111E JLTROfr EIIIMI RREV414.4,0 WIEDETIZOR /DV !MI el-RON 1CL£ Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronkle Publishing Ce. lee. JOSEPH J. CUMMINS JACOE H. SCHAKNE PHILIP SLOMOVITZ MAURICE M. SAFIR President Secretary and Treasurer .Managing Editor Advertising Manager Entered as Second•class matter March 3, 1914, at the Postoffice at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3. 1970. General Offices and Publication Building 525 Woodward Avenue Telephone: Cadillac .040 ti 4 Cable Address: Chronicle l.ondce Office 14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England. Subscription, in Advance $3.00 Per Year To Insure publication. nil correspondence and news matter must reach this office by Tuesday evening of each week. When mailing notice., kindly use one side of the paper only. The Detroit Jewish Chronicle Invite. correspondence on subjects of Interest to the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the views expressed by the writers. Sabbath Readings of the Law. Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 25:1-26:2. Prophetical portion—Jer. 32:6-27. May 24, 1929 lyar 14, 5689 Jewish Education vs. Gangsterism. Lag b'Omer. Lag b'Omer, the thirty-third day in the period of counting the Omer, from the Passover to the Shevuoth festivals, to be observed next Tuesday, has an agricul- tural as well as historical significance. Agriculturally this semi-holiday recalls the ancient custom associated with the celebration of Passover by offerings of an omer (ancient measure of about half a gallon) to the Temple, on the second day of Passover. From this day seven weeks were counted by the custom of Sefirath ha-Omer, and the Shevuoth festival then marked the concluding festival of the grain harvest. Historically, Lag b'Omer delis with the interesting story of Rabbi Akiba and Bar Kochba. It was during the last revolt by the Jewish State against Rome, in 132-135 A. ft. under the leadership of Bar Kochba, that a terrible plague raged among the pupils of Rabbi Akiba. Because this plague occurred during the Sefi- rath ha-Omer period, pious Jews observe these days by abstaining from joyous occasions and by refraining from arranging weddings and parties during these seven weeks. According to tradition the pestilence ceased among Rabbi Akiba's students on Lag b'Omer, the thirty-third day in the Sefirah period, and the day is therefore observed as the "Scholars' Festival," and is exempt from the sad Sefirah days on which no mar- riages may be performed. Lag b'Omer as the "Scholars' Festival" has es- pecially been observed by boys in the Talmud Torahs in European countries to mark the anniversary of the Bar Kochba rebellion. Armed with bows and arrows, these boys would stage sham battles as between Ro- mans and Jews, thus presenting an exception among peaceful Jewish celebrations by this warlike mock practice. It was, however, a very joyous occasion for the boys in the Ghettoes who were blessed with too few happy moments, and for whom the fact that Rome Within a radius of less than two miles from each other, two groups, diametrically opposed one to an- other, were gathered last Sunday in evidence of a ser- ious situation in American life. Because both groups are commonly accepted as Jewish, the situation auto- matically became a trying and tragic one for our peo- ple. While the best element in the community was gath- ered at the Phoenix Club to prepare for the United Jewish Campaign, with funds of which our United He- brew Schools and other worthy projects are to be fi- nanced and enabled to continue to function, there were grouped in cells at the County Jail boys who were born was dead and Israel, though leading an unhappy ex- Jews but who were not raised as Jews; boys who are istence, has survived it, offered satisfaction in life over- only Jewish in the sense that they were born Jews, but balancing every other obstacle. not because they contributed an iota toward the ad- vancement of the ideals of their people. Yet both, the Let Italy's Bigots Learn From Spain. group gathered in the interests of our people at the Among the Catholic newspapers in Italy which ex- Phoenix Club, and the gang which is designated by the pressed dissatisfaction with the Italo-Vatican's treat- press of the city as an "off-color" element, may be ment of non-Catholic creeds is one which suggested the classed in the same religious and racial category by the banishment of Jews from Italy and the closing of syn- unknowing and malicious. And therein lies the trag- agogues. To the credit of Premier Benito Mussolini, it edy. is a pleasure to quote the Fascisti leader's defense of The problem created by the formation of gangs is the Jewish people: not the Jew's alone; it is America's. None other than The Jews have been in Rome since the time of the President Hoover, in an