THE JEWISH NEWS

1951

Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20,

Member American Association of EnglIsh-Jewleh NewspaperS, Michigan Press Amor-teflon, National Editorial Assents-
Mon. Published every Friday by The Jewish Nevis Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nina Mile, Suite 115, Southfield, Mich. 411070.
• year. Foreign Pg
Second-Clam Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription

■

PHILIP

SLOMOVITZ

Eillter seed Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ

CHARLOTTE DUBIN

Business Monier

City Editor

DREW LIEBERWITZ

Advertising

al

Manager

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Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the first day of Adar 1, 5733, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions, ExocL 21:1-24:18, Num. 28:9-15. Prophetical portion,
Isaiah 66:1-24.

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pt

Candle lighting, Friday, Feb. 2, 5:35 p.m.

VOL. LXI1. No. 21

Page Four

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February 2, 1972

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Numerus Clausus Threatens U. S.

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on Feb. 2, 1972, that "decisions have been made
Even as an aftermath to the era of
by top administration of the university that
"Emancipation" for Jews in Western Europe,
have created some awkwardness in our re-
there was need to struggle against discrimi-
cruiting efforts. The decision I refer to is
nation, and the battle for justice and equal
that all unfilled positions in the university must
rights in universities was conducted not only
be filled by Blacks or females. Since I have
in Eastern Europe but on the American con-
no information regarding your racial identifica-
tinent as well.
tion, it will only be possible to consider you for
a position in the event that you are black."
It was not so long ago that numerus
The chairman of the recruitment com-
clausus—the "closed number"—was among
mittee of the department of sociology of the
the most glaring examples of bias that re-
University of Colorado. Boulder, wrote a job
mained as a heritage for the non-Jewish
applicant on Feb. 23. 1972, that he had to be
world from the Middle Ages.
rejected since "recruiting throughout the uni-
In Russia it was the protsentnaya norma-
versity is almost completely limited to certain
the percentage norm, and in American uni-
categories of persons whose employment would
enable the university to meet certain equal
versities as well Jews who were admitted in
opportunity requirements."
medical and dental schools, and in other
Dr. Bernard Cohen, cn active leader in Southern California Jewish
academic departments, were the exceptions
These are but a few of the shocking il-
affairs, rabbi, teacher, lecturer, author, has gone to many sources to
indicate the changing patterns in American Jewish life.
lustrations
of prejudice
that have
infected
our
to the rule. They were part of a quota system, higher
institutions
of learning.
Now
we must
In "Sociologic-al Charges in American Jewish Life as Reflected in
and many young American Jews were com-
Selected Jewish Literature," published by Fairleigh Dickinson Univer-
pelled to find ways of pursuing their higher wait anxiously .for ,decisions that involve a
sity Press, Dr. Cohen han compiled data on many developing Jewish
major important agency—the U. S. Depart-
studies in universities abroad.
aspects—migration, the 'orally, the Yiddish press, education, social
ment of Health, Education and Welfare. It
We had begun to believe that this dis-
welfare, Zionism and ma"y other factors in Jewish life.
involves every American with a sense of
Viewing the transformations that have taken place in the several
criminating
system
nearing
its end.
There was an
easier was
road
for Jews
who honor. It challenges the basic ideals of our
generations, Rabbi Cohen points to environmental factors, to ideological
democracy, and it can not be passed by as, changes in education from Sunday school status to higher and more
aspired to enter medical, dental, engineer-
extensive aims, to the Zionist and socialist aspirations.
ing and other scientific university depart- a mere incident in our life.
"A new tendency," he points out, "has emerged in the third and
ments for several years. Now there is a new
Not all heads of universities have yielded
fourth
generations of American Jews, to assert their group identity
danger: a new quota system apparently is uncompromisingly to the shocking new trend
and repudiate the idea of assimilation in the sense of abandoning
being introduced, and the American way of in admissions policies. Dr. Charles J. Hitch,
their cultural heritage, and to accept the principles of accommoda-
life is threatened by the preferential treat-
president of the University of California, ad-
tion as the process which enables American Jews to survive as a
mitted that "the present situation does con-
ment in effect in many universities.
culturally creative group integrated into the free American society."
tain the seeds of mischief." He told the Los
Instead of the glories rooted in American
The studies incorporo:ed in this volume, the charts of population
Angeles
Anti-Defamation
League's
regional
ideals we now face a new battle for justice.
figures, marriage and divorce records, immigration and other facts
about Jews and their acti -sties make this work sociologically valuable.
The revealing facts presented to the U. S.
office: "On the one hand, the federal gov-
Going to many sourees for his collected material, Rabbi Cohen
Department of Health, Education and Wel-
ernment presses us to establish specific goals
supplemented his analysts of the changing scope and character of
and strict timetables, and we are trying to
fare by six major national Jewish organiza-
Jewish social service by drawing upon the views of a former De-
comply, but on the other, our very compli-
tions reintroduce the issue in the appeal for
troiter. He wrote:
ance may lead us dangerously close to pref-
prevention or elimination of the preferential
"As was stated in 1 55 by Isidore Sobeloff, executive vice presi-
treatment policies already established in
erential treatment. So we are often faced
