For Better Order
THE JEWISH NEWS
Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 151
Istorporating the Detroit
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,
BOWL, VE 6-9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign 17.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich, under act of Congress Of
March /1, 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ HARVEY ZUCKER5ERG
Advertising Manager
Business Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
scriptural selections will
This Sabbath. the nineteenth day of Tammuz, 5722, the following
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Pinhas, Numbers 25:10-30:1. Prophetical portion, Jeremiah 1:1-2:3.
Licht Benchen. Friday, July 20, 7:44 p.m.
Vol. XLI No. 21
Page Four
July 20, 1962
Civil War Exhibit at Historical Museum
Our community is privileged to have by Irving I. Katz, our community's his-
been selected as the only city in the Mid- torian, whose book, "The Jewish Soldier
f rom Michigan in the Civil War," recent-
west for the presentation of the "Ameri- ly published by Wayne State University,
can Jew in the Civil War - exhibition. already has had a very large circulation
Commencing this Monday, the ma- and has received wide commendations.
terial in this exhibit will be on display at Mr. Katz points out in his book that in
the Detroit Historical Museum for a pe- the 1860s there were only 150 Jewish
riod of four weeks. It will provide an families in Michigan, yet their members
excellent opportunity for all Detroiters were among the heroes in the war for
to become acquainted with the important liberation. The exhibition at the Detroit
role that was played by American Jews Historical Museum will provided visible
proof of the significant role of all Ameri-
in the conflict between brothers in our
can Jews in the tragic struggle for Ameri-
great Republic.
A Classic Religious Study
Fifty institutions and individuals par- can unity a hundred years ago.
The
Detroit
Historical
Museum
was
ticipated in gathering the material that
Bloch Publishers Reissue 'Jewish
has become the source for the exhibition wisely chosen to be among the select
coming here next week and Jewish par- communities in the land to display the Medical Ethics' by Dr. Jakobovits
exhibit "The American Jew in the Civil
ticipation in the Civil War is noted in
War." All Detroiters should take time
"Jewish Medical Ethics," the highly scholarly and historical
both the Union and Confederate ranks.
Of special interest in the exhibit will to be among the privileged to witness study of the Jewish religious attitude to medicine and its practice,
by Dr. Immanuel Jakobovits, which first appeared in 1959, has
be the material that has been accumulated this exhibition.
re-issued in a revised edition by Bloch
been
Alert Jewry to Grave Responsibilities
=.7Publishing Co.
It is a 450-page book, but only 250 pages
are devoted to the text. In addition to a fore-
word by Dr. Elie Munk of Paris, the author's
father-in-law, and a lengthy introduction, there
are 110 pages of notes and a lengthy bibliog-
-::raphy. These attest to the book's high scholar-
Unhappy occurrences in 'many areas understanding of the needs,„ in order
of the world, the continuing diminution that American Jewry may be fully pre-
of Jewish communities in many areas, pared to face the tasks of rescue properly
especially in the previously thickly-popu- and promptly.
il
By taking delegations of American
lated East European countries and in
Dr. Jakobovits devotes his study not only to
Moslem lands, and the threats that ac- Jews to ports of exit, whence tens of
law, life, attitudes and superstitions about
ctimulate against Jews even on this free thousands of new refugees are departing
medicine, in Jewish traditions, but also to steri-
continent — in Latin American countries for Israel, and for visits to Israel where
lization and contraception, to artificial insemi-
nation, to abortions and embryotomy. He
— emphasize anew the great responsibili- they can study conditions at first hand,
discusses circumcision, including postponement
ties that rest upon us as "providers - for the United Jewish Appeal, the great hu-
due to health, and haemophilia.
the less fortunate. manitarian cause that cares for settlers
To indicate the medical advances in Jewish
We have been avoiding the term in Israel on their way to their haven of
ilife, Dr. Jakobovits refers to many important
"providers." Our hope as the benefactors refuge for permanent settlement, is ren-
lauthorities and to major sources—to Maimonides
has been that we will consider ow-selves, dering a great service. The youth mission
as well as to the ancient rabbis and to our
and will be judged by others. as social and the planned tours for representatives
folklore.
servants, as healers of the sick — not of many communities, as well as for na- Dr. Jakobovits
Jewish law, Dr. Jakobovits points out,
necessarily as philanthropists but much tional leaders. are vital means of bringing "strongly encourages and facilitate's man's struggle against the
of
new
standards
of
those
who
must
seek
the
means
for
the
of
illness,"
and
it "subscribes to the belief in the atoning
more so as creators
grip
living, as partners in a great effort to rescue activities close to the operations power of physical suffering and in its moral motivation" and "it
affirms the view that disease forges an especially close link
wipe out the indignities to which our they are asked to carry to fruition.
