`Condition of Jewish Belief' Contains
Essays Now Discussed by Midrasha
Participants in this year's Mid-
rasha discussions of the central
theme "The State of Jewish Be-
lief" will be assisted in great meas-
ure by the appearance of a volume
entitled "The Condition of Jewish
Belief," published by Macmillan.
This volume includes all of the
essays that were part of the Com-
mentary symposium. The writings
of the 38 participants, together
with the introduction by Milton
Himmelfarb, the Commentary con-
tributing editor, offer basic views
on Judaism as a religion, on the
chosenness of Israel, the "God is
dead" debate, and many more
challenging questions.
Many of American Jewry's most
noted theologians, historians, and
teachers participated in the sym-
posium.
Five basic questions were ad-
dressed to those who shared in
the symposium. The texts com-
mence with the queries and in
the literary debates there was no
pulling of punches.
Himmelfarb's introductory chap-
ter emphasizes that "there are few
new ideas about Judaism," that
Judaism, after all, is rather old,
that there are many historic ex-
periences and that "intellectually
— if it is decent to make such a
distinction — evert the crematoria
are not quantitatively new."
"Theology," he declares, "is not
the same as religion or faith, and
•
Jews have normally theologized
less than Christians."
Historically, he states, "some
Jewries were more theological than
others." He illustrates a Jewish
typicality:
"The typical Jewish attitude
is embodied in an old story
about a German Jew who had
returned to Judaism and was
lecturing on prayer one after-
noon at an Agudath Israel con-
vention. (Naturally, the title of
his lecture was 'A Prolegomenon
to a Preliminary Approach to the
Philosophy of Prayer, Ontono-
logically Considered.') After he
had been talking for some time,
his auditors began to drift out in
twos and threes, until he was all
but alone with the fidgeting
chairman. 'H ave I offended
them?' No,' said the chairman,
'they're leaving to say the after-
noon prayer.'"
The differing views in the sym-
posium, the variety of ideas which
has, since the appearance of the
articles in Commentary, aroused
much discussion in many Jewish
quarters, give the volume contain-
ing the series of articles special
significance. Detroit's Midrasha is
not alone in reviewing them. The
appearance of the essays in a
volume as significant as "The Con-
dition of Jewish Belief" offers an
opportunity for even greater scru-
tiny of major issues affecting
Jewish life today.
Rabbi Hertzberg to Address
Midrasha Institute Wednesday
The second speaker in the Mid- at both Columbia and Harvard
rasha Institute series on "The and holds the rank of lecturer in
State of Jewish Belief" will be history at Columbia. In addition,
Rabbi Arthur Hertzberg 8:15 p.m. he has served as vice president of
Wednesday at the Conference on Jewish Social
the Esther Ber- Studies.
man Building,
Rabbi Hertzberg, a contributor
United Hebrew
Schools.
Rabbi Hertz-
berg, a member
of the graduate
faculty of Colum-
bia University, is
rabbi of Temple
Emanu-El of
Rabbi Hertzberg Englewood, N.J.
Educated at Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity, where he was the Presi-
dents Scholar upon graduation,
Rabbi Hertzberg went on to the
Jewish Theological Seminary,
where he received his rabbinic
degree in 1943. He has done grad-
uate work in the field of history
to many journals, has authored
a number of books, including
-"The Outbursts That Await Us,"
"Judaism" and "The Zionist
Idea."
One-time llillel director at Smith
College, Rabbi llertzberg was
spiritual leader of Ahavath Israel
Congregation in Philadelphia and
later of the West End Synagogue
in Nashville, Tenn. For two years.
he was chaplain in the 'U.S. Air
Force, most of the time stationed
with the American Air Force
Himmelfarb Foresees Jews Giving lip
'Modernity as Substitute for Religion
Himmelfarb, contributing editor
of Commentary magazine, was
largely responsible for the much-
publicized Commentary symposium
on "The State of Jewish Belief"
that inspired the 'current Midrasha
series.
Starting with the premise that
"modernity • is anti-religious" and
"Jews are more modern than any-
one else," Himmelfarb came to the
conclusion that "a new post-mod-
ermty is opening up ... Jews who
are honest with themselves will
have to turn and confront religion
in a way modern Jews have not
done in a long while."
Secularist Jews cannot help be-
ing chauvinists, intensely nation-
alistic, Himmelfarb said, adding
"the only way not to be chauvinis-
tic is to be religious."
"Christian theologians speak of
Gov. Romney Proclai s Cancer Control Month
Gov. Romney has proclaimed the
month of April as Cancer Conl
Month in Michigan.
The proclamation reads:
"There are some 1,400,000 living
witnesses to the fact that cancer
can be cured despite this dread
disease being an alarming national
killer .
against cancer waged constantly
by the American Cancer Society
and its thousands of volunteers and
staff workers."
The American Cancer Society has
produced a "sticker" listing the
Seven Warning Signals which can
be displayed as a constant reminder
that cancer can be cured.
"The American Cancer Society
ORATOR
has contributed greatly to the He who has no hands perforce
never-ending battle against one must use his tongue;
of society's prime destroyers,
and thanks to increasing knowl-
For the HY Spot
edge in the biological and medi-
Of Your Affair
cal sciences we are nearing a
solution to the problem of can-
Mak by
cer. But the battle has not been
won.
