Lookstein, to Speak at Annual
Bar-Ilan, Dinner Here Dec. 13

- Letter Box

Rabbi Levin Explains
His Position Opposing
Center Sabbath Plans

•
Zvi Tomkiewicz., executive director of Mizrachi and Bar-
'Ilan University's Dtroit Committee, on his recent visit at
Detroit Dormitory of the University in Ramat Gan, Israel.

Zvi Tomkiewicz, executive
director - of Mizrachi-Hapoel
Hamiztachi and of the Detroit
Friends of Bar-Ilan University,
this week reported on his visit
in Israel last month, when he
conferred with Bar-Ilan Uni-
verSity authorities.
He reported that the seventh
academic year of the university
opened festively, with Chief
Rabbi I. Untermann of Tel Aviv
giving the opening blessing and
Prof. B. Kurtzweil, chairman
of the faculty, presiding.
Dr. Tuvia - Bar-Ilan, director-
general of the university, in his
remarks pointed out the unique-
ness of the Bar-Ilan Unive ity
and announced the enroll ent
of 800 students in comp
with the first acade
enrollment of
nounced the esta ent
nology,
o
new depart
ry and
ju
a year's• u e
his de-
ke
social s vice
up consid-
partmen
srael. The
erable i crest
be headed by
departm t is
Dr. Solo n S oam and Dr. Ja-
cob Bar- r, who was the as-
sistant p osecutor at the
Eichmari trial.

The curriculum for this course
was worked out together with
the Ministries of Justice, Edu-
cation and Welfare, who formed
a special educational commit-
tee which is headed by Supreme
Court Justice Chaim Cohen and
the general inspector of Israeli
police, Joseph Nechemias.
Announcement was made that
the Wertzweiler Main Library
is now being built on the cam-
pus of the university.
Tomkiewicz announced that
the Detroit Bar-Ilan Commit-
tee, which ha-s played a major
role in the maintenance and
expansion of the university, will
have its annual banquet at Latin
Quarter Dec. 13.
Phillip Stollman, chairman of
he board of trustees of the
American Committee for Bar-
Ilan University, announces that
Dr. Joseph H. Lookstein, presi-
dent of the university's board
of governors, will be guest of
honor at the banquet. Dr. Ja-
cob Goldman, noted physicist,
will be master of ceremonies.
Information and reservations
are available by calling DI
1-0708.

Nazi Victims Reminded
of Claim Filing Dates

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Editor, The Jewish News:
Recent events, including in-
accurate reports in the general
press, 'make it necessary for me
to clarify my position in con-
nection with the reopening of
the Jewish Community Center
on the Sabbath.
In the first place I wish to
state categorically that I am un-
alterably opposed to the report
prepared by the Fisher Com-
mittee. The program recom-
mended in that report violates
the sanctity of the Sabbath in
many respects and does not pro-
vide sufficient safeguards for the
proper observanCe of the Sab-
bath.
I accepted Mr. Fisher's invita-
tion to serve on this Committee
With the sincere hope that a
program could be developed at
the Center which would meet
the interests of Center members
and which at the same time
would respect the holy traditions
of our people. I stated at the first
meeting_ of the committee that I
understood that "the committee
had come together to work out
a program 'which would be con-
sistent with halachah." When it
became obvious that the major-
ity of committee members had
little concern with Sabbath ob-
servance, I advised the commit-
tee that I could' no longer par-
ticipate in their deliberations.
The final report of the com-
mittee recommended the elimi-
nation of two activities in the
health club. All other programs
proposed by the Center were ap-
proved, regardless of -,,whether
or not they violated the sanctity
of the Sabbath. The prohibition
against hot showers and . swim-
ming on the Sabbath is clear
no committee and no rabbi can
make such activities "shabbos-
dig."
Instead of being concerned
with ways and means of 'safe-
guarding the sanctity of the
Sabbath, the committee, recom-
mended a prohibition against
social dancing—but • the Center's
proposed program did not even
include social . dancing. On the
other hand the committee "over-
looked" such practical problems
as the use of movie projectors
and phonographs which, of
course, are not permissable on
the Sabbath.
In short, from- the viewpoint
of halachah the committee's re-
port is unacceptable; from the
practical viewpoint there are no
assurances and no controls that
even the very minimal recom-
mendations and prohibitions can
be enforced.
While it is theoretically pos-
sible to open a Center . on the
Sabbath for cultural programs
only (but not for physical edu-
cation activities), practically
speaking I am convinced that the
only way the sanctity of the
Sabbath can be preserved and
enhanced is by the complete
closing of the Center on the
Sabbath. I call on my colleagues
in the rabbinate and o all loyal
Jew's in our city o r ew their
efforts toward t g 1.
ry t ul
IN
BB

UNITED NATIONS, (JTA)—
A reminder that some former
refugees from the. Nazi regime
must file indemnification claims
before the end of this year,
while others have until the end
of 1962 to file claims, was issued
here by the office of the United
Nations High Commissioner f?r
Refugees.
The United Nations and the
government of West Germany
entered an agreement under
which Germany is to contribute
$11 million for aid to persons
uprightness
ove trikt a
who had been persecuted by the
ornaMents f the soul—
Nazis "by reason of their na-
e unto them; pros-
tionality" but who were not and
obtained is built in
eligible for indemnification perity
ock."
under German law. Persons in a s
—MOSES MAIMONIDES
this category, the High Commis-
sioner's office pointed out, must
file their claims not later than
IF YOU TURN THE
Dec. 31.
Others eligible for indemnifi-
M I
cation, by reason of having suf-
UPSIDE DOWN YOU WON'T
fered physical injury through
FIND A FINER WINE THAN
Nazi persecution, may file as
late as the end of the next
calendar year. These claims must
be filed before West German
authorities, rather than with the Milan Winer.es, Detroit, Mich. 1
office of the High Commissioner.

I

AN
OPEN LETTER
TO THE
JEWISH
COMMUNITY

A compromise set of proposals submitted
by a public-spirited group of citizens in their
private capacities and adopted by the Jewish
Community Center as their guide to Sabbath
programming reduces the number of activities
that involve desecration of the Sabbath. Re-
gretfully, however, Sabbath desecration has
not been eliminated. By permitting hot
showers with swimming and gym activities to
function, the sanctity of the Sabbath in a com-
munal institution continues to be violated.

The basic principle for which we have
been struggling has been and continues to be
the recognition of the Sabbath as a holy day,
the cornerstone of Jewish life, whose sanctity
and spiritual significance must be made mani-
fest.

We have ail along insisted upon • the
closing of the Center on the Sabbath because
its open door policy included activities that,
involved Sabbath •esecration. Th situation

in this res • ect as not c ed. till in-
tion of
i th are
cludes ac
the Sa

tivities
the non-
able. An
does no
reason,

CI

h

bbat

non-Sabbath ac-
dmil
1 pro: ms does not make
ivities any less objection ,-
are now less of the latter
se more acceptable. For this

e-affirm our opposition to the re-
opening o the Center on the Sabbath.- Basic

.

principles in Judaism and Jewish life cannot
be compromised by .a community which hopes
to survive spiritually.

It has been said, "There is a unity which,
far from being an achievement, represents
near-bankruptcy." This is not the type of unity
we envision for Jewish life.

The Jewish Center belongs to all of us,
to the entire community. We will continue to
exert every effort to attain our goals, and- to
instill a sense- of Jewish purpose and respons-
ibility among the leaders of our institutions.
We call upon the entire community to join
with us !

RABBI MILTON ARM

Cong. Ahavas Achim

RABBI DAVID BAKST

RABBI HAYIM DONIN

Cong. Bnai David

RABBI ISAAC FLAMM

Bnai Israel Torah Center

RABBI ARTHUR GOLD

Cong. Nusach Horie

RABBI LEO GOLDMAN

Cong. Shaarey Shomayim

RABBI CHASKEL GRUBNER

Cong. David Ben Nochim

RABBI ISRAEL HALPERN

Cong. Beth Abraham

RABBI MAX KAPUSTIN

RABBI JOEL LITKE

Cong. Gemiluth Chas.odim

RABBI YAAKOV HOMNICK

Young Israel of Oak-Woods

I I I I I I I INN I I I I I I I I I I I I PM,

RABBI LEIZER LEVIN

Cong. Beth Tefilo
Emanuel-Tikvoh

RABBI ISRAEL NOTIS

RABBI SAMUEL H. PRERO

Young Israel of Northwest

RABBI JOSEPH RABINOWITZ

Cong. Beth Shmuel

RABBI ISRAEL ROCKOVE

RABBI JOSHUA SPERKA

Young Isragl of Greenfield

RABBI JOSHUA SPIRO

Cong. Beth Yehudah

RABBI NATHAN STEINBERG

Livonia Jewish Congregation

RABBI ISAAC STOLLMAN

Cong. Mishkan Israel

RABBI SHALOM P.
WOHLGELERNTER

Cong. Mogen Abraham

