The first Jewish Education Cita-
tion was awarded by Detroit's
Hebrew teachers to Philip Slomo-
vitz, editor and publisher of The
Jewish News, at the second annual
Jewish Education Dinner Monday
evening at Cong. Bnai Moshe.
The citation, presented to Slomo-
vitz by Menachem Glaser, presi-
dent of the Association of Hebrew
Teachers of Metropolitan Detroit,
recognizes "his deep interest and
profound effect in commencing a
new era of greater communal in-
volvement in the affairs of Jewish
education."
Communal involvement also was
Urged in the speech by Rabbi
Charles Rosenzweig, chairman of
the awards committee. Rabbi Ro-
senzveig stressed that there is
much progress to be achieved in
making Hebrew teaching a respect-
ed profession in the eyes of lay-
men.
The Hebrew teacher is "no
longer an isolated unit," said
Rabbi Rosenzveig. "We propose
that means be established for
teachers to improve their stand-
ing; gear all machinery and abi-
lities and public relations instru-
ments to focus community at-
tention on Jewish education.
Youth Admits Setting
Jewish Center Fire
Improved Status for Educator Urged
Teachers Present Citation to Editor;
"The position of the Hebrew
teacher," he said, "should be sec-
ond to none in material rewards
and position." Only in this way,
Rabbi Rosenzveig pointed out, will
young people be encouraged to
enter the field of Jewish education.
The teacher is going to change
the ''structure, needs and priori-
ties in Jewish education," said the
speaker, "because the survival of
our people depends on it."
In accepting the citation, Slomo-
vitz emphasized to the 250 persons
present, "You are as much in the
field of Jewish communications as
I am—in as far as our children
are concerned.
"The basic need," he said, "is
to give the teacher dignity. If
the assurance of dignity for the
teacher is the attainment of to-
night's gathering, then we have
succeeded . . . It will assure re-
spect and dignity for the entire
Jewish community."
George M. Zeltzer,, president of
the United Hebrew Schools, quot-
ed Abraham Heschel's "Insecurity
of Freedom" on the subject of
Jewish education: "What we need
more than anything else is not
textbooks but text people." He
urged that the "teacher will con-
tinue his own education."
The parallel between the un- at Cong. Shaarey edek, presided.
known soldier as national hero and Harry Cohen and Hugo Apt also
the teacher who serves the Jewish participated.
community was drawn by Albert
Elazar, superintendent of the Unit-
Jewish Educators Plan
ed Hebrew Schools. However, the
community is beginning to take Atlantic City Conference
note of the teachers' role as those
NEW YORK—Jewish educators
who lay the foundations, said Ela-
from all regions in the United
zar.
Greetings also were extended by States, Canada and Mexico will
Robert Kasle, chairman of the per- meet at the Mayflower Hotel, At-
sonnel committee of the UHS lantic City, May 25, it was an-
board, who led negotiations lead- nounced by Dr. Elijah Bortniker,
ing • to the historic contract with president of the National Council
the teachers. Mrs. Sadie Goren
spoke on behalf of the UHS for Jewish Education.
Woman's Auxiliary, of which she
The National Council for Jewish
Education is the professional body
is president.
Attorney George L. Downing of Jewish educators.
received recognition for his work
Major theme of the conference
on behalf of the teachers dur- sessions will be "New Approaches
Jewish Education of the Oncom-
ing their negotiations with the in
ing Generation."
schools.
At an oneg Shabat, held jointly
Cantor Louis Klein and Mrs. Ilse with the department of education
Robert presented musical selec- and culture of the Jewish Agency,
tions, accompanied by Bella Gold- Dr. S. Yizhar will address the
berg, and Harriet Berg's Young conference. Dr. Yizhar was a for-
Dancers Guild of the Jewish Cen- mer member of the Israeli Knesset
ter performed Israeli dances. Mar- and now is connected with the
tin Berg was narrator for the Center for International Affairs of
dance program.
Harvard University.
Dov Parshan, president of the
Association of Hebrew Teachers THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (JTA)—
An 18-year-old Yonkers youth ac-
cused of having set the fire at the
Yonkers Jewish Community Center
in December 1965, resulting in the
deaths of 12 persons, had admitted
that he was "responsible for the
fire," Assistant District Attorney
Thomas Facella charged. The de-
fendant, Thomas A. Ruppert, is
being tried on 24 counts of murder
and one count of arson.
Facella charged Ruppert made
his virtual confession to Zvi Almog,
who was, at the time of the fire,
director of the Jewish center. The
youth's voluntary defense counsel,
Mrs. Eleanor Jackson Piel, told the
court Ruppert has been "psycho-
logically coerced" into making his
statement of guilt.
The prosecutor told the court
that he would prove that the fire
was "deliberately set and was
incendiary in origin." He declared
that, in confessing to Almog, the
youth had stated he wanted to 'go
to the police and "get everything
off his chest." '
Charity
Best men are often moulded out
—Shakespeare.
of faults.
Friday, May 12, 1967-5
The Detroit Israel Bond
Committee invites you to a
TRIBUTE DINNER.
In Honor of the 25th Anniversary of
THE JEWISH NEWS
Marking the Presentation of the
ISRAEL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
To Editor and Publisher
PHILIP SI,OMOVITZ
By AMBASSADOR ARIEH ESHEL
For
Reservations
CALL
DI 1-5707
Monday, June 12, 1967-6:30 p.m.
Grand Ballroom—Sheraton-Cadillac
Dinner Chairman
PHILLIP STOIA,M1A
Reserved seating for
1967 Israel Bond
Purchasers
Convert: $7.50
Per Person
Dietary Laws
Observed
.