Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.-Editor.]

The creation in American Jewry of a School for Jewish historical studies, is urged by Henry Hurwitz in an article “Watchmen, What of the Day?” which appears in the “Menorah Journal” for February.

Analyzing the criticisms which have appeared recently from the pen of Jewish intellectuals in this country against the present state of Jewish life and institutions in America, Mr. Hurwitz declares American Jews, beset by the various problems of material adjustment in their new environment have been unable to devote themselves hitherto to the more cultural and spiritual phases of Jewish life. Having become rooted physically, he avers, the problem now is to become rooted spiritually. He sees, however, lights as well as shadows in the picture. He finds many encouraging signs for the further development of American Jewry and sets forth to make some concrete suggestions, which, he believes, will stimulate the process.

“If Israel, if Judaism (Israel’s expression and quest) is today not a corpse painted and perfumed into a semblance of life, but a living reality,” he writes, “then Israel and Judaism must continue to express themselves ever afresh, creatively. We cannot live upon our past alone, however rich. To do so would be to confess our impotence today, in the face of radically changing circumstance, of new deeds intellectual and spiritual.

“A living Judaism,” he further argues, “must evolve or accept new forms and institutions as the times demand. We live now in an era of great Foundations and scientific Schools for carrying on research in specific fields of knowledge. We need today in America a Foundation or a School for Jewish historical studies, to rediscover our heritage by the methods of modern research. Let me suggest very briefly and at random a few of the subjects crying for study.”

These subjects he enumerates, with explanatory paragraphs, as follows: The Talmud; Jewish Law; Jewish Government; Jewish Philosophy; Jewish Biography; Western Jewish Literature; Jewish Art; Present Jewish Conditions.

“The fruits of such a Foundation or School,” we are told, “can be distributed broadly, through various means. Through publications, such as bulletins, reports, books. Through an information service to the general press. Through extension lecturing. But however popular, in the best sense of the word, the service should be made, its spirit must be severely scientific and impartial, fit for our universities no less than for the public at large. If today in the courses of our colleges and universities the Jewish parts of history, literature, philosophy, law, etc., are all but completely ignored, that is not due to malice but to lack of appropriate stimulus and material. Such material could be furnished to the university teachers and students, with the consequent enrichment of their regular courses.”

For the second time, an annual city-wide exchange of pulpits took place in Detroit, Mich, last week. One hundred ministers occupied pulpits of denominations other than their own. Dr. Leo M. Franklin of Temple Reth El exchanged pulpits with Rev. Lynn Harold Hough, pastor of the Central Methodist Church. the leading church of that denomination in the Middle West. It is the first time that a rabbi and a Methodist minister have exchanged pulpits at a regular service.

The arrangement for this city-wide interchange of pulpits has for its purpose better understanding between the vanous religious groups in the city.