BEVEI'ROrr
THEYATROITJEWIMI el RON
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Arabs and Jews In Palestine.
INWilldlni VAULintZTOTkilik!k .t.. .t.N''SVZ4Z-
When both houses of the Michigan Leg-
islature voted to revert to capital punish-
ment, we urged upon Governor Green, in
an editorial in our issue of May 10, 1929,
"to stamp his disapproval upon this inhu-
man legislation. and to prevent our com-
monwealth from endorsing the establish-
ment of 'murderous' courts of law." We
took occasion at that time to quote the Jew-
ish Encyclopedia in opnosition to capital
punishment, as follows:
The Detroit Jcvish Chronicle invite.rrspondence on sub-
jerta of interest to the Jewish people, b ut e disclaims rimponsi-
bility (or an indoraemint of the vieweespreased by the writers
"That capital punishment was a rare oc-
curren•e in the latter days of the Jewish
commonwealth is patent from the statement
Sabbath Readings of the Torah.
Pentateuchal portion—Nun, 16:--18:32.
in the Mishnah that a court was stigma-
Prophetical portion I Sam. 11:14-12:22.
tized as 'murderous' if it condemned to
June 27, 1930
Tammuz 1, 5690 death more than one human being in the
course of seven months. Indeed, Eleazer
Rabbis Differ on Intermarriage.
b. Azariah applied the same epithet to a
Several weeks ago, Dr. Maurice II. Har- court that executed more than one man in
ris, rabbi of Temple Israel, New York, every 70 years; and his famous colleagues,
warned in a sermon that if bars against in- Tryphon and Akiba. openly avowed their
termarriage are removed Judaism will dis- opposition to capital punishment, saying,
appear in four generations. Now comes 'Had we belonged to the Sanhedrin (dur-
Rabbi Clifton Ilarby Levy of the Center of ing Jutlea's independence), no man would
Jewish Science of New York and asserts ever have been executed,' as they would
that "wherever the affection is deeply root- always have found some legal informalities
ed and sincere even the mixed marriage by which to make a sentence of death im-
proves successful, because husband and possible."
wife respect each other and the beliefs
It would have been the height of incon-
which each cherishes."
sistency on our part to oppose capital pun-
There is such a marked difference be-
ishment in this country but to favor it in
tween the beliefs of Rabbis Harris and I.evy
Palestine. If reverting to the oldest and
that a comparison of several important par-
cruellest punishment for crime, punishment
agraphs in their sermons is in place:
by death, is wrong in Michigan, it is wrong
DR. HARRIS
RABBI LEVY
in Safed and in Hebron and wherever crime
Judaism is a human
People normally mar-
is committed. Anti even now that we are
religion and its chief
ry in the circles in which
concern is the preserva-
informed that one of the Arabs executed
they move—the aristoc- tion of the highest and
at Acre last week confessed to the murder
racy, like the poor, with- best that is humanly pos-
of three Jews, and another of the victims
in their respective class- sible. If we respect love
of capital punishment in the Holy Land con-
es. For the same rea- as the greatest human
force we must help all
son, people marry within
fessed to the murder of five Jews, we re-
who are driven toward
their specific religious one another by noble af-
peat our opposition to this ancient mode of
fection to build up the
cults.
discouraging crime.
right kind of home as
We Jews are a minute
minority in the midst of
an overwhelming major-
ity. If we indiscrimi-
nately remove the bars
against such intermar-
riage, Judaism will dis-
appear in four genera-
tions. For these reasons,
we cannot face such a
condition with equanim-
ity. In this age of tol-
eration, while interpret-
ing our religion in a lib-
eral spirit and laying no
insistence on elaborate
ceremonials, we Jews
must reaffirm our classic
status
But when, prior to the
proposed intermarriage,
the Gentile is prepared
to enter the Jewish fold,
our objections are at
once removed. It is then
no longer an intermar-
riage. I recall many in-
stances in my own min-
isterial experience where
the proselyte has become
much more zealous for
the maintenance of the
faith of her husband
than he himself, though
born in the fold.
the logical, human se-
quence of a true mar-
riage.
