THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of Englisli--.,Tewish 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 13,9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign 17.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Ma
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-fourth day of Sishri, 5728, the following scriptural
selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 1:1-6:8. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 42:5-43:10.
Rosh Hodesh Heshvan scriptural reading, Friday: Num. 28:1-15.
Candle lighting, Friday, Oct. 27, 6:14 pin.
VOL. LH, No. 6
Page Four
October 27,
1967
Jewish Centers: Creativity, Shortcomings
A serious study of the Jewish Center oriented were either neglected or reduced to
movement, by Dr. Carl Urbont, director the a minimum.
YM-YWHA in New York, published in the Apparently the conditions have improved,
current issue of American Jewish Year Book, because in large communities like ours there
notes that in recent years "a complacency is a definite trend towards adherence to tradi-
within the community has weakened the Jew- tion and emphasis on the Jewish cultural
ish orientation of the Jewish community cen- aspects of programming.
This becomes evident in our community
ters." Reducing the shock that must come
with such findings is the author's reserva- during Jewish Book Fair. It is apparent in
Lion: that there is more consciousness of Jew- the Hebrew studies and the encouragement
ish tradition in centers serving large corn- that is being given to history and research
munities than in those of small communities. among center program participants. It is in
the main also evident in the theatrical per-
The Urbont analyses pose some very formances sponsored here by center mem-
serious questions regarding the type of
bers.
leadership that is being developed in the
Our own experience need not blind us to
Jewish Centers for our communities. Link-
realities on a larger front throughout the
ed with the issue is the one relating to
land. It is possible that a lack of well trained
another question: "What makes for Jewish-
personnel is responsible for shortcomings in
ness?" And there is the accusing finger at
the smaller communities. In that case there
the vagueness with which issues are ap-
is a new duty facing the directors of Centers
proached and the indifferences at solving
in larger communities and the parent organ-
them. If it were not for the inspiration
izations to fill the need of preparing staffs
and infulence engendered by Israel the
better suited for Jewish programming.
emerging problem would be even blacker.
The revelations in the study published in
A decade or more ago, similar charges the year book will undoubtedly be taken
were more general. Then there were accuse- seriously by the centers under study. It
Lions that Jewish centers over-emphasized the should lead to a vast improvement which
physical, the athletic aspects of program- should in the long run prove of great value
ming and that the cultural and the Jewish- to the entire American Jewish community.
Russia's Anniversary: Czarism and Communism
Communist Russia's 50th anniversary is
As the new regime progressed the Jews
an occasion for review of events that affected
who were the leaders among the ttevolution-
the entire world. The end of Czarism and ary Russian elements were being prged. The
the commencement of rule by the triumphant
Jewish participants in the revolt against
revolutionaries was expected to introduce a
tyranny suddenly were being painted as vil-
new era of humanism, of social justice, of
lains and there developed a new type of
fair play for all. The conditions that emerged
anti-Semitism.
are not marked by what was expected to
Actually, the anti-Semitism of the Soviet
be a new era of equity and righteousness.
rulers was an inheritance from Czarism. Stu-
Instead of democratic rule we have dictator-
dents of Russian affairs see in the anti-Jew-
ship. Instead of untrammeled freedoms we
ish actions of the Communists a continuation
have controls by a ruling clique.
of Czarism. Even the atrocious blood libel
Not only in Russia but also among the
found adherents among Russian publicists.
Soviet's satellites we now have dictatorial
The vilest type of prejudice was publicized
rule and suppression of basic freedoms. True:
in newspapers that were dominated by the
Czarism has ended. But in its place we have
Kremlin.
the counterpart of domination by a group
What has emerged in Russia does not
that rules with an iron hand.
represent a happy picture. Under Commun-
There was jubilation in world Jewish
ism we have a new type of Czarist rule. The
ranks when Czarism was eliminated. There
Jewish population in the USSR has dwindled
were close to seven million Jews in Russia
to less than three million. Their position
in 1917. The end of the cruel rule of the
is a precarious one. There is little hope in
Black Hundreds that were the favorites of the
sight of improvement. There is suppres-
Czars was expected to introduce the rights
sion, news is censored, Jewish schools, news-
that a large community that was steeped
papers,
theaters and the right to the use
in Jewish learning and that had cherished
of the Hebrew language are proscribed.
an historic heritage had prayed and hoped
for. Instead we witnessed deterioration of It is under such conditions that the Rus-
justice, introduction of new prejudices, the sian revolutionary anniversary is being ob-
spread of bigotries that began to prevail served. It is an occasion for sad analyses
under the guise of socialism. for Jewry.
Ambulances for Israel: Magen David's Role
During and after the Six Day War, dreds of Arabs.
