The Phoenix Jewish news., 1954-10-15
Letters To
The Editor
Tercen+enary Challenge
Editor. The News:

Editor, The News:
At the Temple Mems Club Din
ner recently, Rabbi A. L. Krohn
made the principal address on the
theme of the American Jewish ter
centenary celebration. In effect, it
was a challenge to the local COM
mittee addressed directly to its
chairman, who was one of the
guests at the dinner.
Rabbi Krohn expressed concern
that, instead of emphasizing Jew
ish values, there would be undue
Dragging of the accomplishments
of some Jews in American history,
or that it be plea of justification
of Jews as such in America. Those
are some of the aspects of the
celebration in other communities.
Had / been accorded an oppor-
tunity to respond to this challenge,
1 could have said:
First of all, the local celebration
is one in which the widest possible
participation is being sought and
obtained. The benefit of wise
counsel of all the rabbis of the
community, including, of course,
Rabbi Krohn, for direction in every
activity, is assured. All decisions
are being made after careful con-
Sideration by representatives OF all
Jewish organizations in the COM
munity and community leaders
who are dedicating their time and
talents to a dignified celebration.
The celebration will thus reflect
the Phoenix Jewish community.
SECONDLY, TT Is recognized
that the celebration presents an
opportunity for education, for our
own people and also for our nom
Jewish neighbors. Are we not di-
rected to be "a light unto the ma
tons? We will endeavor to study
and appraise those Jewish values
emphasized by those Jews of Am
erican history whose virtues we
extoll and achievements praise.
Thirdly, the theme of the cele-
bration, Opportunity and Respon-
sibility under Freedom, will be
adhered to. What do the truths
and facts of occurrences in Amerl-
can life over 300 years mean to US
in the present, and what do we do
| in the future? What are we to do
to keep faith with our traditions
and those American pioneers of
Jewish faith? Are we to be- con-
tent to rest on their achievements
or shall we dedicate ourselves to
the proposition that the best is yet
to come-through our efforts? We
can make even brighter the great
beacon light of freedom which they
helped light with other Americans
of diverse origins and beliefs. But
all were united in a fundamental
faith that all men are brothers
under one God.
WE MUST REMEMBER that
each generation must win demo-
cracy for itself. Many young per-
sons wish they might have lived
in the historic and courageous
time of George Washington, for
example, when there were victor.
les to be gained and real history
written. On the contrary, there
are just as big problems today,
and every opportunity for devel-
opment.
If we can so educate and in
spire through our local celebra-
ton. we will have achieved the
purposes of our efforts.
AS chairman of the local COM
mittee, l pledge my efforts and
resources, and call upon all serv-
ing on the committee, and all OF
the Phoenix Jewish community, to
seize this opportunity and dis
charge the responsibility of pre-
senting our celebration in dignified
good taste. We desire celebration
which will be educational and in
spirational to ourselves and our
neighbors, so that, at its close,
we may all dedicate ourselves to
service to our country and human
ity in the greater service of God.
Matthew j. Ritchie