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; ,in their responsibilities to
, , corne active participants on
;i ■ \ c* 1 s where they function
1.
during the “period of the
'tc.rbulent weather” of the
struggle for Negro rights, the
J, ws in the South paid their
mice too in the bombings ol
temples, synagogues, and Jew
ish Community Centers.
The present period requires
quiet, individual involvement
in the implementation of the
law on every level of economic,
social and political activity.
PARTICIPATION IN CIVIC
TIFF. AND POLITICS
1'he participation of Jews in
the South in the civic and poli
tic;! affairs of their commun
ities presents an uneven and
unequal picture. Some serve on
Boards and Committees of
community chest, Red Cross
chapters, mental health asso
ciations and other philanthro
pic and civic organizations. The
fiuiri Gers are comparatively
small. The same is true of the
Service Clubs. The number in
vited to membership is not
large. Here and there one can
find a Jewish member elected
as an officer of the club. Jew
ish participation is not deter
mined by the usual standards
of interests, ability or desire
to serve, but rather by the
right business association and
the easy approach to good
fellowship.
As to political activity this
has undergone a period of ups
and downs.
In the past more Jews were
active in politics, especially in
the smaller towns, than in re
cent years. I can recall that
Albany, Georgia, had a Jewish
mayor and also a commissioner
of health. Bainbridge, Georgia,
had a Jewish mayor at one
time. There were members of
city councils in Atlanta,
Savannah, Miami Beach, and
other communities in the
region. There were few elected
representatives to state legis
latures and no Jewish con
gressman from any district in
the South.
There has been a consider
able spurt of political interest
and activity in recent years.
The abolition of the county
unit system, the increase in Ne-
“fo voting registration, the re-
pportionment of state legis
latures on the basis of one-one
ote have all been factors in
timulating political interest
nd activity among younger
1 an who have a more progres-
lve and liberal outlook in
ealing with the problems
"nfronting cities and states.
Atlanta elected a Jew as
• resident of the Board of Al-
•ermen, who, by virtue of his
dice, serves as vice-mayor of
he city.
In the recent election for a
Oie Southern Israelite
reapportioned House of Repre
sentatives, a number of Jews
were candidates for office
though only one succeeded to
be elected to the House.
In a number of communities
in the South there are influen
tial Jews who wield consider
able political power behind the
scene.
H this reawakened interest
in politics continues we are
certain to see more Jewish
candidates on both the Demo
cratic and Republican tickets.
The development of a real two
party system in the South is
an encouraging evidence of
political maturity and greater
participation.
RELEVANCE OF JEWISH
EDUCATION
The relevance of Jewish
education in the contemporary
American scene is of vita!
significance to the Jews of
every community in every sec
tion of the country. There was
a time when we thought that
organized Jewish communities
could sponsor the develop
ment of a unified Jewish edu
cational system under com
munity auspices. This did not
happen except in a few local
ities. I refer to elementary
school education.
Today more than 90S of all
afternoon Hebrew Schools are
under individual congregation
al auspices. Most of them
sponsored bv orthodox or
conservative congregations. A
number of Reform congre
gations have organized after
noon Hebrew classes. Congre
gational Sunday schools still
reach the largest number of
Jewish children. The cur
riculum of the Sunday school
is much richer in content than
it was. But it is still far from
adequate in point of time de
voted to study and in subject
matter.
The afternoon Hebrew
schools devote more time, but
their curriculum is still weight
ed down, for the most part, by
a concentration on the prayer
book and on customs, cere
monies and ritual and on
preparation for the Bar Mitz-
vah. The study of Jewish his
tory. Jewish literature, and the
Hebrew language are still re
garded as secondary.
There is need for the de
velopment of a core curri
culum which will give balance
to Jewish studies without in
any way jeopardizing denomi
national emphasis and inter
pretation.
SECONDARY AND ADULT
JEWISIL EDUCATION
Atlanta and Savannah par
ticipated as pilot communities
in the National Study of Jew
ish education. Atlanta, Savan
nah, and Miami have estab
lished Bureaus of Jewish Edu
cation supported by their Fed-
MANUFACTURERS
OF
SEAMLESS HOSIERY
F. EAVES, President
Gracious Anniversary Greetings
Acme Furniture Sales
& Manufacturing Co.
Telephone 472-1739 P. O. Box 702
Cleveland, Tennessee
KNOXVILLE
SAND & GRAVEL
COMPANY
READY-MIX CONCRETE
Sand, Gravel, Lime and Cement
Phone 523-2147
Knoxville, Tenn.
51