5721: Eventful Year for the U.S.

Stirring Occurrences Recorded
on National and Local Fronts

By CHARLOTTE HYAMS

one, did much to weld U.S.
Jewry together. In fact, Chris-
tian leaders also joined in the
fight_ against the vicious anti-
Semitism nurtured by George
Lincoln Rockwell and his storm-
troopers.
How to fight his diatribes
was the problem. Some insisted
that the best way to rid the
country of the self-styled Nazi
leader was to laugh it off as
the prank of a child. But others,
notably the Anti - Defamation
League and the Jewish War Vet-
erans, insisted that such a men-
ace must be fought with legal
action.
Up until two months ago,
however, Rockwell and his en-
tourage had been skipping
around the country cooking up
trouble and spending only brief
periods in jail. In July, Rock-
well's stormtroopers seized a
Jewish boy near his Arlington,
Va. home and gave him a dose
of Nazi tactics that brought
back memories of the Berlin of
1938.
At last Arlington was
aroused, and a "Citizens Con-
cerned" committee was form-
ed to rout Rockwell from his
nest. Rep. Halpern has asked
that the American Nazi party
be placed on the subversive
list, and two of the jaunty

stormtroopers are spending a
year at hard labor for their
attack on young Ricky Far-
ber.
In the meantime, however,
another proponent of anti-
Semitism, the son of arch-
criminal Adolf Eichmann, was
in the United States trying to
drum up support for his father,
on trial in Jerusalem for the
murder of 6,000,000 Jews.
Nicolas Eichmann had little
success, however. With the ex-
ception of a syndicated article on
the 25-year-old youth, there was
little publicity given to Nicolas'
"cause."
American Jewry found this a
significant year in court. Not
only were the activities of the
American Nazi Party being con-
tended — and frequently — be-
fore the bench, but also the ac-
tivities of Jewish shopkeepers
opening their places of buSi-
ness on Sundays were brought
to the attention of the Su-
preme Court.
The verdict of the high
court struck a blow to Ortho-
dox Jewry: Blue Laws in
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania
and Maryland were upheld.
It was expected, however,
that mandatory Sunday clos-
ing laws in other states would

be held up for scrutiny.
Across the country, in Cali-
fornia, the film capital was be-
ginning to adjust to the much-
publicized marriage last De-
cember of Jewish convert
Sammy Davis, Jr., a Negro, and
the fair-haired Swedish actress
May Britt.
Despite speculation as to the
wisdom of such a union, Miss
Britt renounced Lutheranism
and became instructed in
Judaism. They now have one
child.
U.S. Jewry, this year, was
joining in the nationwide ob-
servance of the centennial of
the War Between the States.
The significant role of the
Jew in U.S. history was also elm-
phasized by the recent revela-
tion of the part played by a
young man, Edward Israel of
Kalamazoo, as astronomer on
the ill-fated Greely Expedition
to the North Pole in 1881.
EXploration of a different
kind was hailed early in De-
cember when the Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency opened a cir-
cuit between its New York
headquarters and the Tel
Aviv office of the Israeli
News Agency. It was the first
transoceanic radio message in
the ancient language of He-
brew.

