THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS—Friday, November 27, 195 9-2 Purely Commentary By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Friedrich Schiller's Biblical Allusions The 200th anniversary of the birth of the great German poet, Friedrich Schiller, which was observed here with the presenta- tion of the English version of his historical drama, "Mary Stuart," brings to mind the brilliant author's Jewish attitudes. Schiller's works included Biblical themes—among them were "Veber • die Sendung Moses" and "Etwas ueber die aelteste Menschengesellschaft nach dem Leitf a den der mosaischen Urkubde." He had adapted for the stage Gotthold Ephraim Lessing's famous "Nathan der Weise" and employed Biblical references in his tragedies. It is known that he befriended Henriette Herz. the Jewess who became famous Berlin social leader, and that he admired the works of Heinrich Heine. His works have been translated into Yiddish and Hebrew, and Jews celebrated the centenaries of his birth and. death, in 1859 and 1905. * • * Unnecessary Attacks on Israel and Orthodoxy During the early years of Reform Judaism, there were fre- quent scuffles between the leaders of the new movement and Orthodoxy, and the rancor that arose created irreconcilable splits in Jewish ranks. years, and there is a Ill feelings have vanished in sense of tolerance among the two extreme groups in Jewry. There is a -greater amount of cooperation between Reform and Orthodox in matters unrelated to worship and theological inter- pretations, and in communal functions both elements have gotten along very well together in recent years. -This spirit of good will is -in danger of being wiped out and corrupted by such unwise outbursts as those that were uttered at the convention of the Union of Amerkan Hebrew Congregations by its president, Dr. Maurice N. Eisendrath. The UAHC leader not only ridiculed Orthodoxy but took unnecessary jabs at David Ben-Gurion and the Israel government for align- ments with the Orthodox in Israel. - • • • - - - - In-- Conservative ranks, too, there have been occasional unwise attacks on the Israel government for its alleged favoritism -to Orthodoxy. The criticisms of both the Reform and Conservative leaders are Out of. place. They are as unfortunate as other attempts by U.S. Jews to inject themselves into internal Israeli affairs. Mtually; both Conservatisai and Reform have -gained some advantages in Israel — the former by the establishment of a student center and the setting up of special courses in Israel; the latter by the, establishment of an archaeological center, in the vicinity _of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, which will have A .Reform - chapel- for Reform worship. The injustice-of the religious attacks on Ben-Gurion and his government. lies in -. a lack of - recognition that Ben-Gurion is not seriously - interested in given - preferences to any religious- grotip, and that his alignment .: with the Orthodox in a government -coalition is a matter of political - expediency. What- business is it of any 'American; regardless. OL, Itia political or religious views, to interfere with Ben-Gurion's:selectio.n of a .Cabinet? Insofar - - as the religious domination enjoyed by the Orthodox in Israel is concerned, it must be recognized as part of a state of affairS BnaiBrithPresidentEndorsesVitalJewish Unity Based on 'Voluntary Character' Strongly endorsing a policy and the recent ad hoc com- He added that "if we do have organizations that was formed in connection with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev's visit here as "meaningful dem- onstrations of unity." Defining t h e "practical unity" of a voluntary forum, Katz said that it observes "five fixed rules for Jewish community behavior that we would not change even if all of us wanted to." He listed them as: 1. The community can't be compulsory. 2. It can't be coalesced by ma- jority rule. 3. It can be op- erated only by voluntary asso- ciation. 4. It is wary of any concentration of power. 5. It respects dissent. The "sixth postulate" he de- fined as the "hard and realistic fact that Jewish opinion is over- whelmingly united on the im- portant issues that are best served by a united approach. we seek to achieve but in the techniques and methods for realizing our group aspirations." To support his contention that "unity can not be mandated," Katz recalled the collapse of the American Jewish Conference, the "abortive" pre-World .War I attempt to establish a 'modern Kehillah in New York City and similar organizational effortS. He contrasted this With the Presidents' Conference which he said, "has been, first and foremost, a consultative 'body- 17 national presidents talking things out. It has been a forum for inquiry and debate. It has been a council for cooperative effort that is distilled not from majority decisions, but from unaninimity arrived- at by the