Jewish Life June 1948

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Voi. XV. No. 5 Tune. 1948

::

Sivan, 5708

Saul Bernstein, Editor Leo S. Hilsenrad, Associate Editor Editorial Associates: Dr. Samuel Nirenstein, Rabbi Asher Siev. Sol Nodel, Art Director C O N T E N T S EDITORIALS ___ „______L ________________ _______________ __ ______ ¡I§§...... . 1 THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CONVENTION „........ ...........B — Saul Bernstein 3 THE LAND OF SINIM (A Story) _____ l .......„............. ................... A. A. Davidson 13 ISRAEL IN THE TEST OF REALITY ......... ______ .....-------------- ----- Moshe Krone 18 YOUTH AND RELIGION------- ------------------- -------------------------Israel Abraham s 23 THE RABBINICAL COUNCIL LOOKS AHEAD ___ ___ ------------ ----Morris Max 30 A NATIONAL GATHERING OF SISTERHOODS ...... ......Elizabeth K. Isaacs 35 A LETTER _____ ____ _________ ____________________________ A. Leo Levin 39 NEW AMERICANS ON THE RELIGIOUS SCEN E.............. ............Isaac N. Trainin 41 YESHIVATH BNEI AKIVA ________________ „....„------------------------ Jacob Cohn 43 LET US LOOK TO OUR OWN ..... ................... ........................Charles Shoulson 48 THE WOMEN'S BRANCH. UOJCA— 25 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT ^ j j g P ....................Selma Freedman 51 MEMOIRS OF BERNARD DRACHMAN (Book Review) .........David De Sola Pool 57 A RELIGIOUS APPROACH TO SCIENCE (Book Review) ........... Israel Goldstein 58 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ..._____ !________ ____ ____ _______ | ------------- --- 59 FOR OUR YOUTH........ .............................. ......Edited by Chayah Bath-Ami 60 Treasury of Hebrew Words ...... . 60 Meir Ben Isaac of O rleans .....______ 61 "Come to the Point" ^ ---- ...-----60 Uri Rejoices ----------------—------------------- . 61 KASHRUTH DIRECTORY ----------------------------------- ---------------- ------— -------- 78 EXCERPTS SELECTED AND TRANSLATED BY NATHAN DRAZIN Permission to reprint material from JEW ISH LIFE granted upon written request. JEWISH LIFE (successor to the “Orthodox Union” ) is published bi-monthly except August (five times a year). Subscription $1.25 one year; $2.25 — 2 years; $3.00 — 3 years. Published by the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, 305 Broadway, New York 7, N . Y. O fficers: Samuel Nirenstein, President \ Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein, William Weiss, Honorary Presidents; William B. Herlands, Benjamin Koenigsberg, David Levine, Sam­ uel Mellitz, M. Morton Rubenstein, Vice-Presidents; Joseph Schlang, Secretary; S. Bendheim, Treasurer; Leo S. Hilsenrad, Executive Director; Saul Bernstein, Assoc. Executive Director .

I S R A E L T H E Jewish Declaration of Inde- pendence as the State of Israel af­ fects immediately only a small frac­ tion of the world’s population yet is unquestionably one of the decisive events of history. Indeed, it is not far-fetched to say that history itself rilay be read in the light of this event, even as the Departure from Egypt conditioned the destiny of mankind. To the religious mind, the two are co-extensive—both manifest the W ill of G-d penetrating through the narrow sphere of human purpose. The effect of the establishment of the Israeli state upon the lives of the Jewish people everywhere will be, must necessarily be, revolutionary. Let us frankly appraise our position up to this point: the forces of pres­ ent-day society, in all their mass weight, have been crushing us to ex­ tinction. Our spiritual life has been undermined by disbelief and assimilationism; the rise of exclusive nation­ alism has made our political status an anomaly; the Jew occupies but a marginal place in industrial econo­

my; our cultural life finds but thin soil in which to strike root; and the shadows which hang over our social status refuse to dispel. From the po­ groms of Czarist Russia to the spread of systematic Jew-hatred throughout the modernized lands, and finally to the orgiastic madness that was Nazi Germany, a pattern of terrible in­ evitability has become revealed to all. T H E very birth of the Jewish state A is being achieved in the face of the concentrated fury of anti-Israel. The fearful war in which the Yishuv is engaged permits of no thoughts of easy victory. Nor will the close of military operations leave an unob­ structed road to Jewish freedom. It is clearly the fate of our generation to battle unceasingly for the life of our people—and for all which it per­ sonifies. But now, with the actuality o f the Commonwealth of Israel, we face the world with a new spirit and the world gazes upon us with new eyes. The realization that the Jew is no longer a helpless outcast has already

This issue of JEWISH LIFE is published later than its regular schedule in order to include reports of the recently-held Conventions of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the Women’s Branch, UOJCA and the Rabbinical Council of America.

had a profound psychological effect upon both Jew and non-Jew. Its ef­ fect will become increasingly marked in the future. The virile spirit of the Yishuv will be reflected in the changed character of the Goluth Jew; his right to live, and to live as he believes, will no longer be wholly subject to the urges of a gentile world. More important than the social ad­ justment will be the spiritual. This most remarkable of developments in Ithe unique saga of Jewish history, the re-establishment of its state after nineteen centuries of exile, defies rationalization in the accepted cri­ teria of social studies. It is a demon­ stration of the unchanged purpose of the Source of all power which the Jewish people will not fail to recog­ nize. We are a wanted, not an un­ wanted, people. This truth, as it sinks deep into the minds of our people, will impel us the more surely to our true vocation as a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation”. W ill it not be borne home, too, to mankind at large, and may we not look for the truly G-d-fearing of all peoples to find themselves strengthened there­ by ? W e may justly hope, therefore, that the Commonwealth of Israel, dedicated to sanctity, will find peace, will grow and be fruitful, bearing forward Israel in all the lands of the Dispersion, laying the founda­ tion for the Brotherhood of Man and glorifying the name of the King of Israel. 2

MORRIS ENGELMAN We record with sorrow the pass­ ing of Morris Engelman, for fifty years a member of the Executive Committee of the Union o f Ortho­ dox Jewish Congregations of Amer­ ica and throughout his life a selfsacrificing worker for the Jewish people and the Jewish faith. One of the original founders of the Union, he was one of its most active workers throughout the half-century up to its Golden Jubilee. It was characteristic of Morris Engelman that he was a link, not only with a past age of American Jewry, but with its future. Hismind, youth­ ful and vigorous to the end, was ever productive of original and forwardlooking plans for Jewish develop­ ment. A long list of Jewish causes have benefited from his suggestions. Not the least of Morris Engelman’s achievements, and one indeed for which all Jewry is everlastingly in­ debted to him, was his fathering of* the Joint Distribution Committee and of its predecessor, the Central Relief Committee. A familiar and ever-welcome figure in the office of JEWISH LIFT, Mor­ ris Engelman shall be missed among us with enduring regret. We offer deepest sympathy to his bereaved family and join with his innumerable admirers s in the heartfelt tribute: Zichrono h Livro chah. J ewish LIFE

The Golden Jubilee Convention By SAUL BERNSTEIN lvLTOW was tKe Convention?” “Was it a success V’ These questions have been asked during the past weeks throughout the Jewish world, and particularly in the realm of Orthodoxy. A 50th Anniversary Convention, after all, is a rare occurrence. And when, as in the case of the Golden Jubilee Convention of the Union of Or­ thodox Jewish Congregations of America, held on May 23rd and 24th at Yeshiva University, New York, .this occasion coincides with so epochal an event as the proc­ lamation of the State of Israel, its inherent significance is further en­ hanced. Accordingly, the abovequoted queries are apt to be put with note of keen, interest. Fortunately, they can be answered with a meas­ ure of precision. The Golden Ju­ bilee! Convention was an impressive event, a truly important experience; an immediate success, as a convo­ cation of orthodox forces, it prom­ ises to yield far-reaching conse­ quences in its ultimate effect. THE CONVENTION SCENE

■fXTHILE the needs of religious VV Jewry dictated that the two brief days occupied by the Conventi6n be devoted to practical affairs June, 1948

rather than pageantry, the physical setting and the human drama were nevertheless colorful and impres­ sive. Yeshiva University proved to be a happy choice of locale. The dis­ tinctive beauty of its buildipgs and spaciousness of its modern facilities in themselves contributed to the spirit of constructive achievement which characterized the Convention. The great lobby in the main Yeshi­ va building was utilized for a re­ markable exhibition of the work and acomplishments of the Union and its affiliates and its member syna­ gogues. Throughout the Convention these exhibits were viewed by throngs of appreciative delegates and visitors who .again and again expressed their pleasure at the or­ iginality and artistic merits of the work shown. The central exhibit, created by Sol Nodel, Art Director of Jewish Life, portrayed the his­ tory, structure, achievements and functions of UOJCA, and its affilié ates, the Women’s Branch, the Rab­ binical Council of America, Koheles and Ner Mitzvah. The exhibits of the Union’s publications, of J EWiSft Life and of the many food and kindred products manufactured un­ der the Union’s Kashruth super­ vision and bearing the © seal of 3

endorsement produced a most favor­ able impression. A remarkable vari­ ety and number of synagogue bul­ letins, publications and other spec­ ial synagogue projects were on dis­ play. Many delegates made notes of the materials with a view to intro­ ducing them in their own syna­ gogues. ^■HE total effect of these exhibits was one of power, purpose and creativeness. Rarely before, if ever, have the abilities and. accomplish­ ments of orthodox congregational life been so graphically demon­ strated. Amidst the impressive Yeshiva University setting, they formed an, appropriate background for the atmosphere of broad-vision­ ed yet practical purpose which per­ vaded the Golden Jubilee Conven­ tion from first to, last. It was this atmosphere which was the most remarkable aspect of the occasion. For while the hundreds of delegates present formed prob­ ably- the largest deliberative as­ semblage in the history of Ameri­ can orthodox congregations, and while the number of areas repre­ sented, practically every state in the Union, exceeded that of any previous gathering, it was the char­ acter rather than the quantity of the representation which made his­ tory. The delegates, the majority of whom seemed to personify the fusion of Torah Judaism with the American environment, had come to do a job of work—and stuck to their job. Each one, too, had come armed with a clear perspective of the problems of religious Jewry, 4

with a grasp of its capabilities, with an enlightened understanding of its historic needs. There was ample sober realism and there was indestructible self-confidence, faith and determination. THE PROGRAM

■J’HE Convention program concen­ trated upon intensive rather than extensive objectives and was designed to utilize the energies and abilities of every delegate. Even the opening session, tradi­ tionally an occasion for rhetoric rather than action, manifested this . fact. Following the opening prayer, offered by Rabbi Israel Miller of the Kingslbridge Heights Jewish Center, New York, a message of welcome was presented by William Weiss, former president of UOJCA, who gave a succinct resume of the organization's past 50 years of ac­ tivity. Mr. Weiss, pointing to the con­ tinuing preponderance of orthodox adherents among American Jews, remarked that “the organizational disunity of American orthodoxy in< vites further inroads from dogmas which weaken the structure and fiber of Jewish life . . . let us re­ solve without further delay to form a more cohesive phalanx to uphold the tenets of the Torah in every nook and corner of this country.” 5 Dwelling upon the world Jewish scene, he declared that “We rejoice in the proclamation of the State of Israel, hail the bravery of our breth­ ren in Eretz Israel, and pledge them our spiritual, moral and finan­ cial support.” He was followed by J ewish LIFE

Dr. Samuel Nirenstein addressing a Joint Session of the Golden Jubilee Convention.

Rabbi Morris Max, Executive Vicepresident of the Rabbinical Council of America, who gave a comprehen­ sive report, both factual and inter­ pretive, of the recently-concluded R.C.A. convention. Then Dr. Sam­ uel Nirenstein, President of the Union, delivered an address which formed the prevailing theme of the Convention: “Torah Jewry Faces the Decisive Era.,, lJ BHE reports of regional chairmen and spokesmen which followed the opening addresses evoked gen­ eral discussion which was marked by frank appraisals of the position and needs of orthodox Jewry in each area. While many topics were dwelt upon in this forum, points repeatedly stressed were the disJ une, 1948

parity between the sturdy vitality of the orthodox congregations, il­ lustrated by their undiminished numbers and their procreation of believing, observant, Jewishly-orientated Jews, and the weak finan­ cial structures, outmoded facilities, poor sites and inadequate social programs often found among them. Several speakers pointed to the critical need for modern Talmud Torah text-books and syllabi con­ forming to orthodox beliefs, in the .absence of which, it was noted, schools were using text-books and other materials which grossly dis­ torted or transgressed Jewish con­ cepts. Many participants cited in­ stances of losses suffered through the lack of centralized orthodox effort on a nation-wide scale di­ ra

developments during the past five years. Mr. Hilsenrad noted that 237 new congregations had become af­ filiated during this period. He also reported that many new pamphlets and booklets had been published, in­ cluding : The Torah's Method of Prayer, The Sabbath, The Jewish Dietary Laws, Shechitah, Chanu­ kah, Purim, Passover, Shovuoth, The High Holy Days, Jewish Fam­ ily Life, I Send My Child to He­ brew School, and several others, all of them under the editorship of the Rabbinical Council of America and with a combined distribution of many; hundreds of thousands of copies; that the publication of three vastly successful publications, the annual Year Book, the monthly bul­ letin Synagogue Guide and the na­ tional magazine J ewish Life, had been launched; the UOJCA Pocket Diary had likewise been successfully introduced; that the Orthodox Book Service had been established and service material, such as Bar Mitzvah certificates, Family Records, Forms, Membership Certificates, had been produced; and that pro­ gram aids of various kinds such as A 0uide to an Adult Education Program and A Model Progdam for the Talmud Torah had been pub­ lished, and a great variety of services performed. The financial structure of the organization, he showed, had been placed on a firm foundation and the prestige of the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT Union had risen in every respect. ■PHE Luncheon session included The Union’s Kashruth work, carried A report by Leo S. Hilsenrad, Ex­ on in cooperation with the Rab­ ecutive Director of UOJCA, cover­ binical Council, had expanded vast­ ing the organization’s activities and ly, Mr. Hilsenrad showed. Over 100 J ewish LIFE 6

rected to every area of Jewish life and employing the combined weight of orthodox resources. It was again and again affirmed that if Ortho­ doxy had technical equipment on a scale comparable to that of non­ orthodox groups it could achieve revolutionary results. § The discussion brought to light numerous signs of practical pro­ gress. A, characteristic example, cited by Benjamin F. Pollack of Washington, D.C., was the merging in his city of three congregations which* transcending all parochial interests, had combined their assets in the construction of a single new structure. The new structure, to cost / $750,000.00, would provide them with superb facilities of every kind at a favored location. Dr. Benjamin E. Bahn, President of the Massachusetts Region of the Union, evoked close interest with a report describing the growth of this regional group within a few months from three to thirty mem­ ber synagogues and the tangible benefits already gained thereby. Not the least of these benefits, he indicated, was the instantly aug­ mented prestige gained in the com­ munity at large, including the press, which otherwise tended to treat the orthodox group, despite its preponderance of numbers, as if it were an insignificant minor­ ity.

Convention visitors view a section of the UOJCA Exhibit.

nationally-distributed p r o d a 'c t s situation quite unusual in the his­ 'covering the broadest variety of tory of the Union and in that of food and . household purposes are most voluntary service organisa­ now under UOJCA supervision and tions, for there was actually compe­ hear the @ symbol, which has, be­ tition to achieve membership on the come a household word and accepted national Executive Committee 1 This as the authoritative symbol of Kash- was symptomatic of the outlook and ruth throughout the country; new temper of the delegates. During the applications for Union supervision past several years many Executive continue to be received constantly. Committee members, both lay and The Executive Director stressed Rabbinic, have contented them­ that the Union’s manifold functions selves with nominal efforts at par­ were being performed under the ticipation. The Nominations Com­ handicap of a very limited budget mittee, mindful of the urgent need and with a minimum staff. It was for active workers who are properly imperative, he stated, that many representative of the current gen­ new service functions be under­ eration of laity, undertook to rec­ taken to promote orthodox inter­ ommend for the Executive Com­ ests, which would necessitate addi­ mittee only such men as could ibe tional revenue. depended upon to take an active interest, play a working role and NOMINATIONS at the same time fully represent the ■J^HE Sunday afternoon session be­ broad range of synagogue member­ gan with a report of the Nomin­ ship throughout the country. ations Committee. Here developed a The response to their report demJune, 1948 7

onstrated (that there has come to the fore in the leadership of Ameri­ can Orthodoxy men who are aware of the dynamic action required to fufill the destiny of Torah Judaism in America and throughout the world, and prepared and equipped to undertake it. Since the Union is an organization of congregations, and ¡since our Rabbis now have their own splendidly functioning organi­ zation, the Rabbinical Council of

ion® President during the past six years, was re-elected to that office. Dr. Nirenstein, a graduate of Trin­ ity College whose academic degrees include an M.A. from the Univer­ sity of Pennsylvania and Psh.D. from Dropsie College, is a promin­ ent New York City and Westchester County attorney and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Yeshiva University, of the Executive Committee of the National Jewish

UOJCA Leaders at Convention:

(L to R) Standing: Judge Samuel Meilitz« David Levine« S. Bendheim, Joseph Schlang« Leo S. Hilsenrad, Saul Bernstein. Seated: Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein, Benjamin Koenigsberg, Dr. Samuel Nirenstein, William Weiss, Max Stem.

America, the prevalent feeling was that the Union’s new Executive Committee be predominantly of lay­ men. It augurs well for the future of Orthodoxy that there was no lack of qualified laymen to draw upon. In the elections which then took place forty laymen, drawn from every section of the country, were chosen, together with ten Rab­ bis. Dr. Samuel Nirenstein, the Un8

Welfare Board and of many other organizations. Newly-elected as Vice-Presidents were Samuel C. Feuerstein of Boston, an active leader in many Jewish causes, and David Levine of Kew Gardens, N.Y., where he was the founder and for several years the president of the thriving young Kew Gardens Synagogue. Re-elected as Vice-Pres­ idents were William B. Herlands, former New York City Commmissioner of Investigation; Samuel J ewish LIFE

gether covered the entire range of problems which concern the ortho­ dox Jew. Mrs. Isaacs viewed the quarter-century of partnership be­ tween thè Women's Branch and its parent body and portrayed the con­ structive results which had been achieved thereby. Yet, she pointed \ cut, it was vitally necessary that a program covering every area of Jewish life be instituted, one great­ ly exceeding in scope and intensity all previous efforts. .Rabbi Felman too, showed that the inter-relation­ A COMMON PLATFORM ship between the Union and the K T a two-fold public %session on RCA had resulted in a major im­ " ^ Sunday . afternoon the huge provement of the status of Ameri­ Lamport Auditorium of the Univer­ can Orthdoxy and. considered this sity was filled to its capacity. In as providing the necessary pre­ the interest of a sound appraisal requisite for action on the broad­ of the Convention, it should be noted est scale for mobilizing the forces that this was in contrast to the of Torah Judaism. He disclosed fact that at the sessions restricted to that the Rabbinical Council at delegates, the New York City rep­ recent Convention, had authorized resentatives, numerous as they participation in Joint Commissions were, actually were in less than with the Union, the Women's ¡j their proper proportion to those Branch, Yeshiva University and from the country at large, includ­ other, authoritative bodies to exe­ ing some from points asvdistant as cute isuch a program. Washington, California, Texas and Dr. Belkin too favored coopera­ Maine. tion between the Orthodox bodies The first part of the public ses­ and.maintained that the “accomp­ sion, with Judge Meliitz in_ the lishments of the Union of Orthodox chair, was a joint Union—Rabbini­ Jewish Congregations, the develop­ cal Council of America—Women's ment of the Yeshiva Day Schools Branch—Yeshiva University event, and other exclusively orthodox ac­ with Mrs. Moses L. Isaacs, Presi­ complishments testify that ortho­ dent of the Women's Branch, Rab­ bi Meir Felman, Chairman of the dox Jewry, unlike thè non-orthodox RCA Coordinating Committee and groups-, ,is not undergoing spiritual Dr: Samuel Belkin, President of eclipse." He noted that leaders of Yeshiva University speaking on be­ "non-orthodox groups themselves half of their respective bodies. testified to the expensive futility These addresses, which comple­ of their movement and stressed mented each other effectively, to­ that only upon the/basis of authenMellitz; Judge of the Connecticut Superior Court; Benjamin Koenigsberg, long active in New York City'& orthodox causes, and MV Morton Bubinstein, director of the Religious Groups Department of the Jewish National Fund. Siegfried Bendheim of the West Side Institu­ tional Synagogue, New York, and Joseph Schlang, of New York's Jew­ ish Center, were elected as Treasur­ er and Secretary, respectively.

