30—Friday, June 6, 1969
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Synagogues' Suburb Exodus
Is Resisted in Washington
Miss Greenwald to If Ted
Mr. Lawrence R. Green
belt around Washington. In 1956,
By BEN GALLOB
(Copyright, 1969. JTA. Inc.) • according to a lengthy report in the
Several synagogues are making Washington Post, half of all Jews
a determined effort to maintain a in the greater Washington area
Jewish presence in the nation's , lived in the capital. Now, the re-
capital in the face of a steady : port said, only 20 per cent still live
exodus to suburbia by Jewish resi- ' in the capital. Montgomery County
dents and their institutions. Three ' has become the home of half of the
congregations have indicated their I area's Jews.
intention to remain and a fourth I Isaac Franck, director of the
Jewish Community Council. esti-
was recently established.
The migration was dramatized in mated there were now between
the recent transfer of 170 residents 110,000 and 115,000 Jews in metro-
of the Hebrew Home for the Aged politan Washington and 50,000 to
in the inner city to a new residence 60,000 in Montgomery county.
While the Gentile white
in Montgomery County, which is
population has tended to move
considered part of the suburban
Western Wall:
Value to Jews,
Noted Custom
The Western Wall is consid-
ered to be very important to the
Jewish people.
Farband Social Event
AND ORCHESTRA
MISS ARLENE GREENWALD
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for members on the premise that
there were still many Jews liv-
ing within walking distance of
the Conservative synagogue.
At least six reasons are advanced
It was reported that 80 per cent
for this. First, this wall, be-
ing the remnant of the wall of of the Jewish children confirmed
the Temple, constitutes the only at Washington Hebrew Congrega-
replica we have of the Jerusalem tion, largest in the capital—which
Temple which was the focal point used to be in a downtown location
of Jewish life through many cen- but moved to the northwest section
tunics and whose memory still is —have Montgomery addresses.
The new congregation, Temple
that today. Secondly, many Jewish
scholars predicted that this wall Micah, was founded in the capital's
will never be destroyed, conse- new southwest section.
One of the main reasons for the
quently endowing it with enternity.
Third, this was the spot towards Jewish concentration in Montgom-
which the prayers of Jews through- ery Country is its excellent school
out the world are directed by Jew- system. Another is the type of gov-
ish tradition. Fourth, historians tell ernment installations there — the
us that the fighting men of Israel National Institutes of Health and
sanctified their lives and paid with the Atomic Energy Commission.
blood for every stone of the de- where positions abound for which
stroyed temple; this remaining Jewish professionals are qualified.
wall stands as a monument to this Jewish population shifts, according
great heroism. Fifth, Jews have to the report, seem to be related to
kissed and cried over the stones in age groupings. Many Jews who
this wall for 1,500 years. Sixth, this moved to suburbia are young new-
wall, as a part of the Holy Temple, lyweds who could not afford to live
still retains its holiness even in its in the remaining white sections of
state of destruction as stated by metropolitan Washington or young
the rabbis_in the Talmud (Mishna couples concerned about schooling
Megilla 3:3). for their children. Older Jews,
whose children have grown, have
Every man is, or hopes to be. remained in Washington in the
still-white sections.
• an idler.—Samuel Johnson.
----- '
at
in the Farband insurance program
The installation of new. mem- or in social and cultural activities
a
highlight
h
bersof Farband will ll hig
melave malka, concluding a year's only may contact Farband, 864-
activities of the City Committee, 6608.
8:30 p.m. June 14 at the Labor
Zionist Institute.
The
Honorary certificates will be pre-
sented to the founders of Farband
Sheldon Rott
in Detroit, with the participation
of a representative of Farband in
Orchestra
New York. A musical program and
refreshments will be featured, all PROFESSIONAL
at a nominal fee. The public is in-
ENTERTAINMENT
vited.
