Purely Commentary

Yiddish, a University i n Its B e h a lf

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Devotions, Their Love for Language and
Yiddish ist
. Sixtieth Anniversary
Authors, the Herzliah College
of Bnai Moshe Reconstructs Early Local History Chapter

By Philip
Slomovitz

Detroit Tribute to Dr. Glatstein, the Yiddish Master Bnai Moshe at 60 . . . and Its Rabbis

Cong. Bnai Moshe's 60th anniversary is an occasion to review
W hatep era the decline in Yuldish inks. in spite of the reduction in the number of Yiddish reading Detroit Jewish historical incidents relating to settlers from Hungary.
and speaking remit... there is a heartening interest in the language and in the ranks of those who seek to For many years Bnai Moshe was referred to as the Hungarian syna-
tires( rye the literary treasures of the language. gogue. For nearly half of its existence the venerable Rabbi Moses

The tribute to one of the great Yiddish writers, the late Jacob Glatstein, on the agenda of the local Fischer was its spiritual leader. For the past quarter centery, under
S - holem Aleich, in Institute. is an indication of a dedication to what has become a strong devotion to a the inspired leadership of Rabbi Moses Lehrman. the Hungarian con-
very creative factor in ,Ii-wish life. There is a loyalty that embraces the Yiddish writers and his narrative , : notation has changed completely.
True, many of the older members point to Hungary either as their
or poetry and als critical skills, as evidenced in the love and affection that the Glatstein name continues
birthplace or that of their parents. But the membership of Bnai Moshe
ts • inspire among his admirers and the admirers of his work
is Jewishly cosmopolitan—just as Temple Beth El's is no longer the
There are vast resources for the Yiddish- loving people to he able both to benefit from the Ian-
German synagogue it had been referred to Bnai a,
Moshe
jus
now an
..•iiage's literary treasures and to assist in advancing the study of the tongue that had been the medium
American synagogue with members from many strata,
t as Tern pie
e
of expression for many millions There is, for example. the Her-zit:1h Jewish Teachers Seminary and Peri-
tile's l'ilinersity, located in the West Village of New York. In its behalf. Dean Hillel llenkin of the university Beth El's membership is overwhelmingly from an East European rather
that places emphasis on Yiddish has written an imno•tart analysis that throws light on the aims to ad- than West European background.
Bnai Moshe is perhaps the fourth oldest Detroit Jewish congrega-
vance Yiddish and to retain its treasures. Dr. Henkin wrote -
lion, and it has assumed a position of marked leadership here. Rabbi
The Jewish Teachers Seminary
their history and their Jewish and
The school consists of about 200 LehrrnaMs ccrnmendable vision into future needs, his encouragement
is a school of higher Jewish learn - social scholarship . . ."
students. Two students in the Yid- to cultural projects sponsored by his synagogue, the lecture series. the
mg. corlicted in Yiddish. organ.
Among its incorporators was dish department come from Win- adult courses, its Hebrew school—all point to a sense of responsibility
ized and in great measure sus-
President Zalman Shazar of Israel. nipeg, one from Montreal. Others in dealing with community matters. Bnai Moshe was and remains one
tain•l tiv the Jewish labor eh-
The university's program of include a Yiddish poet, a non- of the most important links with the community in its relationship with
merits in this country Leadingstudies is predicated upon a coin- Jewish instructor at a local col- the United Hebrew Schools and its retention of a community character
labor organizations, the Labor nrchensise. non-parochial formu- lege. an executive of a radio sta- in educational matters.
It should be noted that Rabbi Lehrman, as a Zionist, is one of the
Zioni.t Alliance, the Workmen's lation of Judaism in its historical. lion. These plus graduates of the
Circle the Pioneer Women, • andspiritual and social manifestations. Mittelshule — the Yiddish high most ardent supporters of all efforts relating to Israel. His personal
the Shrtern Aleichcm Folk Irish-A central core of the school is school--and other qualified young role as a Zionist has given status to Bnai Moshe whose anniversary
'
Lute. participate in the financing the Teachers' Seminary conducted people, and some not so young, calls for hearty greetings
to congregants and rabbi alike.

