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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Friday, October 23. 1953
Sat
The Southern Israelite
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MEMBERS OP ADVISORY BOARD
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Arthur Weiss
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WHAT IS ORTHODOX JUDAISM? '
by Rabbi Emanuel Feldman
This guest editorial was written by the spiritual leader of Con
gregation Beth .larob In Atlanta for publication in the F.nglish-Jew-
ish Press upon the occasion of the "Decade of Progress.’’ Convention
called by the Southeastern Synagogue Conference in Nashville this
weekend. —THE EDITOR
With Increasing frequency a question is being asked; What is
Orthodox Judaism? The question is certainly a valid one, hut of
deeper significance is the fact that the question should he asked
•mong young people.
Disillusioned, discouraged, and disgusted with the pseudo-
Judaism which have come and gone on the American scene, think
ing Jews are seeking something concrete, searching for something
more real and substantial. And in their return to the basic essent
ials of Judaism, they are finding something more than an answer.
They are finding themselves.
The resurgence towards traditional Judaism in the Torah
sense is due in large measure to the lofty principles for which
Orthodoxy stands. Unlike the professional innovators among us,
who would make of religion a fashion show which changes by the
Seasons, Orthodoxy has ever maintained the highest standards of
•ur Torah and our people. While some groups have transformed
holy worship into cheap pomp and pageantry, Orthodoxy has held
fast to the dignity of its services. Where others have edited and re
vised and all but obliterated the time-hallowed prayer-book, Or
thodox has found even greater meaning from its Siddur for modem
times. Where other pulpits have descended to banal book-reviews
And to a vague, adulterated, diluted, watered-down “Judaic cul
ture”, the Orthodox pulpit is still proud to preach the word of God.
Where the pseudo-Judaisms have attempted to delude American
Jdwry with catch phrases, expediency, and convenience,
Orthodoxy has kept aglow the light which comes from Siinai.
That people today ask about Orthodoxy, and that it is gaining
more adherents daily, is a tribute to its faith and its optisism.
For this is the essence of Orthodoxy: courage and optimism
Courage to battle the forces of darkness and ignorance which
threaten to destroy us from within; optimism and faith in the abili
ty of the American Jew to live by the principles of the Torah.
Three German industrialists
identified by the War Department
as important Nazis and one of Hit
ler’s generals have been honored
here and decorated with medals
in recognition of their “contribu
tions.” The implications of the
West German election, which
some thought spelled the defeat of
Hitler-minded elements, point to
the emergence today in respect
able guise of many of the same
German personalities who sup
ported the Nazis even prior to
1933.
The Administration, in inter
preting the McCarran-Walter Im
migration Act, has decided that
Nazis are not subversive and that
presence here is in the best inter
est of the United States. This
month, on the 50th anniversary of
the Wright Brothers’ flight, Presi
dent Eisenhower welcomed Dr
Willy Messershcmitt and other
manufacturers of German military
at all. It is an indication that Orthodoxy has been successful in aircraft to the White House as
, . , ' . . , members of a delegation of inter-
ftwakening a deep interest among American Jews - particularly national air pionee rs.
The President might have re
called the names of some of his
guests from War Department
pamphlet 31-110A issued March
23, ,1945. It advised him to take
into custody as dangerous Nazis
three of the gentlemen who were
this month brought to Washington
to be honored. They include Dr.
Messerschmitt, Helmut Sachse,
and Gerhard Fiesler. The Depart
ment said these specific indivi
duals held the Nazi rank of
“Wehrwirtschaftsfuhrer.” Accord
ing to War Department they were
persons “who, in an outstanding
way, thrived under National So
cialism, who welcomed it in the
beginning, aided the Nazis to ob
tain power, supported them in of
fice, shared the spoils of expro
priation and conquest, or other
wise markedly benefitted in their
careers or fortunes under the Na
zis.” Dr. Messerschmitt is reported
to have given public expression to
his anti-Semitism, even after the
defeat of Germany.
A fourth air enthusiast who ac
companied his colleagues to the
White House was General Major
Wolfgang Von Gronau. His con
tributions were noted in the 1934
edition of “Das Deutsche Fuhrer
lexicon,’’ a Who’s Who of leading
Nazis.
The Germans were invited to
the United States by the National
Aeronautical Association. Bonn
authorities enthusiastically co
operated. It was part of the pro-
jCAPITAL SPOTLIGHT by Milton Friedman
How Soon Forgotten
gram of aviation’s 50th anniver
sary committee under the chair
manship of Lt. Gen. James H.
Doolittle. German Ambassador
Heinz Krekeler was the outstand
ing diplomat at a dinner dedicated
to the visitors and the German
delegation was the largest from
any foreign country.
Secretary of Commerce Sinclair
Weeks said of the foreign guests
that’’ . . . history will remember
them. Our generation is grateful
to them. This audience honors all
of them.” There was no question
that the audience knew the Ger
mans supported the Nazi military
machine because Gen. Doolittle
joked about this at the dinner.
Each of the pioneers, Germans
included, received a medal and
scroll. Rear Admiral Richard E.
