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
Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 48235 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
Business Manager
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE HYAMS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 17th day of Tammuz, 5725, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Num. 22:2-25-9; prophetical portion: Mic. 5:6-6:8.
Fast of the 17th of Tammuz Selections
Pentateuchal portions: Sunday, Exod. 32:11-14, 34:1-10; prophetical portions: Sunday, isa. 55:6-56:8.
Licht benshen. Friday. July 16. 7:47 D.M.
July 16, 1965
Page 4
VOL. XLVII, No. 21
Bigotry Compels Increased Vigilance
Rescue tasks for Jews in backward coun- ments of freedom, the hate that is infested in
tries is far from ended. Reports from Moslem democratic ranks by Goebbels-like rabble-
countries about the status of the remnants rousing, are causes for serious concern.
The extent of the neo-Nazi arrogance in
of Jews who still reside there continue to be
most disturbing. There is evidence of an un- West Germany, as evidenced by the swas-
ending anti-Semitic prejudice that threatens tika-daubings in Bamberg and other German
the peace of the Jewish communities in sev- centers, creates the obligation for renewed
eral Latin American countries. The virus of vigilance.
Indeed, vigilance must never end, and
hate often becomes apparent even in free •
countries—in Canada, where the Nazi forces especially now, in an era of greater freedom
make themselves known; occasionally in for most of mankind than ever before, the re-
vival of medieval bigotries compels an in-
other democratic countries.
While there is little fear of a growing anti- crease in vigilance, a serious consideration of
Semitism in free countries, the fact that Nazi- whatever evidences there are of revived
inspired propaganda is effective in environ- hatreds.
A Noble Leader Has Fallen in Israel
Moshe Sharett's name will go down in
Jewish history among the giants who had
helped in the redemption of Israel, who
labored to make Zionism a reality, who
pleaded for the highest values in Judaism.
It was thanks to him that the Zionist
idea once again regained its respected role
as the chief among the movements for the
advancement of the survivalist aims in Jewry.
He was the brilliant interpreter of the Jewish
national idea and he contributed greatly not
only toward his own party—Mapai—and its
fraternal labor arm—Histadrut—but to all
other branches in Zionism. He was able thus
to plead for the basic ideas in Zionism, re-
gardless of party divisions, because he was
primarily above rancor and had in view the
benefits that must accrue to the homeless
and persecuted masses of Jews Who were to
be rescued speedily if they were not to per-
ish.
His labors for Zionism therefore were
motivated by a high spiritual goal and by a
humanitarianism without which there could
have been no hope for the messianic Jewish
aspirations which are at the root of the Zion-
ist ideal.
But Moshe Sharett was much more than
a political leader. His ability to present issues
to the statesmen of the world when he
pleaded the Zionist cause was due to his
diplomatic skill, his logical approach to his-
torical developments, his modesty and his
ability to avoid unnecessary agitation under
conditions which already unavoidably placed
Jewry on the defensive in the struggle for
emancipation.
These are the qualities that stemmed
from Mr. Sharett's background as a man of
culture who was as deeply interested in Jew-
ish spiritual values as he was in the material
well being of Jews who needed aid in the
struggle to survive against the great odds
that were set up against them by oppressive
nations.
He was the educator. He was as much
at home with a group of school children as
he was with diplomats. He won the hearts
of students by his ability to interpret the his-
tory of the Jewish people with a love that
made him as much pedagogue as he was
statesman. He was the linguist who sought
perfection in the use of words he applied to
his appeals for justice for Jewry and Israel.
In Israel's foreign office and in the pre-
miership Moshe Sharett was one of the Israeli
state-builders. And in Jewish ranks he was a
man who, by his sincerity, was able to move
men to greater action in support of the Zion-
ist dream, which he had helped transform
into reality.
Such was the man about whom it can
truly be said: Sar v'gadol nofal b'Yisrael—a
prince and a great man has fallen in Israel.
Blessed be the memory of the giant who gave
so much to make Israel a sovereign nation
and to assure for Jewry the continuation of
the highest cultural and spiritual values.
The Status of the Jewish Minority in the USSR
There is no doubt about the logic of Dr.
Nahum Goldmann's admonition, made in
his speech at the World Jewish Congress
session in Strasbourg, that "we should not
be dragged into cold war polemics" and
that we should avoid "creating the impres-
sion that the Jewish people, as such, is anti-
Soviet." Indeed, we should negotiate, we
should strive to persuade the Soviet Union
to alter its policies anent the Jews.
But while Dr. Goldmann was offering
this sound advice, a Soviet spokesman, G. C.
Arkadyev, replying at the session of the UN
Economic and Social Council in Geneva to
accusations of Russian discriminations made
by the Israeli delegate, Moshe Bartur, said
that his government has no intention of
changing anything in the present status of
the Jewish minority in the USSR.
While the Israeli delegate was indicating
how the Jews in Russia were being deprived
of their religious and cultural rights, the
Russian delegate resorted to canards in-
vented by anti-Semites and Arab propagan-
dists: that of placing blame for Jewish
protests on Zionists.
The irony in the Geneva debate was that
the Russian raised the question of the status
of Arabs in Israel, failing to take into
account the serious effort that is being made
by Israel to provide Arab citizens with
schooling, cultural facilities, the rights that
are due citizens of a democratic state.
Dr. Goldmann's approach is logical and
pragmatic. But for his approach to become
workable it is necessary that both the USSR
and the Jewish spokesmen work in accord.
This calls for courtesies that have not yet
been extended by the Soviet Union. That
is why there is a repetition of regrettable
rancor.
The Right to Vote
Adoption by Congress of the voting rights
bill is an affirmation of the basic principle for
which this country has been striving in
the current effort to correct the wrongs
committed against our Negro fellow-citizens.
It is, as Congressman Seymour Halpern of
New York stated in the course of the debate
in the House of Representatives, "a strong,
decisive assault on the few remaining bas-
tions of bigotry."
Congressman John Conyers of Detroit
properly judged the new measure by declar-
ing that the guarantee to the right t6 vote
"will go a long way toward dispelling the
whole complex of prejudices which form
the psychological base for racial discrimina-
tion in this country."
This generation is blessed to have wit-
nessed the correction that has thus been
made in the wrongs that have been com-
mitted against millions of our fellow-citizens.
2 Educators Collaborate
'Our Living Prayer Book', Replete
With Historical Traditional Data
How can interest in and appreciation of the Siddur—the prayer
book—be created among young Jews?
Dr. Azriel Eisenberg and Jessie B. Robinson have combined their
skills as educators to provide the answer in their impressive, beautifully
illustrated "Our Living Prayer Book" which has been published by
Prayer Book Press, 410 Asylum St., Hart-
ford, Conn.
Offering "creative exercises in the
study of prayer and the Siddur," the tra-
ditional prayer book is presented and in-
terpreted as a living work related to
daily experience. The authors made it
their task "through purposeful activity
and ingenuity .. . to invest the Siddur
with pertinence and relevance to our
daily lives and thus help restore it, in
a measure, as a book of worship and
adoration." They are more than suc-
cessful in their effort: their interesting
approach arouses deep interest in the
prayer book and is certain to intrigue
young readers, at the same time offering
a, large measure of interest in the
project—if such it can be called—by
parents.
Dr. Eisenberg
Indeed, parents can utilize this work as a means of study by the
entire family of the prayers, their meanings, their background.
By emphasizing the traditional, by instructing the reader regarding
the sacred Jewish heritage as embodied in the prayers, the two authors
have rendered a genuine service. Their work offers an impressive
lesson in religious experience.
Commencing with basic prayers, such as the Motzi—"The Blessing
for the Miracle of Providing Bread"—this volume proceeds with ex-
planations of the morning prayers, the heart of the service—the She=
and the Amidah; Sabbath prayers and the outlines of the synagogue
service.
Appended is a valuable glossary, the Hebrew alphabet and other
explanatory terms.
But interspersed are many items of value. In many series of
questions, supplemented by illustrations that direct the student towards
proper evaluations of prayers and service, there is instruction in the
basic information provided by this truly impressive work. There are
games and art work for group activities as well as for individual craft
exercises, and nearly every subject of interest in Jewish life is covered
in this text.
The philatelist will be thrilled with the stamps section. There
are portions dedicated to Jewish music, achaeology is not ignored,
and the rebus and charades and other means are resorted to in
getting the reader to apply full knowledge to the information gained
from this book.
In the analysis of the Shema, the authors include a facsimile of the
papyrus from the Dead Sea Scrolls and present an interpretive state-
ment on the Ten Commandments.
The meaning of the Amen, the meaning of the Eighteen Benedic-
tions, the fact that God is mentioned 18 times in the Shema and in
Psalm 29, and many more significant facts are offered.
There are suggestions for things to paint, relating to prayers and
the Bible.
Very significant is the series of supplementary cartoons: "The
Jew Who Stopped to Pray and the Noble," "Only in Israel," "Menu,
`The All-Purpose Prayer,' " "A Modern Miracle," "Once There
Was a Pious Man—Ish Hasid Hayah," "A Pure Prayer," and a
very deeply moving one entitled "The Siddur of the Concentration
Camp."
As one of the extras offered in their book, the authors have pre-
pared material for a debate or a symposium on prayer and the Siddur,
listing arguments for and against detailing data of great merit.
There are illustrations to be cut and pasted for the young readers.
There is a section "Do You Know?" containing some basic facts about
the synagogue, minyan, ner tamid.
Thus, this work is a combination of facts about prayers and the
Siddur, supplemented by historical data, beautified by illustrations, en-
hanced by numerous fascinating details about Jews and Judaism. It is
an all-inclusive, exceedingly valuable work.