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Sabbath Readings of the Torah.
Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 21:1.24:23.
Prophetical portion—Ezekiel 44:15-31.

A May 1, 1931

Zionism is the sufferer.
The American Zionist situation ought to
serve as a warning to the world Zionist
leaders to beware of changes and not to be
in too great haste to effect a change in
leadership. Dr. Weizmann's stewardship
cannot be replaced so easily, and in a criti-
cal situation like the present he ought to
be persuaded to remain in office. His se-
verest critics, the Revisionists, have so dis-
credited themselves by their tactless ac-
tion, that they have almost lost the right to
criticize. And the devoted and tried ele-
ments of the other parties owe it to the
movement to strengthen the leadership,
rather than to run the risk of greater crises
by changing the personnel now at the helm.

lyar 14, 5691

Rabbi Ashinsky Leaves Detroit.

Lag b'Omer andJewish Book Week.

In this country, in spite of the views of a
few leaders that anti-Semitism has de-
On the eve of the forthcoming World clined, there are recurring symptoms of
Zionist Congress, in Basle, Switzerland, in Jew-hatred. Not the least of these is to be
June, Zionist circles are in a quandary as found in recently published books which
to the possible successor of Dr. Chaim did not try to veil their hatred of Jews.
Weizmann to the presidency of the World
A typical instance of how shallow and
Zionist Organization. Dr. Weizmann has ineffective is the so-called effort to create
repeatedly stated, since his resignation good will between Jews and Christians is
which followed the issuance of the Pass- to be found in the following press notice
field White Paper, that he will not be a released by McBride's, publishers of
candidate for re-election. His Revisionist ‘Valsh's "Isabella of Spain." Announcing
and other opponents are centering all their "new honors" for this book, the publishers
attacks upon him, and even in circles and state:
parties that are friendly to I)r. Weizmann
Cardinal Ilayes's literature committee in-
there is serious discussion about a possible
cludes in its semi-annual list of recommended
successor.
books "Isabella of Spain, The Last Crusader,"
by , William Thomas Walsh. Of this McBride
These are such serious and critical times,
biography
gone
that whatever changes may be made in
aphy
a s kale10%7,
gl:'iritccui;r for
r
o'
to
personnel of any movement ought to be
speak with critical restraint, so thankful are
we that such a book is the work of an Ameri-
considered seriously and with extreme cau-
can Catholic."
tion. Aside from the fact that it is almost
impossible at this time to point to a success-
Our readers will recall the analyses of
or to Dr. Weizrnann who will be able to this book which appeared in these columns
fill his place, a change in the office of the and in a special review by I)r. David deSola
world Zionist presidency is fraught with Pool. It was effectively proven that the
grave danger. We have had a taste of the volume is a misrepresentation of facts and
change in leadership in the American Zion- is a vicious effort to justify the Inquisition
ist Organization. For years Mr. Louis Lip- and even, even if in a veiled manner, to
sky and his associates were subjected to approve of the ritual murder lie.
the severest criticisms, and the opposing,
When a powerful church finds it within
so-called Brandeis, group, finally emerged its conscience to approve and to endorse
victorious. And what is the result? The such a work, it is a sad commentary on the
deficit remains, the new administration not efforts to erase bigotry from the minds and
only has not increased popalar confidence, hearts of men, and to establish good will on
but has lost whatever prestige was built by earth. Evidently the age of the brother.
the Lipsky group. Inaction, inactivity, hood of men has not yet arrived.

Beware of Change.

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Tidbits and News of

ish Personalities.

Jew-

s.v.ch1. ti'-1,z

LONGWORTH AND DYKKAR

The Jew who, perhaps, came
most in contact of late with the
late Speaker Longworth was .Moses
Dykkar, the sculptor. Dykkar
had just completed a bust of Long-
worth, which is now on exhibit at
the new National Museum in
Washington.
"People ask me," Dykkar said
to me, "what did you we in Long-
worth that you were so anxious to
make his bust. Let me say that I
loved Longworth. Ile had many
very lovable traits. I cannot do a
good piece of work unless I love
my subject, and the Longworth
but is, it will be conceded, a good
piece of work." Once while sitting
for him, Longworth was appal ,
ently somewhat upset.
"What is the trouble?" asked
Dykkar.
"Oh, I made a very bad speech
last night."
"Well," mused Dykkar, "one
thing I can say, I never made a
bad speech."
"Well, I never made a bad
bust," replied Longworth.

