Newspaper Page Text
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Page Four
Friday, June 3, 1949
Th« Southern Israelite
Published weekly by Southern Newspaper Enterprises, Inc., 312
Ivy Street, N. E„ Atlanta 3, Georgia. WAlnut 0791-0792. M.
Stephen Schlffer, publisher; Adolph Rosenberg, editor; Willy Pels,
business manager. Entered as second class matter at the post of
fice,Atlanta, Georgia, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Yearly
subscription, three dollars. The Southern Israelite invites literary
contributions and correspondence but is tot to be considered as
sharing the views expressed by writers. Deadline is 9:00 a. m.
Wednesday but material received earlier will have a much better'
chance of publication.
Why Not Study Camps for Adults?
It is pleasing on the eve of sum
mer to hear of the several Jewish
programs of camping which during
the next few months will attract
^ hundreds of youngsters throughout
the South into wholesome sur
roundings for recreation and edu
cation.
Brandeis Camp at Henderson
ville, the Young Judaea Institute
and the Youth Institute at Camp
Blue Star, Camnp Daniel Morgan
are some of the facilities which
will afford opportunities for in
doctrinating our youth.
But what of the adults? They
seem generally out of the picture
in this section and for the most
part in other areas.
Exception, the only one to come
to our attention, is a project being
promoted for the third year at Tel
Noar Lodge, Hampstead, N. H.
Here, through sponsorship of the
New England Region of the Na
tional Federation of Jewish Men’s
Clubs, a week-end of Jewish rec
reation and study has been ar
ranged. The program will include
talks on the Bible, Talmud, Juda
ism, Ethics, Art and Ceremonial
Objects.
The idea is worth spreading and
we hope such a camp plan for
adults will be put into operation
at some early date in the South.
Adults can surely benefit from the
spiritual and physical refresh
ment of body and soul at camps as
well as can their sons and daugh
ters.
Anent Letters to the Editor
So much discussion, pro and con, has been evoked by
the publication last week of a communication to the editor
that special comment is called forth.
As pointed out in our editorial mast head, views of
literary contributors do not reflect the official position of
The, Southern Israelite. Views expressed by writers to
our “The Editor% Mail Box” department are the thoughts
solely of the individual whose name is used and do not
represent the paper’s point of view unless especially sig
nified as much.
Though we may disagree with what the reader writes
in his letter to the editor, we feel the individual has the
right to his opinion and that the English-Jewish press
should be the last source in a democratic world to deny
him the right of public expression of his views. We feel so
keenly the need for the free publication of such individual
views that we have even printed letters whose critical
contents were directed at the paper itself. They could
easily have been discarded and none would have been the
wiser save the letter writer and a cowardly editorial
conscience.
Appearance of such differences of opinion sharpens the
accumen of our readers, we feel, increases interest in the
content of our columns and is an invigorating and whole
some influence not only on our readership but on our
own reactions as well. Our regret is that more readers do
not take the time to write us, particularly when they
disagree.
Though Mr. Taylor did not present his views on the best
possible plane, he did direct himself earnestly and in his
own way to three topics which are of current and vital
significance to the Jewish community—in Atlanta and
wherever there is a Jewish congregation. These topics are:
1. Should a public school hold graduation exercises, in
which Jewish children participate, on the Sabbath?
2. Should a Jewish congregation hold its own religious
school graduation on the Sabbath?
3. Should a rabbi and his congregation use programming
to attract members to Friday evening worship?
These are not moot or irreligious subjects but real live
issues. We have heard them frequently discussed in At
lanta, especially by members of the congregation men
tioned in Mr. Taylor’s letter. And so we were convinced
that bringing the discussion into the open would cause no
disservice or condemnatory reaction to any person or
group.
We are sorry if the letter caused anyone personal grief
of any sort, or that any feelings have been hurt by our
printing Taylor’s criticism. If we may make an inter
polation in good humor, we frankly doubt that the con
gregation mentioned will collapse because this difference
of opinion is made known. No more than the editor will
collapse under the diatribes and threats currently being
hurled our way.
