Exodus from Egypt Carries Special Meaning for Detroit Negroes

Jewish community, so they may economic, political, civil oppres-
primary grades.
Dr. Merritt's brother, Phillip,
Home life and cultural values take part in some of its cultural sion; enslaved in an Egypt of bi-
leader of the Detroit tabernacle,
gotry, hatred, insecurity and self-
similarly explains some of the are stressed. Elder Merritt quotes activities.
dom we are grateful unto Thee,
("We've hidden ourselves too destruction.
the Bible with ease, but he also
practices that are departures
0 Redeemer of Israel. for the re-
our
"Our weakened bodies,
long,"
said
Merritt.
"Our
leader-
refers to current Jewish literature.
from normative American .Juda-
//eruption Thou has wrought for
("I guess I read everything I get ship is younger, more liberal; they feeble knees and our chafed necks
ism.
our fathers and for us. Thou didst
are
laboring
under
the
yoke
of the
want to establish a link with other
bring us forth from slavery to
Phillip himself, as spiritual my hands on.")
oppressors. Nevertheless, God still
There is a great concern for Jews.")
freedom, from darkness to light. leader of his tabernacle, is known!
is calling as He did to Pharaoh,
Israel,
whose
victory
in
the
Six-Day
Although
all
holidays
are
not
to
Thy
divine
from human bondage
as "elder," "overseer" or "rabbi
"LET MY PEOPLE GO!"
service. As Thou toast with our representative." Although he de- War "was foretold by the prophets," observed "as they should be," said
Merritt, "we hope that one day our
fathers. we pray Thee, be with us livers the Sabbath sermon and Merritt said.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
people will be economically strong
He readily admits the awk-
in every generation. Amen."
otherwise ministers to the needs
enough to take the days off and 10—Friday, November 10, 1967
When Detroit dentist Reuben A. of the congregation, he does not ward position that confronts the
observe them." The calendar is
Negro who practices Judaism.
Merritt recites the traditional Pass- bear the title "rabbi." That honor
20 years old this spring
lunar, but the names of the months
"Other Negroes can't believe it
o er prayer, he has more than one is reserved for
•
sometimes vary—the biblical Abi b
when we tell them we're Jews.
Exodus to commemorate.
the high-ranking
instead of Nisan, Zif instead of
White Jews treat us 'like all the
Ile and the other men who wor- members of the
Sivan, Bul for Heshvan.
rest.' "
ship at his shul recall the redemp- hierarchy and for
The new year is observed in
tion of the Israelites 3,000 years the high priest,
"We founded our Young Peo-
a::o; they also recall the emancipa- Rabbi Howard
ple's Improvement League so that Adar (or Nisan); Yom Kippur, the
tion of the American Negro 100 Zebulun P 1 u rn-
cur children would stick to their fast of the seventh month, is re-
years ago.
rrr e r, who heads
own kind, not go out with Chris- placed by the fast of the 10th
month, usually in December.
Dr. Merritt, his wife and the entire move-
tian children.
It is Passover, because of its
daughter, and the 50 other Negro ment from head-
"I was taught in Judaism that
lesson in freedom, that is ob-
families who worship with them
quarters at Belle-
no matter what our origin, we
served more closely than any
at Friday evening and Saturday
ville, Va.
needn't feel inferior. Judaism has
other holiday in the calendar.
morning Sabbath services are
The designation Rabbi Plummer given us pride in ourselves."
What
it means to the Negro was
descendants of men who were
"high priest" is taken directly
The members' humble origins
summed
up in the Passover sou-
oopressed because their skin was
from the Old Testament, the core prompted Rabbi Plummer's father,
venir
book by young Rabbi Levi
black. They have linked their
of their belief. Like biblical Jeru- who preceded him as high priest, to
Solomon Plummer of Providence,
destinies with men who were
salem, where the Holy Temple was establish a basic uniform for the
R.I., son of the high priest:
oppressed because they were
located, Belleville is Canaan Land services. "Some would have come
winter • spring • summer
"Undoubtedly, in our time we
Jews.
to Beth El Temple. It is there that in silk and some in gingham. This
package tours from $449
It is, in many respscts. a unique the Holy of Holies, the Tora, re- way, with a uniform everyone are not free, but, unfortunately, _ write or call for free folders
are enslaved in an Egypt of a dif-
Judaism they practice—hound up sides. Local tabernacles hold serv- would feel equally important."
an Egypt of
UN 4-7094
as much with their own experience ices before a merely symbolic ark.
The uniform persists to this day, ferent kind; not in
--
IIISTArtnr7
as American Negroes as with the'
Other practices mentioned in the each bit of detail carrying some any geographical location or boun-
Schaefer
age old practices that have evolved Bible are followed by Beth El meaning. The 52 pleats on the dary as were our religious ances-
