Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 22, 1941 Page: 2 of 6
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THE JEWISH HERALD-VOICE
May 22, 1941
HERALD-V<
HOUSTON CHAPTER A. Z. A.
1414
Published Every Thursday
At*. PI
Pi. Mtl
D. H. WhiU________President 4c Editor
W. X. White_________Business Manager
Lazar Goldberg . Asst Business Manager
Paul Kuliek _ Jewish Community Center
Abe Greenberg---------------B*nai B’rlth
Sebsertpttea Twe Delian Per Tear
Eater as i
Office at
•f March
at the Peat
der the Act
I, 1TJS.
f THEM
V
The Jewish ReconstrueUonist Foundation
I_» Weet Htl Street, New Terk_
vs . i ■■■' — 1 1 ■■■■■ 1 =
VietAppoint
The Houston Chapter of A. Z.
A is sponsoring a Youth Service
Friday evening. May 23 at Congre-
gation Beth Jacob. All youth or-
ganizations will be represented
and present. The Chapter plans
to make the service an annual af-
fair.
Mr. Paul Kuliek, Executive
Secretary of the Jewish Commun-
ity Center, will discuss in open
forum manner the adoption of a
Jewish Youth Council. Sam Wies-
enthal is chairman of the affair.
A Z. A extends this invitation
to you and your friends.
HABOTNIM SOFTBALL
LEAGUE
HOUSTON SAVE-A-LIFE
LEAGUE
WHAT SHALL WE STUDY?
By Dr. Louis M. Levitsky, Associate Editor
The Reconstructionist Magazine
The Annual Conference of the National Acad-
emy of Adult Jewish Education recently held at
the Jewish Theological Seminary brings up once
again the question of what shall the Synagogues,
the Jewish Community Centers and the Y. M. H.
A.’s teach their Jewish adults. How shall it be
taugiit? By whom? And with what aim in view?
The philosophy of Reconstructionism is predicat-
ed upon the idea that Judaism is a religious civili-
zation, that the Jewish community in America ex-
ists by virtue of this fact, and that it has a right to
exist as a separate Jewish community only so long
as it improves Jewish life, inculcates Jewish idealism,
teaches Jew ish ethics—all of which in turn enriches
American life. The Synagogue and the Y. M. H. A.
are two expressions of this Jewish community life.
Adult education is pert of normal experience, es-
pecially part of the .American democratic process.
In Jewish tradition it was always made available
in the Synagogue. Since the growth of the Y. M.
H. A., it, too, began to provide courses for adults.
But in too many instances these opportunities for
adults consist of a great variety of lectures and
classes on economics, politics, or sociology. These
subjects arc essential to a better understanding of
our functions as citizens, and should be studied
together with other citizens of differing religious
taiths under the auspices of organizations which
represent the whole community. There is no reas-
on why Jews must segregate themselves to study
economics. Sometimes, a Synagogue or a Y. M.
H. A. offers these courses in the hope of attracting
non-Jews. Frequently this is successful. But even
though success is met in bringing Christians to a
Jewish institution to study sociology or economics,
in what way does it help spread a better knowledge
of Judaism’ The specifically Jewish institutions
must serve a specific Jewish function for Jews and
some times also for non-Jews. But the criteria we
shall set up as a test for any study courses is whe-
ther or not it helps to further an intelligent under-
standing of Judaism.
JEWISH EDUCATION FOR ADULTS
From this point of view, it is dearly the duty of
Synagogues and Jewish Centers to provide Jewish
education for adults, not education for Jewish
adult*. This means that even non-Jews will be
able to obtain a knowledge of Judaism. It is the
duty of these organizations to present to the com-
munity not Jewish lecturers, but lecturers on Jewish
subjects. This means that sometimes these guests
will be non-Jews. The presence of a Jew on a
platform does not add to a knowledge or an under-
standing of Judaism. In saying all this, it is not
overlooked that this procedure may not be specta-
cular and perhaps may not meet with the approval
of those who are interested in statistics rather than
in fulfillment of proper functions. But then it is
important that we recognize the purpose of an or-
ganism and aim to develop to the fullest those
latent possibilities that give it its uniqueness. The
uniqueness of a Synagogue and of a Y. M. H. A.
is its Jewishness and its purpose is to spread it.
The answer to all this is often made that Jewish
subjects are not as interesting as general subjects;
that lecturers on Judaism are not as appealing as
those on, let us say, sociology; that Jews feel that
they know enough about Judaism. Many of these
w
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Pet.
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Hollywood Tailors and Public
Laundries clash in a showdown
game this Sunday in the Haboy-
nim Sunday Morning softball
league.
A victory will clinch the
championship for the tailors,
while a Public Laundry win will
throw the race into a deadlock,
and necessitate a three game play-
off.
The tilt is scheduled at the Al-
bert Sidney Johnston school dia-
mond and will begin at 10 a. m.
Manager Dave Berman of the
Tailors will likely send Herman
Brateman to the mound, while
Myer Kaplan or Albert Stein will
hurl for Public Laundry.
