THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Seventeen Years Later ...
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 $6.
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
Advertising Manager
Business Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-ninth day of lyar, the following scriptural selections will be read in
our synagogues.
Pentateuchal portion, Be-midbar, Numbers 1:1-4:20. Prophetical portion, I Samuel 20:18-42.
Licht Benchen, Friday June 1, 7:43 p.m.
Vol. XLI No. 14
Page Four
June 1, 1962
Trek Toward Synagogue and the Aftermath
In a report to the Rabbinical Assem-
bly convention last week, the executive
vice president of the association of Con-
servative rabbis, Rabbi Wolfe Kelman,
stated that a problem facing American
.Jewry is not that either of assimilation
or intermarriage, or of "Jews running
away from Judaism," but of tens of thou-
sands of parents and children "running
towards the synagogue." He added that
those who run to the synagogue are look-
ing for "stronger identification without
tradition and for answers to their many
problems, or often just to find out what
they should be perplexed about."
If this is so, why is it a problem?
The Rabbinical Assembly spokesman ex-
plained that "we are baffled because we
have been overwhelmed by this mass
looking to us, and many of us feel so in-
adequate and unprepared to answer."
The admission of inadequate comes as
a shock? Is it possible that a rabbinic
group finds itself unprepared to meet a
challenge, especially when it arrives in
the form of a positive repsonse to the
call of the synagogue?
One of the serious challenges to Jew-
ish communities is the lack of response
that comes from the college students. The
moment our youth leave their homes
for the universities, they seem to be lost
to us — at least until their return to their
homes, when many are induced to take
an interest in Jewish life in one form or
another. The Rabbinical Assembly's exec-
utive vice president, in his report to
his colleagues, stated that if Jewish stu-
dents in universities "are exposed at all
to literature, philosophy and other hu-
manities, they will discover the per-
vasive influence of Christian religious
thought and culture in these areas," and
he added:
"In the colleges and universities. with rare
exceptions, they will learn little about Juda-
ism as an adult religion, and often all that
will have remained with them from their years
of religious school attendance is a recollection
of Jewish education which dealt with lovable
tales about Abraham smashing the idols, a few
ethnic jokes, and a very detailed, quaint Jew-
ish cuisine: that Hamantaschen are eaten on
Purim, matzot on Passover, gefilte fish on Fri-
day nights ... It is not surprising that Judaism
is identified in the minds of so many people
with caterers and other trivial characteristics."
His admonitions are well taken. The
only knowledge many Jews have is that
imparted to them by degrading jokes
passed on by comedians and food idio-
syncrasies. What has been done to over-
come these negatives aspects of Jewish
life which have spread not only among
students but through all our communities?
Are the existing collegiate Jewish organi-
zations inadequate to deal with the prob-
lems? Are they unable to impart Jewish
knowledge to our students? Have the
rabbis failed to reach our youth? If there
is a condition of "running towards the
s y n a g o g u e," what arms have been
stretched out to welcome those "in
flight?"
Unless our rabbinical organizations
will be able to meet the challenge, there
will be an inclination to doubt the Rab-
binical Assembly's report. Else we will
be compelled to believe that the rabbis
have, thus far, failed to meet obligations,
simply because they may have arisen sud-
denly. We shall have to await a more logi-
cal report both on "the problem" of Jews
suddenly trekking towards the synagogue
as well as on the adequacy of Jewish
spiritual leadership to provide a solid
Jewish ground for those on the move
towards positive Jewish values.
Confirmations, Consecrations, Graduations
On the eve of Shavuot, the Festival of
the Torah, let there be a thorough re-
evaluation of our obligations to our youth
and of our expectations from the youth
for whom we provide Jewish training in
our schools.
There will be scores of celebrations
in honor of confirmands, consecrants and
graduates.
Many of our young people are receiv-
ing high honors for scholastic attain-
ments, and we rightfully rejoice that
learning remains the chief aspiration of
our people.
Nevertheless, when we speak of com-
mencements we must also think in terms
of the continuation of studies, of the re-
sumption of interest in Jewish subjects
when the current school year will have
ended.
Our Hebrew and congregational
schools will have many graduates dur-
ing the coming days. It is heartening to
know that the interest in Jewish school-
ing has advanced during the past decade.
It is to be hoped that this interest will
grow, that provisions will always be avail-
able for our your people to enroll in post-
graduate Jewish studies.
In planning for such higher standards
of learning, we must place emphasis upon
the strongest influence of all: the home.
It is from the parents as much, if not
more, than the teachers, that inspiration
must come for a retention of interest in
Jewish life, in Jewish institutions, in our
community and its objectives.
