Friday, January 17, 1964—THE DETROIT JEWIS H NEWS- 1 4

Jurist Named by LBJ

Weekly Quiz I About Dr. Adler's Harper Article

'

Is A Jew?'

What
BY ALFRED SEGAL
in
the
daily
newspaper
office
Oh, please, again I must say
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
The question ... "What is a for which I write a column .. that I'm not bragging but am
(Copyright, 1964, JTA, Inc.)
MILWAUKEE JTA) — David
Jew?" ... is being asked this "Get the hell out of here," I speaking only as a humble guy
What is the origin and pur-
Rabinovitz of Sheboygan, named
month in Harper's Magazine by told him. He was drunk, and who has arrived at age 80...
a federal judge by President pose of the "Mali Tovu" pray- Rabbi Morris Adler who also he replied, "You're just no and, finally, at that age has
Johnson, took his oath of office er which opens a synagogue answers the question.
good."
come to some wisdom. I recall
service?
just 12 minutes before the 88th
But as one who tries to live my much younger life-time when
He's
saying:
"One
of
the
most
The origin of Mall Tovu is
Congress convened. The move
n persistent questions is: 'What is by his Judaism, I serve Catholics I had little use for people of
was to avoid a possible negative quite old since we find it i
a Jew?' ... It is dealt with in and Protestants in my daily other religions or other colors.
the
earliest
of
prayerbooks.
It
action by Congress on the con-
sermons and lectures, at forums, column. Yes, here's a letter from Yes, I guess I have come to
general
purpose
may
be
cate
troversial appointment. The Wis-
at ideological conferences, and a Catholic mother. "Dear Mr. understand what is a Jew, even
consin State Bar and the Ameri- gorized under the heading o e in dialogues between American Segal: I know you are not of my though I'm not regular in the
"taking
permission"
to
engag
can Bar Association both have
synagogue.
in the act of prayer and 1,voi , and Israeli Jews . . . David Ben- religion, but I look up to you
opposed the nomination.
Gurion once invited scores of as one who practices the good
Rabbi Adler is saying in his
s
lip
in
the
synagogue.
Gen
The controversy over the Jew-
Jewish scholars to submit an- of all religions. You spoke up piece in Harper's Magazine:
ish jurist began last September erally, sections of Jewish pray swers to this irrepressible ques- in your column for my son who "The Jews still ask: 'What am
er liturgy and the entire ap
when the late President Ken- p* -
to prayer i se is lac i tion. Since none of the replies was in jail, and as a result he I? ... And Rabbi Adler goes on
nedy named him to a vacancy on tionally preceded by the un was made public it is reasonable is out of there now. The judge to answer: "The battering rams
the Federal District Court for derstanding on the part of th to deduce that none was satis- said he had read your column of persecution could not destroy
e factory."
about my son and felt influenced the Jew's resolve to live by the
Western Wisconsin.
individual or the congregation
The appointment having that prayer as such is a G-d-
So now I myself . . . this col- by it. Thanks, thanks sir. I light of his conscience ... Jew-
been made while Congress given privilege which we inher- umnist that is ... tries to answer applaud you as a man whose ish history, thus viewed, rep-
was in session, Rabinovitz ited through our ancestry. Thus the question: "What is a Jew?" goodness doesn't mind the re- resents a triumph of the human
could not take the post with- the Mah Tovu (except for the I well know this particular ligion of one he serves. You are spirit. It can serve all mankind
out Senate confirmation. The .first verse) is simply a collec- Jew ...this Al Segal, that is . . a fine Jew."
as a testament of courage and
Oh, I'm not reporting this hopes ... In a world teeming
appointment ecased to be ef- tion of verses from the Psalms and, so, maybe, by looking him
fective when Congress ended which reflect the age-old pro over as he sits here at this boastfully at all but only to with coercions and compulsions
its session in December with- cedure of. approaching, enter - typewriter, I may come to some reply ... in a way ... to Rabbi man can assert sovereignty over
out Senate action.
ing and praying in the syna understanding of what a Jew is. Adler's question . in Harper's: the quality and destiny of human
If the Senate does not act on gogue in the appointed times.
Yes, this Jew Segal thinks "What is a Jew?" • life. No people's history offers
President Johnson's interim re- - The first verse is a selection. he knows what a Jew is. A Jew,
Sure enough, as I see him, greater proof of this truth than
appointment, t h e nomination from the poetic phophecy o f he's saying, is one who under- a really pious Jew is one who's the Jew's. When he recognizes
will again die at the end of the Bilaam, the Midianite priest stands his kinship to all man- willing to serve all peoples; this, the modern Jew will dis-
cover his identity."
present session.
who was hired to curse the Isra - kind ... of whatever religion, though, as I've suggested, I'm
President Johnson, if re-elect- elites (Numbers 24:5). The Tal race, or color of face .. brothers not very pious by attendance in
Yes, that's us and all that's
the synagogue. I miss shabosses required of us all is to live up
ed this year, could then again mud (Yerushalmi, Berachoth) of his.
nominate Rabinovitz. If the Sen- tells us that it had been the
Oh, he says, I've belonged to in schul, but the other day, a to the ideal which we inherited
ate confirms the appointment at intention •(and probably the the Isaac M. Wise Temple all Negro was at my desk in the from long, long ago. And I my-
this session, Rabinovitz will hold practice for awhile) of those of 40 years, and I know my daily newspaper office to direct self, at my stage of life have
me farther on the way my at last been figuring that it's
the judicial post for life.
who shaped our liturgy to have Judaism as a decent way of life. column has been going.
though
I'm
not
in
schul
every
about time for me to try to live
the entire Biblical phophecy of
"Sir," he said, "I under- up to my knowledge of what a
I try to understand
Rio Poll Finds 21 Pct. Bilaam recited in the daily serv- Sabbath.
but that it had been Judaism as a way of life that stand you're Jewish and I've Jew is.
of Native-Born Jewish ice;
discarded only to prevent any has to do with the brotherhood come here to applaud you as
Children Speak Yiddish additional burden on the con- of man, and as Jew I try to one who really practices the
RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA)
gregation by adding to the serve brothers who are of the highness of his religion. The
way your column speaks up
Only 21 per cent of native-born length of the liturgy. It seems other religions and colors.
for justice an.d kindness to-
Mind you, I'm not boasting
APPLICATIONS FOR
Jewish children here speak Yid- that at least the first verse of
ward us who have the darker
dish, a survey conducted by the this prophecy was included. It as one who thinks of himself
faces. That's of the goodness
as a saintly guy. Oh, only
education department of the is possible that the wave of
of your religion about which
ARE NOW BEING TAKEN
the other day I chased off a
United Zionist Organization re- persecutions which the Jewish
On New or Existing Homes
I know from the Old Testa-
vealed.
people underwent at the hands man who had come to my desk
ment which I read right along,
The survey was taken among of one tyrant after another who
QUICK SERVICE
You're a good Jew and I my-
1,736 Jewish boys and girls in tried to close, burn and pre- U.S. Agriculture Dept.
Phone Us Today
self
try
to
be
a
good
Chris-
the local public schools on the vent synagogues from being
tian. So we are religiously
FRANKLIN
elementary and high school built, made the Jewish people Awards 2 Grants to
brothers, aren't we?"
MORTGAGE CORP.
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hat much more determined to Israel Institutions
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FHA Mortgagee
"Yes," I replied, "I know you
The data showed that 79 uphold its long history and fully
915 First National Bldg., Det. 26
as
kinsman
of
mine
in
the
family
WASHINGTON
(JTA)—Scien-
per cent of the Jewish chil- appreciate the synagogue. Thus
WO 3-4890
dren said their knowledge of when walking towards the syna- tific institutions in Israel have of mankind."
Yiddish was "small," or gogue and beholding its struc- been awarded two grants by the
"weak" or nonexistent. Of the t ure (or as some did when leav- U.S. Department of Agriculture
WHERE IN THE WORLD
total, 81 per cent of the chil- i ng home to go to the syna- for studies of irrigation sprink-
dren stem from Ashkenazic gogue) one would utter the lers and cereal grain starches.
DO YOU WANT TO GO?
edillac
Technion-Israel Institute of
