THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, October 27, MI — 32

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Text of Decision .on Sabbath- Programming

(Continued from Page One )
called "positive" and "nega- Shaw at the September 28 meet- ger (or sandwich) the cultural then present such recommenda-
and accepted by the Committee tive".
ing. These include such meri- periods in such fashion as to tions as it may deem necessary.
torious Sabbath activities as:
at its initial meeting on Thurs- A. THE "LIMITATIONS"
make it conveniently inevitable
D. Through such continued
day evening, September 28, 196'1.
a) Informal clitbs, "composed for children or adults to attend communication and counsel, we
1) To take the negative first:
A. Mr. Fisher's charge to the These would include the elim- of homogeneous groups of the cultural programs.
trust that the Sabbath program
Committee stated that the ob- ination or_ modification of cer- children about the same age IV. PERSONNEL TO CARRY of the Jewish Community Cen-
jective of a Saturday afternoon tain types of "un-Sabbath-like" and sex. These g r o u p s OUT PROGRAM
ter can be made attractive, spir-
program, in addition to the gen- or "vochedig" activities on Sat- would be designated as 'fun
We recognize that such rec- itually meaningful, and endur-
eral objectives of the Center, is urday afternoon — in order to groups' for children in grades ommendations are more easily ing.
Prior to the meeting of the
to foster a positive attitude to- show "proper regard and rev- 1-4 and 'friendship clubs' for put on paper than put into op-
Center board on Wednesday,
ward the Sabbath as a basic erence" for the Sabbath, as a children in grades 5-6." Those eration.
informal clubs which meet on
"different" day.
concept of Jewish life."
A. Proper implementation re- Rabbi Leizer Levin issued a
statement to The J e w i s h
2)
Saturday,
such as Choral, Folk quires not only fidelity to pro:,
On
some
of
these
limita-
The
latter
clause
is
the
key
B.
to the prime purpose of this tions. there already exists a Dance and Chess-and-Checker fessed principles, but adequate News, to the effect that he
fairly general agreement. For Clubs, and such "drop-in" proj- staff personnel, equipped with "objected vigorously to the
Committee's deliberations.
C. We take this to mean. that example, in the Center's pub- ects as game room and story- the knowledge and technique to final proposals of the com-
the general objectives of the lished formulation of the Sab- telling hours—will, according to translate these principles into a mittee which drew up the
the Center catalogue, concen- program.
recommendations concerning
Center, now being laudably car- bath program, it is stated that
trate on "appropriately mod-
"Woodworking,
cooking
and
B. In the program formula- the manner in which the
ried out in so many areas on
activities and special em- tion previously referred to, the Center could be opened, and
the other six days of the week, other activities requiring the ified
phasis on programs with Jewish Director of the Center recog- refused to participate on that
must, in the Saturday program, use of heavy tools or equipment content."
nized this need when he said: basis in the final delibera-
be shaped and guided by the will be eliminated," as .would
b) Following each Saturday "A special effort will be made tions of the committee."
special goals that would imple- highly organized team games
At the meeting of the Council
and trips away from the build- club, there will be an assembly- to recruit leaders for Saturday
ment this Sabbath concept.
type mass activity, featuring clubs who are particularly of Orthodox Rabbis on Tuesday
ing
involving
transportation,
D. This was further made
such cultural creative Sabbath knowledgeable about Judaism, a telegram was approved, to be
clear by Mr. Fisher's statement etc. On the same principle, endeavors as ' group singing, having the ability to motivate sent to the Center board meet-
that our task is: "to work out a smoking on the premises of the story telling, appropriate dra- children to participate in this ing, protesting against the Aro-
pattern that makes the re- Center would be prohibited on
posed program. -The telegram,
matic presentations, and Hay- kind of program."
sources of our Jewish Com- Saturdays.
C. The question remains which was to have been signed
dalah Services. __
3)
We
should
further
agree
munity Center available to our
c) Oneg Shabbat type pro- whether such leaders can be by Rabbi Issac Stoliman, presi-
people on the Sabbath within to eliminate all activities which
involve
transactions
for
finan-
grams
for Older adults including secured in time—to make cer- dent of the Council of Ortho-
the framework of proper regard
tain that the Sabbath program, dox Rabbis, and David J. Cohen,
and reverence for one of the cial gain (even without the ac- guest speakers on significant
through lack of adequate direc- president of Merkaz, Center of
most hallowed institutions of tual handling of money or tick- Jewish topics.
