Tat )erRorr emit
111 ■ •• ■ 11111•M.01.
110LTROITJEWIS/10RONICLE
and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE
Published Weekly by Tim Jewish Chronicle PublIs►log De.,
ant. red no Second-el.. matter March I, Intl, at the Poet-
., at Detroit. Mich., under the Act of March S. 1179.
General Offices and Publication Building
525 Woodward Avenue
islastam.:
Cadillac 1040 Cable Addrossi Chronicle
London Officc
14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England
Sub icription, in Advance
$3.00 Per Year
To imam publication, all correspondence and news matter
mast reach this ottice by Tuesday •reninn
each week.
whoa Dialling notice.. kindly use one side of the paper only,
or
The Detroit Jewish Chronicle (n•ites correspondence on sob.
Peets of intermt to the Jewish people, but disolalme responsi-
bility for an ladonemeet of the views expreseed by the writers
Sabbath Readings of the Torah.
P nitateucha I portion—Lev. 1:1-5:26; Deut. 25:
17-19.
Prophetical portion—I Sam. 15:2-34.
Fast of Esther Reading of the law, Monday,
March 21.
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 32:11-14; 34:1-10; Ex.
17:8
Prophetical portion—Is. 55:6-56:8.
Ma rah 18, 1932
11 Adar 10, 5692
Hitler Hangs on Purim.
Purim is perhaps the most colorful day
on the Jewish calendar. There isn't an-
other festival which Jews celebrate with
so much hilarity, joy and genuine happi-
ness. So joyous is this feast day, that the
Talmud has declared that "all the books of
the Bible will one day cease, save only the
Torah and the Megillah," and in Jewish ec-
clesiastical law the principle has been adop-
ted that "the reading of the Megillah is
more important than the study of the
Torah."
The reasons for such preference given
to Purim are to be found, of course, in the
"Book of Esther" and in the fascinating
tales which accompanied the triumphs of
Mordecai and Esther and the defeat of
Haman. And because in every generation
there has arisen a new Haman—either in
the form of a Torquemada or a Pobedon-
ostzev or a Chmielnicki or a Cuza or a Hit-
ler—and because we have survived them
all, we rejoice all the more on Purim in
commemoration of our spiritual triumphs
over a crude and cruel civilization.
This Purim we add another notch to our
triumphs and we place another Haman on
the scaffold on which have literally hanged
the enemies of Israel. This time it is
Hitler who hangs on the eve of Purim, and
if the results of the Sunday elections in
Germany are an indication, we may truly say
that another Haman has met defeat at the
literal hands of historic justice.
It is natural, too, because of the joyous-
ness of the occasion, that all the ingenious-
ness of our people should have been placed
at the disposal of those who invented means
for celebrating the day of Purim. When-
ever there are Jews, there are festivities.
But what are said to be the most interest-
ing of all celebrations is the Purim carnival
in the all-Jewish city of Tel Aviv where,
our Jerusalem correspondent reports, near-
ly 60,000 people gather to witness the fes-
t tivities, thousands coming from other cities
to observe the festival in the city whose
population of 45,000 numbers only 100
Christians and 100 Muslims.
In the monthly Palestine letter released
to us by the Jerusalem office of the Keren
Kayemeth Lelsrael, Edward Gerson tells
an interesting story of the new name given
the Purim carnival in Tel Aviv, under the
sponsorship of Haoel, the threatrical studio
of the labor organization; Aggadati and
Menorah. States our correspondent:
But Haohel, Aggadati and Menorah pale
into insignificance - when compared with the
grand Tel Aviv Carnival. At this point I must
make a break in my narrative in order to tell
you that there will be no carnival this year and
no carnival in the future. The carnival is dead
and in its stead comes Adiliada. It was felt that
the Hebrew word carnaval or the English word
carnival did not truly represent the Purim fes-
tival arranged by Tel Aviv. Scholars were
asked to find some word in Hebrew which would
happily express the Tel Aviv carnival. No less
than 200 words were submitted and finally Adi-
liada was adopted.
An ingenious word this—which sounds well
and has a deep meaning, not obvious on the sur-
face. It was written in olden times: "Let a Man
be so jolly on Purim that he know not (ad-dilo-
-s yeda) the difference between blessed Mordecai
and cursed Haman." Say the words Addilo-
yd. quickly and you will get Adiliada. Rather
like Maccabeada, which is taking place in Tel
Aviv at Purim time.
Seldom does one hear as fascinating a
story of a holiday celebration anywhere.
In the synagogue and on the street, so our
correspondent informs us, professionals
juin with workers in making Adiliada the
great event of the year in the Jewish home-
land. And about the Jerusalem celebra-
tion this correspondent also has an interest-
ing report to make when he states:
As I have already said, the real Purim finds
its best expression in Tel Aviv, but that does
not mean that the Holy City does not celebrate.
On Shushan Purim, when Jerusalem makes
merry, you will see people walking about the
streets of the venerable city dressed as Sheikhs
of the desert or as noble Beduin. Young girls
can be seen masquerading as rabbis and staid
matrons are dressed up to represent Queen Es-
ther or even Vashti.
There is a large Persian community in Jeru-
salem and these dark Jews with their bright eyes
find Purim a holiday dear to their hearts. Are
they not the genuine descendants of 'Mordecai?
They go in for wild festivity and the silent city
awakens into life when midnight of Shushan
Perim arrives.
To know Palestine's Purim it is not enough to
read about it. You must come to Palestine and
take part in it;
RONICIA
_______
The New Jewish Children's Home.
The Jewish Children's Home, at Burlin-
game and Petoskey avenues, is not only the
finest public building in the local Jewish
community, but is without doubt one of the
finest homes of its kind in the land. Those
who had a share in its construction have
reason to be proud of it. They have pro-
vided for the boys and girls all the modern
conveniences of a home and are offering
them educational and recreational facilities
that are seldom excelled.