Magen David Adorn, the Israel Red Cross
The services of this movement justify
service, rendered great assistance in pro- the appeal that is now being made for more
viding speedy assistance to the wounded, to ambulances for Israel, for encouragement
those who required speedy medical aid. to assure proper medical care.
Not only the Israelis but many Arabs
It is still an unfortunate fact that Magen
who were hurt in the war- were rushed to David Adorn has not been invited to be a
hospitals for quick relief in Magen David part of the International Red Cross. The
Adorn ambulances.
demonstration of dedication to its purposes
Maintaining 63 medical aid stations for in the past few months should encourage a
emergency first aid and for patient treat- change in attitude on the world front.
ment, this service in Israel became an im-
Meanwhile the request for assistance
portant factor in aiding the wounded—those should be heeded and more ambulances
who were in the armed forces as well as should be made available to Magen David
civilians who were injured—and the hun- Adorn.
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Glatzer's 'Language of Faith:'
Anthology of Jewish Prayers
"Language of Faith," gathered and edited by Prof. Nahum H.
Glatzer, is a new edition of a volume published by Schocken Books
in 1947, has been reissued by Schocken in a revised and enlarged
text. Issued attractively, gift-boxed, it is certain to be welcomed
anew with as much enthusiasm as the earlier work which was a
complete sellout and has not been available
for some years. Subtitled "A Selection
From the Most Expressive Jewish Prayers,"
the new edition, expanded, contains the ori-
ginal text, new English verse translations
and the original Hebrew on opposite pages.
Most of the selections are in Hebrew.
The translations into English by Olga Marx
and Jacob Sloan have been retained from
the 1947 edition. A number of translations
are by the editor, Dr. Glatzer, who is pro-
fessor of history at Brandeis University.
There are several selections from the ry
Tehinna, the women's devotionals. In-
cluded also are selections from the Latin
and the Greek, which also are presented
with the accompanying translations.
Especially deeply moving is "A
Bar Mitzva Prayer" that was spokes
Dr. Clatter
by a boy named Samuel in a displaced
persons camp in Germany at an improvised Bar Iffitzva service.
The prayer reads:
"I pray that my mother and father may look from heaven
and see that their son is Bar Mitzva today, and may they know
that my sister and I have remained good Jews and will always
remain so."
"Jerusalem, Thou Holy City" from the Book of Tobit, the Judaeao-
Greek Lament, Yemenite prayers, traditional selections, poetry from
many ages—the variety of prayers selected for "Language of Faith"
creates admiration for the skill which is inherent in Dr. Glatzer's
work of dedication.
He had the encouragement of T. Herzl Rome, who at the time
of his death two years ago headed the Schocken Books operations.
And in appreciation of Salman Schocken (1877-1959), who loved and
understood medieval Hebrew poetry, the book is dedicated to his
memory.
Not only is "Language of Faith" an inspiring work that will
leave a deep impression with the collected prayers from Jewish
spheres through the ages: the Glatzer-edited book has the addi-
tional merit of a definitive nature inherent in the introduction.
In it Dr. Glatzer explains prayer, defines its attitude, origin,
relation to fellow men. He indicated how that which man wishes
to achieve turns into petition. "Prayer in the classical sense does
not imply passivity on the part of man," Prof. Glatzer notes. "It
does not replace but heightens and ennobles human enterprise.
Man engages in moral perfection, in attainment of knowledge, in
social action, but considers the fruits of his labors as free gifts,
as answers to his prayers."
Dr. Glatzer deals interestingly with "The Story of Jewish Prayer,"
tracing the origins of Tefila — prayer — and Avoda—the designation
for worship and service taken from the Temple Service in Jerusalem.
The various assemblies for prayer, the variations, Shaharit, Minh,
Musaf, Neila are indicated. The Piyutim—the liturgical writings of
the poets of the Middle Ages, are noted.
Additional value attests to Dr. Glatzer's explanation of "The
Meaning of Prayer in Judaism." He indicates that "the variety of
emphasis in Jewish prayer makes possible extension of application
from the specifically Jewish to the universally human" and that
"Jewish prayer is simultaneously prayer of Israel, prayer of man
qua man, and, anticipating the future, prayer of humanity."
The aspect of universality is apparent in the selections in this
magnificent work. The editor and compiler did not limit himself to
the traditional Hebrew. He included in his selections such prayers
as the "Du, Du"—"The Song of 'You' "—known as the "Dudele," in
Yiddish, with the English translation by Marx and Sloan. The "Dudele"
is attributed to Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev (1740-1809) and is
among the popular confrontations with the Lord -.
There are similar poetic expressions in the selections from poetic
writings of the ages, and the collection is a tribute to the sense of
judgment and the scholarship of Dr. Glatzer. His work will be cherish-
ed in Jewish homes and in its boxed status serves excellently as a
gift for all occasions.