THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
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Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the ninth day of Adar, 5731, the following scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions, Exod. 27:20-30:10, Deut. 25:17-19. Prophetical portion,
I Samuel 15:12-34.
Scriptural Selections for Fast of Esther, Wednesday
Pentateuchal portion, Erod. 32:11-14, 34:1-10. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 55:6-56:8.
Purim Torah Reading, Thursday: Exod. 17:8-16. The Book of Esther is read
the night before and that morning.
Candle lighting. Friday. March S. 6:03 p.m.
VOL. LVIII. No. 25
Page Four
March 5, 1971
Leadership Under Challenge
Discord can be destructive. What hap-
pened in Brussels could prove a blessing
rather than the distress it seemed to create
when Jewish spokesmen differed over the
viewpoints of an opposition group that caused
dismay.
Perhaps the bitterness that emerged over
an "uninvited guest" will encourage stock-
taking in Jewish ranks and consideration of
basic principles to be guided by in determin-
ing policies to be pursued in the functions of
our communities and those chosen to lead
them.
There is no doubt that the actions of the
Jewish Defense League are objectionable.
Overwhelming sentiments disapprove of ex-
tremists, even in matters involving the Soviet
Union. And it is equally acceptable that
representation at democratically - organized
assemblies must be based on recognized com-
munal assignments in order that discord
should be avoided. But it is also true that
in a democracy even the unrepresented have
the right to speak, and in a society like ours
a person must be considered innocent before
he is proven guilty.
It is yet to be proven that the JDL had
resorted to armed attacks on Russian emis-
saries and their headquarters in this country.
We join in condemning as repugnant window
breaking and abusive tactics in dealing with
Russians who are on official missions in this
country, or any Russians visiting here. We
believe that visiting musicians should be in-
formed of our sentiments and should be asked
to take back with them to Russia the protests
of the Jewish people against their govern-
ment's discriminations. On this basis we urge
that every effort be made to condemn the
Soviet policies. But we object to any sort of
destructive means that have been or may be
used against Russians or anyone we disagree
with. On this score the JDL is as repugnant
to us as the Jewish spokesmen in Brussels
said about this movement.
•
•
•
There is another side to the coin. It is the
matter of even a single person's right to speak,
and the issue revolving around the necessity
of assuring retention of democratic ideals in
Jewish communities. On this issue it becomes
necessary to express regret over the all-too-
hasty actions in Brussels where a visiting
American rabbi was arrested, his views were
squelched, the extremists of the opposition to
him evidencing a lack of good judgment at
a time when unity was so vital in our ranks.
Instead of adhering to the basic objectives of
the conference in Brussels some Jewish lead-
ers adopted methods which lead to witch
hunts.
We object to witch hunts wherever they
may be introduced. We resent them when
used against us by bigots. We oppose them
when they are resorted to in political and
social ranks.. They have no place in Jewish
deliberations.
What the experience in Brussels indicates
is our impoverishment in what we desire to
look to as Jewish leadership. Are we training
leaders or politicians? Is leadership a term
of honor or is it becoming a mockery? Does
one become a leader because he can give a
good gift to a deserving cause or is he (or she)
one well trained to guide the people repre-
sented along lines of highest principles in
life, aimed at elevating standards, of estab-
lishing democratic ways of protecting com-
munity needs?
Representatives of Jewish communities
from more than 40 countries gathered in
Brussels to seek relief for a persecuted com-
munity of 3,000,000 Jews, and in addition to -
preliminary rhetoric they yielded to fright,
creating panic over the presence in their midst
of a rejected self-appointed visitor who rushed
to the sessions in order to present views that
are opposed by a majority of the Jewish
people. He could have and should have been
listened to, he would have added a touch of
basic democratic idealism to the conference.
He surely would have been overruled, but
there would have been a sense of honor and
dignity and the Russians as much as we would
have had a lesson in the highest principles of
democracy. What occurred was regrettable
and certainly deplorable.
Holtz's 'Holy City' Anthology
Emphasizes Glory of Jerusalem
Timely and very meritorious is the newest in the Bnai Brith
Perhaps the happenings in Brussels were
Heritage Classics published by W. W. Norton Co.
to have been expected. The entire issue re- Jewish
Edited as a compilation by Prof. Avraham Holtz of the Jewish
volving around Rabbi Meir Kahane and the Theological Seminary, "The Holy= City," containing the view of "Jews
JDL was turned into a near-witch hunt. There on Jerusalem," this very interesting book is filled with historical data,
was so much prejudice and bitterness over essays, songs, legends.
the JDL's actions in the American press that
With the assertion that "Jerusalem is the heartland of Judaism,"
it influenced many Jewish newspapers, in- the editor-compiler has succeeded in gathering material that empha-
cluding the Israeli press, and there was more sizes this central theme.
Impartially handled, this book is of equal value to Jewish,
heat than light, more passion than reason, in
Christian and Moslem readers because it contains data of interest
the poll reported by Newsweek, in its study
to
all.
"The American Jew—New Pride, New Prob-
course, it is a natural for the compiler to take into account
lems," which showed that 71 per cent of the Of
latest developments, the Six-Day War's results, the redemption
American Jews disapproved of the JDL, 14 of the Old City and its union with the New City of Jerusalem.
per cent approved and 11 per cent gave quali-
Also, it is natural that the Bible should be utilized for historic
fied approval. We wonder whether this would background and that the biblical and the talmudic should be taken
have been the result had the people polled into account.
