PAGE SEVEN
L LTIO RON ICLC
EPLutorrLI
The River of Pestilence.
By DR. ABRAHAM CORALNIK.
thought, as he contemplated the
beauties of the spring landscape.
Now the steamer's fate was sealed.
Spontaneously the peasants took to
the fishing smacks, and soon they
came within range of the steamer.
"Stop!" they called to the pilot, and
emphasized their demand by a warn-
ing shot. The steamer hove to, the
peasants sprang aboard !land out
the Jews! Let them jump into the
Dnieper! The wild chase began.
They hurled them down, they drag-
ged them from their hiding places.
Appeals for mercy, offers of ransom
money—all in vain. Only in the
river will you find your people! There
you can set up a communistic so-
ciety.
Half an hour, and every Jew had
disappeared front on board the ship
with the exception of a few women
and children; they all lay at the bot-
tom of the river. The peasants di-
vided the booty with the crew; then
they returned to their boats, and the
steamer turned again towards Kiev,
with its golden minarets gleaming
in the morning sun. Everything
was as before—the sun and the inno.
cent spring, the blue waters gleam-
ing as thought nothing had happened.
And there was a holiday in the
depths of the river. 'The fish in the
Dnieper were having a banquet. One
hundred and thirty corpses at mice,—
they had not had such a spread since
time immemorial.
Only one was able to save him-
self, that was the Schochet. A
mighty swimmer, a child of the
Dnieper, he had succeeded in swim-
ming over to a village in spite of his
severe wounds. Jews found him
there, and took him to a rabbi in
Kiev. There he told the plain, hor-
rible story of Meschigorje. "Do not
eat the fishl they arc fat with our
bodies!" he groaned in his fever.
Two days later he died. And the
rabbis forbade eating the fish of the
Dnieper: they were inhuman. And
for a long time thereafter the Jews
loathed the sight of a fish. Jewish
blood seemed to exude from every
pore.
We were recently standing in the
city park at Kiev, a high plateau
from which there is a splendid view
of the Dnieper. It was the twilight
of a summer day, and the parting
beams of the sun tinged the green
shores with a purple golden border.
One of our company began gently to
hum the words of Gogol, "Splendid
is the Dnieper, when it peacefully
rolls its waves through mountain•
and forest • • *At the same moment
he stopped, his eye caught sight of
Meschigorje, lying opposite in the
dying light of day.
No, cursed is the
"Splendid?
putrid, unclean, cruel Dnieper, that
flows so quietly as if nothing at all
had happened. Bodies, bodies, you
see them • • • "
He turned his face away, he could
not endure the memory of it all
ing and sacrifice for the building up
of the Jewish Palestine. Through the
Keren Ilayesod every Jew can labor
actively and vitally at the noblest task
which has been set the Jewish people
in modern times.
"The supervision of the financial
administration of our funds will be
entrusted to a special Board of Trus-
tees. There is in process of creation
a special economic committee to give
practical help to the economic devel-
opment of l'alestine.
"The Zionist organization, through
all its federations and organizations,
must bring home to the Jewish people
the understanding of their historic re-
sponsibility now, of the greatness of
this hour and of this opportunity,
and of the duty which rests
upon them. If we Zionists are to
speak with effect we must first act;
if we are to convince we must first
achieve. We most sacrifice ourselves
if others are to make sacrifices.
"The Executive of the Zionist or-
ganization is confident that Zionists
will uderstand their duty and will do
it. It is confident that the Jewish
people will prove worthy of its his-
toric duty. The future of the Jewish
people is in their own hands, and the
world will judge them by what they
now achieve.
ESCHIGORJE—The village lies, ernment, but these are all Christians
as its name indicates, among not a trace of a Jew.
Thus the frightened Jews consoled
the hills. A charming hamlet of
fantastic beauty, about 15 kilomet- themselves and hoped. Daily new
rumors
arrived. In the cities and
ers from Kiev. Red-gleaming hill-
sides covered with forests, deep ra- villages round about the cruel butch-
ery
had
started.
The troops of Sel-
vines and winding forest paths. One
jomy, the l'etlura captain, had al-
of these, in colors green and red, fol-
ready appeared in the vicinity and
lowed the meandering Dnieper.
were roaming in the woods like
Back of the hills—a city, or rather wolves. The faces of the peasants
a village, peaceful and quiet, decant- became forbidding, the Jews read
ing in the sunny calm of the forest. their thought and wish in their eyes,
y - ithough the village was plainly they try to calm them, to seek their
NeSe front Mt. Vladimir, the high- favor. The peasants are silent and
of Kiev, the quiet of the turn away. Old acquaintances sud-
v, was never disturbed by the denly become estranged. The sultry
(use of the city, by political strife, damp of bloody hatred impregnates
or by the unbridled passions of man. the air, rises slowly from the hills,
Life was peaceful and quiet; one took and settles over the valley. They
life as one found it behind those would like to flee, but whither? All
the roads are closed, death guards
green hills.
