Friday, April 7, 1018 29
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Sephardi Congregation Laid
U.S. Communal Ground-Work
By RABBI MARC ANGEL
American Sephardi Federation
NEW YORK — The
Jewish communities of Col-
onial America were all
Spanish and Portuguese by
custom. Cong. Shearith Is-
rael of New York City, the
first Jewish settlement on
this continent, was founded
in 1654 by 23 refugees from
Recife, Brazil, most of whom
were of Spanish and Por-
tuguese descent. They were
the ones who established
the communal organization
patterns and synagogue
customs. Other com-
munities developed later in
Newport, Philadelphia,
Savannah, Charleston and
Montreal.
All of these congregations
were part of the Western
Sephardi tradition which
derived primarily from
Amsterdam and other
Western European centers.
They were characterized by
a sense of self-pride, social
flexibility and grace.
Rev. Ezra Stiles, presi-
dent of Yale University, re-
ferred to Aaron Lopez, a
leading Jewish figure in
Newport, as one who
showed "always an affabil-
ity in manner, a calm ur-
banity, an agreeable and
sincere courtesy of man-
ners." These traits were the
hallmarks of Western
Sephardim in general.
Ford Is Topic
of TV Show
NEW YORK — Henry
Ford will be the subject of a
public television documen-
tary in early May.
Much of the film footage
was borrowed from the Ford
film collection, and the
documentary will deal with
Ford's often-hostile rela-
tionship with his son, Edsel,
and Ford's anti-Semitism.
Territory Vote
TEL AVIV (ZINS) — A
recent survey by the Public
Opinion Research Institute
shows that 65 percent of Is-
raelis believe a referendum
will be necessary to approve
any decision affecting the
status of the West Bank and
the Gaza Strip.
Another important as- schools, charity agencies,
pect of the Western institutions for the sick and
Sephardi approach to life needy. Shearith Israel in
was the ability to uphold New York, for example, was
religious traditions while the only Jewish congrega-
adapting to the sur- tion in the city from 1654
rounding non-Jewish until 1825. -
This congregation alone
culture.
The Spanish and Por- provided for all New York's
Jews
for more than 170
tuguese congregations of
Colonial America viewed years.
All of the original
themselves as "kehillot,"
communities, rather than Spanish and Portuguese
as synagogues. They acted congregations still func-
as the governments of the tion today. Western
Jews in their domains. They Sephardi traditions are
felt the obligation to meet maintained in Shearith
the needs of all Jews and in Israel of New York, Mik-
fact provided for the religi- veh Israel of Philadel-
ous requirements from phia and Shearith Israel
of Montreal.
birth to death.
Jeshuat Israel of Newport
Each kahal expected in
functions as an Orthodox
turn that the Jews would
synagogue. Beth Elohim of
meet their responsibilities
to the community in terms Charleston and Mikveh Is-
rael of Savannah are now
of financial support and
Reform synagogues.
service.
The kehillot tried to serve
as the corporate voice of the
Jewish people. Even prayer
services were to be held only
under the auspices of the
kahal.
Jewish Studies
Center Is Open
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Minister
Prime
Menahem Begin is shown
with Alexander Hassan
of Washington, D.C.,
president of the Ameri-
can Technion Society.
Begin will be the guest
speaker at the Technion's
annual international
Board of Governors
meeting to be held in
Haifa, June 25-28.
559_8209
FULL TIME
PROTECTION FROM
•
•
•
•
Russian Static
JERUSALEM (ZINS) —
The Soviet Union is repor-
tedly using 6,000 transmit-
ters to jam Israeli broad-
casts describing the prob-
lems of aliya.
Israel's programs are,
nevertheless, heard by
many Soviet citizens, ac-
cording to Viktor Greivsky,
director of foreign radio
broadcasts for the Israel
Broadcasting Authority.
Burglary
Vandalism
Fire
Personal Attack
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Automatically Notifies
within seconds Police Dept.