interchange of ideas." Katz also addressed a public meeting of Bnai Brith Wednes- day night. of cooperative activity by Na- mittee of 21 national Jewish differences, they are not in what tional groups but warning that it can succeed only if it adheres to the voluntary character of Jewish life in America, Label A. Katz, president of Bnai Brith, making his first appearance in Detroit since his election to the presidency of the major Jewish fraternal organization in this country, declared that there is a vital need for Jewish unity in American life but that it can not be "forced into existence by majority rule." Katz addressed the Jewish Af- fairs Luncheon Club of the Jew- ish Community Center Wednes- day. ....Defining the question "Who Speaks for American Jewry." as "a combative one," the Bnai Brith leader said: "In the pluralistic nature of our community life, we not only ring the welkin, but in the conflict of our competing loyalties we sometimes send it crashing down on each other's heads." Because the Jewish commun- ity is a part of the "mobile character" of American free- doms and "there is no compul- sory quality to Jewish life," he stated, "any efforts to enforce a tidy and pre-packaged unity are doomed to do just the op- posite. Over-riding all of the disparities in Jewish life is the common bond of our Jewish- ness; that is, the things which unite us are far more meaning- ful and enduring than those which separate us." Katz said that the "voluntary forum" was the tested and prac- tical means by which American Jewry could act in unison on issues where it is united. He cited the Presidents' Conference Fondiller, Alpert Speak Dec. 12 at Technion Dinner that is inevitably linked with a long tradition which will change in the course of time, but which can not be forced into oblivion ahead of time. The change must come within Israel, not from a Plans are being formulated UAHC assembly in San Francisco. Whenever discussions of Israel's internal status are also by the Detroit Chapter of the accompanied by threats, such as may affect contributions to funds American Technion Society for in support of Israel, the debate assumes un-moral proportions. the annual dinner of the society We urge the abandonment of such tactics by religious leaders. Need for Historic Letters and Manuscripts Of major interest at the annual Jewish Book Fair, held last week-end at the Jewish Center, was the display of valuable manuscripts and letters written by notables in Jewish history. Charles E. Feinberg, who has rightfully earned a place among the world's most eminent bibliophiles, made that display possible. He has made the suggestion that those possessing manu- scripts should loan them to exhibitors of books in the future. An opportunity for such displays is provided on the local scene during the 60th anniversary celebration of the United Jewish Charities. Many Detroiters undoubtedly have in their possessions valuable material on the history of the Detroit Jewish community, and it would be well to have them on display during the celebration. It is heartening to note that a number of Detroiters are gaining national recognition in the literary world. Mr. Feinberg has attained worldwide recognition as a collector of rare docu- ments. He has emerged as an authority on Walt Whitman and as the possessor of the most important Whitman first editions, original documents, personal letters and other significant material. Mr. Feinberg also has earned the gratitude of many universities, including the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and the Yeshiva University in New York. A Detroiter who now is in the limelight as a distinguished author is Dr. Richard Ellmann, son of Judge and Mrs. James I. Ellmann, who is considered an authority on Yeats and Joyce. Dr. Ellmann, who is professor of English at Northwestern Uni- versity, is receiving acclaim in all English-speaking countries for his monumental work on James Joyce. A few days after the book came off the press, Oxford Press, the publishers, ordered an additional 5,000 copies, and there are indications that this highly scholarly work may attain the best seller rating. Last week, Dr. Ellmann participated in a symposium on "The World of Joyce," at the Southern Illinois University, with some of the country's most eminent scholars and authors. Earlier, he was honored at receptions, on the occasion of the publication of his book on Joyce, in New York City. Thus, scholarship is not totally forgotten. * * * Nate. Lurie — Dedicated to Jewry's Causes Nate Lurie's death is a great loss to our people. He was a dedicated man. He served our community well. He was instru- mental in advancing the Israel Bond drives and other Israeli causes. With his brother John, they carried the reverence for their mother's wishes into the ranks of yeshivot which they supported heartily. His _memory will be remembered as a blessing in our midst. Windsor Jewish Center Arranges Jewish Book Festival for Dec. 14 The. Windsor Jewish commu- nity will observe Jewish Book Month with a special program on Dec. 14. The Jewish Book Festival, to take place that evening at Wind- sor's new Jewish Center, 1641 Ouellette, will feature a brief address by J. Kligman, principal of the I. L. Peretz School; read- ings by A. Berniker, chairman of the Windsor Jewish Corn- munity Council Yiddish culture committee, a musical interlude by pupils of the Peretz School and an address by Philip Slomo- vitz, editor of the Jewish News. Literary and poster competi- tion awards will be made during the program. All members of the Windsor Jewish community as well as guests from Detroit are invited to attend the festival program. • Boris Smolar s Between You ... and Me' (Copyright, 1959 Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.) The Jewish Centers: I have been receiving numerous letters commenting on my column in which I asked why about 30 percent of the Community Centers affiliated with the Jewish Welfare Board had lost membership . . . Also why there has been a tremendous decline in the proportion of Center members who are between 18 and 24 years of age—the active Jewish youth . . . Some of those to be held Sunday evening, Dec. who have written their letters to me — well-known figures in 13, aft Temple American Jewish life — expressed the opinion that the Jewish Israel. Community Centers are losing members, including the youth, Dr. William to the synagogue centers . . . Others asserted that the "Ys" and Fondiller, the Community Centers are losing young members because honorary pres- Jewish youth today has enough money to spend on dancing, ident of t h e athletics and recreation outside of the Community Centers . American Still others felt that Jewish adolescents were prevented by their Technion Soci- parents from visiting some of the Community Centers because ety, and Carl they are located in neighborhoods no longer inhabited by Jews Alpert, p e r- . . . However, basic answers to my questions came from the sonal assist- National Jewish Welfare Board, "mother organization" of the ant to Gen. Jewish Community Centers and YM-YWHAS . . . Sanford Solender, Yaakov Dori, director of the Jewish Community Center Division of the JWB, president o f in a three-page letter gives a clear picture of what-is-what in the Technion, the Center field. the Israel In- * * * stitute of Membership Problems: Technology in The JWB director says that only those Centers whose build- Haifa, will be ings are located in sections of communities from which Jewish the guest families have moved have lost members . . . Such Centers, he speakers. . Alpert Prior . to immigrating to Is- explains, are being aided by JWB to plan for the future, and rael in 1952 with his wife and this accounts for the major new Center building construction three children, Alpert was program now underway in many communities • . . Centers with director of the education de- new facilities located in areas convenient to Jewish families partment of the .Zionist Organ- have experienced the greatest membership growth, Solender ization of America. He was for assures ... He points to the fact that during the last ten years many years editor of the New overall membership in Jewish Community Centers and in the Palestine and was also associate "Ys" throughout the country has increased 30 percent despite editor of the Universal Jewish the drop of membership in a number of localities . . . Male Encyclopedia and the World membership, he says, increased from 276,000 to 318,000 and Scope Encyclopedia. He is female membership from 182,000 to 276,000. author of several books and pamphlets on Israel and the Youth Problems: Zionist movement. Why has the proportion of Center members who are 18-24 Fondiller's address will be years of age declined? . . . The JWB director says that this on the topic "Will Science decline is due primarily to the fact that this is the age group Make Israel Self-Supporting?" most markedly affected by the depression birthrate drop, which Alpert will speak on the sub- sharply decreased the number of persons in this age range in ject, "Israel's Technical As- the population in general . . . He attributes the decline to. such sistance to Under-Developed factors as required military service for persons of this age, Nations." increased college enrollment, and early marriage . . He em- Reservations for the dinner phasizes that the YMCA also reports a sharp proportionate can be made by calling DI. decline in its membership in this age group . . He admits that 1-0622. I am correct in my understanding that more than 34 percent of Jules . Lev is president of the the Center members are under 14 years of age, which means Detroit Chapter of the Ameri- school children, but he explains that this, too, reflects the current sociological trend in the United States. can Technion Society.