THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporattng The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20. 1951
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspaper,. Michigan Pres..: Association. National Editorial A,sociation
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield. Mich. 48075
Second-Class Postage Paid at Southfield, Nlichigan and Additional Mailing Office ,. Subscription IV.? a scar
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
' CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
HEIDI PRESS
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Assistant News Editor
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 10th day of Tammuz. 5738, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Numbers 19:1-22:1. Prophetical portion. Judges 11:1-33.
Candle lighting. Friday, July 14, 8:49 p.m.
VOL. LXXIII, No 19 ,
• Page Four
Friday, July 14, 1978
Day Schools: Major on Agenda
Without exception, every assembly devoted to troit day schools. It is even more encouraging
the consideration of Jewish needs places em- that more and more parents have learned the
phasis on the education of the youth and on necessity of enrolling children in schools which
giving priority to educational needs in the pro- have a maximal program for traditional educa-
cess of allocating funds for major causes.
tional tasks. The day schools have grown im-
At World Jewish Congress and World Zionist mensely and their enrollments indicate a rec-
Congress sessions, at meetings of federations ognition of the school systems which aim for
and community councils, in gatherings devoted greatest emphasis in providing Jewish know-
to synagogue matters and at conferences of wo- ledge for the largest possible numbers.
men's and other movements, the emphasis
While new studies involving the status of the
placed on education now includes recognition of Detroit Jewish school systems are currently in
the importance of the day schools. For these progress, it will be helpful, in the consideration
there are now the recommendations that chief of the status of the day schools, to take a glance
consideration must be given to the maximum _ at the school enrollments here. For more than
educational processes that have become vital in half a century the United Hebrew Schools was
assuring the training of an oncoming genera- the central educational movement in the com-
tion whose knowledge must be rooted in the munity. Like all other movements, the number
maximalism of Jewish educational efforts for of children it serves has reduced in recent years
Jewish youth.
and the enrollment at present totals approxi-
As a matter of fact, at the assemblies listed it mately 1,200, including the nursery and other
is the educational process that is more vital classes. The UHS enrollment also includes an
than any other factor in communal planning. Of additional 170 in the high school.
course, the funds necessary for the social,
While comparisons generally are odious, this
economic and protective aims in support and cliche is not applicable to the day schools. This
defense of Israel receive lesser discussion than system now totals an enrollment of 861 in all of
the cultural-educational. The fund-raising pro- the Detroit day schools, with an additional 99 in
jects are taken for granted; money must be their high school classes. These numbers repre-
raised and there is no disputing the fact. But the sent a challenge to the planners for future tasks
educational efforts have involved' lead- in the community's educational systems. Tak-
ing to the forms that demand recognition, and ing into account the fact that tuition in a day
because of the difficulties that have been ex- school is considerably expensive the numbers in
perienced in assuring the best in Jewish educa- these schools represent a real challenge to the
tional efforts in the past decade or two the new previously-established communal school sys-
emphasis on maximalism gets prior considera- tem. It is a challenge also to -the very idea of a
tion.
reduced period of studies. Considering that
The fact of the day schools is becoming well perhaps three or four times the hours of studies
established. They began with the Orthodox, the are provided by day schools, in comparison with
Conservative community followed suit, and the emaciated time schedules in the afternoon
now even the extremists who were skeptical, schools, the day schools apparently have begun
who had formerly belittled day schools as un- to assume major importance in local educa-
necessary parochial substances, now also are tional processes.
adopting the idea of fullest provisions for the
These facts need to be known in the planning
training of the Jewish youth. There are Reform processes which involve allocations. Assuming
day schools to which as much devotion is given that the increased recognition of the day schools
as to similar educational tasks in the Orthodox as the most vital factor in educational processes
and Conservative ranks.
could vastly increase enrollments if oppor-
The reasons for such emphases are under- tunities could be provided for scholarships for
standable. The afternoon Jewish schools have children stemming from families unable to
declined to the minimum of studies. What had meet the present costs of day school attendance,
been a five-day-a-week program in such schools then the duty to meet the needs financially
has dwindled to less than half of that time ele- grows with the possibilities of assuring con-
ment. Those who were responsible for such di- tributions towards the growth of the day school
minutions can, indeed, beat their breasts with a system.