Therefore Prof. Holtz emphasizes that "the purpose of this an-
suspected anything akin to what happened in
thology Is to illustrate the centrality of Jerusalem in Jewish history
Brussels.
and tradition from earliest days to the immediate present."
Now the Israeli press condemns the hate-
The selections from the Bible with which the anthology com-
provoked attitudes toward Kahane and JDL:
mences serve as an inspiration to the reader who will expect the
previously it joined the witch hunt, thus en- outline
be complete, to take into account the beginning, just as
couraging the shocking action that was taken the book to leads
up to the present. The City of David, the era of Solo-
officially by the Israel government—in a mat- mon and the Temple, the Prophetic Warnings—all are incorporated
ter that was not its business—when it gave in •a volume that is so vitally needed today when the Jerusalem ques-
expression to opposition to JDL's activities as tion is on the world agenda.
Destruction of the Temple, the Maccabean Revolt, the building of
if they deserved as much attention as the
Russians sought to focus upon that group. the Second Temple and its destruction—all are reviewed in the quota-
;
lions
from historical records. –
Instead of dealing with a very small minority
By dealing with laws and legislations, taking into account the
on the basis of principles and the need to
TIsha b'Av tragedy and the views upon it of Malmonides and other
formulate acceptable policies, inner dissen-
scholars, the editor gives strength to a theme well compounded.
sion was permitted, thus diverting attention
The legends will be found especially appropriate. Drawing upon
from the basic need of defending Russian the writings of Louis Ginsberg and others, Prof. Holtz has enriched
Jewry toward rather undignified squabbles his work.
that do not belong in a progressive society.
The chapter "Song, Poem, Prayer" will prove equally inspirational
•
•
•
because of the traditional material utilized, the Psalms of David, the
Perhaps youth is right when it says that Apocryphal writings, the Holy Day and other prayers inserted as part
Establishment is bankrupt. Is our leadership of an accumulated record of the devotion of Israel to Jerusalem.
Travel Literature, New-Old Jerusalem, The Six-Day War are
bankrupt? Is it successful only in fund-
titles that explain the supplementary material—including an
raising? Have we failed culturally, educa- chapter
addendum of such reading matter—that forms valuable literature
tionally, socially, democratically?
on a vast subject that makes "The Holy City" an outstanding book.
Any one who undertakes to say NO to
this question will have a tough time proving
his place in our society. We are not producing
knowledgeable leaders, else we would not
Originally intended as a tribute on the 40th anniversary of his
have the•iasco that was permitted in Brussels. association with Yeshiva University, a collection of essays by noted
We are not teaching our basic ethical codes scholars now appear in a volume as memorial to Rabbi Samuel K.
either to would-be leaders or the people at Mirsky, who died in October 1967.
large. else even fund-raising would be easier.
"Samuel K. Mirsky Memorial Volume—Studies in Jewish Law,
What's it all leading to? We are inclined Philosophy and Literature" has just been issued by Ktay.
Edited by Gershon Appel, with Morris Epstein and Hayips Leaf
to believe that ,what happened in Brussels
may be all to the good. It provides a lesson as associate editors, this volume has two sections
in judging leadership, in training it, in select- with essays in Hebrew and in English.
It is an impressive work, with studies by
ing it, in accepting it. The very term leader-
eminent scholars and a moving Hebrew essay,
ship becomes anathema unless those chosen
"My
Father, My Father," by the son of the de-
to lead are qualified. The term is unusable ceased
Orthodox leader, David Mirsky.
unless the heads of movements are people
Aspects of Halakha, biblical and rabbinic
steeped in knowledge and hateful of one studies, literary and historical perspectives are
thing: ignorance.
touched upon in this illuminating work.
Let there be a new evaluation of our com-
David Mirsky also is the author of an essay
munity structures, of our synagogues, coun- In the English section on "The Fictive Jew in the
cils, schools, of our establishments. There is Literature of England 1890-1920."
Volume Memorializes S. Mirsky
too much at stake. We must especially con-
cern ourselves with our own great community.
American Jewry is numerically one of the
largest in Jewish history. Let it also become
the most dignified, ready to accept the ideals
that are our sacred heritage, always based on
highest goals in the most glorified democratic
aspirations that -will make us worthy repre-
sentatives of Jewry and of America.
There are tributes to the late Dr. Mirsky, In Samuel K. Mirsky
additiOn to his son's, by Louis Bernstein and Rochelle Leventhal.
In addition to the editors' essays, there are studies on various
Subjects by. Bernard Bergman, Mendel Lewittes, Elazar Hurwitz,
Jacob -I. Dienttag, Noah E. Rosenbloom, Walter S. Wuzburger, Nor-
man Lamm and a number of other well-known scholars.
Among the essays by:Rabbi Samuel K. Slinky reprinted In this
volume is an autolsio*raphy„. In the . Hebrew section. -
• A section on idea's and p'extatiiiiintleiliicluifee iitudii•ii .of the works
of Malmonkles, Rabbi A. I. Kook, Isaac Hirsch Weiss and H. N. Bialik.