Last Sunday, Hollywood Tail-
ors downed the Adler Club, 16-4,
behind Eddie Testa's 4 hit hurling.
Irvin Roth collected 3 bingles and
Joe Morris Socked a homer. Pub-
lic Laundries took a 9-0 forfeit
from the Independents.
STANDINGS
Team
Hollywood
Public Laundry
Adler Club
Independents
complaints are true only because
we regard Judaism as something
static, while the rest of life is re-
garded as dynamic; because we
are satisfied with inviting a Jew-
ish mediocrity to lead a class or
deliver a lecture on a Jewish sub-
ject because he can be obtained
cheap or free; because the people
we expect as listeners are “old-
fashioned anyhow;” and because
the people who are in charge of
planning frequently plan these
courses for the benefit of others,
not for themselves.
THE LAW OF SUPPLY
AND DEMAND
The law of supply and demand
applies to the spiritual and the
intellectual no less forcefully than
it does to the material. If enough
Jewish organizations will regard
it as their unique function to
teach Judaism, and will be willing
to compensate for this teaching
on the same basis as they do to
teach general subjects enough per-
suasive and dynamic teachers and
lecturers will soon appear. There
are enough Jewish men and
women possessing Jewish know-
ledge, an understanding of the
purposes of Jewish life in Am-
erica, and an adequate ability to
present it interestingly, who are
now cultivating other vineyards
while the vineyard of Judaism
is neglected. The same thing is
true with regard to literature of
a Jewish character. There are
many talented Jewish writers and
there is a wealth of Jewish sub-
ject matter available, but the two
are never brought together be-
cause there is not enough of a
demand for it on the part of
Jews. Too many Jews feel that
whatever Jewish information they
obtain in Sunday School or in
preparation for Bar Mitzvah is
sufficient They make no de-
mands for adult fare in their Jew-
ish intellectual and spiritual life.
Therefore, there is no supply. If
Synagogues and Y. M. H. A.’s
will perform in their departments
of adult education their unique
function in a community—to teach
Judaism to adult9—we will not
only achieve the immediate pur-
pose of providing Jewish informa-
tion and Jewish inspiration, but
will also develop Jewish teachers
of Judaism for adults, and will
encourage Jews of vigorous men-
tality and writing ability to devote
themselves to the task of creating
a rich literature in English, to
help in a better understanding of
Judaism, of its place in the world
today, and of its destiny in the
rebuilding of a better world.
Mrs. Ben Leff, chairman of the
benefit Garden Party sponsored
by the Houston Save-A-Life
League on Sunday, May 18th,
wishes to take this means of
thanking Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wein-
garten for graciously offering the
use of their home for the occasion;
and all her committees for their
untiring efforts in making this
party a success, also, extends
thanks to those participating in
the well presented program.
The A Y. A. will conduct Sab-
bath Services at Congregation
Adath Yeshurun Friday evening.
May 23, at 8 p. m. They will pay
tribute to the Golden Jubilee class
of 1941 and be hosts to the con-
firmants and graduates and their
parents at the reception follow-
ing the Service.
Participating in this Service
with messages are: Ethel Levy,
Miriam Goldman, Rosalie Paley,
Fay Schwartz, Charlotte Borger;
Evelyn Garfinkel, Annette Leff,
Jennie Schwartz berg and Dorothy
Herskovitz will read the RituaL
Ada Zeitz is in charge of the re-
ception arrangements.
TEMPLE JUNIORS
The Temple Juniors held their
annual election last Saturday
night, May 17, at the Abe M.
Levy Memorial Hall, with the
following results: President,
Maurice Blonstein; vice president,
Judith Sepper; corresponding
secretary, Ruth Spivak; recording
secretary, Annette Greenfield;
treasurer, Arthur Simon. The
members of the board are Jerry
Rosenbloom, Adoline Fleisher,
Bernard Krakower, Harriet Vol-
pin, Marie Moloff, and Stanley
Blum. These newly elected of-
ficers will officially take office
next September.
The present officers of the club
have every right to be proud of
the jobs that they have done so
well; for this year, thanks to the
excellent leadership of Stanley
Blum, has been the most success-
ful in the history of the Temple
Juniors. For example, no less than
twenty-two successful affairs
were given since last September,
and every member of the organi-
zation has been saved three-fold
the price of membership in dol-
lars and cents, and many many
times more in fun and enjoyment.
To make next year more suc-
cessful than this year, as every
year in the past has been a better
one, than its predecessor, will be
the aim of the new officers. Truly
a high goal—but one that will be
attained.
DANNENBAUM, BARNSTON,
GORDON TO SELECT BELLE
The Sigma Alpha Rho Frater-
nity is most proud to announce
that Messrs. M. N. Dannenbaum,
Alfred Bamston, and Harry Gor-
don will honor the Jewish youth
of Houston by serving as judges
in the selection of some young
lady as the Belle of the Sigma
Alpha Rho Seventh Annual June
Dance on June 8th. Besides being
bestowed with gifts and flowers at
the dance, she and her escort will
be feted at the private breakfast
that is annually given immediate-
ly after the dance by the members
of the fraternity.