LI 5-2737
LI 7-0896
interested
Prospective members
PANCHITO
Mr. and Mrs. Murray Greenwald
of Stratford Ave., Oak Park, an-
nounce the engagement of their
daughter Arlene Joyce to Lawrence
Ricky Green, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Melvin Green of Burt Rd.
The bride-elect attended Oak- ,
land Community College. Mr.
Green attends Lawrence Institute
The Hebrew Home transplanta- of Technology.
By RABBI SAMUEL J. FOX
The couple has set Oct. 18 as
tion was not an isolated move.
(Copyright, 1969. JTA, Inc.)
Along with it went the Jewish So- their wedding date.
Many people take off their shoes cial Service Agency and the Jewish
• when approaching the Western Community Center. The three-
Few women and fewer men
Wall in Jerusalem.
agency complex occupies a 21- have enough character to be idle. I
Some trace this custom to the acre site off Rockville Pike. The
—E. V. Lucas.
experience of Moses who was or- three buildings cost about $8,000,-
dered to take oft his shoes when he °()°, raised from contributions to
approached the burning bush which the Jewish Community Founda-
symbolized the presence of the Al- . tion, set up in . 1965 to build the new
mighty (Exodus 3:5). The Talmud' according to the report. Its
states the law that no one is to 1 executive director, Robert Weiner.
enter the place where the Temple : told the Post that "we did not run
of old stands without taking off his away from our old neighborhood
shoes (Mishna Berakot 9:1). Mai- ,
monides states this law in his code People stopped coming years ago
because they are not living there
(Beth Habehira 7:2).
anymore." He added that many
There is an old collection of pray- parents had become afraid to send
ers designed to be said when visit- their children to the center.
ing Holy Places which was first
Among the synagogues resisting
printed in 1601. This printed ritual the exodus is Orthodox Ohav Sho-
states that when one -comes to the lom Talmud Tora. Its president.
Wall, he should take off his shoes, Melvyn Lewish, said suggestions
kiss the stones, etc. In the course from members to set up branches
of time this practice somehow fell in suburbia had been rejected. He
into disuse so that we observe sad there were many Orthodox
many who approach the Wall with- young people moving into the
out taking off their shores.
neighborhood who wanted to he
The basic reason for the original near a synagogue so they could
custom of removing one's shoes walk to services. He asserted that
seems to have two explanations. some 20 families moved into the
Some claim thtt it is a procedure neighborhood each year for that
that gives rise to a spirit of awe reason but he conceded that most
and reverence for holiness by of the congregation's 600 members
making a man more sensitive of no longer lived in the vicinity and
his every step and making him came for services largely for nos-
conscious that he is treading talgic reasons.
sacred ground. Others (quoted by
Across the street is Tifereth
Agnon) claim that during the days
Israel, which also is housed in a
of the Diaspora, which are still
10-year-old structure. Its presi-
with us, it is a symbol of mourn-
dent, Leon Cherner, admitted
ing. One who approaches the an-
membership was declining and
cient ruins of the Temple casts
said that about half of the mem-
himself into a state of mourning by
bers now live in Montgomery
removing his shoes just as a
County but that "we are not con-
mourner does during the first
sidering moving." A doorbell
seven days of mourning.
campaign in the area has begun
into several suburban areas,
Jews seem to prefer Montgomery
County, which soon will have 13 ,
of the area's 33 synagogues; 13
still remaining In Washington.
Prince George County has six
synagogues and there are also
six synagogues in northern Vir-
ginia, according to the Post.
To Install New Members
Have you ever seen
any other vegetarian beans
in a Jewish home?
Anywhere?
There must be a reason for such popularity. Several reasons, in fact! Like
flavor (the beans are packed in a delicious tomato sauce)...and conven-
ience (you just heat the beans and they are ready to serve) and kashruth
(pareve, too. On• the front of the label is the 0 seal of THE
UNION OF ORTHODOX JEWISH CONGREGATIONS OF
AMERICA.)
Serve Heinz Vegetarian Beans soon. How about tonight?
.1