THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
32 Friday, January 7, 1977
Reform Judaism: An Emerging Movement on the Israeli Scene
BY REUVEN NUTKIS
World Zionist Organization
well as from North
America, with recruit-
JERUSALEM — Re- /bent for future settlers
form Judaism has finally being conducted by the
completed its metamor- WUPJ in other lands.
phosis in commitment to Plans call for an eventual
Zionism with the found- population of 400-500
ing of its first kibutz in Is- souls in ten years, work-
rael.
ing in a varied economy
Kibutz Yahel, 65 based chiefly on off-
kilometers (40 miles) season winter crops,
north of Eilat in the poultry farming, and
Arava derset was light industry.
founded in November by
Yahel aspires to found a
a group of pioneering
permanent
community
young Reform Jews and governed by the
principles
was the highlight of last of Reform Judaism with
year's convention of the
to be deter-
World Union for Progres- traditions
mined
by
the
needs felt by
sive Judaism (WUPJ), the
international society of its members.
Kibutz Yahel repre-
Reform Jewry.
The settlers of Kibutz sents the latest contribu-
Yahel include groups tion of the Reform move-
formed both in Israel as ment to Israel. It has
been preceded by 11
synagogues and congre-
HELD OVER
gations of small and
smaller size; as well as
"PRIVATE LIVES"
the Hebrew Union Col-
STARRING JIMMY LAUNCE lege — Jewish Institute of
Religion and the execu-
NOW PLAYING
tive offices of the WUPJ,
FRI. & SAT.
both in Jerusalem.
Reform was the first of
Dinner 7:30 -Curtain 8:45
the three major branches
Reservations: call 643-8865
of Judaism to have joined
SOMERSET DINNER THEATRE the World Zionist Organi-
zation and to have moved
Big Beaver Road
awl) its international head-
at Coolidge, Troy
quarters to Israel.
-
Efforts have been made
to increase involvement
by native Israelis. Ac-
cording to Rabbi Ady E.
Assabi, coordinator of the
Israel Movement for Pro-
gressive Judaism, the
majority of the member-
ship in Israel today is
made up of Israelis who
had no personal contact
with Reform Judaism in
the Diaspora, a dramatic
increase taking place
within the past five years.
An Israeli youth move-
ment has been established
and has provided some of.
the original settlers of
Kibutz Yahel.
On the educational
front a new all-Hebrew
siddur has been prepared
for publication entitled
"Ha'avoda Shebalev"
(Worship from the Heart),
and according to Rabbi
Assabi, "it is the first sid-
dur to take into consider-
ation the rebirth of the
state of Israel."
The Reform movement
MOVIE
GUIDE
Americana Complex
1, 2,3, 4
Greenfield N. of 9 Mile 559-2730
4 THEATERS IN ONE BUILDING
Wed. MATINEES ALL
THEATERS-1 Show only
at 1:041—$1
"A STAR IS BORN"
"NICKELODEON"
"THE ENFORCER"
"7 PERCENT SOLUTION"
BERKLEY
12 Mile-Coolidge
LI 2-0330
BARGAIN NIGHTS SUN. THRU FRI: ALL SEATS
$1.00. No comports. Coupon good Sat. oily with
regular wheissioa price.
_ Held Over 3rd Week
WEEKDAYS, INCLUDING SAT.
OPEN 7:00
Charlton Heston &
David Janssen in
"TWO MINUTE WARNING" (R)
at 7:20 & 9:25
WASHINGTON THEATRE
Sun. Open at 1 pm
"TWO MINUTE. WARNING"
426 S. Washington, Royal Oak - 541-0082
at 1:20 3:20 5:20 7:20 & 9:25.
Introducing a New Restaurant . .
4
65
SAIL INN
ALL YOU CAN EAT
served at
your table
IN ADDITION: MON. THURS.
EVERYDAY DINNER MENU
-
Batter Fried SHRIMP
Southern Fried CHICKEN
— Batter Fried FISH FILLETS
Virginia HAM STEAK
Bar-B-Qued RIBS
Deep -Sea SCALLOPS
FROG LEGS
DINNERS INCLUDE: SALAD BAR,
HOT VEG., HOT POT., ETC.
SUNDAY ONLY
ROASTED
SPRING
CHICKEN
ENJOY YOUR FAVORITE COCKTAILS,
WINE, BEER ON TAP
SAIL INN
Adult Dinner
Children
Under 10
Children
Under 5
Children
Under.2
4.65
2.50
1.95
FREE
CE
0
25101 Telegraph
at Ten Mile
Southfield
358-1611
Hours: Mon.-Thurs.,
4 p.m.-9 p.m.
Fri.-SM., 4-10 p.m.,
Sun., Noon-9
More traditional ele- about-face over the past
maintains a special rela-
tionship with the Leo ments urged the adoption twenty years.
Baeck School in Haifa of uniform conversion
and is developing a cur- certificates, marriage
Today Israel is viewed
riculum for Jewish contracts and present as a major testing ground
studies at the school. The them to the Orthodox es- for Reform Judaism. The
Hebrew Union College in tablishment as creden- establishment of
Jerusalem has intitiated tials, or propose that Re- synagogues, other in-
a program designed to or- form clergy follow Or-
stitutions and now
dain rabbis from the local thodox customs in such Kibutz Yahel may all be
native Israeli population.' cases. An opposing group viewed as efforts in pur-
The desire to ordain na- claimed that such efforts suit of the goal of estab-
tive Israelis is inspired in to form a uniform code lishing a viable Reform
part by an effort to gain would be antithetical community in Israel.
recognition in Israel. with freedom of choice —
In the words of Rabbi
Like the Reconstruction a basic tenet of Reform
Richard Hirsch, execu-
movement and other Judaism.
tive secretary of the
smaller splinter groups,
In spite of the cool re- WUPJ, "Until there is a
the Reform are not rec-
ognized by the Rabbinate ception Reform has re- significant movement in
ceived on the religious Israel, Reform Judaism
in Israel.
