THE JEWISH NEWS
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Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with the issue of July 20, 1951
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PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
ALAN HITSKY
News Editor
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
HEIDI PRESS
Associate News Editor
DREW LIEBERWITZ
Advertising Manager
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fourth day of Elul, 5743,
the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9.
Prophetical portion, Isaiah 51:12-52:12.
Candlelighting, Friday, Aug. 12, 8:18 p.m.
VOL. LXXXIII, No. 24
Page Four
Friday, August 12, 1983
INTERNATIONALIZED VENOM
Once again, the arena intended for the
search for and assurance of peace was used to
implant hatred.
At the United Nations, Israel again was a
target for attack and it became necessary for
that nation's representative to assert that Israel
"simply cannot get a fair deal in this (Security)
Council"; that by devoting a third to half of its
time to Israel, in the form of accumulating
venom, "the sad fact is that this Council has
over the year systematically disqualified itself
from helping to negotiate peace."
The United States alone upholds its integ-
rity as a democratic and human force in the
world organization.
Who is to be blamed for this? Of course, it is
primarily the hatemongering inspired by the
Soviet Union that is a major cause for the hatred
for one of the smallest nations in the world.
Primarily, the Western Powers are to
blame. They join in condemning a tragic occur-
rence in Hebron, refusing to take into account
the state of horror it created for the Israelis
themselves. The British hypocritically ignore
the agonies they suffer in Ireland on a much
vaster scale than what has happened in Hebron.
With the French, who still sing the glories of
"Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite," they submit to
the poisoning of the international organization
by Arabs and the Soviet representatives. Thus,
the sanctimonious keep condemning Israel,
none, other than the U.S., having the courage to
speak out for justice.
SAD NOTE AT REUNION
In addition to reconstructing the story of an
isolated American concession to the ironies of
the last war, by permitting 982 sufferers from
the Nazi curse to come to this country on what
was to be a temporary haven as recorded in her
noteworthy book, "Haven," Ruth Gruber also
arranged for a reunion of some from that group
of the rescued who were finally permitted to
remain in this country by order of President
Truman who corrected the restricted original
grant of President Roosevelt.
At that reunion last week, in New York in
LIBRARY VS. CURFEW
Library services are being curtailed and ,
the existence of many of them are endangered
by the nation's economic chaos. It is a tragic
experience, and the pleaders for retention of
cultural and economic merits are naturally
moved to protest curtailments and to organize
to demand emphasis on priorities for educa-
tional purposes.
The pleaders for the libraries utilize their
idealism to oppose curfews, such as have been
imposed by the mayor of Detroit. They argue
that libraries can keep the idled off the streets.
JTA
A Dover Publication
Synagogue's Historic Role
Architecturally Defined
Architecture and history are notably linked in a most impressive
photographic anthology.
This is how the United States is disgraced
Oscar Israelowitz, eminent both as architect and historian, pro-
and venom internationalized.
vides a fascinating story of the houses of worship compiled in
"Synagogues of New York City" (Dover Publications).
The photographs of 123 synagogues, five multicolored, many of
them with remarkable records, combine to present the historic record
while evaluating the synagogue itself and the idyllic principles that
Therefore, not to be forgotten is the fact
elevate the house of worship, and its accompanying study rooms, into
that even during the Franco era there were re- . the most important aspects of Jewish devotions.
Congregation Shearith Israel was the first synagogue to be estab-
jections of Nazi pressures, Jewish refugees were
permitted to use Spain as a corridor leading to lished in New York City. It was organized by a group of Dutch Jewish
immigrants, approximately two minyanim. The full-sized Shearith
escape and thousands thus were able to survive
Israel structure was erected in 1730.
with Spain as a road to safety.
Through the two centuries, many immigrants from many parts
It must also be recorded that during World
of the world came to New York, and their synagogues mirrored their
War I, Spain also was the means of saving many
lives, reflected their backgrounds, served to illustrate experiences
Jews, and the great Jewish scholar and Zionist
symbolic of the changing generations but perpetuating the past.
leader, Max Nordau, was among them.
Israelowitz has both compiled the book, collecting for it the im-
There was a noble spark even in the worst, . portant photographs of the defined synagogues, and has written an
explanatory introduction that in itself is an important essay on the
days of Spain's history. Perhaps it is being lit
synagogue with emphasis on the New York roles.
again in the evidence of sparks of liberalism.
The synagogues under view and elaboration are in Manhattan,
Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island.
In his definitive essay he presents the basic principles finding the
synagogue's place in Jewish life. While a synagogue can emerge when
it has a minyan, 10 adherents and observers, there are Halakhic
the Gruber apartment, there was a sad com-
prescriptions and the author of this impressive work elaborates. A
ment: one of the survivors lamented that the
synagogue must be the tallest building in the community, but it is
children are showing little interest in the re-
qualified, under difficult situations, when Jews are a minority in the
population.
minders of the Holocaust and in the historic
event that followed, as told in "Haven."
Then, Israelowitz points out, the synagogue should have windows
to make it possible for worshipers to see the Heavens and "achieve a
favorable frame of mind for prayer. The windows should face
This is another indication of indifference
Jerusalem."
that often plagues the continuity of Jewish ex-
Israelowitz adds that according to an accepted source there
perience. But it also marks a general indif-
should be 12 windows, symbolizing the Twelve Tribes.
ference. There is usually an awakening. If it
Then there is the Ark containing the Scrolls of the Law, and it
doesn't come too late, there is cause for relief
must face the east, toward Jerusalem.
from such repetitive sadness.
Of special interest is the reference to the rule set forth by
Maimonides that the Bima, Alememar in the Sephardic tradition,
must be in the center of the synagogue, for the entire congregation to
hear the Torah reading. Until the Haskala period of Enlightenment
this was the customary practice, and then it was altered by the
Reform movement in Germany in the 19th Century. The change to
the front of the sanctuary became a general practice, as it is now in
Would that such were a truthful judgment.
most synagogues.
The fact is that those who love to read can
Oscar Israelowitz performs a remarkable service with his un-
and probably do it at home, provided, of course,
usually interesting collection of photos and descriptive comments on
that the home encourages it. This is where the
the New York synagogues. Each listing is a saga all its own. With
problem commences: that the home is the
each synagogue listing there is the crediting of the architects and this
obstruction.
work also serves as an anthology of noted architects. Thus, this book
combines history and architecture with commendable skill.
The battle must be carried to a finish in
This 'splendidly illuminated volume is restricted to the syna-
defense of the library. Tragically, one of its re-
gogues of New York. It serves as an encouragement to architects and
synagogue administrators countrywide to emulate the example. Syn-
pelling obstacles is the weakened home spirit.
agogue history contributes toward recording and perpetuating
That's why the curfew probably remains a
knowledge about Jewry in America and merits the accumulation of
necessity.
the facts on a wider scale.
SPAIN AND ISRAEL
Spain, with the stain of the Inquisition on
its record, also had a number of years of reactio-
nary oppression on its record. There were dic-
tatorial periods and a resultant agony was a
civil war.
This land that suffered many iniquities
chose to be in the anti-Israel ranks, discriminat-
ing on a government basis for many years, vot-
ing against Israel where that was possible.
Now there is a sign of corrective moods.
Israel's El Al Airline will have connections with
Spain and there are other signs of improving
relations.
Am.