1

: tic Jewish belief could American reel without Torah or a Torah Ju­ Jewry endure. daism without Eretis'Yisroel. .ModAn intriguing feature introduced ' ern American orthodoxy and the at this point was a brief salutation new State, must both build their „to the Hebrew Teachers’ Training future,-he declared, upon the basis School for Girls, an institution of their mutual interdependence. sponsored jointly -by the Union and ■ At the Convention Banquet, held p' its Women’s Branch. '■Besides ad­ on Sunday evening, the spirits of dresses by Max Stern and Mrs. the delegates found vent, as the Samuel Nirenstein, respectively -packed dining room of Yeshiva President and Cultural Chairman of University resounded with song af­ that institution,: a graduate of the ter song, traditional, modern and School, Mrs. Dora Buehwald Reich, Palestinian melodies, eloquent of and a student, Miss Rachael Koen- the feeling which moved all hearts. igsberg, each offered appropriate In addition to addresses by Dr. Nir­ remarks. This was succeeded by l enstein arid by Rabbis Uri Miller the awarding of a beautifully il­ and Israel Tabak, respectively out­ luminated scroll,^ in absentia, to going and incoming presidents of Morris. Engelman, for fifty years the Rabbinical Council, Benjamin a member of the Union’s Executive Cohen, Chilean statesman and Committee and a tireless leader in United Nations Assistant Secre­ many Jewish causes. tary-General, delivered an address The Eretz Yisroel session which on: “The United Nations.” Speak­ occupied most of the remainder of ing with restrained optimism on I the afternoon naturally formed a the potentialities of thaLbody, Mr. | g ^ a t “Tribute to the State of Is­ Cohen remarked in the course of v rael” at which the sentiments of his address that “if the United Na- all upon the re-establishment of Is­ tioms had done nothing else ¡but lay rael’s Commonwealth found free the foundation for the Jewish state expression. Rabbi Wolf Gold, Miz-^ it would have proven its worth.” raehi leader and member of the CHARTING THE FUTURE Provisional, Government *of Israel, principal speaker for the occasion, JJANEL sessions, designed to called upon his listeners to “Rejoice study and recommend practical but with a tremble in your heart,- courses of action in all fields and to knowing that the youth of Israel provide the necessary ways and are sacrificing their lives.” % He means occupied the morning and found a parallel in the efforts of part of the afternoon of Monday. the Union, which had .fought for The principal panels were one, true Judaism for fifty years, and headed by Albert Wald, which con­ those who had battled for the sidered the problems of “Mobiliz-y making of the Jewish state. Rabbi ing the Synagogue”, and another, Gold cautioned' that it is equally headed by David Levine, concerned impossible to have an Eretz Yis- with “A Practical Program for Or10

J ewish LIFE

tbodoxy.” The first-named panel also incorporated the Resolutions Committee, while /the latter also included the functions of a Budget and Finance Committee. In the fin­ al analysis, the key to the success of the Convention lay in the hands of these two groups, for it was their task to grapple with funda-, mentals and to chart the future of the organization. Their deliberations were unre­ mittingly thorough. Detailed stud­ less prepared by the Union over an extended period of time ,were util­ ized, as well as the experiences brought to light at previous ses­ sions and the individual contribu­ tions of the participants. The terms of reference Were: What steps must, be undertaken to assure the enduring future and fruition of a Torah- guided American Jewish Community; and,—the lines of ac­ tion being determined, how can they be immediately applied? T H E results may be summarized in the following digest of reso­ lutions of the respective panels, which were voted upon and carried at the final session; ' “Mobilizing fhe Synagogue” : The UOJCA shall: establish region­ al office^ in several major cities; form regional groups in areas not yet so organized; enroll the,ortho­ dox: synagogues not yet fully affili­ ated with the Union; engage Field Directors and Program Consultants to function both from the regional offices and the New York head­ quarters ; expand the Department of Youth Activities; organize noon-

hour study •and discussion groups at strategic locations in business and industrial districts of major cities; institute a network radio program to employ an original technique préisenting Jewish lore on a popular educational level; sponsor unified orthodox education commissions in the various communities; prepare Talmud Torah syllabi and publish specified basic text-books. The res­ olution further provided for “estab­ lishment of Joint Commissions com: prising UOJCA, RCA, Yeshiva Uni­ versity, Hebrew Theological Col­ lege, and other recognized 'orthodox agenciéis which will sponsor the above, UOJCA functions, coordinr ate them with the parallel programs of the several bodies and aid in financing them.” “A Practical Program for Or­ ganized Orthodoxy:” In order to finance and implement the above program, each Congrega­ tion shall, in addition to its pay* rnent of membership dues, which shall remain at the present nomin­ al figures, establish -a per capita dues payment to the Union of $1.00 per member per year. Upon the adoption by given congregations of the per capita plan, each member of" such congregation shall receive an ^annual subscription to our national magazine J ewish Life , without ad­ ditional cost. In addition, each Con­ gregation shall undertake an an­ nual quota for the Union’s Torah Extension Fund. It was the consensus of Conven­ tion opinion that the implementa­ tion by the various congregations of these simple yet comprehensive U

resolutions will produce major ben­ efits and will have a decisive bear­ ing on the position of the ortho­ dox synagogue within the Ameri­ can Jewish Community.

“Formally, this Golden Jubilee Con­ vention has come to its close, but in a very real sense it will long continue, for you delegates will ex­ tend its scope to your own commun­ ities and congregations. Fruitful as ■pHE final Convention session, held Convention has been in the on Monday afternoon,« besides the meeting of minds and the exchange giving study of the above resolu­ | of experience, forging bonds of tions debated a variety of others. solidarity and in in the undertaking Among the numerous resolutions of great plans, it will a his­ passed were: expressions of con­ tory-making event ifbecome each of us gratulation upon the establishment implements in his community the of State of Israel, addressed to President Chaim Weizman; a mes­ decision made here. Let us remem­ sage of appreciation to President ber always that the Union has only Truman for his prompt recognition such power and strength as its of Israel and urging the immediate members give it. “The orthodox Synagogue is the lifting of the arms embargo pre. sently victimizing the defenders of bedrock upon which American Jew­ Israel; urging the passage by the ry rests; Torah Jewry is the one U.S. Congress of a non-discrimina- valid force, the only'truly vital ele­ tory Displaced Persons Bill ; ap­ ment in the Goluth, paralleling and proval of the institution of the complementing the Yishuv. Just as Metropolitan New York Region of the establishment of the Jewish the Union, and one associating the Commonwealth is essential «to our Union with the RCA in calling upon people, so is the, sovereignty of the American Jewry to honor the Chief Torah. Within the American com­ Rabbinate of the Holy Land as munity, organized Orthodoxy alone the “Beacon of Torah light for all can determine the future of our Jewry to follow,” with an appro­ people. We* who took part in this priate joint message to the Chief Convention have gained clear un­ Rabbinate asking guidance to that derstanding of the immensity of the purpose and for the giving of “Tan­ task, yet we have acquired firm gible expression to the hope of es­ confidence in our ability to achieve tablishing religious authority for it. Let us therefore undertake our world Jewry.” Another resolution urged affiliates of the Union to fur­ work, looking ahead to the time ther the process of unification of when, with the help of G-d, Israel the Torah-true organizations work­ both in the New World and in the ing for the redemption of our peo­ Commonwealth of Israel will stand secure, free to fufill the teachings ple in the Land of Israel. of our Torah, knowing that in so ^■HE . closing address was offered doing lies the destiny of our people by Dr. Nirenstein, who stated: and the good of humanity.” 12

J ewish LIFE

By A. A. DAVIDSON TT was a spring morning in the is that he means China. Some say, A Yeshivah. An enterprising fly no, the prophet meant another made the round of the rooms, and, country. What other country? Ah, finding but scanty nutriment in that is also a question!" He con­ the pages of a superannuated Ge- tinued, but my mind had left him mora, buzzed off reluctantly else­ again. Unwittingly, he had touched where to seek bis meat from G'd. a chord of memory in me. To me, The Rabbi was talking about the the Land of Sinim is China. Kung 49ith chapter of Isaiah. I listened believed it was. I have seen China, with half an ear. Through the open but I never saw Kung; I only heard door I could hear the noises from his story, and was deeply moved by the Beth Midrash down the hall. it. Two and a half years ago, at the The medley of chanting voices re­ assured me that, unwearied by end of the war, I found myself in thousands of years of activity, Reu­ a North Chinese city which I will ben's ox was still goring Simeon's call Chenchow. It has a small Jew­ cow. It was nice to know there was ish community which supports a something constant in an inconstant synagogue, a school, and a kosher world. I returned my attention to public kitchen. The president of the community at that time was a Mr. the class room. “One of the questions, then," the Asher Edelman, who treated me Rabbi continued, “is what Isaiah with much kindness. Like most of means by his use of the phrase, The the other Chenchow Jews,, he was Land of Sinim.' The Jews will re­ ¡born in Russia. Because of friend­ turn from all over Goluth and also ship with the wrong people, the from there. The usual explanation defeat of the Revolution of 1905 brought him a sentence in Siberia. Had he been content, like so many The many admirers of the work of A. A. of his fellow-exiles, to study the Davidson scarcely need the assurance, which the author asked us to print, that the above writings of Marx, Engels, & Co., story was received by J ew ish L ife before the publication of Pearl Buck’s recent novel deal­ Mr. Edelman might today be a ing with Chinese Jews. Mr. Davidson reports Commissar, able to look back on a that : “While the person of David Kung is fictional, the entire background of the story long and successful career of havis factual.”

ing liquidated all his. best friends. II LAS for the October Revolu­ tion and the triumph of Social­ ism,. he found Marx very dull* and at the earliest chance, escaped into \ China. He has been there ever since, and has prospered. The Chinese, be­ ing a backward race, have never been anti-semitic. Indeed, Chenchow’s narrow alleys reminded me of some oriental Judengasse. The northern Chinese are taller than the southerners, their noses are not inclined to be flat, their beards are., more flourishing, and their *complexions are lighter. In the winter they put on round fur hats resembling the chassidic Shtreimel, and \ they wear long black robes. Indoors, they wear black skull-caps. Once, in joking vein, I suggested to Mr. Edelman that there might be a strain of Jewish blood in the local population. He nodded slowly. “In Marco Polo’s time there were many Jews in China. Where did they go to? There have never been pogroms here. The Chinese call themselves ‘the ocean that salts all the rivers’—meaning that they as­ similate every foreign element. And yet, the last Rabbi of the last community of Chinese Jews died only in the early nineteenth cen­ tury, in Kai-Fung. Kung was born in Kai-Fung,” he said. And he told me this story: J^BOUT ten years earlier he had noticed a teen-age Chinese boy loitering around the synagogue. Once or twice, he offered him some money, but the boy smiled shyly, 14

and refused. Finally the boy plucked up his courage and spoke to him, but Mr. Edelman did not under­ stand his dialect. He continued on to his place of business (he is a fur and hide dealer), but the boy followed him. Mr. Edelman called his interpreter and told him to question this boy. “Ask him what he wants,” he said. The answer was even more curi­ ous. Thé boy offered to do any la­ bor demanded of him without pay. He had only one reqtiest: “Teach me our faith,” he begged. Mr. Edelxnan’s gemora kop at once observed the use of “our” and not “your.”. He asked the boy’s name. “Kung Tafti-teh,” was the an­ swer. Now Kung is a very common Chinese name, but Tafti-teh was un­ heard of. He inquired of him furJ ewish LIFE

ther. The hoy said he was from Kai-Fung. He had been named af­ ter an ancient king. This King Tafti-teh had written a book, not an ordinary book, but one thaft rolled up like a picture-scroll. And the name of the book was “Peh-lay-shita”. Mr. Edelman .surmised that the King was none other than David, and that the ' “book;” was a Sefer Torah, and that “Peh-lay-shi-tab” was — had to h e — 'Bereshith. His interest^ excited, he asked more questions. “pH E boy said that his family— which included about ten house­ holds—lived just as the other Chi­ nese in Kai-Fung did, with the single—/but significant—exception that they never worshipped in the local temples. “It is our custom that we never pray in the presence of the idols,” he said. To whom did they pray? To Heaven. And once* Kung’s grandmother,'at a time when there was cholera, forbade them to eat pork until the plague subsided. Her grandmother had told her, that when she was a girl, “our people did not eat pork, and things were bet­ ter with us then.” Many times their failing consciousness of being a dis­ tinct people had been revived by the enthusiastic efforts of Chris­ tian missionaries to convert this lost remnant of Israel. “But we knew that their religion was different,” Kung said. Last year his grandmother had become quite ill, and spoke to him about ,a matter that had long been on her mind. She said, “For sixty years June, 1948

I have prayed to Heaven that some way be shown us to return to the way of our ancestors. But Heaven has not thought me worthy. The foreign missionaries have said that in the eastern cities there are for­ eign people of our religion. You ought to go (to them, and then you must return and teach us here.” Shortly j afterwards, she had died. The boy had left his native city and come to Chenchow, and this was why he said, “Teach me our faith.” “I took him home with me,” Mr. Edelman said. “He lived with me. I learned with him, and he be­ came like a son to me.” The servant came in twice to re­ plenish the peanut oil lamps while we talked. It grew cold, and the abominable coal that the Chinese call Ying-mei spluttered in the stove, but gave off little heat. I rubbed my hands together, but nev­ er thought of leaving. Mr. Edel man's voice went on. %%TJQW quickly; he learned! Heb^ rew, Chumosh and Nach—very eager, he was, to learn. He said he had to make up for a hundred and fifty years of not learning. When he wanted to start to put* on tephillin, I went to see the Rabbi.” The Chenchow Rav was a very old man, whose eyes seemed constantly to weep. He listened to Mr. Edelman’s story, and then gave his opinion. The question, (he said) stood like ■this: At the time when the KaiFung Jews first began to inter­ marry with the Chinese women, were these women properly convert-; ed, or were they not? If they were,. 15

'then the young man was. a Jew who merely lacked brith milah. On the other hand, if they weren’t he re­ quired immersion as well. How could we know if the women were, or. were not? Obviously, we couldn’t. Still, if he was .a proselyte, we should call him “ger Tzedek,” but if he were a Jew, we shouldn’t. Finally, after the Kav had gouged out hundreds of invisible eyes with his thumbrhe came to the conclusion that the young man "should be im­ mersed as well as circumcized, but since he had a “Jewish name,” so to speak, he might be called David -ben Avrohom, instead of the Av­ rohom ben Avrohom customary with proselytes, Mr. Edelman was the sjjhrideti at David’s brith. And David continued to learn. XJTE planned to make a Chinese ; translation of the Siddur for the use of his' kinsmen, and one night he .discussed with Mr. Edel­ man certain aspects of the Aleynu sprayer. ; . . ‘‘and" the-idols shall be utter­ ly destroyed’,” he read, “Think of th a t! ^ No more crumbling ' clay idols. No more ‘goddess of small­ pox,’ or ‘goddess of cholera’, or ‘god of this or that’,, with a painted face! No,' but instead, ‘the Lord shall be One’!” He paused and smiled at his own enthusiasm. “Oh, I have so much to do!” he cried. “I want to go back now and teach them, and yet I want to stay here and learn more. What shall I do?” he asked Mr, Edelman. “Eight now, you should go to bed. You looked tired.” - They went to 16

bed. Mr. Edelman was awakened by the houseboy’s shaking him. The servant told him that David had awakened him by stumbling at the door, and had answered his question in a strange voice and language. f “Then he went out. I think he’s sick,” the man , said. Mr. Edelman dressed rapidly and they went out into the street. A passing policeman said he had seen the young man go­ ing into the synagogue, only a few blocks away. And there they* found him. He had lit all the candles on the bima, taken out the Sefer Tor­ ah, and was chanting it aloud in the empty synagogue. He made no resistance to being led back home. A doctor came finally, and shook his head at the sight of the fever­ ish boy. J ewish LIFE

“We did what we could, but it was no use. The next day, towards night, he seemed better. He was quieter, and he seemed to recognize me. The house-boy lit the lights, and David muttered something. I leaned over to hear—it was the Shema. He died in the night.” |UfR. Edelman stopped. The dim . ^ lights were flickering away their last moments. I pulled myself back to reality, and said good night. Before I came back to America I visited the Beth Chaim of the Chenchow Jews. I saw the stone on Davids grave, and read the i® kipf tion. Mr. Edelman told me it was a verse that the young man had often

repeated. The stone does more than mark the grave of one Jew who re­ turned "when so many are fleeing. It may also mark the grave of the last hope *of the last Jews of KaiFung. How long will they have to wait now? Until the verse of the prophet is fulfilled? For that time, for, those Days, we all wait. R ung

David, son of Abraham Kai-Fung 5683 Chenchow 5705 Behold, these shall come from Afar, and lo, these shall come From the north, and the'se . From the west, and these from The Land of Sinim BIMHEYRAH, V'YAMEYNU, AM EYN!

Visitors at UOJCA Golden Jubilee Convention admire prize-winning synagogue exhibit of Congregation Ahavath Achim, Bridgeport, Conn., of which Rabbi Moses S. Malinowitz is the spiritual leader.

June, J948

17

Israel in the Test o f R eality By MOSHE KRONE

THE Jewish Proclamation of In­ cribed by the' newspapers, and clar­

dependence in Palestine was an­ nounced under dramatic circum­ stances which have touched our in­ nermost feelings hut which, at the same time, .have created new prob­ lems. This world-shaking announce­ ment, however, did not come as a surprise to us. We awaited it for years. It is because of this endless waiting —• a constant sequence of sufferings and persecutions — that the final announcement touched us so very deeply. In spite of the fact that we have so eagerly anticipated this moment, we were prepared neither for the resultant problems, nor for the In­ dependent State itself. The rea­ sons for this are mostly political: Until the last moment, the Yishuv was under hostile Mandatory rule. It was impossible to commence thé military draft and to start other governmental services which are of vital necessity for any nation and especially for the newly born state of Israel. It is a fact that thé Pal­ estinian Jews have always been a “State within a State”, yet there is a considerable difference be­ tween such a state and a real one. These facts throw light on daily évents in the Israeli State, give us a better picture of the defen­ sive and offensive strategy desMoshe Krone, a world leader of the Re­ ligious Labor movement, is now the American correspondent of Hatzofeh, Palestinian daily, and heads the League for Religious Labor in Palestine.

ify reports from all battlefronts. When the Jewish censorship in Is­ rael is lifted we will hear much more about the heroic effort and courageous deeds accomplished in the State's first days of existence. DEFENSE AND OFFENSE

"jpHE State of Israel, born under the shadows of war, found itself immediately faced with the neces­ sity of undertaking both defensive and offensive operations. The Yish­ uv had on its hands a double war : defense of the territory granted them by the U. N.% on November 29th, from the invading Arab ar­ mies, and strategic offense against Arab territory in Palestine and in the neighboring countries. The fact that it is necessary to use the offen­ sive for self-defense is clear to any­ one with an elementary knowledge of war strategy. Defense and Of­ fense are interrelated and go hand in hand. The differences of opin­ ion that exist in peacetime about those two ways of war, the argu­ ments for or against either of them, are forgotten in time of war and especially by the victim of aggres­ sion. That explains why the Yishuv did not agree to abandon any settle­ ment in any corner of the country as long as it was not necessary strategically. Hence the decision to resume fighting in the Kfar Etzion area, although it was clear to all that the settlements there J ewish LIFE

.

,

Photo by Robert Capa, courtesy Americans jo r Haganah

Haganah units moving up to a fighting front in the southern coastline sector.

would face a terrible fight, with no possibilities of help. Today it is clear that thè courageous fight­ ers of Kfar Etzion delayed the heavy and terrible Arab attack on new and old Jerusalem. The price paid for the delay was very high. We cannot forget these people and their spirit. The writer of this ar­ ticle was personally acquainted with most of them and he has no words to describe his pain and sorrow. But the facts of war are always cruel and painful. ■J^HE fact that defense and offense are inseparable is important to us from another point of view. It is important because it erases the differences, for the time being at least, between the Haganah and the Irgun and Sternists. We will not discuss the differences hut we will hope that they will be part of the past. Some time ago there was a danger that while the official repJune, 1948

resentatives of the Yishuv agreed to the U.N. proposals for the par­ tition of Palestine, dissident armed forces in the Yishuv would try to fight for the whole of Palestine. We cannot discuss this danger because it is only a supposition. But it is very important now that inner conflicts in this question be postponed and that the Yishuv be­ come one. It is worthwhile mention­ ing that religious Jewry in Pales­ tine did very much to bring about the agreement between the Irgunists and Sternists and Haganah. Were it not for the persistence of the representatives of religious Jewry in the Jewish Agency and ip; the Vaad Hapoel, this agreement, which is so important to us these days, would never have been car­ ried out. These representatives fought for the merger backed by the knowledge that the religious members of the Haganah wanted this agreement. When the repre19

sentatives of the left wing said that they were opposed to any kind of agreement with the Irgun, Ha­ poel Hamizrachi representatives stated that the defenders of Tirât Zvi and Kfar Etzion were deter­ mined to effect agreement with all military organizations in Palestine. The agreement proved to us that when you .approach a certain sub­ ject with facts, you can achieve many things. RELIGIOUS JEWRY IN WAR

TIT a time of Milchemetk Mitzvah and Pikuach Nefesh all differ­ ences in ideology áre forgotten, At the .fulfillment of our age-old dream our nation took precedence over any minor differences that existed. The Yishuv as a whole rose to the oc­ casion and all factions cooper­ ated to reach the common goal. The current- crisis saw all groups united against our enemies. Religious Jewry can proudly say that they are taking a great part in the nation's struggle. Besides participating in all activities, they also leave their imprint on the rest of the Yishuv. Their influence is great. Once more it is important to stress that this influence is achieved not by propaganda or elab­ orate political slogans but by conc r e t e accomplishments. Actions speak very strongly in Palestine. Here are a few examples : The influence of Religious Jew­ ry ip Haganah was very small for many years. Two of the reasons were: 1. The majority of Haganah members were either not religious or indifferent to these matters : 20

2. It is difficult to observe religious precepts in a n . army. It was clear that those negatives could be taken care of only by a positive approach, and Hapoel Hamizrachi, §the re­ ligious labor organization, did ev­ erything in its power to bring this* about.. The organization began this project by recruiting its own mem­ bers for Haganah. This presented serious difficulties, because in a way it meant changing the whole perspective of its youth. Psycho^ logically and ideologically, it was as difficult as the penetration of relig­ ious labor elements, into the sphere of colonization. The basic premise motivating both undertakings was the Hapoel Hamizrachi requirement that its members take part in every kind of activity in,the Yishuv. The endeavor to build in Eretz Israel a Torah-true nation based on the principles of social justice, gives no right of “Hefker” in religious life. For this reason Hapoel Hamiz­ rachi ..asked its members to enlist in Haganah; for this reason it was one of the founders of the Palmach, Haganah’s striking force; and for this reason it participated in bring­ ing the program combining train­ ing in military defense with sports * into schools. In the last war many religious Jews, 'among them some prominent leaders, did not favor the enlistment of religious youth in the Jewish Brigade because they were afraid that these young boys would not be able to keep the “Mitzvoth Massioth” and would not be able to get Kosher food. Hapoel Hamiz­ rachi fought against this mistaken idea. Its efforts brought about a jEwisH LIFE

dertakings it is possible to retain the religious observances, and that it is not necessary, even in war time, to forget about the “Mitzvoth Maasioth” and other religious precepts. And once more we, see how similar áre our achievements in Haganah to our achievements in colonization. In colonization, too, a number of our leaders thought that it was wrong to form religious set­ —Photo courtesy United Palestine Appeal Religious pioneers of Hapoel Hamiz- tlements; according to them the re­ ligious pioneer should go to any rachi take time out for Shacharith in Experience rotation, while laying settlement foun­ existing settlement. dations. This colony, in Hebron Hills proved that religious colonization is the right way. Religious youth does near Kfar Etzion, m ade a heroic defense not enlist only in the religious di­ against Arab attackers. visions. Thousands of Haganah number of changes. It made pos­ members are orthodox and keep the sible the observance of Kashruth* commandments. But only in the re­ provided for military Chaplaincy, ligious divisions can you find the and arranged for Bible study true religious environment. Our groups etc. struggle on behalf of the religious ^ H E enlistment of many religious fighters is directed towards the young men and women in Ha­ whole Jewish Army, and the re­ ligious divisions set the standard ganah was the source of the spread and form the example. We need not of religious influence among the give but it is indisputable mon-religious elements. The credit that statistics, the religious fighters have for this has to be given the groups written a glorious page in their na­ of religious youth organized as in- tion’s struggle for independence dividual religious divisions in Ha- with their own blood. The defense ganah. A sharp difference of opin­ Gush Kfar Etzion, Tirat Tzvi* ion preceded the decision to let the of religious youth enlist in special di­ Kfar Darom and Kfar Yaavetz are visions. Some argued th a t if re­ but a few illustrations out of many. ligious youth would be scattered in It is not yet publicly known that all divisions of Haganah, their in -x the defense of the Old City of Jeru­ fluence would be greater. But this salem was organized by religious argument was not accepted. The divisions under Hapoel Hamizrachi establishment of the religious divis­ commanders. ions was not carried out in order RELIGIOUS UNITY IN PALESTINE to make the administration easier, but to show everybody that even in questions \ centered around the most heavy .and dangerous unthe unity of religious Jewry in June, 1948. 21

THE

—Photo by Robert Capa, courtesy Americans for Haganah

On the road to the Latrun front. These Haganah men later participated in the fighting to open the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem road.

Palestine have not yet been re­ solved. Unfortunately, the whole discussion is largely academic. Hapoel Hamizrachi believes that at the present moment unity should be achieved without any qualifications, because it must be a complete unity without any sector retaining its dif­ ferent views and policies. The pres­ ent moment requires complete uni­ ty. This view was not accepted by Agudath Israel, which made cer­ tain conditions, Because it was not possible to merge these two points of view, the negotiations ceased. But it is wrong to assume that there are no prospects of future negotiations.

The Palestinian reality will force the religious groups to unite. Ac­ tually, Agudath Israel is pursuing the same policy as Hapoel Hamiz­ rachi. At the present moment religous Jewry has many problems to cope with. The settling of D.P.’s and Youth Aliyah; the enlargement of the' number of religious settle­ ments ; the great task of applying religion to social laws; and the greatest of all tasks, the creating of moral and religious centers within the political center — all those things require united religious Jew­ ry in Palestine. And this unity will come.

THE ALERT SERVANT OF G-D Judah ben Tema said: Be strong as the leopard and swift as the eagle, fleet as the deer and valiant as the lion to do the will of thy Father in heaven. —Aboth, 5, 20. 22

J ewish LIEE

OUTH and RELIGION

By ISRAEL ABRAHAMS / m / ■ r:J J HESITATE to give Youth ad­ religion for a while, and so re­ vice. When I consider the world discover it afresh, realize its inwhich Age is bequeathing to the suc­ dispensibility with the full impact ceeding generation, If who am «be­ of a new revelation. It would be a ginning the descent down the other good thing, because then it would side of life’s hill, feel an over­ avidly be seized upon by modern whelming sense of guilt. What a men and women as the supremely heritage of chaos, what a concaten­ Young Idea, the highest expression ation of blunders we leave to our of Progress, the sole Panacea for inheritors! Verily, we have sin­ the world’s ills* It would have all ned . . . . the alluring enchantment of origin­ But after confession must come ality. According to our Sages, that atonement. And there is only one was the way the generation of the means of kdpparah open to us : we Exodus felt about their faith: it can seek the forgiveness of history was the children-—youth—who, at only by laying bare to the Future the crossing of the Red Sea recog­ the errors of the Past, by exposing nized G-d first! the entire tragedy of our genera­ tion, by hiding nought of the mortal J^ET me, for the time being, al­ together drop the second half of peril towards which we have left humanity drifting. In this testa­ my subject. Let us talk of healthy, ment of confession the older gener­ rational, scientific matters — like ation offers the younger its richest the atomic bomb! The explosions blessing, and — its greatest chal­ that brought the Japanese to their lenge. knees brought the rest of mankind, My theme is “Youth and Relig­ not excluding the victors, to their ion.” But I do not propose to speak feet with a bewildering sense of of religion in the first instance. shock. A crater suddenly yawned It would possibly be a good thing before humanity, threatening to if the world could forget about swallow up our entire boasted civil­ ization, if not the human species The author is the eminent Chief Rabbi of itself. Science, our servant, mocked Capetown, South Africa* and Professor of us. It had become a Frankenstein, Hebrew at the; University of Capetown. June, 1948" 23

which sought to destroy its creator. tion still leaves other potential Since the Day of Hiroshima, we sources of strife: race and color— have moved fast. We realize now even culture. that the atomic bomb is but a crude contraption compared with the T H E root of the matter is that atomic cloud or the latest refine­ * war is the disastrous conse­ ments of biochemical warfare. The quence of conflicting group loyal­ world is teetering on the edge of ties. My country, or people, or class, a precipice. Two burning questions, or- race, or color—right or wrong! which are in essence one, stretch There—in this unethical, collective across the whole extent of the egotism—is to be. sought the ultim­ human horizons: what brought the ate cause of the tragedy of war. Our world to this perilous pass? What danger derives not from the dis­ covery of atomic fission, but from is the remedy ? . Some have an easy formula for the lack of moral and spiritual both the diagnosis and the cure. foundations on which to rest our The cause of the evil, they assert, is social structures. That is our fatal capitalism; the healing medicine— error, and—our sin. If tomorrow socialism. Without for a moment de­ we could change localized patriotism fending the 'evils of unrestricted into world patriotism we should in­ capitalism or decrying the virtues stantly remove all danger of war. of socialism, one cannot; but feel Conversely, if we moralized our that the soundness of the “formula^ loyalties, we should, in effect, give is open to grave question. To out­ them universal compass. It is sug­ law capitalism is sooner said than gested that such a supra-national done. This could at best prevent patriotism would be possible only the war after the next, not the one if danger threatened all Terres­ that immediately threatens us. Be­ trials from the inhabitants of some sides, it has been shown with in­ other planet. But, in truth, there controvertible logic by convinced Js no need for the fantastic horrors socialists that per se socialism is no of a Martian invasion to achieve a guarantee of peace. Indeed there is pax universalis. Religion can do it possibly even greater danger of today. active strife between rival socialist Belief in the One Heavenly Fath­ states than between competing cap­ er of all humanity postulates colla­ italist oligarchies. For whereas in teral faith in the essential unity of the latter instance the real antag­ mankind — in human brotherhood. onists are rival plutocratic oligar­ True brothers must live in amity. chies, in the former the struggle A brotherly world must necessarily would, be on a much higher, and be governed by justice. Religion not consequently more dangerous, level: only begets justice, it fosters that it would mark a clash between rival deeper brotherly' understanding we state interests. Moreover, the elim­ call love. This spirit of fraternity ination of economic causes, of fric- enables even opposed ideologies to; J ewish LIFE 24

be propagated in proximity and reason that it has never been tried peace. The Yishuv, Jewish Pales-, on an adequate scale. It is man that tine, provides x a living example: has failed. We have chosen, mostly, kibbutzim and private villages nes­ political expediency in place of the tle next to one another harmoni­ uncompromising, categorical imper­ ously. This spirit is capable of ex­ atives of the Word of G-d. tension. Religion could extend it to the ends of the earth. jgUT you may well ask: Does re­ But possibly you challenge this ligion really do away with group solution. You consider it too easy, loyalties ? What of nationalism? Is too simple. There is an obvious fal­ not Zionism an integral part of our lacy too. In the past centuries peo­ Torah-pr-religion ? Of course, it is. ple were far more religious than Religion does not condemn national they were >to-day, yet wars never patriotism, nor cultural faithful­ ceased. Indeed, some of the bitter­ ness, nor any intrinsically worthy est were waged on religious loyalty^ The Bible recognizes, first­ grounds, in the name of Heaven! ly, the inherent rights of each in­ How then can religion be claimed dividual soul : “The righteous shall as the remedy for war? live by his faith.” But it also gives This is a not uncommon, but un­ due weight to the family unit, the fortunate argument. It is based on relationship between parents and a totally false reading of history. children. “Honor thy father and The world was not more religious thy mother” : the family ties are in the past than now. It is true the links between the generations ; that there were rare spirits, of old they hold the secret of continued just as today, who came to be called life, of tradition. And the families, by their fellow beings saints. But in turn, merge into the broader un­ they were the glorious exceptions, ity of the nation. Thus the sons of not the rule. By and large, both Jacob become tribes, and the tribes clergy and laity were far from are welded into the People of Israel. saintly in their outlook or conduct. But in the ~end all nations—even They may have been adherents— inveterate, historic foes 4^ form a even fanatically so—of ¡some cult; still higher fraternity in G-d. but the gulf between a denomina­ “Have we not all One Father, hath tional cult and true religion can be not One G-d created us?” as vast and unbridgeable as the* Judaism, it will be seen, teaches difference between the Prophetic a philosophy that may be termed concept of G-d and Moloch worship. “Concentric Holism.” Many inter­ Men have bent the knee to many related sub-units combine to form gods, but chere is only One G-d. the ultimate whole of the Divine The vital difference is not, primar­ plan, without losing their individu­ ily, a theological, but a moral, a al validity or acquiring the right spiritual one. It is wrong to charge to secede from and supercede the religion with failure, for the simple whole. In the hosts of the Lord are June, 1948 i 2%

many battalions, regiments and brigades, yet is the Divine Army one. Hence an Isaiah or a Micah could preach universalism and na­ tionalism in the same breath. Hence every Prophet could love his people to distraction and yet, in the name of righteousness, denounce them pitilessly. Hence, the more universalistic a Jew 'is, the more Zionistic, in all conscience, he must be. Even as he yearns, with every fibre of his soul, for the brotherhood of man, so must he long, with equal fervor, that the homeless Jewish brother should be rehabilitated and have the home and the rights, of which he was robbed, duly restored to him as an old and worthy mem­ ber of the Family of Nations. But, perhaps, you will counter and say that the argument has so far avoided the crux of the relig­ ious position. “I accept”, you may concede, “the belief in the Father­ hood of G-d together with its cor­ ollary, the Brotherhood of Man. But does it follow that I must say prayers and even go to Shool?” y E S ; it follows. If we ¡believe in G-d, we must commune with Him. Just as the body cannot exist without food, so the soul cannot live without communion with G-d, which is the nourishment of the spirit. Prayer is not to be under­ stood principally in its Latin con­ notation : precare, to beg.. The He­ braic concept of Tfillah is far nob­ ler. It means “To judge one's self” ; it signifies self-scrutiny in the presence of G-d. What a wonderful impetus to progess; what a dynamic 2(5

reformative idea! If some modern philosopher thought of it to-day for th e. first time, he would be hailed as a spiritual Einstein. Here is the fourth dimension of the soul; here resides the secret of man’s moral re-creation, the power which can make him, in very deed, a creature fashioned in the image of G-d. Prayer purifies and gives faith to the soul; and faith is power—the only power that has proved invin­ cible. It is surely not insignificant that even Marxist Russia has be­ gun of late to realize this‘truth, and has adopted a more benevolent at­ titude towards organized religion. But, perchance, you remain dis­ satisfied . You still fail to see the necessity to attend Synagogue and participate in set services. Cannot one commune with the Spirit of the universe more freely in the pri­ vacy of one’s home, or in solitude in the fields, or under the spell of rapture inspired by a flaming sun­ set viewed under a hill-top, or even at night with the stars as co-worshippers in the mystic fellow­ ship of a cosmic congregation whose service, in the words of the Psalm­ ist, hath “no speech nor language, their voice is not heard.” Must we be part of a crowd to offer, our prayers? The answer is very simple: by all means let us worship wherever the spirit moves us. There is no limit to prayer. But Tfillah B’tsibbur (congregational services) are neith­ er to be despised nor shunned. Man is a social animal; we are gregarious in our habits. Hermits are human freaks—the strange exJ ewish LIFE

"captions that prove the rightness and beauty of collective life. Our fellow human beings help us to live, to learn, to find joy,—can they not also help our soul to wing its way to G-d? Have you never felt the deep, inexplicable, but none the less incontrovertibly real, emotion that moves one who feels completely at l one with his fellow creatures in the expression of some vital need, some overpowering yearning? It is true that group emotion may at times degenerate into mass hysteria (incidentally, individuals, too, are not immune from such hys­ teria) ; but, under wise direction, it can transport the human spirit to sublime heights which it cannot reach by itself. When earnest hearts pulse in unison to the rhythm of a single exalted purpose, when minds are united by one mastering thought, when the memories and hopes of many souls pool them­ selves and flow together as a great spiritual stream, inevitably the in­ dividual personality becomes uplift­ ed, exalted to new spheres of serv­ ice where the human ego loses its inherent selfishness in a wider do­ main of altruistic loyalty and con­ certed endeavors.

zor are enshrined the holiest senti­ ments of a G-d-intoxicated people. To offer up these ancient sacrifices of the heart is to unite in spirit with all the ages in Jewish history, to identify oneself with all the sor­ rows and expectations of our people, to merge one’s individual soul in the folk-soul of the entire Jewish race through all epochs. Are such prayers to be lightly esteemed, and such worship to be thoughtlessly eschewed ? But Judaism, it may be argued, is not a matter of prayer and Syna­ gogue services only. It is loaded with non-Synagogal ceremonial and rit­ ual; it is hedged about with count­ less restrictions and prohibitions. Should these not be jettisoned? Tradition is lumber from the past. It is time we unloaded. We need the kernel, which is the spirit, let us cast away the husk. Our great Jewish philosophers agree that the ceremonies derive should the set character of their validity from their spiritual of the services be an obstacle. content. They are, as it were, the Our prayers are the vibrant ex­ vessels which hold the infinitely pression of the sacred thoughts and precious wine of the soul. Without feelings and poetry of the noblest a doubt our ritual observances are minds of our people, living in many only the accessories, not religion it­ ages and in many climes but always self; but therein lies their impor­ representative of the spirit of Is­ tance. When the containers are des­ rael. Our liturgy was not invented; troyed, their contents are bound to it grew. In our Siddur and Mah- be lost. Human nature has a deep, June, 1948 27

