THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue ref Mil// 20, 1951

Memhe• American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial :Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite S65, Southfield, Mich. -1S075,
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription SID a year.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager

DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager

Alan Hitsky, News Edi tor . . . Heidi Press. .kssistant Ness ,, I lilor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the 23rd day of Elul, 5735, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Deut. 29:9 31:30. Prophetical portion, Isaiah 61:10 63:9.

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Candle lighting, Friday, Aug. 29, 7:53 p.m.

VOL. LXV11, No. 25

Page Four

Friday, August 29, 1975

New Testing of Synagogue and Faith

Sociology and ethnology are merging into a . . . They're not coming to temple in the urban
new role in studying new experiences that are areas . . . It's the temper of the times . .
affecting religious attitudes which may react se- Young marrieds are alienated, angry, hostile.
riously on the status of theolgical belief and The synagogue is a symbol of authority — This
adherence.
too, is something they spew their anger on."
The approach of the Holy Day period, of the
But there are differing views.
Yamim Nerayim — the Days of Awe — on the
While secularism, assimilation and anti-
Jewish calendar, coincidentally corresponds institutionalism are viewed- as endangering the
with the interest that is being directed by con- religious attitudes, there are optimists who see
cerned students of conditions affecting all reli- an element in the ranks of youth that is deter-
gious groups. The admissions by leaders of all mined and dedicated and is retaining or revert-
Macy Nuhlman's Work
faiths that there is a decline in attendance at ing to traditionalism. Rabbi Isaac Trainin, reli-
religious services, the acceptance of realities by gious affairs director of the Federation of
rabbis
Christian
ministers
of studies
the new of Jewish
Philanthropies of New York, told Bri ggs:
trends, and
contribute
to the
suggested
a
vital issue now under consideration.
"One cannot overstress neotraditionalism,"
Thorough analyses of the developing condi- he said. "It has a lot to do with refugees after
tions in a series of four lengthy articles in the World War II (who want their children to pre-
Exhaustive musicological and biographical information about
New York Times call the attention of ministers serve their heritage). Kids are wearing yarmul-
Jewish music, its composers, and musical developments are brought
and lay leaders of all faiths to challenges which, kas — you never saw that a few years ago. And
together for the first time in Cantor Macy Nulman's "Concise Encyclo-
if they have been overlooked, are more serious nine out of 10 are day-school graduates."
pedia of Jewish Music," published by McGraw-Hill.
than may have been previously acknowledged.
While the pessimism regarding the syn-
The 276-page volume introduces the reader to Jewish music of
The evaluative probing into the present con- agogue's status may be unjustified, the very fact
every period and place throughout the ages, and brings the musical
ditions, in the Times series by Kenneth A. that the role of religion generally is being tested
practices of Judaism into contemporary focus. It discusses such topics
Briggs, takes into account the effects of a break- anew and Judaism is among the faiths whose
as Aliya and Hatikva which have appeared in general encyclopedias
down of large city congregations caused by the relative impact on youth is under question and
but have never been studied in terms of musical history, general infor-
changes in neighborhoods and the flight to the compels consideration of Jewish alertness to
mation, and meaning.
suburbs, the effects of intermarriage and the needs which may affect all other aspects of com-
decline in Jewish involvement by the youth.
The background of many compositions and songs that utilize the
Jewish idiom and are currently performed throughout the world, such
A major factor in the present status of the munal structuring. It is certain that a people
can not prosper on philanthropy alone. It is
as Jeremiah Symphony, Hava Nagila, La Juive, and Jerusalem of
synagogue and the diminishing response to Jew- equally certain that the spiritual-cultural influ-
Gold, is also covered in this comprehensive work.
ish affiliations is the growth of secularism. ences have greater impact on the charitable, on
Thus, Rabbi William Berkowitz, a leader in the the social conscience of a communal folk than
Music is discussed as it relates to the Bible, Mishna, Talmud, and
New York Board of Rabbis and a former presi- any other symptom.
Codes, and as it is used on the Sabbath and festivals in the synagogue,
dent of the Synagogue Council of America, told
home, and community. Technical terms and vocabulary found in Jew-
An irrefutable fact is the centrality of the
ish music are fully explained.
Briggs:
synagogue in Jewish life. A weakened house of
Featured among the 500 entries, arranged alphabetically, are ar-
"There certainly is a growing secularism worship could also mean a weakening of the
ticles on Jewish musical instruments, Kol Nidre, its liturgical back-
house of study and research. A decline in the
ground and characteristics, Israeli music, and the practice of Psalm
cultural-spiritual value could also mean a reduc-
singing in the Jewish culture. A chronological listing of highlights in
tion in philanthropic interests. Therefore the
the history of Jewish music is also provided.
concerns aroused in the general studies of the
The entry on Kol Nidre brings to light all the musical mentions
not but
be well
in appearance
ap- status of religious institutions must be treated
pears All
to may
be well,
most that
issues
often dissolve
of rabbinical sources of this most important recital on Yom Kippur.
into tolerated conditions once they have ended. in all seriousness.
It gives musical illustrations and differentiates between the Ashkena-
The fact is that the Jewish school popula-
This may be applicable to the man of des-
zic and Sephardic communities, as well as detailing the various
tiny who stems from the ranks of the survivors tion is declining due to the low birth rate. The
sources of the melody and speculating about how the melody became
fixed.
from Nazism and who has risen 'to the world's remnant of those acquiring a maximum of Jew-
most powerful diplomatic role. Dr. Henry A. ish knowledge is becoming smaller. Those to be
It also examines the liturgical background and shows how its
Kissinger was booed, hissed, subjected to op- fully indoctrinated with an appreciation of Jew-
characteristic motives permeate the High Holy Day liturgy. The entry
probrium.
ish values must be given the best training to
also describes how the Kol Nidre melody has been used by such com-
This generation must watch for develop- strengthen Jewish ranks.
posers as Max Bruch, Arnold Schonberg, Paul Dessau and Beethoven.
ments that will relegate protesting hordes into
These are not shallow factors to create a
Another entry, of special . interest to
the inevitable but, possibly, the unrealistic. challenging introduction to Holy Days that have
Detroiters, describes the musical career
What is needed is an end to conditions that con- become almost exclusively the reduced appeal to
and accomplishments of Julius Chajes,
long-time director of music at the Jewish
tinuously subject Israel to the danger of de- timeliness in faith. The call to action in behalf of
Community Center of Detroit. The entry
struction. To avoid it, concessions are inevitable. a strengthened community of spirit and devo-
describes him as a composer, pianist, con-
If the Kissinger-U.S.-Gerald Ford-Yitzhak tion is an all-year project. If the spirit and the
ductor,•and teacher recognized for making
Rabin program succeeds, the aspiration is for cultural value of the house of worship is made
a contribution to Jewish music in the
security that will end threats to the Jewish na- paramount again, the indestructibility of Israel
Twentieth Century in Palestine and the
tion's existence. Then Dr. Kissinger will again will be an enduring one. If pessimism is a means
United States.
emerge as the man of destiny.
of re-creating that spirit, then the resort to real-
It mentions Chajes' works for the
The road that led to the current accord, ities in surveys of community reactions, the
piano, cantatas, chamber music, a concert,
which is expected to be confirmed in a matter of spiritual and social studies of the status of all
an opera, a Sabbath evening service, choral
days, was not strewn with roses. Dr. Kissinger's faiths and the factors as they affect Jews be-
works, and arrangements of Israeli folk
songs.
JULIUS CHAJES
motives were under suspicion. The paths ahead come imperatively valuable. It is only when
Macy Nulman, the author, is director of the Cantorial Training
are not marked by assurances of total end to there is fright over dangers to a community that
Institute at Yeshiva University. He was a faculty member of the
hostilities. Terrorists do not learn the lesson of the situation becomes menacing. When tackled
American Theater Wing, which instituted a cantorial training pro-
peace overnight. Therefore the future will de- determinedly and fearlessly, with a retention of
gram for returning veterans after World War II.
mand continuing caution. The people threatened faith, faith itself becomes undying and power-
N Litman is also a co-founder of the Cantorial Council of America,
with annihilation will know how to assert its ful. So be it in acknowledging pragmatism in so-
and the Certification Board for placement of cantors and music educa-
right to life, liberty and the pursuit of comfort cial and religious studies and courage in a peo-
tors, and serves on the executive board of the National Jewish Music
and security. ple's response to the needs of the times.
Council.

Concise Music Encyclopedia
Excellent Jewish Reference

The Man of Destiny

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