A Surprise Package
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 Po st Office, Detroit, Mich. under act of Congress of March
8, 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ HARVEY ZUCKERBERG
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fourth day of Heshvan, 5722, the follotving Scriptural selections will be read in
our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Noah, Gen. 6:9-11:32. Prophetical portion, Is. 54:1-55:5.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Oct. 13, 5:37 p.m.
VOL. XL. No. 7
Page Four
October 13, 1961
Role of Newspaper as Courier of Freedom
Calling for "vigilance coupled with
responsibility," President John F. Ken-
nedy has issued a very timely and very
significant statement on the occasion of
the observance of National Newspaper
Week, Oct. 15 - 21.
Expressing his awareness of the re-
sponsibilities borne by newspapers, the
President
declared
that "in
our free
and open
society we
rightly re-
gard secre-
cy and ar-
bit r ary
press re-
strictions
as the first
refuge of - -
incompetents," adding that "no govern-
ment can long maintain the support and
confidence of its citizens unless its poli-
cies and actions are known, understood
and critically examined."
The President's declaration is of such
vital importance to our nation and to
democracies everywhere that it must be
read in full for an appreciatiOn of the
values inherent in a free press. It reads:
TO THE NEWSPAPERS OF
THE NATION
It is a pleasure to join you in the'
22nd annual observance of National
Newspaper Week. -
The 1961 theme —"Your News-
paper — Heritage of Truth — Frontier
of Freedom" — is particularly appro-
priate in these hazardous times.
Press restrictions in countries
dominated by our adversaries have
increased in severity. Yet in our free
and open society we rightly regard
secrecy and arbitrary press restrictions
as the first refuge of incompetents. We
want this government to be a seat of
ideas, a place for healthy debate, with-
out any official newspaper and without
any official censorship. No government
can long maintain the support and con-
fidence of its citizens unless its policies
and actions, for better or worse, are
known, understood and critically exam-
ined. This is primarily the role of the
press—and whatever handicaps it im-
poses are far outweighed by its essen-
tial benefits.
Moreover, along with our unaltered
belief in the freedom of the press, this
-
country has always recognized - that
freedom and responsibility stand side
by side. Freedom without responsibility
is anarchy.
In observing National Newspaper
Week we are keenly aware of the heavy
responsibilities borne by our newspa-
pers and our newspapermen, whose
reports are studied, reprinted and
translated around the world.
Vigilance coupled with responsi-
bility on the part of newspapers, as
recorders of man's deeds, keepers of
his conscience and couriers of his news,
will give man strength and assistance
to be free and independent.
JOHN F. KENNEDY
At no time in world history has such
an evaluation of the newspaper's role
been as timely. At no time has it been
as necessary as it is today to spread the
word about the press as the representa-
tive of the "Heritage of Truth and Fron-
tier of Freedom."
Where the newspapers are the free
couriers of news, the people are secure;
where such liberties are curtailed, the
people are in danger.
National Newspaper Week calls at-
tention anew to these responsibilities
merged with freedoms which are the basic
instruments for democratic living.
Jewish newspapers, although they
represent a small segment of the larger
press that serves the American people,
share the heritage of freedom and con-
tribute towards cementing the unity of
all Americans within the large sphere of
striving for the high ideals which give
an informed and self-examining commu-
nity the strength to protect democratic
principles.
There are difficulties in pursuing the
tasks prescribed in the motto "Heritage
of 'Truth, Frontier of Freedom." Even
among free peoples there are some who
fear the truth, can not confront challeng-
ing frontiers. To be able fully to enjoy
freedom, it also is necessary to face reali-
ties and to respond to dangers fearlessly.
One must never shun the facts, and while
doing so there must be no misrepresen-
tations of ideas.
National Newspaper Week is in itself
a challenge to all liberty-loving people to
understand the basic issues of our time,
and thereby to attain understanding for
themselves and for the peoples of the
world in the striving for peace and for
humanitarian goals.
Was UNRWA Report a Political Document ?
If, as Israel charges, the report of Dr.
John W. Davis, director of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for
Palestine in the Near East, was a "polit-
ical document," then a new low has been
set in the consideration of the tragic
prOblem of refugees.
Israel is in a bad way, as a result of
the negative UNRWA statement. It be-
comes necessary to present ,anew the
entire problem relating to the refugees
and to seek methods other than those
that have been pursued by UN authori-
ties to resettle the Arabs who had fled
from Israel and to re-establish a spirit of
amity in the entire Near Eastern area.
As things stand today, the Davis re-
port is another act of grave injustice to
Israel. Because of the political alignments
and vote-bargaining in the UN, attain-
ment of peace appears to be in a stage
of further delay.
Serious Campaign Cash Collection Effort
The United Jewish Appeal must carry
Allied Jewish Campaign leaders have
instituted a serious drive to secure imme- on, in Israel and in the lands whence
immigrants are trekking to Israel. Local
diate cash payments on pledges.
All who are acquainted with existing agencies will suffer unless means are
conditions overseas and the needs locally made available for their uninterrupted
appreciate the urcrency of this drive. Mere activities.
The many thousands of Detroit Jews
pledges are valueless when it is so vital
to Jewish needs today that the existing who have pledged to the campaign should
agencies should be provided with funds realize the urgency of the current appeal
necessary for continued operations. and make prompt payments.
Dr. Plaut Writes Commentary
on 'The Book of Proverbs'
"Book of Proverbs—A Commentary," by Dr. W. Gunther
Plaut, is the newest addition to the series of commentaries for
Bible readers, published by the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations.
This scholarly work has many merits. The numerous and
voluminous notes that accompany the entire text of the Book
of Proverbs assist the reader in his search for understanding
of the great Biblical work. They refer the reader to related
issues and Biblical sources.
Alphabetization of the subjects in proverbs assists the . stu-
dent in the application of the wisdom literature.
Then there is the section, "Proverbial Parallels," which
will be especially useful to scholars delving into the depth of
proverb literature.
Rabbi Plaut's introductory essay has particular merit. In
it he deals with the authorship and the contents of the Proverbs,
their form and text. He explains the place of Proverbs in the
Canon and the position of the book in Protestant and Catholic
Biblical versions.
Pointing to the fact that inclusion of Proverbs in the
Biblical Canon at first was in doubt, Dr. Plaut states that
"Proverbs is in every sense a part of living Judaism. . . The
sayings of our Book are earthy, practical, utterly frank, and
often almost physically real in their comments and cautions,
their irony and imprecation—but they have all. one basic
theme, which is sometimes stated and always implied: that
man stands perpetually in the presence of God."
In his discussion of authorship, Dr. Plaut reaches this con-
clusion: "The bulk of our Book is old, of Solomon's time or
even older. About 700 B. C. E. its present form became well
established, but during the next centuries changes and additions
were still made. . . . Proverbs reflects. an intensely personal
view at times, the view of a teacher, whether he be Salmon
or someone else, and it also reflects the thinking of a nation
which through these aphorisms and popular sayings reveals
its basic character. The people of Israel, no less than any one
man, is ultimately also the author of Proverbs."
Dr. Plaut, until a few months ago the rabbi of Mt. Zion
Hebrew Congregation in St.. Paul, Minn., has been called to
take the pulpit of Holy Blossom Congregation in Toronto.
ud and the Post-Freudians'
Fre
Case histories, simplified explanations of psychiatric terms and
easy approaches to psychoanalysis make the new paperback, "Freud
and the Post-Freudians," by J. A. C. Brown, a work of exceptional
merit.
•
Published by Penguin Books (3300 Clipper Mill Rd., Baltimore
11), this explanatory book on psychology and psychiatry provides
the reader with a good handbook on psychoanalysis and the -masters
who have developed the science.
Sigmund Freud's life is evaluated, and those of his successors
who have contributed to the art are delineated masterfully, with
an understanding that makes this book authoritative. .
Freud's theories; the psychosomatic approach, the theories of
_ arry Stack Sullivan, Carl Jung,
Karen Horney, Erich Fromm, H
Theodore Reik, J. F. Brown, Otto Weininger and others are
assessed and applied to specific cases.
"Freud and the Post-Freudians" is noteworthy for its assess,
ment of the vital psychiatric science.
Another Penguin paperback describes the emergence of the
Penguin Books in a pamphlet called "The Penguin Story."
'
'Holiday Work and Play
/
"Holiday Work and Play," written and illustrated by Joyce
Fischman, published by the Union of American Hebrew Corp
gregations (838 5th, N.Y. 21), constructively guides children
along paths of learning while playing, of coloring a study book
while reviewing the factors related to Holy Days and holidays
as well as major events in Jewish history.
The author points out: "I usually discuss the story and
customs first and have the class use the workbook later in the
lesson . . Most of the children require carefully presented
instructions with at least one example for the class to do
together . . ."
Her approach is suitable not only for Glasswork but also
at home, under guidance by parents. "Holiday Work and Play"
is a well prepared book for that purpose. ,
4"