This is a serious and
very practical problem.
Shall we bar the doors
between the lovers or
shall we perpetuate the
farce of forced conver-
sions? It is a problem
which concerns not only
the Jew but all other
earnest believers as well.
Only within the last
week the General As-
sembly of the Presby-
terians refused to cancel
an ancient prohibition of
marriage "with the
heathen, the idolalor and
the papist." And this is
modern tolerance!
We are quite as in-
tolerant. Almost every
rabbi insists that if one
of our faith is to wed
one of the other religion,
that other must become
a formal proselyte to our
religion. It is plain that
under the supreme urge
of deep affection many,
if not all, of these con-
verts are accepting the
faith upon compulsion.
Such conversions are
worse than useless, tend-
ing toward hypocrisy at
least.
It will take very little study to detect in
this comparison a difference of opinion on
a cardinal principle in Jewish life. Rabbi
Harris judged the question front two points
of view: those affecting the survival of the
Jewish people and the successful termina-
tion of marriage between individuals whose
backgrounds, social standings, church affil-
iations and racial characteristics differ in
extremes. Rabbi Levy, on the other hand,
flirts with the Christian idea of love, for-
getting practicality and altogether ignor-
ing the most important elements in the in-
termarriage problem: the danger of the
minority element being swallowed up by
the majority group and of unhappiness for
the intermarried ones in the event of fleet-
ing love.
To invoke "respect for love." which Rab-
bi Levy attempts to do in defense of his at-
titude on intermarriage. is to forget the
dangers that lurk in Cupid's nest for the vic-
tims of unpremeditated marital unions of
members of different religious sects. We
speak here of victims because experience
has proven only the exceptions in intermar-
riages—whether between Jew and Gentile
or Catholic and Protestant—to be success-
es. Especially in instances where youths
plunge into such affairs under the guise of
love which cools off too quickly, tragedy is
the all too common result. Anti even when
the love that Rabbi Levy speaks of is undy-
ing, the social, religious and economic pres-
sures, as a rule, prove too strong to main-
tain happiness for the intermarried lovers.
The happy exception only proves this rule.
When Rabbi Harris declared that "we
Jews must reaffirm our classic status." Jew-
ish public opinion and the better sense of
our people will favor his views. In intermar-
riage, when you play with love you play
with fire, and in the case of our people it
would prove the fire of extinction. Those
who desire to see Israel survive cannot con-
sistently favor intermarriage, even if their
respect for love must be questioned. With
those who do not desire Israel's survival we
have no quarrels. Their paths are of their
own choosing and responsibility.
Since writing the above we learned with
sorrow of the death of Dr. Harris. A noble
teacher is lost to Israel in his demise.
Zecher zaddik livrocho.
twin
A Yiddish labor weekly, discussing the
execution of the three Arabs, expresses the
fear that the British empire continues to
practice the old Roman devise of "divide
and rule," and that the execution of the
three Arab murderers simply falls into this
scheme of enraging the Arabs against the
Jews. If this is true, and we hope that it
is a wild premise, then England has done
the Jews a greater harm than it has to the
executed Arabs and their families. But
aside from the truth or untruth of such an
inhuman political act, the death of three
Arabs will neither help the Jewish cause,
nor will it promote Arab-Jewish friendship,
On the contrary, it offers an opportunity to
fanatic Arab leaders to inflame the minds
of their ignorant followers with false prop-
aganda, and inflamed Bedouin minds are
not responsible for what they do, neither
are they frightened in moments of fanati-
cism by the execution of several of their co-
religionists.