Reaction to the letter raises the point of the place of an
English-Jewish paper in the community. Certainly, from
the standpoint of editorial comfort, it would be quite sim
pler to fill the columns with innocuous platitudes than to
attempt to arouse interest in Jewish affairs by any forth
right expression of opinion.
One thing we must add. The appearance of Mr. Taylor’s
letter has had a stimulating effect upon our readers. We
are inclined to feel the effect is wholesome regardless of
which side of the issues personal conviction places our
readers.
What About That?
QUESTION: Why is it custo
mary to conduct morning and
evening services in the home of
a mourner during the seven-
day mourning period?
ANSWER: Some commentators
feel this is done because
mourners are confined to their
homes and are unable to go to
the Synagogue to pray during
this period. However, the Tal
mud clearly states that even
when there are no mourners it
was customary to assemble the
required quorum (10 males) at
the home of the deceased, giv
ing as a reason the fact that the
soul of the deceased is gratified
by the honor extended to its
memory by conducting prayers
at the home. >
*****
QUESTION: Why do mourners
make a special entrance into
the Synagogue on the Friday
evening which falls during the
seven-day mourning period?
Why are they greeted by the
consoling phrase expressed by
the entire congregation, “May
the Almighty console you along
with the mourners of Zion and
Jerusalem?”
ANSWER: In the first place,
mourners are not allowed in
the Synagogue during the sing
ing of hymns and praises of
delight which welcome the
entrance of the “Sabbath
Queen.” Therefore, they enter
after the songs have been eom-
cially been ushered in.
In addition, this tradition
dates to the days of Solomon
when two special entrances
were constructed in the Holy
Temple. One was called the
“Gate of the Bridegrooms,”
through which prospective
grooms entered the Temple and
were greeted by well-wishers.
The other was called the “Gate
of the Mourners,” through
which mourners passed on their
way to the temple and were
greeted by the condolences of
those who stood by for that
purpose.
There being no Temple in
Jerusalem today, the Synago
gue takes its place and bride
grooms are welcomed there on
Sabbath morning and mourn
ers on Friday evening in the
Ci\i(eni/a
SHAVUOUS
Friday, June 3
(First Day)
Saturday, June 4
(Second Day)
TISIIAIi B’AV
Thursday, August 4
ROSH HASHONA
Saturday, Sept. 24
(First Day)
Sunday, Sept.. 25
(Second Day)
YOM KIPPUR
Monday, October 3
8UCCOS
Saturday, Oct. 8
(First Day)
Sunday, Oct. 9
(Second Day)
Saturday, Oct. 14
(Eighth Day)
HANUK.KAH
Friday, Dec. 16
pleted and Sabbath has offi-
BETWEEN US, by
Truman and
It can now be revealed that it
was due to Truman’s personal in
tervention that Israel was admit
ted to U. N. membership . . .
The State Department was
against it . . . This was plainly
indicated to Israeli Foreign Min
ister Moshe Sharett during his
visit to Washington . . . He was
bluntly told by high officials that
the U. S. delegation at the U. N.
would sponsor the proposal to
have Israel admitted to U. N.
membership only under certain
conditions . . .
And the conditions were: 1. Is
rael should readmit Arab refu
gees; 2. Israel should compensate
the Arabs with Israeli land for the
part of Upper Galilee wrestled by
the Jewish Army from the Arab
forces . . .
Since both conditions were un-
VVEDNESDAY—9:30 a. m—is the deadline for ITEMS
in NEXT WEEK’S CALENDAR—conducted for the
convenience of the community,
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE prefers to
have these items in writing at 312 Ivy
St., N. E.. Atlanta 3, Ga„ but will accept
them over WA. 0791. To make the Atlanta
Date Clearance Bureau a success, it must
be must be USED and CONSULTED by
ORGANIZATIONS.
Atlanta Community Calendar
JUNE 5. Sunday:
7:00 P. M.—Boxing and Body Building Exhibition—J.E.A.