As the year 5721 emerged on Jewish affairs, Philip Klutz-
the national scene, a big ques- nick, was appointed Minister to
tion mark in United States for- the United Nations Economic
eign policy hung over the and Social Council.
The President's vow that re-
Middle East.
As the year 5721 closes, the ligion would not influence his
same question mark hangs over decisions of state was partly
the State Department. Only the fulfilled with his bill on federal
President, who largely deter- aid to public schools. Pressed by
mines that foreign policy, is parochial schools to permit fed-
eral funds for private institu-
different.
tions, the President ignored
The eight months after John such demands.
F. Kennedy's glittering inau-
The argument, however, was
guration as the first Catholic carried throughout the nation.
President in the history of the Rabbis and leaders of most Jew-
United States were months of ish organizations opposed any
watching and waiting. Would federal aid to private educa-
he keep his pre-election prom- tion, including Jewish day
ises to bring peace to the schools.
Middle East, or would the Arab
But while the national Jew-
refugee problem, the Arab boy- ish community was divided .
cotts and discrimination against on federal aid to education,
American Jewish personnel con- it was united on one point:
tinue?
aid to distressed J e w r y
Israeli Premier David Ben- throughout the world. Amer-
Gurion visited the United ican Jews contributed $128,
States to sound out the Pres- 000,000 to national and inter-
ident on his views and left en- national causes, according to
couraged. But soon after; there the Council of Jewish Fed-
were reports that the President erations and Welfare Funds.
had sent equally encouraging
Another crisis, a domestic
notes on foreign aid to Arab
leaders.
Mr. Kennedy's attempts to
insert a foreign aid clause
Locally, 5721 proved to be Wayne S t a t e University, rael erupted on a small scale gogue, and it was turned over
directed against Arab blockade
an
unhappy year for the Jew- which brought such speakers at Wayne S tat e University to a committee of laymen. Ever-
and discriminatory tactics were
green J e w is h Congregation
halted by a blockade of a dif- ish Community Center. For not as New Testament scholar where Arab students refused merged with Cong. Beth Moses.
ferent sort, leveled by the chair- only did the Sabbath opening Dr. Samuel Sandmel of the to participate in a Middle East-
man of the Senate Foreign Rela- threaten the unity of the De- Hebrew Union College-Jewish ern Night because the Israeli And the newly-established Eight
Mile Synagogue was granted
tions Committee, J. William Ful- troit Jewish community, but it Institute of Religion; archae- students wanted to take part.
affiliation with the Young Is-
In
a
way
Detroit
City
Cor-
ologist
Prof.
Immanuel
Ben-
did
not
even
manage
to
solve
bright.
poration Counsel Nathaniel rael movement.
And despite the protests of the financial problem it was Dor of Emory University; and
Most congregations joined in
H. Goldstick got even. At-
Biblical e x p e r t Prof. G.
Senator Kenneth Keating and originally intended to solve.
declaring a new Bar Mitzvah re
tending the 15th International
Thus the end of the year Ernest Wright of the Harvard
Representative Seymour Hal-
Congress of Mayors in Tel quirement: five years of prepara-
pern, both of New York, the finds the Center in the middle Divinity School.
State Department voiced no in- of a tug of war between those
Much attention in the field Aviv, he crossed into the tion.
Fifty-seven-twenty-one a 1 s o
tention to back down on its who want the Center facilities of Semitic studies was centered Jordan-held Old City of Jeru-
offer to furnish the United opened on Saturday and those on Wayne State when the Con- salem and became the first saw the transfer of the Goebel
where
Arab Republic with rockets to who insist that Detroit Jewry ference on the Literary Heritage Jewish tourist to accomplish Brewery Co. to Israel,
William
Robinson
has
set
up
his
feat
since
the
founding
must
observe
the
Command-
offset the advantage of IFael's
of the Near East was presented,
the Cabeer Brewery in Bat
ment: Thou Shalt Remember under orientalist Ephraim A. of Israel in May, 1948.
recent launching.
Another Detroiter who made Yam. It saw the opening of the
The International Tralisport the Sabbath to Keep It Holy. Speiser's chairmanship.
the
news last year was Max long-awaited "Exodus" and the
The
issue
was
worsened
when
Although
Speiser
charged
that
Workers Federation, disgust-
Fisher,
president of the Jewish dismal, failure of three of
a
protesting
member
of
the
the WSU Department of Near
ed with Ar a b high-jinks,
George Lincoln Rockwell's lieu-
threatened to boycott the Suez community brought the case Eastern Languages and Litera- Welfare Federation, who be- tenants to picket the film,
tures is too small for the came the first Jew ever to re-
Can al if discriminations into a secular court.
thanks to a snowy evening, an
Even with the Center open- stature of the conference, other ceive the office of Detroit Torch unconcerned public and a con-
against Israeli shipping con-
Drive
chairman.
scholars
defended
the
rapid
ed on Saturday, however, fi-
tinue. Pressure from the State
And not long after, Stanley scientious police department.
Department may prevent such
nancial difficulties forced a progress of the department
It saw many notable visitors,
curtailment of many Center under its energetic chairman Michaels, director and owner
an anti-Nasser act.
of Camp Nahelu, was elected like Herut leader Menachem
In addition, there was news activities and the reduction Dr. Abram Spiro.
