Salute to AJPA 20th Year
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English—Jewish 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 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign 58.
Entered as second • class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post 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 fifteenth day of lyar, 5722, the following scriptural selections will be read
in our synagogues.
Pentatenchal portion, Be-har, Levit 25:1-26:2. Prophetical portion, Jeremiah 32:6-27.
I.icht Benchen. Friday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.
Page Four
Vol. XLI, No. 12
May 18, 1962
/
American Jewry s Maturity and New Duties
In his survey of the origin of the close," but already has witnessed its last
Detroit Jewish population, made for the days, and all current and future plan-
Jewish Welfare Federation, Dr. Albert ning, educationally, spiritually, must be
J. Mayer of Wayne State University done to fit into a new setting in which
reaches the conclusion that "in 20 years the community is thoroughly American,
the bulk of the adult Jewish population searching for methods of perpetuating
under 65 years of age will be American our legacies in an environment that. neith-
born." He asserts that while "today the er knows nor understands the mores of
influence of European Jewish culture is the parents and the grandparents.
still strongly imprinted on the American New customs, new mannerisms, new
Jewish community, this period is quickly traditions are finding their way into our
way of life. That does not mean that
drawing to a close."
Dr. Mayer's facts regarding the per- heritage will or need be sacrificed. It
centages of foreign born in Detroit Jewry only admonishes us to approach our
are most illuminating. Already, our popu- needs in accordance with new conditions.
lation is a thoroughly Americanized body, There is hardly any cause for concern
and in a sense his assertion that the Euro- over the changing conditions. Throughout
pean Jewish cultural aspects still are felt our history we have experienced trans-
among us is rather surprising, the trends formations. Some resulted in the disap-
having been for some time away from pearance of large communities, but in the
main there must be a retention of faith
Old World influences.
The disappearance of some of the that survival need not depend upon old
European influences has not been helpful and outmoded characteristics; that a
wholesome Jewish existence can adapt
to the community's efforts to extend its
itself to fit into new conditions.
cultural activities. Many of the scholarly
Our educational system already has
aspects that were felt in past years have
made rapid strides towards such adapta-
been missing. The demise of Yiddish has
tion and has not lost by it. We must have
removed a factor that is irreplaceable.
faith that a new type of educator will
Yet, the change in the status of the com-
emerge, from the colleges of Jewish
munity must be viewed as an inevitable
studies and the seminaries, to be well
fact. American Jewry, as we have indi-
qualified' to capture the affection and the
cated time and again in these columns,
loyalty of our youth for the ideals • which
has come of age as a community that is
stem from their heritage as Jews.
creating its own standards, completely
The survey made here by Dr. Mayer
removed from former influences.
bluntly challenges us to face the facts
The period during which European
realistically. We live in a new era, and
Jewish cultural influences still affected
American Jewish life is not, as Prof. we must fit into it proudly and prag-
matically.
Mayer states, "quickly drawing to a
Young Israel's 50th Anniversary
Fifty years ago, a group of 15 young
men and women formed a new organiza- try, Young Israel offers proof that it is
tion for the purpose of conducting lec- possible for an observant element to
tures and discussions on Jewish subjects, prosper in a free environment. This
movement
has been
able to of
enlist
in-
The aspirations
of the on
creators
of this whose
members
are natives
this the
coun-
New York's
It originated
in English.
terest of parents as well as their children,
East Side and the movement was named
and the term young in its name is indica-
Young Israel. Its aim was to encourage
tive more of the agelessness of Israel
an interest in orthodox teachings among
than of the age of the organization's
the Jewish youth.
members.
In Detroit, the Young Israel movement
movement materialized and Young Israel
has grown to a large membership that has made lasting contributions to com-
functions in 90 United States, Canadian, munity programming.
The progress made by Young Israel
European and Israeli branches. It has and the movement's aims to advance our
500 cultural
and
athletic through
youth clubs,
assists
Sabbath
observers
a spe- it people's culture and traditions as a living
spirit of Israel have earned for it high
cially organized employment bureau and
regard
among all Jews,
and Israel
a total on
com-
maintains other services, including an munity
congratulates
Young
its
armed forces and veterans bureau.
As an American movement, most of 50th anniversary.
A Place for Youth in Jewish Ranks
Inez Robb's Book Contains
Approval of School Prayers,
Criticizes Discriminations
The interest that currently exists in the arguments pre-
sented before the U. S. Supreme Court in the New Hyde Park,
N. Y., public school issue, finds an echo in the new book by
Inez Robb, "Don't Just Stand There," published by David McKay
her new
Co. (119 W. 40th, NY18). (Mrs. Robb will autograph
book at the J. L. Hudson Co. on May 25.)
-mrs . Robb the well known columnist, disagrees with the
appeal against the reciting of a religious prayer in the public
schools. She insists that she is dedicated "to the complete
separation of church and state," but is troubled "by the modern
and bitter opposition to the mere mention of God and the Ten
Commandments in the public schools." She disagrees with the
position of the American Jewish Congress and the New York
Board of Rabbis, and while respecting such opposition, she finds
that "it is sad that the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament,
which Jewish, Protestant and Catholic faiths alike cherish,
could become a cause of dissension."
Believing that this could be an area for agreement, as a
"moral and ethical yardstick that would be valid for their
children." Mrs. Robb states: "Perhaps if the Ten Commandments
were given a chance, were permitted to hang on classroom walls
where children from time to time might glimpse them, some of
the Decalogue's moral strength and purpose would rub off.
Surely. in these troubled times, that couldn't be bad."
What Mrs. Robb fails to take into account is the precedent
that religious practices in schools would establish, thereby lead-
ing to the total breakdown of the separation principle.
In another essay. "On Burning Books," Mrs. Robb deals a
severe blow to those who would raise false cries of anti-Semitism
and to prejudices that could arise out of index expurgations. She
was motivated in writing this essay by the removal of Paul
Gallico's "Farewell to Sport" from books approved for New
York public libraries, on the ground that the book contains
anti-Semitic statements. A number of Jews were asked for their
opinions and none could find an anti-Semitic angle in Gallico's
book. Mrs. Robb declares in the author's defense:
"Since the blood, wisdom and talent of the great and ancient
people of Judea flow through Mr. Gallico's veins. the charge
must have come as something of a surprise to an author who has
always been proud of his Jewish heritage from a maternal
grandparent."
After some 30 years of extremely varied, always busy and
often hectic journalistic experience, Inez Robb bases her column-
writing on one simple rule. "Anything that amuses, annoys or
challenges me is likely, I believe, to amuse, annoy or challenge
those who read what I write," she says. Writing with sharp
humor and easy charm, she makes her one "simple" rule work
so well that her column for United Feature Syndicate, Inc.,
now appears regularly in more than 130 leading newspapers in
the United States and Canada. She earned one of journalism's
most coveted honors in December 1957 when she received the
New York Newspaper Women's Club citation as "the writer of
the best column in any field." In 1959, the University of Idaho
recognized her outstanding contributions to journalism with
the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature.
"Don't Just Stand There" contains scores of essays with
witty observations on the American way of life. She considers
herself one of the luckiest women because "I get paid for my
opinions." In her new book she writes under such chapter titles
as "Every Girl Should Have a Husband—Preferably Her Own,"
"The Fodder of the Country," "The Really Fragile Sex" and
others of a similarly intriguing nature.
While claiming that there is an up- ure of our college students to take a
deeper interest in Jewish life.
surge of interest among young Jews in
the synagogue and in our religious af-
It is true, of course, that a college
fairs, Jewish leaders more often than not student who is indifferent to Jewry and
utter
of upsurge
a threatened
collapse Judaism during his college days often
If warnings
there is an
of religious
in Jewish ranks.
returns to serious Jewish activities upon
his resumption of his place within his
loyalty, the simultaneous warnings against family and among his friends. But at a
assumed threats to Jewish existence due time when many more of our young Bloch Publishes Dr. Hertz's Book
Bloch Publishing Co. will issue, before the end of this month,
to internal disintegrations are unwar- people are about to graduate both from
ranted. Yet, there seems to be a far the high schools, preparatory to college the newest book by Dr. Richard C. Hertz, rabbi of Temple
greater substantiation of the warnings entrance, and from the universities, it is Beth El.
of Himself," Dr.
than of the over-confident assumptions
that young and old are beginning to flock
to the synagogues and that there is
emerging a new craving for Jewish cul-
tural and spiritual values.
Many studies have been made of the
existing attitudes among young Jews, and
most of them have brought negative con-
clusions. Especially distressing is the fail-
well that we take intO account the need
to retain the interest of our youth in
Jewish affairs beginning with their under-
graduate collegiate days and to attract
the university graduates to Jewish lead-
ership. These are vital needs during the
Under the title "The American Jew in Search
Hertz's new book deals with the American Jew's religious questions
and doubts, his search for guidance and inspiration.
The publishets state that Dr. Hertz succeeds in crystallizing
"the religious yearnings of the thoughtful American Jew seeking
understanding of himself, his situation in America, his hopes out
of Judaism and Jewish identification."
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, one of a group of scholars who have
weeks of commencements in the schools commended this book, calls it "most timely ... . a valuable book
which should be an inspiration and guide to young and old."
throughout the land.