N0R

innate need of symbolism. Our spir­ it is not a jejune conglomeration of arid logical syllogisms. There is poetry in our heart; there is aes­ theticism in our soul. These artis­ tic capacities help us to grasp the flying vesture of Truth. Religion, which stirs the deepest sources of our nature, teaches some of its high­ est truths, through the poetry and artistry of ceremonial, through the encantment of sacred song, through the soundless music of tráditional practices in which echo the soulmelodies of bygone ages. "jpHERE can be no reasonable doubt that if tradition had not given us rituals we should have been compelled to invent them, Evevery society and order, every state occasion or community function has its ceremonial. Why? Because it answers to some profound need of our human emotional and intellectu­ al make-up. Nevertheless, you may search the whole world over with­ out finding the match of the tend­ er, if quaint, loveliness of our Seder Service, the hallowed glory that shines in the Jewish home on Sab­ bath and Festival, the solemn grandeur that pervades the Yamim Noraim. And these are but a few jewels of the treasury of Jewish customs and observances. No words can portray the full splendor. But, possibly, you object to the discipline of our religion. Judaism is certainly no easy faith. It is not a religion of convenience ; it re­ fuses to be all things to all men. Had it been otherwise it would not have survived; nor would thè Jew. 28

History has scant respect for the soft, easy-going creeds beloved of brainless and spineless “butterflies of pleasure,” or those skilful con­ tortionists of the type of the Vicar of Bray. Ours is the faith of mar­ tyrs and fighters, of the Maccabees and of Akiba, of Warsaw's Ghetto heroes and of Eretz Israel's Halutzim. It is the faith of thinkers like Maimonides, of singers like Judah Halevi. It is the stubborn faith of a stubborn people that has never surrendered but has slowly, yet ir­ resistibly, won over its conquerors for the principles iit holds dear. The world has not yet accepted the Torah way of life, even in the­ ory. Nevertheless, as Maimonides already pointed out,^ Christianity and Islam are steps in the right direction. The very travail through which the world is passing to-day may well prove the birth pangs of a brave new era that will approx­ imate more closely to the »Hebraic ideals of justice, humanity and G-dliness. Our discipline is our strength. We are in this respect like Samson: so long as we honor our “Naziritehood” we remain in­ vincible; but the moment we suc­ cumb to the seductive blandish­ ments of the modern Delilah—ass im ila tio n ism i we lose our G-dgiven power. W * have seemingly travelled a long way from our starting pointi-atomic fission. And yet, if we look well, we shall see that it is not really so far. We have tra­ versed a circle in the center of which stands the Human Problem, J ewish LIFE

of which the Jewish Problem forms an integral part; and now we are almost back at the beginning. Let us sum up. The fate of the Jew and the world, of civilization and the very survival of humankind, is in the balance. The key to the problem is Religion, the cardinal teachings of the Bible. Only religion provides the necessary Weltanschauung that can give the world peace; only the religious spirit can provide the es­ sential dynamic motive7power of G-d’s Fatherhood to weld all men into a great Human Brotherhood, in the midst of which no people will be homeless or underprivileged. Though for centuries the world has given lip-service to religion and his­ tory has witnessed the rise of inr

numerable cults and fanes, it still remains the supreme untried Idea, the Ideal of the future. Today it . represents the only hope of peace and of a better world; the only al­ ternative to world-destruction. Here is a challenge to Youth. Here is a great Adventure. Have you the courage to make G-d your adventure, to quest the Shechinah, to seek it in the sanctuary and wherever it leads, to honor the sym­ bol for the sake of its symbolism; to preserve the Mitzvah vessel be­ cause of its sacred spiritual content, to obey the Discipline with a cour­ ageous, joyous affirmative worthy of our heroes in all generations ? I of­ fer you no counsel. I merely hold a torch, and wish you G-d’s benison on your pilgrim way.

A REWARD FOR COMPASSION A m an traveling on a hot day grew w eary and sat down to rest on a rock. A snake crawled toward him# but a sud­ den gust of wind blew down a branch from a n earby tree and killed the snake. When the man awoke and stepped off the rock# it sw ung loose and fell into an abyss. R. A bba chanced to pass by at this very moment, and said to the man: “You have been saved from death twice. Tell me: w hat are your good deeds?" The m an answered: "I never fail to make peace with an y ­ one who harms me. I become his friend and repay good for evil. And before I lay myself down to sleep# I forgive all who require forgiveness." “Thou art greater than Joseph#" said R. Abba. “He for­ gave his brethren# but thou forgivest strangers as well." Zohar# I, 204-207.

June, 1948

29

American Rabbis in National Convention

The Rabbinital Council looks Hheail By MORRIS MAX T H E 12th Annual Convention of ness in American Jewish life with * the Rabbinical Council of Amer­ the heroism, courage and deter­ ica held in New York City on May mination of our brethren in Is­ 19th - 21st was permeated with a rael. We must be the spiritual consciousness of the historic proc­ counterparts of the Haganah—for lamation of the State of Israel, with we have our faith and our Torah a deep concern about its future se­ to defend.” Among the recommendations he curity and with an understanding of the effect it will have upon Jew­ made for the continued progress of the Rabbinical Council of Amer­ ish life in the Diaspora. Rabbi Uri Miller, in his presiden­ ica on the American Jewish scene tial address, struck the keynote of during the coming year are (1) the Convention when he said, the strengthening of the bonds be­ “Blessed indeed are we who, hav­ tween the Rabbinical Council, the ing witnessed the fufillment of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congre­ prophecy of pre-messianic terror gations and the great orthodox Yeand destruction, have lived to see shivoth of the United States, so the fufillment of its purpose; that that the orthodox congregations Israel may dwell safely and securely throughout the country may be ser­ in its Holy Land and there be none viced with program material that to make him afraid . . . In the Gal- will present orthodox Judaism uth the Jew has experienced a re­ worthily and effectively to all Jew­ surgence of pride and dignity and ish men and women (2) the estab­ loyalty and the orthodox Rabbi lishment of joint committees with must, therefore, be prepared to the UOJCA to organize regional supply him with an understanding groups for effective implementa­ and appreciation of our traditional tion of orthodox Jewish ideals (3) the establishment of a paid Com­ religious heritage.” “To make that pride%meaning­ missioner on Education to stan­ ful,” he continued, “we must react dardize orthodox curricula of Jew­ to all expressions of spiritual weak- ish education for Talmud Torahs and Sunday Schools, and to edit Rabbi Max is the Executive Vice-President and publish text books giving the of The Rabbinical Council of America. . J ewish LIFE i0

orthodox view of Jewish history.

dren sing and all the manifesta­ tions of Hebrew culture will the INFLUENCE OF ISRAEL UPON GALUTH more strongly unite our present and TXT a session devoted to Palestine our past through the living link a symposium on “The Effect of of the living language of the liv­ a Jewish State upon the Galuth” ing state.” Rabbi Jung discussed the “Mitzwas held in which Rabbis Joseph •H. Lookstein, David De Sola Pool voth Maasiyoth — A Program for and Leo • Jung participated. In Palestine and the Galuth.” “Our speaking of the Jewish State and l Rabbis emphasized”, he said, “that the Universal Galuth Rabbi Look­ - the Torah was given outside the stein declared that “There will be Holy Land. They thus had in mind many Americans who will not set­ its timelessness and universal val­ tle in Israel for various reasons. idity . . . Undoubtedly our national That will not mean, however, that environment, as incorporated in those Jews will have severed rela­ the Jewish State of Israel, is the tionship with the Jewish nation or Klei machzik b’rochah, the blessing the State of Israel, for one cannot filled vessel, offering the greatest resign from his nation. As the Tal­ chance for the unimpeded program mud puts it, no matter how far of concretizing the ideals of the astray an Israelite has gone he Torah. But the Jew always carried still remains an Israelite. The Jew­ with him from Palestine unto the is h State will give the Jew in Gal­ four corners of the Diaspora a uth status and dignity. We will set portable tradition, at once constitu­ up a two-way pipe line between tion, blue-print and detailed direc­ Israel and Galuth. From us will tion. The Jewish milieu, created by come substance, from them abun­ the daily observance of the Mitzvaoth serves as the Haganah of Is­ dant spirit”. Dr. Pool, speaking on “The Jew­ rael in the vicissitudes of clime ish State and the American Jewish and time. j community” showed how from the PRACTICAL RABBINIC PROBLEMS very inception of the Jewish com­ munity ties had been made with T H E practical problems arising in Palestinian Jewry. “The creation of American Jewish communities a Jewish State is in keeping with were the subject of close study. A the tradition of American Juda­ series of panel discussions were ar­ ism”, he said. “The Hebrew-speak­ ranged on the topics “Services in ing State will mean for us a re­ the Synagogue”, “The Rabbi in the interpretation and intensification Synagogue” and “The Family in of the significance of Hebrew in the Synagogue”. Rabbi Leon D. our synagogues and our cultural Stitskin of Rochester, New York, life. In the synagogue the ancient discussed the methods he employs Hebrew liturgy will take on new to tie the youth in his community life. The Hebrew songs our chil- closer to the synagogue. Thus the June, 1948 m

Brith Milah, which unfortunately in some communities has gone over into the hands of the physicians, is dwelt upon by the Rabbi in the synagogue on the Shabbos preced­ ing the circumcision. The use of a Mohel is stressed and the prayers are interpreted, so that the religi­ ous motive of' the circumcision pre­ dominates. In similar manner the birth and naming of a girl is given prominence in the synagogue. The Bar Mitzvah reception and the wed­ ding ceremony are observed in a sacred* dignified manner because they are. conducted in tb-e syna­ gogue. The welcoming of the mourners on the eve of the Sabbath following the funeral, when prop­ erly observed and interpreted, serves to complete the tie between the individual and the House of G-d that lasts for a lifetime.

is the older orthodox Rabbi who has given aH'his years for the perpetu­ ation of Judaism but who, upon reaching old age, is discharged and forsaken. This Pension Plan, how­ ever, would solve this problem in a dignified manner. It was decided to bring the Pension Plan to the# attention of the delegates to the U.O.J.C.A. Convention, so. that they may be enlisted for the implemen­ tation of the plan in their respec­ tive communities. PUBLICATIONS

Rabbi Bernard L. Berzon, Chair­ man of the Publications Committee, reported about the cooperation of the Rabbinical Council with the U.O.J.C.A. in supplying Rabbinic editors for J ewish Life magazine and for the writing of the various pamphlets published by that or­ ganization about the different Jew­ RABBINIC SECURITY ish holidays. He also revealed the T H E welfare and security of the recent publication of “The Unfail­ ■ Rabbi were also on the agenda ing Light”, the autobiography of of the Convention. The Rabbinical the late Dr. Bernard Drachman of Council has been advocating for the Zichron Ephraim Congrega­ the past year the .enrollment of its tion in New York City. In that book Rabbis in the Pension and Insur­ it is revealed that at the very be­ ance Plan. According to this plan ginning of the organization of the synagogue pays 7% of the Rab­ many of the national philanthropic, bi’s salary, the Rabbi pays 4%, educational and Zionist bodies there the sum total of which constitutes were orthodox Rabbis and lay lead­ payment of an annual premium for ers who played a significant role. insurance in case of death and for This book will prove :of inestim­ a pension at the retirement age of able value to the historian as well 60 or 65. The Rabbinical Council as to the individual Jew who is has already had several sad exper­ interested in knowing the process iences with young Rabbis who pass­ of development of the totality of ed away suddenly and whose famil­ American Jewish life. The Siddur Commission, engaged ies were left destitute. One of the tragedies of American Jewish life in the preparation of a traditional J ewish LIFE 32

Hebrew prayer 'book with a modern Rabbi Jacob M. Charlop. Some of English translation that will make its novel and outstanding features all the Hebrew prayers a “fount of will be a collection of all the scatterliving waters” to the American Jew, reported that the manuscript will be submitted to the printer within the next month. It will he published in two volumes; one for the daily prayers and the other for the Sab­ bath and festivals. It ,is hpped that in due time this will become the official Siddur for American Israel. A report on the Palestine edi ­ tion of the Talmud, a project of Rabbi Uri Miller, outgoing President of RCA, greets his successor. Rabbi Israel Tabak.

ed commentaries and interpretations in the Halachic works of the Geonim and Rishonim.. At the RCA Convention—Left to right: Rabbis Leo Jung, David De Sola Pool and Joseph Lookstein.

KASHRUTH SUPERVISION

JJN extensive report was gu|£ the methods em­ unusual importance ito which the ployed for the past four years in Executive Committee of the Rab­ supervising the manufacture of binical Council had resolved to lend «those products bearing the kosher its full cooperation, was presented insignia of the Union of Orthodox to the Convention by Rabbi William Jewish Congregations, <§)'. The Rab­ Drazin. He descried at length the binical Council, which is the Rab­ Revised Eretz Yisroel Edition of binic body of the Union, through its. the complete Talmud (Bavli and .Kashruth Commission investigates Yerushalmi), which is now being the plants of those manufacturers prepared for publication in Jeru­ applying to the Union for its. sanc­ salem.. This edition, begun under tion of their products m kosher. the initiative and continuing under After thorough investigation * is the direction of Rabbi Meyer Berlin, mado and a favorable decision is being prepared by a group of reached by Mthe Kashruth Commis­ outstanding Talmudists under the sion a Rabbinic supervisor is ap­ guidance of Chief Rabbi Dr. Isaac pointed who visits the plant regu­ Herzog, Rabbi I. Z. Meltzer and larly and who sends in a written June. 1948

-m

report of his observations to the dealt with the use of an electric Rabbinical Council office. Thus a dishwasher for milk and meat dish­ systematic and efficient check is es and the Jewish laws concerning kept on all the products bearing circumcision. This written report the © insignia. A resolution was was well received by all the dele­ adopted heartily endorsing the gates to the Convention. work and methods of the Kashruth Commission. ■J*HE limitations of space do not permit a detailed description of HALACHAH COMMISSION all the highlights of the Convention. A written report was submitted Suffice it to say that this was the by the Chairman of the Halachah best attended Convention in the Commission, Rabbi Simcha Levy, last four years. As usual, the Con­ giving the answers to the several vention Shabbos, held this year at religious questions placed before it. Yeshiva University, was the climax We cannot mention all the details of the annual gathering. The Yeshi­ but it is interesting to note that va atmosphere, and the services and Halachah questions reaching the of­ the Zemiros provided by the stu­ fice of the Rabbinical Council of dents at the Yeshiva, made every­ America from various parts of the one feel that he had come back country are being given serious con­ home. The Convention sermon de­ sideration. For example, a letter re­ livered by Rabbi Israel Klavan was ceived from a Jewish woman ask­ effective and inspiring. The disser­ ing whether Jewish law permits the contribution of one's eyes to tations on the legal aspects of a an eye bank was given thorough Jewish State presented by Rabbis study and deliberation. Medical Benjamin Bak, Charles B. Chavel science has developed a process of and Mordecai A. Stern, as weH as removing the cornea of an eye from the address by Rabbi Joshua Huta person immediately after death ner of Jerusalem, concerning the and transferring it to a blind per­ new Palestinian edition of the Tal­ son's eye whose sight is restored mud, was uplifting and spiritually thereby. The Halachah Commission refreshing. It was^ symbolic of the decided that such a contribution warm cooperation that can be ex­ may be made in accordance with pected from the 400 members dur­ the Jewish law, since this process ing the coming year to make even has gone out of the experimental greater progress for the strength­ stage and in most cases restores ening of orthodox Judaism through­ sight to the blind. Similar questions out the country. NOT TO BE ENDURED Whosoever is h au g h ty /th e Holy One, blessed be He, sayeth, T cannot dwell with him in the world.' —-Talmud, Sotah, 5a.

3*

J e w is h L I F E

25th Anniversary Convention of the Women's Branch

The convention theme, “Meeting E V E R A L !hundred delegates ^ from all parts of the United Our Responsibilities”, was most ca­ States, as well as from Canada, pably presented by three speakers, gathered to participate in the 25th with Mrs, Raphael Klein of King­ Anniversary Convention of the ston, N.Y. as moderator. Miss Bella Women’s Branch of the Union of Bistritzky, an honor graduate of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of the Hebrew Teachers Training America on May 23rd and 24th, at School for Girls, discussed “Youth Education” and pointed out that Yeshiva University, New York. Mrs. Moses L. Isaacs, National while the young modern teachers President, was re-elected, as was the are well-versed in pedagogy, those entire former slate of officers, to with years of instruction to their which two Vice-Presidents were credit would do well to take refresh­ added. The offcers, who will serve er courses which will bring them for two years, are: Hon. Presi­ up to date on the most approved dents, Mrs. Herbert S. Goldstein educational methods. The problem of “Intermarriage” and Mrs. Isidore Freedman; Hon. Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Joseph Mayor is one which confronts parents as Asher, Mrs. Moses Hyamson, Mrs. well as rabbis, Rabbi Nathan DraBernard Revel; Vice-Presidents, zin of Baltimore, Md. stated. He Mrs. Solomon Reichman, Mrs. Leo summed it up by declaring that re­ Jung, Mrs. Jacob M. Marcuson, ligiously it is prohibited, socially it Mrs. Max B. Meyers, Mrs. Morde- does not work and nationally, it cai A. Stern, Mrs. Jacob Awner, is suicide. Mrs. Emanuel Lifschutz, Mrs. Ni­ Mrs. Leon Stitskin, of Rochester, ssan Heifetz, Mrs. Rose S. Berenson, N.Y., a vice-president of the Upper Mrs. 'Samuel Yalow; Treasurer, New York Chapter of the Women’s Mrs. Rose H. Hare ; Recording Sec­ Branch, made it clear that proper retary, Mrs. Abraham Goldman; “Observance” is largely in the Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Ab­ hands of the mother. It is her raham P . Hirmes. responsibility to teach her children the beauty of the Sabbath and to The author, President of the Women’s Branch» is the w ife of Dr. Moses L. Isaacs, suggest ways of spending the Sab* Dean of Yeshiva University. June, 1948

bath hours; it is through the moth­ point of "view by Mr. Oxie Reichler, er that the children must gain an '/editor of “The Herald-Statesman”, understanding of the laws of Kash- Yonkers, N.Y. He gave a detailed ruth and learn their practice. description of the ideal Sisterhood This trio of speakers was well reporter, who , must, above all, be equipped to answer the ’questions accurate, prompt, reliable and fair; which were evoked by their address­ her news should be of interest to es and every member of the audi­ the general public. ence had an .opportunity to present The animated question and answer her particular problem or that of period which followed the round­ her community. table was ample proof of the in­ terest which these topics aroused ANOTHER session was devoted to and the need which they filled. a round-table discussion of The business session of the con­ “Problems Relating to Sisterhood vention concerned itself with re-" Work”, of which Mrs. Akiba Pred- ports of committee chairmen and mesky was chairman. Mrs. Betty chapter presidents. These were not Schneiderman, . of Boston, Mass., the usual dull, dry accounts of work gave valuable suggestions on how accomplished, but presented in an ^ in te re st women in joining Sister­ interesting and stimulating man­ hoods and hoW to maintain their ner a clear picture of the activities interest once they become members. and program of the national or­ She pointed out the importance of ganization. conducting, meetings systematically One of the most informative ad­ and with what care a president dresses was that of Mrs. Isidor should be chosen. Some of the es­ Freedman, Honorary President, who sential qualities of a good president outlined the highlights in the 25which the speaker enumerated are: year life of the Women’s Branch, tact, open-mindness, tolerance, the an account of which is given else­ ability to accept suggestions. where in this issue of Jewish life. “One of the major responsibili­ ties of every Sisterhood is that of ^■HE President’s address, which providing interesting and varied closed this session, reviewed the programs,” stated Mrs. Ephraim progress made by the Women’s Kolatch, Newport News, Va. She Branch since the last convention listed the many types of programs two years ago, and laid particular that are appropriate for Sisterhood emphasis on the two new publica­ meetings and emphasized that each tions which appeared during this one should and can have a Jewish period — the monthly Newsletter aspect, whether the topic is center­ and the Manual for Sisterhoods. ed around music, literature, history She announced the launching, in or art. the Fall of 1948, of a National Girls’ The subject of “News Reporting” Club Movement, for the purpose wag presented from the editor’s of giving the girls between the 31 ; J e w is h LIFE