Maurice Samuel was among president of the American Beigin, Lady Eva Reading, Gen.
recently of a slight breach in in number of departments.
Moshe Dayan, Israel Consul
the impenetrable Arab wall of But a happy note was the 20th the speakers who lectured on Camping Association.
Birthday milestones w e r e Shaul Ramati, Israel Ambas-
anti-Jewish discrimination: the anniversary celebration of the Legacy of Hasidism, a
lovely Jewish convert Elizabeth Center Symphony Conductor series of four talks sponsored marked: Justice Henry NI. But- sador to the United States
Taylor was granted the privi- Julius Chajes' residence in by the Midrasha, College of zel, 90; Judge Charles C. Avraham Harman and Israeli
Simons, 85; active community Secretary of Commerce Pinchas
Jewish Studies.
lege to float down the Nile as Detroit.
But the success of the Mid- leader Dora Ehrlich, 80; Louis Sapir. There were movie stars,
"Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt,"
Hope remains that the Center
too: Jack Benny, Marlene Diet-
her first film since a near fatal issue will be solved through rasha Institute was dimmed James Rosenberg, 85; Gus New-
rich, Sylvia Sidney.
by the sudden death of Carl man, 70; Robert Marwil, 80.
ailment.
mediation.
And in o t her birthday:
It saw a joyous community
(An illness did prove fatal,
Economic conditions in De- Schiller, active community
Shaarey Zedek Synagogue, turn out to celebrate Israel's
however, to another Jewish troit were poor this year, and leader whose wife was chair-
100. The centennial anniver- Bar Mitzvah. Organizations spon-
movie star, Jeff Chandler, who the Federation was faced with man of the Institute. At the
sary was begun with an- sored many events, the Com-
had appeared in Detroit the many problems in finances. time of Schiller's passing
nouncement of plans for the munity Council staged a com-
year before to emcee an Israel For although the Allied Jew- March 23, he had just been
congregation's fifth building, munity - wide observance, the
Bond dinner-dance. He died in ish Campaign managed to raise elected president of the Great
an ultra-modern structure in Jewish National Fund held a
Hollywood three months ago $4,615,000, the demand for serv- Lakes Region of the National
Southfield.
program for young people.
after a series of operations).
ices was greater from hard- Federation of Jewish Men's
And the Israel Bond Drive
Other synagogues made news.
Clubs.
From a broader view—at pressed families.
The passing of Leon Kay, na- The family of the late Isaac raised over $1,000,000 as a birth-
least domestically — 5721 was
The Yeshivah Day School suf-
a year for the removal of many fered a setback during the tionally prominent Jewish lead- Agree relinquished their spun- day gift "to Israel with love
barriers. For the first time, year, financially, but negotia- er, and William Isenberg, also sorship of the Downtown Syna- from the Jews of Detroit."
two Jews were named to the tions are in progress for the a former president of ZOD,
President's Cabinet: Abraham merger of its afternoon school struck a blow to the Zionist
A. Ribicoff, Secretary of Health, with the United Hebrew movement here.
Another sudden death that
Education and Welfare, and Schools.
The United Hebrew Schools shocked the community oc-
Arthur Goldberg, Secretary of
enjoyed progress in enrollment curred July 19 when a plane
Labor.
There will be earlier deadlines for the next three
There were other Jews, too, and construction this year. The carrying band leader Mickey weeks' issues of The Jewish News.
named to high Administrative Midrasha, College of Jewish Woolf and his wife and con-
Our next issue, to be dated Sept. 8, will be our
posts. Mortimer M. Caplin Studies held its first gradua- struction company owner Ben annual Rosh Hashanah edition. Because of Labor Day,
Shackett
and
Mrs.
Shackett
was appointed commissioner tion, and the seventh branch of
to be observed on Monday, and the larger issue that will
of Internal Revenue; Harold the UHS, the Borman school on crashed on their way back from
follow it, all copy for next week's issue must be in our
Linder, vice-president of the Seven Mile Rd. and Bentler, a short vacation in Florida.
hands AT NOON TODAY.
Other
deaths
robbed
Detroit
was
dedicated
in
December.
Joint Distribution Committee,
Since Rosh Hashanah occurs on Monday and Tues-
But the Borman family, for Jewry: Leo Butzel, Joseph Leib,
became president and chair-
whom the school was named, Mrs. Bella Osnos, Mrs. Sarah day, Sept. 11 and 12, copy for the Sept. 15 issue must
man of the board of the U.S.
gave generously to other Altman, Eli Sachse.
be in our hands before noon on Friday, Sept. 8.
Export-Import B a n k; and
There were big issues that
causes as well. A sample of
Yom Kippur occurs on Wednesday, Sept. 20, and
Lawrence Gubow, who was
their philanthropic work was were felt locally. For instance all copy for the Sept. 22 issue must be in our hands
commissioner' of the Mich-
the Borman Lectures at the Arab animosity toward Is- before 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18.
igan Corporation and Secur-
* *
ities Commission, was named
Deadline for all Classified Advertising for the
by President Kennedy as
Newsmaking Events of International
Sept. 22 issue will be at noon Tuesday, Sept. 19.
U.S. Attorney for Eastern
Jewry, by Harvey Zuckerberg, in Next
On account of Sukkot, there will be earlier dead-
Michigan.
lines for our issues of Sept. 29.
Week's Issue of The Jewish News
Another national figure in

Detroit Community Had Its Happy and Sad Moments

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