address, recently delivered be- Caesars, and it would be ridiculous to consider any measure fore the Associated Press, which was hailed through- such as banishing them. There were 50,000 Jews in the time of Augustus, and they asked permission to weep at out the land as touching admirably on the most press- Caesar's grave. The Jews will remain undisturbed. ing problem of the hour, pointed to the increase in crime as America's most pressing problem. Yes, this It is well that Italy should learn a lesson from this is America's problem, and many reasons are attribu- statement by its Premier. It is well that Italy's bigots table to it. Prohibition, economic pressure, the temp- should learn a lesson from Spain and the tragic results tations for luxury,—these and other elements in the of the Spanish Inquisition. Only last week, a J. T. A. present mechanical age have helped to corrupt young report from Sofia stated that "persons of the Jewish and old, have contributed to the increase in crime, have race and faith are free to enter Spain, notwithstanding created a problem for America. This is America's the fact that the fifteenth century Ferdinand and Isa- problem. This is the problem of all elements blended bella decree exiling the Jews from Spain has never and compounded in the American melting pot. been legally withdrawn." This bit of news is in effect But when members of a certain gang happen to be an expression of repentance on the part of Spain for the cruelties of the fifteenth century, and it is fortu- born Jews, the situation unfortunately becomes tragic and trying for the Jewish people. Because our people, nate for Italy that its leader, Premier Mussolini, is not to be swayed by bigots. a minority everywhere, has always been blamed for Assurance that Jews have nothing to fear from the mishaps of the few; because the Jewish people has Catholic bigots is offered in the above quoted state- unfairly suffered for wrongs of individuals; because no matter how unusual crime on the part of Jews may be, ment by Mussolini, as well as in the following senti- ment expressed by the Fascisti Premier in the current no matter how isolated instances of law-breaking by Cosmopolitan Magazine, where he wrote on the sub- Jews, our people has suffered. ject of marriage and on the influence of the family on We offer no apologies for gangsters to the non-Jew- the individual: ish community. Because a group of youngsters hap- pened to be born in the Jewish fold, it does not stamp We have but to study the history of the Jews since blame on all Jews. We resent the membership in our the great dispersion at the beginning of the Christian era. Here was a people whose devotion to family was deeply fold of habitual breakers of the law who at no time embedded in their national traditions. in their lives practiced the precepts of Israel's code of A whole family code had been evolved through the cen- turies of their existence which defined family behavior in ethics. For the Jewish people has for ages been pointed every conceivable circumstance. Emphasis was placed on to as the most law-abiding citizens wherever they re- the duty of all the members of the family—father to the children, the husband to the wife, wife to husband, mother sided, and those who cause the destruction of this at- to children, through the whole fabric of family life. tribute of loyalty harm us and are therefore not tra- The code was interwoven in the Jewish race, so that ditionally of us. wherever there was a Jewish family, there also would be the unbroken traditions and precepts of the Jewish faith But for the Jewish community the present situation and law, the essence of Jewish national life crystallized in offers a serious rebuke. If the honorable element com- every single Jewish family. When the great dispersion came and the Jews were scattered to the four corners of posed of the vast numbers of our Jewish citizens is not the earth, wherever a single Jewish family went there went to be blamed for the handful of gangsters who hap- also the accumulated Jewish lore of 20 centuries. pened to be born Jews; if men gathered at the Phoenix So long as Mussolini appreciates the values of Jew- Club to offer succor and aid to less fortunate humanity ish contributions, bigots in Italy will be "barking up the are not to be classed with a group of gangsters who wrong tree." help make humanity less fortunate. they must accept a responsibility which has not been fully carried out here- An Unjust Ruling on Hebrew. tofore. It is the responsibility for the education and The controversy that recently arose in Palestine training of our youth. It is the responsibility for guid- ing our boys and girls along such tenets of the Law over the Hebrew question was decided in favor of the Tel Aviv postmaster, the Palestine High Court at Jeru- which preclude participation