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, Mich. 48235.
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 20th day of Kislev, 5727, the following Scriptural selections Will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 37:1-40:23. Prophetical portion, Amos 2:6-3:8.
Hanuka Tora readings: Thursday, Num. 7:1-17: Friday, Num. 7:18-29.

Candle lighting Friday, Dec. 2, 4:44 p.m.

VOL. L. NO. 15

Page Four

December 2, 1966

Hanuka 's Message Spiritual Inspiration

•

Hanuka, the Feast of Lights that in-
spires the youth and instills a festive spirit
in all Jewish homes, is one of the major oc-
casions on the Jewish calendar for an invig-
oration of Jews everywhere in the battle for
justice, in the rejection of passivity when
facing challenges from enemies and bigots.
The Maccabean spirit predominates, and it
instills in the youth a feeling of confidence
that those who are faced with dangers can
overcomes them if they hold fast to faith in
the justice of their position in life.
The Maccabean Festival is, indeed, the
holiday that emphasizes heroism. It is, how-
ever, much more than that. It is rooted in the
spiritual motivations which encouraged the
Maccabees of old to reject tyranny and to
refuse to bow to strange gods.
Because Hanuka is as much a spiritually
inspired holiday as it is a recollection of mil-
itary successes by the ancient Jewish heroes,
it is a period for renewing faith in our cur-
rent position, wherever Jews may live, and
it is a time to call for rededication by our
people to learning and to the strengthening

of the Jewish values which are the chief
sources of our sustenance as a people.
Our sages have found in Hanuka the
message of the spirit, the means with which
to face Jewish communities with admonitions
that unless there is a strong cultural factor
in Jewish life, unless the elements that make
for a strong faith are protected, military
gains are of little value.
Because Hanuka is so popular as the
gift-giving festival, it must also serve as the
time to inspire the youth to relive the Mac-
cabean experience in a spirit of dedication to
the principles for which the Maccabees Impress
fought so well and so successfully. These
principles remain imbedded in Jewish life.
They are represented in the faith of Israel.
American Heritage Picture History of World War II" by
They are dependent upon knowledge. They C. L. "The
published by Simon and Schuster, is one of the great
call for learning. That is why Hanuka is so im- books Sulzberger,
of the year and one of the most impressive chronicles of all
portant a time to re-emphasize the need for of the events that occurred during the tragic years under Hitlerism.
expanded educational activities in Jewish
Prepared by the book division of American Heritage Publishing
ranks-. It is as such primarily that this great Co., with David G. McCullough as editor of the project, this volume is
Festival of Light and Freedom must be ob - the result of the skilful tasks of one of America's ablest newspaper-
men. Sulzberger, chief of the New York Times foreign service, has
served.

ve Work by u S lzberger-
'Heritage Picture of World War 11'

been close to the world scene for many years. He holds a Pulitzer
Prize Citation, has covered the world and is a well informed editor.
In the pictorial history of the last war he covers every aspect
of all the conflicts, the Nazi era,, the American participation, the
Italian fiasco, the menace that stemmed frOm Nazism.
usual. The replies indicate a tendency point -
Readers of this volume, the possessOithiS -irrimense Work, will
ing to liberalism in testing religious opinions marvel at the vast collection of photographs included
in it, the variety
and prejudices. Nevertheless, the problem I of illustrations which keep alive the memory- of a tragic era. It is
facing Jewish communities remains unre- "The March of the Abyss," as the initial essay is titled, and the
solved. Even if i a small minority should wish contents of this work serve as a warning against the repetition of the
to impose its will to retain religious practices crimes that stemmed from Germany.
Of the 720 photographs in this-immense work, 92 are in color. They
in the public schools, with emphasis on the
depict the story of Nazism and of the Allied forces who fought against
Christmas theme, it will be difficult, if not ithe
menace of humanity.
impossible to fight it. The vote recently in
They expose the vile treatment of the Jews and the text, in all its
the United States Senate on the question of brevity
on the subject, serves as a renewed indictment of Nazi Germany.
prayers in the public schools indicated how
The 'earliest stages of Hitler's "virulent anti-Semitism" are

Trends to Liberalism in

Flint's Jewish Community Council has
issued an interesting report on the results of
a survey it conducted, by means of 800 ques-
tionnaires that were sent, among others, to
25 schools, on the question of Christmas holi-
day observance in public schools. The Flint
Jewish Council's stated position on which
those questioned were asked to vote was:
"We are opposed to the observance of
religious festivals in public schools because
such observance violates the principle of
separation of church and state.
"Joint religious observances such as
Christmas-Hanuka are in our opinion no
less a breach of this fundamental principle.
"Where religious holiday observances
are held in public schools, Jewish children
have a right to refrain from participation."
Of the 800 who received the question-
naires, 101 responded, and the Jewish posit-
ion was upheld by a vote of 71 to 17.
-
Those questioned voted 63 in favor, 18
opposed and four stating they had no opinion
on this statement:

"At this time the FJCC does not actively
oppose: Christmas trees, non-religious Christmas
songs, or decorations, gift exchanges, educational
(as opposed to religious) programs."

