THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

8

magnificent impetus to the local campaign in behalf of the Jewish
Sufferers from the War, have gone far in the redemption of the good
ay
by
the
J
ewish
Chronicle
Publishing
Company.
name
of the Jewish community of this city. We believe that their
Issued Ever y Frid
General Manager example will lead practically all the Jews of Detroit to do their duty
-
ANTON KAUFMAN
in the measure of their powers. If this shall be the case, there will be
Michigan's Only Jewish Publication.
no difficulty in raising the full sum of a quarter of a million dollars
$1.50
per
year
which has been allotted to Detroit as its quota of the ten million
-
-
-
Subscription in Advance
dollars that is to be raised throughout the country. The next few
Offices 314 Peter Smith Bldg.
weeks will tell the story. Let us hope that the response to the appeal
Phones: Cherry 3381 and 1526
of those in charge of the fund will be such as to write the name of our
Editorial Contributor
-
RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN,
community upon the roll of honor of the Jewish communities of the
The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of inter-
land.
est to the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorse-
Labor Organizations Withdraw From
ment of the views expressed by the writers.

THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

All correspondence to insure publication must be sent in so as to
reach this office Tuesday morning of each week.
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at Detroit,
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1917

The Campaign is On

Jewish Congress

The withdrawal from affiliation with the Jewish Congress move-
ment of the National Workmen's Committee on Jewish Rights, repre-
seating all the Jewish labor organizations of the country—on the
ground that the Russian revolution has taken from the Congress its
reason for being—is significant in that it brings the ultra-radicals and
socialists to the conclusion that had previously been arrived at by
large numbers of Reform Jews throughout the country. Of course,
recent events in Russia have tended to shake the confidence of some in
the permanency of the new and better conditions in the land of the
erstwhile Czar. But there can be little question that if the revolu-
tionary party shall succeed in establishing itself, and if the rights
promised to the Jews in common with all other Russians, shall be
secured, there will be comparatively little real work for the Congress
to do. This has been apparent from the start.
But with the Russian question out of the way, the Congress will
have a clear field for Zionistic propaganda, which there are some who
believe is after all the main interest and the supreme goal of some of
the most ardent advocates of the Congress. The call recently issued
by the Executive Committee of the Congress, lends color to this belief.
However, time will tell and we shall patiently await the outcome ere
we pass judgment.

Those representatives of the Detroit community who in less than
half an hour last week contributed upwards of one hundred thousand
dollars to the relief of their stricken brethren in the war zone, set to
their fellow Jews in Detroit a high and inspiring example. By their
willing generosity they not only honored themselves but they did
honor to our entire community. Their liberality will go far to win
for Detroit Jewry that place which it ought to occupy among the Jew-
ish communities of America as a leader in philanthropic and humani-
tarian causes. For the last decade Detroit, from the industrial stand-
point, has come to be looked upon as the wonder city of the world.
In material prosperity it has far outdistanced all its competitors. To
it men have flocked from every section of the country as to a place
whose streams are milk and honey. But let it be frankly confessed
that while men have lauded Detroit for its material achievements, its
Mr. Ginsburg Worthily Honored
reputation for interest in idealistic causes has not been to its credit.
On every hand it has been said that our city had so steeped itself in A very graceful tribute has been paid to Mr. Bernard Ginsburg by
the lust for material gain, that its civic and social 'ideals had been the Public Library Commission in naming the new branch of the
neglected. It was called the city without a soul. And in the general Library which was dedicated this week, the "Bernard Ginsburg
indictment of our citizenship, the Jews of the community were made Branch." While, as a matter of principle we do not endorse the nam-
to share. It is no secret that while we were boasting our prosperity, ing of schools or other public institutions after living men, we believe
many of the Jewish national institutions throughout the land were that so long as the custom is followed in Detroit, no man more worthy
shaming us for the meagerness of the support we gave them. Our of the honor could have been found than Mr. Ginsburg. His long
own United Jewish Charities, up to the most recent times, was sup- service as a member and later as the President of the Library Com-
ported by our people in most niggardly fashion. mission was rendered whole-heartedly as well as intelligently. The
But a change has come. Detroit seems to have found itself. In library bearing his name is a monument to the labors of Mr. Ginsburg,
the last year, though its income even yet does not suffice to meet its of which he may well be proud. The Jewish community of Detroit
needs, the United Jewish Charities has been more liberally supported shares with him a sense of honor in the recognition that has thus come
than ever heretofore, and this in face of the fact that the community to him.
gave, during the year very generously to the War Fund. In addition
The Turk and the Jew
to this the Fresh Air Society has received more generous treatment at
It is most ardently to be hoped that the press reports of the hor-
the hands of the community, the Free Loan Society has been put upon
a fairly adequate basis and the appeals of other humanitarian causes rible atrocities practiced against the Jews by the military governor
have met with liberal and enthusiastic response at the hands of the of Palestine, are without foundation in fact. And yet who should
people. All of which goes to show that the more a community gives, marvel if these horrible tales were true and if the inoffensive Jews of
Palestine, caught like rats in a cage, were actually harassed, as the
the more will it be ready to give when the need comes.
press
tells us, by the inhuman hounds of Turkey? Civilization is not
A few, years ago it would have been utterly unthinkable that a
little handful of Detroit Jews would give an amount to any cause so far advanced and Turkish humanity is not of that fine character
such as was contributed in a few minutes to the War Fund the other as to make such an event unthinkable. But the possibility of this dire
situation should give pause to those who allow their enthusiasm for
day. But today nothing is impossible. We are coming to understand
more and more that the wealth which has come to some of us in such Palestine to blind them to consideration of the tremendous dangers
generous measure, is at best a trust which we must use for the well- that might await the Jew there even in normal times, unless he dwelt
being of the whole community. From two sides this conviction is under the protectorate of some powerful military ally. Those who
being pressed in upon us. In the first place, men are being brought to have opposed the Zionistic program on purely practical grounds, have
give through coming to understand the 'joy of giving, and they are more than once pointed out how the Jews, having established a home-
slowly but surely awakening to their social duty because of the self- land there, might easily enough become the victims of their rapacious
satisfaction which sacrificial service brings to them. And in the sec- neighbors, and how, utterly defenseless, their thousands and tens of
ond place they are being brought to it by the attitude that self-respect- thousands might in a moment be brought to destruction.
Whether the present reports of the cruelties of the Turks to the
ing men and women in the community are more and more assuming
Jews
are true or not, they may serve to show what possibilities of a
toward those who fail to do their duty.
When at the great New York meeting some weeks ago Mr. dire sort may await the Jews in Palestine once they have settled in
Nathan Strauss told his hearers to ostracize the shirkers, he was large numbers and established an autonomous state there. Let the
sounding a note that has been received sympathetically by ever grow- political Zionist, therefore, ponder well upon these possibilities ere
ing numbers of men and women in all our communities. The man he carry his program too far.
who has it in his power to help his brethren in distress, and who per-
Confirmation Services will be held in synagogues and temples
sistently refuses to do so, does not deserve recognition at the hands of throughout the land on Sunday of next week, May 27. Let us hope
his fellows and ought to be shut out of decent society. While we are that everywhere emphasis will be laid upon the religious character of
not optimistic enough to believe that the time will soon come when
this important ceremonial, and that it will not be permitted to degen-
mere wealth will not open many doors to men, we are convinced that erate, as has unfortunately been so often the case in the past, into a
some people are becoming more courageous in the matter of showing mere social function.
their utter disdain for those whose only claim to social recognition is
the possession of money:
And so we believe that Detroit is coming into its own, and that
men and .women of means in our midst are increasingly recognizing
their obligation to the community. Those who last week gave such a

"GIVE MORE THAN YOUR SHARE"