The UJA. which soon will mark the between God and man."
kinsmen are often subjected.
Yet, we are charged with great re- twenty-fifth anniversary of its existence
sponsibility of providing the means as the major life-giving and life-saving
wherewith lives can be saved, human Jewish agency on the world scene. has
beings rehabilitated, the security of chil- encouraged many Detroiters to join the
dren assured and a new life guaranteed study tours. Several of our young people
for those who look to us as rescuers from have been on youth missions, including
grave dangers to their very existence. the current one, and our leadership has
The mounting dangers on many been strengthened by the numerous study
fronts, the reduction of Jewries in Mos- missions conducted in past years. The
lem countries to their barest minimum Detroit study planned for the fall should
and the search of escapees for havens prove an important introductory inspira-
of rescue, the quest for homes in Israel tion to increased activities for the Allied
by many European Jews, all call for an Jewish Campaign to follow.
Menacing Sunday Closing Laws
In spite of urgent appeals that what-
ever steps are taken to enforce Sunday
closing laws should take into account the
Saturday Sabbath observers, the laws of
several of our states are proving harmful
to observant Jews and Seventh Day Ad-
ventists who are scrupulous about the Sat-
urday Sabbath.
Charges have been made that the Sun-
day closing law in Massachusetts is espe-
cally prejudicial to Sabbath observers,
and the existing laws in New York State
have been called "archaic" and discrim-
inatory.
In Massachusetts, a Jewish leader has
charged that "Sabbatarians who close
their businesses on Saturdays because of
their religious beliefs" are "restricted to
a four-and-a-half day livelihood."
There was a time when compulsory
Sunday closing laws were viewed as pos-
sibly leading us toward a five-day work-
ing week, but this in no sense applies to
merchants who must operate their busi-
nesses more than the four-and-a-half days
a week referred to. The Sabbath observer
must close on Friday, which further re-
duces his operating week, and any re-
strictions enforced in his case add to the
injury a Blue Law will impose upon him.
At a time when so much emphasis is
being placed upon the sanctity of the
First Amendment and upon the impera-
tive need that church and state affairs
should be separated, it is unfortunate
that our states should be legislating to
enforce Blue Laws.
It is true, of course, that those who
abuse the principle of a day of rest may
have been responsible for instigating
stringent action. But it is equally true
that there are extremists who would
establish Blue Laws for all occasions, in-
cluding entertainment, sports and other
occasions. It is against such extremes that
it becomes necessary to remain watchful
against abuses which may, through Blue
Laws, drag us back to the days of medie-
val intolerance.
But while there is emphasis on faith and prayer, the author
of this enlightening book states that "confidence in the healing
powers of God was never allowed to usurp the essential functions
of the physician and of medical science."
Irrational medical beliefs, superstitions and exorcism of
demons are eschewed, demons and their exorcism being only
rarely mentioned in Jewish law, although they were extant in
medical theories in ancient times.
Opposition in Jewish law to artificial insemination "is
mainly for moral reasons, not because of the intrinsic illegal-
ity of the act itself." Dr. Jakobovits describes welcome experi-
ments in Israel which may reduce the need for A.I.D. as an
answer to sterile marriages.
Dr. Jakobovits writes about the respect that was held for the
physician in Jewish life, the ban on priestly physicians, the
reliance upon physicians as medical experts. He points out that
according to Talmudic law "a conscientious Jew must not reside
in a place which has no adequate religious, educational and
social functionaries, including a physician and a barber."
"Jewish Medical Ethics" is so filled with information about
Jewish attitudes on many related subjects, it contains such an
immense amount of historical material, so many evaluations of
Jewish laws relating to health, that this volume will prove of
great value not only to those of the medical professions but
also to laymen.
Theme of King Saul's Time
Bible Novel Rizpah' in Paperback
Charles E. Israel made excellent use of the Biblical theme
which describes Rizpah as King Saul's concubine. Based on the
text in II Samuel 3:7, "And Saul had a concubine whose name
was Rizpah." Israel wrote an impressive novel which was pub-
lished by Simon and Schuster in 1961 and was reviewed at
length in these columns. It has just been published as a paper-
back by Fawcett World Library (67 W. 44th, NY36).
The five chapter titles—Torash, Saul, David, Abner. Rizpah-
give an indication of all the major Biblical characters who have
been included in the cast of this drama.
An original Literary Guild selection, Israel's "Rizpah" con-
tinues as a best seller in the paperback edition.