Mrs. Moses L. Isaacs addresses the Women's Branch Convention. Seated are (Left to right): Mrs. Herbert S. Goldstein/ Mrs. Gersion Appel, Mrs. Solomon Reichman and Mrs. Isidore Freedman.

ages of 11 and 17 a love for and understanding of their faith. Each Sisterhood will be asked to organ­ ize a group comprising the daugh­ ters of members and their friends/ It is suggested that two such clubs be formed by each affiliate, one for girls 11-13, the other for the 14-17 year group. A local leader is to be provided by the Sisterhood, but program material, directives and counsel will be furnished by a na­ tional director. The Women's Branch met in joint session with UOJCA on Sunday afternoon and also attended the Banquet that evening. (The pro­ gram for these sessions is des­ cribed elsewhere in this issue). Before adjourning,“the assembled delegates unanimously adopted sev­ eral resolutions; June, 1948

1. That the Women’s Branch use its influence to the end that all luhcheons and dinners sponsored by Jewish organizations be served in strict accordance with the Dietary Laws. 2. That the Women’s Branch en­ deavor to prevent the desecration of the Sabbath, by urging Jewish organizations to refrain from con­ ducting their activities on that holy day. 3. That the Women's Branch con­ vey to President Truman its grati­ fication at his prompt recognition of the State of Israel, and that we urge the immediate lifting of the embargo against the shipment of arms to Israel, 4. That the Women’s Branch sal­ ute the new State of Israel, as well as its first president, Dr. Chaim 37

Weizmann, and the Prime Minister, Mr. David Ben Gurion. /■\NLY one factor marred the per^ fection of the C o n v e n t i o n —■ the fact that our constitu­ ents were not represented 100%. It seems to us that an occa­ sion of this kind merits the pres­ ence of at least one delegate from each Sisterhood. If it is a question of travelling and hotel expenses, a fund should be set aside by the Sisterhood for this purpose. If, as we were told, many Sisterhoods were holding final luncheons or in­ stallations at that time, these could have been postponed out of defer­ ence to the Women's Branch, or one or two members could have been excused to attend the convention. With this exception, it was the general opinion that the Silver Ju­ bilee Convention marked a new high point in the history of the Women's Branch. From the dele­ gates' point of view, there was am­ ple opportunity for discussion, for presidents of different regions to

become acquainted with one an­ other, for officers to discuss their problems with fellow-officers in other Sisterhoods as well as with the national chairmen. The twoday gathering was summed up by those attending as ;i?thrilling^,' ‘‘most enjoyable”, “I wouldn't have missed it for anything.” For the Women's Branch, it was an occasion to meet personally pres­ idents and officers who had been only names on letters; it was an op­ portunity for national chairmen of confmittees to explain their projects fully and to answer perplexing questions in person. The Convention made it possible for the national organization to impress most force­ fully upon each and, every delegate, the advantage of affiliation. Finally, the 1948 Convention will be remem­ bered as the one where every Sis­ terhood that was represented manL tested its pride in its membership in the Women's Branch, and the Women's Branch, in turn, became the personal friend and advisor of each affiliate.

TORAH—GUIDE FOR HUMAN BEINGS W hen G-d gave the Torah to the Jews on Mount Sinai, their souls becam e so ecstatic? with spiritual joy and holi­ ness that they immediately separated from their bodies and flew upw ard into ethereal space. For a while the heavens and all their w onders w ere laid opn before them, but then thfe L—d caused a celestial deW to fall upon their forsaken bodies and commanded the souls sim ultaneously as follows: 'Return, ye souls, to your bodies! I did not give My Torah for angels, but rather for hum an b ein g s/ —Midrash. 38

J e w is h

LIFE

• Point and counter-point—west of the Mississippi.

A

JCetter By A. LEO LEVIN

■0ARLING, The mezuzoth went up in the apartment today—a step in the met­ amorphosis of dwelling“ into home. Another mental check on the cal­ endar I know by heart reassured that before too long a slip of the ring will make you mine. The day had been strenuous and it was relaxing to recite the bless­ ing, hammer in hand. I liked that combination. I liked the idea of a visible “conscience” for our home (that is what the preachers call the mezuzah, isn’t it?) Little did I realize then how articulate this post-bound conscience would soon become. Above all, I liked the no­ tion of a place of my own after so many wanderings. Ten days here— two weeks there—a cot in the office —and then a stretch with non-Jews. The mezuzah spoke of permanence and a Jewish home. I say spoke; in­ deed it did. “Who are you,” it began belliger­ ently, “to proclaim a Jewish per­ manence in this splinter of a midA. Leo Levin is à graduate of Yeshiva University and University of Pennsylvania Law School, served four years with the U.S. Army Air Forces in Europe and is now on the faculty of the University of Iowa ;Law School.

June, 1948

western community. From where, Reb Yid, the chutzpah to believe that you will remain worthy of a mezuzah in this farm-bound vilage on the wrong side of the Mis­ sissippi ? Whence the gall to take a worthy Jewish daughter into a wiL derness sans fish store, sans but­ cher shop? Are you not a fool— to go where Rabbis fear to tread?” Dear, the furrows dug deep into the brow you’ve smoothed so often. Was it wrong to settle here? Slam! Door and doorpost were left be­ hind while I sought solace in the wintry blasts outside. I know I mustn’t get excited so readily, but have you ever argued with a mezu­ zah? T H E fresh air cleared my head and I began to marshal the evi­ dence. There were some kosher homes —• and many more that thought themselves kosher, A He­ brew school—but ho Rabbi, no shochet. Somehow these were the triv­ ia. A shabbos minyan—but an over­ worked telephone to guarantee its existence. Point and counterpoint, No real baal korey, yet almost ev* eryone could handle a maftir, and 39

we all settled down. The evening had but begun; tradition called for unique celebration. The local repetoire began with Sarah. All four and one-half years of her was put atop a table and with grandpa as coach she sang a Yiddish song. The entire Jewish community choired , her chorus, as they did for Boruch Elokeinu and a score of others. It was long past respectable bed time before varied versions of the kiddush, Hebrew drinking, songs, and echoes of ohalutzic Palestine had been heard. very respectably at that. No cantor OIMCHAS Torah recollections had • quickened my pace and I found pr-but how long since I've heard a Kol NidreLas thrilling as when the myself passing the campus Hillel. coal man prayed for his brethren? Good Jewish rendezvous, nice for No seudah shlishith — but where us, I thought. Strains of music such warm pre-minyan discussions, came out on the wind. Palestinian, as we wait- for that tenth man. I mused. Last Friday night they Where else would Sam, young, re­ had also been singing the same cently married, fresh from the ar­ number. “Eretz Yisroel B'li Torah", my {specialist in furniture) listen “The Land of Israel without Torah so intently* to Meyerowitz, chassid, is like body without soul." Lusty Mmk'il and specialist in anecdotes singing, I remembered. Fervor, (fuel was his business) tell of the verve and the stamping of feet latest issues of “Bitzaron" or “Sef- which almost drowned out the piano accompaniment. Almost! There it er" “Ha-Shanah?" was again—point and counterpoint. Point and counterpoint, I said? How it jarred, Friday night a pi­ But some things stood out in un­ adulterated affirmative. Simchas ano proclaiming Torah! But wait. Did this make a case Torah night was one. The shul was filled—a pleasant contrast to for communal condemnation, or that morning's Yizkor attendance. might the jury find just the other The reading of the scroll was punc­ way? Torah and piano had not al­ tuated with the shrill cries of the ways been bound together that way. tots. The dances ranged from youth­ Could it be that they were destined ful horah to ehassidic Ballet with forever so to remain? Hardly a year Torah. Octogenarian Mr. W. (may earlier the pianist had not heard of Ke live and be well until 120) was Eretz, let alone Torah. Today he | in | all his glory. Services finished, had heard. Perhaps tomorrow he J ewish LIFE 40

would begin to understand. Per­ haps. How had he heard, I puzzled to myself, and how would he come to understand. What of the others struggling to translate understand­ ing into action? What of the door­ posts whose mezuzoth were all but coming off from sheer loneliness? Had my pianist heard of Torah because someone who could tell had beat a hasty retreat? Would the

other mezuzoth feel the less lone­ some because mine too moved away? Was ever a battle won by default? I went back and had a long talk with my mezuzah. I pulled a Clar­ ence Darrow and defended with vitriolic attack. No verdict yet, darling. But' Pm certain, sweet­ heart, that with you here even the mezuzah won’t complain. Ever yours, L.

New Americans On The Religious Scene By ISAAC N. TRAININ TN the last few years a large numA her of emigre religious function­ aries have come >to the United States, and have slowly been mak­ ing social and economic adjust­ ments to the American-Jewish way of life., Emigre rabbis, shochtim, teachers and other religious func­ tionaries liave been accepted in nu­ merous communities, where they have been given a chance to con­ tinue practicing their callings. Not only are the emigre Kiel Kodesh thus afforded a chance to recon­ struct their lives on American soil, but they in turn are enriching their Jewish life by the experiences of these European leaders. Although numerous articles on this develop­ ment have appeared in the AngloJune, 1948

Jewish and Yiddish press, few peo­ ple are acquainted with the great task conf ronting, the United Service for New Americans, which is res­ ponsible for the re-adjustment of these people into American life.: This article will briefly summarize the work done in helping the emi­ gre religious functionary assume an independent status in America. In order to better equip the Eur­ opean "rabbi to assume a pulpit in an American congregation, the Vo­ cational Services Department of the United Service for New Americans, with the cooperation of Yeshiva University, has established a specr ial Homiletical class under. the ex­ port guidance of Rabbi Joseph H. Lookstein, Professor of Homiletics 41

at Yeshiva. The purpose of this class is to outline to the European rabbis the principles of sermon con­ struction, the types of sermonic discourse, etc. The value of such a class is indicated by the acceptance of the class itself by the rabbis who are attending it. One must re­ member that some of the rabbis attending the class are men of ex­ tensive talmudic background who find it difficult to go to school again, not only because of their age and experiences in the last decade, but because of their impres­ sion that no American yeshiva has anything to offer them. It is, there­ fore, a pleasant surprise to see these young rabbis attending the class regularly and deriving great pleasure and gain from it. lis a

T O (better equip the European He• brew pedagogue, the Vocational Services Department, again with the cooperation of Yeshiva Univer­ sity, has set up special Pedagogical courses under the- guidance of Dr. Samuel Belkin, President of the Yeshiva, and Dr. Pinchas Churgin, Dean of its Teachers Seminary. The purpose of this "course is to equip the European pedagogue with American methods of teach­ ing and with the psychology and philosophy of American education. At first, it was very difficult to con­ vince a highly trained and exper­ ienced European teacher of the nec­ essity to study pedagogy, but many finally realized that American methods are quite different from those of European and that Amer­ ican children present different psy­ chological problems from those of 42

European-Jewish children. The suc­ cess of such a course can be meas­ ured again only in terms of the ac­ ceptance of the class by the students and by the re-adjustment of some of our teachers as a result of at­ tending this class. An estimated 40% of European teachers attend­ ing the last three courses have al­ ready been placed as teachers in day schools, yeshivoth, and Talmud Torahs throughout the country. The USNA has also set up a number of special English classes which are geared to the needs of the religious functionaries. The more promising rabbis and teachers are now being considered for spec­ ial English courses at Queens Col­ lege, New York. Several people are already attending these'courses. At the present time, the Vocational Services Department is negotiating with the Young Israel Adult School of Education towards setting up a Community Relations course, which will be aimed at helping the emigre rabbi and teacher to understand the problems of synagogue admin­ istration, the various facets of Am­ erican-Jewish life and the place of the American rabbi, not only in the American-J ewish community, but in the American community in general. To summarize, the USNA is con­ fident that, equipped with the knowledge gained from these vari­ ous courses, European religious functionaries will more quickly be able to take their place in the United States and they will be able to contribute their share to the Jew­ ish religion, to Jewish culture and to the American-J ewish way of life. J e w is h LIFE

• An adventure in religious education.

yeskivatk Mtiei A k i v a

.¿¡¡¡¡ii

By JACOB COHN -N O T H IN G in education,” says Avodah can be raised to the level ** Henry Adams, “is as astonish­ of Torah. But in this emphasis lies ing as the amount of ignorance it a major danger: Either the teacher accumulates in Hie form of inert does his, work too well, and produces facts!” It has become a truism of individuals who seek to solve their modern pedagogical theory that all religious problems apart from the education must foe integrated with social pattern of Palestine at large, life. In a country such as Eretz and tend to segregate themselves in Israel this truth is doubly evident : ~their own ivory-towered Utopia; or, no amount of education in facts the dose of Torah is spread so will build a country from the sands thinly that it fails to galvanize the up. What is neceSiSary is that rare student into action and make Torah combination of spiritual idealism a vital factor in his life when and hard-headed mastery of practi­ faced with stimuli which should cal techniques which makes for the call forth religious responses. highest kind of pioneering. To supplement the school, and Religious education in Palestine turn the inert facts of academic faces the same problems as does education into vital sources of pow­ all education, but with one essential er in everyday living, Palestinian difference. Whereas the secular education relies very heavily on the school uses the dignity of labour “youth movements”. It is rather as an' integrating theme around difficult to picture to an American which to weave its web of social reader the strength and influence idealism, making all Torah subor­ of these movements, because there dinate to Avodah — work pure and is hardly any counterpart to them simple-tr:the religious school uses in American life. Scouting suggests Torah as the leavening force, and only vaguely what a youth organ­ impresses upon its students. that ization can be. But Scouting is something that boys are expected A graduate of Chicago’s Hebrew Theological to outgrow, while the youth move­ College, Jacob Cohn has joined the ranks of religious chalutzim and lives at Affula in ment in Palestine is something inEretz Israel. June, 1948

H

to which the youngster grows grad­ ually. It is the character ¡building force, the directing agency, and even, in a sense, the vocational guide* of youth. It literally exerts an influence over youth such* as the school cannot hope to do. The lead­ ers of the youth organizations are the mentors to whom in all cases youth looks for authoritative gui­ dance. .

towards oversimplification of religi­ ous facts so as to make them palat­ able to the mentality of youngsters* who have had only an elementary school education, and then sending them off as “religious pioneers” in­ to Hapoel Hamizrachi settlements, led to a growing fear that a genera­ tion of pious ignorami would dis­ tort the very concept of religious pioneering. A raised standard of Tora;h-knowledge, such as could not TViO.W the largest: and most influ- be imparted by a youth organiza­ * ential religious youth organiza­ tion, and yet which was above the tion in Palestine is Bnei Akiva. level of the elementary school, be­ Organized along the ideological came essential. Among the first to lines of the Torah V’Avodah move­ emphasize this danger was the ment, it is an adjunct to most of youthful Bnei Akiva leader, Rabbi the Mizrachi schools, and acts in the Moshe Zvi Neriya. By the fall of religious camp in much the same 1941 this dynamic young man had manner as the secular youth organ­ begun to propagate the idea that izations act in the ordinary schoolsr what Bnei Akiva needed was a YeIt is of course up to the school to shivah which would put the Torah teach formal Torah. But the task back into Torah V’Ayodah. Due to of making Torah an article of pride the stresses of wartime efforts, (his and a banner for which one is ready voice was little heeded at the time. to fight and die—making Torah But he succeeded in taking a few an ideal that one wishes to put young men out of the religious mointo life by going out to found new shav of Kfar Haroeh (named after religious kibutzim, that is the func­ his late lamented teacher Rabbi tion of the youth organizations, Kook), and established the first such as Bnei Akiva. The organiza­ secondary school which is at once a tion has been fairly suecesful in traditional Yeshiva, a boy's repub­ keeping graduates of Mizrachi lic, and a training ground for intel­ schools in the ranks of religious ligent, conscious, Torah-knowing, as Jewry long after graduation. The well as Torah-loving,' pioneers. various pre-settlement groups and settlements founded by it are ample "JpODAY Yeshivath Bnei Akiva has proof of its vitality, and its ability over 400 graduates to its credit, to achieve results. and some 100 pupils now attend its Some years ago it began to be classes. The organization of life in realized that despite the concrete this Yeshiva is unique. All students achievements of the movement must live on the campus, so that all something is lacking. The tendency their activities are integrated with 44 Jewish LIFE

the life of the Yeshivah. School government is entirely in the hands of the students. Thus democracy is not taught from text -books, but is put into practice in daily life. The formal educational program is purely tradtional—Torah in all its branches. The leap from an ordin-; ary elementary school into an a t­ mosphere that is entirely sacred has an overwhelming influence on the young plastic mind, and leaves an impression that is indelible. It in­ spires youth with a genuine devo-

Palestinian youth, is that it is in­ fused with the spirit of modern Eretz Israel, the spirit that inspires the youth movements. There is no vocational guidance here, but a thing far more important — gui­ dance in choosing a life’s work—the only life’s work which in its phil­ osophy is worth while; chalutziuth. Morning, noon, and evening the spirit of chalutziuth is not lost sight of. Rabbi Neriya takes every op­ portunity to impress upon the youngsters that, it is not enough

A class at Yeshivath Bnei Akiva.

tion to “talmud to picking up a sacred book and actually de­ riving pleasure from its perusal— which is the hall mark of the Talmid Chacham. The masmid, or stu­ dent who toils for long hours into the night, poring over the sacred books, is a type which the ordinary schools cannot produce. Only a Ye­ shivah can forge such mettle. And Yeshivath Bnei Akiva has been em­ inently successful in creating a high level of scholarship without, however, losing the human touch. The difference between this Ye­ shivah and the Yeshivoth on the old pattern, which, important as they are, have no appeal to modern June, 1948

The Yeshiva Building.

