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.