Their Only Remaining Possession THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951 Member American Association of English—Jewisb Newspapers, Michigan Press Associations, National Editorial Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, V $4344. Subscription $11 a year. Foreign V. of Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office, Detroit. Mich., under act of Congress March 8, 1879. SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ HARVEY ZUCKERBERG PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Advertising Manager Editor and Publisher Business City Editor Manager Sabbath Scriptural Selections in our This Sabbath, the fifth of Tammus, the following Scriptural selections uyil1 be read synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Korah, Num. 16:1-18:32. Prophetical portion, I Samuel 11:14-12:32. Licht Benches, Friday, July 6, 7:52 p.m. July 6, 1962 Page Four Vol. XLI No. 19 Jewish Opposition to Shared Time School Plan Both the Central Conference of Amer- ican Rabbis and the National Community Relations Advisory Council took firm positions, at their conventions last week, against "Released Time" and "Shared Time" plans for religious studies in our public schools. Cautioning against the Shared Time plan for the joint use by parochial and public schools of tax-supported education- al facilities, the Reform rabbis warned that such a plan would relieve denomina- tional schools of building their own physi- cal education and manual training facili- ties and that "secular subjects" would be introduced in the public school systems if such a proposal were adopted. The NCRAC stand , was even more determined in opposition to such a plan, and its president, Lewis H. Weinstein, charged that the Shared Time idea would "impair and vitiate our American public school system - ; that it would be a "targic betrayal of our public schools." not be intruded upon. Day Schools may be secular and progressive, but in such instances they are privately endowed and supported schools. Any American who so chooses has a right to send his children to such a school, but it must remain pri- vately and not public endowed. There is another type of Day School. The Hillel Day School of Detroit, listing its objectives, declares that it is "a mod- ern, progressive, elementary day school combining Hebraic-Religious instruction and general studies." It is, therefore, by its own assertion, a religious school, and must, therefore, be privately endowed. "God Help Me!", an impressive work treating the problems There can be no doubt about the great values that are provided by the Jewish as they affect mankind "From Kindergarten Religion to the Day Schools for the advancement of Jew- Radical Faith," by Dr. William B. Silverman, Kansas City rabbi, ish studies. Yet, when they come in con- published by Macmillan, has the merit of universalism, of dealing flict, in the ideology of those who insist with religious issues affecting all faiths, of posing probems that all religions. upon upholding the principle of public disturb The able author, who has three other books to his credit, schools and strengthening the public has the conviction that there is a divinity within all human school systems, they can serve the needs beings, and on that basis his evaluations challenge and at the same only of a minority of adherents. It is time inspire. Thus, when he analyzes the requisites of religious maturity he equally true that such a minority as a traditional sheerith b'Israel a remnant asserts that religion must be worldly and radical, rational and in Israel may be the saving remnant for prophetic. He calls for theological enlightenment in considering the the highest cultural values in Jewish life. in immortality, in viewing the concepts of punishment But within the American orbit the truth beliefs in hell and reward in heaven. "The prevalence of the kinder- of these assumptions must be recognized garten doctrine of immortality," he states "not only suggests, and respected. but cries out for a revolutionary rethinking of unchallenged * * * dogmas, a critical reevaluation of theological beliefs, and a There have emerged, as a result of the radical excision of ignorance, bigotry, irrational blasphemy, debates over the validity and the wisdom magic and superstition from respectable religion, in order to of the latest Supreme Court decision, pioneer into new spiritual frontiers and advance toward the groups that are ready to legislate in sup- realization of a mature and rational faith." Rabbi Silverman pleads for a religion in action, for the port of religious teachings and the utter- retention of religion in politics as a means of dedication to civil ance of religious prayers in our schools. rights and liberties, striving for the ideal of "the sanctity of If these proponents of religious ideas personality." should, succeed, more than the mere the human "They are slaves who fear to speak," he asserts, and de- separation principle will be at stake. clares: 'The devotees of the prophetic faith must mobilize for There is nothing to stop such elements a religious war against ignorance, bigotry, racial and religious from succeeding in declaring this to be a discrimination, poverty, disease and despair for the purpose of Christian country. Legislation to that implementing the values and precepts that will enable man to effect already had been proposed, but create a moral society that will fulfill the commandments of had no chance of being adopted. But if, God." A faith for tomorrow, he states, 'calls to man to identify in anger, such extreme elements should belief in God with meaningful and purposeful universe," succeed, then the basic ideas of American his work for the future "by a program of consecrated action that to democracy and freedom will be greatly will release the potential of divinity dormant within man." endangered. The rabbinic author sees in America's legacy to the future