9

1 3 0

IS AMERICAN JEWRY
BECOMING "DECLASSED"?

Charles If. Joseph

W

By DAVID SCHWARTZ

,rig.rzleinas ;v."

ELL. I see that my friendly enemy. N. E. B.

Ezra, editor of the Shanghai IChina 1 Messen-
ger, is again paying me the high compliment of
abusing me. But he is in deadly earnest and I

think tIr_t he is really grieved that American Jewry
can be in such a deplorable state as to permit a
writer like myself to take a place in Jewish jour-
nalism. I know of no one who so fanatically cham-

pions the cause of Zionism and who is genuinely

-5

A Generation That Is Forgetting Flow to Smile Should
Begin to Think of the Insecurity of the Youth.

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

A generation is forgetting to
smile. Suddenly jerked from the
highest rung of the economic lad
der, it is presenting a sorry spec-
tacle of a frantic people. How
will this affect the youth?

position was at best specultit
because he failed to get a foot, .
in manufacture and stable indus
try, has ben overlooked .

For the Poor Children.
Examples can be multiplied
The American Jew is, of course,
many times, and they all point t.,
affected in the same manner as the
because he began to see some hope for me. Ile
the same results. In the case of
non-Jew. In this country, as else-
thought I was really showing some sense because of
the youth, there certainly ha.
where, the old dictum is true that
a rather friendly comment I had made on the book
been criminal negligence. Only
"wie es judelt sich, so christelt
in the case of the under-privi-
"The Great Betrayal." But in the April issue he
rich." But in more than one sense
' leged and the problem child wa‘
the Jew suffers much more be-
took back all the nice things he said about me. Yet
any sort of guidance exercised in
cause of his peculiar position as
he hasn't given up hope that I may reform because
directing the attention of youth to
the middle-man.
he closes his article with these words: "We shall
productive pursuits. Otherwise
If the present depression is an
we have bee,' woefully lacking in
continue to resist Charles II. Joseph and expose
indication that the economic order
vocdtional guidance bureaus and
his silly tricks. until we succeed in defeating him
is collapsing., it is particularly true
schools. And failure to advise the
of that portion of the system with
and making him a good Yehoodi and more amen-
youth to turn to productive trade-
which the Jews have alligned
able to reason." Now you can't hate a man like
rather than to speculate and to
themselves. The middle class is
enter fields and professions for
that. I can't; in fact, I like him. And I hope that
being wiped out. Big business is
which they are either unsuited or
he will have success in making me more amenable
doing it, and is making a quick
which are overcrowdeed may some
to reason.
job of it.
day be labeled the most serious
Real estate speculation, too, has
blunder of this generation, and
READER living iin Winnipeg, Manitoba, sends
received an awful wallop. It is
will certainly be listed as a devia-
much safer now to pay rent than
me a copy of an answer he wrote to the edi-
tion from Jewish traditions which,
WHEN ALICE POSED
to collect it.
according to the Mishna, com-
tor of the Commonweal to a statement made in
Dykkar also made a bust of Mrs.
mands: "And thou wouldst choose
And the professions are over-
Random Thoughts by the Christian Science Pub-
Longworth, which also is at the
life means—choose a trade."
crowded. Particularly those which
lication Committee. It seems a round about pro-
new National Museum. Ile is not
To quote from a statement of
have attracted Jews are so cramped
proud of that bust, however.
cedure. Space and other reasons prevent me from
the late Dr. Solomon Schechter,
for breathing space that entrance
'I-
Somehow, he does not believe he
prophetically made in 1893:
publishing his reply. But since he seems to have a
in them is not only difficult for
caught the spirit of Alice Roose-
'The kingdom of God—the rab.
young aspirants, but it is becom-
grievance
against
Christian
Science
and
wants
an
velt in that bust. Dykkar is a
15
bin held—is inconsistent with •