families, the remainder from 1, verse first pronounced by the
Sephardic or oriental Jewish Midianite cleric Bilaam "How Technology, Haifa, was awarded
We're Here to Serve You !
a three-year grant equal to $67,-
homes.
ravel
oodly are thy tents 0' Israel, 166 in Israel pounds.
• TOUR ARRANGEMENTS
The figures also showed that t hey tabernacles 0' Israel" . . .
This grant will finance in-
9
• AIRLINE TICKETS
only 52 per cent of the children's The second verse of the pray-
enter Inc.
vestigations on the perform-
grandparents speak Yiddish to e r is said when crossing the
• CRUISES - HOTELS
ance of different kinds of irri-
their grandchildren.
threshold into the synagogue:
gation sprinklers and t h e
Among the remainder, 2 per
. . In the abundance of Thy development of basic designs
cent speak Hebrew to the grand- Grace will I come into . thine
NO ADDITIONAL FEE FOR OUR SERVICES
for new and improved sprink-
children, while 46 per cent use house" (Psalms 5:8) understand-
Portuguese in home conversa- ing that it is only through the ler systems.
Authorized Agency For
A four-year grant, equal to
tions.
Grace of the Almighty that we $83,956 in Israel pounds, was
ALL MIAMI BEACH HOTELS AND MOTELS
are allowed to establish and awarded to the Hebrew Univer-
FOR INFORMATION
enter houses of prayer (philo- sity in Jerusalem.
AND
RESERVATIONS
sophically, men has no right to
This grant will afford study of
Conveniently Located In The
approach the Almighty; logical- the chemical reactions of cereal
ly, synagogues should already grain starches, and, by new met-
DEXTER-DAVISON SHOPPING PLAZA — 10 MILE at COOLIDGE
have been destroyed forever by hods, will seem to tailor the
Open Thurs. and Sat. Evenings 'tit 9 — Sundays, 10-3 p.m.
the great armies who sought starches to meet particular in-
to destroy them). The Jew dustrial needs.
then goes on, in the course of
Sample information and ma-
this prayer, to demonstrate his terials developed in the study
posture as being one of bowing will be sent to the U.S. research
in submission to the authority laboratory in Peoria, Ill., where
40 GROUP TOURS TO HOLIDAY IN
and command of the Almighty scientists are working to find
and offering his petitions before new uses for cereal grains and
Him in prayer asking that He other agricultural products.
answer with the same Grace
which gave us permission to
Miami Beach JWV Post
pray in the first place.
Many With Stopovers in Europe
Jan. 15 - Feb. 15
Named for Israel Hero
To Match your Dreains, your Budget & your Schedule
In Memory
MIAMI BEACH (JTA)—North
Downtown Synagogue
of our
Dade Post No. 746 of the Jewish
to Start Hebrew Class War
Veterans was rededicated
late martyred President
Isaac Agree Downtown Syna- as Col. David Marcus Post.
gogue will begin its program
Israel Consul Gen. Zeev Z.
PLANT TREES in
of adult Hebrew classes Tues- Dover, who heads Israel's con-
TOURS INCLUDE:
Package Timis from
The John Fitzgerald Kennedy day night and meet on subse- sulate in Atlanta; Daniel N.
• 1st Class Hotels with 2 meals a day
Peace Forest
quent Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m. in Heller of Miami Beach, JWV na-
• Sightseeing in Israel and Europe
• Services of multi-lingual guides
the synagogue, 1442 Griswold. tional commander; and Mrs.
Your certificate will be mailed
I • Transfers between airports and hotels
Marcus, the widow of the late
Rabbi
Noah
M.
Gamze
will
Does not
directly to Mrs. Kennedy
• Participation in Holiday Festivities
include fare
be instructor in this basic read- colonel, flew in from New York
and Family
for the ceremony.
* Roundtrip jetfare
ing course.
WEEKLY DEPARTURES
available at
Col. Marcus was killed in
BY AIR OR SEA
per person
JNF SABBATH will be
action in Israel six hours prior
Sabbath
Eve
Discussion
to
the
first
Israel-Arab
cease
fire
observed in all Synagogues
SEE ISRAEL WITH THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT IT
Miles Platt of the Oakland and led Israel's central army in
Fee further information and FREE BROCHURE contact:
JANUARY 25th
County Board of Education will lifting the siege of Jerusalem.
HISTADRUT
TOURS DEPARTMENT
discuss "Schools and the First
19161
SCHAEFER
Amendment"
following
regular
The
cost
of
a
funeral
and
UN 4-7094
18414 WYOMING
Sabbath services of Temple Beth burial in the United States
Phone UN 4-2767
Jacob, Pontiac, today.
averages $1,400.

Takes Oath; Possible
Congress Inaction Feared

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