In this peace there lived numerous every path, and where should one go
Jewish families—old native families, in such a dangerous time? To a
most intimately related to the peas- strange land far from house and
ants of the Ukraine. They often home? Rather wait; who knows,
quarreled a bit, but the quarreling perhaps the storm will pass. They
EX ECUTVE OF TILE ZIONIST
was mostly on the side of the peas- have promised, without any great en-
ants; in general, they got along about thusiasm, to protect the Jews from
ORGANIZATON.
as well as you can expect people to attack. And anyway we still have
CHAIM WEIZMANN.
get along, who have been neighbors the authorities, the Bolshevik gov-
NAHUM SOKOLOW.
for generations. And when the first ernment. And finally, so thought
MENAHEM USSISHKIN.
revolution—the March Revolution of the rulers of Meschigorje, the Jews
JULIUS SIMON.
1917—bad come, and the Jews had belong to the bourgeoisie and were
NEHEMIA DE LIEME.
been completely enfranchised, then parasites and therefore not to be al-
London, Tishri, 5681."
Jew and Gentile became better lowed in a communistic republic, but
that
was
the
affair
of
the
lawful
friends than ever, inasmuch as they
had common interest and a common authorities; against the counter-revo-
soil to defend. In the meantime the lutionary hordes, however, the gov-
storm broke in the remainder of the ernment would protect them. A sly
country. Things began to seethe smile played about the lips of the
and boil. One government replaced village authorities. The Jews went
EMDEN.—The workers of this
another. Every season brought a home discouraged and for tine hun-
community have decided not to trans-
new master. The German had been dredth time talked over their situa-
port wares or any materials to Bor-
in the land, and gone. Everywhere tion, and they always came to the
kum as long as people of that town
grew the spirit of revolt. But in same conclusion—wait and hope.
will continue to Indulge in singing a
It was a beautiful day in April and
Meschigorje there still prevailed an
highly anti-Semitic song composed in
the
flowers
sent
forth
their
dewy
idyllic calm.
that locality.
fragrance. In the village there was
Until the Bolsheviki finally con-
Borkum is a well-knowtt bathing
at an early hour a great deal of life
quered the Ukraine, and the wild
place which has for decades been
and confusion. The Jewish inhabi-
bestial counter-revolution of the Pet-
strongly anti-Semitic. Jews are not
tants, old and young, were already
tus Party began. It was in the
admitted into the place, and even a
up. No one in the village had slept
winter months of 1919, when the hills
Gentile whose features suggest some-
a wink the night before. The news
of Meschigorje were still closely
thing Semitic cannot remain in the
had spread that the hordes of Sel-
and warmly enveloped in their shin-
place. A special, anti-Semitic little
fonts, were close to the city. In the
song originated in the city, a song
ing mantle of snow. The emissaries
late hours of the night they heard
of Petlura, the national hero of the
which is very popular and is recited
rifle shots inn the woods; first there
at
every occasion. The workers of
Ukraine, and of his so-called .Direc-
were only a few scattered shots, then
Emden, among whom we can now
tory, hastened through the land,
they became more rapid, and finally
find l'olish Jews, have decided to pro-
found their way into the villages, in-
they could hear the firing of machine
test against the singing of that song
to the suburbs of the cities, fed the
gong; a few wounded soldiers of the
and they now declare that they will
flames, appealed to the lowest in-
Red Army had already been brought
not transport any goods destined for
stincts of the peasants whip-
back,—then there was a sudden sil-
that place until the song will disap-
ped their slow blood to an
ence, a terrifying silence. Nobody
pear from hearing. The city council
insane fanaticism and beastly lust knew who had won. They saw but
of Borkum decided to forbid the sing-
for blood; and inasmuch as they
one thing—the Red soldiers did not
ing of the tune in the harbor of the
could find no better object for their
return. Were they pursuing the
city.
propaganda, they took the old-fash-
enemy? Or • • • ? But soon all
ioned method of oppressing and
their doubts were dispelled. From
blaming the Jews. Any movement
the edge of the forest a cavalryman
for the independence of the Ukraine
came dashing up with the yellow
would have found scant favor among
Ukrainian insigna on his arm, behind
5660.1920.
the peasants. There still showed in him other riders with pikes, muskets,
By street car, via Woodward Avenue
By automobile, via Woodward
their view, a high respect for Great
E.
and Crosstown cars, east to Riopelle
and pistols, then armed men on foot
Avenue, east on Warren Avenue to
Russia, and a complete separation
Roach-Choduch Ab
Fri., July 16
with hand grenades,—they were the
Street, then walk two blocks north.
