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THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National
Editorial Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35.
Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Offic..., Detroit, Mich. under act of Congress of March
0, 187:•
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Edit, r and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
Circulation Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Shuvah Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the eighth day of Tishri, 5720, the following Scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Deut. 32:1-52. Prophetical portions, Hosea 14:2-10, Micah 7:18-20,
Joel 2:15-27.
Licht Bensben, Friday, Oct. 9, 5:43 p.m.
Yom Kippur Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal portions: Morning, Lev. 16:1-34, Num. 29:7-11: afternoon, Lev. 18:1-30.
Prophetical portions: Morning, Isaiah 57:14-58:14; afternoon, Jonah 1:1-4:11, Micah
7:18-20.
VOL. XXXVI, No. 6
Page Four
October 9, 1959
Yom Kippur's Vital Significance
On the eve of the solemn Day of
Atonement, as we prepare for the Great
Fast of Yom Kippur, it is well that we
should take into account the vastness of
the occasion, the social and universal
significance of the day and the vital
lessons it has for us.
The social significance of the Day of
Atonement is reflected in the Mussaf Haf-
tarah from Isaiah 58:3-7, in the following
major admonitions to all who aspire for
a better day for all mankind:
Is such a fast that I have chosen
The day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush,
And to spread sackcloth and ashes
under him?
Wilt thou call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?
Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
To loose the fetters of wickedness,
To undo the bands of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free,
And that ye break every yoke?
Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry,
And that thou bring the poor that are
cast out to thy house?
When thou seest the naked, that thou
cover him,
And that thou hide not thyself from
thine own flesh?
The Great Fast Day also has another
universal lesson, taught in the Minha Haf-
tarah service from Jonah 4:9-10:
And God said to Jonah:
"Art thou greatly angry for the
gourd?"
And he said:
"I am greatly angry, even unto
death."
And the Lord said:
"Thou hast pity for the gourd, for
which thou- hast not labored, neither
madest it grow, which came up in a
night, and perished in a night; and
should I not have pity on Nineveh, that
great city, wherein are more than six
score thousand persons that cannot dis-
cern between their right and their left
hand, and also much cattle?"
All of Yom Kippur is replete with
admonitions to us to strive for a better
life, to aspire to the highest spiritual rungs
on the ladder of humanitarianism and
justice for all.
May the day's prayers bring fulfill-
ment of our noblest ideals, and may it
truly result in all humanity being in-
scribed in the Book of a Better Life that
will be devoid of fears from wars and
persecutions.
Gm,ar Hatima Tova!
Problem of Institutionalization
Emanuel Lasker, Master of
Chess Games, Viewed by His
Biographer as Lovable Man '
Emanuel Lasker was a world chess champion. But he also
was a mathematician and a philosopher, and there are reasons to
believe that he even preferred his academic work much more
than he did the game of chess in which he emerged as one of the
greatest masters in the world.
The story of this brilliant man is told in an excellent
biography by Dr. F. Hannak, "Emanuel Lasker: The Life of a
Chess Master," published by Simon and Schuster.
Originally published in German, the fine English translation
is by Heinrich Fraenkel.
Of special interest is the foreword to this splendid
biography by Dr. Albert Einstein who commended "this sym-
pathetic biography" about "so strong a personality and yet so
sensitive and loveable a person."
Another outstanding factor about this book is the inclusion
in the text of more than 100 of Lasker's games—all illustrated
with chessboards. While the incorporation of such texts greatly
enhances the biography for chess players, the book itself has as
much merit for those who do not know the game as well as for
avid chess players. The human elements in the story contain so
much fascination that the biography can be read with great
benefit by all people.
Lasker's biographer goes into detail about his family back-
ground, the Jewish education given him by his grandfather, who
was a Wunder-Rabbi as well as by his father. From his early
youth he already distinguished himself in his studies, and he
especially excelled in mathematics.
Then came the lure of professional chess. With it came
world fame. He played in all parts of the world, made appear-
ances not only in this country but also in England, France and
Russia. He scored a triumph in St. Petersburg in 1895 and
then went on "from strength to strength," defeating all. the
masters and in most instances emerging as the greatest of the
world's chess players.
Martha Kohn was his friend and confidante. After years
of friendship, they were married in 1908 and settled in the
United States.
