THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
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Business Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor -
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Scriptural Texts for Concluding Days of Passover
Pentateuchal portions: Saturday, Exodus 13:17-15:26, Numbers 28:19-25; Sunday,
Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17, Numbers 28:19-25.
Prophetical portions: Saturday, II Samuel 22:1-51; Sunday, Isaiah 10:32-12:6.
Candle lighting, Friday, April 12,
VOL. LXV. No. 5
Page Four
p.m.
April 12, 1974
A Time for Reckoning With Ourselves
• Allowing for the over-all spirit of confi-
dence in future developments for Israel and
world Jewry, pragmatists must admit to them-
selves that the measure of pessimism that
keeps creeping into Jewish ranks, the cyn-
icism evident in some quarters, calls for a
reckoning with ourselves.
An example of the declining attitudes in
many quarters will be found in a valuable
"Learning Kit" issued by the Union of Amer-
ican Hebrew Congregations, with the aim of
inspiring greater devotion to Jewish educa-
tional tasks. Introducing the need for "per-
sonal involvement" of pupils in Jewish schools
in the teachings of Judaism, the editors of
this important addendum to the already avail-
able texts for the pupils make this revealing
statement:
harm to Jewish involvement in the process
of the emerging "panic."
That is why there is need for a reckon-
ing and for more thorough review of the sta-
tus of Jewry than ever before. Perhaps it will
lead to new leadership, if that term is not to
be abused. Leadership does not mean issuing
more bulletins, each national organization
having entered into that expensive luxury; or
of each "leader" clamoring for publicity in
order to attain a measure of notoriety.
If there is "panic" among youth, perhaps
it was generated among their elders, and that
justifies this harsh approach to the issues
at hand.
The fact is that there is confusion also
in relation to Israel and the needs of the
With the introduction of the Task Force for the study of problems
Jewish state, to the responses that are ex-
pected from the youth of the Jewish people. confronting American Jewry, vital issues began to be probed seriously.
There are many problems in Jewish education.
Eleven scholars were enrolled in the major efforts involied in this
Spokesmen for the major Jewish move- undertaking. Their views, containing authoritative research dealing
One of the cries that we commonly hear is: "My
child is not challenged. He is bored by the re- ments have not gotten together in agreement with issues and communal institutions, perspectives and profiles, are
ligious school curriculum." Often, boredom results on view regarding Jewish responsiveness to incorporated in a Jewish Publication Society volume, "The Future of
the Jewish Community in America."
from the lock-step pace that the normal classroom the crises that have emerged between the last
Edited by Dr. David Sidorsky, the participants in this volume in-
approach necessitates. No matter what the cap-
two Middle East wars and especially after
abilities of the child, he must, in order to remain
clude former Detroiter Dr. Daniel Elazar. The other contributors to
the Yom Kippur War.
this extensive work of evaluating American Jewry roles are: Walter
in the class unit, adapt himself to the capacity
Mordehai Bar-On, who heads the World Lackerman, Seymour Fox, Ben Halpern, Charles S. Liebman, Nathan
of others. Thus the bright child is bored and the
Zionist Organization's youth and hehalutz de- Rothenstreich, Sidney Goldstein, Wolfe Kelman, Mortimer Ostow and
slow learner cannot keep up. The result is hos-
partment, described the views of the majority "James A. Sleeper,
tility toward the classroom, the teacher and the
In addition to his lengthy introductory essay, Dr. Sidorsky also
school, which in turn causes hostility to the of Jewish youth as apathetic. But Arieh Leon
synagogue and Judaism in general. While this Dulzin, active chairman of the Jewish Agency wrote the first article, "Judaism and the Revolution of Modernity."
Pointing to disagreement on some of the matters under discus-
problem occurs in public education as well, it Executive and of the executive of the World
Dr. Sidorsky points out in his introduction that the need has
seems to be intensified in religious education be-
Zionist Organization, maintains that "even sion,
again arisen for Jewish organizations "to balance their involvement
cause more often than not, religious education is
the
young
generation
in
the
Diaspora,
which
optional and expectations are higher. Because
in pursuit of general moral and political ideals, which the Jewish
parents often see the religious school as a sur- has not generally been raised on Jewish
community shares with other citizens, with their special responsibility
rogate for providing Jewish identification and values, was suddenly aroused from its
and concern for Jewish interests and Jewish group activities. At
lethargy."
concern, they "panic" when the school is not
present, the attitudes of the Jewish leadership on these questions is
succeeding.
-
Is it conceivable that the serious issues open and changing. It is paradigmatic, perhaps, of the sense of Open-
of
our
times could be tackled properly when ness of the American Jewish future."