Riopelle Street.
had little appeal. These peasants
Fast
of
AD
Sun.,
July
25
soldiers they had feared so much.
were indifferent and had no national
Rosch.Chodosch Ellul
Sun., AI 15
They were joined by that portion of
LONDON.—The following has
pride. Furthermore, it was not so the Red soldiers that had not fled.
5661.1920.
been issued by the Zionist Executive N. Year's Eva
Sun., Soo. 12
easy to combat the Bolsheviki in the
Then there arose a great noise and to Jews everywhere:
nummmonmuurmnuututiuunutoomm000nopappeo(00010000001)an emmsnomiminit llllll onsisiniumunmmounni
Yost Kippur
W.d., S.D. 22
country districts. The peasant had
shouting;—aimless shootinec in all
"The Jewish people are entering Succoth (Furst Day)
Mon., Soo. 27
no confidence in any form of govern- directions. The Jews hid them-
upon the most difficult period of their Succoth (Lm( Day—ShIrnInIs
ment, and was rather partial to the selves in their houses, bolted doors
/Month)
Mon., Oct. 4
Bolsheviki, who had overwhelmed and windows. The peasants, how- history, but the one most full of
promise. The Council of the Nations SIrrichath Torah
Tun., Out 5
bim at least with promises. But the ever, men and women, slatternly old
has fully recognized the claim of the Rooch-Chodosch Choy
Wed., Oct, 13
Jew was the best fuel to start the
men and children, all ran to the mar- Jewish people to their historic home.
Fri., Nov. 12
R000h-Chodosch KM.
fire with. Day in and day out, agi- ket place, each armed with some
The decision at San Remo, now Chanukah (Feast of DodloatIon)..Mon., Doc. 6
tators told the peasants the most weapon: old pistols, halt-rustee
sealed by the treaty of peace between
terrible stories; under the mask of scythes, sickles, knives, and hay-
Roach-Chodooch Toboth
Sun., Da. 12
the Allied and Associated Powers
Bolshevism the Jews had assumed forks. The foremost horseman de-
Fut of Teboth
Tim., Doc. 21
and Turkey, has been followed by
control of the country; they were the scended front his horse, took his posi-
5681.1921.
the establishment of a civil adminis-
real rulers in Christendom; in Kiev tion in the midst of the peasants, and
Mon., Jan. 10
tration under Sir Herbert Samuel, Rooch-Choduch Shobat
they had transformed the holy made a speech; he had come as the
who rules the country as High Corn-
Church of St. Sophia into a bath- representative of Atmans Siljonij to
missioner in the name of Great Brit-
house; they had abused and tortured free Ukrainian peasants from the
tain, the mandatory power for Pales-
the priests; they had committed sacri- yoke of the Bolsheviki. And who
tine.
lege; they had taken tne peasant's are the Bolsheviki? The Jewsl Who
That hope which has sustained our
crops and cattle to sell them in Mos- is to blame that Little Father Pet- people through thousands of years of
cow, where the Jew, Lenine, like a lura rules no more in Kiev? The bitter experience has now become our
Czar, etc., etc. And by no means did Jews! Who would sell us to Mos- indefeasible right in the world of po-
their words fall on deaf ears. At cow, and give our bread to the cursed litical reality. The possibility is ours
first, of course, the old peasants Moscovites? The Jews! Who began to realize Zionism. It is for us, the
shook their heads incredulously. the war? and similar accusations, al- Jewish people, to seize upon this op-
They could scarcely believe that ways with the same refrain, the Jews portunity and achieve the work of na-
these Jews, with whom they had Therefore root them out in the name tional redemption. The Executive of
been on good terms for so many of Christ for the salvation of the the Zionist organization, which was
heavy years, who so often had stood
appointed by the Annual Conference,
Ukraine I
by them in time of trouble, who
This long speech was not needed to holds it to be its duty in this mo-
even had protected them a• well as
mentous hour to bring home to the
win and convince his hearers. For
they could during the Germa.t occu-
Jewish people the truth that the re-
them it was a purely technical ques-
pation, who were such good Ukrai-
constitution of Palestine as a Jewish
tion, how they were to accomplish
nians and loved their native sod so
land cant come about only if the Jew-
this. And the leader gave them the
much, were to blame for all these
ish people are ready and willing to
cue; the women and children would
crimes that were laid at their doors .
make sacrifices without limit, and if
be taken away, the men, however,
The peasants brains were befogged.
the Jewish pioneers who go to Pal-
would be shot.