ing more and more difficult for
opportunity to relieve his feelings I quote a few
great admirer of Alice. "She is
those already possessing their de-
state of social misery. They were
full of thoughts, impulses—a chip
sentences in his letter to me:
grees to earn a livelihood that is
not satisfied with feeding the
of the old Teddy—somehow, I did
poor. Their great ideal was not to
expected from professional prac-
I am Jewish and happen to experience the
not get that into my marble, which
allow a man to be poor, not to al-
tice. Everyone knows how crowd-
shows that even genius is not in-
"bliss" of Christian Science. The prayer you
low him to come down into the
ed the medical and legal profes-
fallible."
-5
depths of poverty. They say, 'Try
hear is a silent, mental talking, arguing and
sions are. The teaching profes-
sion,
to
which
our
girls
are
aspir-
to
prevent it by teaching him a
reasoning
to
oneself.
The
difference
between
ADMITS HE IS GENIUS
ing,
is
similarly
affected.
Unem-
trade. Try all methods before you
a hypnotist and a Christian Scientist is that the
Dykkar readily admits that he
ployment has already reaped a rich
permit him to become an object
- J
is a genius. The truth is, I be-
latter uses pious verses and "holy" gestures.
harvest in the ranks of our girls
of charity, which most degrade
lieve, that painters and sculptors,
... Many Jews are in and cannot get out ...
him, tender its your dealings with
who possess teachers' certificates.
as a class, generally are very sub-
him may be.'"
Whither Comes Security?
their position is pitiable.
r).
ject to make this admission. I
Add to these facts the tragic
To the credit of the late Dr. Jo-
don't know what it is, but every
Well I, for one, am not going to worry about the
truth that Jews in this country
seph Krauskopf be it said that he
one who can draw a landscape, no
have become estranged front
had greater vision than most men
Jews who are "in." They can get out if they
that you can use it is not a figure
trades, in their quest for busi-
of his generation. The National
want to. While I can't agree with Christian Sci-
in geometry, immediately assumes
nesses and professions, and there
Farm School in Pennsylvania, hi:
a sanctified and superior-to-thou
ence I must say in all fairness that the Jews I know
is every evidence pointing to the
great creation, was a step in the
air.
who are Scientists seem to be quite comfortable
declassification of American Jew-
right direction. SintiLarly, the He-
.)
And some of those who have ac-
ry. There scents to be a repeti-
about it.
brew Technical Institute of New
quired some actual distinction are
tion of economic history in the
York was a laudable effort. The
insufferable. Perhaps the most
HE Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity is again receiving decline of the present order, and latter came nearest to the realiza-
intolerant egotist that I ever met
there is also a tragic parallelism in
tion of the Mishnaic ethical rule
ballots from editors in the Jewish field for the
was the late Joseph l'ennell, the
that of American Jewry with Euro-
that "work is greater than yichus
etcher.
recipient of the annual Gottheil Medal awarded
pean Israel.
(good parentage);" or the saying
Of course, in the case of Dyk-
Perhaps tragedy can yet be
by the fraternity to the American who has ren-
of Rabbi Yehudah, also of the
kar there is unquestionably real
averted. That is why every Jew
Talmudic period. that "one who
dered the most distinguished service to Jewish life
genius. His marble figures seem
who is concerned with the posi-
does not teach his child the art of
during the past year. Rabbi Stephen Wise was the
as though in any moment, like a
tion of the youth must begin to
work, teaches hint the art of rob-
golem, they will walk off their
first winner; then came Aaron Sapiro, David Brown,
think in economic terms, and he
bery." How true and applicable
pedestals and take you by the
Julius Rosenwald and Felix Warburg. Who will be
must think fast. It is inevitable,
this is to those Jewish communities
hand. And Dykkar, too, besides
unless
something
very
radical
hap-
which
have in the past decade suf.
the 1931 winner?
