THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English—Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 48235 Mich.,
YE 8-9384. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign $7.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
Association.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE IIYAMS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 13th day of Shevat, 5725, the following scriptural selections will
be read in .our synagogues:
Pertatenchal portions: Exod. 13:17-17:16; prophetical portion: Judges 4:4-5:31.
Lirht benshen, Friday, Jan. 15, 5:08 p.m.
VOL. XLVI, No. 21
Page 4
January 15, 1965
Youth Problem: Theory and Reality
Fragmentization among our youth was
viewed as a "divisive approach that tends to
dilute, not strengthen, students' ties to the
peoplehood of Jewry," at a session of Hillel
Foundation directors.
It was the separatism along Conservative,
Orthodox and Reform lines that was deplored
as the competitive aspect of schisms that are
dividing rather than fusing Jewish loyalties.
While it is true that the totality of Jewish
life, the "pluralism of ideals," as one director
interpreted the need, that is of the utmost
importance in assuring dedication to Jewish
principles, the issue as it was presented at the
Hillel Foundations meeting undoubtedly in-
volves much more than seems to trouble the
religious interpreters.
*
The fact is that there also is in evidence
a strong sectarian movement among our
youth, and the sectarians are concerned with
problems other than those involving the three
tenets in Jewish life.
It is a fact, also, that conditions have
changed for the more cooperative among all
Jewish groups. While there were deep preju-
dices a generation ago against Reform Jews,
one would have to be utterly blind to reality
to attempt today to write out of Jewish life
an element that may number nearly a third
of American Jewry.
Therefore, when a Conservative rabbi,
the director of the Hillel Foundation - at the
University of Chicago—Rabbi Max D. Ticktin
—said: "There is need to enlighten Orthodox
students that Reform is not one step removed
from apostasy. or contrawise, that Orthodoxy
is not mere blind adherence to ancient pat-
terns, and that Conservative Judaism is not
a comfortable, uncritical middleway," he was
merely theorizing. It is not apostasy that is
involved here, or irreverence to orthodoxy, or
an exaggerated midway path to an easy way
of being a Jew. The universities especially
are today dominated by a spirit that lures
the youth in varying directions, and what we
are faced with is a lack of proper approach
to our young people's appreciation of their
heritage.
It may well be that our pedagogical fail-
ures rather than our religious divisiveness is
at fault. It is possible that where we begin to
fail is at the cradle-stage. It may well be
that uninformed parenthood is accountable
for the indifference that exists among our from Bezalel Forward
youth.
a a a
The problem needs to be studied along
many more paths than the synagogual one.
There is the home to be taken into considera-
tion. There is the fraternity-sorority inter-
mixing problem. There are the temptations
From Bezalel in the Book of Exodus through the ages. interest ht
that have become a natural way of life-- Jewish religious art has been in evidence, and although "the study of
that of acquiring the easiest way out of ceremonial art . . . is still in its infancy," the accumulated material
Jewish responsibilities when such duties are already points to a wealth of material on the subject.
not fully understood.
The point on the infancy in the study of ceremonial art is made
in "Jewish Ceremonial Art," by Dr. Joseph Gutmann, director of the
The Hillel Foundations directors made a Jewish
Museum of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, published by
good beginning. They reviewed the religious Thomas Yoseloff (11 E. 36th, NY 16). He asserts that his current study,
aspects frankly. Now they must turn to the which is supplemented by an impressive collection of noteworthy photo-
other issues involved. The over-all short- graphs of impressive art objects, is intended "to stimulate interest jail
comings must be tackled by the entire Jewish a much-neglected field."
community.
He also indicates that while ceremonial objects are scattered in
In any event, the mere fact that there is many private collections, no systematic archives are extant and "many
a facing of issues already assures continuing priceless treasures, never photographed, were destroyed in the Nazi
in tackling them. This offers some assurance holocaust."
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that a solution eventually will be found along
Dr. Gutmann declares that "the ceremonial art of the Jews
constructive lines that will bring about a
testifies to the diversity of Judaism, for not only did the form
return to Jewish loyalties.
and decoration of the ceremonial objects vary from country to
Jewish Ceremonial Art Rated
in Study by Joseph Gutmann
Equitable Solution of Jordan Water Issue
In its analytical report on the water prob-
lem that for a time threatened to become a
major issue in the Middle East, the Institute
of Human Relations of the American Jewish
Committee quotes from a ruling made by
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell
Holmes in 1931, in a case between New
Jersey and New York. The Supreme Court
decision of that year permitted diversion
of water outside a natural watershed as long
as the diverted quantity was not in excess
of the state's equitable share.
