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,
VE 89364. Subscription $7 a year. Foreign $8.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
Advertising Manager
City Editor
– —
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 29th day of lyar, 5729. the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion. NUM. 1:1-4:20. Prophetical portion. 1 Samuel 20:18-42.
Rosh Hodesh Sican Tora reading. Sundae. N wi. 28:1-15.
Candle lighting. Friday, May 16, 7:28 p.m.
VOL. LV . No. 9
May 16, 1969
Page Four
Bridging the Gaps in a Critical Era
In this period of graduations, consecra-
tions and confirmations we return to a peren-
nial subject of the youth who are emerging
out of their classes into the wide world of
challenge, and of those who are graduating
from the elementary and high school spheres
into the university levels. The routine con-
siderations that usually emerge as cliches
are no longer valid in the consideration of the
matters that affect the young. The previous
factors are now, in the main, trite and merely
transfer from one school into another—even
one age sector into an older one—are no long-
er sterotyped. We now have more serious
issues to be concerned with, and the stage
of elevation from one generation into another
represents the new effort of hurdling over
the gaps that have caused so much concern
in our society.
There is a revolt against the present
order, and in gaining access to possible solu-
tions we must view the situation in our
schools with the utmost seriousness.
It is not enough to become horrified over
the student rebellion. and even the resort
to arms. If it is true that the blacks who
resorted to arms at Cornell turned to that
form of action because whites had burned
crosses in front of their homes and had dis-
played guns in their threats to the dark-skin-
ned, then there is an explanation for the
reason for the blacks' resort to guns. If
there is a backlash it must lead to further
trouble. If the American ideal of fair play
is losing traction because of stubbornness in
"establishment." no matter how the ruling
classes seek to perpetuate power, then we
are due for trouble, and it is better to re-
view the "gap" now before it is too late.
* a a
While we have special concern with the
Jewish pupils who are emerging from religi-
ous classes either as graduates or as con-
secrants, in the hope that they will pursue
their Jewish courses. the issues that have
evolved in the general community may have
a strong bearing on future adult-youth rela-
tionships and on the responses we hope to
inspire from our young people.
The developing conflicts in the universi-
ties. which have also spread into high schools,
are the concern of all citizens, and during the
graduation-consecration weeks in Jewish com-
munities they call for special consideration
by Jewish pedagocs and parents. The emerg-
ence of a white blacklash, the indifference
that is setting in among young Jews toward
Jewish traditions and the heritage we hope
our youth will cherish, the impression that
is gained that there is nothing to be learned
Jewishly as an application to the current
crises—these are matters of major concern
and must be linked today with the issues
at hand.
The fact is that we have much to teach
our youth, that there are Jewish ethical con-
cepts which, when applied, might serve as
solutions to the ills of our time. The truth
is that in Jewish principles of conduct and
in our traditional views of learning, of dif-
fering, of disrupting, there is not only room
for difference of opinion but also for the
right to rebel against injustice, of debating
with elders, of calling for change. There is
no room for violence in our teachings but
there is ground for disagreeing and for a
variety of opinions.
But there is a lack of knowledge about
such standards in Jewish cultural concepts.
There is too little acquaintance with the
actualities of a culture that has room for all
views. Unless such a knowledge is attained
we will be confronted with a continuation of
misinformation, a road to suspicion and to
prejudice. an encouragement to flight from
one's heritage.
What we need, therefore, is the strength-
ening of the background of Jewish knowl-
edge. It is of the utmost necessity that the
roots of cultural inspiration must be planted
deeply, with understanding, with a deter-
mination that there should not emerge the
bitterness that stems from misinformation.
That which we hope for the Jewish grad-
uate applies to the non-Jew in our midst.
There is room for dispute. for opposition to
the "establishment," for revolt against estab-
lished codes that need to be changed. There
is never justification for violence or destruc-
tion of property. By the same token, there
must be no encouragement to backlash in
any form if our society is to be protected
and if it is to emerge unscathed from the
battles now being fought.
New approaches are needed in our edu-
cational system and in bridging the genera-
tions gaps. We labor under the conviction
that in Jewish lore there is enough to teach
us to assure remedies for the ills of society.
These cures are applicable to all elements,
all faiths—if properly utilized, if handled
with the tolerance that a highly cultured
society should possess and apply to all its
citizens.
* *
We have much to concern us in these
critical times but we are not helpless. A new
attitude of fairness to all, of cooperation
among all. of rejection of prejudices, of con-
demnation of any resort to violence, whether
it comes from a black rebellious group or a
white backlash, must be welcomed quickly.
Our traditions have enough strength to pro-
vide the solutions. If the Jewish youth is
to be saved for posterity it must learn proper-
ly what we inherited as a lesson for human
kindness from our indelible teachings. If
the non-Jewish elements which are afflicted
by the problems that involve all of us are
to begin an era of renewed enlightenment
devoid of bias there must be a getting to-
gether to apply the highest ideals of human-
ity to our citizenship and our neighborliness.