Income from chess games was Lasker's chief means of earn-
ing a livelihood, but he also tried editing a chess magazine, and
he retained his interest in writing on philosophic subjects, in
teaching mathematics, in retaining his interest in academic
matters.
stein, of Russia, and Sammy Reshevsky, the American genius,
stein, of Russia, and Sammy Reshefsky, the American genius,
were among the many that represented challenges to Lasker.
But while he met his equals in many of his opponents, he often
emerged triumphant and always continued to show his skill at
the game.
Emanuel Lasker was born in Germany, Dec. 24, 1868. He
died in New York on Jan. 13, 1941. He lived a full life and left
a great heritage. Dr. Hannak's biography presents him as "a
most interesting and very loveable man." It is as such that the
reader will learn to admire him and to respect his memory.
A serious problem was posed for our public institutions, synagogues, social
consideration by American Jewry when service groups, schools, hospitals will
Prof. Nahum N. Glatzer said last week, have to break away from the bureaucratic,
in an address in Chicago, that, due to mechanical approach, from routine and
conditions which have altered life in this precedent, and to decide that, like himself,
country, the classical Jewish family has one's neighbor is a human person."
The major problem therefore posed
broken down in the United States.
Dr. Glatzer described the Jewish fam- by Dr. Glatzer is that in the breakdown
ily as having stood "for standards of life of the traditional Jewish family we suffer
and action." He described the traditiohal the most from our becoming "increasingly
Jewish family as one that "strove for institutional." If this is so, then there is
continuity; it considered itself an integral need for a revamping of Jewish corn-
part of a greater whole; it was an active munal practices to avoid the negative re-
group, with the home as its center; it was suits of mechanical approaches.
a learning group. Under ideal circum- Is there a way of correcting this new
stances this type of family could counter- development in Jewish life? Are we able
act fragmentation of life; it could achieve so to merge the activities of the public
institutions with the private aspects of
a measure of wholeness."
He then declared that "the old patri- family functions as to bring about a
archal family life has been replaced by re-emergence of Jewish traditional influ-
the child-centered home, that await-and- ences in the home?
The problem is entirely too compli-
see existence has been substituted for the
life of values; and that we have rapidly cated, and the issues are too serious, to be
abandoned both the element of wholeness solved either by a public address by a
and the factor of human concern that noted scholar or by a newspaper editorial.
characterized the old home." But the issue is now presented to us
His major warning came when he bluntly and frankly and it must be studied
predicted that "the family will grow more realistically. Perhaps the results of pro-
A number of calendars, published on the occasion of the
and more functional, increasingly institu- posed studies will bring back a measure
tional," and he emphasized: of the wholesomeness that may have been New Year 5720, contains many valuable facts. Some are artistic
and will be treasured in Jewish homes.
"To counteract this transformation, abandoned in our family structures.
arriving
Artistic Jewish Calendars
ADL's Courageous Position in the South
At the meeting of the national execu- stated that co-operative efforts in common
tive committee of the Anti-Defamation with Christian groups will "not only help
League, in New Orleans, last week, the in solving race problems but lead to im-
chairmen of six Southern ADL regional provement in understanding between
boards called for the development of Christian and Jew in the South."
Such a firm stand, in an area where
"intelligent efforts" to deal with prob-
lems of human relations and for "throw- there has been so much tension, must
lead to the common good of finally al-
ing off fears" in the South.
After the ADL national chairman, leviating trouble.
We share the hope of the ADL
Henry Edward Schultz, had declared that leaders that the reasonable viewpoint will
increased anti-Semitic activities have had prevail, and we commend these ADL
little effect upon friendly attitudes to- spokesmen for their courageous stand
wards Jews in the South, the ADL leaders on a very vital issue in American life.
Among the more artistic calendars are those
from Israel.
Annually, an art calendar is issued by the National
Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. This year's NFTS art
calendar features the works of Ludwig Wolpert, a native of
Heidelberg who lived in Israel and was associated with the
faculty of the Bezalel School in Jerusalem. His metal works
reproduced in the calendar are impressive. His works shown
here include a flower vase, a brass candlestick titled "Eternal
Light," Hanukah menorahs, a halah tray and a Torah case.
The annual Jewish National Fund calendar contains many
facts about Israel. .
A special calendar that helps school officials and teachers
gain a better understanding of the religious observances of
the three leading faiths represented in their classes has been
published by the American Jewish Committee.
Prayers, communal directories, important historical dates
and other valuable data are incorporated in the calendar for
Jewish servicemen published by the Jewish Welfare Board.