Bone Up On Ethics Rabbi Eisenstein Tells Leadership Conference Starlight, Pa. the SH Participants to this year's BBYO Joint Leadership Training Conference at Camp B'nai B'rith here were advised to bone up on their ethical concepts if they are to become observant Jews and good citizens. Official Publication of the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization The advice came from Rabbi AZA-BBG-BBYA Ira Eisenstein of Chicago. He with the kind of home environ- was making the keynote address ment that sets an example for of the week-long parley which ethical living," he said. (See CONFERENCE, page 2) 35TH YEAR OCTOBER, 1958 Office of Publications, Baltimore, Md. Send address changes brought together some 80 AZA 6 to The Shofar, 1640 Rhode Island Ave., NW. Washington 6. C. and BBG regional and council leaders for an intensive look at some of the current problems in Jewish life. (See story this page). But Dr. Eisenstein made note of the fact that acquiring a good perspective on ethical concepts Towsner, Blank Elected was by no means an easy task. Two barriers, he said, blocked the way. BBG's Approve Alephs To Ethics Ignored First was the fact that Jewish New 6-Fold Help Revamp educators were largely ignoring the teaching of ethics in their Program Plan Jewish Studies current curricula. Starlight, Pa. Starlight, Pa. Second, and perhaps even more important, was the fact that Sandra Towsner of Silver Election of Steve Blank of some parents are not setting Spring, Md., was elected BBG good enough examples at home. international president for Pittsburgh as Grand Aleph Said he: "Teenagers cannot be 1958-59 at the organization's Godol and passage of a reso- expected to be more moral and 14th annual convention here. lution to work towards an ethical than their parents." The convention body also ap- improvement of the Jewish edu- He said most young people to- proved the new 6-fold program. cational curriculum shared the day are in a state of confusion Some 170 convention delegates, "because they cannot see what alternates and visitors heard the spotlight at the 35th annual in- effect either belonging or believ- 18-year-old University of Mary- ternational AZA convention here. ing has upon the moral behavior land freshman, and last year's in- The election of the 19-year-old of individuals. Some of the most ternational first vice-president, Dartmouth College sophomore, active members of synagogues pledge during impressive instal- engage in dishonest practices in lation ceremonies to do all in her and last year's Grand Aleph their businesses and occupations, power to carry out this year's S'gan, climaxed an action-packed while some of the truly ethical BBG theme: "In vain we build convention which saw the 170 people have had no formal religi- our order unless the builders also delegates, alternates and visitors ous training and even shun or- grow." voice approval for a resolution ganized religious life." Elected to serve with her were Rabbi Eisenstein's solution is Dorene Schneiderman of Milwau- calling on AZA to take the lead in an enriched Jewish educational kee, an 18-year-old freshman at working with other Jewish youth curriculum that would stress the the University of Wisconsin- groups and parents to "establish values of living an ethical life. first vice-president and Sara a general program with the pur- "It is not enough to know only Miller of Flushing, N. Y., a 17- poseoof studying needed improve- about God, prayer, ritual and re- year-old sophomore at Queens ligious practice generally," he College-second vice-president. "OUTDO YOUR ELDERS" was the advice Mrs. Kornbleet, national ments in Jewish education." said, Elaine Gilner, last year's inter- president of B'nai B'rith Women, had for delegates to the BBG Passage of the resolution fol- "At the same time, parents national BBG president, was convention. Mrs. Kornbleet, addressing the convention body prior lowed outgoing GAG Yale Rosen- should provide their children (See BBG, page 7) to installation ceremonies, blamed part of the current cold war berg's opening evening keynote problems on the inability of people of differing cultures and address idea that "youth should Klutznick Urges BBYO nationalities to get along. insist on a curriculum of Jewish education that is not simply a rehash of what has been learned Take More Active "INSPIRING EVENT" in earlier years in Sunday school." Said Rosenberg; "Youth should Interest In U. N. Leadership Conference be taught the answers to such questions as: As a Jew, what are the schools that I cannot attend, Starlight, Pa. More active interest in the affairs and workings of the Focused On Judaism and why? From which clubs and United Nations with the lure of possible representation for neighborhoods am I barred? BBYO on the B'nai B'rith United Nations Committee was By Marc L. Stern What has Judaism given, and held out here by B'nai B'rith president Philip M. Klutznick what can it continue to offer, to in a talk to BBYO regional leaders at the Joint Leadership (Aleph Stern wrote this account of the Joint Leadership mankind?; What