Conservative and Reform Spokesmen Rabbi Stollman to Be Honored
for 40 Years of Detroit Service
Join to Repudiate Orthodox Attack
The heads of the rabbinic and
congregational wings of American
Conservative and Reform Judaism
sharply denounced as "intemper-
ate and distorted" statements by
Orthodox Jewish leaders which at-
tacked attempts by these branches
to aid the development of non-
Orthodox Judaism in the state of
Israel.
The statement took issue with
the remarks of Dr. Zerah Wahr-
haftig, Israel minister of religion,
who aated at last week's conven-
tion of the Rabbinical Council of
America (Orthodox rabbinic asso-
ciation) that "complete, uninhi-
bited and unrestrained religious
liberty exists in Israel."
The response of the Conserva-
tive and Reform leaders called
Dr. Wahrhaftig's assertion "a
complete, uninhibited and unre-
strained figment of his imagina-
tion. . . The simple truth is
that religion in Israel is totally
controlled by the Orthodox rab-
binate. Non-Orthodox rabbis are
denied the right to conduct wed-
dings, officiate at funerals or
grant divorces and have been
harassed by the Orthodox rab-
binate in Israel at every step in
their efforts to establish non-
Orthodox synagogues anywhere
in Israel."
The statement was signed by
Rabbi Leon I. Feuer, Toledo,
president of the Central Confer-
ence of American Rabbis (Reform
rabbinic association); Rabbi Max
3. Routtenberg, Rockville Center,
president, Rabbinical Assembly
(Conservative rabbinic associa-
tion); Rabbi Maurice N. Eisen-
drath, New York, president of the
Union of American Hebrew Con-
gregations (Reform congregational
body) and George Maislen, New
York, president of the United
Synagogues (Consevative congrega-
tional body).
The statement was endorsed by
Rabbi Jacob K. Shankman, New
Rochelle, president of the World
Union for Progressive Judaism,
representing international Reform,
Liberal or Progressive congrega-
tions throughout the world.
At the convention of the Rabbini-
cal Council of America in Falls-
burg, N.Y., two leaders of Ortho-
dox Judaism. Moses I. Feuerstein,
president of the Union of Orthodox
Jewish Congregations, and Rabbi
Israel Miller, president of the Rab-
binical Council, joined Dr. Wahr-
haftig in attacks on Conservative
and Reform Judaism. The state-
ment responding to these attacks
expressed sadness at the fact that
"Orthodox organizations in Amer-
ica turn their annual conventions
into sounding-boards for polemical
denunciations of Reform and Con-
servative Judaism."
&WEN!
The statement said that "non-
Orthodox Judaism is growing
steadily in Israel, as large num-
bers of Israelis seek more visible
options than a choice between
rigid Orthodoxy and nothing." It
said that "Israelis hunger for an
opportunity to develop their spir-
itual selves in the modern spirit
unencumbered by an Orthodoxy
which, because of its ability to
control the political situation,
seeks to deny any and all other
forms of Judaism an opportunity
to grow."
The statement said, "In Israel
there are hundreds of thousands
of Jews who are religious but
not Orthodox. The overwhelming
majority of Jews, in Israel or
the United States, whatever their
religious commitment, support
the basic position or separation
of Church and State, freedom of
religious belief, and practice and
instruction for all."
It added "The overwhelming
majority of Jews oppose any
attempt by governmental author-
ity, in the United States or in Is-
rael, to interfere with the expres-
sion of religion in any of its as-
pects."
The Conservative and Reform
leaders also took exception to the
claim of Dr. Wahrhaftig that two-
thirds of the population of Israel
attend Orthodox services.
"This is utterly unfounded," the
statement said. "The best that
might be said is that two-thirds
of those who attend services at all,
worship in the Orthodox fashion.
The actual fact is that perhaps
as many as two-thirds of the total
population ignore regular worship
altogether because they cannot
accept Orthodoxy—the only option
for worship available to them."