in acts of lawlessness. salem ruling that acceptance of telegrams in Hebrew Experience has taught us that the religiously in- script is not obligatory on postoflice officials, in spite of spired, the traditionally trained in Jewish law has re- the fact that Hebrew is recognized as one of the three spect for all law; that those who are imbued with Jew- ish knowledge and therefore also with a Jewish ideal- official languages under the mandate. We are told in a Jewish Telegraphic Agency report ism do not abuse the rights of others, do not break the from Jerusalem that: law of the land. Under tempting economic conditions, under conditions of poverty which throw boys and girls The High Court dismissed the case of a Tel Aviv resi- dent against the postmaster for refusing to accept a back upon their own resources, outside the jurisdiction Hebrew message written in Hebrew characters. The court of their parents, a duty devolves upon the community declared that Hebrew in I.atin characters is also Hebrew, to provide these youngsters with an education, to sup- as English in the Morse code remains English. The counsel for the Tel Aviv resident argued that if Arab telegrams are ply them with means of recreation rather than to open accepted in Arab characters, while Hebrew telegrams are an avenue for joining gangs. We are obligated to build not accepted in Hebrew characters, discrimination exists. for the young such recreational centers which will make It is evident that the spirit of justice was lacking of them honorable citizens. It is the community's duty in this decision of the Palestine High Court. It was to substitute for the gang spirit a healthy desire for par- not. after all, invited to pass judgment on the wisdom ticipation in the efforts which make for good citizen- of Ben Avi's hobby in favor of Latinized Hebrew. By ship and not for the destruction of the people's safety. For every boy who turns gangster. it is the commun- the Jewish people, and by the Christian world as well. Hebrew as the language of the Bible and of the revived ity's duty to build a school for the training of hundreds Jewish life in Palestine is accepted only when it is pre- who will offset evil influences, until every semblance sented in its true colors and in its natural script. He- of un-Jewish Americanism will be uprooted. Let us strengthen Jewish idealism and a spirit of brew in Latin characters may remain Hebrew, but for such Hebrew it is not necessary to secure the recogni- law observance through Jewish schools and Jewish ed- tion of the world's powers in favor of making the lan- ucation! guage one of the official tongues of the new Palestine. Let us build for a true Americanism through ideal Any telegraph office in this country will accept a mess- Jewishness of our youth! Let it become the duty of every American Jew to age in Hebrew so long as it is written in Latin charac- ters, and if the priority of Hebrew in Palestine over inculcate in the Jewish youth the noble traditions and high moral precepts of his religion, that it may never its status anywhere else is not to be the natural right in what is referred to as the "Jewish National Home," again become necessary for us to make apologies for then the Jewish people is being robbed of its natural elements such as shame the Detroit Jewish community status by British officials in Palestine. today, but which have always been strange to Jewry. ; '40149. I LITTUF:4;4 Cf=11 AT:-V • S. • ii„10.69 0 .9 . gy- = GiAs. If5- 1-1T5 IN THE REALM OF SONG and LAUGHTER dOSEPH-= It seems that Socialism and Communism aren't Jewish as much as our enemies would like to have the world believe. Running our eye over the world's list of may Day celebration by European and Asiatic radicals, I find that every country was represented whether it was Bel- gium, Japan, Russia or Palestine. Seventy Communists in Tel Aviv were trying to make trouble, but the authori- ties quickly suppressed them. So it looks pretty much as if these are not Jewish elements, but human elements in society. Here we have Einstein, the Jew, contributing greatly to the sum of scientific knowledge, there we find the president of the United States praising Eugene Meyer for his remarkable work on the Farm Board ever since the war and regretting the possibility at the nation losing his valuable services. Elsewhere we find Salmon Levin- son, another Jew, bringing the world closer to universal peace. And we find a radical like Max Eastman, too, as well us a 'f rot zky, but around the corner is a Julius Rosen- wald, consecrating his life to the welfare of humanity. So we have our extremes, our radicals and our conserva- tives just as the rest of the people. Yes, virtues and vices are neither Christian, Jewish or Mohammedan—just human, brethren, just human. • I think that John D. Rockefeller, Jr., conies about