-M DETROIT JEWISH NEWS- We Fence Everything bruce m. weiss M 1:la Jewelers 26325 Twelve Mile Rd. Southeast corner Northwestern Behind Gabe's Fruits In The Mayfair Shops FENCE COMPANY 20160 Sherwood Detroit, MI 48234 bership moved five times until the congregation built its own building in Farmington Hills in 1971. In 1979, the temple became the center of a communal con- troversy when it sponsored a talk by Palestinian sym- pathizer I. F. Stone. The Rab- binical Commission of the Jewish Community Council, then headed by Rabbi Israel Halpern, former spiritual leader of Cong. Beth Abraham Hillel Moses, sent Rabbi Wine a letter of censure "for provid- ing I. F. Stone a platform from which to espouse his pro-PLO, anti-Israel views. We believe that the congregation and its rabbi owe an apology to the Jewish community." At the same time, Halpern wrote that the commission respects "the right of organizations and in- dividuals to espouse any view- point." Wine and then president Lynne Silverberg responded strongly: "Our congregation is com- posed of members whose opin- ions on political and Zionist is- sues cover a wide spectrum. We are willing to listen to ideas we may ultimately dis- agree with, because we firmly believe in the value of open in- quiry and free speech. Jewish survival and dignity are as important to us as to you. We would never sponsor any speaker who would harm the Jewish people or the state of Israel. "We believe that the Detroit Jewish community should enjoy the same liberties as the citizens of Israel. They par- ticipate in a free and open de- bate on all political issues. They do not choose to muzzle opponents of the government. They do not confuse honest disagreement with treason. "We believe that you owe an apology to I. F. Stone and to the Birmingham Temple for your intemperate action. For- bidding dissent is a dangerous precedent, which does you lit- tle honor." There were no further com- munications between the local rabbinical commission and the Birmingham Temple and the issue was dropped. The philosophy or ideology Friday, April li:ib85 47 of the congregation is based on man's potential, on reason, on reality, on that which can be proved. Rather than denying outright the existence of God, Humanistic Jews question that existence. Wine doesn't see himself as an agnostic but as ignostic, "someone who will only accept the truth of state- ments that can be empirically proved." With this declaration in the 1960s, a virtual explosion rocked the religious world, drawing ire from the Jewish clergy and the non-Jewish clergy as well. In a Detroit News column in 1965, The Rt. Rev. Richard S. Emrich, Epis- copal Bishop of Michigan, criticized Wine, not for preach- ing a God-less religion, but for preaching under the title of rabbi his own "traditions" rather than those which have come down through the ages. At the same time, Rabbi Solomon B. Freehof, one of the earliest Reform rabbis to be ordained at the Hebrew Union College and a pioneer as a Re- form Jewish author of Re- Mon.-Sat. 10-5:30 Thurs. 10-8:30 353-1424 892-4400 754-3333 Specialists In Rousing Pest Control Pilo 546-6200 ERADICO PEST CONTROL 1030 WOODWARD HGTS. FERNDALE, MICH. 48220 • PROFESSIONAL, QUALITY SERVICE FOR HOME, APARTMENT AND INDUSTRY • SERVICING SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN FOR 50 YEARS IN ALL PHASES OF PEST CONTROL REASONABLE RATES FREE ESTIMATES PLAY STRUCTURES For Fun At Home 70 11140 . I I Extra Heavy-Duty Construction To Last A Lifteime Sold With or Without Installation parts & supplies available Visit Our Display in West Bloomfield at 7545 Pontiac Trail Continued on next page 1/2 Mile East of Haggerty Road Buy Direct From The Manufacturer For Additional info please write or call: Zev Katz and thirdly in the research aspect, whereby materials are prepared, theoretical foundations are examined and study conducted on the humanistic elements of the Talmud. Like its American coun- terpart, Humanistic Judaism in Israel was met with much opposition from the Orthodox establish- ment. According to Katz, the Orthodox made efforts to prevent the movement from gaining recognition. As an example he cited an inci- dent regarding religious programming on the state radio. 'Although Humanis- tic Jews appear on many non-religious radio pro- grams, they "never got a mention that the group exists" on religious pro- grams, Katz said. Yet, the society's president,. Prof. Yehudah Bauer of Hebrew University, has appeared on many Israeli TV pro- grams. Wine said the Orthodox oppose the movement be- cause they see no lasting value in it. However, Katz said that the society does not want to create friction or offend the Orthodox. Rather, he would like to see an effort "to break the monotony of the Orthodox rabbinate," whereby there would be equality and recognition of the non- Orthodox. How would he achieve that aim? At the in- itiative of the secular humanists, a coalition has been established on pre- venting further legislation which would be a detriment to such groups as academic organizations, a r- ch eol ogists , civil rights women's movements, groups, the Reform, Con- servative and humanist groups and others. "We have to . work to- gether against the monolithic Orthodox rab- binate in Israel. We have to fight for the future, not just for survival. Survival is not enough. We want to survive in the light of the great moral-spiritual tradition of the Jews. Currently, the humanist movement is most popular in the kibbutzim. Wine said he hopes to see a greater participation from the urban centers. Katz would like to create a section corn- prised of "creative people," artists, writers, musicians and actors. In addition, Katz said he would like to see a re- evaluation of Judaism. "Judaism has to be reinter- preted in a modern humanistic way. This is es- sential for the survival of the Jewish people, for Is- rael, and this is essential as part of the progress in man- kind together. All religions will have to move to what is a humanistic interpreta- tion . ." Guffrey Products 6346 Orchard Lake Rd., Suite 201 W. Bloomfield, MI 48033 855-0676 • • • • • • • • •• • • • • 4114 • • • • • • • • • • • ID • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Latest In Equipment • • Immediate Installation • • One Stop Shopping • • • Buy • • Lease-Purchase • • Safety • • • • Convenience • • • Turn Travel Time Into Productive Time • • • Briefcase Phones • • • Low Cost Insurance • • • Best Prices MANY STYLES TO • CHOOSE FROM CELLULAR MOBILE TELEPHONES • • • • • • • • Free Demonstration R4M #1 • In Cellular • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 0 • Let's Talk : 552-1111 • e • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •