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
'E 8-9364. Subscription $11 a year. Foreign S7.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
SIDNEY SHMARAK
City Editor
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 21st day of Kislev, 5728, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 37:1-40:23. Prophetical portion, Amos 2:6-3:8.
Hanuka Scriptural Selections
Wednesday, Num. 7:1-17; Thursday, Num. 7:18-29; Friday, Num. 7:24-35.
Candle lighting, Friday, Dec. 22, 4:45 p.m.
VOL. LII. No. 14
December 22, 1967
Page Four
Hanuka: Heroism Resistance Restraint
,
,
It would be sheer folly to speak of Hanuka merely as a festival of militarism and of
heroism. The Maccabaean era, in all its aspects, during the revolt against the oppressive rule
of the Greco-Syrian domination, 168 to 143 BCE, as well as during the rule of the Hasmoneans
and their successors. 143 BCE to 70 CE, necessitated resort to arms for the defense of the
Jewish State. But it was not devoid of the spiritual motivations, of the adherence by Jews of
ancient times to their heritage and their determination not to abandon it to strange and false
gods.
Through the ages, the 19 centuries that followed, there were many occasions for Jews to
lemonstrate the devotion to their sacred legacies: They did not resort to arms and were
deprived of the right to defend themselves militarily. But their loyalties were evidenced by
refusal to sacrifice their inherited rights. They were centuries marked by martyrdom, but in
t
their martyrdom they indicated the people's determined will to live up to the clarion calls of
the Maccabees of old to defend their spiritual rights. They were decimated time and time Powerful Document Against Bigotry
again, but they emerged victorious spiritually.
In our own time we witness the re-emergence of Maccabaean valor steeped in military
skill and in courage inspired anew by refusal to sacrifice either identity or the right to survive
as Jews. In the wars of 1948, 1956 and 1967, it was the Hasmonean spirit that predominated
again, asserting itself
i ' the united effort of Jews who, gathered from 70 lands of exile,
f
es f the countries whence they originated before they became Israelis,
speaking the langua ges
om
formed a cohesive orce that asserted anew the indestructibility of the People Israel.
The historic experiences that have taken root in their people's will to live could not have
been demonstrated without the background of the spirit, the influence of an inherited desire
to perpetuate the existence of a people that has defied all dangers from many faiths and many
nations and determinedly carried on the traditions of their ancestors.
Hanuka can not be celebrated without the realization and the recognition that the
Prophet's assertion that the survival sought and attained is "not by might nor by power but
by the spirit of the Lord." The spirit is inseparable from the resort to physical means of
staying alive. This spirit manifested itself in the resistance against destructive forces
which were called into action against the Jewish people through the centuries.
Then there is the restraint, Once having succeeded on the battlefield, in the recent
experiences in the State of Israel, there is the demonstration of another high ideal—that of
restraint against extremism, caution not to imitate the evils of other historic occurrences in
other lands.
Spiritually strong, determined to resist any threats that could lead to Jewry's destruc-
tion, yet adhering to restraint in human relations, the current lessons ascribable to Hanuka
cause it to emerge significantly as a festival as much of physical endurance as of spiritual valor.
In this spirit Hanuka retains the elements of inspiration that cause it to be celebrated not
merely as one of the minor festivals on our calendar but as a major inspirational occasion to
uplift Jewry wherever it may reside and to unite it in defense of the principles of survival,
endurance and service for the benefit of all mankind.
Hannah Vogt's Effective 'Jews:
Christian Conscience Chronicle'
Three factors make "The Jews: A Chronicle for Christian Con-
science" by the distinguished German Christian author, Hannah Vogt
(published by Association Press, 291 Broadway, NY7), of unusual
interest: the text itself by a lady who defied Hitlerism, the foreword
by Rabbi Arthur Gilbert and the introduction and the two supplement-
ary chapters in the book by the Rev. Robert H. Roberts.
Dr. Vogt's education was interrupted when she was held in
"protective custody" in Konzentrationcamp Moringer for her political
views. She finally was permitted to complete her work for her PhD
at the University of Marburg. She has made a deep study of Jewish
history, and her book, translated from the German by Peter Jacobsohn,
commences with this dedicatory note:
"This book 4 dedicated in gratitude and sorrow to the memory of the
great Jewish historian and martyr Simon Outmost,. It could have been written
without his 10-volunte 'World History of the Jewish People.' At the age of 81
he was dragged from his home In Riga by German Nazis and deported !o a ghetto.
ZU with fever, he was finally driven into the street and shot."
In this volume, which appeared in Germany in 1963 under the
title "Joch and Krone," Dr. Vogt gives an account of Jewish historic
experiences. It is superb in its brevity and the thoroughness with which
it pursues the analyses commencing with the Exodus from Egypt,
leading up to the present, the emergence of Israel.
The able Christian author present a bird's-eye view of Jewish
history that includes the loss of statehood, the Bar Kochba revolt, the
struggle with Rome and the rise of church and synagogue, and she
devotes a special chapter on Jewish life under Islam as well as the
Spanish-Jewish chapter. She deals with the sufferings of the Marranos,
There will, however, be other appeals to the horrors that were perpetrated by the Crusaders, life in the ghetto,
Confronted with a realistic approach to
national goals for the major Jewish fund- challenge us. Priority is now being given to anti-eSmitism in subsequent periods, the Dreyfus case and the
the UJA and to the Israel Bond Organization emergence of the Zionist movement as a libertarian force in Jewry.
raising task — the adoption of the "no limit"
Dr. Vogt deals interestingly with Jewish cultural developments, with the
role for the 1968 United Jewish Appeal — as the encourager of investments that bring Kabala
and Hasidism and with the perpetuation of Jewish ideals in defiance
Communal Budgeting as a Matter of Conscience
American Jewry will be faced not only with needed funds to Israel. Other Israeli causes
the serious obligation of duplicating, and if will be struggling to retain the interest of
possible exceeding, both the regular UJA in- its regular supporters. On top of it all, there
come as well as the extra funds secured for will be the emerging appeal for new build-
the emergency fund, but also to tackle the ing projects, and it is in this respect that
local obligations and the needs that may we must view the situation in Detroit at a
arise for capital needs. time when budgeting is being mapped.
Several communities already have ruled While rededicating ourselves to the tasks
against any additional programs during the of UJA and to its priority, there will emerge
coming year, and there is serious concern that projects we won't be able to shirk. Viewing
operating needs for local and national agen- the needs ahead, we dare not handicap the
cies may be seriously affected by the earnest efforts of those who are determined to pro-
desire to aid Israel first and to assure proper vide permanent housing for the Hillel Day
support to bolster Israel's economy in this School classes, and that building venture
time of crisis. must be honored and its appeal respected
Conditions are not similar in all corn- in the best interests of the hundreds of
munities and each city will have to decide children who are being educated in this
for itself what priorities to assign in making school, one of the three functioning Detroit
allocations. Insofar as Detroit is concerned, day schools. And we will soon be obligated to
it is heartening to know that the basic ed- provide proper suburban building facilities
ucational and social welfare obligations are for the United Hebrew Schools. In fact, a
not being shirked in planning the budgets long-range need, indicated by the Jewish
for the coming year. A community like ours Welfare Federation's capital needs committee,
must be kept intact, and if it is to remain soon will have to be fully accounted for.
strong and creative, the resources necessary There will emerge other appeals. At least
for the uninterrupted functions of our schools two, possibly three, of the five major syna-
and other agencies should be increased, in gogues in the northwest may appeal for
the best interests of retaining the teaching funds to conclude building projects. Under
staffs and for the sake of our children who conditions of rapid change in that area, are
must be provided with the best procurable they to be denied support and sustenance?
These questions will demand firm an-
educators' forces and environmental facilities.
This is a principle applicable to all com - swers, and we shall no doubt be called upon
munities and is not limited to Detroit. If to recognize that under stress a community
truly dedicated defenders of Israel are to be like ours will be faced with the challenge to
trained and prepared for future leadership, meet all obligations — the extreme on the
Diaspora Jewry's cultural life must be kept overseas front in behalf of UJA and the
intact and elevated to as high a status as Emergency Fund, as well as all local calls
Ave wish for Israel. Without a strong Disapora to duty in support of schools, institutions,
:Jewry we can not hope for a strong Israeli- vcon,gregations, without .which our ..lewish.or,
jewry, ganized life would be skeletonized.
of assimilatory tendencies. Her contention is: 'The history of the Jews in the
19th Century shows that emancipation met with the fewest obstacles in those
countries where liberal and democratic traditions already existed. That was true
particularly in England, the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries. "But
she is realistic in pointing out that Baron Lionel de Rothschild had to fight for
admission to Parliament, that in Germany "Ludwig Boeitne, who had grown up
in the Frankfurt ghetto, had quite rightly discerned that German hatred of the
Jews was nourished by the outdated, rigid caste system."
Miss Vogt is especially effective when she exposes the crime of
anti-Semitism under the Nazis, in a chapter entitled "Catastrophe Under
the Swastika." Her entire approach is impressive and is certain to
inspire further study of Jewish history and Jewry's struggles for justice.
Rabbi Gilbert's comments on Miss Vogt's approach to the issues at
hand lead him to a review of current experiences and new Christian-
Jewish relationships that are being built upon a foundation of
knowldge and he asserts that "a reading of history informs us how
frequently men have misused religion in order to sanctify their dis-
torted political and economic ambitions"; that "a study of Hannah
Vogt's book will make such misuse much less a possibility."
In his introduction, the Rev. Roberts Is emphatic in his condemnation of
bigotry and he states: "Why must the Christian church be concerned with its
relationship to the Jews? Because anti-Semitism is a sin against God and man
and a violation of the Christian command for love of neighbor. Christianity and
anti-Semitism are theoretically antithetical . . ." He shows how Christianity is
"inseparably bound up with the people of Israel," and he condemns the ignorance
that leads to bias.
The Rev. Roberts' two essays in this volume—"Anti-Semitism in
the New Land" and "Toward Authentic Relationship"—are of great
merit. In the first he reviews the record of anti-Semitic propaganda in
this country, he exposes the "obvious forgery" in "The Protocols," lists
the anti-Semitic groups and individuals that functioned in Dearborn,
Mich., and in other communities and the hatreds that were spread by
the Rockwells, the Pelleys and others and concludes on an optimistic
note:
"Despite the incidents of anti-Semitism which have persisted, Atnercia 1141
been a land of hope and opportunity for the largest community of Jews in the
world."
In the second essay, which concludes the Vogt volume, he exposes
many untruths and misunderstandings, disproves the claim that Jews
were dispersed ebeause they rejected Jesus, posing the question. From
a purely pragmatic point of view, if anyone is going to argue seriously
that the dispersion of the Jews from Palestine was the sign of God's
wrath upon the Jews for their rejection of Jesus, how can it be
explained that the. Jews have in our age returned to Palestine—that
Israel has been restored to them?"
In its entirety, "The Jews: A Chronicle for Christian Conscience"
by . Hannah, Vogt. and. the two Supplementary writers is an effective
document against religious hatred.