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.