Two Volumes by Rabbi Guisteiii! Weekly
Issued Simultaneously by Bloch
Bloch Publishing Co. has issued
two volumes by Rabbi Morris A.
Gutstein of Chicago. One contains
his sermonic discourses on weekly
biblical readings. The other is de-
s oted to important developments
in American Jewish history.
Under the title "Frontiers of I
Faith," Dr. Gutstein has compiled
54 sermons which, in addition to
being discussions of the Sabbath
scriptural readings, also relate to
life's experiences and to events
that are currently of interest to
his readers, as they were to his
parishioners.
For example, while discussing
"Ilaazinu" he also dealt with Con-
servative Judaism.
His sermon on "Shofetim"
was an occasion to deal with
"Justice and Labor." In "Kee
Thaitze" he gave his views on
"Compassion and Philanthropy."
"What Is a Jew?" became the ,
central theme for "Aikev."
Thus, down the line, his sermonic
theses emerge as outlines of major
issues in the life of the Jewish
people and of this nation. The
brevity of these sermons elevates
them to special importance as
recommended reading on the speci-
fic sabbaths for which the sermons
were intended, to become more in-
timately acquainted with the Bible
and to acquire views based on
scriptures on vital matters affect-
ing the lives of all Jews and all
American citizens.
Dr. Gutstein's second volume,
published simultaneously with the
collection of sermons, is entitled
"Profiles of Freedom." Richly
annotated, the nine essays in
this volume deal with noteworthy
incidents in American experi-
ences. The first essay describes
the emergence of the first Jewish
congregation in North America
—New or s Shearith Israel
which has uninterruptedly held
BETH ISRAEL
CONGREGATION
a Conservative Synagogue in
Ann Arbor, is seeking a quali-
fied port-time director for its
Religious and Hebrew Schools.
Position will begin August 1st,
1968.
Send biographical information
to Rabbi Harold S. White, 1429
Hill Street, Ann Arbor 48104.
religious services since 1654. Be-
cause of the description of the
search for religious liberty by
the Jewish settlers in Nieuw
Amsterdam this article is ap-
propriately entitled "In Quest
of Freedom." In the followup
essay, "Vigilance for Freedom,"
we have a brief review of the
American experiences on the
occasion of the Tercentenary cele-
bration, with emphasis in its
conclusion on Emma Lazarus'
"Colossus" poem on the Statue
of Liberty.
The article "Freedom of Religion
—Is This a Christian Country"
points proudly to the emergence of
the national policy based on the
Separation principle distinguishing
between church and state.
George Washington's relation-
ship to the Jewish community is
described in "Physical and Spiritu-
al Freedom." In "Freedom to Re-
sent and to Reply" is incorporated
the full text of the letter of Benja-
min Nones, Aug. 11, 1800, to the
printer of the Gazette of the
United States, refuting bigotry and
defending the right to express the
view of a devout Jew.
Other concepts of the American
idea of freedom are presented in
the essay "Freedom, Equality and
Toleration" which concludes by
quoting the poem "America" by
Edgar A. Guest.
In "What American Jews Be-
lieve" Dr. Gutstein analyzes the
principles of all the religious
Jewish groups in America- He
pursues it with an essay on
"Freedom of Assembly" which
is an analysis of the Jewish fra-
ternal orders in this country.
His concluding essay in "Profiles
of Freedom" is devoted to a review
of Jewish literary societies in the
19th Century and includes a review
of the origins of numerous study
groups. It is historically interest-
ing as an indication of trends
among immigrants as well as
native-born Jews in this country.
Both Gutstein books serve in-
teresting purposes for Bible and
history students.
Oak-Woods YI Holds
Daily Hevra Mishnayos
The Young Israel of Oak-Woods
has recently formed a daily Hevra
Mishnayos lesson conducted by
Elias Weiss 30 minutes prior to the
morning and evening services.
Among the projects undertaken
by the Hevra is to develop a Tal-
mudic and Responsa library in the
chapel, used daily for prayer and
study. Chairman of the group is
Morris Sax.
Just decisions will never be
handed down as long as only one
side can win.
TRAVELING—
CALL
Pioneer of the
Day School Movement
in Detroit
YESHIVATH
BETH
YEHUDAH
Special Independence Day
Tour to Israel
15751 W. 10 1/2 Mile
353-6750 or 862-0963
THE WORKMENS CIRCLE of DETROIT
BRANCH 227 INewcomers)
PRESENTS:
"PRE-PURIM DANCE and BUFFET"
SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 1968 . . . 9 P.M.
Contribution
$3.50
per
person
Charles Weiner's Orchestra
Floor Show — Purim Spielers
Elaborate Buffet Included
Every-
body
is
welcome
WORKMEN'S CIRCLE EDUCATIONAL CENTER
18340 W. Seven Mile Rd.
For Reservations: Call KE 7-5440 or VE 8-6911
l
tft Utz
!
BY RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
B'nai Moshe 1968 Town Hall Series Presents
(Copyright 196E. JTA Inc.)