"OURS'
into the Judaism we know today. Temple. One of these is tithing, by skirt, for example, represent the tors, but enslaved in an Egypt of Detroit, Mich. 48233
Its adherents number some which each member of the com- 52 Sabbaths of the year. (Rabbi
30.000.
munity gives one-tenth of his earn- Plummer's own white robe bears
The Shema is their credo; yet. ings to the community.
12 jewels, each for one of the 12
in the early days of its founding
tribes of Israel.)
Phillip, a pharmacy assistant
I* "the world's evangelist," Pro-
The Sabbath is of great im-
for the Veterans Administration,
phet William S. Crowdy, it was a
portance to Beth El Temple. Its
is not paid a full salary as elder
Wishes to Announce That
Christian religion, not Jewish. It
members have been known to
of the congregation, but he re-
bore the name, "Church of God
quit
their
jobs
before
they
would
ceives the "tithe" from each
and Saints of Christ."
work on the Sabbath, starting
member, He, in turn, forwards
Today, the congregation, one of
18 minutes before sundown Fri-
one-tenth of that amount to the
150 tabernacles throughout the
day.
Have Joined Our Sales Staff and Will Be Happy to
Belleville headquarters.
United States, Africa and the West
Brief, though traditional, Sab-
Serve You in Our New Car Show Room.
Kashrut is not adhered to in the
Indies. belongs to the "Church of
bath
services
have
been
conducted
traditional sense. Rather, members
Cod Beth-El Temple." Eventually,
in
the
Garfield
building
since
1948,
leave it to the high priest to de-
-
that name, too, will change to Beth
but the congregation hopes to ac-
termine which foods are suitable
El Temple.
quire a synagogue closer to the
for eating.
Dr. Merritt explains the evolu-
As for circumcision, the symbolic
tion with historical perspective.
"Our grandfathers were just out "covenant with God" that is re-
of slavery; if they were to accept quired of a Jew: "We recognize
a new faith, they had to be reach- the importance of this command-
ed on a level they understood. ment, but Rabbi Plummer hasn't
Prophet Crowdy realized that the laid great stress on it," said Mer-
changes would have to be gradual. ritt. "One day it will be part of
His successors have followed his our belief, too.
example."
"You see, our people are prose-
lytes. My father and his parents
came out of slavery with the Chris-
tian religion. The Negro commun-
CLASSES START TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 14TH
ity had no real religion of its own,
"What we are doing is going
8:15 P.M. to 9:10 P.M. and 9:15 P.M. to
back to our true religion, Judaism.
We believe that we are descendants
Rabbi Moses Lehrman: SIGNIFICANT PASSAGES OF THE BIBLE IN VIEW OF
of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. The
THEIR RELEVANCE TO OUR DAY.
spirit never really died in us."
That spirit of an oppressed peo-
Cantor
Louis
Klein:
BASIC
JEWISH CONCEPTS, IN CONTEMPORARY FOCUS.
ple was awakened by an ex-slave
Seymour Kaplan: THE CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY, TO BELIEVE OR NOT
named William Saunders Crowdy.
In 1896, so it is written in his
TO BELIEVE, AND WHY?
"Stone of Truth," he received "Di-
Rabbi Isaac Paneth: SOME OF THE GREAT BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
vine commission to bring the truth
of God to the world."
AND WORDS TO LIVE BY TODAY.
One of those who early ac-
cepted that truth was William
Henry Merritt, chef on a rail-
Morris Nobel: ADVANCED CONVERSATIONAL HEBREW.
road, who was captivated by
This course is NEW and actually the FIRST time any
Rabbi Howard Z. Plummer,
Prophet Crowdy's teachings and
really ADVANCED CONVERSATIONAL HEBREW course has
high priest of Beth El Temple,
decided to instill Judaism in his
officiates at the Passover service
been offered by ANY Adult program!
children.
in Belleville, Va., headquarters
The children, reared in Detroit,
' of the organization. The stones
learned their lessons well. Phillip's
at the front of his robe repre-
Mark Eichner: ELEMENTARY HEBREW.
brother David is superintendent of
sent the 12 tribes of Israel. His
the Sabbath school here, attended
Anion Kimeldorf: ELEMENTARY CONVERSTIONAL HEBREW.
congregation believes it is one
by some 30 youngsters in their
• • •
of the 10 lost tribes.
building on Garfield. Reuben is a
trustee of the school in Belleville,
where 657 acres await develop-
N.Y.publisher wants books on all sub- ' ment.
$5.00 per person for both semesters.
jects, fiction. nonfiction. No fee for
As Jews have done for cen-
professional opinion. FREE: Brochures turies, Beth El Temple cares for
Oak Park, Michigan
Ten Mile Road at Kenosha
Congregation B'Nai Moshe
that show how your book can be pub-
lished, publicized: sold; tips and article its own. The organization already
Phone LI 8-9000
reprints on writing, publishing, con- maintains a home for the aged, an
tracts. Write Dept. 23-K.
and a school for
EXPOSITION386 PARK AVE. S., N.Y. 16 orphan home

-

By CHARLOTTE DUBIN
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