4) All this is positive and tion, does not lose its Sabbath Observant Orthodox Jews, did
the Jewish faith. Such a pro- ets). On this "transaction" prin-
the meeting.
gram would influence a . emp- ciple it should be agreed that good, and calculated to imple- character, and go "out of bal- not reach
Commending the co-chair-
munity's respect for the Sab- the rendering of personal serv- ment the goal of "fostering an auce."
ices involving financial gain or awareness of the Sabbath." It
D. To alleviate this problem men of the special committee
bath . . . "
purchase such as massages, is cultural activities like these and possible danger, it is sug- selected by Fisher—Mandell
E. We are further heartened snack bar, shoe shine and bar-
gested that the Center staff Berman and Stanley Winkel-
in the pursuit of this goal by ber shop, would be eliminated. that make it possible and rea- make an effort to contact some man—Charles H. Gershenson,
sonable for the Center to in-
p
the opening statement made by
of the Center, in a
4) As for the Health Club—a
of the youth program leaders, president
Mr. Irwin Shaw, Director of the question still exists about the clude in its Saturday program now professionally affiliated statement issued after the
Center, when he outlined a sug- use of certain facilities by its such non-spiritual activities as with various Detroit congrega- meeting W e d n e s d a y, ex-
gested Saturday afternoon pro- members in the Health Club informal swimming and non- tions.
the Center's appre-
tions. A few of these, who have
gram ? at the September 28 area on Saturday afternoons. competitive "low-organ- had intensive experience in ciation "to those who served
meeting. He said at the outset The facilities involved are the ized" athletic play and recrea- Sabbath cultural programming so well with them for bril-
that,"the Center sought to gear separate snack bar, the shoe tion. For these age groups men- could,
could, at least in a consultative liantly carrying out this most
such a program to fostering an shine facility, the separate Mas- tioned above (Section 3 para- advisory capacity, be utilized to difficult assignment."
awareness of the distinctive na- sage Room, and the Steam graphs a, b and c) the proper enrich the scope and vitality of this
Gershenson
out that
committee pointed
was composed
ture and value of the Sabbath Room. It is submitted that these balance and Sabbath emphasis
among those who participate..." . particular facilities should be is thus maintained, within the the Center's Sabbath program. of a w i d e 1 y representative
of our professed goal. V. THE FUTURE CHARACTER group of knowledgable leaders
F. This unique purpose — closed on Saturday afternoons. context
5) For other age levels—such OF THE PROGRAM •
of the Detroit Jewish commun-
these "Sabbath" principles — This is a fair expectation, in the
A. After the Sabbath pro- ity," and he stated:
we believe, constitute a sound context of the Sabbath prin- as tween and teen-age youth
(junior and senior high school gram is satisfactorily initiated,
"The formula which the com-
basis for our deliberations.
ciple involved, which is "to evi- youngsters) as well as for ad-
the challenging problem will mittee has devised permits the
1) because they go to the dence a community's respect for ults in general, the projected
still confront both the Center Center to provide an additional
heart of the community con- the Sabbath." Let it be 'noted Saturday program does not sat- and the community, of retaining dimension to its service by
that
to
numerous
members
of
troversy and misunderstanding
isfy this desirable Sabbath and the distinctive Sabbath charac- offering a program of activities
which led to the formation of the community the agreement cultural emphasis. For these ter of the prOgram, as it devel- on
Saturday afternoon. This
the Committee for Sabbath Pro- on a Center opening of any age levels—comprising a con-
kind (especially including the siderable number of individuals ops. program will be designed to
gramming;
B. To help gauge and access meet the expressed need of a
2) and because these prin- use of the gym swimming pool —few, if any, cultural or Sab- the progress or regression of great many people for construe-
and
low-organized
athletic
facil-
ciples seem to us the only ones
bath type activities are now be- the program, as time goes on— tive leisure time activities on-
which bear promise of a crea- ities) entails a - concession of ing planned. Consequently, if a it is recommended that a repre- this day, while at the same time
tive, peaceable and widely ac- cherished patterns of religious teen-ager or general adult at- sentative committee, consisting preserving the sanctity and spe-
feeling. But this kind of partial tends the Center on the Sab-
cepted solution.
of religious leaders, educators cial meaning of the Sabbath as
concession from both ends may
II. THE NEED FOR SPECIFICS be a price worth paying if by it bath, he or she will find avail- and laymen, be given the au- interpreted by the broad mass
h n c community."
Joemwm
isuh g;ter
A. One of the nettlesome we could achieve an equally able only swimming and infor- thority to consult with the Cen- of ctsoe
ironies about general purposes sacred goal—the peace and gen- mal recreation and athletics— ter staff at periodic intervals. Tucson
and principleS, is that it is rel- eral good of the larger Jewish which in themselves hardly Such a committee could not Starts Saturday Program
TUCSON, Ariz., (JTA) — The
atively easy for diverse individ- community of which the Center "foster a positive attitude to- only assist in developing further
ward the Sabbath."
creative specifics, but could Tucson Jewish Community Cen-
uals or groups to agree upon is a constituent agency:
6) We therefore urge the also serve as the community's ter began last week a Saturday
them — in principle — and ter-
5) In order to maintain a
ribly difficult for the same indi- Sabbath-like atmosphere, it Board to recommend the filling sounding board—to help reflect program for children of elemen-
viduals to agree upon the im- would seem proper, in addition of this serious age-gap, so far the Center's success or failure tary school age.