& Fire Dept. Central Office
Hidden Wire Installario,
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emergency reporting system with 24 hr. protection
(JTA) — The first formal ac-
tivities of the Harvard Uni-
838_7008
AMERICAN PROTECTIVE
versity Center for Jewish
ALARM INC.
Charleston's kahal Studies, which was estab-
considered an unau- lished in June 1977, opened
thorized minyan to be with a lecture by the Cent-
"an atrocious offense," er's first Weinstock Visiting
punishable by forfeiture Professor, Shlomo Pines,
of all rights and professor of philosophy at
privileges in the congre- Hebrew University in
gation and a fine. This Jerusalem and a fellow of
was not an unusual at- the Israel Academy of Sci-
titude. The kahal had to ences and Humanities.
maintain order within
the community and could
IDeoustrna Boda • Reed & Barton
ulfill8 All Your De8ire
not allow splinter groups Keeping It Secret
FREE GIFTS
• Royal
• Denby
• Wallace
Because we have the gifts
to undermine communal
JERUSALEM (ZINS) —
for BOTH
Worcester • Waterford
• Dansk
BRIDE and
organization.
According to Israeli Cabinet
you want by the names
•
Supreme
•
Lladro
• Ginori
GROOM
sources, the only ministers
Cutlery
Orrefors • Towle
you most admire
Although the authority of who have received complete
E The Gold Place Policy: Never a Due Bill ... Always a Cash Refund
the kahal was considerable, details of Prime Minister
individuality was re- Menahem Begin's talks
North Park Plaza, Room 120
NINE MILE
spected. A member of a con- with President Anwar
9 \4
ROAD
gregation was known as a Sadat of Egypt are Finance
E—
F:Ocg
A C I 7 ol u -rh
t I
yahid, individual. The title Minister Simha Ehrlich and
PLACE 013/559-6140
NOR• PARK
conveys a sense of pride, Foreign Minister Moshe
PLAZA
Open Monday- Saturday 9:30-5M
honor, and self-worth. The Dayan.
earliest extant constitution
and by-laws of Shearith Is-
rael of New York provides
CULTURAL COMMISSION OF CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM
that anyone who insults a
14601 W. Lincoln, Oak Park
yahid was to be fined. Re-
spect and courtesy were
PRESENTS
staunchly maintained.
THE LOWER EAST SIDE: PORTALS TO AMERICAN LIFE
The Jewish communities
of Colonial America laid
the foundations for Jewish
life here. They struggled to
establish synagogues,
A selection of 50
The Jewish Warriors
By WOLF PASMANIK
(Translated from the Yiddish by Moshe Starkman)
(A World-Union Press Feature)
Their countenances glimmering in white radiance,
With piercing sky-colored eyes ashining,
They record historic, fiery words aflame,
Of Yesterdays and Todays.
From the shores of the Kinneret,
To the mountainous heights of Jerusalem —
They ever stand guard and on the watch,
That the enemy not reach
The hills and the valleys.
The Jewish Warriors,
Like the mild — radiant doves,
They have here also me
Raised towards the heaven above.
see them from there —
The builders and the watchmen;
Blessed by their forward marching
To the Battle of Justice.
The
GOLD PLACE
•
Qcgi8try
f
4 L • -
•
m.
PHOTOGRAPHS from
the highly acclaimed exhib-
ition originally presented
at the Jewish Museum,
documenting life on the
Lower East Side of New
York during the period of
1870-1924
Exhibit hours:
Sunday, April 9th
Wednesday. April 12th
Movie Festival
Sunday, April 9th
9:00-11:00 a.m.
6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
6:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Open to the public, no charge
7:30 p.m.
LIES MY FATHER TOLD ME
Wednesday, April 12th
8:30 p.m.
A Yiddish Classic; A BRIVELE DER MAMEN
$2.00 Adults
$1.00 Seniors and Students