Parents with children attending public
schools replied as follows, in this survey, on
the question of specific practices:

Joint Christmas-Hanuka Celebrations
Religious Christmas Carols
Plays About the Christ Story
Jewish Students in Religious Plays
Religious Christmas Pageantry
Nativity Scenes
Religious Christmas Decorations
Student Holiday Reports:
Voluntary
Assigned
Bible Reading Throughout the Year
Other

YES NO
23
25
36
11
'7
32
10
31
'7
32
6
33
24
18

14
6
1
9

22
22
39

The survey and its results are most un-

ris mas Survey

hard it is to' battle a prejudice when issues
depicted in reproduced cartoons. The roundup of Jews in Amster-
can become so distorted that a basic principle
dam in February 1941 is shown in one of the historic photographs.
One of the most deeply moving portions of the book is the brief
is turned into a question of "are you in
chapter "Eyewitness Close-Up—And All Because They Are Jews!'"
favor or against prayer."
Majority rule enters into the dilemma. A which contains moving excerpts from the Anne Frank Diary.
Preceding these excerpts is a two-page photo, the explanatory
Jewish minority that seeks to protect its
for which read: The end of the line for perhaps as many as 6,-
children against the injection of the Christ - lines
000,000 Jewish men, women and children was one of 30-odd death
mas spirit in the schools will confront many camps that
were set up by the Nazis in Germany and the occupied coun-
obstacles. It may never be possible corn - tries. The scene at right is from a German film found after the war.
pletely to separate the religious from the The location is not known, but it may have been at Belsen, Ravens-
secular in our schools.
ck or Buchenwald, where Jewish women were imprisoned in
great numbers.'
Yet the problem of church-state separa- br.uaet
In addition to describing the role of the United States in the
tion remains as a vital issue to be resolved,
past war, the Sulzberger photographic record also refers to the
or we must so integrate all elements in the
resistance. It was not all rosy for the Nazis and they had met
American population that conflicts will be
with underground opposition that was part of the heroism of the
averted, that citizens of all faiths should be
anti Nazi forces.
able to live together in harmony, avoiding
avoiding
The methods in seeking "The Final Solution" the Nazi aim to
hatreds and enmities based on the natural exterminate the Jews—are part of a very brief description. But they
private preferences for religious adherence. are part of this enormous record and they serve the purpose of being
Unfortunately, there are fundamentalists who a reminder of the crimes.
Some of the chapter headings impressively point to the exp
will not budge from their prejudices, and it
may well be that the defenders of the separa- ences of the war years. ''The Lamps Are Going Out," "The Roots
tion principle also are adamant in their refus- Tyranny," "Arsenal of Democracy" and scores of similar titles point'
the issues that were at stake in that sad era.
al to make concessions.
war with Japan, the fighting in Russia, the exposes by men
Thus, the problem remains unresolved. like The
William Shirer and Ed Murrow—these and many other factors
Nevertheless, it is well that our communities are part of this immense tale so well compiled by a brilliant writer.
should remain aware of existing sentiments, Sulzberger renders a great service with this excellent book.
because it is so vital that children of one
faith should not be overwhelmed by the ma-
1
jority view. Being aware of existing differ-
ences, it will be easier to retain our own
Two translators had a part in the production of "The Ghetto and
youth within their denominational training. the Jews of Rome" by the eminent German scholar, Ferdinand Gregoro-

Support for the H ebrew Day Schools

A statement on the status of Jewish secular schools, institutions of higher learn-
educational projects and on planning for
ing and adult education programs."
expanded cultural activities by Jewish com-
This all-inclusive proposal follows the
munities, issued by the American Jewish trend of emphasizing the importance of day
Congress' commission on Jewish affairs, con-
schools. It is becoming more evident as
tains this appeal:
time goes on that the all-day Jewish school
"We call on Jewish federations and wel- which includes the traditional Jewish studies
fare funds—the traditional sources of sup- as well as the secular public school curricula
port for meeting Jewish communal needs is becoming acceptable. There is no doubt
—to include as beneficiaries in their alloca- that communal support for such schools will
tions all forms of Jewish education, including have to come forth very soon. The status
ewish day .scho ols, .congregation-al arxla of .the• day ,sciaocils car pels-this aid..

-

—

'Ghetto and Jews of Rome

vius,

which has just been issued by Schocken Books as a paperback.
The late Prof. Moses Hadas translated the main text and the poesn
prefacing the book, "Lament of the Children of Israel in Rome," was
translated by Randall Jarrell.
Tragedy and triumph are intermingled in the German historian's
small (barely 100 pages of text) but most informative work. The several
illustrations portray the role of Roman Jewry. They include the Arch of
Titus which was erected to proclaim the destruction of Judaea, and
there is a coin with the "Judaea capta"—the capture of Judaea—
legend which has been demolished in our time.
What the story indicates is how Jews had lived through the
rise and fall of Rome, how they had witnessed many changes, but
have survived everything—except that they had "crossed the Tiber."
The translator's postscript to the text explains the approach of
Gregorovius, who wrote "The Ghetto and the Jews of Rome" in 1853.
Appended also is a splendidly compiled chronology of the Jews
of Rothe -which will be most helpful to students of Jewish histori;