THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chmnicle commencing with the issue of July .20. 1951
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 Sii5, Southfield, Mich. .1S075.
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Michigan and Additional Mailing Offices. Subscription $10 a year.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Business Manager
Advertising Manager
Alan Ilitsky. News Editor . . . Heidi Press. . ■ ssistant News Editio.
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the third day of Nisan, 5736, the following scriptural selections will be reuil in WI!' synayouncs:
Pentateuchal portion, Leviticus 12:1-18:59. Proplicticul portion, II Kings
Candle lighting, Friday, April 2.
NOE. L\IX., No. .I
Page Four
p.m.
Friday. k
► ril
2. 1976
Volunteers Dominate in Campaign
Perenially tested by the obligations to assure support for the social services and philanthropies
that comprise the multiple aspects of a Jewish community, an immediate obligation is the enroll-
ment of the dedicated volunteer forces that are so urgently necessary to assure realization of the
Campaign goal.
While a good beginning has been made towards matching last year's $18 million achievement,
the road ahead is not an easy one in the duty to re-enroll some 10,000 contributors additional to the
13,000 already reached.
To attain the goal it is vital that the volunteer army so important to the task should be fully
mobilized to share with the constituents the obligations in a situation marked by the utmost
seriousness.
Dr. Leon Fill and Merle Harris, the current co-chairmen of the Allied Jewish Cam-paign-Israel
Emergency Fund, are tirelessly continuing the traditional tasks of leadership in tasks that promise
to match earlier local philanthropic achievements. The support they need is dependent upon the
volunteer forces who assist them.
The success of the current Allied Jewish Campaign-Israel Emergency Fund is definitely in the
hands of the volunteer workers. The mobilization of dedicated volunteers who are themselves parti-
cipants in the great current effort will add to the confidence that Detroit Jewry's high-ranking
record of generosity will again be a reality in this year of challenge.
Detroit at 275: Pre-Dating the U.S.
American Revolution Bicentennial celebra-
tions have become the priorities in national ob-
servances of the historic 200th anniversary of
the emergence of the United States.
Pre-dating the great event on the calendar
is Detroit's 275th anniversary, an event of
marked significance not only for this commu-
nity but for the entire nation.
Emerging as one of America's most signifi-
cant industrial centers, Metropolitan Detroit
has claim to many roles, granting this commu-
nity a position of leadership.
As a link with Canada, an important area in
pioneering — first in fur trading, then in a vari-
ety of creative functions in manufacture of
clothing, in the cigar-making and various other
accomplishments — the arts and the cultural as-
pects were not ignored.
The University of Michigan, while 40 miles
distant from the city, was the inspiration for
learning and had its beginnings in Detroit. Then
came the development of Michigan State Univer-
sity, which began as the Michigan Agricultural
College — MAC being as much as element in ed-
ucation as U-M — and in the course of the ensu-
ing years other universities have emerged.
Wayne State University, the technical schools,
Oakland University and other colleges of merit
have added to the glories of the state and the
nation, with Detroit as the central point focus-
ing on creativity.
Mayor Coleman Young now has become the
symbol of a new civic pride in the assurance of
civil rights in a city in which, during Civil War
years, this community stood in the front ranks
of libertarianism.
Greater Detroit's Jewish community had
its share in the making of a city of merit and
industrial fame. From the Jewish community
there emerged many of the noted leaders in the
city and the state.
Thus, Detroit, older on the American calen-
dar than the U.S., has cause for pride at age 275.
The current, local celebration assumes a signifi-
cant position in the year 200 of the U.S.A.
Sensationalizing the Criminals
Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat keeps
reiterating, unquestionably under pressure
from extremists who are bent upon Israel's de-
struction, that he will join in a war on the Jew-
ish state if the latter starts a war.
Otherwise, he appears to be more moderate
than the record indicates. He pulled his blun-
ders while in the United States, his threats are
consonant with the terrorists, but in action
there is a more rational approach from Cairo to-
wards the over-all Middle East problem than
has been anticipated in recent years.
Thus, the Sadat attitude towards the Syr-
ian belligerence offers a modicum of hope that
what had been viewed as an impending war
threat may be either abandoned or alleviated.
