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
Seven Mile Road, Detroit, Mich. 48235,
Published every- Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West
VE 8-9364. Subscription $7 a year. Foreign $8.

Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Editor and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ SIDNEY SHMARAK

Advertising Manager

Business Manager

CHARLOTTE DUBIN

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath. the 27th day of Heshvan, 5730, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion. Gen. 23:1- 23:1S. Prophetical portion. I Kings 1:1-31.

Rosh Ilodesh Kisler Torah

portion.

Tuesday. Num. 25:1-15.

Candle lighting, Friday, Nov. 7, 5

VOL.

Page Four

No. 8

November 7, 1969.

Book Fair's Inspirational Values

So much interest has been created through
the years in the annual Book Fairs sponsored
by the Jewish Community Center in coopera-
tion with a number of leading local organiza-
tions that the re-dedication to books and the
cultural values that go with them provide
great satisfaction for communal planners.
Book Fair has provided an opportunity to
bring to Detroit a number of the best known
authors and the discussions they and their
works have inspired have added considerably
to the educational merits of the Jewish Cen-
ter and the movements that share with it the
glory of a noteworthy event.
Support for authors is being assured by
the large sales of books during Book Fair,
and the interest that is aroused in many cur-
rent works provides an added opportunity for
critical reviews, for preferences that must be
given to Jewish classics and for rejection of
the lascivious which in no way add to the
merits of dignified consideration of works
suitable for study of history and social sci-
ences.
It is the value of the library, of the book-
shelf, of the creative efforts of writers that
must receive emphasis at a Book Fair. In the

late 16th century a scholar, John Lily (1554-
1606) thus defined library:

"Far more see,nzly were it for thee to
have thy study full of books than thy purse
full of money."

It can be said with assurance that every

effort at our Book Fairs is being made to
adhere to such a principle, and the results
have been so encouraging that it is safe to
predict that another creative function will
mark our experience at the Book Fair to com-
mence this Saturday night. We greet it as a
significant occasion on our calendar.
*
*
*
Simultaneous with the annual Book Fair,
our community will join in the celebration of
the 30th anniversary of the Center Symphony
Orchestra. A significant cultural contribution
has been made to Detroit, with a special
mark of honor for the Jewish community, in
the efforts of Julius Chajes, the creator of the
orchestra and its director during the entire
period of its existence.
Distinguished musicians have shared in
the 30 years of concerts presented by the

Center Symphony Orchestra and many new
compositions, by the orchestra's director and
other eminent composers, were introduced
during the three decades which gave Detroit
a role of eminence in the musical world
thanks to an able director and a community's
deep interest in the musical aspects of the
Center program.
All acclaim that will go Mr. Chajes' way
at the anniversary concert on Nov. 11 and
during the events planned for the entire
anniversary year, are fully deserved. We join
in commending him and the Center for an
important role in our cultural programing.

N ew Inspiration From WSU Hine! Center

A concerned community shares a deep
interest with the Bnai Brith and its Hillel
Foundations in the dedication of the new
Hillel quarters at Wayne State University.
As part of the Charles Grosberg Religious
Center established through the generosity of
the late Charles Grosberg, the Irwin I. Cohn
Hall, the Maurice Zeiger Library, the various
facilities now available for the WSU students
offer new opportunities for extended cultural
activities by and in behalf of our students at
the important Detroit university.
While the dedication honors the names of
men who have shown a deep interest in stu-
dent affairs, it is the enlistment of student
interest that is especially vital. It is in this
regard that an entire community must dedi-
cate itself, much more than it dedicates valu-
able university quarters, to a task of enlarg-
ing the youth activities.
Much is being said now regarding the in-

difference that was believed to have invaded
youth ranks. But if we speak of indifference
we must also take into account complacency
—the lack of concern over the programming
and making available to the younger genera-
tion of Jewish intellectuals the means with
which to pursue studies, research, activity
that links the two generations.
In the newly available quarters there will

no doubt be provisions for action, for mutual
accord in displaying the interest that is so
vital in creating a vitalized community.
Indeed, in the new center there should be
study, exchange of views, research into the

Jewish values that affirm the indestructibil-
ity of the Jewish heritage.
From the -new quarters of the WSU Hil-

lel Foundation must come new inspiration,
first to the younger eletment and through it
to all of us. This is the hope inherent in the
dedication of the valued Hillel Center at
Wayne State University.

