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 Associ-
ation Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices.
Subscription $8 a year. Foreign $9
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Business Manager
Editor and Publisher
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 12th day of Sivan, 5731, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: ,
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 4:21-7:89. Prophetical portion, Judges 13:2-25.
Candle lighting, Friday, June 4, 7:45 p.m.
June 4, 1971
Page Four
LIX. No. 12
Shall We Make Fools of Our Children?
RESERVED FOR
EGYPT'- ISRAEL.
TALKS
Jewry's Shield Against Re-Emerging Anti-Semitism
Was there ever a "taboo" on anti-Semi-
tism? When Pope Pius XI spoke of the hatred
for Jews as "the sin of anti-Semitism" had he
succeeded in eradicating even an iota of the
bigotry? It is doubtful. Nevertheless, when
Norman Podhoretz, editor of Commentary,
spoke to the American Jewish Committee, at
the organization's conference in New York,
last week, he warned of the rising tide of anti-
Semitism in this country resulting from a
sharp weakening of a "long-standing taboo"
against the anti-Semitic virus. If, as we be-
lieve, he exaggerated the previous taboo,. then,
of course, he is right in reminding Jews that
the poisonous anti-Jewish hatred exists. There
is justification in his admonition that it is
increasing, if we are to base our conclusions
011 the experiences of the last few years.
Three reasons were given by Podhoretz for
the increase in anti-Semitism—the anti-Zionist
sentiments that have developed among intel-
lectuals, the black-white confrontation that
has affected Jews as much as if not more than,
most whites, and a third reason, especially
shocking, is the contention that resentment is
expressed frequently about alleged "domi-
nance" of Jews in America's cultural life.
The first point is all too evidently true to
need elaboration. It may be the only matter
on which Theodor Herzl may have judged
wrongly. The founder of the political Zionist
movement believed that with the re-emerg-
ence of Jewish statehood there would be an
end to anti-Semitism. While Dr. Herzl had
taken into consideration an Arab problem, he
judged the Christian world inadequately. In-
stead of acclaiming fulfillment of Prophecy,
Christians in the main failed to see the justice
of the Zionist idea. Some preached it as long
as they believed it to be unattainable. That
WAS true also of many politicians, of people
like Dorothy Thompson, the MacDonalds who
rose to the premiership in England and
others. Zionism as a dream was something to
propagate. Zionism as a reality—Israel as a
Jewish State — became an entirely differ-
ent story for some. We have friends in Christ-
endom, but there also are the antagonists.
Then there is the unfortunate emergence
of the Negro anti-Semitism. We, too, would
be elated if we could say that it is exaggerated.
It isn't. Only a handful of the black leaders
and the Negro newspapers see through the
unwisdom of a race issue between Jews and
Negroes. We are natural allies. We are ad-
monished in our traditions, our teachings, our
passion for social justice, to oppose discrimin-
ation, to battle for civil liberties—to reject
racism in our own ranks if it should really
emerge as a problem for us and our neighbors.
Why has the black community permitted a
pro-Arab anti-Israel condition to develop? It
is in Arab ranks, the Sudan and elsewhere,
that slavery is still flourishing.
Now we come to the third point—one that
will shock many of our people who will find
it difficult to believe that the achievements of
Jews in cultural ranks, in literature, in aca-
demic ranks, in journalism, has created re-
sentment. But after some thought about it
they must come to the conclusion that ein kol
A set of the great classics by a Christian scholar has just been
hadash tahat ha shemesh there is nothing reissued by Schocken Books in paperbacks.
new under the sun. Have we forgotten the
"Judaism in the First Centuries of the Christian Era" by George
numerus clausus the numerical restrictions Foot Moore was first published in 1927 and reissued in 1930, under
on Jews entering universities? It was not so copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, and was
long ago. And hasn't there always been the published by Harvard University Press. It was copyrighted again by
jealousy over the predominance of Jews Albert H.- Moore prior to the present printing.
first volume deals with "The Age of the Tannaim." The
among Nobel Prize winners, the rise of Jews 560 The
pages of the text in the first volume are followed by 160 pages
in the professions and in literary circles?
of lengthier notes, with clarifications and explanations of the Jewish
Would we fare better if we were not so regulations and the historic developments that affected that entire
successful? Would it be better if we struggled period.
The second volume of 400 pages incorporates an additional section
in whatever we undertook and were depend-
ent for help on our neighbors? Would they of notes and an index.
