THE JEWISH NEWS
(USPS 275-520)
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle 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 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075
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CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
HEIDI PRESS
Assistant News Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 14th day of Sivan, 5739, the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Numbers 4:21-7:89. Prophetical portion, Judges 13:2-25.
Candle lighting, Friday, June 8, 8:48 p.m.
VOL. LXXV, No. 14
Page Four
Friday, June 8, 1979
HEBREW SCHOOLS AT 60
Sixty years of United Hebrew Schools serv-
ices provide an historical background of so
many contributions to the development of this
community, such a vast field of involvements,
that the anniversary now being observed marks
one of the major interests in Greater Detroit
Jewry's record of influence and achievement.
A number of the country's most noted schol-
ars were in the cast that provided nobility to the
creative cultural achievements attributed to
the communal school system here.
Thousands benefited from the educational
processes of the local schools. Hundreds are in
the ranks of the graduates.
Many of Detroit's community leaders re-
ceived their Jewish education in the United He-
brew Schools, and the inspiration that stemmed
from their association with the Hebraic and re-
lated studies made many of them more valuable
to the civic function, to the nation and to the
basic American ideals.
The experiences of the past 60 years suggest
guidelines for the future. The community has
changed. American Jewry is no longer an
immigrant-based element. The overwhelming
majority of the p6ople now are native born.
Therfore, the children must draw upon Ameri-
can records of Jewish creativity as an indelible
part of world Jewish history. The rebirth of Is-
rael now is part of the lives of the new genera-
tion of Jews. It is different from the world of
their parents who were called upon to be among
the builders of Zion. This, too, is a factor in
current educational planning.
Much has happened in the six decades of
communal changes. The teaching staffs have
experienced evolutions comparable to those in
the student body. There are more native-born
teachers than in the past and they relate to the
student body.
The changes also affect enrollments. The
number of children declines with the differing
birth rates. These are matters that have their
influence upon the schools.
With traditions of prideful results to be
judged by, the United Hebrew Schools now
enter upon the seventh decade of existence with
an inspiration rooted in a past marked by
noteworthy achievements. Leaning upon them,
the community surely entertains the hope of a
continuity meriting the legacies provided by the
educational tasks of parents and students dedi-
cated to the major obligation in Jewish life, that
of teaching by the elders, learning by the chil-
dren. In this spirit go forth the greetings to the
United Hebrew Schools on 60 years of
knowledge-providing to a great community.
'MAKING MANY BOOKS'
Continuing as a reality expressed in
Ecclesiastes 12:12, that "of the making of many
books there is no end," the current experiences
gather new encouragement.
A variety of subjects currently are enriching
the results of many publishing houses. The
Holocaust certainly - has not been ignored. The
subject is being thoroughly reviewed and it is
heartening to know that the tragic occurrences
are not being forgotten, that history is kept
alive for the sake of preventing anything like
genocide from being repeated. _
Biographical studies also have a role in the
tasks to advance interest in books, and this, too;
is heartening. Knowing people leads to under-
standing occurrences in life and viewpoints,
especially when they encourage differing opin-
ions, and are valuable in a civilized society.
Especially noteworthy at this time is the in-
troduction of a series of children's books by the
Jewish Publication Society of America. This is
an especially encouraging realization that the
major Jewish publishing society, the non-profit
JPS, takes into -account the importance of
juveniles. Many problems can be solved with
knowledge and the parent has an obligation to
the child to direct him or her to proper reading.
_ The reading of Jewish books is a special need,
and by starting the child on the proper road in
the selection of books the parent can be the
better home-builder.
While giving recognition to the consistency
with which the Jewish Publication Soviety has
made possible the publication of many classical
works, credit is due, for similar efforts, to the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations and
the Hebrew Union College, the Rabbinical As-
sembly and the Jewish Theological Seminary,
Yeshiva University and all on a non-profit
basis. The works issued by these organizations
and religious movements could not possibley be
best-sellers. They are, however, the results of
research, of scholarship, of the need to enrich
learning.
On occasions, publishing houses with profit
motives also produce works of merit for schol-
ars. These can be encouraged only when there is
a readership.
Support of publishing houses that produce the
best in Jewish reading material is vital to the
needs of all who are concerned about building a
good Jewish life.
PATIENCE IN M.E.
Nothing could be more confu s . ing about the
continuing negotiations between Israel and
Egypt than the endlessly changing viewpoints
in the press and among commentators.
The slightest incident is exaggerated and the
serious ones like the violence that broke out
between settlers in North Sinai refusing to
leave the farm they had nurtured and the Is-
raeli soldiers is treated as if it were a civil war
riot.
There are differences of opinion among Is-
raelis and that is natural in a genuine democ-
racy. It takes time but matters eventually are
adjusted. They may not heal, but in a civilized
society concessions are understood and ac-
cepted.
Similarly, there are vast differences between
Sadat and Begin, but the confidence of a Henry
Kissinger in the eventual coming-to-terms is
more real than that of a commentator who looks
for faults in order to sensationalize.
4.171-A
Dr. Solomon B. Freehof's
Commentary on 'Jeremiah'
Dr. Solomon B. Freehof has gained the distinction of being the
outstanding authority on "Responsa" in world Jewry. The "Responsa"
bookshelf is rich with the many volumes he has by-lined.
On behalf of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
publishers of the series that expanded with the publication of
"Jeremiah," Dr. Freehof is acclaimed in an introductory comment by
Rabbi Daniel Syme, former Detroiter who is now in an executive
capacity for UAHC in New York. Rabbi Syme paid honor to Dr.
Freehof on his 85th birthday.
In his commentary, Dr. Freehof reviews Jeremiah's experiences,
his exile to Egypt, his sermons-and projects. He describes the activi-
ties of Jeremiah's secretary, Baruch, and the role of the latter.
Dr. Freehof makes a
thorough study of the personal-
ity of the Prophet Jeremiah.
This is his interesting descrip-
tion of the prophetic work:
"The Book of Jeremiah is by
far the richest of all biblical
books in biographical mate-
rial. There is a record of the
actual events as they occurred:
Jeremiah put into the stocks,
put into a cell, put into a
muddy pit; Jeremiah dictating
his sermons to his friend and
secretary, Baruch; the text of
the scroll, cut up and burned in
the presence of the king;
Jeremiah dictating to a larger
text of his prophecy; Jeremiah
buying land in his hometown of
Anathoth; the method by
which -he preserved the legP1
papers involved, his convei
tion with the general of
SOLOMON FREE HOF
conquering Babylonian army;
his being virtually kidnapped and taken away by the Judean refugees
to Egypt."
Magnificent in its brevity, this description gives an excellent
account of the Jeremiah whose Jeremiads have left their impact on
the history of the Prophet's time.
The career ofJeremiah anti the nature-of the commentary receive
due attention.
As commentator, Dr. F-reeliof also emerges as the scholar who has
mastered his theme and analyzes it historically.
The tragic life and career ofJeremiah receive thorough study and
includes this descriptive commentary by Freehof:
"Of course much of Jeremiah's inner sorrow was the reflection of
his outer miseries; and much that made his life miserable might never
have happened to him in another period of history. He was charged
with being a traitor because of his opposition to what he considered a
futile revolt against the mighty military powers. He was hated. He
was imprisoned. He was saved. His works were burned and written
again and preserved.
"The last king of Judah, Zedekiah, summoned him to seek his
help and sought to protect him against his enemies. He was bef-
riended by the Babylonian conquerors when Jerusalem was destroyed
in 586. Then there was a murderous revolt among the remnant left in
Judea, and he was taken by the refugees into Egypt, where appar-
ently he died and vanished from history."
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