"we have sinned" admission. The result is that
While the Jewish Welfare Federation earns
youths attend schools for the sake 'of disposing commendation for the new step in the direction
— yes, disposing! — of such obligations as Bar of increasing support for the day schools, the
and Bat Mitzva and then there is an end to immensity of the project, the demand for its
Jewish studies.
support, the importance of the day school
The day schools, which provide excellence in movement, now demands that day schools be
secular studies as well as in the Hebrew and considered major on the agenda of communal
Jewish traditional training, fulfill a great need. planning. The increased allocations for their
There has to be a fulfillment in Jewish studies. support must be viewed as a mere beginning
There is the need of providing a totality of train- towards much great assistance to efforts which
ing, a devotion to Jewish knowledge, a are the most significant in adhering to the need
thoroughness acquiring the necessary links of giving the youth the training that will pro-
with the Hebrew language. Time is needed for vide for their proper Jewish knowledgeability.
such purposes, and day schools demand and If there is to be a Jewish future rooted in dignity
provide respect for such needs.
and fullest devotions to the people's historic
It is heartening, therefore, to be able to record heritage it will depend upon a well-trained and
that the Jewish Welfare Federation has re- knowledgeable youth. Acknowledging that the
sponded to the need and has increased the allo- day schools serve that purpose, the obligations
cation so vital to the existence of the three De- to them remain unchallenged.
A KTAV Volume
Vast Variety of Themes Found
in Freehof's Latest Responsa
Dr. Solomon B. Freehof has established a reputation as the leading
Reform Jewish author of Response on Jewish law. As chairman of the
Responsa Committee of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
he has provided leadership in this field of endeavor as well as having
produced numerous volumes interpreting and defining Jewish tradi-
tional precepts.
His newest work is "Reform Response for Our Time" (Ktav).
Comprehensive in all details, the Freehof explanations, the ques-
tions and answers on a vast variety of subjects, emerge as notable
contributions to Jewish knowledge.
So extensive are his definitive essays that this new work, like the
previous ones, serves well as textbook for a knowledge of Jewish
traditional laws and practices.
Modern Jewry's problems are touched upon and the sociological
subjects he deals with reveal the changes that take place in Jewish
life, as indicated in some of the titles of the definitive essays in his new
book.
Some of the questions posed with which Dr. Freehof deals indude
sports on the Sabbath at Jewish centers, cannibalism, "possible"
electronic eavesdropping in Jewish law, photographing the dead,
woman doctor as mohel, use of tobacco, two coffins in one grave, use of
cornea of the dead, marital rites of a raped woman, gambling in state
lotteries, abortion and life fetus study, marrying a transexual, cir-
cumcision of proselytes, hysterectomy, Gentile membership in the
synagogue, etc.
Dr. Freehof resorts to Halakhic rules. His interpretations will be
found as impressively valuable not only for Reform Jews but for all
others.
For rabbis, these Response may well serve as guidelines when
confronted with the issues touched upon. For the lay reader there is
fascination in the manner in which the eminent scholar pursues his
studies and interprets his themes.
Kar-Ben Copies Publication
`Shabbat' Book Emphasizes
Joys in Its Observance
"Come Let Us Welcome Shabbat" is a relatively small book. It is a
9x12 brochure of only 32 pages. But in it the authors, Judith Robbins
Saypol and Madeline Wikler,have included the traditional prayers
and songs, the regulations for the Sabbath, a variety of specialties
that make the Sabbath joyous.
In 'Shabbat," the two authors, who formed their own publishing
house for the printing of their works, under the name Kar-Ben Copies,
in Silver Spring, Md., are not only listing the laws for the Sabbath.
They also emphasize that the giving of charity, Tzedaka, before the
Sabbath sets in, as a vital Jewish tradition.
Properly illustrated, "Shabbat" explains how to prepare for the
Sabbath, has the regulations for the prepartation for the Sabbath, the
kidush, the Birkat Hamazon, brief items of interest relating to the
Sabbath in entertaining fashion and six pages of songs with the
musical notes. As the authors state, this is an instructive booklet that
will be useful for adults as well as children.