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A Magazine Perpetuating Jewish Ideals
FIKIIIAY, F Hit UFA IKY 7, 1030
Volume
Number 7
Carrying On
With the recent election of officers of the Lodge No. 5 of the
i B’rith we can look forward with renewed expectation that
< >rk which the local chapter undertakes will be continued with
me splendid efforts and results that the retiring executives
dured. It is quite unnecessary to scan the wide field to which
organization contributes its support, for we are all familiar
the tremendous good it sponsors in orphanage work and va
rious other lines of charity.
Aside from these interests, however, there are probably none
worthy than the A. Z. A. and the Hillel Foundations. They
an well known without detailed description, and to us it seems that
B’nai B’rith will reach its most promising results through
these organizations. The A. Z. A., the junior organization of the
B’nai B’rith, open to young men between the ages of 16 and 21,
s for the members the spirit of true fraternal understanding,
e Hillel Foundations, which take care of the religious and social
ft, more or less, of the university and college students, form an-
r tie which is bound to further co-operation among the young
people even after they leave college.
In this manner the B’nai B’rith instills even deeper within
youth their inherent bond of brotherhood, which appears to
be the promising salvation for Judaism, that so many think disin-
ating. By supplanting the indifference of the Jewish youth
< religion with the inspiration of the responsibility resting
;i him to carry on the faith that his forefathers succeeded in
keeping alive, Judaism will continue to live and press forward. To
sincerity and co-operation of these young people, alone, need
we turn to hope for our ideal, unity in Israel.
And so once again we place our confidence in the Lodge and
h them continued success and inspiration under their new and
capable leadership.
Need Still Unfilled
Leaders of American public opinion are urging that we give
attention to spiritual matters, since there has been at the
s of our attention within recent years the ageless conflict of
rialism versus idealism. The result is that, at the present
there is a decided reaction against the materialistic
Hook due to the danger that mate
rialistic philosophy has greatly over
flowed that side of the mind and
trt which is usually designated as
the soul. Prosperity requires its own
particular type of courage in order to
US1 ' its advantages for the benefit of
mankind, otherwise it may undermine
th* character building that hardships
a tFt ; t. In other words, there is the pos
sibility that spiritual progress will be
obliterated in the face of material ad
vancement.
1 hese conclusions are the crux of
condition upon which Roger W.
Straus, President of the National Fed
eration of Temple Brotherhoods, bases
■ ' xplanations of the significance of
Brotherhood or Men’s Club Move-
men t- It is a young movement, begun
5 n years ago because need for spir-
F • progress was recognized. As chil-
• ,°f the Covenant, the Jews were
upon to lead in this movement
aid greater spiritual emphasis.
• tirst this movement was stressed
n t *-ne formation of Men’s Clubs affil-
with Reform Congregations
- Wighout the country to co-operate
with the synagogues in the local fields, and nationally through the
national organization of the Union of American Congregations,
in order to bring about greater attention to the Jewish religion
by Jews, the movement was spread in forming Orthodox and
Conservative Men’s Clubs, for one of their principal ideas is to
bring about greater unity in Israel.
Their work is primarily religious. Each club has member
ship drives to bring back to the synagogue unaffiliated Jews, re
gardless whether the individual viewpoint be Orthodox or Reform.
Another object is to teach the members more about Judaism.
Mr. Straus emphasizes that the fundamental immediate object
of the Men’s Clubs throughout the country is to bring about greater
interest in our religion, and the practical expression of this is to
increase temple attendance and temple membership. This does not
mean, however, that the clubs limit themselves to Jewish contacts.
They gladly co-operate with Christian agencies that are working
to stress the importance of religion in American life. This is done
nationally through the National Conference of Jews and Chris
tians and locally through joint meetings between our temple Men’s
Clubs and various church organizations.
With this data before-us and the splendid purpose, ideals and
accomplishments of this movement briefly sketched, can we help but
lament the fact that our community has no such club, or better
still, clubs? It is certainly high time that our Jewish leadership
band together to sway our youth in the proper religious channels
and toward Jewish consciousness, instead of standing by allowing
the prosperity of our time to destroy rather than to create. Surely
it cannot be that we have fallen into a pit of materialism from
which we are too overcome to rise to the needs and heights of
spiritual idealism.
Are Palestine Jews In Right With God?
MARGINAL NOTES By Maurice Samuel
A curious, unprovoked phrase occurs in a comment made by
Dr. Samuel Schulman on the Magnes pamphlet, “Like The Other
Nations.” “The radicals in Palestine,” says Rabbi Schulman for
no reason whatsoever, “will have to come to some understanding
with Israel’s God.” Why Dr. Schulman should go out of his way
to comment thus on the Jewish workers of Palestine (they are
practically all radicals) I do not know. But how strange, old-fash
ioned and uncomprehending the com
ment rings. The Jewish workers of Pal
estine who, in hunger and sickness, have
clung these many years to their double
ideal of social justice and Jewish cul
ture, come nearer, I think, than any
other section of world Jewry to the
ideals of the prophets Isaiah and Amos.
“Bring no more vain oblations,” cries
Isaiah in the name of the Lord. “In
cense is an abomination unto me . . .
learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve
the oppressed, judge the fatherless,
plead for the widow.” “Take away from
me the noise of thy songs,” cries Amos
in the name of the Lord (can he also
have been alluding to organs?) . . .”
. . . but let judgment run down like
waters and righteousness like a mighty
stream.” These two quotations might
well be taken as the mottoes of the
Jewish radicals of Palestine. For that
reason, though the radicals of Palestine
may have some difficulty in coming to
an understanding with the God of Dr.
Schulman, they will have none in com
ing to an understanding (if there is not
one already) with the God of Israel,
Isaiah and Amos.
CONTENTS
SOME OBSERVATIONS ON INTER
CHANGES OF JEWISH AND CHRISTIAN
SANCTUARIES • • 4
WHAT IS A JEW? 5
By Henry Montor.
SOCIETY AND PERSONALS 6-12
YOUR FEDERATION 7
By Edward M. Kahn.
IN THE LIMELIGHT 8
HOMES FOR JEWISH CHILDREN J
FEATURES OF LOCAL INTEREST 10
SCANNING THE JEWISH HORIZON .... 11
By David Schwartz
CHILDREN’S CORNER 14
M. Stephen Schipfek, Managing Editor
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Established 1925.
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