Old pictures from the times of their
estine are penetrated with the con-
They had their program; to carry viction that the goal demands of them
ancestors, from the times of the wild
it
out
was
easy.
The
homes
of
the
Heidainaken battles (in the seven-
the heaviest labor and the most un-
teenth and eighteenth centuries) Jews were known to all, little unpro- remitting endurance.
Productive Employment.
arose from unknown depths. The tected huts, where one could not even
'In conjunction with the govern-
Beast was gradually freed from the conceal himself. The Jews knew by
this time that there was no salvation ment, we must create in Palestine the
weak bonds of humanity.
And thus two months had passed; for them and resigned themselves to conditions for productive employment
the snow melted, and spring came. fate. Pale and taciturn the men- on as great a scale as the Jewish peo-
With the indefinable unrest that the women hysterically weeping— ple will supply the means. The great-
spring always produces, the demands Many of the older Jews clothed er these means the greater the immi-
of blood gone wild increased. The themselves in their shrouds, and re- gration and the greater the produc-
young men were impatient. Hadn't peated the confessional of the dead. tion. The organized direction and
they just returned from war? And Finally, the storm broke. Soldiers reception of immigration requires the
wasn't murder their business? They and peasants went from house to immediate establishment of shelter
had brought along all the tools of house and dragged out the Jews. for the immigrants, of medical assist-
death—rifles, bayonets, machine-guns, The men were taken to the market ance, and of social care. institutions
d hand-grenades. Even a small- place, the women and children to an must be created which will help to
bring down the present excessive cost
("C `e cannon was buried in the vil- old barn at the edge of the town.
About a hundred Jews, old and of living in Palestine. The conditions
11..9a relic of the famous retreat of
l,-
,''Russian Army. And all these young, stood there and waited. The must be introduced for the growth of
leader of the troops stepped forward a self-supporting Jewish peasantry.
. tfis were waiting for someone to and told them what they were ac- We must develop organizations
or them.
cused of. He was especially hard on which will assist the economic prog-
`lS For a long time the Jews could Lenine, the principal Jew, for whom ress of the Jewish worker. We must
not bring themselves to believe in
all other Jews were responsible. expand our existing institutions and
the danger which threatened them. The Jews spoke not a word, for they create others to aid and strengthen
It appeared improbable and unnatur-
knew that no defense would be pos- Jewish industry. We must carry
al that Ivan, Nikita, Petro, or Michi-
sible or useful. Only from a dis- through public works and develop the
low, their neighbors and old friends,
tance came a reply—the lamentations natural resources of Palestine so as
C.
could really do them any harm. of the women. The peasants were to render possible greater production
Even when they heard of the terrible
undecided at first, and knew not what and profitable employment for the
events in Schitomir, Ovrutsch, Pero-
to do. Many an old peasant looked Jewish workman. We must put the
sten:iv, and numerous other places
furtively at an old neighbor—a Jew— Hebrew schools upon a solid founda-
where pogroms had occurred, butch- as though he would say: What can tion and develop our educational sys-
eries of the Ukrania, they hoped: We I do? You can see it must be thus.
tem until it finds its crown in the
wise,-- I
shall escape this cup of bitterness.
A young Jew was about to answer, Hebrew University at Jerusalem,
In the cities, indeed, it is different, but a club was brought down on his which is destined to be the center of
there Jews and Christians live as skull, and he fell, bathed in his own the native Jewish genius. Through
though separated by iron walls—two
blood. The first blood had flowed the Hebrew school will come our re-
hostile camps. There the keen and they were maddened at the sight generation; through it the Jewish
rivalry between Jew and Christian is of it. Blows reigned on all sides; people will recover its speech, and a
sharpened by purely economic they clubbed the Jews, they stabbed generation will arise with its feet
considerations. The small Chris- them; but the work appeared too firmly planted upon the Jewish soil.
