41111141111111110. ...max...
--..4+4W4V -:'-7,-,---, .:
wiwor.a..
-- Aiamihof.ardeTt
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
In Memoriam
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
A young man who had risen to the highest
position in our land has had his career ended by
an assassin.
He was a kindly man, gentle to all who had
come in contact with him, a passionate searcher
for historic truth, an aspirer for social justice for
people of all faiths and races.
It is no wonder, therefore, that the entire
world joined in mourning the passing of John
Fitzgerald Kennedy.
It is no wonder that so many nations sent
their presidents, their prime ministers, their great
leaders, to participate in the final rites for our
President and to pay honor to the man who had
so much to give to the American people and to
the world but whose career was cut short so early
in his life !
Because we recognize his genius, we pay
homage to his memory. Because we appreciate all
that he had already accomplished and are aware
of the deeds he spired to, we retain with rever-
ence our deepest respect for him.
*
As was indicated in the tribute to our late
President in the memorable eulogy delivered at
the funeral service by the Most Rev. Philip M.
Hannan, auxiliary bishop of the Washington
archdiocese, President Kennedy frequently
turned to the Bible and used Biblical quotations
in his major addresses.
Our late President was a man of culture and
therefore he included the Holy Scriptures in the
books he had mastered not only out of his deep
sense of reverence for his own faith but also as
part of his natural desire to be well informed, to
be properly guided, to be faithful to historic
truth and to the spiritual values which are our
nation's great heritage.
When President Kennedy was inaugurated
he admonished the totalitarians that "civility is
not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always
subject to proof," and he proceeded to state :
"Let both sides unite to heed in all cor-
ners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to
`undo the heavy burdens . . . (and) let the
oppressed go free.' "
It was taken from Isaiah 57:14-58:14, which
is read as the Haftarah on Yom Kippur and
which proclaims that the fast day should "loose
the fetters of wickedness."
Then, as on many other occasions, President
Kennedy went to the root of problems, invoking
Scripture, pleading for amity among all nations,
for the defense of our basic American ideals, for
the protection of the oppressed, for an end to
enmities.
The genius of America was ingrained in the
late President. It is no wonder that the nations
of the world had so much respect for him, that
he had garnered for us the blessings of mankind
gained out of the respect he personally com-
manded and the honors he earned for all of us
by his personification of the ideals that spell
America.
This is a period of mourning. It also is an
occasion for gratitude that we were blessed to
have had him as our President.
Blessed be the memory of John Fitzgerald
Kennedy, who has given dignity to America and
has gained thereby immortality for himself.
Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National
Editorial Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35,
Mich., VE 8-9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign $7.
Second Class Postage Paid At Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ SIDNEY SHMARAK HARVEY ZUCKERBERG
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fourteenth day of Kislew, 5724, the following Scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Gen. 32:4-36:43. Prophetical portion: Hosea 11:7-12:12.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Nov. 29, 4:44 p.m.
VOL. XLIV.
No. 14
Page Four
November 29, 1963
'Scholars, Be Careful With Your Words'
Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath, presi- Jewry still is ascribable to church bias.
We need the proof that there is unan-
dent of the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations, was not so original when imity in Catholicism on the statement of
he proposed to the annual convention of Augustin Cardinal Bea. But we already
the Reform Jewish leaders, in Chicago, hear of opposition to his unquestionably
last week, that there should be a restudy noble intentions, and from many quarters
there still come reports of such vile anti-
of the role of Jesus in Jewish history.
More than half a century ago, the late Semitic acts involving Catholics — note
Dr. Stephen S. Wise was in the center especially Catholic leadership in anti-
of a controversy when he made a similar Semitic movements in Latin America —
suggestion. Orthodox rabbis, with whom that we must wait for proof of complete
Dr. Wise had worked closely in many accord on the issue involving Jew-baiting
movements and who loved the extreme before we can accept Ecumenical declara-
Reform leader—he was far to the left of tions as sacred.
Cardinal Bea's very strong statements
his Reform confreres on theological ques-
tions — were furious. He was condemned during the Ecumenical Council discus-
and his anti-Reform friends of that era sions deserve special commendation.
asked how he could possibly have ren- There is no doubt that the venerable
dered them — his friends — that dis- theologian acted in the utmost sincerity
service by suggesting an acceptance of in his appeals for the obliteration of ac-
Jesus as a prophet or a sage in Israel. cusations against Jewry and for the expia-
tion of the sins that were incurred against
That controversy soon was forgotten.
us, especially under Nazism.
More recently — about a year ago
There is great satisfaction in the
the great Semitic scholar, Harvard Pro-
fessor Harry Wolfson, made a similar support Cardinal Bea received from the
suggestion. But Wolfson's idea was that American Bishops at the Rome sessions.
in conducting Jewish studies Jesus should
Yet, when he found it necessary to
not be overlooked and should be treated speak apologetically in reference to what
with greater seriousness.
he termed "political" aspects, he negated
It is clear that Dr. Eisendrath did not to a degree his schema. Why is it neces-
pave a new road towards inter-faith sary to give assurances to Arabs, or to
any other peoples, that absolution for a
understanding with his suggestion.
But his approach is subject to much sin—and we view the crucifixion blame
more serious scrutiny than even the much upon us as a Christian sin—in no sense
extreme-for-that-era statement that had implies endorsement of the Zionist cause?
If there is to be recognition of the
been made by Stephen Wise. There may
be justification for an assertion that brotherhood of men and of the validity of
there is need for a revision of an "oft- prophecy, why eliminate from Scriptural
times jaundiced view of him in whose augury the assurances that "Zion shall
be redeemed with justice?"
name Christianity was established.
If there is to be an amending of injury
But when, in the co u r se of his
commendation of the exoneration of the in the historical processes involving Cath-
Jews for the crucifixion of Jesus, in a yet- olics and Jews, let it be complete!
The discussions revolving around the
to-be-approved statement released from
the Ecumenical Council, Rabbi Eisendrath civil rights issue at the Reform conven-
takes the liberty to say that "interreli- tion in Chicago also are cause for some
gious understanding based on mutual re- resentment. Is there another group that
spect is not a one-way street," he opens has been so dedicated to the cause of just
widely a door into a debating session. rights for the Negroes as have the Jews?
Just exactly what did Dr. Eisendrath Yet, some Reform rabbis dared to rebuke
mean by that statement? Are we to infer us for alleged failure to support the civil
that he is so thrilled with the Ecumenical rights program to the fullest. We call it
trial balloon that he is accusing Jewry of a libel against all of us.
There is no doubt that in our ranks
failure to cooperate with other faiths? Is
the implication to be interpreted as mean- there are people who have taken advan-
ing that the Catholic world is not receiv- tage of Negroes, who have exploited them
ing proper encouragement and is tread- in housing rentals and as laborers. But
such abuses are not ascribable to Jews
ing a one-way street?
To quote a famous Catholic layman, as Jews or to Jews as a group. In this
let there always be recourse to the record instance, indeed, all are guilty.
The civil rights issue must be treated
before the utterance of rebukes. The
Jewish community has always been in on its merits, involving all citizens on an
the lead in support of good will move- equal basis, and if Jews are to be selected
ments, in sponsoring inter-faith projects, for consideration during a discussion of
in advancing the cause of the National the issue let it be on the basis of our
pioneering efforts in defense of just
Conference of Christians and Jews.
But the one-way street has been in rights and as adherents to the ideal of
evidence — especially in the matter in- social justice.
When rabbis undertake to pose as
volving the crucifixion charge, and our
contention is that the burden of proof prophets, ostensibly to imitate Amos and
lies upon Christianity in the matter in- Isaiah and thereby justifying the Musar
volving the death of Jesus. It is our con- — the lecturing — they impose on their
viction that the term exoneration must own flocks, they must avoid disservice.
never be used in relation to Jewry and They must be careful lest they suggest
the crucifixion charge, because exonera- by their admonitions to us the suspicion
tion also implies guilt, and the Jewish that we are hypocrites, that we are not
sincere in our civil rights adherence. That
people remains guiltless.
It is not enough for the Catholic would be untrue, and any implication in
Church to say that the entire world is that direction is a libel against us.
Let us turn for guidance to the very
guilty. The fact is that the Catholic cate-
chisms, the church's texbooks, are filled first chapter of Pirke Aboth — Ethics of
with the accusations against the Jewish the Fathers—to read in verse 11 the ad-
people. When these are obliterated we monition: "Khakhamim, hizoharu b'div-
will be ready to doff our hats to our rekhem" — "Scholars, be careful with
well-meaning Catholic friends — but not your words!" Before we sensationalize
until then, because as of now much of the views on major issues, let there be caution
suffering that has been endured by with -Words! • -