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The Canadian English-Jewish Weekly
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GARDENVALE, QUEBEC, DECEMBER 16, 1966
No. 11
Defeat Of Withdrawal Resolution Leaves Synagogue Council Still Unified
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After five hours of heated debate, a resolution calling for the withdrawal of a major Jewish Orthodox congregational body from the Synagogue Council of America was defeated.
The resolution, introduced during a session of the biennial convention of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America at the Shoreham Hotel, in Washington, says the New York Times, evoked animated discussion before it was overwhelmingly defeated.
The resolution called on the Union to withdraw since "continued membership implied in the public eye acceptance by the Orthodox of the deviationist, philosophies as legitimate expressions of Judaism."
The Synagogue Council, established in 1926, servep as the national agency for major rabbinical and congregational \ groups in American Jewish life \- Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform. The Council has served as \the spokesman for Jewish religious groups inv^he American community in such areas as social and humanitarian problems. ' \
Some Orthodox leaders hold that an Orthodox group should not participate with non-Orthodox bodies on a religious basis. Contemporary
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Judaism in America includes Orthodox1, Conservative, and Reform groups.
The Orthodox believe in a careful, literal observance of traditional religious law and practice. The Conservatives maintain a middle ground, observing as many traditional practices as are judged feasible in modern times. The Reform group holds on to the essential teachings of Judaism without emphasizing traditional forms, and stresses ethical imperatives. r
Speaking in the debate against the resolution, Moses I. Feuerstein, the organization's outgoing president, urged the delegates to "concentrate on the constructive tasks set before the convention and not became involved in theoretical disputes."
Both Mr. Feuerstein and Joseph Karasick, a national vice president of the Union, said that the decision whether or not to partiqipate rested properly with the rabbinic authority of the Union � the Rabbinical Council of America, says the New York Times. The Council president, Rabbi Pesach Leyovitz, of Lakewood, N. J., early in the debate termed participation "wise and necessary" and in accord with "Halacha" [Jewish religious law],
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Major Upsurge Of Jewish Scholarship In U.S. Foreseen As Due In Part To
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Greater Acceptance Of Jews And Judaism By Gentile Community
N. Y. United Jewish Appeal Campaign Opens With A Black-Tie Dinner At The Waldorf, Minimum Contribution, $10,000
Judaic studies in non-denomina-tiona! American colleges and universities have increased sevenfold in the twenty years since the end; of World War II, possibly opening the way for "a major upsurge of Jewish scholarship" in the U.S., according .to the lead article in the 67th annual edition of the American Jewish Year Book, just published.
In 1946, Judaic studies were found in only a few American colleges and universities, generally the major schools with Semitic-language programs left over from the 19th Century, and some schools in the "New York City area, while the current report lists courses at 92 colleges and universities, including most of the top-ranking schools in the U.S. Excluded from the' report are denominational scnoolfi, Christian and Jewish seminaries, and Hebrew teachers' colleges.
The report, believed to be the most comprehensive available, was written by Arnold J* Band, Associate Professor of Hebrew at the University of California, in Los Angeles, who defines Judaic studies as "the discipline which deals with the historical experiences, in the intellectual, religious, and social spheres, of the Jewish people in all centuries and countries."
Where previous reports on Jewish studies in U.S. colleges and universities tended to concentrate on the status.pf Hebrew in the curriculum, Professor Band points out that Hebrew is no longer "the totality of Judaic studies" even though it remains an integral part of most courses in this area. Other subjects included ,within Judaic studies are Bible, Jewish history, Hebrew literature, and Je\v'<h philosophy, mysticism, and ethics.
The current edition of the American Jewish Year Book is a 618-page compendium of events and trends in Jewish life, including articles on Jewish population data, �civil and political issues, communal affairs, adult education, and Jewish affairs throughout the world.
Prepared by the American Jewish Committee, the Year Book is published jointly by the Committee, this country's pioneer human relations agency, and the Jewish Publication Society of America. The Year Book editors are Morris Fine and Milton Himmelfarb, with Martha Jelenko associate editor.
Professor Band's ^tudy, based in large part on material supplied to hint in response to a detailed questionnaire sent to the 92 U.S. colleges and universities, points out that "the increase in positions and programs (in Judaic studies) is out of proportion to the increase in college population since 1945-46."
Among the reasons for this growtrToffered by those answering his poll were these: "the inspiration of the State oflsrael, the impact of the holocaust, the awakening of religious yearnings since World War II, the greater acceptance by Jews and Judaism by the Gentile community, and the response of Jews'to this acceptance."
To these explanations, Professor Band adds four others:
"The academic intellectual in America is eminently respectable today, not only the scientist whose discoveries have a direct impact on our lives but even the philologist or literary historian. Judaism is becoming intellectually respectable, a phenomenon which is both a cause and effect of the growth of Judaic studies in the university.
"Since the war Jews have been invited in unprecedented numbers to occupy university posts in all fields. While in the 1930s and well into the 1940s most departments in major universities were 'judenrein' (staffed mainly by old-stock Protestants), few are today. �
''Developments in regional studies, in religious studies, and in dissemination of 'the neglected languages' have strengthened and legitimized the development of Judaic studies.
"Fortunately, the needs and desires of the Jewish community run parallel to the educational tre-r.rl-prevalent in the country." .
Reporting on the responses of those- who answered his questionnaire. Profc.-s-'or Band notes value< in this increa-e in Judaic studies a-ide from its obvious, result, the transmission of knowledge to students. "Again and again." he sa>>. "one er.coi^Uers in their ro-sponses such language as 'added self-respect,' 'intellectual respectability,' and 'prestige both among Je\>.A and Gentiles.' It appears that the very presence of a Judaic scholar on a faculty or a Jewish-
literature course in the catalogue has -rheaning for students, for faculty, and for the administration. This presence, a sign of emancipation and equality, has its subtle psychological effects . . ."
On the matter of financing, Professor Band states that at least two*thirds of the funds needed to support Judaic studies today comes from general university budgets, including grants for language study from the Federal Government. No more than 10 endowed chairs exist, he says, sponsored by the Hillel Foundation, the Hebrew Cultural Foundation, the American Jewish Committee, and some local groups.
Professor Band is cautiously optimistic of the future. "In Judaic studies, as in other academic disciplines," he points out, "the graduate student has never before found financial support so available nor the prospects of advancement so bright . . . it is difficult to fill many of the available positions with competent staff. Anyone involved in the search for gobd faculty cannot escape the fact that we are now in a seller's market for scholars."
Professor Band concludes that the rise in Judaic studies has had "a profound effect" on the teaching professjon: "We have not yet seen a major upsurge of Jewish scholarship in this country, but the prospects are encouraging. With two or three new posts created every year, the availability of positions attracts young men and enhances the security of more mature scholars ... Indeed, the one clear conclusion we arrive at, after ex�mining the fragmentary and complicated welter of facts that e.mer^ed from our study, is that we are on �he threshold of a new and promising period in Jew-? ish scholarship in America . . ."
In a mild challenge to Jewish organizations', which he labels; "primarily welfare or service groups," Professor Band states: "We should not exaggerate the potential effect of Judaic programs upon American Jews; nevertheless they are a significant though small force in the slow, silent struggle to give institutional embodiment and communal identification to the* essentials of Judaism (a minority tradition) for a meaningful identity within a leveling, permissive society. They might even present a few of the alienated Jewish intellectuals with an alternative to the rejected temple men's club and sisterhood."
Other special articles in the Year Book include "The Church And The Jews: The Struggle at Vatican Council U," by Judith Hershcopf, of the American Jewish Committee stafff a follow-up to an article in the previous Year Book on events at the Vatican Council of the Roman .Catholic Church dealing 'with the declaration on Jews and Judaism; and appreciations of the late Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter by Prof. Paul A. Freund, of Harvard Law School; and of the late philosopher, Martin Buber, by Prof. Seymour Siegel, of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
The Year Book also answers basic questions about Jews in America and the world as to population, geographic distribution, fertility rates, status in relation to non-Jews, and trends in religion, education, and social service. Among the interesting population figures reported are these:
The estimated world Jewish population at the end of 19G5 \vas 13,400,000. The three largest Jewish communities were in the U.S.,
(Continia'd o/> Pags Tu~o)^
The United Jewish Appeal opened its 1967 campaign in New York with a black-tie dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria that probably set a record in costliness for its patrons: the minimum contribution was $10,000, reports Michael Stern, in the New York Times. The event was what is known in fund-raising circles as a "call dinner." After dining on artichokes, rock Cornish hen garni and macedoine of fruits with kirsch and sherbet balls, all prepared by a kosher caterer, the guests were called'by name from the dais to announce their contributions to the Appeal.
This part of the dinner was closed to the press and U.J.A. officials would not reveal the size of donations. However, it was learned that past individual gifts to the Appeal had gone as high as a third of a million dollars.
The U.J.A., which this year is seeking $73-million, gives more than 60 per cent of the money it raises for relief and resettlement work in Israel. The rest, is used to help Jewish immigrants to America and other countries and to aid needy Jews in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Gov. George Romney, of Michigan, in an address prepared for the dinner, saluted the generosity of the guests and praised them for voluntarily accepting their responsibilities, rather than "resigning yourselves to the uncertain actions of governmental authorities."
"It is this spirit of shared responsibility which offers the challenge and hope of our time," the Governor said. "American citizens, .armed with this sense of responsibility, and blessed with greater material prosperity ^than any nation in history, can and must give leadership in rebuilding and healing a torn and damaged vorld."
Invitations to the dinner went out in September to what was called "a very thin layer of the �apex of American Jewish life" by the U.J.A.'s executive vice-president, Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman. Engraved on the lower left hand ^corner of the invitation were these words:
"Minimum Contribution $10,000. Black Tie, R.S.V.P." . So many persons � more than 220 �- were pleased to respond favorably that the. dinner had to be moved from a small ball-room at the New York Hilton to the grand ballroom of the Waldorf.
More than 600 guests sat down to dinner at tables set with gold cloths and ivory candles, and then danced to the music pf a Lester Lanin orchestra, says the New-York Times. Among them were spouses of the contributors, U.J.A. officials, and dignitaries invited from overseas.
Besides Governor Romney, the program included talks by Sir Isaac Wolfson, of Britain; Baron Edmond de Rothschild, of France; and Max M. Fisher, of Detroit, general chairman of the U.J.A.
In an interview, with the New York Times, before the dinner Rab-bibi Friedman likened the U.J.A. campaigns to the trickle-down theory of some economists. "If we can motivate the leaders," he said, "activate their spirit of noblesse oblige, then the rest of the people will follow."
A private dinner organized for what constitutes a handful of the rich is "a ^technique of boldness," the Rabbi said. It is needed, he added, because the U.J.A. must serve "all Jewish needs all over the world.'.' .
Approaching such men is a subr tie business. "We try to invoke the man's identity as a Jew, whether it be cultural, ethnic, or religious," the rabbi said.
Some men, he said, those only
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one or two generations removed from immigrant forebears, respond with quick sympathy to the problems of fellow Jews afflicted with hardship or persecution. Others, he said, give from a feeling of as-sertiveness, a conviction that never again will Jews be murdered as they were when Hitler ruled most of Europe.
Since its founding in 1939, the Appeal has established local organizations in more than 60 American communities with sizable Jewish populations. The presidents and chairmen of these units seek out potential donors of large sums.
Rabbi Friedman, Mr. Fisher and other top officials of the Appeal travel across the country to meet such men. In the last month the Tfabbi went to Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia to make pleas for contributions.
One means that the U.J.A. uses to stimulate interest in its work is the Overseas Study Mission that it sends out each year. Invited to go on this mission, entirely at their own expense, says the New York Tirries, are persons who make contributions of $10,000 a year and ithe presidents and chairman of local Appeal units.
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