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January 27, 1967 - Image 4

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish News, 1967-01-27

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The Target in the Middle

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

SIDNEY SHMARAK

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

Advertising Manager

Business Manager

CHARLOTTE HYAMS

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the seventeenth day of Shevat, 5727, the following scriptural selec-
tions will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Ex. 18:1-20:23. Prophetical portion, Is. 6:1-7:6;9:5, 6.

Candle Lighting, Friday, Jan. 27, 5:22 p.m.

VOL. L. No. 23

Page Four

January 27, 1967

Allied Campaign's Merciful Beginning

There is such a marked measure of con-
sistency in adherence to social duties in our
community, as was demonstrated last week
at the initial fund-raising event in behalf of
the Allied Jewish Campaign, that there is
cause for gratification.
Continuing the established tradition of
responding generously to the calls that are
made annually by the Allied Jewish Cam-
paign in behalf of the overseas needs and the
scores of national and local causes which we
support with our contributions, a small group
of men have made notable increases over
their previous gifts to provide 40 per cent of
the aspired goal of $6,000,000 at a single
gathering. They represent a fraction of the
Big Givers group which usually provides the
major amount of any drive, and there is
encouragement that the current goal will be
attained.
Thus, during the coming three months, an
army of dedicated workers will set out to
educate the community to the needs of our
time — to keeping the machinery of nearly
50 local and national movements in motion
so that the home scene will not be affected by
a lack of support for social service,, recrea-
tional and educational needs: to assuring the
assistance that must be given to hundreds of
thousands of Jews who live in lands of oppres-
sion and who must either be given aid where
they are. or who look for help to emigrate.
There is the Israel challenge. The small

State of Israel cares for its own needs ade-
quately. It supports. its army which is so vital
in defense against war-mongering neighbors.
It provides for its educational 'programs and
its social securities. But the small nation can-
not, additionally, provide for the settlement
of tens of thousands of additional immigrants.
It cannot create for them the employment
opportunities and the measures necessary for
the integration of Orientals in an environ-
ment that has until recently been overwhelm-
ingly Occidental.
For these purposes, it is necessary, as the
national United Jewish Appeal chairman, Max
M. Fisher, constantly emphasizes, that at
least $10,000,000 more be raised this year
to provide for added needs and obligations.
Because there is such a great need to
strengthen our local services, because the
educational structures must be kept intact
and the cultural programs expanded; be-
cause the recreational agencies need our
unending assistance and the health agencies
and care for the aged must be well provided
for, our duties remain vast.
We have a tradition for generosity which
will surely be upheld in the months ahead
and in the years to come. The initial response
to the drive provides the confidence we need
to know that our drive for the many causes
will again retain this community among the
leaders as rahamanim bnai rahamanim —
merciful sons of the merciful.

Women's Role in Allied Jewish Campaign

The approaching Allied Jewish Campaign,
already set in motion by large contributions,
undoubtedly again will count the women's
division among the most active group partici-
pants. Detroit's distaff role is especially
impressive, and because of the outstanding
record of past years the women's division's
activities deserve special attention.
Figures compiled of contributions by
Detroit women and the gift categories, for
the years 1965 and 1966, show the following:

Category
1966
1965
Total
AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED
$743,374 $672,471
NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS
9,322
9,273
Per cent of WD total contributors 100.0
100.0
AVERAGE GIFT
$
75 $
73_
$500 and Over
AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED
$462,955 $437,946
Per cent of total WD contributions
65.8
65.1
NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS
285
283
Per cent of WD total contributors
3.1
3.1
AVERAGE GIFT
$ 1,625 $ 1,548
$100 - $499
AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED
$129,234 $125,811
Per cent of total WD contributions
18.4
18.7
NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS
756
764
Per cent of WD total contributors
8.1
8.2
AVERAGE GIFT
$
171 $
165
$50 - $99
AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED
$ 35,807 $ 36,802
Per cent of total WD contributions
5.1
5.5
NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS
614
652
Per cent of WD total contributors
6.6
7.0
AVERAGE GIFT
$
58 $
56
P5 - $49
AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED $ 27,052 Included
Per cent of total WD contributions
3.8
Below
. NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS 964
Per cent of WD total contributors
10.3
AVERAGE GIFT
28
510 - $24
AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED
$ 30,928 Included
Per cent of total WD contributions
4.4 Below
NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS 2,605
27.9
Per cent of WD total contributors
$
12
AVERAGE GIFT

Under $10
$ 17,398 $ 71,912
AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED
10.7
2.5
Per cent of total WD contributions
7,574
NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTORS 4,098
81.7
44.0
Per cent of WD total contributors
9
4 $
AVERAGE GIFT

The comparative similar accounts, for
other communities indicate that Detroit is
far ahead of most other large cities. There
was a small increase in gifts last year over
the previous one, and the number of contrib-
utors also has grown. This is heartening. It
points to a deep communal interest which is
shared by all members of our community, by
men and women alike and by the youth who
have been enrolled to share in the goals.
While the number of participants in this
women's campaign is approaching the -- 10,000
figure, there is reason to believe that several
thousand more can and should be partners
in the major fund-raising effort in our com-
munity. If the women's participating numbers
will grow, they will surely affect the efforts
of the other divisions, and it is to be hoped
that the standards already set by the women
will be fully upheld and considerably in-
creased in the weeks ahead.
The figures appearing in this compilation
offer an opportunity for study of averages in
giving as well as the numbers of contributors
to the drive.
While the number of participating women
in last year's drive rose above those of the
previous year—by a few dozen—the donors
in smaller amounts declined. This is a mat-
ter for serious concern, since the major need
in our drives is to assure fullest coverage and
the reaching out to as large a group as pos-
sible.
The aim in the weeks ahead should be
to assure the fullest contacts, the reaching
out into all spheres so that as total a com-
munity coverage as possible should be as-
sured by the time the drive ends in May.
If we can assure the completest possible
coverage, even the high goal of $6,000,000
can be oversubscribed.

'The Vision and the Way'

Dr. Agus' Search for Humanism
in Jewish People's Literature

The opening sentence in the preface to "The Vision and the
Way—An Interpretation of Jewish Ethics," by Dr. Jacob B. Agus,
published by Frederick Ungar Publishing Co. (13 1 E. 23rd, NY10),
explains the basic thesis of this work. Rabbi Agus states:
"This work is an attempt to uncover and
illustrate the inner core of religious humanism in
the sacred literature of the Jewish people."
A few sentences later, Dr. Agus presents his
interesting theme with this explanatory note:
"Actually, the ethical philosophy of Judaism
can be seen from the human viewpoint as a basic
and balanced response to the ultimate questions
of our existence. Far from being diminished, its
validity, when it is considered apart from the
closed circle of dogmatic beliefs, is really en-
hanced. The enduring theme of Judaism is the
quest of the good life — 'to do that which is right
Dr. Agus
in the sight of man and good in the sight of God.' " (Sifri, Deuter-
onomy 12:29).
*
*
Expounding this ultimate concern, Dr. Agus draws, in this signifi-
cant work, upon the basic teachings in Judaism.
Indeed, in the scholarly collection of philosophic ideas inherent
in the theme he expounds, he has delved into the treasury of Jewish
learning. He deals with basic categories, with the ideal society, with
ethics relating to individual and group, to piety and freedom.
The thinking of the most eminent of the scholars who have set
the tone for Jewish ethical teachings is utilized and their works are
culled from.
Dealing with the basics, Dr. Agus states: "The six governing
principles of Jewish ethics fall naturally into two categories —
those that presuppose a rational determination of what is inherently
right or wrong, and those which call for a continuous progression
toward an ultimate goal. So. the concept of a law, revealed for all
time, and determining the right decision at every critical point in
life, belongs to the former category — along with the assumption
that the ethical imperative is universal, revealed to all men, and is
capable of being reduced to rational formulation." The listed cate-
gories are Obedience, Love, Conscience, Quest for the "Nearness of
God," The Goal of Self-Realization or Perfection, Ethical Implications
of Chosenness.
* '
*
*
With regard to the latter, he asserts: "The feeling of `chosenness'
is the' counterpart to the Christian concept of becoming a recipient
of Grace, through baptism. In Christianity, the truly converted person
will express his grace through freely chosen acts of love. In Judaism,
it is God who has taken the initiative, by 'choosing' the Jews as his
Treasure-people. In his turn, the Jew feels obligated to respond with
deeds of love and dedication to the Divine Call and to yindicate His
choice, by enterprises which sanctify HiS Name."
Rabbi Agus views "reason and faith together" as being "the
parents of the moral law, the one nurturing the protean feelings of
love, the other giving content and direction to man's feelings of
empathy."
*
*
*
Turning to the talmudic sages, he shows how they "regarded
the sword as the enemy of the book, and the book, par excellence,
the Tora, they esteemed to be life itself."
He devotes himself in the course of his analyses to comments
on charitable deeds and he points out that "the massive philanthropic
enterprises of the Jewish people amazed at times the pagans of the
ancient world."
He turns for his sources to the commentators and talmudists.
He discusses in his traditional analyses the messianic ideas, free-
dom and basic humanistic ideals. He turns to Abrabanel, Mendels-
sohn and others in discussing church-state relationships, knowledge,
virtue, the divine in life.
Contemporary issues, too, are part of the coverage in this work,
and secularism, peace, the international order are under review.
"The Vision and the Way" may well be rated among Dr. Agus'
most scholarly works.

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