Prof. Moore's aim was "to represent Judaism in the centuries
love us more?
in which it assumed definitive form as it presents itself in the tradition
On numerous occasions we called the at- which it has always regarded as authentic." His words were the result
tention of our readers to the phenomena of of 30 years of study.
our neighbors secretly envying all our attain --
Encompassed is a religious history of Judaism and the com-
ments, and the countering suggestion that in
plete development of the Jewish institutions. Dr. Moore dealt
with the centuries "past the middle of which the Christian era
order not to arouse the envies that lead to
falls."
hatred we should not encourage intellectual
The author dealt definitively with levitical law, with matters of
progress among our children. And we posed
with the development of civil and criminal law.
the question whether, on that basis, shall We- ritual,
Touching upon opposition to intermarriage, Prof. Moore's intro-
make fools of our children?
ductory essay pointed out:
We kept moving. We progressgel-: We now
"It is categorical prohibited in earlier laws (Exod. 34, 16; Deut.
say to our children that if there is to remait 7, 3f); Ezra's prayer puts the prohibition into the mouth of 'the
a single weapon of indestructibility in our prophets' (Ezra 9, 11f). Nor is there anything peculiarly Jewish in
battle for survival it must be the -intelligence the restriction of marriage to the members of a people, citizens of a
state, or even to a class of citizens in the state. In Rome marriage
that has never led us astray.
was confined to members of the patrician families; the offspring of
Indeed, there is an evident I.4:-,einergence a patrician by any other connection could not be Roman citizens, nor
of anti-Semitism. Therefore our vigilance' in represent either family or state in any capacity. The Canuleian law
creases. But it has another aspect: the Obliga- of 445 BCE, legitimizing intermarriage between patricians and
tion to our children. How will they. overcome- _pleleians, was violently opposed by the former, on the ground that
whatever new hatreds may arise—Not if they it .would contaminate their blood and throw into confusion the laws
the gentes."
do not know what they wish to-preserve, what 'conOerning
- _
it is that the anti-Semites desire -to, destroy.
— We are back where we started: only a -
knowledgeable Jewry is one that can defy all
dangers and emerge triumphant in hurdling
all obstacles.
Moore's 'Judaism' Republished
in Two Volumes of Paperbacks
-
—
—
'Values of Sabbath Observance
Indicated in Dresner's Book
Cash Payments Drive: UJA Commitments
So soon after the Allied Jewish Cam- underprivileged in Israel who live in slums
paign's formal closing it has become neces- and are impoverished, and philanthropic hu-
sary for our community, jointly with many manitarianism must again be asserted to pro-
other American Jewish communities, to be vide the means to remove want and to create
confronted with another appeal — that of opportunities for new settlers.
prompt payments on pledges made thus far.
While our fund-raising campaigns are sea- ,
American Jewry's generosity is not limited sonal, it is urgent that planning for total en-
to pledges. There are very few losses from rollment of our communities should be con-
non-payments but there are frequent delays. tinuous. There are many ways of assuring
Often contributors wait regrettably until the support for the United Jewish Appeal. The
year-end to fulfill their obligations.
latest manifestation of interest has been
Under the chairmanship of Louis Berry shown in some communities by decisions of
there is now being conducted here an urgent congregational bodies to make it mandatory
effort to encourage prompt payments on the for members of synagogues to be contributors
pledges made in recent months. It is a task to the major philanthropic efforts. Such 100-
not to be minimized and the response must per-cent tasks have been undertaken by the
be prompt to measure up to the needs.
UJA Rabbinical Advisory Council, the Cleve-
These are crucial times for Israel and for land Board of Rabbis has endorsed it unani-
world Jewry. A new wave of immigration is mously and other communities should follow
in evidence from many lands into Israel. The suit. Such procedure already is in progress
road for these newcomers must be made as for members of country clubs. Why not alsb
smooth as possible. Furthermore, there are similar commitments for synagogue members?
ff.
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Lewis Mumford referred to "the Jewish institution of the Sabbath"
as "a social invention of the first magnitude."
Rabbi Samuel
Dresner, in an impressive 90 page book "The
Sabbath," published by Burning Bush Press, reviews the values of
the Sabbath: interpreting its importance and indicating how "the
Sabbath can become our fortress."
"Within her walls," he writes, "we can find security for our souls.
Within the shelter of her wings we can learn how to conquer the week-
day. For on the Sabbath we return to our true selves."
Describing the ideals of the day of rest Rabbi Dresner explains
the traditions inherent in the Sabbath observance, the delineation of
the day as a Malka—as a Sabbath Bride, and emphasizing the Menu-
ha, the restfulness, the Menuhat Shabbat, "the rest of the Sabbath."
Referring to scriptures and to parables, the theme of this small
book serves to inspire dedication to the sacred day of the week that
has served to elevate the Jewish spirit and to assure the freedoms
of a day dedicated to study, to rest, to abstinence from labors, to
respect for communal need for a Sabbath day for mankind.
With regard to desecration of the day he has this to say about
those who for financial reasons fail to observe it:
"We have made a tragic blunder by excusing Sabbath violation
in the name of financial need, a shibboleth that has paralyzed our
attempts to apply the Sabbath commandment to the American Jew.
An unpleasant fact must be faced: there is simply no correlation—
as some believed there was—between greater leisure or financial
well-being and Sabbath observance! The reverse is often the case.
Though we are no longer poverty-stricken immigrants and leisure
time is heavy on our hands, it has made little difference. If Jews
wanted to keep the Sabbath, many, if not most, could."
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