THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
7
If you have
a Soul
The following article published by the American Jewish Relief Committee for Sufferers from the War,
To the Jews oof Detroit: • needs
no word of comment. Only read it and let the words sink into your hearts. You who have com-
fortable and even luxurious homes, you who have no anxiety as to the safety of your children, you who ;have!alsurfeit of all good things, read and
ponder upon these words.
TT IS Winter, not a mild Winter, a cold one; bitter cold. All day we have been walking. We have
no idea where we are going. When a soldier says "move" a Jew must obey. So Chaia, Berl and I,
move. Our furniture we left behind, Chaim, our eldest son, is in the army, and we are walking.
We have been walking since 6 o'clock in the morning. Chaia leans on me, I lean on my stick, and
Berl is carried sometimes in my arms, and sometimes in Chaia's.
I look at old Reb Srul, bent and worn like a reed in the wind, he, too, walks. Occasionally I talk
to him. I try to console him, soon, soon, it shall end, this constant walking. We will be placed some-
where and allowed to remain. But he only sighs, looks up to heaven, and repeats the word, "peace."
Night comes. We have been walking for twelve hours. Some have fallen by the road, but we
cannot stop, we must walk.
We are crowded into a dilapidated barn; it's cold, bitter cold in there.
Surah, the feeble-minded one, has just had an epileptic fit. Reb Srul does not feel well. He is
pale; I go to the door to speak to a soldier. "A doctor please," "I plead." The old man is "dying."
"Good," he laughs. "Let him die. One less to take care of."
All night we watch Reb Srul die. We repeat prayers with him. Nobody sleeps. In the morning,
Reb Srul is at peace. No more walking for him; the women cry, some of us wish we could take his
place. We are glad that he has been excused by the Almighty One from walking.
Someone suggests burial. We are about to ask for the privilege, when the door opens and a sol-
dier commands us to get ready to walk. "More walking" is the pathetic echo that rings through the
room. We point to the body. A soldier commands us to walk. A Jew must obey, so we leave the old
man in the hands of his God and we walk.
No man with the fear of God in his heart
can shirk this duty. This is not a -plea,
but a demand in the name of God
and humanity. Prove that you have a Soul!
There will be a great public meeting at Arcadia Hall, Woodward Avenue and Stimson Place, Tuesday
evening, April 4th, in behalf of the Jewish sufferers from the war. DR. STEPHEN S. WISE, of New York, and others
will speak. Will you be there to hear the story that they shall tell? Any information bearing upon this meeting may be
had by calling at the offices of the Detroit Committee for the Relief of Jewish Sufferers from the War, 314 Washington
Arcade, or by telephoning Cadillac 7602.
If you have not already made your subscription come to the big meeting at the Arcadia, April 4th, prepared to
GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS! This will be the close of the campaign—your last chance to show the real size of your Soul!
THE DETROIT COMMITTEE