I have cast my ballot. but I
his genius, has some common
pens, that the position of the youth
fered from the spread of the gang
fear that the name I sent in will not be duplicated
sense, which redeems any possibil-
spirit among young Jews!
should be much more insecure in
by enough of the others to put my choice over. I
ity of his going too egocentric.
years to come if Jewry is to re-
It will be of interest, in this
: 5
am sure that several ballots will be required but
tain its present economic stand-
connection, to quote from the re-
GIBBONS ON INFALLIBILITY
the choice will settle on a worthy Jew. Only when
port on the work of the Hebrew
you are given the responsibility of such selection do
Talking about the infallibility of
ards,
lies
relief,
and
whither
Technical
Institute
made
in
1889
you begin to find out the amazingly large number
genies, I am reminded of ant anec-
is to come security? These are
by Dr. Ilenry M. Leipziger, then
of Jewish leaders in this country who are con-
dote that they used to tell about
the two most pressing questions
director of instruction. Said Dr.
stantly contributing to the enrichment of Jewish
the late Cardinal Gibbons and the
of the hour, and unless their seri-
Leipziger, speaking of the work of
life. The award will be made on May 9. It might
infallibility of the Pope.
the pupils:
ousness is recognized we are sorry
be
mentioned
in
passing
that
the
Gottheil
Medal
is
Gibbons had been in Rome, see-
for the next generation. It is
"They have learned to like tools
.1,
given in honor of Prof. Richard Gottheil, of Colum-
ing the Pope, and when he re-
quite possible that if the Jewish
and to want to be machinists, or
bia University.
turned someone asked him if he
electricians, or carpenters, and
leadership in this country during
believed in the infallibility of the
HERE are many reasons why men leave the the past two generations had been when they enter their fields they
Pope.
just a bit wiser our economic posi-
will become skilled mechanics.
church. Here is one of them. It comes to me
"Well," smiled Gibbons, "he
'Ttt.
tion might even now be more se-
They have the foundation laid
(the Pope) pronounced my name
by way of "Liberty: A Magazine of Religious
stout and deep; the foundations of
cure than it is, if life at all offers
Freedom." It is quoting a speech made at a
Jibbins" (with a soft G).
intelligence and skill, for they
any security. And perhaps the
Southern Methodist Conference by a man named
failure of our leaders to direct
know the principles not of one
THE SLOGAN OF GOMPERS
Cooper, a lawyer-preacher or a preacher-lawyer:
Jewish economic attentions away
trade but the principles that un-
One of Dykkar's best pieces of
derlie many trades. First we get
from the speculative or to guide
America's business is running every day and
mock is his bust of Gompers. Gom-
the youth away from certain pro-
the boys to love work and want
Pers was a great personality, says
Sunday, too, as if there were no God and no
• ■ ••
fessions, is due to their having
work, then find out for what work
Dykker. Often as the labor leader
Sabbath Day. This is horrible to contemplate.
been over-occupied with affairs of
they are best fitted, and then assist
sat posing, he would expound his
pogrom and war-sufferers.
them in that at which they will do
To me our war with Germany was not as bad
views.
The Fly in the Leadership Oint•
best. Intelligence and skill are
as this war of our commerce on the holy Sab-
Once Gompers gave this suc-
both needed, one as well as the
men'.
cinct statement of his political
bath. We lost over 30 billions of dollars and
Nevertheless, a close scrutiny of
other.
We have here the brain
alma for labor:
a quarter of a million lives in the war with
and the hand. We teach here that
conditions of the past 40 years will
"I want bread and butter for
it is as honorable to be a greasy
reveal that we have had flies which
Germany;
but
thin
is
nothing
compared
to
the
the workingman and an hour to
mechanic as the cleanly bookkeep-
have spoiled our Jewish leadership
billions we are losing and will lose and the
think. "
er; that the field of industry offers
ointment. The deadliest fly of all
That would be enough, he
millions of souls that are being polluted by
was the one which caused all Jew-
as broad and broader opportuni-
bought. Ile laid great stress on
this satanic Sabbath breaking, that is poison-
ish efforts in this country for many
ties than those of commerce, that
hat hour to think. Gompers felt
t p rrith e u lu t c ,(1 ,, io: n is as honorable as dis-
ing and destroying our property and our liber-
years to be conducted on the basis
once that was secured—labor
of
philanthropy.
To
prove
this,
all
ties. I don't wonder that billions of dollars
would of itself get the other
that one needs do is to point to
Here is a great and worthy sen-
dornmenta of life.
have been lately lost in railroad stocks and
the present economic position of
timent which has, unfortunately,
"Bread and butter and an hour
bonds. God being true, every Sabbath-break-
t:f
the American Jew who emerged
not been practiced. And even in
think!" That's worth remem-
ing railroad will ultimately bring ruin to its
from the needle trade to enter the
the instance above quoted, the
ering.
school was founded in a spirit of
real estate business, and whose
owners, operators and patrons.
paiilanthropy, for the early children
young people flocked to two or
SILENT CAL
There you have what some misguided fanatics
whose work was spoken of in such
three professions. Our leaders
Gompers was an ideal subject in
call religion.
glowing terms were orphans whose
were too busy with charity to think
a way for Dykkar'a art, for Com-
of the practical and of economic
problem forced the hands of the
pens was ever active. The sculp-
guidance.
VVIIILE on the subject it might he pertinent to
leaders of that time. Had the
tor, it appears, prefers the sub-
remark that the common sense of the nation
In proportion to our numbers
principle which is embodied in the
ect to do something while he is
is beginning to assert itself in the rising tide of
above quotation been followed
and position in this country, the
posing.
opposition
to
the
fanatiical
Blue
Jews
are
perhaps
the
most
inse-
generally,
and applied to all Jew-
TAWS
Dykkar had great difficulty in
that make
law-breakers, sneaks and criminals of the finest and
cure group in America. Take the
ish boys and girls; and had our
making President Coolidge do any-
highest
type
of
citizens.
Whenever
bigotry
rides
leaders
taken
seriously the prob-
automobile
industry.
Jews
have
thing. Sometimes, Coolidge would
lem of vocational guidance, many
it is sure to become a menace. And despite the
grown with Detroit, the home of
tell a joke. in his cold, grim Yan-
of our present problems might
efforts
of
reactionary
clergymen
out
of
harmony
the
automobile.
Yet
there
is
not
kee way, but he was at his best
have been avoided,
with the liberal and progressive spirit of the age,
a single Jew in the automobile
when he wiggled his ears. Dyk-
isc
the Blue Laws are one by one being relegated to
manufacturing field. And a sur-
How to Solve Problem.
kar says that Coolidge is a wow
oblivion. It was by only the narrowest margin
vey will reveal that this is true of
It being too late to correct the
,S;
at wiggling his ears. Coolidge is
that
an
amendment
to
these
obsolete
laws
was
lost
practically every field, except real
damage done by the fly in the
so good at that he could easily
in the Pennsylvania legislature. It's unfortunate
estate, banking and the stock mar-
leadership ointment, it is now: for
earn his living in a sideshow by
-3,
that these worthy churchmen cannot see the hand-
ket—all of which are speculative.
the new leadership which, hap-
that trick.
Why was not the Jewish effort
writing on the wall and instead of sensibly sup-
pily, is working in a spirit of so.
But generally Coolidge sat as
porting
a
modification
in
keeping
with
the
times,
cial
service
rather
in this country guided, as it should
silent as the Sphinx. Once Sena-
than philan-
h
i
will, by reason of their unreasoning and unreason-
thropy, to try as best it can to
have
been? Perhaps the answer
tor Spencer was around as Cool-
able opposition, be the cause of these laws being
lies in the similar failure to direct
work in the right direction. How,