Bryd was chairman of arrange
ments. Leading aircraft companies
helped pay for the festivities.
Complaints were made to Secre
tary of State John Foster Dulles
and Secretary of Defense Charles
E. Wilson against the presence in
the United States of persons de
scribed by the War Department as
Nazis. No response was indicated.
Both Mr. Dulles and Rr. Wilson
re members of the national
Orthodoxy firmly believes that Torah has a definite place in
modem life, and that its teachings are particularly needed in the
clatter of every-day living. In being a good practicing Jew and in
being a good citizen of this land there is no contradiction. With
Torah as the guide, with faith in ourselves as the stimulus, true
Judaism will flourish in America. And it is because of this courage
and this optimism that Orthodoxy Judaism has become today’s
most vital and dynamic and meaningful religious force in Ameri
can Jewry.
HONOR TO THE NAZIS
The National Administration is due for bitter censure for its
palsv-walsy treatment of a trio of important Nazis in the nation’:
capital recently.
Surely, under the so-called constructive aspects of the McCar
ran-Wilter Immigration Act. the group should never have even
been admitted for a visit. But to whitewash the subversive aspects
of the Nazis and not only welcome them to this shore—but then to
do them honor is more than we can stomach under any circum-
ftances.
Certainly the State Department could have conferred with the
War Department and learned some of the facts of life which ac
cording to our JTA Correspondent Milton Friedman are a matter
of public record.
President Eisenhower and his official families would do well
to arrange a briefing from veterans and other democratic groups
as to the relationship of Nazism, Communism and Fascism and
Just how' those subversive philosophies stand up with Democracy.
Thev might spare themselves further repetition of such fiascos
which flaunt the dignity of man and the principles of our country.
committee which sponsored the
celebration.
The Department of the Air
Air Force made known in a letter
to Sen. Herbert H. Lehman that
Nazi officers, including an aide to
Hermann Goering, were enter
tained by the American Air Force
at Weisbaden on April 21 because
“such action is in consonace with
the foreign policy objectives of
the United States in that area in
connection with the common de
fense against communistic aggres
sion.”
Sen. Lehman had informed the
Air Force that he received letters
from American ex-fliers who felt
the honors rendered the Nazis
“mocked at the sacrifices made
during World War II.” The Sena
tor asked that such incidents be
avoided in the future. The answer
he received failed to concede that
he had any real basis for objec
tion.
Maj. Gen. E. L. Eaton replied
that it was as a “goodwill gesture”
that the Germans were luncheon
guests of the deputy commander
of the U. S. Air Force in Europe
and were treated to a display of
the latest jet fighters and equip
ment.
QUIZ BOX by Rabbi S. J. Fox
Welcome to Sabbath Queen
QUESTION: Why is it custom-1 would not enter until the Sabbath
iry for the worshippers in the
synagogue to turn around towards
the door at one point in the Friday
evening service.
ANSWER: It is generally re
garded as a symbol of turning to
welcome the Sabbath as it is
ushered into the life of the people
of Israel. The action comes at that
point in the service when the Sab
bath is greeted liturgically as a
bride. Just as all would turn
around to see the bride in the bri
dal procession so all turn around
to welcome the Sabbath which is
as welcome as a bride, in the
sense that both fill the hearts of
the community with joy. Some
will turn and bow to the right and
to the left as a symbol of accept
ing the Sabbath in both directions
as well as displaying a feeling of
being encompassed with the Sab
bath Spirit.
There are some commentaries
which say that this custom origi
nated in the greeting of the
mourners who entered the syna
gogue at that point. They would
normally enter from the rear and
was officially received by the con
gregation because this would put
an end to all outward symbols of
mourning, which were not per
mitted on the Sabbath. The con
gregation turned to greet them
with consolation and sympathy, as
is still the custom today. From
this, some claim, came the origin
of all turning about at this point
of the service.
a a a
QUESTION: Why is the expres
sion “Come oh bride” recited
twice at this time?
ANSWER: It has been suggested
that this is done to emulate the
Jewish ceremony of marriage. It
is to be noted that in the Jewish
marriage ceremony there are two
parts—the “Erusin and the Ne-
suin.” Therefore this statement is
repeated twice since we wish the
union of the Sabbath and of Israel
to be complete. Others claim that
the Friday evening spirit repre
sents the arrival of the Sabbath
bride at the altar while the Sab
bath Day spirit represents the
eventual consummation of the mar
riage. It is interesting to note that
the Sephardic ritual uses this ex
pression three times. Only in the
third time it is joined with a state
ment that the Sabbath is a queen.
STRENGTH
for these days
FROM THE BIBLE
He that is perfect in knowledge
is with thee.—Job 36:4.
* * *
The fear of man bringeth a
snare, but whoso putteth his trust
in the Lord shall be safe.—Prov.
29:25.
•HANUKKAH
Dec. 2, Wednesday
(First Day)
Dec. 9, Wednesday
(Eighth Day)
•PURIM
March 19, Friday
•PASSOVER
April 18, Sunday
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