We would remind our readers that even
in the darkest moments of despair, during
the sad occurrences in Palestine last Au
gust, it was not the Arab nation whom
Jews blamed, but certain leaders among the
Arabs who had axes to grind or capital to
beat out of the murder of Jews. They first
inflamed the Arab masses with false stories
of Jewishattacks onthe Mosque of Omar,
then promised these masses much loot to be
gotten from attacks upon Jews. And now
it is these misled ignorant Arab peasants
who are paying with their lives and not
those who instigated the riots.
With the truly guilty at large, it is diffi-
cult to believe that the hanging of three
Arabs will help the situation. Let British
authority make it known to the instigators
of the riots that it will not countenance
bloodshed and it eliminate the need for
resorting to capital punishment. So long,
however, as such unscrupulous propagan-
dists feel free to keep up their nasty propa-
ganda, the situation is far from improve-
ment. Only a firm stand on the part of the
authorities will bring us nearer to the much
desired Arab-Jewish peace.
Coming as an encouragement to our peo-
ple in the unpleasant breach created be-
tween Jews and Arabs is the statement that
was made to a correspondent of an Ameri-
can daily by an Arab leader in Jerusalem
who is opposed to the present Arab Execu-
tive. although himself a member of it. This
Arab leader said that "the executions will
not directly or even indirectly bring about
new disturbances, and, unless special anti
unforeseeable provocation arises on either
side, no such disturbances will ever occur
again." At theliame time we are informed
from Cairo, by the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, that: "Egyptian Jews are being
sought as agents to sell Palestine land
owned by Arabs. Many Palestine Arabs
have recently arrived seeking Jews willing
to serve as agents. Fearing to sell land
directly to the Jews in Palestine because
of the propaganda of the Arab Executive,
the Arabs who have land to sell are endeav-
oring to secure Egyptian-Jewish agents for
that purpose,"
It is clear that it is not only the Jews who
desire peace with the Arabs, but the Arabs
are anxious to live peacefully with the
Jews. Only if the mandatory power fails
in its duty will this hope for peace be im-
possible of realization.
• • 61',TY•r.T414 1', 1"61".T.T6PT
u`l'i•PiPW- •
• •
Scanning tho
Horizon
s.
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
DIXIE BELLES AND WEDDING
BELLS
Thelma Lillian Davis, wr •ing
recently on the dilemma of the
southern Jewish girl, laments that
the situation is such, matrimoni-
ally speaking, the Dixie girl n so
restricted in the choice of her mate
that she must go to the biseer
cities of the north to solve the
problem.
There is, of course, this much
truth in the contention. The
smaller towns necessarily have
small Jewish populations and the
list of eligibles is therefore re-
duced.
Man for man, however, I would
be inclined to say that the Jewish
young man in the small town ran
stand his ground very easily by the
side of those of New York or any
other large northern city. I'er-
haps slightly less sophisticated. but
certainly more wholesome. They
may know less about Freudian
complexes, but they are not as apt
to have them. And of these alter-
natives, I'll take the last.
MORE OF EVERYTHING
Of course there are more poten-
tial husbands in New York. There
is more of everything in New York
—more wealth, more poverty,
more universities and foundations
of research and more cases of
stomach trouble.
But the fact that the Morgans
and Otto Kahns and the Sehiffs
are in New York does not mean
that because I live in New York
I not more apt to become wealthy
than I would if I lived in Dallas,
Seattle or Milwaukee.
Two years ago the writer of
these lines spent a summer in a
Pennsylvania resort. There we be-
came fast friends with another va-
cationist. It was some time be-
fore we found out that, in New
York, we lived in the same apart-
ment house. w .
The moral, I beliritUS. that
while there are more eople to' se-
lect from in New Yor , the actual
number may not be greater, for
the chances of acquaintanceship
lessens as the number of possible
acquaintances increases.
WHY THEY FLEE
What, I believe, leads to the
great hegira of girls from the
south and from the smaller cities
generally is quite another thing.
They flee to the big cities not to
get more company, but actually to
get less. They flee to be alone.
For in the big city you can be
alone as though you were in the
woods of South America. The big
city is impersonal. There are too
many people for anybody to be
watching you.
In the smaller town this is, of
course, vastly different. The girl
as she approaches the marriageable
age is being eyed about and gener.
ally talked about. If she doesn't
get married in her early •0s, the
conclusion is easily reached that
there is something wrong with her.
If she goes out to a movie alone,
similar conclusions are provoked.
In the New Yorks and Chicagos
she can lead her own life as she
sees fit. She can be herself. That's
why she leaves—not to search for
a husband.
OUR LETTER BOX
Rabbi George Zepin, Cincinnati.
Ohio: The gentleman to whom I
referred is Dr. Simon Neumann,
60 East Seventh street, New York
--or you can find him most any
night at the Cafe Royal. Second
avenue and Twelfth street. He is
the examining physician of the Or-
der Sons of Zion.
Albert M. Shulman, editor Jew-
ish Post, Paterson, N. J.: Cantor
Rosenblatt is still in the market
for • suitable play. We suggest
that you advise your correspondent
to communicate directly with him
at 551 Fifth avenue, New York
City.
THEY HAD AN ARRANGEMENT
I am a bit surprised that no
one attempted to tell my favorite
story in the recently concluded
joke contest. It concerns Moe and
Joe, two friends who had drifted
apart.
Five years later they met.
"How are things?" asked Moe.
"Not so bad, Joe. I run a hot
dog stand in front of the National
City Bank—and, thank God, I
make a living and maybe ■ few
dollars beside."
"That's fine, Moe—that's fine.
I'm very glad to hear that you are
prospering. Personally. just now,
you understand. Moe, it's not so
good with me. But you are pros-
pering. and I'm sure you'll lend
me $50 for a month."
"I'll tell you," replied Moe, "I'd
be very glad to do it, but you un-
derstand when I opened my hot
dog stand by the National City
Bank, I made an arrangement with
them. I was not to lend any
money and they were not to sell
any hot dogs."
A VERSATILE VISITOR
Ile was an elderly looking man.
Carrying a brief case, he entered
the offices of David Belasco the
other day.
"I want to see Mr. Belasco," he
said.
"What do you want to see him
about?" queried Arthur Levy,
press agent for Belasco.
"I have three plays here—sure-
fire hits that I Want to show him."
said the visitor.
"Come around Monday. when his
secretary is in, she will take care
of you." replied Levy.
Closing his brief cam. the old
man started to walk out when he
noticed a stained cathedral glass,
very valuable piece of work.
Inspecting it ■ minute, the old
man returned to Levy. "Say. that
is a terrible piece of glass. If Mr.
Belasco wants a new glass, I'd be
glad to give him an estimate.
I
am a very good glazier."
—suss.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT
New York has every sort of an
association from an association to
(Turn to Next Page)
V A
711.41::"7c 4'
THE JEW WHO WENT
WITH ADMIRAL BYRD
4 s
ka.r17.1/040111 0 . 4)11 0 us
Xigtt:5`.4:rti tato s'aVit . SZi.:.•
s
Charles H. Joseph
years ago I discovered that Mme.
S EVERAL
Magda Lupesco was a Jewess. My statement
was questioned at the time but the whole world
knows that the lady who has enjoyed the doubtful
honor of being the mistress of King Carol the Sec-
ond of Rumania is indeed a Jewess. But I, for
one, do not share the excessive enthusiasm of the
leader of the New York group of Rumanian Jews
over the accession of the new king, who seems to
think that the end of all persecution of the Jew in
Rumania will soon be at hand. The lovely Lupescu
may have had great influence with the king, but the
king cannot root out anti-Semitism in Rumania
and anyone who believes that is likely to believe
that the moon is made of green cheese. There are
so many confusing angles, and so ntany interests
involved in the anti-Jewish movement that while
the royal family does not countenance it they are
powerless to prevent it. The fact that anti-Semi-
tism does not have the sympathy of either Queen
Marie or her son, the new king, is, of course, very
helpful and at least serves to bring those guilty of
anti-Jewish excesses to speedier justice. But let us
not become unduly optimistic over the situation.
At any rate, it is interesting to remember in con-
nection with the Carol-Lupescu episode that on a
previous occasion, now quite historic, another
Jewess influenced a king to act leniently toward
the Jews.
WELL, Rabbi Louis Kopald, of the North Shore
Congregation Israel of Chicago, has started
something. lie has established a rule that the chil-
dren of his congregation who are confirmed shall
receive no presents. Some years ago I took the
position that presents bulked too large in the Con•
firmation picture. But I could never bring myself
to believe that children should be deprived of pres-
ents. Perhaps Dr. Kopald was influenced to take
the drastic step because of the extravagance in
giving. Sometimes one wonders after inspecting
the presents that are displayed whether the child is
engaged or merely confirmed! Then there is the
"competition." This child received 162 gifts.
That's nothing! Why, "my daughter received 216
and there are more on the way." That's the sort
of thing that destroys the spirituality, the impres-
siveness and the true beauty of the occasion. But
then we should not deprive all the children of the
joy of receiving these tangible expressions of good-
will, love, affection and friendship because some
parents and other relatives, as well as friends, lack
the restraint and good taste to confine the character
of their gifts in keeping with the requirements of
the event. Vulgarity is associated with ostenta-
tion: and that is found only too often in the social
side of confirmation. But let us avoid the other
extreme to which Dr. Kopald would take us. And
while I am on the subject I must say that I think
that Rabbi Solomon Freehof of Chicago, in his edi•
tonal in the American Israelite, is too optimistic
and is giving youth too much credit when he sug-
gests: "It is even likely that gifts heighten the
spiritual effect of confirmation." Remember, gen-
tlemen, we are dealing with boys and girls: just
average boys and girls. And when we discuss the
matter of presents we must try to consider their
minds as well as our own.
A
BROOKLYN Jewish communal leader suggests
that charities be supported by state. Tax those
who have for the benefit of those who have not. I
have been in favor of that for years. It's the only
sensible, scienitfic, equitable method of making
society as a whole assume its proper obligation to
the handicapped. Take, for example, the Brooklyn
Jewish community. There are almost a million
Jews in Brooklyn. About 11,000 of the million
support the Federation. And what goes on in the
Jewish group is the same in the non-Jewish groups.
Why in the name of common sense and civilization
should the burden of taking care of the halt, the
lame and the blind be left to the mercy of a group
of citizens? It's wonderful to know that there is
such a strong desire on the part of so many indi-
viduals to give for the benefit of the less fortunate.
But it is haphazard, unscientific and at most only a
comparatively limited number of those who require
relief can be assisted. As a citizen of the state
one would have less hesitancy in going to the state
for aid than in appealing to private charity. Then
funds sufficient to meet all the requirements of the
situation would be forthcoming. And every one
would be taxed according to his means, thus
making millions of slackers who contribute nothing
now do their share. It is a disgrace to this country
that it has so long delayed in doing this humane
thing. It is absolutely contrary to every principle
of social action affecting the whole that a small
group should assume obligations that properly
belong to all. And our own philanthropists need
have no worry that they would not be able to give
money away. The Jews still have a few interna-
tional relief problems and will have them for sev-
eral decades to come.
IT WILL be interesting to the readers of this col-
umn to get the viewpoint of an eminent Catholic
writer in an editorial in the Catholic weekly, The
Commonweal (by the way, one of the outstanding
journals published in this country) on the result of
the seminar held in St. Louis. This attempt to cre-
ate a more intelligent understanding of the religious
problems of Jews, Protestants and Catholics. The
writer says:
And the result? With each succeeding con-
ference it is clearer that religious groups
existing in the United States face no likelihood
of pooling their views. The dividing lines
emerge. clear-cut and firm. Glib talkers may
ignore these and bring on another barrel or
two of soft soap. Realistic citizens will, how-
ever. recognize three possibilities, all of
which are worth attempting to follow out:
Understanding that such spiritual convictions
as are held in common form some of the most
notable treasures of mankind; willingness to
admit that religious societies dwelling side by
side in the same community must not trespass
on ground lawfully occupied by others; and in
the development of courtesy as something
wholly compatible with sincerity and even
argument. Stupidities will disappear in time.
There is little enough need for worry about
legends of papal armament on innate Protes-
tant malice. But the solid verities of charity
and knowledge can only be fostered by cour-
ageous spirits willing to work hard.
THERE is an increasing amount of talk about a
Jewish university. Only the other day I received
a letter complaining that a Jewish philanthropist
had contributed • large sum to a college when such
money should be used to establish a Jewish univer-
sity. Years ago when the subject was first broached
I made the prediction that while at the time it
seemed an idle dream that there was an element in
American Jewry that would never be satisfied until
they had pushed the project to a successful conclu-
aion. But what interests me most is the approach.
Here and there I find some who are thinking of a
Jewish university along the lines of a Catholic uni-
versity, that is, where the religious aide is given
consideration. But in the main the idea seems to be
that there is no much discrimination against Jewish
boys in universities that the only way to meet that
handicap is to have a university of our own. I seri-
ously question the wisdom of such a course. It is
quite true that all the Jewish boys who want
to go to college can't get in And it is equally true
that there is prejudice against those who do finally
get in. But that is merely ■ duplication of the
larger life outsides We cannot escape prejudice.
But whether it justifies the establishment of a Jew.
ish university is a question. And what effect such
a university would hare upon existing institutions
in relation to the Jewish question is necessary to be
considered. Personally, I can see no reason at this
time for a Jewish university. But of this I am
sure, the ever-increasing, disproportionate number
of Jews seeking • college education will sooner or
later create an acute problem which will have to
be met. It is something to think about.
By BERNARD POSTAL
EDITOR'S NOTE: -It i not general-
,' known that the Byrd Suth role Ex-
wilition had one Jew in personnel.
Here for the first time to given the
esperierces of Sergeant Benjamin Roth.
hr Jewish aeroplane expert who went
with Byrd and took with him the first
Talith, Tefilim, Tait•ith and Sidir that
we re eyer carried to the Antarctic re-
gion.
When the members of the Byrd
expedition sailed into New York
harbor last week to be met by one
of the greatest receptions that
hospitable and hero-worshipping
New Yorkers have ever bestowed
on any group of pioneering explor-
ers one of the most retiring, incon-
spicuous, and one might say un-
known members, was Master Ser-
geant Benjamin Roth, the only Jew
who accompanied Admiral Byrd on
his epochal journey. In all the
reams that have been written
about the scientific contributions
of the south venture, in all the
praise that has been heaped on the
brave companions of Admiral
Byrd, in all the whole-hearted wel-
come that was accorded to the ex-
pedition on its triumphal return
• from a two years' stay in the bar-
ren, ice-locked wastes of the Ant-
arctic scarcely a line has been
uttered about Sergeant Roth who
in his own quiet, unassuming may
played his selected role in the
mighty drama of the South Pole.
While the reporters who went
clown to meet the returning explor-
ers were probably unaware that a
.fe•, an only Jew, had been with
the Polar adventurers, and while
Russell Owen, the gritty little re-
porter of the New fo rk Times,
who kept the world informed of
the day-to-day progress of the ex-
pedition, had many more important
and significant matters to wireless
than the doings of Roth, every-
one interested in the little things
of life which often loom much
larger in perspective than when
they actually occurred will read
with interest the experiences of
Sergeant Roth.
Thrilling Exploits.
It was Roth's lot to be one of
the few participants in the Byrd
adventure to suffer a mishap. The
trip was singlarly free of trouble,
but Roth had his share of thrilling
exploits. Although he was as-
signed to keep the air-cooled mo-
tors of the planes in running order
he was also required to aid in load-
ing and unloading the ships and
take his turn on watch. One eve-
ning he was on the night shift, to-
gether with Dr. Colman, the medi-
cal officer. Patrolling the ice bar-
rier 34 feet above sea level with
nothing but ice, ice and ice as far
as the eye could see, a sudden
cracking and crunching of the bar-
rier tumbled Roth into the water.
Weighed down by 18 pounds of
woolen clothing, which trebled in
weight as it became water-soaked,
he floundered about in the water
trying to clutch the floating ice
cakes. Ile lost his right glove but
held on grimly with his left. The
current of the icy water slowly
pushed him away from the barrier
but still he held on and did not
shout for help.
Then Dr. Colman missed hint.
Hurryinus to the edge of the bar-
rier he saw Benny in the water.
Calling for help, Dr. Colman stood
at the edge and called to Roth to
hold tight. Admiral Byrd was in-
formed of the accident and hast-
ened on deck. With no hesitation
he made ready to dive in after
Roth, who was fast weakening and
had already gone under twice.
Other members of the expedition
tried to restrain It telling hint
that neither he nor Roth had a
chance.
Byrd Jumps After Him.
Without heeding the warnings
of the more cautious members
Byrd dived into the water, but the
cakes of ice prevented him from
seeing Roth, whose strength was
fast ebbing. It soon became evi-
dent that Byrd could its nothing
and that even he was in danger.
Then two other members of the
expedition jumped in and pulled
out the admiral. In the meantime
the Bolling was turned around and
a boat lowered to pick up Roth.
Dr. Colman directed the rescue
operation from the barrier and
Roth was pulled in.
He suffered little injury be-
cause the temperature of the water
was warmer than it was out on the
ice. But for seven weeks he had
a sharp tingling sensation in his
fingers, frostbite. The day after
his thrilling adventure he was on
the job again not much the worse
for the experience but grateful to
Admiral Byrd and the men who
R tehsc
hiism3.
left an or-
phan at the age of five. Ile trav-
phan
eled about from place to place,
gradually drifting into mechanical
jobs and eventually becoming an
airplane mechanic. When he was
24 he enlisted in the United States
army, where he distinguished hint.
self as a motor mechanic, taking
a special interest in airplane
motors.
14. Was
Best Airplane Mechanic.
Two years ago, when Admiral
Byrd was preparing for his South
Pole flight and was picking the
personnel of the expedition that
was to accompany him on his epo-
chal journey, he asked the United
States army to recommend the best
airplane mechanic in the field. Un
hesitatingly the army officials
1 VIEWS
named Benjamin Roth, then a
technical sergeant.
This typically Jewish-looking di-
minutive soldier then made ready
for the great adventure of his life.
A flying trip to his brother, who
lives in Brownsville, a few fare
wells to his army buddies, and he
was if for the South Pole. When
he enrolled with Byrd the secre-
tary of the expedition informed
hint that two other members were
Jews, but Ruth learned on the way
to New Zealand that he was the
only Jew making the trip.
Never an Orthodox Jew he
nevertheless made no attempt to
disguise his Jewishness, but as a
matter of fact gave every member
of the crew to understand that he
was proud of it. This open and
above board attitude immediately
won for hint the respect and ad-
miration of his fellow-adventurers
as it had won fur him the upstand•
ing name of "a real Jew" while he
was in the army. The rest of the
members of the expedition called
him "Benny" and sometimes "Jew-
fellow," but always in a good-
humored vein. No member of the
crew was more popular. As the
smallest member of the expedition,
aside from Russell Owen, and the
only army man selected, he had an
unique distinction.
Carried Talith, Siddur.
When he was chosen to gut with
Admiral Byrd he had just coin-
pleted his army term and was
planning to devote himself to air-
plane mechanics but the opportu-
nity of going to the South Pole
impelled him to enlist for another
three-year period. One of the
most remarkable things about the
expedition was the fact that not
once was there any mechanical dif-
ficulty with the airplane motors.
Roth, as an expert on air-cooled
motors, was in charge of the planes
and the smoothness with which the
planes operated and the complete
absence of any trouble bespeaks
of his service to the Polar ex-
ploration.
Many members of the expedition
carried with them all sorts of good
luck charms, mementoes and other
things that are supposed to keep
them safe from harm. Less super-
stitious than the others, Roth had
with him only his Masonic apron.
What he did have with him that
was curious for a non-observing
Jew was a talith, tefilim, taitsith
and a siddur which were given hint
by his brother.
Roth, like all Jews, is fond of
Jewish cooking, although he sel-
dom gets it as an army man. Conse-
quently what he missed most were
matzoth. Ile spent two Passovers
and one Rosh Hashonah and Yom
Kippur on the ice. Matzoth, nat-
urally, were unobtainable but the
prayers for the Holy Days he re-
cited alone in the quiet of his
cabin. He knew when the holiday,
came by the Jewish calendar he
carried with him that was fur-
nished by the Jewish Welfare
Board.
Given Promotion
When the expedition reached
New Zealand, a rabbi, whose name
Roth has now forgotten, looked
hint up, and asked if he could du
anything for him. The rabbi en-
tertained Ruth while the expedi-
tion was in New Zealand. On the
return voyage he was again feted
by the Jews of Wellington and
Duneeden.
As the Bolling was turning into
the Panama Canal from the Pa-
cific Ocean on the way home Roth
was informed that he haul been pro-
moted to technical
•
sergeant. When
he reached the Atlantic end of the
canal he learned that he had re-
ceived another promotion, this
time to master sergeant, fur excel-
lent work with the expedition. The
usual method of procedure, which
requires competitive examinations.
was waived by Secretary of War
Hurley. Admiral Byrd had attest-
cal to the ability of his airplane me-
chanic, the little Jewish soldier
whom he had tried to rescue from
the icy waters of the Antarctic.
With the great adventure over
Sergeant Roth is again settling
down to the life of a soldier. it
has been assigned to Mitchell Field,
where his rare mechanical abilities
can be best utilized. This obscure
Jewish mechanic, orphaned as a
child, drifting; from army post to
army post, has had his glamorous
hour. Now he is content to sit
back as an army sergeant and wait
for retirement, which is due in 12
years.
.1
';
ssi
iC
(Copyright. tots. J. T. A.)
A Poe Volume for the Chile
dren's Library.
THE COLD
AND Bitten TALES
AND POEMS
tie Edgar Allan i.e
The Macmillan Co.. Chicago and New
York lit 751.
The thrills afforded by Poe's
classic stories like "The Gold Bug"
and "The Pit and the Pendulum"
make the present volume unusually
appropriate and valuable for the
children's library. Both boys and
girls over 12 will find this collec-
tion. carefully selected by Elva
Smith of the Carnegie Library of
Pittsburgh, fascinating reading.
Included in this volume are "The
Raven." "MS Found in • Bottle,"
"The Bella." "The Purloined Let-
ter" and other stories and poems.
The illustrations, by the youn,„
Mexican artist, Carlos Sanchez,
M., add to the interest of the
volume.
OF LEADING JEWS 1
JUDGE ALFRED M.
COHEN: "Reasonably ample provisions have
been made for the training of rabbinical leaders. Meager thus for are
the facilities for educating Jewish followers."
•
•
•
JOHN J. GOLDSTEIN: "If the
Jewish children of today are
not given a Jewish education, in two or
three generations there will be
no Jews in the United States, no one to follow
up our philanthropies.
and
no one to fill the beautiful synagogues, temples and centers that
have been built."
•
•
RABBI ABBA HILLEL SILVER: "If I
had my way about it. I
would put a
stop to all new developments in the social programs of
Jewish communities until the problem
of
Jewish
education has been
adequately solved."
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