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. .