Why, then, the spirit of gloom, the incite-
ment to panic, in the newspapers of this country
and also in Great Britain and in France?
There is guilt somewhere and it may well be
pinned on the sensation-seeking columnists and
commentators.
The fact is that the PLO and the extremists
have received notoriety beyond the bounds of
logic.
Sadat may have been influenced in his new
attitude towards Syria by the Lebanese lesson.
It is so apparent that the notoriety given to the
PLO, whose forces added to the turmoil in Leba-
non, that their place in destructive actions in Le-
banon should have been fully exposed. But they
were glorified, contrary to the lessons they pro-
vided for caution during the years when they
boasted about the horrors they initiated in Mun-
ich, at the Lydda Airport and in school buildings
in Israeli settlements, that a murderous gang
was disrupting the calm that had marked tem-
porary interruptions in Arab-Jewish relations.
But the initials PLO seemed to be magical in
search for sensationalism.
For glorifying the PLO and lending undue
importance to terrorists, responsible newsmen
have earned rebuke. They have given comfort to
a murderous gang with the recognition accorded
it. This type of journalism does not elevate the
cause of peace.
4...7171
Scholarship and Art
Commentaries, Illustrations
Mark 'Birnbaum Hagada'
The Passover Hagada lends itself effectively to art and illustrative
material and is an especially impressive subject for commentators and
interpreters of historical experiences.
A new Hagada just issued by Hebrew Publishing Co. adds im-
mensely to the scholarly labors of authoritative writers both in trans-
lating and interpreting the Passover story. "The Birnbaum Hagada"
made available by Hebrew Publishing Co. in time for Passover is re-
plete with photographs, artistic illustrations and commentaries based
in .talmudic and midrashic studies.
Dr. Birnbaum pursues his life's work as liturgical translator and
author of numerous scholarly works on the Siddurim and Jewish his-
torical concepts with this definitive Hagada. He draws upon the major
Passover commentaries, takes into account the important talmudic
references to the festival and among other interpretive material offers
this definition of the Hagada:
"The Passover Hagada, reflecting Israel's constant struggle for
life and liberty, is one of the most frequently edited books. Few He-
brew classics are so famous and have attracted the attention of so
many Jews as the Hagada. Since the 16th Century, the Hagada has
appeared in more than 3,000 separate editions.
"Representing a gradual development, the Hagada is not the work
of any one man nor the product of any one periOd. Some of its contents
have come down to us from ancient times; they were an essential part
of the seder service 2,000 years ago. The very name seder is borrowed
from the Hebrew title of this book, Seder Hagada, which denotes an
arrangement of the varied literature that went into the composition of
the Hagada before it became the standard for all Israel.
"Our people have not ceased to lavish their love on the Hagada, the
priceless midrashic collection that has stirred the spirit of freedom in
the hearts of young and old through countless generations.
"Its purpose has been to show us the beauty of true freedom
where a man is free to do his duty. Scores of scholars have written
significant commentaries on this inspiring anonymous work. Its pages
have often been richly ornamented with numerous paintings and
drawings depicting memorable events in the history of our people.
"The power of tradition is cleariv demonstrated by the seder serv-
ice. Even the least observant Jews heed its ancient symbolism and its
ancient forms. The night of the exodus has become a history feast par
excellence.
"Every generation celebrating the seder becomes united with all
the generations of the people. For this reason, the rabbis of old aimed
at unanimity and uniformity. It was a matter of principle with them
that there should be no division in custom and observance."
The music of the seder -- the selections include the candle light-
ing, Kadesh-Urhatz, Kidush, Four Questions, Avadim Hayinu, Hi
Sh'amda, Closing Song for "Nirtza" — add appropriately to the entire
text.
It is a traditional text Without deletions, and even the introduc-
tory essay and the explanatory notes in English commence from right
to left to coincide with the Hebrew text.
For collectors of rare Hagadot — and their ranks are growing —
"The Birnbaum Hagada" is especially valuable due to the author's em-
phasis on the traditional and the excellence of the translations. In the
large number of collections is included the splendor of Passover art
from the Ilagadot of the last 400 years. Combined in these merits is
the collective value of a Hagada by a skilled writer and noted scholar.