as near to being a religious nian as any I know. Ile not only prays, but he acts like a religious man. Ile seems to be possessed of a genuine spirit of brotherliness that expresses itself in a most practical way. Ile gave sonic money the other day to Catholic welfare work, as he has given to Jewish and to Christian welfare work. But he took occasion to speak of the good that all these groups try to do. Everybody is bending their efforts to the same end of making the world a decent place to live in. But Rockefeller has shown that there is something in life more than dollars and that is ethics in business. And he received a medal the other day from the National Insti- tute of Social Science because he showed that he was not satisfied to play the game according to the rules if the rules were crooked. I k::ow of no one among the great wealthy class of the world who stands for as much that is clean as does John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The following letter, written to Mr. Alexander Brin, editor of the Boston "Jewish Advocate," concerning a comment which appeared in Random Thoughts, seems to me to be of such outstanding interest and importance that I am republishing it. Dear Mr. Brin: The writer of the column "Random Thoughts in the Advocate gave a paragraph to Abraham Jonas, the Jew, who at 32 was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Kentucky and six years later (in 1839) became the first Grand Mas- ter of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. Mr. Joseph's comment on this data—which was supplied by Louis Berlin of the Sentinel, was to the effect that the present generation is generally quite ignorant of the place occupied by the Jew in the develop- ment of this country, and that so far no competent and interesting volume has appeared to supply the deficiency. With regard to Masonry in particular the ig- norance is widespread, and I am surprised that this reference of Mr. Joseph's has not brought forth a statement from some historically-minded reader in the way of pointing the fact that the Jew was an important factor in the early history of this fraternity in America. Some of us know of the close relationship of Masonry with the foundation of our republic. Rut the part played by the Jew in this organization has never, to my knowledge, been stressed. Lest the matter go by default, and for lack of a more thorough consideration, I would like to offer a brief notat.on on the subject. In 1920 there was published "The History of Rhode Island," written by Thomas W. Bicknell, a well-known historian of that state. In this treatise he makes note of the fact that in 1655 there came over two Spanish Jews, Moses Pecheo and Morde- cai Campanal, who brought with them three Ma- sonic degrees, and who organized the first Masonic lodge in America. The meetings of this lodge were held at the homes of the members until St. John's lodge was organized in 1750." A prominent Jew of Newport, Moses Seixas, one of the founders of the Bank of Rhode Island, was the first Master of St. John's Lodge, and was first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island. Savannah, Georgia, recently put forward a claim to having the oldest Masonic lodge in the United States, on the strength of a Minute Book of which fragments are preserved in the Congres- sional Library in Washington. The facts seem to be that a lodge was founded by Governor Ogle- thorpe in 1734, which became officially Solomon's Lodge No. 1, of Savannah, in 1776. These min- utes hear evidence of being the records of this lodge prior to 1775. The point that interests us is that among the prominent persons who are listed—Gray Elliott; who represented Georgia at the English court; Sir Patrick Houston, a mem- ber of the King's Council for Georgia, and others, we find the name of Nunis (Nunez), one of two brothers, who after long and useful lives, now sleep in the Jewish cemetery at West Savannah. From such facts as these, it seems evident that a scholarly search of the records would bring out interesting data which would fix the early Jews of this country in an important place in the de- velopment of :Masonry among us. Such a study, by a Jew, would also help to develop the relation of Jews in general to Masonry in the European lands from which they emigrated, and the relation of Masonry to the Inquisition which gave the first great impulse to the settlement of Jews in the Americas, as well as throwing light upon the political and social position of these settlers in the young communities of this new country. With reference to the history of the Jew in America in its larger aspect, I feel that the Ameri- can Jewish youth who is kept in ignorance on the subject is being deprived in some measure of his birthright. Every Jewish school, be it religious or secular, should round out its course with a consid- eration of the part the Jew has played in founding and building up this nation. Inspiring tales could be told of the early Jewish settlers, of the hard- ships they underwent and the good influence they exerted; and there would be plenty of romance to thrill the youthful blood. We all have heard something of the Jews who sailed with Columbus, but how many fathers can tell the story of the Jews who followed the Con- quistadores, of the Jews who established early and prosperous settlements in the West Indies, of the wonderful Jewish city on the Surinam River which flourished for a hundred years, and is now only a monumental ruin overgrown by jungle? Who has properly told the wild tale of the Jews trading among the Indian tribes before the Revolution. fearlessly threading their way by canoe or by trail, frequently through hostile French territory? And there was a Jew who sailed with Captain Kidd, and one of John Brown's right-hand men was a Jew. and many among those who went in '49 to California—around the Capes or across the Isth- mus or overland, were Jews. Wherever adventure beckoned, some Jew was there to take heed—un- fortunately no bard has risen to sing the epic story. And there is the supreme tragedy of the luquisition which took toll of scores of Jewish lives, steadfast for their God, at the stake, in Mexico. So I agree with Mr. Joseph that there is gen- erally too little knowledge among American Jews of their own history in their own land. And going a step further, I feel that a concerted effort should be made to supply the historical back- ground that so far has usually been missing in the education of young American Jewry. if we are to make a serious effort to persist as an estab- lished religious minority in this country, the best guide for the future will be a study of the past. The younger generation, which will carry this re- sponsibility, should be equipped with a knowledge of the monumental achievements, and the even more monumental futilities of past effort. ALBERT EHRENFRIED, M. D. 21 Bay State Road, Boston. A Column in Verse and Prose, Heard, Clipped and Contributed. By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ A SCOTCH-JEWISH FEUD "AS I WRITE, I DIE" Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization, during one of his visits to this country, told a fine Yiddish story which excellently characterizes the slow-going, unambitious fel- low. Action in this story takes place , in a small Lithuanian village dur- ing the early part of this century. The news is broadcast among the Jewish inhabitants of this village that the Czar has issued an edict calling for the expulsion of the Jews from rural settlements, and immediately consternation set in among this poverty-stricken group. Whereupon a meeting of the en- tire community Wan called to con- sider its plight, and to decide on plan of action. From the numer- ous proposals made to this august assembly, that of Shlomo, the com- munity's letter-writer, was finally selected as the logical one. His, in effect, called for the penning of petition to the Russian Emperor setting forth reasons why his com- munity ought not be included io the severe edict. Shlomo, in fact, hurriedly composed a petition which he read to the assembly: "Your Excellency, the Czar of All the Russias: "Word has reached our commu- nity of a severe edict against the Jewish people. We are informed that it is your desire—and it is not for as poor mortals to question your will—that all Jews leave rural settlements, and that they be compelled to move to the large cities. "It is our humble duty, there- fore, to petition and inform you that our community can not pos- sibly be included in the districts to be affected by your edict. Be- cause the Jews here are dead. We are all dead. And dead men sure- ly are not to be counted in on pro- nouncements and wishes of your royal highness. "Your humble servant, "SHLON10." Is there anything in numbers". Sir harry Lauder, internationally famed Scotch comedian, has his own version of the relativity of figures, and he illustrates it with the following story: The assembly hailed and cheered the good judgment and wisdom of Shlomo, and joy began to replace the gloom that embraced the peo- ple. Suddenly, however, a voice called for attention. "If we are all dead," this voice asked, "how can we petition the Czar through the signature of the apparently living Shlomo?" Again consternation set in. But Shlomo was not to he defeated in his efforts to save his fellow-Jews. With several strokes of the pen he changed the concluding lines in his missile, to the joy and satisfac- tion of the community, and re- gained their respect when he read to them his revised appeal: ". . . We are all dead, and your graciousness surely does not wish to affect with his edict the dead among the Jews. Yes, we are all dead, and I, Shlomo, AS I WRITE I DIE" ("Ot shreib ich, of shtarb ich"). A Scotchman and a Jew in a hotel smoking-room drifted into an argument relative to those of their countrymen historically fa- mous. There was a near-fistic en- counter. . ag reed that when the He- brew announced one of his race acclaimed as a celebrity he would pluck a hair from the head of his competitor, and vice versa. To the amazement of the Scotchman the Jew offered the name of "Solomon." "Bobby Burns" was the proud response. ex- reverently Abraham;' claimed the Jew. "Sir Walter Scott," rather con- temptuously. "Joseph and his brethren," whereupon the Jew jerked num• bedess hairy from the head of the Scotchman. "So you are naming them in b•ttal!ons," and the Scotchman, w:nding his finger. in the hair of the Jew yanked out a handful, ex- claiming: •:4 4- ;). ighland Brigade." GOLD, CALVES, JEWS Of gold the wealthy Jews of old Have made a calf; And suffered little jibes untold On that behalf. But gold avenges not by halve. An old abuse; So now the gold is making calves Of wealthy Jews. —Philip M. Raskin. HIS FLESH AND BLOOD In the Naturalization Court: Examiner: "Who do you work for?" Mr. Levine: "My family." RABBIS DON'T SPECIFY Rabbi Louis I. Newman of Tem- ple Emanuel, San Francisco, tells the following story: Two congregants were once dis- cussing the rabbi. "What's the matter with the rabbi?" asked one worshipper. "Doesn't he edify?" "Yes, he edifies," replied the second. "Doesn't he magnify?" "Yes, he magnifies." - Doesn't he electrify?" "Yes, he electrifies." "Then what on earth is the mat- ter with the rabbi?" "Well," said the complainant, "he may edify, magnify and elec- trify, but he doesn't specify." A FABLE Said the crab: "Daughter, why do you walk crooked?" And the other replied: "Mother, show me how to walk straight!" rr Gems From Jewish Literature Selected by Rabbi Leon Fram. "PEACE." "Beloved is peace, for God es- tablished it in the heavens. 'Ile maketh peace in His high places." —Job 25:2. "Beloved is peace, for God granted it throughout the earth. 'I'eace, peace, to him that is far off and to hint that is near.'"-- Isaiah 57:19. "Great is pence, for God an- nounced salvation to the Israelites through its power. 'How beauti- ful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tid- ings, that publisheth peace!'" "The Shema, the daily prayer, the priestly blessing, all end with words of peace. When God blessed the Israelites, He found no benediction so comprehensive as the one that would vouchsafe peace. 'The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.' "- Psalms 29:11. —Talmud. "GOOD DEEDS SURPASS EVERYTHING" "A man has three friends during his lifetime: his sons and house- hold, his money, and his good deeds. "At the hour of a man's depar- ture from the world, he gathers his sons and his household and says to them: 'I beg of you, conic and save me from the judgment of this evil, death.' "They answer him, saying. 'Hest thou not heard that there is no one who can prevail over the day of death?' "Ile then appeals to his money to save him. "It answers him, saying, 'Nast thou not heard, "Riches profit not on the day of wrath?"' "Finally he calls for his good deeds and directs the same plea to them. "They answer him thus, 'When thou goest, verily, we will go in advance of thee, as it is said. "Charity delivereth from death."'" —Talmud. We Observe That--- T HEY'RE going to erect a statue to a Polish Jew in New York, and it will be a national patriotic event. It took only 150 years to recognize fittingly the services of Ilaym Salomon to this country. All he did was to finance the American Revolution. But we still feel that the Daughters of the American Revolution will be conspicuous by their absence at the dedication of the monu- ment to Haym Salomon. And so will a good many of our other hundred per centers and patrioteers. It is strange that Cardinal O'Connell should get excited about the Einstein theories leading to atheism, when he himself admits that there is no one who can understand them. The Jews are to be congratulated. Another progressive race is claiming kinship with them. A Japanese scientist says that the Nip- ponese are descendants of one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. ; David Belasco is helping his son-in-law, Morris Gest, in the pro- duction of the Passion Play. This much can be expected from a Jew who wears one of those ministerial collars that button on behind. Gest defends himself in producing the Passion Play by calling it a work of Art, with a capital "A." Henry Ford could have defended his articles in the Dearborn Inde- pendent by saying they were Literature with a capital "L." The joke of the Belasco-Gest gesture, is that the critics say the Passion Play is neither good art, nor good Christian religion. SI • 9.9•Q.9. .9.9. 9. AIWA