idge was posing. The senator said:
repealed.
then, is the problem to he solved?
Jews away from the large cities of
"Isn't it wonderful after these
•
the East to the South and West.
many years that the Jews are get.
The writer humbly offers a few
s
EVERY once in a while I notice in a Jewish
Jews crowded into the big cities
tine bark their old homeland?"
uggestions which he believes will,
'1 4 7
n n om
thice m
paper, occasionally in the daily press an adver-
eyai i n, correct a serious eco-
and have been credited with hav-
But Coolidge sat silent—only
tisement signed by well-known citizens making a
ing been important factors in the
that and nothing more.
In
plea for good-will. Every gesture in the direction
economic growth of these cities.
the first place, Jews must
EUGENE V. DEBS
of promoting a better understanding among re-
But the fact that the Jew's own
•S,
Dykkar is not a Socialist, yet he
(Turn to Next Page.)
ligious groups is worth-while. But unfortunately
these fine statements that face us so boldly in the
is perhaps proudest of all of his
;15
busts of Eugene Debt.
newspaper seem for some reason or other never to
t,7
move off the printed page far enough to affect
Once, someone who didn't like
our attitude in life. In some respects this
Socialism saw his bust of Debs
and became incensed.
reminds of our peace propaganda. We hold meet-
"I deny that Debs was so beau-
ings, issue statements, sing hymns and all the rest
of it, yet if tomorrow morning through the most
tiful a soul as you have sculp-
Robert Kohn, noted New York architect, has been re-elected presi-
trivial circumstances of injured dignity or hurt
tured."
dent of the American Institute of Architects for 1931-32. Mr.
Kohn
Dykkar felt very pleased. When
vanity the whole country could be aroused within
is president of the Society for Ethical Culture and is a past president
24 hours to a war pitch; and all the fine speeches
this bust had made the anti-Social-
of the the
New York Building Congress. He is the architect who de-
signed
about peace and all the peace teachings would go
ist rage—that was perhaps the
beautiful Temple Emanu-El on Fifth avenue, New York.
•
•
by the board. Take even such a small matter as
•
highest compliment he could re-
General Smedley Butler's criticism of Mussolini. A
ceive.
The red-headed Mme. Magda Lupescu, the Jewish paramour of King
war could start from such a piece of nonsense as
Carol of Rumania, is once more in the limelight as a result of the new
STEFFENS TELLS
that. And once in war, everybody would probably
political developments in Rumania. Mme. Lupescu, for whom
In the incipiency of my news- forget why it started. And every pulpit in the
Carol renounced his right of succession to the throne in 1925 and King
with
pa per work, my ideal and idol was country would thunder forth the necessity for en- whom he lived in exile
he was recalled by his people last year,
L incoln Steffens. It is pleasant to listing and fighting for the honor of our nation! is now living in the royal until
palace at Bucharest, and is reported to be
find after reading his just pub-
Yes, friends, that's the way it works out in real
playing an important, albeit quiet, role in the affairs of state.
lished autobiography that one
life. It doesn't take long to get the mob spirit in
feels that the admiration and per-
Vicki Baum, authoress of "Grand Hotel," the
action and when that starts to get under way
h i a a p csed early adoration was not mis-
p
reason is put out of business. So sometimes I
hit of
the current New York theatrical season, and a record-breaking
‘'iennese novelist
think it takes more advertising of the sort I have
of
Jewish
is now in New York preparing to assist in the work of
making origin,
a
Steffens exposed crime—he was
mentioned to "get over" good-will. Imagine, if
talking picture of her successful play.
the muckraker par excellence, and
you please, the irony of the necessity for advertis-
ing in order to influence religious people not to
Governor Julius Meier of Portland, Ore., has accepted membership
(Turn to Next Page.)
hate each other.
on the national council of the American
Jewish
mittee.
Joint Distribution Com-