does it require Training Institute. Conference especially for SHOFAR. The AZA Regional leader is from to be a good Jew?" Mr. Klutznick made the state- Mr. Klutznick also defended the Cleveland Heights, Ohio.) Elected to serve with GAG right of American Jews to speak ment in response to one of a out freely with respect to Ameri- These are the segments of the pie which made up the Blank for the 1958-59 term were: series of questions posed by the can policies on the Middle East. Joint Leadership Training Conference for August 11-18, Howard Dennis of Silver Spring, regional leaders during an "Exe- American Jews have every right 1958 where the goal was "to explore the philosophies of Md., an 18-year-old sophomore at ning With the President." The to criticize their government on any aspect of foreign policy, he Jewish life in the American community in order to discover George Washington University, president of the Supreme Lodge said, and the fact that the policy how BBYO fits into the picture, and how individual leaders Grand Aleph S'gan and Myron exchanged views with the young sometimes involves decisions af- Gessner of Wheeling, W. Va., a function in the relation to the BBYO philosophy:" delegates for some two hours on fecting Israel does not mean that 17-year-old freshman at George they should give.up their right to There were several exploration a variety of subjects ranging Washington, Grand Aleph Mazkir. express themselves. or discussion groups which talked from the U. N. and world peace So impressed was Mr. Klutznick BBG 20c Assessment over ideas and problems, many of Retiring GAG Yale Rosenberg to B'nai B'rith and Israel. with the caliber of the youth which were taken from the won- was the unanimous choice-amid The possibility of BBYO's rep- leaders who queried him that he Payment Due Now derful lectures which were deliv- a standing ovation-for Grand resentation on B'nai B'rith's wrote in a recent message to ered, Aleph Kohen Godol. United Nations Committee could members of the B'nai B'rith Starlight, Pa. The creative arts program con- Other Resolutions come only after BBYO had dem- Board of Governors; An assessment of $.20 per sisted of drama, music, crafts, The resolution on Jewish edu- onstrated sufficient interest in the "In the middle of August I member, effective immediately, and folk-dancing. cation was one of a series of affairs of the world organization, made my first trip this summer was approved by delegates to Everyone had some part in the statements approved by the con- he said. He pointed to BBYO to Camp B'nai B'rith where I BBG's 14th annual convention. Sabbath work groups. In addition, chapter-sponsored U. N. Day pro- National dues will now cost (See AZA, page 3) participated in an evening with there was a wide variety of eve- grams as an excellent start in the AZA and BBG youth leaders who $2.20. ning programs, music instruction, right direction. had been gathered together by The asessment fund will be a morning minyan and evening In another question concerning BBYO from all over the country. used for a nationally-spon- meditation, and recreation. Where To Find It the United Nations, Mr. Klutz- I made a very brief statement sored emergency scholarship Dr. Max Baer, National BBYO nick, who served as a member which will enable deserving Aleph Godol's and then the young people ques- Director, stated that this was a tioned me. If all of our adult BBG's to attend national lead- cooperative AZA and BBG pro- Message Page 3 last year of the United States delegation to the U.N., said that groups had the insight and un- ership training events. The gram which had the distinction of BBG President's one of the prime functions of the derstanding that this representa- fund will also be used to help being the first international Message Page 7 U.N.'s Legal Committee - on tive group of young persons seem support the increased program BBYO event at Camp B'nai BBYA President's which he served-was to "define to possess, the Jewish community of activities for BBG at Camp B'rith under the auspices of Message Page 2 aggression." The committee, he would be spending less time cry- B'nai B'rith. the B'nai B'rith Youth Organi- BBYO Life Page 6 said, was unable to agree on an ing about its future and doing Chapters already registered zation. Now we have our own under the old $2.00 fee are Chapter Chater Page 8 acceptable definition. "How then more things constructively to- camp which, by the way, is can we get a definition of the ward realizing it. I came away urged to submit the additional situated in the beautiful Pocono Names In The News Page 7 still more complicated concept of from my visit with these young $.20 per capita to the BBYO Mountains along the New York- Pen Pals Page 7 indirect aggression," Mr. Klutz- people full of hope and with the Headquarters office as quickly Pennsylvania border near Han- Shofar Feature Section Page 6 nick replied in response to a deepest respect for their intelli- as possible. cock, New York, The conference What Do You Think? Page 6 question. gence and vision." (See STERN, page 8)