22 Friday, September 15, 1918
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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ti
Ter
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c,c 4-e r ,6:00 p . 01 •
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Participation of the Layman in Synagogue
and Community Defined by Leonard Simons
In an address at a meet-
ing of rabbis and laymen, at
Cong. Shaarey Zedek, Mon-
day, Leonard N. Simons
proposed a set of rules as
well as obligations in the
SPERBER'S KOSHER
CATERING
EXCLUSIVE CATERERS AT
CONG. BETH ACHIM
21100 W. 12 MILE RD.
training of the encourage-
ment of leadership.
The session was arranged
by the Synagogue Council of
Detroit, presided over by
Robert Steinberg, and the
Council of Synagogue
Executive Directors of Met-
ropolitan Detroit, headed by
Dennis Rice.
In his address, Simons
stated:
"I believe, most emphati-
cally, that the rabbis will,
attract better lay leadership
if they will never forget that
their congregations are in-
dividual people. Our rabbis
should give their attention
to personal religion. It is-
much more important that
our rabbis try to minister to
members' spiritual needs
through pastoring . . . than
by sermons.
"If the rabbis do not
forget the members when
the members are in need
of the rabbi's services,
then the members will
not forget the rabbis
when they are called on
to help in synagogue af-
fairs. Members will re-
member a personal serv-
ice more than they will a
great sermon.
gram is one of the greatest
synagogue ideas I have ever
seen or heard of. It is fabul-
ous.
"So I say, leave the 'little
guy' alone when it comes to
dues. Don't have dues in-
creases across the board —
start by talking man-to-
man with the wealthy
members and see if they can
solve any financial problem
the synagogue has.
LEONARD N. SIMONS
ministry. He will have the
lifelong - affection of every
member in his congregation
— and he will keep them as
members — proud to belong
to his synagogue. That is
how you strengthen the
synagogue.
"I,, realize that all this
sound
s like I have put the
onus right square in the
hands of the rabbis . . . and
you are right. I believe that
CALL
the rabbi's intelligence, his
personality, his sincerity
and integrity, his genuine
effort to serve his congrega-
tion will 'make or break' the
efforts to strengthen the
"A rabbi who is a , good synagogue.
Under Supervision of The Council of Orthodox Rabbis
"But, I also realize that
pastor will have a successful
even if the rabbi was a
super-human being and
could do and be all the
things I just mentioned —
and even if he had many ex-
cellent lay leaders to help
him — only a reasonable
amount of success should be
anticipated.
"There are too many
people today who care
nothing about religion,
about prayers and tradi-
tion, or the synagogue. In
some cases they are
atheists or agnostics.
These people are a lost
cause, so far as outside
help is concerned. Only
they have the power to
change their minds and
attitudes. When you get
down to the crux of their
• Social
problem — what can a
- - -
rabbi or lay leader do?
• Religious
Very little, if anything for
' • Cultural
—
them, except to keep on
• Educational
• Youth
trying.
"I have one more thought
to consider. Are we chasing
away the people with little
incomes from synagogue
A RICH AND VARIED PROGRAM FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY .. .
membership, because of our
FOR ADULTS
high dues structures? Why
FOR YOUTH
can't we convince our richer
ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES MEN'S CLUB
NURSERY SCHOOL
CLUB ANTIVITIES
families to pay the bulk of
• Jewish Belief and Practices
• United Synagogue Youth
the synagogues' operating
• History • Customs
CHAVERIM (Young Families) RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
• Jr. U.S.Y. • Youth Lounge
expenses, just as our Feder-
• Hebrew • Holidays
• Hebrew School
• Kadimah • Dances
ation's Allied Jewish Cam-
CULTURAL PROGRAMS
• Sunday School
• Cbalutzim • Sports
paign does? About five per-
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
• Speakers • Forums
• High School
• Giborim • Bowling
• Bowling • Dances
cent or less of all the AJC
• Breakfast & Luncheon
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation
• Story Hour • Field Trips
• Theatre Parties
contributors give about 80
Discussion Group
• Picnics • Trips
• Annual Concert
percent of the amount that
JUNIOR CONGREGATIONS
COLLEGE YOUTH
• Annual Seder
• ATID • Visitations
we raise every year. I think
SISTERHOOD
• Home Coming Get-together
my figures are correct.
WILL HAVE CARRY-OUT SERVICE
FOR THE HIGH HOLIDAYS
IF YOU ARE PLANNING ANY SIMCHAS
HENRY OR MARIKA SPERBER
FOR THE FINEST IN KOSHER CATERING
351-2910. 351-3929
You Need Cong. B'nai Moshe
Congregation B'nai Moshe Needs You
JOIN
B'NA1
MOSHE
•
Your
Hour
Of
Action
• Off-Campus Hillel House
FOR ALL
RELIGIOUS SERVICES — On weekdays, Sabbaths, Holidays; Services of Rabbi, Cantor and Sexton; Yahrzeit Notifications.
GIFT SHOP • LIBRARY • BULLETIN • JUDAICA MUSEUM
WE WOULD LIKE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY TO CONSIDER JOINING CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE. WE BELIEVE
YOU WILL FIND IT A CONGENIAL CONGREGATION, ONE THAT CARRIES OUT ITS BASIC RELIGIOUS, EDUCA-
TIONAL, AND SOCIAL PURPOSES. WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST BY VISITING THE
SYNAGOGUE.
CALL: Synagogue 548-9000 1 Ron Davidoff 541-0411
"If Federation can do that
— if our rich families are
willing to do that for Feder-
ation — would they not do
as much for our
synagogues? It is worth
thinking about, and seeing
what can be done to develop
the idea. In a sense, Shaarey
Zedek is doing that right
now. The Shaarey Zedek
$5,000,000 endowment pro-
"There you have it . . .
some of my thinking
about trying to
strengthen our
synagogues and the mak-
ing of synagogue lay
leaders. I am sure these
thoughts will not be a
panacea for all our prob-
lems — but they might
help. The present status
quo continues to make us
lose ground. So, I think it
is incumbent upon all of
us to try to find ways to
revitalize our Judaism.
"Remember well the 'Say-
ings of our Fathers' from the
Mishna. It tells us, 'It is not
the duty to complete the
work — but neither art thou
free to desist from it.' Which
means, be not disheartened
by the greatness of what is
before us. Do the best we can
and as much as is in our
power.
"One closing question:
Did you ever think about
how a person, who is in-
volved in the life of a
synagogue, is almost invar-
iably praised for being an
'active' member — rather
than a pious Jew? That is a
real commentary on our
times.
"Inflation is still the chief
economic concern of Ameri-
cans— according to a recent
AP poll report. The cost of
operating the synagogues is
constantly rising, thus
creating further critical fi-
nancial burdens to houses of
worship. When we look at
the synagogue's annual
operating budget — I think
we all finally know what
God's first name is — 'Good
. . . 'Good God!' "
Adult Education
Series Is Slated
"Roots in Religion" is the
theme of the adult educa-
tion series program which
will be presented at the
synagogue by the sisterho
of Cong. Beth Achim.,
A study of the prayers for
the High Holy Days
entitled, "An Evening With
Cantor Bermanis," will
take place 8 p.m. Tuesday in
the synagogue.
Culminating the series
will be "An Evening With
Rabbi Arm" which will in-
clude the philosophy of the
High Holy Days. That pro-
gram will take place 8 p.m.
Sept. 25 in the synagogue.
Guests are invited. There
is no charge, and refresh-
ments will be served.
Adult Education Com-
mittee chairmen are: Alice
Bermanis, Marcia Davis
and Annie Friedgian.
r.