For the past six years the Rice
Roof has consistently proven not
large enough to accommodate the
crowd which has attended these
Annual June Dances; so in order
to insure everyone’s comfort, the
dance committee this year has re-
served vhe entire air-conditioned
second floor of the Rice Hotel
which contains the Grand Ball
Room, the entire South American
Room, the exquisite Reception
Room, and the very modem
Lounge and Foyer. And your
dancing will be just the way you
like it because the music will be
furnished by one of the best
known orchestras of the South-
west, the Torres-Waters Orchestra.
Your summer social season
starts with the Sigma Alpha Rho
Fraternity Seventh Annual June
Dance on June 8th. And June 8th
will be here before you realize it;
so be wise, fellows, and make
your dates now. Perhaps you may
have the honor of escorting the
Belle of the Ball.
and Elicit,,
from Here & There
By YOUR ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Our boys arc beginning to take their politics
seriously—anent, the passing out of candidate
cards . . . Seems as though one must be careful
of the goat in the case—only this time it is the
goatee . . . And what would you think of a tele-
gram or a card or a letter to Lord Halifax in
regard to arming the Jewish boys in Palestine in
this hour of crisis . . . Seems stupid politics to us,
but then Britain is playing for higher stakes than
Palestine, but they should not deny the Jews a
chance to defend themselves without resorting to
pitchforks and good wishes . . . Palestine is a
land of miracles but we hardly believe miracles
of mind will conquer tanks and stuka dive bombers.
The Lone Star Bagging bunch threw some party
for Leo Kaplan the other sateve at the Chocolate
Bayou home of boss Mose Feld .. . And from what
the grapevine hums now it was some party —
vittles of every description and fun galore ... in
case you want to see something very fine just ask
Leo to show you the watch they handed him as
a going-off present ... he dons khaki in June
you know ... if well wishes had any weight he
ought to be a general soon, well, anyhow, at least
a major.
Didn’t you like the headline on the Houston
Press editorial—“A Hess of a Mell” . . . And talk-
ing of editorials—you ought to read Wednesday’s
editorial in the Houston Post . . . They tell me the
Junior Hadassah did their part with a hay ride
out to the San Jacinto Battlegrounds—off score
were many stomachs—someone had gotten off with
a good portion of the food—and our lads and lassies
just had to skip a portion of their midnight snack
. . . And by the way, ask Melvin Boom how he
likes to ride those ferries . . . Wonder department:
Why Issie Reichek is called the lonesomest man
in town.
It was good to see Cecil Dannenbaum pushed up
in the front row at the annual meeting of the
Jewish Community Center . . . Say, what happened
to the crowd—seemed about half of last year . . .
And the program, very good, not too long and
not too short . . . Didn’t you like the way Paul
Kuliek blushed when they said those nice things
about him . . . And seriously, I have my doubts
concerning Jewish music . . . there certainly must
be no truth in our contention that Jewish music,
modern music, is comparable to any other national
group because at any Jewish public function you
simply can’t find strong adherents of this music
and it’s painfully conspicuous by its absence . . .
Will someone kindly tell me the truth—are we
working under a painful disillusion?
Flashback for an interesting party:—that given by
Doris Fleischman in honor of the Temple League
Cast . . . Oh yes, and the one Betty Mae Cohen
threw at the Plantation—both resulted in much
fun . . . Keeping in tune with the times—the
grapevine tells me Schwartzberg’s will close after
three o’clock each Sunday during the summer—
my, my, who would have thunk it . . . It’s Mrs.
Mike Nathan who has a degree in law and, as
advisor on the local draft board, listens to the tales
of woe of the future soldier boys—and they find
a sympathetic ear and a kind heart to advise them.
THOUGHT OF THE WEEK: The wise carry
their knowledge as they do their watches, not for
display but for their own use.—Sir Thomas Browne.
Buddy Lewis is quite a ball player—he has play-
ed every position on the Sig Frucht Rambler Team
except first base—the doctor says he can’t play for
three weeks—broken finger in the last game . . .
That was the Little Theatre group having a swell
time at the “Champagne Bar” the other eve . . .
Seen amongst the elite were Dr. David Mendell,
artist Bertha Louise Helman, Ray Hanovich, Cy
Howard . . . and they la conga’d sans shoes, had
blues sung right in their faces by a table perched
singer—and said it was swell.
They tell me there was tense excitement at the
Interburban Pharmacy the other evening when the
place was plunged into darkness—not a blackout,
only Irving Levine, three year old, pulling the
wrong cord—daddy you know is Ralph Levine,
dress designer and mama Sylvia draws those de-
signs . . . We hear Jerry Rauch, June graduate, is
pointing to the Univ. of So. Cal . . . Bull (Manuel)
Collins I understand is scheduled to leave for
Randolph Field most any day . . . Did you see Joe
Samuels on the movie screen—if you haven’t you
oughta.
T~
saHnaHBMBBEsaea
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White, D. H. Jewish Herald-Voice (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 9, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 22, 1941, newspaper, May 22, 1941; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1102705/m1/2/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .