THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

THE JEWISH

CHRONICLE

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ANTON KAUFMAN

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RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN,
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Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post t Office at Detroit, —
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879

FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 1917

ment in opposition to the Jewish resettlement in Palestine, as planned
by the English Zionist organizations. The objections of these bodies
to the effort being put forth by Zionists to have the British govern-
ment endorse the plan of Zionism, are practically identical with the
objections to the Zionistic program that have been repeatedly raised
by the non-Zionists in this country. They insist, as non-Zionists
are insisting here, that the mission of the Jew is essentially religious
and not political. And further they hold that to ask their govern-
ment under an established protectorate over Palestitre, to give J e w s
rights exceeding those of other peoples, is without justification.
Their attitude is briefly summed up in two paragraphs of their
manifesto, which read as follows :
We object to the first feature of the Zionist plans which declares Jewish

settlements in Palestine shall be recognized as possessing a national charact e r
in a political sense. The Jewish nationality must be founded on and limited by
Jewish religion which is the only real test of the Jews.
program objected to proposes to invest
he second feature of the
Jewish settlers in Palestine with h special rights over others. This would prove
a calamity to the whole Jewish people who hold that the principle of equal
rights for all denominations is essential.

The opposition to political Zionism on theitart of many leading
Jews in England, America and elsewhere cannot justly be construed
as lack of sympathy with any plan that tends to establish either in
On Sunday of this week, June 3rd, the Detroit Campaign for Palestine or elsewhere a cultural center, where the best in Jewish
Funds for the Relief of Jewish Sufferers from the War, will reach its life may be revivified. But on the other hand it is neither fair nor
climax in the complimentary dinner to the Honorable Henry Mor- logical to claim as a Zionist every man who expresses the hope that
genthau and in the great mass meeting to be held at the Arcadia on Palestinian soil or elsewhere such a center for Jewish culture may
Auditorium in the evening. Never in the history of Detroit Jewry be established. It was such claim on the part of the Zionists that
has the community stood out to better advantage than in its conduct recently called forth dr. Schiff's denial of affiliation with their cause.
of this campaign. The enthusiasm of the workers and the generosity Once let Zionism be divorced from the thought of the national re-
of the people have been unprecedented. Moreover, there has been a habilitation of the Jew, and many who now stand in opposition to
highly gratifying spirit of co-operation on the part of every element it may come to he counted among its sympathizers.
of the Jewish community. Differences in synagogue affiliation, as
well as differences in the social position of the people have been
utterly ignored or forgotten. We have stood as a united community,
Much concern has been felt by sonic of us during recent weeks
with . one aim and one hope—namely that in the measure of our at the report that in the registration of young men enlisting in the
powers we - might bring salvation to our afflicted brethren. We are naval marine service at Detroit, there had been signs of discrimination
proud of what the community has thus far accomplished in this
against Jews. Indeed, repeated evidence had been brought forward
matter and we feel sure that our well-merited pride shall be even the
that at least one of the recruiting surgeons in charge of the local
greater when the campaign having come to its climax, the Jews of
office had insisted upon registering all Jews as Protestants, on the
Detroit shall have raised their full quota or more for this saving
plea that only two classes of religionists could be recognized, namely
work.
Protestants and Catholics, and that all who were non-Catholics, were
But we must not be misled by the success that we have thus
by that token Protestants. The obvious injustice—not to say the
far attained, into lethargy during the few (lays of the campaign that
yet remain. At the time of our writing, between fifty and seventy- utter folly—of such a ruling is apparent. It would result, in years
to come, in the conclusion that Jews had taken no part in this branch
five thousand dollars remain to be raised ere the quarter of a million
dollars set as our goal shall have been subscribed. This is no small of military service (luring the N7var.
Through the good offices of Mr. Charles C. Simons of this city,
amount, particularly when it is realized that many of these whose
means permit them to give the largest subscriptions have already the matter was taken up directly with Senator Charles E. Townsend
of Michigan, who immediately brought the matter to the attention of
turned in their contributions. But there are thousands of Jews in
Detroit who have not been reached by the committees. Even though the navy department. From that department, under the signature
the individual contributions from these people may be small, they of Josephus M. Daniels, secretary of the navy, the following letter
will amount to a great deal in the aggregate. It goes without saying of explanation addressed to Senator Townsend, was at once forth-
that not every Jew in Detroit can be reached *either by letter or in coming:
person by the workers. Let that not be an excuse for any man to "My dear Senator :
"In reply to your letter of the 12th inst., I would inform you
shirk what all must concede to be a sacred duty. Let those who have
that
Mr. Simons is right in inferring that the department in no way
not been, approached by the workers, either send their contributions
by mail to the committee, or he prepared to give them at the time of discriminates against Jewish boys entering the naval service.
"We have a large number of enlisted men,and also a number of
the mass meeting. No Jew should have it upon his conscience that
in a cause like this he may be classed as a slacker or a shirker. Each commissioned officers in the navy, who are of the Jewish religion.
"When a young man enlists he is asked his religion, and his state-
must do his share and more than his share.
ment
is placed on his health record. This statement is asked for no
What we have said about the generosity of the people in general,
of course finds its exception in individual instances, and not a few other reason than to know, in event of his death, what his religion
are the men in Detroit upon whom fortune has smiled, who have is in order that burial rites might be performed in a way that would
as yet either given nothing or what amounts to next to nothing in be satisfactory to him, to his friends and his relatives. The religion
proportion to their means. Let not these men fool themselves. It of applicants for enlistment is inquired into for this and for no other
• will stand as a black mark against them in the records of the com- reason.
"I shall be very glad to take up the matter to which Mr. Simons
munity that in a time like this they have failed to do their human
duty, and in days to come when men shall rehearse the events of refers, with the navy recruiting station, Detroit, Mich.
"I am returning herewith Mr. Simons' letter to you.
these times, the names of the slackers and the shirkers will be spoken
"Sincerely yours,
with disdain and derision. Let men of means in the community be
(Signed) "JOSEPIIUS M. DANIELS."
well aware of this fact ere they make their final decision as to the sort
This
letter
is
entirely
satisfactory. Moreover, it should be added
of co-operation that they shall give to the workers in this high and
that further investigation revealed the fact that the examining sur-
holy cause.
geon
in charge was here only temporarily, and has since been re-
When this issue of the Jewish Chronicle reaches them, there will
yet remain a day or two before the campaign for funds shall have placed. Besides, arrangements have been made through Lieutenant
reached its climax. During that time let .them permit the best in Richardson, now in charge of this branch of the service, that all Jew-
them rather than the worst to have dominance, and let them assist ish boys who have been erroneously registered, may have their rec-
in giving Detroit Jewry that high place which it ought to occupy ords corrected promptly and without prejudice to their standing, if
they will send their names to him.
among the Jewish communities of the land.
We are glad that this important matter has been so satisfactorily
Sunday, June 3rd, should be a red letter day in our history. But
explained
and so quickly adjusted. We feel that it is a patriotic duty
that it may become so every man, woman and child among us must
that we owe to our government, as well as • an obligation to the Jew-
do his share and a little more than his share.
ish boys concerned in this incident, to give the matter publicity in
this manner.

The Climax of the Campaign

A Satisfactory Explanation

English Jewry and the Palestine Plan

Under (late of 'day 23, the Joint Foreign Committee of the Board
of Deputies of British Jews and of the Anglo-Jewish Association, two
of the foremost and influential bodies of British Jewry, issued a state-