THE JEWISH NEWS

A Bone in Nasser's Throat

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member American Association of Et) glIsh--Jewisb Newspapers, Michigan Press Associations, National
Editorial Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35,
Mich ., VE II-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at That Office, Detroit, Mick, tinder act of Congress of
March 8, 1879.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ HARVEY ZUCKERBERG

Advertising Manager

dusimass Manager

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the twenty-fifth day of Adar II, 5722, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues.
Pentateuchal portion, Shemini, Leviticus 9:1-11:47, Exodus 12:1-20. Prophetical portion, Ezekiel
45:16-46:18.

Licht Benchen, Friday March 30, 6:37 p.m.

Vol. XL1, No. 5

Page Four

March 30, 1962

An Era of Cultural Creativity

Increased interest in adult educational
freedom as much as it did under pressure
programs was especially in evidence dur- from persecution.
ing the past four weeks, at the sessions
There is proof, in the response that
of the Midrasha Institute, which featured
comes from our youth, that contrary to
discussions, preceded by scholarly lec- all contentions, Jewish survival need not
tures, on Biblical subjects.
be dependent upon reactions to anti-
Established as a memorial tribute to Semitism but can be rooted in the high-
Theodore Bargman, Mrs. Bargman's gift est ideals of our faith and our history.
to finance this series has made it possible * *
for the United Hebrew Schools, sponsor
The new progress attained by the
of the Midrasha program, to continue Midrasha—the College of Jewish Studies
the Institute as an inspiration for ad- —and the related functions of the United
vanced studies in our community. Hebrew Schools; the cooperation the corn-
munity school system has received from
*
*
congregations and other communal school
This series emerged as especially systems; the new unity that is evident
significant because, for the sixth year, in educational ranks since the fusion of
young people continued to show a keen
cultural activities under the aegis of an
interest in cultural Jewish aspects.
over-all supervisory school system, offer
encouragement of new progress in areas
The fear that has been expressed
of culture and education. The response
over complacency, indifference and pos-
from many young people offers testimony
sible antagonism, by .Jewish youth towards
of the positiveness of the new approaches
their .Iewish cultural legacies. was dispell-
ed among those who witnessed the inspir- to Jewish community life in the midst of
the democratic American environment.
ation that marked the Midrasha Institute
The positive approach to efforts to
series.
inculcate Jewish knowledge, the hearten-
This lecture 'series provided part of ing response of the youth, combine to
the heartening balm that gives us assur- make the present era one of productivity
ance of the indestructibility of Israel, of culturally. It becomes a most creative era
the inherent sources of our heritage Which_ when an historic heritage can flourish
assure the continuation of our traditional without hindrance in an environment of
cultural heritage in an environment of absolute political and civic freedom.

Kennedy Evaluates

Hadassah's Vital Role

As4.--.nificent evaluation of Hadassah's
vital role in human affairs has been made
by President Kennedy, who, in a message
to the women's Zionist organization, on
its 50th anniversary, had this to say:
"Hadassah has demonstrated for
more than a generation that our so-
ciety receives in giving. Our signifi-
cance as a nation is often more visible
in the hopes and aspirations that
others entertain for us than in our
own estimates of ourselves. For many
years, immigrants to these shores con-
stantly rekindled the vision of- oppor-
tunity and freedom that inspired our
first settlers. Now the tide runs in new
channels. For all men everywhere are
immigrants to freedom and opportun-
ity.. as our nation bends its strength
and lends its hand to help thenchieve
this horizon in the spirit, in that act
free men discover their own worth.

Iladassah has realized this great
truth for many years. It has brought
not only help to others, but awareness
to our own nation. For that, you are to
be thanked and commended. As the
world struggles from the dark ways of
of the ,past, and seeks the destiny of

-

peace in freedom, organizations like
Ifarassah will continue to find a vital
place in human affairs."
The President thus has indicated the
appreciation that is extant of the efforts of
the women's movement in behalf of good
health in the Middle East and its contri-
butions towards the erasing of the low
standards that existed in pre-Israel Pales-
tine among Arabs as much as among im-
poverished Jews who flocked to the Holy
Land. The President's message also ex-
presses recognition of Hadassah con-
tinued activities which bring awareness
of help that is being given by Americans
to less fortunate people overseas.
Observed on the occasion of Purim,
Hadassah's half century of service was
noted in a statement by Hadassah's
president, Mrs. Siegfried Kramarsky, who,