Hy Herman
"Therefore, I, George Romney,
And His Orchestra
Governor of the State of Michigan,
(Hy Utchenik)
MRS. JACK KLAIN
do hereby proclaim the month of
• Distinctive Ceremonies
a Specialty!
Sandra Shusterman became April, 1967, as Cancer Control
the bride of Jack Klain in an eve- Month in Michigan, and urge cit-
342-9424
ning ceremony at Cong. Beth Abra- izens' attention to the crusade
ham recently. The bride is the
daughter of Mrs. Rose Shusterman,
23480 Marlow, Oak Park, and the
late Mr. Jack Shusterman. The
bridegroom is the son of Mr. and
Mrs. Leizor Klain, 20419 Schaefer.
After a honeymoon trip to the
East, the couple will reside in
Oak Park.
PLASTIC SLIPCOVERS
Custom Made UN 4-7230
Business
Brevities
Announcement .. .
HARVEY
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Doneson Travel Agency is in Mont-
real as a guest of Expo '67 to in-
Formerly of The Southfield
Office Plaza Building
IS NOW ASSOCIATED WITH
spect tourist facilities and preview
the exposition scheduled to open
CHET's Fine Barbel.- Shop
late next month.
• • •
Well-known barbe r, Harvey,
formerly of the Southfield Office
Plaza Bldg., is now associated
with CHET'S Fine Barber Shop,
15317 W. Seven Mile at Whitcomb,
and offers the following services:
razor cuts, manicuring (by ap-
pointment), men's hair coloring
and shoeshines.
Razor Cuts • Manicuring • Shoeshines
Men's Hair Coloring
15317 W. 7 Mile Rd.
VE 5-9534
at Whitcomb
VolattaddeiddditddA4.4.addAtidikitAti
it
1:15.
ege We Like To See You . • •
ET.
Flint JWVA to Host
Michigan Department
It3
etd
The Ladies Auxiliary of the It
Department of Michigan Jewish eig
War Veterans will hold its depart- etS
ment meeting in Flint April 13,
according to President Mrs. Wil-
liam Love.
NUMBER
The Jews who wrote the Bible
merely thought that God had sin'
gled them out, he said, whereas
secularist historians can only write
in a chauvinistic manner about
"my glorious ancestors."
Actually, the "rabble"—so de-
scribed in the Bible—that fled
Egypt left by "the unmerited grace
of God ... not to our credit."
The perpetuation of godly val-
ues after the "death of God" is
considered impossible by Himmel-
farb. Quoting the German philoso-
pher Nietzsche, the speaker re-
plied to a questioner that "If God
dies, his values die soon after."
While cautioning against com-
munal mediocrity, Himmelfarb de-
fended the "stodgy, obsolescent
Jewish community" that has turned
out so many rebels, from Freud
and Kafka to "the young Jews who
number 50 per cent" among youth
who went south to help the Negro.
"If the Bible were still open,"
still being written today, said
Himmelfarb, "a similar story could
be written about modern Jews. It's
a mystery that happened to us."
the mystery of Israel. Actually,
we are ordinary people, but such Foxes are so cunning because they
fantastic things have happened to are not strong.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
us—the Destruction, Israel . . . the
Hebrew language" .. .
(1803-1882)
SFP
STP
SFP
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Officers, chairmen and JWVA
f*.
'X>
go
eW
Command in England. Ile has members will meet at Greenfield's egg
Restaurant in Oak Park, at 6:30 te
been a rabbi at Emanu-El since p.m.
and will depart by chartered e i6 in the
1956.
• • •
Jews are wearying of modern
substitutes for religion—science,
politics, art and culture—and may
well "be driven back to the Jewish
religion," Milton Himmelfarb told
the opening Midrasha lecture au-
dience Wednesday evening.
Friday, March, 31, 1967-25
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Jack Klain Takes Bride,
Sandra Shusterman
"42
RS
"Pesach
-ST2
Fgz.
Parade"
TP
`
For information, call Mrs. Love, It
whether
`P
838-3336 or the JWV office, te
you
are
342-8161.
St
'X
Flint Auxiliary will host the
meeting. Mrs. Ilene Wiseman is
president.
egg
I Men's Clubs I .1
6-16-26
sg.
frp
or 60.
Choose
CRAFTSMAN LODGE, F. and eig your Perfect
A. M. will hold its annual "Of-
F6:0
ficers Frolic" 6:30 p.m. April 8
fit from the
at the Latin Quarter. Harry
finest of
Schwartz, entertainment chairman, 1g
113
announces the program will be e gs
makes . . .
provided by Zan Gilbert and his
e
orchestra, plus an all star revue te Hanzmanton
featuring comedian Kenny Milton. 415
Park—
Black tie is optional. For reserva- dAg
Cardinal-
tions contact Charles Friedenberg,
during the day at 894-2258 and in 113 Botany "500"
the evening at 837-7765.
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BEERSHEBA — Three more •
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water storage dams and lakes to
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hold up the rare storm waters
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rushing down through the wadi
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will be constructed during this
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summer; in this project, the Jew-
& Boys
ish National Fund cooperates with
6 to 60
the Israel Ministry of Agriculture.
This was announced at a recent
7 Mile at Evergreen—Acres of Free Parking
press tour to three existing lakes
of the same kind—Devir, Sansan-
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