to be a Ben Torah; one must dif­ fuse Torah among all sections of the YIshuv; one must struggle for a religious Eretz Israel in a posi­ tive way, by becoming an example of what religious Zionism stands for: by going out and doing pi­ oneering work on the soil 1 The sue-cess of this approach is remarkable. Youths who otherwise would have never dreamed of going into dan­ gerous positions on the soil have voluntarily taken up the torch thrown to them.. Since the founding of the first Bnei Akiva settlement at Ein Zurim, in the hills of Heb­ ron, many have gone to Biriya, in 45

the northern highlands, or to Alu mim, in parched and sun-baked Ne­ gev. A new type of chalutz has been created, an indigenous product of Palestine : a chalutz who is literally a man of the earth, but spiritually a talmid chacham of the first water. T H E Bnei Akivah movement has • been in constant touch with the Yeshivah. It has given a new mean­ ing to its ideology. For even though many cannot enter the Yeshivah, they become identified with it in both a spiritual and organizational •sense, and thus continue the tradi­ tion that all Jews, students or workers alike, must take an inter­ est in the fate of Torah institutions. But more important is the fact that the broad base of its membership of several thousand is the reservoir of strength from which recruits are drawn into the Yeshivah annually. The movement has come to look up­ on the Yeshivah as the apex of its spiritual life, and thus a center of Torah is a constant light unto thous­ ands of youths in their day-by-day activities. Such a phenomenon, un­ duplicated anywhere at present whether in or out of Eretz Israel, is worthy of note. For it enhances the prestige of Torah, and creates the desire to study it; it lights the spark from which the flame of knowledge is then fanned into a mighty blaze. Moreover, the influ­ ence of the Yeshiva has been felt beyond the borders of Palestine. The European branches of Bnei Akiva, uprooted youths from Po­ land, or Romania, or other war torn 46

countries, have a new ideal — to come to Eretz, enroll at Yeshivath Bnei Akiva, and then enter pioneer­ ing pursuits, as talmidei-ehachamim-chalutzim. This influence has been so strong that in refugee camps such as Cyprus spontaneous preparation groups for Yeshivath Bnei Akiva have sprung up. Taking note of this fact the Yeshivah sent a special member of its own staff, Raibbi Mordecai Breuer, to consol­ idate these groups and give them direction. Since then quite a num­ ber of these exiles from Cyprus, arriving in Palestine under the aus­ pices of Youth-Aliyah have found their way to their long-dreamed-of Yeshivah. TAKING full advantage of the ^ beauty of its campus, perched on a hill overlooking the village of Kfar Haroeh, with a view of some of the finest country in Emek Hefer, the Yeshivah attracts many visitors. The spacious halls of the Yeshivah, (put at its disposal by Mizrachi, from a legacy of the late Mr. A. Sobelevitz of Riga) have been hosts to many a cultural event in the Yishuv. In a community con­ scious of so many historic anni­ versaries, why should the portion of Torah be forgotten? The Yeshi­ vah provided the answer with such celebrations as the Hundreth An­ niversary of the f ounding of Volozhin, which proved to be a major demonstration for Torah, attended by outstanding Torah scholars from all parts of the country. Its Shovuoth night mishmar, when boys from all over the country are brought J ewish LIFE

from various Bnei Akiva branches to the Yeshivah, has become a by­ word. It has proved a potent living demonstration of the attractiveness of the scholastic life to an otherwise worldly generation, and has brought many young people to the paths of Torah. In cooperation with the movement, the Yeshivah maintains a summer camp, which is really a religious retreat, during which young people are brought to that philosophic calm which enables them to make the great decision— to enter the halls of learning and emerge Torah-bred pioneers. Every psychological device is exploited to bring youth to merely see the Ye­ shivah, in the belief that the very view of the beauty of life at the Yeshivah will eventually win sen­ sitive souls over to the Paths of Truth. Young as the Yeshivah is—it has just recently celebrated its eighth birthday—it already has its mar­ tyrs. In the forefront of the defend­ ers of the Yishuv one always sees the familiar faces of these Bnei Akiva trainees. At Ein Zurim, dur­ ing the heavy raid of the last weeks of December, they cried, as David

of old, “Blessed be the Lord, my Rock, Who traineth my hands for war, and my fingers for battle” ; and charging the marauding Arabs threw them back with heavy losses. But no battles can be fought witho u t occasional casualties, and among the martyrs of the Yishuv, the names of Bnei Akiva graduates are to be found. They had planned their lives on work and study; but a cruel fate snuffed out their young lives before their time. But not without glory: for their deeds are examples to those youths whom they have left behind. Eretz Israel is a land of experi­ ments, par excellence. In every field, in agriculture, sociology, eco­ nomics, and education, progress by experiment is the daily regimen. But of all these varied experiments none is perhaps as unique as this experiment in religious education which is being carried out at Yeshivath Bnei Akiva. Its success augurs well for the future of religious Jew^ ry in the Yishuv. “Conquering, holding, daring, venturing as they go the un­ known ways, Pioneers! 0 pioneers!”

BECAUSE OF EVIL TALK OF PALESTINE The evening on which the ten spies spoke evil of Palestine, w as the night of Tisha B'av, the ninth of Av, and G-d exclaimed: T shall decree this night for permanent w eeping and m ourning/ On the Ninth of Av, the First and Second Holy Temples in Jerusalem were destroyed. «—Talmud, Taanith, 29a.

June, 1948

47

et Us look To Our Own... By CHARLES J. SHOULSON ^RTH OD O X Judaism and its var- at the expense of emotion, per­ ious schismatic offshoots each sonalized contact and warmth—all possess certain characteristics which great essentials of effective wor­ seem definitely desirable to the ship. A leading Reform-rabbi, writing others. One need but to peruse the official publications of each in order in a( recent issue of “Liberal Ju­ to become convinced of this truth. daism”, the official Reform publi­ The Orthodox are wont to point en­ cation, decries the fact that the viously at the, greater decorum and Reform Temple lacks “the personal dignity of a Reform service, while touch connected with the giving of the Reform are apt to plead for Aliyahs and the recitation of the the, greater warmth and sipontan- b'rochos for the congregation over iety which may be found in a typi­ the Torah,f as well as all the other cal Orthodox service, and the-Con­ little odd holy tasks in which the servatives, as usual, find themselves; congregants are honored in an Or­ afflicted with the demerits rather thodox service, including the misheberachs.” This was going a bit far, than the virtues of both. Perfection, then, is ever the elu­ we thought, considering that num­ sive ideal. It seems.that one cannot, erous orthodox Synagogues have indeed, eat one's, cake and.have it done their utmost to eliminate the too. When the Reform movement, “misheberachs” entirely, due to in its avowed attempt to save for their association in the minds of Judaism those straying souls who— many with solicitation. so they claim—would have left the He speaks in glowing terms, fur­ fold following the Emancipation,, ther, of the orthodox Synagogue decided to shear Judaism of most “where the layman is reading of its ritual and “antiquated” aloud constantly and participates in forms, it did so at the price of the services.” How often we have forfeiting the innate distinctive­ heard Rabbis complain of the dis­ ness and Jewishness of Judaism. order that is . caused during the In striving to achieve greater rev­ services due to the insistence- of erence, orderliness and dispatch, worshippers upon reading aloud. To they did not foresee that these add to the confusion, it is usually were to ibe gained, by and large,- a latecomer who isn't even reading that portion of the service reached The author, a frequent contributor to Jewish publications, . is the Rabbi of Congregation by the Best of the congregation. . Shomray Hadath, Elmira, New York. . J ewish LIFE 48

Even the recitation of the Kaddish had become such a helter-skelter affair that many orthodox Rabbis have adopted the practice of read­ ing it aloud I together with the mourners in order to assure uni­ formity. When this is not done, the Kaddish de’Rabibanan especially has all the earmarks of a mad race. late, writers to the Editors ^ Mailbox department of our prominent Anglo-Jewish newspap­ ers have been complaining of the long . and, to them, meaningless “mumblings” in Hebrew that char­ acterize the typical orthodox serv­ ice. This, incidentally, is cited as the main reason for the supposed scarcity of Sabbath-morning wor­ shippers in the Synagogue. The amusing implication is that the Re­ form Temples where all the “mum­ blings” have .been extirpated* are filled to overflowing during these services wherever they are held on the Sabbath. It is of interest to note that in the same issue of the afore­ mentioned publication/ a correspon­ dent from Chicago coming from three generations of Reform Jews, writes, "At more traditional serv­ ices my soul expanded and I could join joyously in song and prayer, and listen with fervor to the beauti­ ful Hebrew language which moves me more than the most eloquent sermon in English, even though I understand only a small propor­ tion of the words.” Is it not true, then, that the old maxim about the grass being green­ er on the other side of the fence June, 1948

"operates* here as well? It is part of our human nature to minimize what we do possess, and magnify the-validity and importance of that which we seem to lack. This does net signify that we should remain completely satisfied with conditions as they exist at ¡present without at­ tempting to weed out faults and im­ prove upon the desirable aspects of Synagogue worship. There is a great deal that cries out for serious consideration. What of the worshipper who understands nothing of the Hebrew liturgy and must sit through a three-hour serv­ ice on a Sabbath morning? What of the late-comers in our orthodox Synagogues who cause confusion by reading the wrong part of the ser­ vice aloud and sit while everyone is standing, and vice-versa ? How often we have seen a man called to the Torah gesticulate wildly from his seat to the accompaniment of loud m-m-nTs to indicate that he cannot respond because he.is in the midst of the silent devotion. And what of the other evils that serve to mar the beauty and inspirational effect of our services, evils that are mostly not inherent in the service proper, but rather superimposed by the untrained and unthinking lay­ men themselves? ■MOT all Synagogues are alike. Some have not yet reached the stage of progress that others have in the establishment of proper sys­ tem and decorum at worship. But each Rabbi and each Congregation must attack vigorously those indig­ nities that beset that particular 49

Synagogue. It will serve no purpose either to denounce or to envy those ' conditions prevalent on the “other side of the fence.” It is for us rather to analyze our own defects and shortcomings, then to proceed to correct them to the best of our ability. Perhaps a good deal of our diffi­ culties is due to the fact that we have not yet ourselves become con­ vinced of the deep strength and abiding beauty of our services and our philosophy or religion in gen­ eral. Strange that constantly we de­ ride and minimize those very char­ acteristics which others seem to ad­ mire in us. There is a great posi­ tiveness about traditionalism which can never be replaced by all the shabby substitutes with their nega­ tive content. See how penitently the Reform group is finally advocating a return to ritual and ceremonial. At last they are convinced that neither the sonorous tones of an organ nor the professional music of a Gentile choir can ever replace the simple beauty of the Kiddush chanted with true Jewish feeling. Traditionalism, with all the mysticism and awe that it has accumulated through the ages, contains those elements which alone can truly satisfy the deep yearnings of the Jewish soul. UNQUESTIONABLY, then, we • are working with the right ma­ terial. Our problem, in most cases, is to relieve the inherent beauty of the Service of the encumbrance of bad manners, to disclose that it is attractive in addition to being 50

true and self-sustaining. We be­ lieve that our greatest task lies in this direction. The best way to adorn it, we insist, is to clothe it with dignity. What examples of im­ proper behavior cap be cited as daily procedure in orthodox Syna­ gogues ! One illustration will suffice. Some of our people, arriving at the Synagogue five or ten minutes before the scheduled start of the service, will almost invariably join several cronies in the rear of the Synagogue to engage in often bois­ terous conversation. We seem to have forgotten the great necessity of meditation to precede prayer. We fail to realize that one cannot sim­ ply step out of the street into the Synagogue and fall into prayer. Worship requires a certain mood, and a mood requires definite prep­ aration. Our fathers perhaps were able to bridge the gap between street and Synagogue by the reci­ tation of several of the Psalms, if time permitted, prior to the start of the service. We are less reverent and less prayerful than were our ancestors—and less dignified. Our appeal, therefore, is for in­ cessant evaluation of all that we possess in the Synagogue, accom­ panied by an unflagging determin­ ation to restore greater dignity to our services. In some cases, un­ doubtedly, this will require courage, tact, fearlessness and dogged in­ sistence. But in all cases it will cer­ tainly be worth the effort, and will redound to the ultimate glory of our faith. J ewish LIFE

The Women’s Branch By SELMA FREEDMAN "j^WENTY-FIVE years ago a hand­ ful of farsighted Jewish women came together to form an organi­ zation whose function it would be to bring about a close bond between orthodox Jewish women and ortho­ dox Jewish women’s organizations and thus help to “spread the knowl­ edge necessary for the understand­ ing and practice of orthodox Ju­ daism throughout the land and to imbue our young people with the spirit of Torah-True Judaism” as it was known, loved and practiced by our mothers and grandmothers before us. The founders of the Women’s Branch of the Union of Ortho­ dox Jewish Congregation of Amer­ ica were determined to cope with the paramount problem of re­ taining attachment to Judaism among our young people and with the task of strengthening our ranks and properly presenting our relig­ ious viewpoint to the community and to our own co-religionists. Promin­ ent among the founding group were Mesdames Joseph Mayer Ash­ er, Harry Fischel, Isidor Freedman, Herbert S. Goldstein, Moses Hyamson and Philip Klein. The Wom­ en’s Branch called its first regular meeting on April 18, 1923, at the Jewish Center, New York, with Mrs. Philip Klein as acting-presi­ dent in the chair. Representatives from the Spanish and Portuguese S y n a g o g u e, Institutional Syna­ June, 1948

gogue, Yorkville Synagogue, Orach Chaim, Ohab Zedek, Kehillath Jeshurun, Zichron Ephraim, Pinciis Eli­ jah and the Jewish Center Sister­ hoods — all of New York — were present. Having set itself the task of cooperating with and furthering the growth of women’s groups connect­ ed with orthodox congregations, the Women’s Branch soon built up a Speakers’ Bureau which now has to its credit the establishment of many new Sisterhoods in every part of the United States. We helped to strengthen those already in exis­ tence by sending them speakers on subjects of interest, of spiritual val­ ue and of practical interest in the field of sisterhood activity and con­ duct. We made it a practice to send speakers to groups long before they actually became affiliated with the Women’s Branch, thus spreading knowledge and good will. KASHRUTH Committee was ^ appointed which immediately launched a program of makiiig ko­ sher products available to the housewife, products which had heretofore been of doubtful manu­ facture. We had always been telling our children what they might not eat; now we decided to see if we could not persuade some of the wellknown manufacturers of food prod­ ucts to substitute kosher for nonkosher ingredients and then point 51

out to our children the things which they might eat. The work of the Women’s Branch consisted in pay­ ing for the initial investigations and analyses, and in visiting thé factories for th e . purpose ‘of per­ suading the manufacturers to make the changes which our dietary laws required. The qctual work of inves­ tigation and supervision of the products had to be done, of course', by the Rabbis. It was not long be­ fore brands of kosher crackers and ice cream were on the market. The Women’s Branch then made every effort to bring these products to the attention of the public. Another activity which the Wom­ en’s Branch organized in the very beginning of its existence was the Collegiate Branch. This organiza­ tion enabled Jewish students to form social and religious contacts among members of their own faith. A typica) activity was the conduct­ ing of Ifrge gatherings in celebra­ tion of each of the Jewish holidays which occur during the college year. The Women’s Branch for many years subsidized the expenditures of the Collegiate Branch until it outgrew our apron strings and be­ came an independent organization known as the Jewish University Club. In the first two years of its ex­ istence the Women’s Branch had many fine accomplishments to its credit. Early in 1925, the Women’s Branch launched a campaign for $250,000.00 with which to build a new dormitory in connection with the other new buildings then under construction for the Rabbi Isaac 52

Elchanan Yeshiva of America, at Amsterdam Avenue and 186th Street in New York City. The committee which launched this pro­ ject, then known as the Women’s Branch Committee of the Yeshiva Dormitory Fund, held its first meeting on January 7, 1925, and helped to raise considerable sums of money under the leadership of Mrs.* Harry Fischel. This committee later developed into the present Ye­ shiva University Women’s Organi­ sation. TN 1925 the Women’s Branch de-, ■ cided to provide livable accommo­ dations for 38 students of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Yeshiva who were then living under the most deplor­ able conditions in the old Yeshiva building on East Broadway. We rented three apartments in a mod­ ern apartment house opposite the Yeshiva," divided these into well equipped dormitory rooms, plus a social hall ; engaged a matron who looked after the physical welfare of these students and spent $8,000.00 a year on this project until the •ereption of the more modern and splendid dormitory at Yeshiva Col­ lege. As early as 1925, thé Women’s Branch took part in Regional Con­ ferences, together with the parent organization, the Union of Ortho­ dox Jewish Congregations of Amer­ ica, in New England, Albany, N.Y. and in Baltimore, Md. The Balti­ more Chapter has become an impor­ tant part of the Women’s Branch, adding much lustre to the history of our organization, particularly J e w is h

LIFE

high school age functioning under the guidance of qualified leaders and subsidized by the Women’s Branch—is another| of the impor­ tant activities Undertaken by us and for which a competent manual was provided. The ¡manual, sent gratis to each of our affiliated groups, was so highly thought of and sought after by other Jewish religious groups that it was put on sale by the Bloch Publishing Co. and has become a permanent “best seller.” The Greater N e w York Chapter, # eince its inception eleven years ago, has been headed by Mrs. Jacob M. Mareuson. This chapter, with a membership of eighty-five' affiliated groups in the five boroughs, has rendered valuable Service both to the parent organization and to the Women’s Branch as well as to the development of the many projects in which we are engaged. Among many Women’s Branch accomplishments in the period 19251938, when Mrs, Herbert S. Gold­ stein was president, was the publication of Holy Day Pamphlets, three volumes of the Jewish Home Series, Religious Parties in Israel, and the Habonoth Manual. In this connection, mention must be made of the “Orthograms” issued by our organization. The Orthogram, simil­ ar to a telegraph blank, has the dis­ tinction of being a Jewish messagebearer, and is also used by Sister­ hoods as a source of revenue. The Women’s Branch lent its co­ operation to every movement of benefit to our co-religionists both U'ABONOTHffir a national organ- here and sabroad, becoming repre­ ization of clubs for girls of sented on most of the major nation­

during the war years.* The Educational Department of the Women’s Branch prepared holi­ day pamphlets containing a detailed explanation of each holiday with all its observances and ceremonies, as well as suggestions for celebrating the occasion with appropriate read­ ings, talks, songs, etc. These pam­ phlets are sent to the presidents and cultural chairmen of our affili­ ated groups and to our individual membership and in the past 25 years have received much favorable comment.. We have conducted class­ es in public speaking and national essay and music contests with prop­ er awards for the children of the Talmud Torah schools of our af­ filiated groups. Deeply concerned about the edu­ cation of the Jewish girl, the Wom­ en’s Branch in 1928 established, and for many years maintained, the Hebrew Teachers Training School for Girls, a school for higher Jew­ ish education where our young girls—the mothers of tomorrow—are being trained in a thoroughly orthodox Jewish atmosphere, to be­ come teachers ^and leaders. The graduates of this school ara in great demand in the Talmud Torahs throughout the country. This school is now recognized as a distinct con­ tribution to the educational system of the country. The Women’s Branch still takes an active inter­ est in the work of the school and takes great pride in having had the foresight to establish it.