The parents who display so much in-
terest in the social functions in honor of
their children must show as keen an in-
terest in their studies and the continua-
tion of learning. We'll have a strong
community if we will be assured of a
thinking and well informed youth. Let
the home remain the great inspiration for
this objective. May the home, linked with
the school, emerge once again as the great
instrument for Jewish survival and for
the elevation of the standards of Jewish
learning to which all of us aspire.
Release of Frozen Arab Funds in Israel
Israeli and Arab leaders agreed, at
the United Nations, on a plan for the re-
lease of another large sum of money
from Arab refugee funds.
That agreement points, first of all, to
Israel's sincerity in offering redress and
compensation to Arabs wherever justi-
fied.
It also proves that where there is a
will there is a way, and if there were a
will to do so, there could be peace in the
Middle East.
Most recent reports show that Israeli
Arabs live remarkably well in the Jewish
State. Peace could bring similar benefits
to Arabs outside Israel, as a result of ex-
tended good will and commercial rela-
tions.
A Great Artist's Creations
'Woodcuts of Jakob Steinhardt'
A major contribution to the literature on art has just been
made by the Jewish Publication Society of America with its im-
pressive 9x12 book reproducing and evaluating the creative work
of Jakob Steinhardt.
Containing 446 drawings, portraits and woodcuts by the emi-
nent artist, the book appears under the title "The Woodcuts of
Jakob Steinhardt." They appear chronologically, fully reproduced.
Edited by Dr. Leon Kolb, lifetime graphic art collector and
associate clinical professor emeritus at Stanford University School
of Medici'ne, the book contains an analysis of the life and work of
Steinhardt by Dr. Haim Gamzu, former director of the Tel Aviv
Museum of Art, who in 1955 was one of the 11 judges at the Third
International Bienniale of Sao Paulo, Brazil, at which Steinhardt
was awarded the highest prize for graphic art.
Dr. Kolb states in his introduction that Steinhardt, who will he
75 this year, "is at present living in Israel where, retired from the
directorship of the Bezalel Art School, he continues his activities
as dean of Israel's artists and as a beacon reminding the growing
nation through the medium of art that the strength of the spirit
must not be lost in the drive for mechanized progress. There, in
the birthplace of the ancient prophets, he believes the spirituality
of the East should be ideally integrated with the practicality of the
West and encouragement given to a fraternity of all men of good
will . . . Steinhardt is recognized all over the world as one of the
trail-blazers of the important expressionist art movement. It was
Steinhardt and Ludwig Meidner, another Jew, who with Richard
Janthur started, very early in the expressionist movement, the
group of the 'Pathetiker.' This book shows the artistic insight of
Steinhardt into the many phases of Jewish history and Jewish
culture."
Steinhardt received many honors, among them the recent award
by the city of Naples of the Golden Medal in recognition of his
Biblical woodcuts.
His life, from his birth in the Posen district of Germany, his
struggles, his great works in woodcuts, are evaluated in an inter-
esting essay by Dr. Gamzu, who points out that Steinhardt never
ceased painting in colors. His creative accomplishments are ex-
plained, the "Pathetiker" experiences are evaluated and Dr. Gamzu
says of the distinguished artist:
"He seeks Man first and foremost. His landscapes and other
works in which no human beings are apparent are nevertheless
replete with their unmanifested presence. With all his use of the
varied techniques—of oils, water colors, gouaches, drawing and
etching—he reaches the peak of his personal expression in the
woodcut . . . It is Steinhardt's firmest faith that Art, which derives
from Man must in the last resort return to Man and that the
creative artist not only liberates himself by his achievement, but
also frees others from the weight of their frustrations. That is why
the message he brings us in his work, particularly his masterly
woodcuts, is not only imbued with his own personal appeal but
also bears the stamp and seal of our tragic, tempestuous era."
The themes depicted in the woodcuts in the new JPS book are
varied. There are Jewish scenes and characters, eminent per-
sonalities, impersonations, holiday descriptions, in many moods.
There are Sabbath themes and the artist's interpretation of the
Ten Plagues.
The composite Hagadah illustrations, the impressive "Mah
Nishtana," the Hanukah and other expressions reveal the skill of
the great artist.
Ghetto scenes, mourning moods, the description of the drunk-
ard, the sadness at the funeral and a score of other impressions
appear in all their magnificence in this great JPS volume.
There are a number of most artistic book marks. Yemenite
scene are delightful and Israel depictions are superb.
Biblical and Israeli scenes abound in this valuable collection
which makes "The Woodcuts of Jakob Steinhardt" one of the great
books produced by the Jewish Publication Society.