Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 August 1976 — Page 6

THf JEWISH POST

Friday, August 27, 1976

Plan Evokes Opposition Conservative Type Courses Set In Jerusalem Schools

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THE WORLD

THE POST AND OPINION JEWISH TRAVEL GUIDE By Harry Hoffman ★ ★★★★★★★★★★★★

JERUSALEM - The announcement that Conservativetype Judaism instruction of religious values would be taught in five elementary schools here has evoked strong opposition from Rabbi Simon Dolgin. The former Los Angeles rabbi asserted that “a school which pretends to promote i-rue religious values but does not tell the pupils that they are reepiired to practice them is a danger to religious schools and the religious fabric of the country THE PROGRAM was recommended by a group of families who expressed the view that they wanted to give their children an education with

“more Jewish content” than is taught in the secular school system, but without “forcing” the pupils to observe religious practices. Tn Israel there are two public school systems, one for religious (Orthodox! children and the other for secular children. M o s h e Tutnauer, who represents the parents c o m - mittee which broached the idea to the Ministry of education, said that about 120 children, mostly sabras. have expressed an interest in registering for the new classes. THE CURRICULUM will be designed along the lines of what is interpreted here as the Conservative Movement’s

West Point Jewish Chapel Too Ambitious For Needs

E\ JEAN HERSCHAFT NEW YORK (P-O) - After a five-year apparent failure to interest supporters in a proposed synagogue at West Point. N Y that vs as unveiled in March of 1971 to cost $1 million, its backers have started ano<ther campaign for the same proposed synagogue which now will carry a $5 million price tag. Interestingly, the New York Times had carried an almost identical article and sketch of the synagogue on Feb. 20. 1971 as it did on May 28 of this year It made no reference, however, to the news item of six vears ago. IN 1971. $250,000 had been raised when the campaign was launched. Today, five years later a total of $400,000 has been raised, or just about $150,000 in the intervening years between the initial and the present drive Approached by The Post and Opinion, many expressed the view that it is sheer folly to erect a synagogue at such a cost when less than one per cent of Jews make up the student body. In 1971 the Jewish cadets numbered 48; this past semester it was down by 10 from that figure to 33 With the leu ;h officers and personnel the total is about 70. A national official of Union of American Hebrew Congre-

gallons, Rabbi Balfour Brickner, termed it “sheer folly” at a time when funds are desperately needed and scarce for social services programs. “EVEN IF FUNDS were available it would be a waste to pour any amount in a synagogue structure for less than one per cent of the West Point cadets who are Jewish,” he said, brushing it aside as a “monumental waste,” that was bound “to bomb,” if realized Brickner went further. “If any amount is raised those at West Point would serve the Jewish community if they poured it into rehabilitating the deteriorating or abandoned synagogues on NYC's East Side.” As for the cadets, Brickner suggested that they and the Jewish officers-per-sonnel could certainly attend services in a nearby town, or. convert some small space at the military facility for a synagogue. Rabbi Benjamin Z. Kreitman. executive vice-president of the United Synagogue of America didn't go as far. lie favored erection of a synagogue but on a much smaller scale, a modest structure to meet the needs of the less than 100 people. “Five million dollars at any time, given the small number, would

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ideological position, according to Judy Siegel in the Jerusalem Post, which she interpreted as ‘‘the teaching of Jewish religious values, history, Bible and prayer, but with ‘voluntary’ adherence to ritual commandments.” Rabbi Dolgin. who charged recently that Conservative and Reform rabbis were “not rabbis.” (P-O. July 23), said that while the curriculum “could bring some secular pupils closer” to Judaism, it would undoubtedly lead to a dilution of religious observance among others and “to the disaster of assimilation that the Conservative and Reform movements have brought in the United States.”