June, 1948

m

al and international Jewish wornmen’s Organizations, p

Truly it may he said, the Wom­ en’s Branch grew from strength to strength. In April 1938 the Women’s Branch was incorporated under the New York State Law as a separate organization. The papers of incor­ poration were signed ¡by the follow­ ing women, most of whom had been with the Women’s Branch from its inception and were wholeheartedly # devoted to its interests throughout the years: Mesdames Joseph Mayer Asher, Isidore Freedman, Herbert S. Goldstein, Rose H. Harte, Moses Hyamsori and’ N. Taylor Phillips. TN May, 1938, Mrs. Isidore Freed­ man was elected National Presi­ dent, ahd almost before we knew it, the war years were upon us and the Women’s Branch, of necessity, found itself undertaking a new type of work, never for a moment for­ getting the old standards and tasks which we had set ourselves. Our religious, cultural, educational and organizational work, if anything, became even more intensified, but naturally we found ourselves drawn into the many War Effort Projects in the national and international picture. On Tuesday, September 17, 1940, three Jewish women’s groups—Re­ form, Conservative and O rthodoxmet together in the Temple of Re­ ligion at the, World’s Fair, to hold the first meeting of its kind ever attempted. The day was designated as Sisterhood Assembly Day. Each of the three groups contributed its 54

share of the program. The Reform group provided the choir and mu­ sic for the occasion, the Conserva­ tive group provided the script and the cast for the portrayal of “The Jewish Home Beautiful.” To the Women’s Branch fell the lot of procuring and setting up the eight t a b l e s — “Sabbath,” “Purim,” “Passover,” “Shovuoth,” ”Yom Kippur”, “Succoth” and “Chanukah.” Beautiful china, sterling silver flatware, candlesticks, utensils and ta­ ble iinens were loaned'by New York stores and lovely floral decorations were contributed for all eight ta­ bles and for thé platform. The proper and most beautiful ceremon­ ial articles for each table were bor­ rowed from private collections. The whole arrangement was breathtaking it its beauty. The Women’s Branch Committee prepared the different kinds of food traditionally connected with each holiday. The officers of the Temple of Re­ ligion commented later that this was the most beautifully set up and most splendid program yet held in the Temple of Religion, at the World’s. Fair. ■pHE Women’s Branch identified itself with every major national and international organization that was working for the benefit of our people* whether in this country or for our stricken brethren abroad. We cooperated with the American Red Cross Roll Call, National Jew­ ish Welfare Board, U.S.O., Hebrew Teachers Training School for Girls, Mizrachi Women’s Organization, British War Relief, New York and J ewish LIFE

Brooklyn Federation Campaigns, United Jewish Appeal, Council Against Intolerance in America, Jewish Braille Review, Jewish Council for Russian War Relief, Sale of War Stamps and Bonds, and many others too numerous to men­ tion. The Women's Branch sent out thousands of mailings, letters and literature from the many agencies listed above to all of our constituent groups, urging their full coopera­ tion, and the Women's Branch in return received citations from many of the agencies and from the Treas­ ury Department of the United States for jobs well done. As President of the Women's Branch, this writer was chosen to preside over the Religious Activi­ ties Committee of the Greater New* York Army and Navy Committee of the Jewish Welfare Board, composed of representatives of Reform and Conservative groups as well as or­ thodox Jewry. This committee play­ ed a major part in making the lot of the Jewish men in the nineteen camps in and around Greater New York, a happier and pleasanter one. The Religious Activities Commit­ tee, even before Pearl Harbor, in­ augurated the practice of giving holiday entertainment to thousands of service men, bringing a religi­ ous message as well as kosher re­ freshments. Holiday gift packages were sent to far-off camps and posts. This activity brought forth such expressions of gratitude that the National Jewish Welfare Board passed it along to all outlying com­ munities wherever Jewish servicemen were stationed and Jewish June, 1948

Women's organizations carried out similar programs. Our next concern came when hundreds of Jewish boys were being inducted into armed ser­ vice at Camp Upton on Erev Pesach. To provide two Sedorim for an anti­ cipated group of nine hundred men on three days notice, in an already overtaxed and overstrained mar­ ket of available kosher food prod­ ucts, was no small task, but with the help of an orthodox Chaplain, our Honorary President, Mrs. Her­ bert S. Goldstein, and myself, two especially fine Sedorim were pro­ vided in a camp near Patchogue, L.I., whose Jewish community was almost nil. ■MOW we had established a demand v for Pesach food for Jewish sol­ diers. The Religious Activities Committee had placed itself on rec­ ord as so doing and in the next few years pur committee raised the funds necessary for providing thou­ sands of Kosher Passover Food Packages for observant Jewish young men and women in our Arm­ ed Services, purchasing, packing and shipping them to points in this country and overseas. On one oc­ casion packages were parachuted to men on maneuvers in the Rocky Mountain region. It was this com­ mittee that furnished thousands of hospital holiday packages to our hospitalized men and women in England in response to a cabled re­ quest, to the National Jewish Wel­ fare Board from General Eisen­ hower. I record again with pride that the Women's Branch contributed 55

most of the moneys raised by the Religious Activities Committee and supplied most of the women vol­ unteers to do the assembling, pack­ ing and marking. Our affiliated groups gave splendid response to the very many requests for finan­ cial aid and volunteer service which we, of necessity, had to call for from time to ‘time. Qur Speakers’ Bureau worked overtime. Our Edu­ cational Department continued to function. Our representatives and delegates to the various agencies, ©f which we were in turn a part, kept our constituent groups con­ stantly informed, by* mail, on the telephone, at regular and special meetings and at Conferences and Conventions.! After the war years, Women?s Branch activities took on a new im­ petus. The war was over, but Pal­ estine and our brethren there and in the Displaced Persons Camps were-still sorely tried. A different kind of work was going on. Resolu­ tions and petitions were drawn up and sent to our affiliated groups for publicity and mass action. By this time we had become a force to bé reckoned with, our counsel sought out, our leaders pressed into all kinds of services, our voice heard in and outside of our orthodox circle < In November 1946, Mrs. Moses L. Isaacs was elected National Pres­ ident of the Women’s Branch.

■PHE Women’s Branch, today, has 193 sisterhoods enrolled in its ranks throughout the country from Maine to California, a Greater New New York Council—with a mem­ bership of 85 sisterhoods, a Balti­ more Chapter—with an enrollment of 25 groups. Under the leadership of our President, in the past year the Upper New York State Chapter was formed and a New England Chapter is now in the process of formation. New publications have been add­ ed to our list this year—the monthly Newsletter and the Manual for Sis­ terhoods. This Manual is filling a long felt want and is being -sent gratis to our affiliated groups and is now on sale at Bloch, Publishing Co. Each of our departments here­ tofore mentioned is continuing to function and to do splendid work under the guidance of our president. As important new agencies appear on the horizon, the members of our affiliated groups give their full share of cooperation. Such a recent one is the S.O.S. (Supplies for Overseas SurVivors) on whose Ex­ ecutive. Committee the Women’s Branch is frequently represented and with which our affiliated groups cooperate to the fullest extent. We look forward, with the en­ largement of our ranks, to the pos-. sibility of ever greater service, for the preservation and development of orthodox Judaism in the country.

Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them gently and they will show themselves great. —Emerson

56

J ewish LIFE

The Memoirs o f Bernard By DAVID DE SOLA POOL ate and personal details which a more reticenij and apologetic nature might Jhave suppressed. He draws the con­ sistent picture of a consistent life. Not many of our generation recall that Dr. Drachman received his train­ ing under the auspices 'of New York’s premier Reform congregation, Temple Emanuel. But after obtaining his rab­ binical diploma in the positive Jewish environment of Europe, he could not bring himself to consider accepting a . position in Temple Emanuel and he whole-heartedly threw in his profes­ sional lot with traditional Judaism. Dr. Bernard Drachman His book reveals many an attractive THE UNFAILING LIGHT. Memoirs picture of orthodox Judaism as he saw of an American Rabbi, by Rabbi it and lived it in Europe two thirds Dr. Bernard Drachman. Published of a century ago. It also preserves by the Rabbinical Council of Amer­ many an interesting fact about the ica. 1948 development of orthodox Judaism in life fully lived, a discriminating New York City at a time when he was sense of values, a vivid memory, the only American-born orthodox rab­ and an alert literary style, are the bi in New York and perhaps in all requisites for the writing of interest­ the United States. ing*’memoirs. All these four qualities Dr. Drachman's life was not paro­ were possessed by Rabbi Bernard chial; it constantly touched the larger Drachman. The last volume which issues of Jewish living. Its story came from his pen, his autobiography, brings before us maj or Jewish causes “The Unfailing Light”, is a very readr and institutions, such as the Chief able and an interesting record not Rabbinate of the British Empire, the only of the life of the writer but also founding and development of the Jew­ of ¿be times and the community in i s h Theological Seminary of America, which he lived. In it he tells his story or the struggle to maintain and with the calm even flow of words strengthen the seventh day Sabbath. which always marked him, without Throughout we feel how true are the any expressions of harsh censure, and words of the editor of the volume with many a word of generous praise. when he says of Dr. Drachman that Moreover, he tells the whole story “His real work was to promote in with the frank candor that was char­ every conceivable instrument the acteristic of him, not omitting ‘intim­ 57 June, 1948

every way possible and through vital substantial growth of a mod­ ern American Orthodox Judaism” American Judaism is the stronger,

the more enlightened and the more loyal because of the blessing of the long and fruitful life of Rabbi Ber­ nard Drachman.

A RELIGIOUS APPROACH TO SCIENCE By ISRAEL GERSTEIN SCIENCE AND JUDAISM by Rab­ bis Harold Leiman and Joseph Elias, Jewish Pocket Books, New York 1947, 70 pages. TN a 70-page paper covered booklet, A the authors propose to tackle some of the fundamental issues to which the supposed antithesis between sci­ ence and religion have given rise. At first blush, this seems like an audacious enterprise, and a sneering skepticism on the part of the reader as he turns to the first page may be forgiven. In the honest reader, how­ ever, this sneer will speedily give way to a knit brow; accompanied by a warm glow within as he allows the lucidly-presented arguments, support­ ed by authoritative references, to per­ vade his mental faculties. The authors analyze the various theories of science which have been a stumbling block to the religious thesis of the First Cause and continuous Providence, and prove convincingly that these theories are totally inade­ quate as the foundation of a sound view of the universe, because in many instances they constitute -no more than guesswork. An honest appraisal of the facts has compelled many a scientist to admit this inadequacy, and to embrace the principle of an active Intelligence and Creator. Thus, the authors show that arguments against 58

the religious thesis based upon evo­ lution and the geological age of the earth merely reflect prejudices on the part of those so called objective sci­ entists. The authors show a remarkable familiarity with the vast literature of science, and discuss with ease the latest conceptions of matter and the atomic theory, demonstrating that many of the weapons in the arsenal of the anti-religious knights are as antiquated as the horse artillery in the age of atomic bombs. The avoidance of bombast, the quiet marshaling of facts and arguments, the ready reference to the stellar au­ thorities in the various fields of sci­ ence, the lucid style that droppeth as the gentle rain upon the tender grass makes this booklet a splendid instru­ ment of enlightenment and guidance. It will prove a pillar of support to the college student who is usually thrown off his spiritual balance by the patter of agnostic and disillusion­ ed professors, and it will also fortify the pious soul. This type of literature is worthy of the widest possible dis­ semination. The authors, Rabbis Leiman and Elias, the sponsors, the Agudath Is­ rael Youth Council, and the publish­ ers, the Spero Foundation deserve a hearty y’yashar kochacha. J ewish LIFE

ORTHODOXY'S TASK

Dear Editor: Saul Bernstein’s article in JEWISH l i f e evaluating the progress made by the U.O.J.C.A. in the fifty years of its existence is indeed encouraging to one who is deeply concerned dyer the indifference of a great number of American Jews to Jewish life. But Orthodoxy must accomplish a great deal more than it has up to now. Our Sages pose the question: “Whoi is a wise scholar?” And they answer, one who is capable of seeing his own faults. I regret to say that there are many faults to be found in Orthodoxy. One of these faults is the homage paid to men of money. Some of these men fragrantly violate every tradition, yet are given the highest kibbudim, and some are even on the boards of di­ rectors of synagogues. This evil, and many other evils that have accumu­ lated through the ages in the Galuth, must be weeded out. Because of these evils many Jew­ ish youths are estranged from the Synagogue and from religion. The youth of today expect people to be consistent in their ideas and beliefs. Let us be consistent and try to get the youth back into the Synagogue for without them there is no future for Judaism. ' The Torah commands us to be a G-dly people, to endeavor to bring perJune, 1948

fection into the world and to make the* world the Kingdom of G-d. Most of us repeat these words in our daily prayers, but how many of us do in reality practice these, high ideals in our every day life? It is up to Or­ thodoxy to set an example by practic­ ing the high ideals the Torah teaches, and the moral philosophy taught by our Sages. Let Orthodoxy assert itself and bring in new life and strength to Judaism so that it will be able to with­ stand all the hardships and obstacles of the Galuth and, with G-d’s help, perpetuate the life of our people. Dr. Abraham Lebow Jersey City, N. J. INFLUENCE OF 'JEWISH LIFE'

Dear Editor: Allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate J e w i s h l if e for the marvelous work it is doing in pro­ ducing such excellent issues.' The frank and honest discussion of the many Orthodox problems in the col­ umns of J e w i s h l if e is a great conthibution to traditional Judaism, and is exerting great influence upon peo­ ple who are re-examining their Jewish beliefs and religious affiliations. It has truly earned the support of every Jewish Community. Rabbi Louis Ginsburg Rome, N. Y. 59

Edited by CHAYAH BATH-AMI A TREASURY OF HEBREW WORDS

YOU SHALL REJOICE . STRANGER ..L................ . . .. ; WIDOW ............... ........... . rumK ORPHAN .... ........ ......... ....-2inv YOUR MANSERVANT .YOUR MAIDSERVANT YOU ... . ...................... . .... nn« T:YOUR SON . ....... U.... .

A POEM READ ON SHOYDOS ...................... LIKENESS .............. . ....... i DEATH ...................................r m PERFECT .......................... ch THE LAST LETTER OF THE ALPHABET .......... n YOUR ........................ ■•••..... . §

AND ............. . .............. 1 *V V LEVITE ......................... ..... » WHO | ........................... .... new

THE ...........................

LANDS ........y............... ..... nfen#

GATE .... ........................ ...... I

iig g e @|h

YOUR DAUGHTER &.......... IN YOUR GATES . ...

3 7 ^ . q n r, 3:3V n ri« I rttotom S M S »

. n no b v

y t •• r • ▼- • >* ’ ••Sr A GEM TO REMEMBER-—“ You shall rejoice i . . you,^your son, daughter, manservant maidservant and the LeviteAn your gates, the stranger, the orphan and the widow. . , . D eut . XVI. 11

COME TO THE POINT 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

A poem written by Meir ben Isaac lands likeness death perfect the last letter of the alphabet

DIRECTIONS: Fill in the first line. Then omit one letter and use the re­ maining letters to make the second line. Do this until you COME TO THE POINT. You will find all the words you need in the treasury. Look on page 66 for the solution.

MEIR BEN ISAAC OF ORLEANS

ft Ghild

%I

Of

It isi the ilth Century. The placevis the city of Orleans, France| A Crusader is seated at a table. Before him stands Meir ben Isaac, a boy of twelve. , Crusacter: I warn you boy, that unless you become a Christian your life is in danger from the Crusaders who are passing through to the Holy ^Land. We are in no mood to be tender to Jews, I assure you. Meir: I shall always remaiin a true son of Israel. Crusader: What is this greatness of Israel that you cling to it even in the face of slaughtering mobs? Meir: The greatness of Israel is this-,—that it proclaims the unity/ of G-d. He is the master of the universe and His glory I will declare before all the kings on the earth. That is our duty. For that we were chosen. I Crusader: The mob will choose you for something very different. Meir: I love the Lord with all.'.my heart and with all my soul. . Crusader: (Contemptuously) This wonderful lover of yours—why do you love him so? Meir: Because of His miraculous deeds. Crusader: (In mock astonishment) Oh!,, Miraculous deeds! What miraculous deeds did he perform for you? Meir: Our enemies wish to destroy us but we always live on after bur enemies have been destroyed. Crusader: Maybe it was that w&y before. Now it will be different. Meir: It will be no different. Centuries from now Israel will still be a living people, Crusader: That?s just wishful thinking. It will do you no good. Unless you become a Christian you will be destroyed. Meir: Never. I will remain faithful to the G-d of Israel. That is my worth—my beauty among the people of the earth. Crusader: You’d, be more worthy if you obeyed our commands. All your wishes would be granted you. You will have greater distinction and higher honor. Meir: With your foolish mind you cannot even imagine His greatness. You cannot even conceive the honor which He will give to His faithful ones. His light will shine upon us while you will be wrapped in-darkness. June, 1948

61

Crusader: And you can imagine all this glory? Meir: Yes, I can see it. I can.see the banquet which He will prepare for His faithful ones. They will sit around tables made of precious stones Before them will flow rivers of sweet-smelling balsam. They will drink ancient wine preserved for them from the time of creation. Crusader: You’re drearding dreams repeated by former dreamers. Meir: These dream sare reality to me. The faithful will sit on thrones of pure gold and the most worthy will sit in the very highest row. Crusader: I see for you something very different. Our mobs will choose for you the highest row at their bloody feast unless you become one of us. That is where you will find yourself, my fine little poet. Meir: I wish T were a poet. Then I would sing the praises of our Lord fittingly. Then I would join in that hymn of praise which only the righteous will hear. Crusader: There is nothing to hear or I would hear it* too. Meir: You hear nothing because your heart is cruel. Praise the Lord and obey His commands and you will hear. Crusader: Come! Come! Enough of this idle chatter. What is your last word? Meir: My last word is this. Exalted is the Lord from beginning to the end, Who loved us and graciously gave us His Law. N ote: Meir ben Isaac of Orleans wrote the poem Akdomuth at the end of the 11th century.

fy A i

REJOICES By, I D A L .

J JR I unlocked the front door and entered the house. His first impulse was to call out “Mom!” He always did that, not because he 62

E

wanted anything, but just to let her know that he had come and to hear her hearty, “Hello, son!” Instantly he remembered that his J ewish LIFE

He called his father at the office. mother wasn’t home. Three days ago she had been called to Phila­ “His son speaking. I have a tele­ delphia to her sister who was ill. gram for him.” That was why Uri let himself in Uri felt very important as he with* a latch-key, just like a grown- waited for his father’s voice. He up. He had taken his lunch, too, repeated the wire exactly. “Rose is and cleared the dishes away neatly. better. Stop. Am coming home. He took a glass of milk from the Stop. Meet me at Grand Central at refrigerator. How quiet the house four o’clock. Stop.” Suddenly Uri was ! His mother was a quiet per­ dropped his formal manner and son. She did everything quietly. screamed for joy. “Dad! Dad! She spoke quietly, sang quietly. Mom’s coming home!” Even the dishes and the silver Uri returned to the kitchen. He scarcely rattled when she washed was very happy. The house was them. He, Uri, was the noisy one,1: alive again. What could he do to laughing and singing at the top of make something special of this his voice, yelling upstairs and clat­ Yomtov? She would be coming home tering down the cellar. Yet without tired. Nothing was prepared. He her the house was so quiet. He was wished he knew how to prepare a quiet, too. He sipped his milk re­ feast. Surely there was something flectively. Was it because she he could do! Something special for wasn’t here to laugh to, to call to? Yomtov. Holidays were for rejoic­ He’d be glad when she came home. ing. How do you rejoice? His father would be glad too. Two He looked into the drawer where lonely bachelors, his father had she kept her candles. There were called them. And here it was Yom- plenty of candles. He went back to tov, practically. What sort of Yom- school. On the way he stopped at tov would it be without mother? the grocer’s and ordered challah, The phone rang, Uri answered cheese, butter and milk. Here were it. It was Western Union asking the making of blintzes, any way. for Mr. Marks. How do you rejoice, thought Uri “He isn’t home,” said Uri. “Can over and over again. He recalled the I take the telegram? I’m his son.” passage which he had been study­ He hoped Western Union wouldn’t ing. ask his age. It would be embarras­ And thou whalt rejoice before the sing to admit being under ten. Be­ Lord thy G-d, thou and thy son— sides, they might refuse the mes­ There were no daughters, no sage. F o r t u n a t e l y Western Union slaves, nor man servants nor maid­ didn’t ask. Uri listened carefully servants in the Marks’ household. and asked to have the message re­ Uri skipped that part. peated just as he had heard his —rand the Levite that is within mother do. “Thank you,” he said thy gate and the stranger and the fatherless and the widow— * and hung up the receiver. June, 1948