The news that Rabbi Aaron M. Ashinsky
Lag b'Omer, the festival that occurs be-
is to leave this city and that he is to return tween Passover and Shevuoth, and which is
to Pittsburgh must have been shocking to to be celebrated next Tuesday, May 5, has
.:11 the Orthodox community. But the Ortho- a double significance. It commemorates
.t dox group is not alone in its regrets. The the unsuccessful struggle of the Jews who
1 14 Conservative and the Reform eelments, the
sought to gain independence from Rome,
-ys'e, Zionists and other groups in the city, will under the leadership of Bar Kochba and
feel Rabbi Ashinsky's departure as a great Rabbi Akiba, and it marked the end of a
loss.
plague that raged among the students and
Since his return to Detroit five years ago, disciples of Rabbi Akiba. For the latter
Rabbi Ashinsky was not only the spokes- reason, the festival is also known as the
man for Orthodoxy at important commun- "Scholars Festival."
al functions, but he was the intermediary
The celebrations of the festival are
between the Orthodox and other elements. marked by many interesting ceremonies.
Possessing as excellent a command of the The Jews in Palestine, particularly those in
English as he did of the Yiddish language, Safed, observe the tradition of visiting, on
Rabbi Ashinsky earned the respect, admir- this day, the tomb of Rabbi Simon near the
ation and love of every group, and he was village of Meron. Merrymaking and the
found to be an invaluable element in the removal of the restrictive laws in force
most important Detroit Jewish undertak- during the period of the counting of the
ings.
"omer" distinguish the festival and permit
Detroit's loss is Pittsburgh's gain. We its transformation into a joyous national
extend our sincere wishes to Rabbi Ashin- occasion.
sky and his family that they may find hap-
In the American Jewish community, the
piness in their return to the city which was occasion of the "Scholars' Festival" has
their home before they came to Detroit.
been utilized for the observance of Jewish
Book Week, this year to be celebrated
Plant a Tree on Mother's Day.
from May 3 to 9. It is a significant week
To the Jewish National Fund, the land- on the literary calendar, and although,
redeeming agency of the Zionist movement, strictly speaking, it is merely a superficial
goes the credit for doing the most impor- stimulant for arousing an interest in books
tant individual piece of work in the effort and in Jewish learning, it should be en-
for the upbuilding of the Jewish National couraged in the hope of re-creating the
Home. This fund builds the foundation traditional Jewish love for knowledge and
by first making the soil of Palestine Jewish, learning.
There is no denying the fact that inter-
and then paves the way for the great his-
toric effort to rehabilitate the devastated est in cultural matters has declined among
Holy Land and to restore to the Jew the our people. The materialistic age has
right to an honorable economic, cultural swayed our people into the ranks of the
worshippers of Mammon. Many, it is true,
and social existence.
Of particular interest, however, are the have, as a result of the economic depress-
romantic methods pursued by this fund as ion, awakened to realize the folly of their
the means for carrying into effect its plat- ways, but by far too many remain outside
form. Besides redeeming the soil of Pal- the pale of the realm of learning. Jewish
estine to become the inalienable property Book Week is one of the instruments that
of the entire Jewish people, the Jewish Na- are being called into play to revive inter-
tion Fund sponsored irrigation projects, the est in knowledge and learning through
books,
clearing of swamps and their transforma-
Fathered by Rabbi E. Felix Mendelsohn
tion into veritable garden spots, and the re-
of Chicago, and annually encouraged by
forrestation of the Holy Land,
Palestine, once rich in forests, has be- the Bloch Publishing Co. of New York, the
come a barren land as a result of Moslem Jewish Book Week is gaining in popular-
misrule of centuries. To make it blossom ity. It is to be encouraged for whatever
again, to preserve the moisture, to improve good it may bring the Jewish community
the climate, the fund aims to give forests to culturally. More than that, however, it
the land. The practical foundation for such should be utilized by Jews to encourage
aims has been laid with the planting of Jewish writers, to buy their books, to stim-
close to a million trees on Jewish-owned ulate the sale of books by distributing ap-
land. Now the custom of planting trees in propriate volumes, of which there are leg-
ion, to Jewish institutions, to the children,
Palestine has become a tradition.
In Detroit, through the efforts of the to friends. In this way an immeasurable
tree committee of the Jewish National amount of good can be done for Jewish
scholars and scholarship.
Fund, headed by Mrs. Eli Sachse, tree-
planting is becoming a very popular prac-
tice on the occasion of Mother's Day. It is
A Symptom of Bias.
a beautiful as well as constructive way of
Increased outbursts of anti-Semitic feel- a
both honoring the mothers, on the occasion ings are direct results of the economic cris-
of the newest of American holidays, and at is which has affected the entire world. In b
the same time aiding in the work for the re- Germany, Rumania, Hungary, Poland, Rus-
forrestation of Palestine. This tree-plant- sia, almost everywhere in Europe, the Jew
ing
deserves to be commended and is made the target for the anti-Semites' can-
encouraged.
nons.

custom

BY

distressed when some one opposes it. In the March
issue of his magazine he wrote in a friendly mood

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