"MUSIC - THE SOUL OF A PEOPLE"
Why is the grace after the wed-
ding feast introduced with a special
poem?
This is the poem of the famous
Spanish poet Dunash ben Labrath
of the 10th Century. Its brief con-
tents state: "0' banish sorrow and
also wrath, and then even the dumb
will sing a song. Lead us in the
circle of righteousness; heed the
blessing of the sons of Aaron."
The poem may serve a number
of purposes. First, it indicates to
the assembled, who are at this
point preparing to give thanks for
the food which they have con-
sumed, the fact that this is no
Does Jewish tradition believe
that "marriages are made in
heaven?"
The rabbis in talmudic literature
attempt to prove that this is so
from various biblical sources. They
point to the statement made by the
family of Rebecca in giving her
to Eliezer to be married to Isaac:
"The thing proceedeth from the
Almighty" (Genesis 24:50). Sam-
son's parents somehow were con-
vinced that his coming marriage
was "of the Lord" (Judges 14:4).
Proverbs contain a statement to
the effect that "a prudent wife is
from the Lord" (Proverbs 19:14).
The Almighty himself is pictured
in talmudic literature as being
preoccupied with "matching cou-
ples" after having completed the
creation of the universe. One of
the seven nuptial blessings recited
at a Jewish marriage declares the
Almighty to be the one who pre-
pared for the first man his in-
tended mate. The inference is that
He likewise prepares the same
for every man thereafter. Chal-
lenged by the realization that many
marriages apparently do not find
happiness, the Rabbis sometimes
say that in such a case, man has
not found his true mate, which
may be found in a second marriage.
Whatever the tradition is, while
in some places talmudic episodes
picture some individuals as being
fatalistic in this respect, neverthe-
less in other places, the Talmud
exhorts young people to be cau-
tious in choosing mates. An ex-
ample of the latter is the talmudic
description of the festive activities
at such times as the night after
the Day of Atonement when young
people would rejoice in the fields
and the Rabbis warn the young
men not to be misled by outer
beauty but to look for the inner
worth of the damsel in question.
Eliezer's own mission in the Bible
when he looked for Rebecca indi-
cates a kind of care taken in the
selection of a girl with character
and kindness. This subject may
well fit into the philosophical
dilemma of man's freedom of
choice v e'r s u s the Almighty's
providence which may create a
kind of predestination for him.
While Arabic traditions have de-
veloped a sort of fatalism out of
the doctrine of pre - destination,
Judaism has raised man to the
level of God's partner - the Divine
partner having a sort of foresight
as to the direction that the human
element will take.
Rabbi MORTON A. KANTER of
Temple Beth El will represent the
Jewish Chautauqua Society as lec-
turer at Olivet College March 4.
He will speak at assembly at 8
p.m. on the subject "Jewish Con-
tributions to Political Thought."
Also
B'NAI MOSHE CHORAL ENSEMBLE
AND YOUTH CHOIR
Directed by
With Noted Cantor
,
sz
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...
ordinary meal, i.e. that it had a
special purpose (a wedding feast).
Immediately there is recognition
that while we are happy for the
moment, this happiness is erst-
while and localized to the immedi-
ate gathering. The poem expresses
our wish that the mood of happi-
ness become both universal and
everlasting. Secondly, according to
some, it asks for the priestly bless-
ing to take effect upon us, taking
into account that, at a large gather-
ing, there is bound to be a member
of the priestly family in the as-
sembly who has most likely been
honored with conducting the grace
after the meal.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
20—Friday, February 23, 1968
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CANTOR LOUIS KLEIN
EPHRAIM
ROSENBERG
SUNDAY, MARCH 3, 1968
of Concourse Center
of Israel, in New York
In the Mail! Sanctuary
and Kenosha Oak Park
Admission for Balance of Series (3 events) $6.00 Per Couple. Individe
fice, LI . 8-9000.
ual tickets $1.50. Available at the Synagogue Office,
to ma.
YOUNG ISRAEL OF OAK-WOODS
cordially invites the public
to a lecture series on
APPROACHES TO JUDAISM
Ferburay 26—HASSIDIC APPROACH
Dr. Irving Bloch, Professor of Philosophy
University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario
March 18—PHILOSOPHIC APPROACH
Annual Benz Memorial Lecture
to be delivered by
Rabbi Abner Weiss of Durban, South Africa
April 1—HALAHIC APPROACH
Rabbi Emanuel Forman
Congregation Shaar Shomayim, Toronto, Ontario
ALL SESSIONS AT 8:30 P.M.
WHO SPEAKS FOR G-D?
WHAT CHALLENGES
CONFRONT JUDAISM
TODAY?
HEAR THE VIEWS OF
.
.
-
..
z
RABBI SHUBERT SPERO
DR. ALVIN J. REINES
Lecturer in Philosophy
Western Reserve University
Professor of Jewish Philosophy
Hebrew Union College -
Jewish Institute of Religion
AT
CONGREGATION AHAVAS ACHIM
19190 SCHAEFER
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 8:30 P.M.
UN 4-6428
NOMINAL ADMISSION DONATION