63

He stood a little distance. They That was possible. And what a Yomtov that would make! were talking softly but Uri listened In class he whispered to his intently. He didn’t mean to be neighbor. “Pincus, are you a Lev- eavesdropping. He just wanted to ite ?’\ make sure. If they had no place to Pincus, deep in his Geography, go—. He stepped a bit closer. Sure looked up, startled. “A what?” enough. Something had gone wrong. “When your father is called up to They had no place to go. Such a the Torah is he called first or sec­ lovely family. Uri plucked Mr/ ond?” Raasin’s sleeve. I “Oh!” said Pincus. “He’s called ““Please, Mr. Raasin, let them after that. We’re Israel.” . come to my house.” “Too bad! tsa! tsa!” The whole group turned to Uri. “What’s so bad about it?” demand­ The Shammas smiled and slapped ed Pincus. ^his thigh. “Nothing. I mean—I’m Israel too. 1 “Uri Marks! - Excellent! Excel­ Only just now I need a Levite.” “Go find yourself a. Levite,” lent!”' To the Woman he said, “Go. with snapped Pincus. “Yesy but where?” Uri pondered Uri, Mrs. Loeb. You co'uldn’t have a better home to go to. You’ll have the matter seriously. a wonderful Yomtov with the On the way home from school he stopped at the Synagogue. Mr. Marks’./Y ou couldn’t find better Raasin, the Shammas, was always people. Go—go with my blessing!” Mr. Raasin kept nodding and very helpful. He should be able to suggest a widow and some orphans, smiling after them as the whole at any rate. Uri smiled, at his good group followed Uri home. On the luck. There was Mr. Raasin talking way Uri stopped a t ' the grocer’s to a pleasant-faced woman. Uri again and ordered more challah and found the face pleasant even though butter, cheese and milk. . it was, just then, drawn with anx­ . “You’re a good provider,” said iety. Remove the anxious look, Mrs. Loeb. “A ba-al ha-bayisi” thought Uri and she’d be lovely. “Four more guests will make evvMr. Raasin was worried, too. Did ery one want to eat more,” said that mean he. wasn’t a handsome Uri. Especially blintzes.” man, or a good man? Mr. Raasin They reached the house. Uri was both handsome and good. The opened the door with his latchkey. woman had a small child in her The strangers waited at the door. arms. A girl of eight and another “Come in! Come in!” said Uri. of about twelve stood on either “Where .is your mother?” asked side of her. The widow and the Mrs. Loeb as she followed Uri into orphans, thought Uri. He wondered the kitchen. where Mr. Raasin was sending “She isn’t home just now. She them. went to Philadelphia and--- , 64 JEWiSH LIFE

“And y-our father?” “He’s meeting her at the train. They’ll he here about four-thirty. In the meantime we can get things ready. Sit down. Sit down. Make yourselves comfortable.” Mrs. Loeb stared blankly at him without moving. The children stood motionless beside her. The baby clasped her closely. .“Then your parents don’t know that we’re—they don’t even know that—¡maybe they won’t want us.” “Oh, Mrs.. Loeb! This is my house. My friends are always wel­ come in my house.” “Not | four people—strangers—” “All my friends are welcome. The more the better. Especially strangers.” “You’re sure of that?” “Of course! It’s Yomtov! ¥ e must have with us the fatherless and the widow. You will bring us a blessing of joy.” The widow sat down and began to weep softly. The orphans clung to her forlornly. “Please don’t cry,” begged Uri. I want you to be happy. I want to be happy, too. All of us, Mom and Dad, too., We’ll rejoice the way it says in the Torah—it’s a mitzvah. Come, come,” he comforted her. “Is that a way to get ready for Yom­ tov?” Mrs. Loeb dried her eyes. I’ll hope for the best, Uri. May it be as you say. May we be welcome to your father and mother as we are to you.” She set the child down on a chair and rolled up her sleeves. “And now to prepare!” She washed her June, 1948

hands and began to examine the groceries. Uri watched her gravely for a moment. “My mother is very particular kosher,” he said. “Bless your heart, child, so am I. Anyway everything is milchik.” “Milchik can be treyfah too,” said Uri. “True-true!” Mrs, Loeb laughed heartily. Don’t worry, my little Tzadik. My husband, peace be upon him, was a pious man. May his memory be a blessing. Everything had to be done according to the Shulchan Aruch. He was a Levi-—!’ “A Levi!” Cried Uri joyfully. “Then your children are Levites—” “Of course!” Suddenly Uri’s face fell. “But they’re all girls.” “Not the little one. He’s my “kaddish.” Aaron David ben Jacob ha-Levi. He has a face like a little 65

doll and curls like a girl and he’s still wearing girl’s clothes—Once you start buying boys’ clothes, be­ fore you know it they want long pants.” , “He’s just a baby,” sighed Uri. “So he’s a little Levi. He’ll be big soon enough.” ’ Suddenly Uri laughed out. “I know how to make him look bigger right away. Come with me. Miriam, help me take him upstairs.” “And you Dora, help me here in the kitchen.” said Mrs. Loeb. Uri and* the younger girl dragged the bewildered little Levite up­ stairs. Uri rummaged in the lowest drawer of his dresser and found a bundle of his first, small-boy clothes. He dressed the baby in a suit of cherry-colored linen with a white batiste blouse, stitched with cherry-red thread and daint­ ily frilled at the neck and sleeves. The baby curls were brushed and plastered down and parted on the side, big-boy fashion. A white satin skull-cap on his head made him look inches taller. Then they swung him downstairs to show to his mother. While Mrs. Loeb exclaimed with delight at her big son, Uri sniffed appreciatively the fragrance of the cakes and blintzes which had been set on the snowy cloth. The table had been beautifully set. The can­ dles were ready for lighting. “Mother will be so pleased,” said Uri. “So pleased. Listen—” a car crunched up the driveway. “They’re here! They’rs here! Come! Come! Meet my Mom and my Dad!” The guests/ followed Uri to the 66

door. He flung it wide open and rushed into his mother’s arms. Then he stepped back and with an all-embracing arm he enclosed the widow and the orphans and the Levite. “Mom and Dad, meet our Yomtov guests. Friends, meet my Mom and Dad.” For a moment there was a sur­ prised silence—one tiny moment in which the world seemed to stand still. Then Mrs. Mark’s quiet laughter and her husband’s boom­ ing voice mingled with the gaiety of the children. “Good Yomtov! Good Yomtov! Good Yomtov!” “My dear,” Mrs. Marks put her arm around the smiling widow, “I dreaded the , thought of an empty kitchen to-night. And instead I find it full of warmth and fragrance and cheer. Thank you again and again.”* “Don’t thank me, thank Uri,” said Mrs..Loeb. “Uri brought the mitzvah of rej oicing into the house.” ■. 1 Solution to "COME TO THE POINT"

n

72> 1 i ) R n 1 ‘f t 1 K l 1 721 1 n V 'ft □ 1 U fp n J ewish LIFE

CORDIAL GREETINGS POR A

HAPPY SHEVUOTH

MIRACLE WHIP SALAD DRESSING

MUSTARD PRODUCTS

MIRACLE SANDWICH SPREAD

Horseradish

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Dusseldorf

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PARKAY MARGARINE FRIZZ

These products bear the ©

the official seal of approval of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America '•

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Ju n e, 1948

67

USE THIS BETTER BUTTER KOSHER ®

OCOMA UNSALTED BUTTER Pure - Fresh - Rich in Nourishment

Prepared under the supervision of The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America

THE BELLEVUE CREAMERY AND PRODUCTS CO. 96 Gansevoort Street New York 14, N. Y.

TO PRESERVE HEALTH He who is desirous of preserving his health must become acquainted with the psychological emotions and take care of them-—and how much more must one be careful not to eat when he is angry, frightened, or emotionally up­ set, but only when moderately joyful. —Shulchan Aruch

DFT TA

PINE JELLY SOAP “The Jelly That Cleans”. Makes W ashing of G reasy Pots, Pans, Skillets, Refrigerators, Stoves, etc., surprisingly easy. Approved (Q) as Kosher.

Mfrd. by Delta Chemical Laboratory New Orleans, La:

^ v j u a r a n t e e d

Kosher and “Parve A ll S u n sh in e K osh er cra ck ers and c o o k ie s

are baked under the supervision of a Rabbi Baked in the . Kosher Division of Sunshine B iscuits, I nc, 68

J ewish LIFE

M-m-mellow M-m-mouthwatering M -m -m agnificent M -m -m ech ayadickf.

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VEGETARIAN

BEANS They're and B le sse d w ith the w o rld 's m ost w o n d e rfu l sa u c e

produced under

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strict

june, 1948

Par

Democracy is b ased upon the con­ viction that there are extraordinary pos­ sibilities in ordinary people. —H. E. Fosdick

Congratulations

Every man feels instinctively that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action. —James Russel Lowell

to the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America . . . and good wishes to the readers of this fine publication* TH E

M A K E R S

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I L

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RENNET—custard-desserts m ade w ith our “Junket” Brand Rennet — Pow der or T ablets, a re alw ays K G S H E R Product

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70

J ewish LIFE

Now, lighter more delicious cakes

Spry withCake-Improver Trythis Banana Cream Cake 2 c u p s sifted c a k e flou r }H c u p s s u g a r 2%, t e a s p o o n s b a k in g p o w ­ d e r (tartrate p o w d e r, 4 te a s p o o n s ) 1 te a s p o o n s a lt

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ix Spry’s easy One-Bowl way: Sift flour, sugar, baking pow­ der, salt into mixing bowl. Drop in Spry -(no creaming needed). Add % of milk, then vanilla; beat 200 strokes (2 minutes by hand or on mixer at low speed).' Scrape bowl or beater. Add eggs and remaining milk; beat 200 strokes (2 min. on mixer). Did you ever mix a cake so fast? That/s because of Cake-Im­ prover Spry’s special secret. Bake in two deep 8-inch Sprycoated layer pans in moderately hot oven (375°F.) 25-35 minutes. Cool. Put layers together with 1 cup heavy cream (whipped and sweet­ ened with cup sugar) and sliced bananas (sprinkled "with lemon juice). Top with cream and ba­ nanas. Serve to, a chorus of praise from your admiring family.

■

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( A ll S p r y A s K o sh e r a n d P a rve. S p r y i s . m a d e o n l y f r o m p u r e , v e g e ta b le o ils i n f u l l c o n fo r m ity w ith J e w is h d ie t­ a r y la w s . I t c o n ta in s n o a n im a l f a t . )

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June, 1948

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J ewish LIFE

0 inGEFILIEFISH I AfckVft © t- B -P A S H IO N E B

MAKES THE MEAL ...A S A MAIN COURSE OR APPETIZER

Clear broth comes to a delicious jell after a few hours in the refrigerator. And BIG 16-oz. glass jars keep six portions at the peak of flavor! So inexpensive! Certainly it’s Kosher and Pareve. At your grocer’s now. MOTHERS FOOD PRODUCTS, INC., 59 06DEN ST., NEWARK 4, N. I.

DIAMOND CRYSTAL KOSHER SALT is certified by Rabbi Hersch Kohii of New York

“H alf the crude oil in the dom estic refineries ow ned by our company and its affiliates is pur­ chased from independent producers. Probably 90% of the products w e sell to consum ers reach the custom ers through inde­ pendent dealers and dis­ tributors. T he existence of a large number of vig­ orous, enterprising indi­ vidualists in the petrol­ eum industry, as in all fields—--is the best pos­ sible assurance that our dem ocracy w ill remain strong.” F rom an address by E ugene H olm an , P re si­ dent, S tan dard O il C o m ­ pany (N ew . J e rse y ). •

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HOTEL

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108 WEST 43rd STREET, NEW YORK is under the supervision of The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America Excellent accommodations for Banquets — Weddings — Bar Mitzvah Parties for groups of 50 to 1,000 people Kashruth is supervised by a representative of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations who -is present in person at each function. Telephone : BRyant 9-2487 - 8 - 9 74

J ewish LIFE

KEE-NEH-RET MAHOPAC, N. Y.

The Informal Adult Camp only 45 miles from N. Y.. — Strictly Kosher — All Sports~-Our Own 3 Mile Lake TeL M ahopac 2569 New York Phone: SL. 6-0532

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10-12 AVENUE A GRamercy 5-1893 - New York, N.Y. We Also Cater Outside of Our Establishment

Kashruth under the supervision of Rabbi Samuel Singer, member of . the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the U. S. and Canada.

75

Ready In Septem ber 1948

D'i’tm “inori

HA-SIDDUE HA-SHALEM

Newly translated, annotated and provided »te with' an introduction by

PHILIP BIRN£AUM, Ph. D. The Hebrew' Publishing Company is pleased to announce the forthcoming edi­ tion of the complete Prayerbook, Minhag Ashkenaz, with an entirely new, modern English translation. The major influences which have come to the Prayerbook from all branches of Hebrew literature are faith­ fully recorded in Dr. Birnbaum’s footnotes. Dr. Birnbaum’s modern translation of our prayers is intended for worshipers of our time, who no longer speak the Eng­ lish of King James day. Each of the serv­ ices is arranged as a completely integrated unit, so that the worshiper -is not called upon to search ‘ from page to page. All the directions here are explicit, brief and to the point.

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THE JEW The Jew is the emblem of eternity. He whom neither slaughter nor torture of thousands of years could destroy, he whom neither fire nor sword nor in­ quisition w as able to wipe off the face of the earth, he who w as the first to produce the oracles of G-d, he who has been for so long the guardian of proph­ ecy, and who transmitted it to the rest of the world—such a nation cannot be destroyed. —Leo Tolstoy

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76

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THE RETURN TO ZION The return to Zion must be preceded by our return to Judaism. —Theodore Herzl

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Hod C A R M E L KOSHER MEAT PRODUCTS Delicious — Pure —♦Appetizing Hod C A R M E L KOSHER MEAT PRODUCTS are pro­ duced under the guidance of Rabbi Jacob W. Redelheim, President of Hod Carmel Provi­ sion Co., and with the punctual strict supervision of prominent rabbis. WATCH FOR THE tfHOD CARMEL” LABEL Under Government Inspection No, 522

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•

room 810

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Since 1892 Baby Gouda and Mello-Gold Cheese

(Holland Type) AMERICAN. MUENSTER and BRICK CHEESE

Manufactured under the personal supervision of Rabbi S. A. Pardes, Chicago, 111.

Prepared under the supervision of

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by I KOSHER DESSERTS. Inc. New York, N. Y.

J une, 1948

Retail: 13 Essex St. GRamercy 5-3337 Wholesale : 18 Harrison St. 77

KASHRUTH DIRECTORY <2> 1 ----- 1 1 ' .

-------- ''

' , ■'?■§

WATCH FOR THIS SEAL: © . It is your guarantee that the product has been thoroughly investigated and every ingredient found to conform in every w ay with the Jewish Dietary Laws. This Directory appears in each issue of JEWISH LIFE. Listings are passed upon by the Rabbinical Council of America, Rabbinic body of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. Only such items are included as are either directly endorsed by UOJCA, which are marked by © , or have other respon­ sible Rabbinic supervision. Consumers are cautioned to ascertain that the Hechsher or © seal of Kashruth approval is affixed to the labels of food and other products. ■ - ' ■' v ~ ‘ ~ r::

BABY FOODS © H. J. Heinz Co. © Beech-Nut Co. BREAD & CHALLAH • George F. Stuhmer Co. CAKES, COOKIES & CRACKERS © Golden Cracknel (Golden Crack­ nel & Spec. Co., Detroit) © Ry-Krisp (Ralston-Purina) © Sunshine Kosher ( Sunshine Bis­ cuit Co., N. Y. C.) Stuhmer's Doughnuts M. Sussman, 206 Clinton St., N.Y.C. Tam Tam (Manischewitz) CANDIES AND DESSERTS © Frizz (Kraft Desserts) © Loft, Inc. Isra Chocolate Co. CEREALS© H. J. Heinz Co. CHEWING, GUM , © Wrigley's (except Pepsin) CONDIMENTS © H. J. Heinz Co. DAIRY PRODUCTS © Ocornla Butter (Bellevue Creaméry, Omaha, Neb.) Edelstein's Tuxedo Brand D. Miller, 13 Essex St., N.Y.C. Schmerling (Schnall Products,, Brooklyn, N. Y.) 78

DRESSINGS © Cascade; Duchess (Table Prod­ ucts Co., San Francisco) © Kraft French © Miracle French (Kraft) © Miracle Whip (Kraft) . .1 FISH PRODUCTS © Mother's Old Fashioned Gefilte Fish (Mother's Food Products, Newark, N. J.) B. Manischewitz Co., Gefuelte Fish FROZEN FOODS © Sanborn's Kosher-Pakt Brand: Cheese Blintzes; Gefuelte Fish; Potato Pancakes; Pot Roast; Stuffed Cabbage. (Sanborn Foods, Cedarhurst, N.Y.) HONEY © Garber Eagle Oil Co. Rokeach's Pure Honey Streit's Honey FLAVORINGS ©-Westag Vanilla, Westag Lemon” (Table Products Co.) HOUSEHOLD SOAPS AND SCOURING POWDERS © Dreft (Procter & Gamble.) © Dif (Dif Co., Garwood, N.J.) © Garber Eagle Oil Co., Brook­ lyn, N.Y. © Mel'o (Hygienic Products Co., Canton, Ohio) J e w is h

LIFE

© My. Pal, (Pal Products, Brook- PREPARED PASTRY MIX - lyn, N.Y.) © Holiday Macaroon Mix © Oakite (Oakite Inc., N.Y.C.) . '(Allied Food Industries, © Palco (Pal Products, Brooklyn, Perth Amboy, N.J.) N.Y.) RELISHES, PICKLES, etc. © Puro (Puro Co., Chicago) © H. J. Heinz Co. © Scoop (F. R. Corp., N.Y.C.) © Spare-Way (Spare-Way Foods) Rokeach’s Kosher Soap (I. Rokeach Brooklyn, N. Y. & Sons, Brooklyn, N.Y.) SALAD OIL Stress Kosher Soap (A. Streit, © Garber’s Misrochi (Garber Eagle Inc., N.Y.C.) Oil Co., Brooklyn, N.Y.) Zober (Stone Soap Co., Detroit) Rokeach Kosher Salad Oil MAYONNAISE SALT © Gold Crest (Spareway Foods, © Certified Kosher Coarse Salt Brooklyn, N.Y.) (International Salt Co.) | © Heinz (H. J. Heinz Co., Pitts­ Chippewa Kosher Salt burgh)(Ohio Salt Co.) , © Kraft (Kraft Foods Co.,^ Diamond Crystal Salt 'Co. Chicago) (St. Clair, Mich.) © Nu Made; Piedmont (Table SANDWICH SPREAD Products Co^, San Francisco) © Lunch Box (Table Products Co.) © Miracle-Kraft (Kraft Foods) MUSTARD SOUPS © H. J. Heinz Co. © H. J. Heinz Co. ; © Kraft Foods Co. (with .horseHorowitz-Margareten radish) Manischewitz Food Products OLEO-MARGARINE Rokeach Kosher Soups Contain Milk SYRUP © Nucoa (Best Foods) © Sleepy Hollow (Table Prod. Co.) © Parkay (Kraft Foods Co.) VEGETABLE SHORTENING PEANUT OIL © Bestfat (M. D. Zimmer Co., © Garber Eagle Oil Co. N.Y.C.) Rokeach Kosher Peanut Oil © Garber Eagle Oil Co. © Humko (Memphis, Tenn.) PEANUT BUTTER Covo, Hydora, Spry (Lever Bros., © Beech-Nut (Beech-Nut Packing Cambridge, Mass.) Co., N.Y.C.) Crisco (Procter & Gamble, N.Y.C.) © H. J. Heinz Co. Nut-Ola Co., N.Y.C. © Beverly, Real Roast, (Table Nyafat (I. Rokeach & Sons, Bklyn.) Products Co.) VINEGAR POTATO CHIPS © Garber’s Misrochi © Blue Ribbon (A. A. Walter Co., © H /J. Heinz Co. Albany, N.Y.) © Old Mill (Table Products Co.) June, 1948 79

THE ALERT SERVANT OF G-D Judah ben Tema said: Be strong as the leopard and swift as the eagle« fleet as the deer and valiant as the lion to do the will of thy Father in (h eaven. —Talmùd« Aboth« 5« 20.

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