its activities on the Sab-
blend of many kinds of coffee beans. One
To my way of thinking, this his sixth Canadian chess crown
bath.
ingredient helps bring forth the full, hid-
whole matter hinges on one
defeating Ignas Zalya. The
"I ask you and your board question, namely, do we pos- by
den flavors of the other. Now, white-as-
victory marked a 10 to nothing
snow whitefish is delightful ... and lake-
of directors to reconsider your sess any self-respect? Can any record in the invitation tourna-
fresh pike has a wonderful, breezy flavor.
action and to rescind it."
institution, supported by the ment.
Together in one superb blend—they're
Jewish
community
as
a
whole,
The champion's spectacular
•
just unbeatable! That's why we're sure
desecrate the Sabbath with career began when he was 12,
you'll agree MANISCHEWITZ WHITEFISH-PIKE
Kasle Endorses Editorial impunity? Most assuredly, be- when he entered tournaments
is the most delicious gefilte fish blend
fore we can demand respect at the Toronto Canadian Na-
Editor, The Jewish News:
you've ever tasted — another example of
I read your article in the Sept. from members 'of other faiths, tional Exhibition and also asked
how MANISCHEWITZ brings the genius of
real Jewish cooking to your table!
18 issue of The Jewish News, we ought to learn to respect permission to play adults. Per-
mission granted, the boy won all
and I want to commend you ourselves.
idea-
FREE! Brand-new, idea-
Faithfully yours,
three major events at the ex-
very highly for the stand you
packed MANISCHEWITZ
BRIG
RABBI NATHAN
hibition.
RECIPE BOOKLET. For
have taken against the opening
lour copy, write:
A graduate in law at Oxford
HERSHFIELD
of the Jewish Center on Satur-
University, he is a practicing
Temple Beth Jacob
days.
THE B. MANISCHEWITZ CO., Dept. P, Box 88, Newark i , N. J.
attorney in Winnipeg.
Pontiac, Mich.
ABE KASLE

Ah-h-h ... Kasha!

KASHA

of course!

co 0
a siZENDE/ com°,6/?)ativi

MANISCHEWITZ

Whitefish 4sL Pike

gc(zx

Gefilte Fish