It is a fact that the state of war, the
resentment against the military factor in our
life. are part of the accumulating reasons for
the rebellion. In striving for a renewal of
the higher goals in our social structure we
must also aspire to an end to wars and the
embracing of the peaceful aspirations that
should be the aim of all mankind. We pray
in this period, when the young emerge from
one stage of their studies into another, from
elementary to higher classes of learning,
from one generation bridging the gap into
another, that in the best interests of a peace-
ful and wholesome world these goals will be
attained.
Another. Turbulent May
Like the turbulent days in May of 1967,
the present month presents another cause
for serious concern for all who hope for a
peaceful world and for an end to the Middle
East conflict.
Many casualties, endless warfare, loss of
confidence in negotiations for an end to the
struggle and abuse of cease-fire agreements
contribute to the escalating troubles.
For world Jewry the confrontations on
Israel's borders signalize a need to be ever
aware of the need to be ready to protect
Israel, and for the world at large there re-
mains the great need to press for agreements
that will bring about peace because an ex-
calated state of war in that area could well
lead to a world struggle.
S
•
'Gateways to Jewish Life' Serves
Valuable Educational Purposes
Dr. Leah Bronner of Johannesburg, South Africa, is considered one
of the outstanding women talmudists and Bible scholars in the world.
A lecturer in the department of Hebrew studies at Witwatersrand Uni-
versity in South Africa, she has written a number of scholarly works on
the Second Commonwealth and Elisha and Elijah.
Her newest work, issued in this country by Bloch, attests to the
extent of her research and her essays on Jewish subjects. In "Gate-
way to Jewish Life" she touches upon many vital subjects, deals with
notable Jewish personalities and in addition to biblical gleanings dis-
cusses modern Israeli and American writings.
her nevi'Velnine has
Published in Johannesburg by Bnal
the special distinction of bilingualism: it contains seven essays in
Hebrew—Biblical Motifs in Modern Hebrew Literature, Prophets
and Concept of Redemption, Universal Trends in Prayer, Laughter
Amidst Tears, Bialik — National Poet of Modern Hebrew, Jacob
Fichman and Evolving Faces of Agnon.
Mrs. Bronner, who is the wife of Rabbi Joseph Bronner, indicates
the extent of her scholarly efforts in the variety of subjects she has
covered in this splendid volume.
She has dealt wih women in the Bible, with additional chapters on
Deborah and Ruth; with Jacob, Samuel and Elijah.
"Post Biblical Gleanings" is devoted to such subjects as the
legacy of Maimonides, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Bar Kokhba, Jewish-Arab
encounters, the Haftara's origin, "Rabbenu Gershom—Protector of the
Jewish Woman," "The Enigma of Kol Nidre," attitudes towards con-
verts, Hanuka heroines, belief in the Messiah.
As further indication of the totality of a portrait of Jewish life
contained in all of her essays, Dr. Bronner, in the section "Glean-
ings From Modern Jewish Thought," discusses new trends in Jewish
life, the legacies of Bialik and the legacy of the Baal Shem Tov,
Sholom Aleichem on Broadway, the writings of Jacob Fichman, the
writings of Agnon and others.
Every chapter in her book could well serve as a subject for discus-
sion and as a guide for Jewish students. Dr. Bronner's "Gateways" and
"Gleanings" combine into a voulme that should be considered by
schools as a textbook supplementary to other Jewish studies.
Impressive Treasury of Witty
Quotations Has 6,612 Selections
"If you are bashful, you'll have no children," is the Jewish proverb
included in "A Treasure of Humorous Quotations for Speakers, Writers
and Home Reference," compiled by Herbert V. Prochnow, a Chicago
banker who formerly was an assistant secretary of state in the Eisen-
hower administration, and his son, Herbert V. Prochnow Jr., a Harvard
law graduate and also a banker.
This quote is one of 6,612 that start with ability and end with zoo.
The text itself and the index of authors and titles indicate a vast
amount of work that took the two authors to an extended field of
endeavor.
Every conceivable subject is covered, and the father-son team went
to many sources for the contents of their entertaining work that will
prove so very valuable to public speakers as well as for home use.
Benjamin Disraeli, Bernard Baruch, Oscar Levant, Albert Ein-
stein, Israel Zangwill, Mark Twain, Emile Zola, Heinrich Heine,
Winston Churchill are among the scores of greats upon whose
wisdom the authors had drawn.
There are Hebrew proverbs: "If one person tell thee thou hast ass's
ears, take no notice; should two tell thee so, procure a saddle for your-
self": and "When you are kissed by a rogue, count your teeth imme-
diately."
The several from Disraeli include: "In politics, nothing is con-
temptible" and "A practical man is a man who practices the errors
of his forefathers."
Einstein's comment on hunger is interesting: "An empty stom•
ach is not a good political adviser."
No work of this kind can possibly be complete, and even In its
present form the collection is so vast that it will prove entertaining for
all readers and useful for public speakers. The Prochows certainly
attained an interesting goal with "A Treasury of Humorous Quota-
4e,ep ,nuNi§led by Harper . & Row.