At November's WUPJ front, its commitment to will be considered by
Convention in Jersualem, Israel and Zionism as au- many as an alien move-
discussions were con- thentic and constitute an ment which can only
ducted as to how to achieve integral part of the cur- flourish on non-Jewish
parity with Orthodoxy, or- rent Reform ideology. soil. The state of Israel-of-
at least recognition by the This commitment was not fers the movement a test
Rabbinate. 'Typically op- always so, and has un- of its Jewish authentic-
posing views emerged. dergone a complete ity."
Sculpture, Art and Exercise in Jewish Life
BY DAVID SCHWARTZ
(Copyright 1977, JTA, Inc.)
The press reports that
the late Alexander Calder
is to have what may be his
most monumental piece
of sculpture placed in
Jerusalem.
The Jews have never
been rich in oil but this
most famous sculptor of
his day, not a Jew himself,
preferred Jerusalem as
the site of his art work.
The Calder work will
stand on the Jerusalem
elevation named after the
father of the Zionism
which the United Nations
is so busy denouncing —
Mt. Herzl!
There are some noted
Jewish sculptors, Jacques
Lifshitz, Louise Nevelson
and Chaim Gross. There
was the famous Russian
Czech Reds
Accuse Zionists
LONDON — After a
year of relative quite on
the subject of world
Jewry, Czech Com-
munists have resumed
charges of collusion be-
tween Zionist organiza-
tions and the Nazi move-
ment in Europe during
World War II, in attacks
on Yad Vashem, the
American Joint Distribu-
tion Committee and
HIAS, according to the
International Council of
Jews from Czechos-
lovakia.
These charges were re-
newed at the close of 1976
and coincided with per-
mission granted to two
leading members of the
Jewish community in
Czechoslovakia to par-
ticipate, as observers, in
the Madrid conference of
the World Jewish Con-
gress' European Branch.
The recent attack was
published in `Tribuna' of
Prague, principal ideolog-
ical journal of the Czech
Communist Party, in a
serial under the heading
`The Class Significance of
Zionism," signed by "Jill
ohatk," pen-name for
a team of well-known
Jew- baiters.
Jewish sculptor, An- could not stand the jeers
tokolski.
it provoked.
Speaking of arts, there
Yet sculpture from the
Jewish standpoint had is music and the press had
often been regarded a lit- an interesting little item
tie suspiciously because of about the orchestra con-
the Mosaic stricture to the ductor, Arthur Fiedler.
making of graven images. How are you about tak-
But, the Calder work, ing exercise? Mr. Fiedler
being abstract, does not has an idea for you. Why
violate the Mosaic law. not try being the conduc-
A number of weeks ago for of an orchestra in-
the press reported the stead?
He thinks the exercise
passing of the painter
Man Ray. He was one of of moving his hands in
the fathers of the modern conducting the orchestra
school of abstract art, one has been of great benefit
of the pioneers of what to his health. He quotes a
was known as Dadaism. physician as comparing
Man Ray was not his the longevity of musical
real name. He had a very conductors with that of
Jewish name. He was a some other professions
Jewish boy from Brook- and finds that the con-
lyn, but changed his ductors live longer and he
name which was very attributes it to the exer-
Jewish because he said he cise.
A Prophecy
BY PAUL ELDRIDGE
You will win, my people, you will surely win –
Vaster are your armies than the armies of all your enemies -
The doors of the crematoria have swung wide open
And the hills of ashes and the hills of bones are alive again,
The pits are emptied and the scaffolds are released,
And the Six Million are marching to join your ranks.
Your muscles they will temper into burnished steel
And your hearts they will fill with the fierce fury
Of the lion pursuing the treacherous jackal,
Your eyes they will sharpen as the eyes of the mountain eagle
And your grip they will harden as his talons clamping his prey.
You will win, my people, you will surely win-
Mightier are your weapons than the weapons of all your enemies-
From the myriad pyres from all the lands, horizon into horizon
To which your countless martyrs, defiant were roped
While mitered priests chanted and vile crowds made merry.
The hissing flames will join the flames of your battering guns,
They will devour your foes as fires, relentless, devour
Forests long dried in the sun and stricken with lightning,
And their foul ashes the liberating winds will blow
Across the face of the sands and into the mouths of the waters.
You will win, my people, you will surely win-
Wiser are your leaders than the leaders of all your enemies-
Justice and Truth and Faith enthroned in your House of Counsel,
Will dictate your strategy and guide the pathways to your goal,
While your foes, backs laden with crime,
-
Mouths foaming with life,
Hearts hollow and souls shriveled, hideous camels of iniquity,
Will trudge, aimless, forever locked in the maze of nightmare,
And in the land of Israel there will be joy and exultation,
The shout of triumph and the call of freedom
The clash of cymbal and the beat of drum
And the wilder beat of dancing feet-
FOR YOU WILL WIN, MY PEOPLE, YOU WILL SURELY WIN!