:ind direction of the school. Its in Yiddish. and open to graduates including a retired public school
mood ersho, includes the Jewishof a mittelshule or having the teacher. constitute the student
Labor Committee. the Congress
equivalent Jewish training. The body of the Jewish Teachers Semi-

Diaspora's Role: For the Good of Israel

There is nothing new in the defense of the position of Diaspora
Jewry. Even David Ben-Gurion did not reject Diaspora when he asked
for Jewish Culture and a numberseminary maintains a four-year nary.
if labor urion ,
.program of studies leading to a
The faculty includes four alumni for mass settlement of Jews in Israel. The hornet's nest that was
of the seminary, one of them the stirred by his demands for a large-scale alive was not on the score
Tr, aon s of the seminary. stated teacher's diploma.
The Herzliali Hebrew Teachers director of an important Yiddish of his antagonism to the Diaspora. It was his charge that Zionists are
m 0, articles of incorporation. ad-
not entitled to that name unless they settle in Israel. Therefore, the
he the Senate and Assembly Institute is a non-denominational cultural institution and two PhDs,
of Ow date of New York and Hebrew college. a citadel of He- both of whom also teach in other controversy vis-a-vis B-G was not on the score of Diaspora versus
Israel but rather Zionists per se.
brew studies in America. organ- colleges.
si.med byt, Governor Herbert 11
Now more and more Jews of stature are asking for recognition of
ized by the late poet-educator.
The new home of the lierzliah-
1.- ,,,,n ie 1935. giving it the slat-
the reality of the Diaspora, and it is emphasized that a sound and
Moshe Feinstein. It was estah- SemMary. acquired this year. is
I. t f a chartered college, are:
secure Israel needs a strong Diaspora.
fished more than a half century a weltequipped college building.
Philip Klutznick, former international president of Bnai Brith
- At insidution he train. in th • ago. is Israeli centered and is sup- formerly occupied by the Bank is not necessarily pioneering in his appeal for "a healthy Diaspora'
light of s,•ientiftc knowledge and ported by leading Hebraists and Street College of Education.
as being vital to world Jewry and to Israel. It has been said before
historical Jewish ideals, men and Zionist leaders. Leaders in the
This is the Herzliah - Jewish and it certainly needs repeating.
,%Orriet for the Jewish teaching Zionist Organization of America Teachers Seminary, the only He-
The newly-developing objections are to Israel's dcminating the
iirofe.sum. fur research and corn. and Hadassah are among its chief hrew-Yiddish college in all of world scene. When problems arise, on the world Jewish scene, we
moody service.
ice. to studs scienti- sp.nsors The program of studies America, the only Jewish teachers turn to Israel. To fill a teachers' need, we denude Israel's teaching
ficalk JI41:4/1 histoiN. religion and in Perzliah includes Bible. He- institute equipped to train teach- staffs and draw upon them for our purposes. We seem to have placed
,i,,, , ,,, literature, arid social and brew literature, Jew ish history. ers in all types of schools and on an aura on shlikhim—on emissaries from Israel who are as often
lalvir relations, to make available reiegion. philosophy, sociology. edu- all levels, and Providing a program unqualified to deal with certain Jewish issues as our own American
to the general public constructive cation and
music.
Admission is of studies leading both to a teach- fellow-Jews.
know leil_T of the spiritual and open to graduates of Hebrew high ers diploma and to a bachelor
We need a thorough understanding of our mutual problems, and
, octal ideals of the Jewish people. schools or their equivalent.
and doctor of Jewish literature. for that purpose only meritorious leadership counts. Many of the prob-