while calling upon peoples everywhere to

fight anti-Semitism and discrimination
wherever they may arise declared:
"Whenever the venom of anti-Semitism
seeps into a society, whether it be insti-
gated by a Haman in Persia, by a Hitler
in Germany, by Communists or Nazis—
the echo of Mordecai's injunction to
Esther is a call to action. And the Jewish
people throughout the ages have re-
sponded even as Esther did."
It is as a creative force that Hadassah
begin . a new era of activities. Mrs. Rose
R. L. Halpern, co-chairman of the Jewish
Agency and a former national Hadassah
president, described the movement's his-
toric position properly by stating:
"We believe that the Jewish people is

an eternal people; that it is one people
and that to insure its survival and its
unity must be the task of every successive
generation. We believe that Israel reborn
and the people of Israel settled on its own
soil can create its own image, develop its
own character, strive for its own perfec-
tion in a way that is impossible for any
community in the Diaspora and that to aid
Israel in this task is the responsibility of
all of us.
"We believe that the Diaspora can be
creative, that Jewish life can become
more deeply rooted; that we can put the
brakes on against the trend to ignorance.
To this task we must dedicate ourselves
for it would be a historic tragedy if the
State of Israel were to be reborn and the
Jewish people lost. We believe that Jew-
ish communities everywhere and the Jew-
ish community of Israel must be partners
in the great task of survival."
Hadassah's efforts have been felt
wherever Jews- reside in this country
today. In all communities, large and
small, including Detroit, the movement
has left its mark upon humanitarian ef-
forts. The organization's work continues
unhampered, earning for it the heartiest
greetings of all of us on the present an-
niversary celebration.

'AU About American Holidays'

Valuable Compilation Includes
Data About 7 Jewish Occasions

Mrs. Maymie R. Krythe, a high school teacher and an able
writer, specializes in the holidays and holiday traditions, and
is well qualified to write about them. Her book, "All About
American Holidays," in which she describes "how more than 50
of our holidays originated and are observed today," published
by Harper, is a most informative book.

She does not limit herself to the American holidays as we
know them but also describes in her interesting book the festivals
observed by other peoples in this country. Included among the
holidays in this book is the Mexican Cinco de Mayo, the Chinese
New Year, and the Jewish festivals.

The Jewish festival and holiday days that are part of this
book on holidays are Purim, Pesach, Shavuoth, Rosh Hashanah,
Sukkoth, Yom Kippur and Hanukah.

The reason for including, in a book about American holidays,
such other festivals, is interestingly explained by Mrs. Krythe
in her foreword, in which she states:

"Since the United States of America has long been the
`melting pot' of the world, various peoples have brought with
them native celebrations. Many of these customs have been
accepted and observed here. Therefore it is interesting to
trace their origins and evolution, and to note how they have
influenced our present-day holiday observances.
"From primitive times man has observed various feast
days: some connected with religious worship (hence the word,
`holiday,' from 'holy day') or with changes of seasons and
- historical events. Several modern celebrations are concerned
with interesting our citizens in worthwhile movements."
Mrs. Krythe's descriptions of Jewish holidays have been
prepared with great care to assure accuracy as to historical

data and traditional methods of their observance. In her de-
scription of Sukkoth, for example, she quotes not only the
Biblical commandment for the holiday's observance but also from
Josephus "Antiquities."

Similarly, she is accurate in her evaluation for explanations
and historical and traditional facts.

She points out that Oklahoma has the most holidays-20,
while the District of Columbia has only eight.

Her "All About American Holidays" is a most valuable
reference book and an informative collection of data that will
be useful in schools and homes alike.

'Entrusted with Leadership'

Dr. Stern 's Spiritual

Addresses

A collection of addresses by Dr. Harry Joshua Stern, of
Temple Emanu-El, Montreal, entitled "Entrusted with Spiritual
Leadership," published by Bloch, deals with a variety of topics,
such as: Creed for Youth, Liberal Judaism, Jewish Family Life,
the Rabbi and the Community, Patience, Prayer, Brotherhood,
Religion and Medicine, Education, Convert-Proselyte-Apostate,
and other subjects.
Dealing with the question of proselytizing and missionary
activities, Rabbi Stern suggests the conversion of the "secu-
larists among us who do not know the sources of Jewish in-
spiration and experience not the joy of Judaism." Discussing
the problem of apostates and converts more broadly, he declares:
"For Christians, Christianity is the best religion. For Jews,
Judaism is the best religion. Let Christians be the best kind of
Christians and let Jews be the best kind of Jews and therein is
hope for a decent society. That is in truth the significance of
`spiritual democracy.' "
The author prescribes an "escape from monotony"—by read-
ing good books, listening to great music and seeking "at-oneness
with God."
In its totality, his collection of essays is an inspiring book
for those seeking spiritual sustenance.