"Immigration and settlement, eco-
tian merchant sees in the Jew mild to these blood-hungry people.
a mighty rival whom he can get They were looking for a climax. nomic development, social and cul-
.
rid of only by murder and pillage. Then someone called from the midst tural work, demand of the Jewish
And the inhabitant of the cities is of the crowd to throw them into the people their full gift of moral and
demoralized and degenerated, no real Dnieperl The idea seemed a good material power. The whole Jewish
peasant and yet no educated inhabi- one; on all sides they began to people must take part in accomplish-
tant of the city, therefore, full of shove and push the Jews, and they ing this mighty task! The Zionist or-
hate, envy and distrust. And finally drove them down to the Dnieper. If ganization is open wide for all who
they talk so much of politics nowa- they could not walk, they were drag- are willing to work within the organi-
days, perhaps—who knows—perhaps ged. On arriving at the river, one zation. The Zionist organization is
our people were going too far in the after the other they were thrown ready to work in harmonious associa-
cities; the loud and impatient young into the deepest part of the stream. tion with those organizations which
people who were bent upon making there where the rapids begin.
If one are willing to assist in the establish-
was ment of the Jewish National Home.
common 630112 with the Bolsheviki made an attempt to swim he
may really have aroused the dis- shot. And gradually they sank into The Zionist organization will spare
no pains to secure that all these la-
pleasure of the people. But alas! we the depths of the river.
bors serve the national end. The An-
can't restrain our youth. But here in
The work was done. The peas-
our village there is not a trace of all ants were about to return to burn nual Conference has resolved upon a
this, we have not even a real Bolshe- the barn where the women and chil- great fund, which, under the name
vistic government; of course we have dren were imprisoned, but their at- "Keren Hayesod," is to be organized
Reykom (Revolutionary Commit- tention was suddenly arrested by a throughout the whole world. The Ker-
T114 Adverthem•st publt.b•d sad paid for by Educational Liberty L
H••dqa•rt•r.: 211 H•Id•o B•ildieg, D•tro,t.
en Hayesod will appeal to the Jewish
tee) and even a Kombed (Commit-
steamer on its way to Kiev
tee of the poorest peasants) who are small
people to make their supreme offer-
On the deck stood a Jew lost in
supposed to represent a sort of gov-
M
aunt
Gruth littratiturr
RESENT SINGING OF
ANTI-SEMITIC SONG
An Interior
Designed and executed by Detroit Furniture Shops.
Facilitated by factory association.
Eirtroit ifurniturr *hops
Jewish Calendar
Warren and Riopelle
Telephone Melrose 1320
Open Saturday Afternoon
ZIONISTS APPEAL
TO WORLD JEWRY
ni
A.C. KRENZ Tailor
t
The Shop where courtesy
and service prevail
925Woodward Ave.
Just North of Forest Ave.
Vote "NO" on the School Amendment
Because
Michigan's Educators Denounce It
University Regent James 0. Marlin,
says:
I am against the proposed amend-
ment for a number of reasons ...first
and foremost—it appears to me it is
dishonest.
University Regent Frank B. Leland,
says:
I think it is Un-American and in my
opinion its incorporation into the
basic laws of the commonwealth
would be unwise.
Former Regent Chase S. Osborne, says:
The movement against the Parochial
Schools is unwarranted, unwise, mis-
directed effort and, in so far as it
destroys something of gcod and sup-
plants it with nothing, is unjust.
Vaughn, Dean of the School
Prof. H.
of Medicine, University of Michigan,
says:
I do not believe the amendment is
do not believe that the State
should interfere with parents in sel-
ecting the school to which their child-
ren shall go.
President Stringham of the Detroit
Board of Education, says:
The enactment of such a law would
be a mistake and a calamity.
President Frank Kedzie, of the Mich-
igan Agricultural College, says:
I am not favorable to the Anti-
parochial Amendment.
University Regent Benjamin S.
Hanchett, says:
I am earnestly opposed to any pro-
position that would result in the
closing of Parochial or any private
schools that ma'utain a proper stand-
ard of instruction.
President Charles McKenny, of the
Michigan State Normal School, says:
This amendment, if carried,' would
shut out thousands of children be-
cause of no public schools to ammo-
date them.
Superintendent of Public Instruction,
Thomas E. Johnson, says:
There is a very grave question
whet' er the proposed amendment
would not put up a legal barrier to
prevent the use of the State Institu-
tion for the Feeble Minded. the State
Institution for the Epileptic, the
State School for the Deaf and State
Schools for the Blind.
Superintendent Frank Cody, of the
Detroit Public Schools, says:
The public school men of Michigan
are unanimous against the proposi-
tion. The influx of the parochial and
private school children into the pub-
lic schools wculd swamp our schools
Dr. Delos Fall of Albion College, form-
erly Superintendent of Public Instruc-
tion, says:
The State Departrne -it of Education
already poFsess ample power to visit
and si.pervise these schools
Vote "NO" on School Amendment
a
I