dent of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Detroit, at the 58th annual
with a dilemma."
many American universities.
conference of Jewish Social Work held in St. Louis, Mo., defining
In a time of peace, of social justice, of
Dr. Hitch is not alone in questioning the
Jewish communal needs: there are no more needs of an economic
the era of civil rights for which our com- justice of the new policy. Dr. William J. Mc-
nature, but rather needs for wholesome family life, through proper
relations between parents and children, and for a rich program of
munities fought, it is tragic that Americans Gill, president of Columbia University, in an
Jewish education, encouraging scholarship, research, and creative ac-
of our faith must now insist upon a return to address prepared for delivery at a Bnai Brith
tivities. The increased number of contributions and workers in Amer-
sanity. Who would have dreamed that a black ADL dinner in Palm Beach, Fla., said he un-
ican Jewish communities, , ccording to Sobeloff, is a result of a greater
issue would emerge under conditions of an derstood the apprehension of those "who view
sense of identification with Jewish group life.
aspiration for fair play? Hasn't it been the numerical goals ... as a thinly veiled revival
The outlined historic:.i record of cultural patterns through three
dre.m of all Americans that merit is what of anti-Semitism."
generations, the Yiddish literary accomplishments, the emergence of
counts, and the meritorious should be en-
The "principle of proportionality," Dr.
a generation of writers who have influenced American life—these and
couraged in leadership in American life?
many other aspects of Rabbi Cohen's book give it special significance
McGill noted, "can only convince Jewish fac-
for all who seek thorough knowledge about the developing American
There is another question to be posed: ulty that an effort is afoot once more to ex-
Jewish scene.
isn't this an American rather than a Jewish clude them from universities and that simple
issue? Why isn't there an all-American pro- excellence no longer counts in matters of
test against the new development out of university appointment."
which has arisen a prejudice against the able tainly
if the intention in such "propor-
/ Let
and intelligent and meritorious students in tionality" is not outright anti-Semitic, it cer-
our universities' And if the quota system
tainly serves to revive the bigotries of aca-
will continue to be imposed in our univer- demic anti-Semitism.
Splendid poetry and beautiful photographs combine to make "Let
sities, are we to expect that it will then charges
that was
were a linked
with the of
numerus
There
confirmation
earlier
Me Tell You About Moses" a most delightful book. The poems—titled
spread on into the industries, the professions,
"An Experience of Israel"—are by Eric Blau. The noteworthy photo-
into commerce and even into labor ranks?
clausus prejudices in Dr. McGill's assertion
graphs in this large-sized book are by Marjorie Jackson Blau. Bobbs-
Hcre are a few of the typical examples of that in the days when Jewish students "had
Merrill Co. is the publisher.
discrimination that have been reported to to struggle against admission quotas . . .
The commencement of the poems is with the Moses theme, the
confirm the charge of preferential treatment America's best colleges were rampant with
conclusion with Tel Aviv in which be pays honor to the builders .. .
that points to a r e v i v a 1 of the numerus anti-Semitism." It is the responsibility of all
You have built a nation
clausus:
My head is filled with words
fair-minded Americans to unite against the
Perhaps a song or two.
The academic vice president of St. Mary's
reversion to such policies with which our
We part now and exchange gifts
College in Moraga, Calif., wrote on June 12,
universities are threatened.
You have given me Israel
1972, to chairmen of departments of economics
It may be true as Dr. McGill said that
And / have given you this . . .
in various Pacific Coast colleges and univer- "it , is too early to judge" the intention of
Oterli"
In ncenked is a poem "Jerusalem" followed by "I Think I Told
sines requesting recommendations of cancti-
the government program, but it may be too
You
which is dedicated to the author's wife, Elly Stone, "hear-
dates at the assistant professor level in eco-
Donors and business administration. The official late to prevent calamity if all of us do not tog her sing in Tel Aviv for the soldiers of Israel."
act
at
once
to
compel
HEW
not
to
enforce
The splendid photographs lend themselves well to all the poems—
noted that "is Noe with college policy, prof•
to "The Nation, the State. the Borders, the Old Opera," and to "Four
prejudices in our universities.
crest.° will be given to minority perm.' and
Fantasies for a Very Old Shoemaker," the four subtitles being: "This
women."
Indeed, we are threatened with a rever
The chairman of the department of erosions- sion to medievalism, and it is a sacred duty is the Center of the World," "Jonah Will Appear," "The Irgan of
its, State University of New York at Buffalo,
Hazoreah" and "Where Are the Angela?"
to fight it through, to demand of our black
Scenes of historic places, photos of young and old, of Bedouins as
wrote on Jose 15, 1972, to chairmen of eco-
fellow citizens not to be partners to bigotry
well as Jews, illustrate this beautiful book, and an example of the
nomics departments at other universities, ree-
and
to
strive
for
our
American
way
of
life
ommendlag that all new PhD's filing applications
non-Jewish element is the poem "For a Bedouin Girl of Twelve Who
to defy and to defeat the proposed preferen Got Married the Year Before."
for jobs should Include "race and sex."
tial treatment quotas that threaten the very
There are other poems, among them "The Wall," "Who Is a Jew"
' A professor of sociology at Florida State

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Sociologic& Changes in U. S.
Jewish Life Noted in New Study

Me Tell You About Moses'
Combines Poems With Photos

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sa-itazoistazotpc:1111.chs-sKrenteoendable book. '-- '"- - - • '

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