Federation Apartme nts: A True Dream

Our community's deep interest in the
needs of the elderly citizens found expression
last Sunday morning when ground was
broken for the 15-story building in which it
is planned to provide housing, with special
facilities, for the elders who are not candi-
dates for the Home for the Aged but who

need specially planned housing.
There was much dreaming and hoping
for the realization of this idea, and there
were many obstacles to be encountered. But
a concerned community was determined to
translate the idea into fact, to transform
dream into reality, and with government aid,
there now comes the assurance that the
Federation Apartments will be available for
occupancy late in 1970.
As part of an over-all planning program
to assure care for citizens who need assist-
ance in planning for their comfort as they
are either near retirement or have already
retired from their A V c az i o ll , the Jewish

.

Welfare Department has undertaken this
project as an added factor to the services
already provided so splendidly through the
JeWish Home for the Aged.
There is a sincerity of purpose in these

Brownsville — Its Development,
Fame, Cultural Accomplishments

Brownsville has become a synonym for piety, has been viewed as
the chief center of Orthodoxy in Jewish ranks in New York, and the
community's role has fascinated many people.
What is not known is that the beginnings were not unlike those of
other communities that were settled by immigrants in whose ranks
were to be found people of varying backgrounds, the secular as well as
the religious, those who respected the synagogue and others who sud-
denly began to abandon adherence to practices which were part of

their lives.
In the course of its development, Brownsville emerged as a center
of Hasidism, Orthodoxy, strict observance, and it became a community
of unusual interest.
Rabbi Alter F. Landesman has traced the history of his com-
munity in most interesting fashion and his "Brownsville," published
by Bloch, describes not only the birth and development of this
section of New York, but also the passing of this community whose
story may well reach its end.

Rabbi Landesman describes, in this interesting history, the positive
as well as the negative developments. He does not ignore the existence
of "Murder Incorporated" in the early 19405, a group of gangsters who

were part of the countrywide menace known as "Combination," (which
also functioned in Detroit). But his emphasis is on the constructive, on
the great men who emanated from Brownsville, on the personalities
who became national and world leaders and who contributed much to
the labor movement, to literature, to the arts, to theater, to religious
activities.
The author of this extensive study views Brownsville's story as 'ea

valuable chapter in the history of the East European Jewish imMir
grants."
He takes pride in-the community's story and states: "All kinds of
movements found their followers in Brownsville. If Brownsville was `no
garden spot to the eye, it was a lush garden spot for the mind,' states
Sol Hurok the impressario who , for a time was the manager of the
Brownsville Labor Lyceum."

,

,

The many movements that functioned in Brownsville, the Zion-
ist activities, the numerous visits there of Chaim Weizmann and
other notables, and many other developments are recorded by the
author who did much research in gathering his historic data.
There are numerous anecdotes and one relates to Weizmann. The
well known newspaperman Morris Zeldin is quoted telling about Web-
mann asking Dr. Shmarya Levin: "'I have read and heard so much

about Brownsville, which you call the 'Jerusalem of America.' Tell me,
where is Brownsville?" Zeldin recalled: "With a smile on his :Dips,
Levin replied: 'Brownsville is Brownsville, and the City of New York
is built around her.' "
Rabbi Landesman's collected data adds immeasurably to the WS-
: torical merits of his book which will serve well for those seeking infor-
m a tion about the development of American Jewish communities.
Drawing upon the sentiments of many noted writers and cons•
munity figures who expressed their nostalgic attitudes on the area

of their origin, on Brownsville and Brooklyn in general, Rabbi

Landesman introduces into his book the impressions that give color

to a center that has added glory and influence in Jewish life.
tasks that invites recognition of the values
There are the contrasts between the events of 50 years ago and
of a well-organized community. The fulfill-
ment of the latest dream, in behalf of the the elements who came to Brownsville then, and the conditions today.
elderly, gives added stimulus to the effort to and the end result is a chapter in American history well worth studying.

assure the most effective means for com-
munal unity within the ranks of Detroit
Jewry.
The Federation's role in the new project
adds to an appreciation of an effort that has

Maturing of Conservatism.

In "The Maturing of the Conservative Movement," published by
Burning Bush Press, Dr. Bernard Mandelbaum briefly reviews Amer-
ican Jewish religious history of the past six decades and describes the

elevated' the standards of our communal
labors. It provides assurance to those who growth of the Conservative ranks.
need help or guidance or support that they
In the course of his essay, he describes the development of the
will not be forgotten. In the instance of the Jewish Theological Seminary, the emergence of the Rabbinical Assem-
elderly it becomes a cooperative effort that bly and the United Synagogue, the contributions of Prof. Solomon
keeps aloft the dignity of a community in Schechter and others who helped create the Conservative synagog110
which no one is estranged when there is movement.
need to provide a measure of happiness for
The principles inherent in the movement are defined in this essay,
.
all citizens,
the foreword to which was written Py Marvin S. Wiener.