A concommitant Problem to boredom is indi-
Writing on "Decision-Making in the American Jewish Community,"
those
who
are heading major movements do Dr. Elazar
viduality. Because the lesson must be geared to
points to basic divisions in many spheres, congregational,
the class median, and because the class operates not see eye to eye?
philanthropic, in the social services, and he makes the point that:
as a unit, there is little opportunity for the indi-
Another view: Prof. Arnulf M. Pins, ex- "The greatest organizational problem in American Jewish life is no
vidual child to express himself. Individual crea-
ecutive
director of the Memorial Foundation longer the problem of organization on the local plane, but the linkage
tivity often leads to a disruption of the class
for Jewish Culture, reported to a Zionist aca- between those bodies which ,purport to speak for the Jewish com-
process and routine, and the child who wishes to
munity countrywide."
express himself differently from his classmates is demic forum that large numbers of American
He emphasizes: "The great community relations and mass-based
intellectuals
and
youth
have
become
indif-
stifled. The result is a discipline problem because
organizations must become the effective equivalents of political parties
the child is unfulfilled. Again, public education ferent to Israel since the Yom Kippur War.
and interest groups on the American Jewish scene. That is to/say,
suffers from the same difficulty, but religious
Also: Avraham Shenker, who heads the they should assume the task of raising the difficult questions, suggest-
education bears the brunt of the complaints.
information department of the World Zionist ing the important innovations, and then taking the appropriate action
Allowing for exaggeration in the sugges- Organization, judged American Jews as being that will lead to change within bodies that, by their very nature, must
more conservative and conciliatory if they are to maintain the com-
tion of panic, it is imperative that the recog- "more emotionally committed than well be
munal consensus necessary for the community to remain united."
informed."
nition of boredom should not be ignored. If
-it is only boredom, then pedagogy could well
Any and every discussion of the need for
be counted upon to find a solution to indif- a reckoning with ourselves calls for consider-
ference. It may, however, be more than bore- ation of the problems that affect Jews and
In 1957, together with the late Rabbi Frederick A. Doppelt, Rabbi
dom. It may be an inherited indifference that their children as well as the Jewish people David
Polish co-authored "A Guide for Reform Jews."
often spreads calamitously in Jewish ranks and Israel. The Zionist idea as originally
Dr. Polish has revised and enlarged his work, dedicating it to
and creates problems that affect entire gen- formulated by Theodor Herzl stated emphat- "the cherished memory of my cherished friend and colleague," and
erations.
ically, in Herzlian terms, that "a return to the new guide has just been reissued by Ktay.
With many revolutionary happenings affecting religious and• all!
Crises involving Israel's position on the Zion calls first and foremost •to a return to movements.
Dr. Polish has added much new material to this splendit,
Judaism."
The
two
are
closely
linked.
Yet
world arena, the struggles in the political
work which, at the outset, was among the first guides for observances
the
very
idea
of
such
devotionalism
has
been
sphere, the involvements with our legislators
by Reform Jews. He offers these interesting explanations for his
in matters affecting Russian Jewry and many ignored.
revision:
other issues have contributed to the cynicism
• The fact is that there is danger of a
"The years and the Jewish experience have sharpened the need
with regard to leadership and the negotiations panic that may disrupt Jewish identity. That for ever deeper responSe to the tradition. Thus, the second day of
that often spell confusions rather than actual which is termed leadership may not have Rosh Hashana is no longer overlooked; a chapter on conversion is
achievements. Already there is skepticism risen to the heights demanded from the added, marriages on Tisha b'Av are definitely discouraged; the par r
with regard to the numerous meetings spokes- people's heritage. •Criticisms are habitually ticipation by a cantor at weddings is encouraged."
While this• is a guide for Reform Jews, the totality of the subjects
men for American Jewry are conducting with ignored. They cannot be abandoned. They
covered, relating to Jewish observances, makes this work valuable
the U.S. State Department. The Jewishness of must be treated as the approach to courage- for
Jews, even if the Orthodox and Conservative must draw the
the secretary of state rather than the justice ous action to reaffirm the legacies without line all
on Reform leanings.
of the Jewish claims to fair treatment of the which another generation will not only be
Dr. Polish has covered throughly aspects dealing with circum-
Jewish state and the Jewish quest for emigra- doomed to panic but will find it more diffi- cision, naming of children, education, mourning, Kadish, the Shabat
tion have emerged as factors that do not cult to acquire anew the pride so vital for and holidays and many other themes in the religious sphere.
belong in a normal democratic society. A Jewishness and the identification that must
His "Guide for Reform Jews" is informative and therefore has
value for all who are concerned with Jewish life and observance.
danger of splintery in spokesmanship can do emerge from it.
Sc Scholars
holars Test American
Jewry's Future in JPS Book
Polish's 'Guide for Reform Jews'