Mr. Justice Holmes' opinion has consider-
able bearing on the issue between Israel and
Jordan. He stated in his 1931 opinion:
"A river is more than an amenity, it is
a treasure. It offers a necessity of life that
must be rationed among those who have
power over it. New York has the physical
power to cut off all the water within its
jurisdiction. But clearly the exercise of
such a power to the destruction of the in-
terest of lower states could not be tol-
erlted. And on the other hand, equally lit-
tle'could New Jersey be permitted to re-
quire New York to give up its power
altogether in order that the river might
come down to it undiminished. Both states
have real and substantial interest in the
River that must be reconciled as best they
may be. The different traditions and prac-
tices in different parts of the country may
lead to varying results, but the effort al-
ways is to secure an equitable apportion-
ment without quibbling over formulas."
This is exactly what Israel has been plead-
ing for—the equity that was inherent in the
original American plan proposed by Amer-
ica's ambassador, Eric Johnston.
It is because this country aims at peaceful
agreements and hopes for amity in the Mid-
dle East that President Johnson, in his ad-
dress before the Weizmann Institute's Ameri-
can Friends, in New York, on Feb. 6 of last
year, emphasized:
"Water should never divide men—it
should unite them. Water should never be
a cause of war—it should always be a force
for peace."
Yet, the American Jewish Committee's
survey of the problem warns that clash over
the Jordan River harnessing may yet occur
in view of the pressures from the Arab
League under which Jordan continues its
submissive existence. That is why analyses
like the one submitted by the American Jew-
ish Committee assist in bringing light to the
entire issue. It may not influence Arab think-
ing in the slightest, but the truth is neces-
sary for world public opinion, and especially
for fair handling of the issue by our govern-
ment in its involvement of assisting under-
developed nations and of encouraging all
concerned in the Middle East to solve their
water problem equitably.
Israel Bonds' Status
country and century to century," but there is a varied difference
in the numerous types of art revealing "the flexibility and adapt,
ability of Judaism."
He describes the Jewish ceremonial art as testifying to "the taste
of rich Jewish patrons who commissioned objects from skilled
Christian silversmiths."
This interesting essay goes into detail in describing some existing
collections. He states that "of major importance in the ceremonig
art of the Jews are the many objects fashioned specifically for the
Jewish wedding. There also are amulets with magical texts fashioned
for births. There also are collections of mezuzot which were specially
fashioned.
Half of this volume contains 61 plates, showing some of the
more impressive art works collected by the author — Torah crowns,
Hanukah lamps, Rimmonim, an Omer calendar, Torah shields and
cases, Torah and Ark curtains, Sabbath lamps, Kiddush cups,
challah covers, spice containers, Havdalah candle holders, Seder
containers, Seder hand towels, amulets, circumcision knives,
marriage belts and rings, book covers.
Tracing the art skills of early Jews by quoting Exodus 31:3-5
where we read that Bezalel was filled "with the spirit of God, with
wisdom, intelligence and knowledge in every craft: to devise artistic
designs, to work in gold, silver and copper, to cut stones for setting
and to carve wood—to work in every craft"—Dr. Gutmann comments
that "nowhere in ancient annals is the artist-craftsman endowed by
his god with talents as diverse as those ascribed to Bezalel."
The author states, after indicating that little evidence of early
ceremonial art has survived, that "the history of surviving ceremonial
art of the Jews must be viewed within the context of the Jewish
involvement in the Christian and Islamic civilizations. What emerges
from a study of the role of the Jews as patrons and fashioners of
ceremonial art is not a uniform picture, but rather an intricate and
involved pattern which varies from civilization to civilization." ,
a
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When the Israel Bond drives first were
inaugurated in 1951, the initiators of the
movement for aid to Israel by means of in-
In Eastern Europe, Dr. Gutmann points out, "Jews were MOM
vestments that bring a profitable monetary in the
crafts from medieval times."
return predicted that the method of partner-
He shows that 16th-Century Prague "had Jewish mSeter.
.
ship with Israel would displace philanthropy.
craftsmen, who were granted special royal permission to osier to
While such a development still is rather
both Jewish and non-Jewish clients."
remote, the success of Bond sales in Detroit
He also points out that in Grodno, as far back as 1652, "Jews were
and the nationwide interest in Israel Bonds accepted in a number of Christian guilds from which ... they. derived
point to a wholesome evolution in the meth- professional advantages."
ods of providing assistance to Israel.
Jewish artisans in many other lands are referred to in this work
The local triumph is most heartening. It is and the art of Jewish skilled workers is described in this illuminating
a tribute to the leadership of Tom Borman, work.
the Bond chairman, and the managerial skill
Special attention is given to a study of ceremonial art for the
of the director, Louis Levitaa
synagogue, and art for the. Jewish holidays is evaluated. .. T „