be out of proportion.’’ Shrinking dollars for vital needs makes the proposed project a “luxury” the community cannot afford. HAROLD JACOBS, president of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, said that a synagogue building should be erected but that only a “traditional house of worship,” to be authentic. Jacobs believed it should be attractive and meet the needs at West Point. But, he too voiced rejection of the price tag for the proposed structure. (Services at West Point have been Reform.) Dr. William Schwartz, an Orthodox physician and his family at West Point, had told The P-O that a converted classroom is currently used for services which he termed “inadequate.” Rabbi Gilbert Kollins, associate head of the JWB Chaplaincy, the group that staffs with chaplains outposts such as West Point, declined to comment on the $5 million price tag, explaining that the Commission on the Chaplaincy does not rule on proposed synagogues finances and resources. “Our role is to assign chaplains and to arrange for the proper interiors . Ark. pews, bima,” he said. RABBI KOLLINS offered that the Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. Colo, has one large house of worship with wings for the Protestant. Catholic and Jewish. JWB Chaplaincy arranged for its interior, he said, noting that Ludwig Wolpert of the Jewish Museum was engaged to design with his group raising the funds (interior only). At West Point there is a large Catholic Chapel, a large Protestant Chapel and according to the West Point assigned part-time Jewish Chaplain, Rabbi Avraham Soltes, an equally towering synagogue is needed to give the proper showcase. In 1971 Maj. Gen. Knowlton told a Mt. Neboh Synagogue (NYC) that the government had granted free land to erect a synagogue at West Point. According to the NY Times piece (May 28) Martin Hoffman in the Pentagon approved construction just recently.

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Q. “WeYe taking a cruise that lists Santo Domingo as one of the ports of call. I’ve been told there isn’t much to see there. What do they have of Jewish interest? Unless there is something, I may not even go ashore.” V.M., Great

Neck.

A. i think you'd be making a big mistake by not going ashore. You may never be there again and you should walk around a bit, look around, if only to see the native arts and crafts. As for its Jewish history, let me recall to you that in 1938 the Dominican Republic was the only one of 31 nations to offer asylum at the Evian Conference called by President Roosevelt to consider ways of aiding Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany and Austria. THE LATE RAFAEL TRUJILLO, then president, donated almost 8,000 acres of land at Sousa, on the northern const, where Jews came to take up farming. In 1939 the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee organized the Dominican Republic Settlement Association. Settlers were to be given 70 acres and 10 cows, and the first group of 27 men, 10 women and one child arrived May 10. 1940. At its peak. Sousa was the home of 670 Jews. It was hard work as most of the newcomers had no farming experience and little manual training. They were, in the main, professionals or w'hite collar workers. However, the settlement prospered through cooperative cattle breeding and dairy and truck farming. A hospital, school, synagogue and radio station were established. Despite this, in the mid ’50s. Sousa started losing its young people to the United States, Israel and Puerto Rico. The decline continued steadily until today there are only about 150 Jews there. The synagogue is a faded yellow building that has a Star of David on the front door SANTO DOMINGO, THE CAPITAL, is home to about 350 Jews. Most of the adult men are merchants. When I was there about two years ago. the Centro Israelita was located on Avenida Ciudad de Sarasota. You'll have to inquire locally about services. There was a Jewish school at Avenida Mella 29 and the Israeli Embassy was located at Sarasota 38.

Accomplice Fled To Israel; Whitelaw May Lose His Home

TUJUNGA, Calif. - David Whitelaw, who served six months in jail for firebombing the home of the brother of alleged Nazi war criminal Artukovic. is in imminent danger of losing his home. THE STORY BEGAN when he and Michael Schwartz were arrested for the offense in Being Jewish And Gay Discussed At Center SAN FRANCISCO - “Being Jewish And Gay.” was the subject of a panel discussion at the Jewish Community Center here. Panelists included Mark Hurvitz of the gay Jewish congregation in Ixis Angeles. Dr. Bob Brown, psychologist with the Pacific Medical Center. Maggie Rubenstein of the National Sex Forum and Nancy Feinstein of Operation Concern. Admission charge was $1.50 for Center members and $2 to the public.

January of 1975. Schwartz was able to get his freedom before the trial because Whitelaw put up his home as guarantee for bail. Schwartz used the opportunity to jump bail and leave for Israel, where his extradition to the United States is pending but is not expected to be granted. He is now in the Israel army. ’’Israel Today,” which editorialized in Whitelaw’s behalf, told the stor> and asked readers to provide the needed funds to enable him to pay off this debt. “We think the Whitelaws have had enough grief.” the paper wrote. WHITELAW HOPES to be able to attend medical school.

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