The 10-week program is being
plementation of these prin- to the prohibition of smoking, as positive, creative cultural ac- in achieving the purpose and
ciples. The harmony on prin- to agree that there be no use of tivities are concerned, approp- principles which gave rise to held each Saturday from 1:30 to
4:30 p.m. It includes language
ciples often breaks down when vending machines—no social or riate to the Sabbath. Every age the Sabbath program.
C. Such a committee should, 'clubs, arts and crafts, gymnasium
it comes to considering the rock and roll dancing—and no group should be made to feel
Methods a n d techniques by other overt violations of Sab- and experience personally, the within one year from the date and dramatics and other activi-
'which the principles are to be bath propriety by either the totality of the Sabbath program, of this proposal's acceptance, ties, all under professional di-
and the
of cultural make an analysis, evaluation rection. Among the clubs meet-
fulfilled.
member participants or by the activities importance
— which alone make and report on the progress of ing on Saturday at the center are
B. This irony represents a Jewish service personnel.
challenge. But it need not B. THE POSITIVE SPECIFICS the initiating of a Sabbath pro- the Sabbath program as pre- an Explorers Club, a stamp club
gram worthwhile—if we want sented herewith, and should and a natural science club.
frighten us, because certain
1) It goes without saying that to remain true to our professed
specifics are implicit in the
very principles themselves. The negative limitations alone can- purpose and principles.
7) In the cultUral activities
very phrase "within the frame.• not make for a creative pro-
work of the Sabbath," used in gram, even as a frame alone already formulated for the
Mr. Fisher's charge, implies does not make a portrait. The younger children, ,and in those
t
be - set
that certain specifics must be canvas within the frame must similar activities ye
be filled with life and color, be- up for teen-agers and adults—
considered. There can be no
framework without delimina- fore a portrait can emerge. So, it is further suggested that the
restrictions alone cannot in springboard for the develop-
Mayor Miriani has issued a Awards will be presented.
tions.
Direnfeld cordially invites all
C. For this reason, we feel it themselves provide the essence ment of these programs should. proclamation to Morris Diren-
to be a prime duty of the Corn- of a Sabbath program. They come not merely from the ex- feld, president of the Metropoli- Bnai Brith members, their fam-
mittee to suggest, define and merely set the confines within pressed demand, or expected re- tan Detroit Bnai Brith Council, ilies and friends to attend this
sponse by these age groups for designating Oct. 23 through Oct. ceremony.
delimit- at least the areas or which the program operates.
2) For this reason, it is such activties—but rather from 28 as Bnai Brith week in com-
Father Harry J. Sutcliffe, of
kinds of activities which would
be, as far as possible in the in- equally vital for the Committee our own guiding principles, ex- memoration of the 118th birth- Brooklyn, will be the main
speaker. He is the blind direc-
terests of community harmony, to consider and recommend the pressed in a concerted effort by day of Bnai Brith.
To highlight the event, Bnai tor of the Episcopal Guild for
acceptable as being in con- positive components of a Sab- the Center staff to motivate, in-
sonance with the Sabbath prin- bath program which would spire and guide such a program, Brith will celebrate the anni- the Blind. He will speak on "A
ciples which we have all ac- bring to life our agreed-upon by deliberate direction from versary this Saturday, at 8:30 Priest's View of Bnai Brith."
On Feb. 24, 1959, the Benja-
cepted in Mr. Fisher's charge. goal of "fostering a positive at- above—with the aim of making p.m., in the social hall of Bnai
titude toward the Sabbath as a these cultural activities at least Moshe Synagogue, 14390 W. Ten min S. Pouszner Lodge of Bnai
HI. THE FRAMEWORK OF
basic concept of Jewish life." as attractive, to all age levels, Mile, Oak Park.
Brith in Lowell, Mass., con-
THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING
3) Some of these positive as the recreational and athletic
In addition, 200 new members ferred its "Man of the Year
SPECIFICS
components have already been activities already are..
of Bnai Brith will be initiated Award" upon Fr. Sutcliffe. The
The specifics may be class- projected in the Saturday pro-
8) In addition to other moti- by the Connell degree team, ac- award was presented by the hon-
ified in two categories, which gram formulated by the Center vation devices, a possible aid in companied by Cantor Louis orary international president of
for practical purposes might be staff, and reported on by Mr. this direction might be to stag- Klein and the Bnai Moshe Choir. Bnai Brith, Frank Goldman.

Bnai Brith's 118th. Anniversary
Observance Here Saturday Night
Features Initiation, Awards, Music