No one denies that this is, in fact, a a dedication to the immortal doctrines of the nation's Founding Christian country, because 95 per cent Fathers. He adds that "if mankind is to attain maturity, the of the citizens are Christians. But it has faith of the future must emphasize the essential unity and inter- been inconceivable that such a term-1 relatedness of men and nations, and enable us to go beyond Christian country should be legislated, national sovereignty to a United States of the world." just as it is inconceivable that Americans should wish to revert. to medievalism. The advocates of the Day School plan for all Jewish children must recognize that such schools are possible only if this were to become officially a Christian Expanded overseas travel has drawn many Jewish tourists to country. Under all other circumstances, places of Jewish interest in many lands. They have been handi- all-day parochial schools must remain in- capped, however, by a lack of information about most of the stitutions of learning only for the minor- historic spots that should have attracted Jewish visitors. ity. Our Catholic fellow citizens may feel This handicap now is obviated by the informative guide — differently about it; yet, even they, when the first of its kind — by the writers who are well qualified -to they must send their children to kinder- prepare a guide for Jewish tourists. "The Landmarks of a People — A Guide to Jewish Sites in garten classes, which are not included in their parochial systems, make use of such Europe" has just been published by Hill and Wang (141 5th, Written my Bernard Postal, public relations director of opportunities and send their youngsters NY10). the Jewish Welfare Board, and Samuel H. Abramson, regional at the outset to the public schools. director of the United Jewish Appeal, this book at once reveals * * it authoritativeness. Postal was the co-author of "A Jewish The separation idea and the parochial Tourist's Guide to .the U.S." Both men are steeped in knowledge school problems often lead to bitter de- about their subject and it is hard to concieve of anything they bates. That's regrettable, in view of the have eliminated from their guide book. basic principle inherent in the compulsory Unusual data will be found here. The countries covered in- clude every part of Europe and the major attractions in the education programs of our democracy. There is no cause for rancor. There Soviet Union. The 32 pages of illustrations of significant Jewish attractions can be agreement on the subject: that to the merits of this book. those who prefer to finance schools of add Museums and synagogues, homes of famous people, cemeteries, their own can go to privately-endowed historic memorials, paintings that have become memorable and parochial and progressive schools. But their locations, clocks and towers that have gained fame, graves they must pay for them, and all others of notables, noteworthy libraries and theaters — these and many who wish to adhere to the established other items are among those to which the reader is guided. system can continue to enjoy the non- Tourists planning their trips to Europe will find this book partisan, publicly-financed school systems invaluable. It will become a must for every one going to Europe, that are now declared to be free from and at the same time it can serve as a textbook for all who seek knowledge about European Jewry. partisan religious influences. Dr. Silverman's 'God Help Me Sees Divinity in All Humans — These were courageous stands taken at a time when many non-Jews, and -some spokesmen for Orthodox Jewry. are inclined to favor either the Released or the Shared Time proposals. The firmness of the .Jewish position as enunciated by the Reform rabbis and the spokesmen for the major civic-protective organiza- tion reiterates the generally accepted Jewish viewpoint that - any attempt to in- troduce religious teachings in our schools would impair the Separation Idea. While these discussions continue re- garding the Shared Time school plan, the forces that are advocating the Day School idea for American Jewry seem to be gain- ing ground, and the Day Schools are pro- gressing and increasing in number. Whether or not the strong opposition to the impairing and vitiating of our public school system will also involve an official stand by national .Jewish movements against Day Schools remains to be seen. Jewish educators, at recent conventions, strongly endorsed the Day School plan and appealed for Welfare Funds' support. Nevertheless, the two ideas — that of facilitating the sharing of public school time for parochial and public school pro- grams and the establishment of separate schools for various denominations — are somewhat interlinked, since they intrude upon the public school programs. ,k * The educational factors involved are currently under serious discussion. The Reform rabbis' convention asked its mem- bers "to urge their school communities to undertake further studies before launching Shared Time programs." In- ternally there is a continuation of debates over the practicality and desirability of establishing separate Jewish Day Schools which would draw away Jewish children from the public schools. It is a source of encouragement to know that the issue is being considered with great seriousness. The decisions to be arrived at are of major significance for our communities, and whatever rul- ings are made should be arrived at without haste but through the most care- ful consideration of the consequences in- volved, including the effect they will have on the Separation principle. • * * The relevance of the latest Supreme Court decision to the Day School idea may be questioned by many people. Yet, there is some relation to private schools in the over-all issue. What the high court's ruling implies is that the public school as an entity can — — — 'Landmarks of a People,' Guide to All Jewish Sites in Europe r.