Referring to Feuerstein's "claim
to represent 3,000 synagogues in
America" the leaders
this claim as a "figment of his
imagination. It is doubtful that he
represents a fraction of that num-
ber of congregations."
There are 785 Conservative syn-
agogues in America and 660 Re-
form temples. Each represents
approximately one million adher-
ents.
The statement concluded: "Jew-
ish unity can only be maintained
on the basis of pluralism, respect
for difference • and appreciation
for religious liberty. There are
genuine and fundamental differ-
ences between Reform and Conser-
vative Judaism but these differ-
ences are treated with mutual re-
spect. We have not chosen to
attack each other or to impugn
each other's integrity."
A community tribute marking 40 '
years of service to the Detroit Jew-
ish community is being planned for
Rabbi Isaac Stollman.
Co-sponsors for this event, to be
held July 13, are the Vaad Hora-
bonim and the local chapter of the
Religious Zionists of America. The
fete is being planned to coincide
with Rabbi Stollman's departure
from Detroit to take up permanent
residence in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Stollman has served as
president of the Council of Ortho-
dox Rabbis for many years.
He was a national leader of
Mizrachi-Hapoel Hatnizrachi and is
a past president of the Religious
Zionists of America. Now honorary
president of American Zionists, he
is a member of the World Zionist
Actions Committee. He participat-
ed in several Zionist Congresses
and is the author of important rab-
binical literary tracts.
This affair will also be sponsor-
ed by many local Zionist and Jew-
ish civic and educational organ-
izations like Yeshivath Beth Ye-
hudah, Akiva Day School, Zionist
Council, Community Council, Jew-
ish Welfare Federation, Young
Israel, Bonds for Israel and Jew-
ish National Fund.
A citywide committee of rab-
bis, lay leaders and representa-
Temple Emanu-El will graduate
tives of Detroit synagogues will be
21 students from the high school
formed for this occasion.
department of its religious school
8:15 p.m. today. Newly elected of-
Orthodox Re-elect
ficers and board members of the
temple, sisterhood, men's clubs,
Rabbi Israel Miller
couples' club and youth group will
FALLSBURG, N.Y. (JTA)
Resolutions calling on the Soviet be installed by Rabbi Milton Rosen-
Union's government to give to the baum.
The new executive board of
Jews of the USSR "unqualified re-
ligious freedom," and requesting Temple Emanu-El includes Dr.
the United States government to Warren Eder, president; Maxwell
take action against the Arab boy- Stettner, Mrs. Joseph L. Maltzer
cott, were adopted at the conclud- and Dr. Conrad Goods, vice presi-
ing session of the annual conven- dents; Dr. Raymond Robins, Albert
tion of the Rabbinical Council of A. Miller and Milton Lucow, secre-
taries; and William Zack, treas-
America.
The 500 Orthodox rabbis attend- urer.
President of the sisterhood is
ing the parley noted in their ap-
peal to the U.S.A. that the Wash- Mrs. Milton Lucow; men's club,
ington Administration "s h o u 1 d Aaron Kahn; couples' club, Mr.
make every effort to protect Ameri- and Mrs. Robert Rosen; and youth
can firms and businesses from the group, Marcia Eder.
An oneg shabbat in honor of
fury of the Arab boycott, and to
withhold aid from the Arab states the graduates, officers and board
as long as the boycott is in effect." members will take place in the
The convention re-elected Rabbi social hall following the service.
Israel Miller as president. In his
address closing the convention,
Rabbi Miller expressed support for
a bipartisan bill now pending in
Congress, permitting Sabbath ob-
servers in Federal employment to
practice their religion "without be-
ing subjected to economic and
5 3 5-5 3 4 0
other difficulties."
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COMES TO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, June 4, 1965-17
BY HENRY LEONARD
Temple Emanu-El Sets
Graduation, Installation
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