JUNE 6. Monday:
11:00 A. M.—Joint Executive Board and Genera^ Member
ship Meeting. Temple Sisterhood. Temple House.
JUNE 8. Wednesday:
2:00 P. M.—Pioneer Women’s Tenth Anniversary Celebra
tion. M. Bloshstein. Guest Speaker. A .A. Center.
7:30 P. M.—Barbecue. Atlanta B’nai B’rith Lodge. Girl
Scout Lodge, North Fulton Park.
JUNE 13. Monday:
6:3a—11 P. M.—JAC-FOZ Welfare Fund Ball. A. A.
Center.
aforementioned manner.
Boris Smolar
Israel’s Vote
acceptable to the Israeli Govern
ment, Sharett left the State De
partment in a gloomy mood . . .
For about two weeks the Austral
ian delegate, Dr. Evatt, who was
the president of the U. N. Assem
bly, spent all his efforts to win
the co-sponsorship of the U. S.
delegation for the resolution urg
ing the admission of Israel to the
U. N. . . . However, he met with
very little success . . . Nor could
he get Canada to be a co-sponsor,
since the Canadian delegation
made it clear that it would follow
U. S. action . . .
Finally, the matter was brought
to Truman’s attention ... It was
only then that the U. S. delega
tion began to lend its support to
the proposal favoring Israel’s ad
mission . . . And Canada followed
suit . . .
This is not the first time that
Truman has stepped in during cru
cial moments for Israel at the U.
N. ... It will be remembered that
the U. S. delegation voted for the
“partition resolution" only after
Truman telephoned from Wash
ington to do so, against the “ad
vice” of Loy Henderson and others
in the State Department . . .
It will also be recalled that
Truman saved the situation for
Israel at the U. N. when he sur
prised everybody by announcing
de facto recognition of the Jewish
State . . . This was a surprise not
only to the world, but even to the
State Department and to the
American delegation at the U. N.
. . . And it certainly changed mat
ters for Israel at a moment when
it looked like the Arabs had the
upper hand at the U. N. Assembly.
non-Jewish land.
The Editor’s MAIL BOX
Reader Differs with Taylor on graduation issue;
Says blame for religious laxity not Rabbis’
Editor: Southern Israelite.
Re: Mr. Barney Taylor’s letter
of May 17.
It is perfectly proper to hold
graduation exercises of a re
ligious school on Friday night.
“It is a religious program,” just
as much as Bar Mitzvah, only
in the former more than one are
confirmed. If the exercises por
tray the true religious spirit,
glorifying God and honoring
the laws of our Bible, express
ing love for our noble teaching,
it is even more fitting to have
it on Friday night or night of
Shovuos, with the already ex
isting spirit of religion in the
hearts of the assembled people.
As to diminishing of prayers,
Mr. Taylor should know that
caused by religious exercises,
the Bible does not tell us how
much to pray, but that it does
tell us and teach us to pray
from the heart, a short prayer
from the heart. A short prayer
than numbers of prayers read
only with the lips. The Prayer
Book is only a guide for the
people; the prayers can be in
creased or decreased, in accord
with requirements.
I think that many will agree
with me that it is asking too
much of a non-Jewish school
to leave out Friday evening for
graduation exercises, unless
about half of the graduating
pupils are Jewish. Let us not
forget that we are living in a
As to lack of religious knowl
edge among our people, while
the Rabbis can and should teach
and inspire with the truths and
beauties of our holy religion,
arouse our people to the im
portance of Bible reading and
study, yet, under existing out
side conditions, they cannot be
blamed altogether for laxity of
religious interest among us.
The people can unite and make
a greater demand on the Rabbis
to do their duty; that, I believe,
would bring a satisfactory re
sponse.
I would advise Mr. Taylor to
take an optimistic attitude to
ward our young people con
cerning our religion. They will
probably accomplish what we
have failed. May God bless
them all.
Mrs. Evelyn Epstein.