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lems that exist in Jewish ranks are common and are as applicable
1 hus s there is a serious effort to strengthen the role of Y
through a vitally interested student to Israel as they are to us.
h , ,.1. It has :tint ay s been inevitable for Jewish scholarship to he rooted in Hebrew, and that's the situation
Perhaps we need a common ground to establish the unity that
a. oatlined for the Herzliah university. by Dr. Ilenkin.
equal in considering world
'Ince retention of interest in the writings of Jacob Glatstein-given added credence to the devotion of is needed so that Israel and Diaspora are e
Jewish issues. needs, confrontations, even the emerging religious
the Viddishists to :i legacy that is so rich in literary oualities.
disputes.
Retention of interest in Yiddish was emphasized this week in a feature story written for JTA by Ben
Diaspora can not be negated, and the first to understand it should
I. prank about an American-born teacher. Robert (.eo•man. who conducts the only class in Yiddish in be the Israelis themselves. If there is to be mutual accord en all vital
.. \en, York high school lie- quotes Goodman as saying that "Yiddish will really never die unless there issues affecting the people of Israel, there must be a kinship without
are no .Yews " In his "Try Yiddish. You'll Like It" JTA article, Frank states inter alia7
priorities or special privileges. Mr. Klutznick has joined the ranks of
'Me high school is Bayside High
Others took the new. language, Teacher) of the Hebrew Publish- many who ask for this type of unity that does not grant superiority'
beget,
Sbeget,Queers.
N.Y . where last
to any single segment of our people.
Yiddish . at the high school because ing Co. and the second book is
fall 1:5 students signed up for the
,n,iir.-e in Yiddish, often as the re. when they were younger. they said. the College Yiddish Book, 1971
version, by VIVO.
heard it at home.
,alt of Mr Giaidinan's friendly they -
persua,ion which included. "Try
There were a few' non-Jewish
"The Day went out of business
Voided,. you'll like it"
. . ..
students who were studying Ger- because of economics, not because
(From the files of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
were interested and of a lack of a reading public,"
40 Years Ago This Week: 1932
Bay side High School has a Ian man and who
tradition It probably has curious about Yiddish, which many declares Goodman.
Woolworth's Berlin branch admitted giving 1,000 Marks to the
L:t1:1,'
Nazis.
the fullest language department rightly or wrongly compared with
Goodman, who read the Day,
German.
Sir Isaac Isaacs, governor general of Australia, was knighted by
in the tit% -and it offers French,
repeats over and over in an inter- King, George.
Spanish. German. Italian. Hebrew
Registering. too, for Yiddish view that Yiddish is a live Ian-
In Paris, the Jewish Union of War Veterans sued perfume tycoon
and now Yiddish
were the ones the educators some- guage and that today in South Francois Coty for renewing his anti-Jewish campaign.
gn.
times call the "searchers " They America. especially. there is a vast
The then chairman of the Ian
In Berlin, Albert Einstein denied that a California
rn professorship
William signed up " because they wanted literature published and still being
guage department. Dr
had been offered him. "He further explained that he has no intention
to know about their own Jewish
published.
Isaacson,
n 0 w
acting principal,
of settling in the U.S."
culture," explained Goodman. lie
Finance Ministry Secretary Hans Schaefer, the only top Jewish
In New York, Yiddish is offered
gave the towhead. for he and the quickly adds, however, that while
people involved in the course, like there is a resurgence of in at Columbia, Lehman - College, oficial in Germany, resigned, "owing, it is understood, to the pressure
the now acting chairman of the
against him because he is a Jew."
[crest in Jewish culture, "this doeS Queens College and City College.
language department. Morris Gru•
10 Years Ago This Week: 1962
not mean Yiddish will break out
Will Yiddish spread to other city
net and Goodman himself, ar
The Syrian provisional government said "our first task" was
eall over the school."
high schools7 Well, first of all,
considered innovators All worked
"creation of a coherent Arab nation" to fight Israel.
to sign up the students There are The course is taught as a Ian- there is no 'statewide regents ex- Four Soviet Jews — physicists Lev Landau and Evgeni Lifshits,
about 40uti siudents in the high guage. on a secular basis and with amination for Yiddish nor a syl- pianist Emil Gilels and sculptor Lev Kerbel—were among the 100
si hool, nearly half of them Jew reading lists. In a Yiddish course, tabus. Much will depend on those Lenin Prize recipients for 1962.
you also talk about World War II department heads who are ready
ish
The U.S. was reportedly amenable to lending Egypt $500,000,000
and the Six Million, and Good- to take a chance and say, "If we to fill her foreign-currency needs. The State Department said the loan
Many took Yiddish as a second man has learned that many Jewish can fill a class and show' legiti- was "economically feasible" and "certainly a possibility."
Language to Hebrew which they students know "nothing" about the mate interest in Yiddish, we'll go
King Saud of Saudi Arabia, promising "moral" and "material"
were studying
along."
Six Million
aid, called for a Palestinian war against Israel, asserting: "Palestine
In his course, Goodman teaches
It i, important to note that since
Much, too, will depend on those cannot be liberated except by the blood of Palestinians."
the Six Day War there has been conversation and grammar and curious students who want to learn
Dr. Jacob Kaplan, chief rabbi of Paris, was named a commander
a resurgence of Hebrew in New points out that Yiddish cer- more about their culture and, of in the French Legion of Honor.
York public schools, especially tainly does have a grammar. lie course, on teachers like Good-
The Supreme Soviet recognized for the first time in many years
where the local population eon- praises YIVO Institute and notes man and Mrs. Mary Gross who that Jews were the main victims of Nazism. Observers said the author-
(Mlles to be Jewish Bayside High that Farband also has published taught the first term at Bayside ities "are still sensitive to foreign criticisms against their anti-Jewish
School doubled its Hebrew enroll- textbooks and pamphlets. High School. Both he and Mrs: Policies."
Former Gestapo Col. Wlhelm Koppe, 66, jailed 27 months on
nient from 45 to 90 in the last year
In his course. he uses - Der Yid- Gross note that Yiddish will be of-
charges of helping kill 350,000 Polish Jews, was released on $14,000
alone
dishe Lehrer." i The Y i d d i s h timed next term at Baysidc.
bail in Bonn.
These are interesting, observations that will surely give heart to Yiddishists who will never give up
Congregacion Israelita de la Republica Argentina, the country's
the aim to keep the language alive an4 to gain for its new adherents.
oldest synagogue, celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Such tasks as Detroit's Sholem Aleichem Institute's Yiddish programs and the current Jacob Glat-
stein tribute add immeasurably to the Tabor of lone for Yiddish by devotees of the language.
2 — Friday, April 28, 1972
THE DETROIT JEW1511 NEWS
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This Week tit Jelvtsh, History

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