Two-year Jewish Community Center Controversy in Detroit Settled

The board of directors of the Detroit Jewish Community Center unanimously approved last night proposals for Sabbath programming aimed at ending a two-year controversy in the Detroit Jewish community over the issue.

The recommendations were proposed by a Committee for Sabbath Programming which was organized five weeks ago by Max M. Fisher, president of the Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation. The plan for the committee and the selection of its members was undertaken by Mr. Fisher as an interested citizen and not in his capacity as head of the Federation, which provides a subvention for the center’s budget.

The committee was asked by Mr. Fisher to develop Sabbath programs in accordance with the goal of fostering “a positive attitude toward the Sabbath as a basic concept of Jewish life.” The committee began its task by eliminating such “un-Sabbath-like” activities as smoking, handling of money. They also endorsed the curtailment of such center functions as its snack bar, shoe shine facility, massage room and use of vending machines.

The committee then developed and endorsed Sabbath activities of informal clubs, assembly-type mass activities, older adults programs, story-telling for children. Among the activities urged as proper for the Sabbath were swimming and informal recreation and athletics.

The committee also proposed that a representative committee of religious leaders, educators and laymen should re-evaluate its proposed program within the year. Rabbi Eliezer Levine, named to represent the Detroit rabbinate, on the Fisher committee, objected to the proposals drawn up by the committee and on that basis refused to participate in the final deliberations of the committee.

The Jewish News of Detroit, in an editorial today, commended the agreement on the Center programs. It pointed out that although it is doubtful whether any proposal for Sabbath programming could enroll the endorsement of all elements in the Detroit Jewish community, the agreement “ends a controversy” which aroused deep feelings in the community among supporters as well as opponents of the Center’s decision to introduce programs on Saturday afternoons.

“The constructive approach to the need for attracting our youth to the Jewish environment and the Jewish interests provided by the Center has been formulated after careful consideration by responsible leaders in all aspects of Jewish thinking in our community,” the editorial emphasized.