THE JEWISH NEWS

ncorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 19.51

Member 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 865. Southfield. Mich.
48075
Second-C14ss Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $10 a year

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher

CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager

DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager

Alan Hitsky, News Editor . . . Heidi Press, Assistant News Editor

ROSH HASHANA SCRIPTURAL SELECTIONS

This Sabbath is Rosh Hashana, the first day of Tishri„5786. and the following scriptural
selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion. Gen. 21:1-4; Num. 29:1-6. Pro-
phetical portion, I Samuel 1:1-2:10.
Sunday, second day of Rosh Hashana. Pentateuchal portion. Gen. 22:1-24: No in. 29:1-6.
Prophetical po•tion, Jeremiah 3.,1:2-20.

Fast of Gedaliah, Monday

Prophetical portion, Exod. 32:11-14: 34:1-10. Prophetical portion, afternoon only, Isaiah
55:6-56:8.

Candle lighting, Friday, Sept. 5, 7:41 p.m.

VOL. LXVII, No. 26

Page Four

Friday, September 5, 1975

Encouraging 5736 Omens

If the home is strong the community is solid. If the home base
is solvent the world view brightens.
How does the outlook for the Greater Detroit Jewish commu-
nity stack up for the coming year?
The judgment stems from the experiences of the year that is
now ending.
Philanthropically it was a good year. The community re-
sponded generously to the Allied Jewish Campaign. The recession
was defied and the response to Israel's needs was comparable to
some of the best years in fund-raising.
It may not be all to the good in the spiritual ranks. One syn-
agogue is in great trouble. Yet the others are evidencing anxiety not
only to serve congregants during the traditional two- or three-day-
a-year compulsion for religious services and for atonements but
also for an expansion of the cultural programs on the year-round
basis.
Nearly every synagogue has the urge to sponsor a series of
lectures, musical events and book chats to mark Book and Music
Months.
The adult educational programs are limited. They have been
reduced to comply with the responses from those they intend to
educate. But they have not been abandoned and that is in itself
encouraging.
The school systems offer evolutionary developments as mat-
ters for serious study. The enrollments have dropped, and are drop-
ping. Suffering from the lowest birth rate in thejecords of Jewish
experience in this country, the schools are evidencing reductions of
classes of a drastic nature. Will the studies be seriously affected
thereby?
In its totality as a vital force in Jewish life, the school system
of this community has already shown vast improvements of a most
encouraging nature. For several years there were rifts between
teaching staffs and administration of a nature that tended to dis-
rupt the community. Parents, teachers and administrators were
involved in squabbles that divided the local ranks. The aggravated
situation demanded strong personalities to overcome the animosi-
ties and to reach an accord to eliminate teacher grievances and to
assure highest standards in educational curricula. Apparently the
new superintendenship provides this assurance and the improve-
ments in the functions of the communal school system is among
the most heartening occurrences for progress in this community.
With hopes for positive approaches to Jewish needs, in what-
ever spheres they may arise, a very vital factor is the role .of youth.
Are the young people becoming more responsive to Jewish chal-
lenges? Are they aware of the position they are in as the limelight
of public interest is directed at all Jews, wherever they may be?
Youth activities in synagogues and in national movements are
undoubtedly among the most urgent as builders of proper identifi-
cations between generations and the emphasis upon them is of the
utmost urgency.
The negatives in Jewish programming and communal func-
tions have not been eliminated. The problems revolving around
many of the welfare needs, and the synagogual obstacles, are yet
to be resolved. But the positive aspects of a year that has provided
good legacies lends encouragement that the lessons for the best in
life and in collective efforts by a community with high standards
will provide tools for most wholesome achievements in the year
ahead.
In regard to the recent defacements in downtown Detroit, the
sense of indignation already expressed by responsible city officials,
the Department of Recreation, the police department and church-
men expresses the sense of shame every American must feel when
prejudice raises its ugly head in a civilized society.
This is not an age for vigilantism but for genuine public opin-
ion, and the views of people of honor and self-respect give assurance
that the un-American practices can be ended and repetition
avoided. -

A Year to Defy Inhuman Indignities

Rosh Hashana commences with agony for mankind and the celebrants of the Jewish New
Year are unavoidably affected by the seriousness of the issues that plague mankind. The
experiences of the ages in recorded history nevertheless provide the comforting assurances
that the Eternal People does not succumb to the destructive elements confronting it.
So much tension marked the past year, with its tortuous legacies from the Yom Kippur
War that resulted in so many shocking affronts to Israel and world Jewry, that the quest for
comforting gestures from whatever was left of kindliness towards the endangered people was
especially enormous.

The dangers that mounted in the two years between Yom Kippur of 1973 and the Day of
Atonement that is approaching have not vanished. The horizon remains gloomy. The threats
to Israel's security are great. Yet no one dares speak of it as a threat to Israel's existence. The
New Year 5736 again is welcomed with a spirit of self-assurance in the indestructibilty of the,
People Israel. Any other thought would be a submission to bestiality and a concession to
Genocide. Such ideas are ruled out of Jewish thinking.

This is not boasting. In an era that is witnessing a resurgence of anti-Semitism and a
rebirth of the vilest forms of bigotry, there is no denial of the reality of what has been termed
the Sin'at olam 1' am olam, the eternal hatred for the eternal people. But this has been and
continues to be defied by the simplest of declarations: the will to live. This is true of the
People and Land of Israel.

The note of optimism nevertheless demands new admonitions to the people now welcom-
ing a new year. Complacency and over-confidence are as dangerous as indifference. The three
terms are interlinked. The confident dare not be complacent, the indifferent must be
awakened.

The danger from indifference remains an especially threatening aspect in Jewish life. It is
not new and has been overcome through the ages only when threats to Jewry assumed the
most barbarous forms. A need for dedication remains urgent in the ranks of Jewish youth.
Their concern for their people's needs and interests is needed more positively in recognition
of the constructive and creative Jewish aspects. The threats from enemies of Jewry can be, as
they are, tackled efficiently, but the progressively creative that mark identification with lega-
cies of Judaism are more vital to the dignity of Jewry.

Never without the anxieties that emerge from prejudicial pressures experienced by Je-
wries in many lands, world Jewry is compelled to be on the alert, with a readiness to come to
the aid of the oppressed and relief of the needy. This is a role particularly imposed upon
American Jewry resulting from the political and social advantages acquired by the American
Jewish community. The duty ever to be ready to come to the aid of the oppressed and in
defense of the threatened remains mandatory.

Jewish obligations are repetitive from year to year. Just as the challenges recurrently
mount and then recede, so, also, the needs for reaffirmation of Jewish values and rededication
to Jewish services recapitulate. The unity that marks observance of the Holy Day period
therefore symbolizes also the call to service, to spiritual and cultural loyalties and to solidarity
with the defenders and protectors of Israel, the people and the land, and the obligations in
5736 are evident. Adherence to them emphasizes the hope for a Good Year for Israel, world
Jewry and for peaceful times for all mankind.

