Sept. 10-30, 1957

Los Angeles

I have only touched in passing on Arkansas Gov. Orville Faubus’ fight to prevent the integration of Central High School in Little Rock.
(Faubus called out the Arkansas National Guard to block federally
ordered integration. In response to a request by Little Rock Mayor
Woodrow Mann, President Eisenhower sent 1,000 troops from the 101st
Airborne Division to maintain order).

But it is worth noting that the events in Little Rock weighed heavily
on the congregations of Los Angeles, as reflected in this prayer, which
was quoted in The Times:

Heavenly Father, we invoke
thy blessing upon these beloved United States in an hour of grave
domestic crisis. We pray divine guidance for the president, his
counselors and advisers and for the governors and other officials of
the several states. 

We pray that thou wilt implant
racial harmony in the hearts of man, that no man may hate his brother
in his heart or in his school, and that all men shall know that they
are brothers, the children of one God. 

We pray for the speedy and just
settlement of issues which assume the false doctrine of racial
inequality. We pray that this just and loving resolution shall come
with peace and not violence, with love and not force, and that right
shall be established without recrimination or revenge.
 
This we pray, O Lord, for thou hast
taught us since ancient days that in thy common fatherhood there can be
no man-made distinctions introduced. May all men in these United States
without regard to color or geographical distribution, repent before
thee at this holy season the hatreds of the heart and make affirmation
of the desire and the intent to work for a good future for all
citizens of this land and of the world. 

 

And with that prayer, Rabbis
Max Nussbaum and William Kramer of Hollywood’s Temple Israel began the
observance of Rosh Hashana, ushering in the year 5718.

Current events also figured in the prayer of Rabbi Edgar F. Magnin of Wilshire Boulevard Temple:

May it be a year of peace
and not of war–not even a cold war. Somehow or other, by dint of
intelligence or by some miracle coming from God Almighty, may the
nations of the earth develop a greater spirit of cooperation. 

Let it be a year in which the trying
problem of integration may resolve itself without bloodshed, strife,
bitter words and the acid of hatred. 

May juvenile crime decrease and our
youth appreciate the privilege of living in this great and beautiful
country and avail themselves of its blessings. May the young be filled
with loyalty to our country and devotion to the highest ideals. 

May religion spread its beneficent
influence over our land and over the entire world. Let it come down
like a bright and radiant beam of light into the hearts of men, women
and children everywhere.

Magnin also presided over ceremonies at Home of Peace Memorial Park, 4334 Whittier Blvd., honoring the memories of those who had died in the past year.

He noted that Home of
Peace was "the oldest Jewish burial ground in the city of Los Angeles,
the resting place of the pioneer Jews of this great community. 

"Those who led in the creation of all things we as Jews enjoy today have been interred here. 

"Their memory lingers with us as a
perpetual bequest. Every time we practice justice, every time we do
what is good, we do it in the name and spirit of the great giver of the
Ten Commandments. Thus Moses did not die, and cannot die, for his work
and memory go on. 

"There are many ways of mourning
one’s loved ones besides shedding a tear and the best way is to carry
out the ideals they believed in. Another is to share what we have with
people who need our help, and to support good causes such as the arts,
education and particularly religion. 

"Supporting a great religious
institution and upholding the hands of its leaders is a more tender
tribute than laying flowers on a grave."

Flashback: Yom Kippur as celebrated in 1947.

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