Such a home deserves the support of an
interested community. Whether or not the
community is really interested in the home
will best be judged on Sunday, March 27,
when the building is officially to be dedi-
cated. Certainly the occasion is deserving
of an overflow audience that should offer
evidence of sincere devotion to a cause
which many devotees have presented as an
ideal of major importance before the con-
struction of the present building.
The dedication of the new home is an
occasion for taking stock of the achieve-
ments in the new Jewish Children's Home.
We believe that when a complete reckon-
ing is made the community will know how
to honor the efforts of the officers, particu-
larly Samuel B. Kahn and Herman Cohen,
president and vice-president, respectively,
and of the superintendent, Dr. Otto A.
Hirsch.
Shalach Monos for Purim.
One of the most beautiful of Jewish cus-
toms in the present season of the year is
that of Shalach Monos, the exchange of
gifts on Purim. This custom, practiced for
centuries, has cemented friendships and
has added beauty to a joyous feast day.
Now comes a variation in this practice.
Communally-minded educators are utiliz-
ing the Shalach Monos practice to instill a
habit in Jewish children to contribute to
worthy causes and to be concerned over the
needs of their fellow humans.
Bernard Isaacs, superintendent of the
United Hebrew Schools of Detroit, is cre-
ating a worthy and highly commendable
precedent by encouraging the boys and
girls in the schools under his supervision to
give Shalach Monos to important institu-
tions. Such a practice not only encourages
the youth to be concerned over the needs
of the community, and not to grow up in a
spirit of selfishness; it attaches a spirit of
importance to the holiday which would
otherwise be lacking, It is the institution
of such customs, which intimately cement
the -United Hebrew Schools with the rest of
the community, that place the Talmud Tor-
ahs at the head of Jewish educational ef-
forts, and Mr. Isaacs has earned for it the
gratitude of the community and of the par-
ents whose children are thus inspired with
a devotion to the Kehillah at large.
The Council's Convention.
A distinct honor is being bestowed upon
the Detroit Jewish community by the con-
vening here, for a week's period, of the Na-
tional Council of Jewish Women. It is a
mark of distinction that this community
should have been chosen to act as host for
the fortieth anniversary conference of the
important national Jewish body, and the
Detroit section is to be commended to the
effort it has exerted to provide for the com-
fort and entertainment of the host of visit-
ing delegates.
It would be superfluous on our part at this
time to enumerate the points in the pro-
gram of the Council of Jewish Women. Its
educational efforts, the aid given the immi-
grant, its co-operation in movements for
peace and various other aims have enlisted
in its ranks the leading women in practi-
cally every community in the land.
The present triennial convention meets
during very trying times for the world at
large, and especially for the Jewish people.
There is need for a re-evaluation of the cul-
tural and economic needs of our people.
Colonization of Jews from lands of oppres-
sion on more friendly soil looms as an im-
portant problem. There is need for a more
intense Jewish educational program. Other
problems arise. How will Jewish woman-
hood treat these problems? To know the
answer to this question we shall watch the
deliberations at the Council's convention
sessions, as we know all American Jewry
will watch them, with keen interest.
We join in welcoming to this city the
National Council of Jewish Women. We
trust that its deliberations here will con-
tribute great good to the entire Jewish peo-
ple and will aid in relieving the economic
and spiritual distress which has darkened
the Jewish horizon. We hope, at the same
time, that the Council's convention may
leave an idelible mark of inspiration upon
the entire local Jewish community, and
especially upon the Detroit section of the
National Council of Jewish Women, that it
may enlarge its Jewish program and that it
may in the future exert a greater influence
upon the community's life and effort.
Faddists, Birds and Humans.
The great have not been exempted from
the harvests reaped by the depression.
Word comes from London that Lord Roth-
schild has been compelled by circumstances
to sell his cherished collection of birds to
the Natural Museum of New York for £100,
000, and that this money will be used by
him to maintain the remainder of his col-
lection of mammals, butterflies and insects.
The birds and insects are at least a bit more
fortunate than humans in that such "sacri-
fices" will be made to guarantee their ,
maintenance by the "faddists" who posers
them. But there are, unfortunately, too
few faddists to aim at the alleviation of
Thus Palestine interprets a chapter in
Jewish history. Thus Palestine makes
merry and demonstrates to its brethern
throughout the world that it knows how to
laugh and how to be happy. Thus a new
Jewish life makes the holiday more festive.
And in such an atmosphere the Hamans
and Hitters of all history appear more ri-
diculous than ever and most sadly defeated. all human want.
Purim In Tel Aviv
By MOLLIE R. GOLOMB
ICopyright, 1932, Jewinh Tel. graphic Agency, Inc.)
Tel Aviv is the place to go
for Purim, and everyone in Pal-
estine who can possibly make
himself free for the occasion,
shows that he knows it by going
there.
For weeks before the holiday,
Tel Aviv is Purimdig. One
wonders where all the stores
with "costumes for hire" come
from Every other shop dis-
plays face masks and fancy
paper hats. Colorful posters an-
nounce each coming Neshef, the
name applied to every type of
party, entertainment or dance,
and they are imposing in num-
ber. There are three balls each
of the three nights of the Purim
celebration, not to mention the
endless number of smaller en-
tertainments and private house
parties. The last days before
Purim are abuzz with excite-
ment. The stores are kept
open late. The streets bustle
with people discussing and buy-
ing costumes. Corners bristle
with cartoons of Haman. Chil-
dren in costume play in the
streets, for since the schools are
closed for the festival, the class-
room "parties" are held a day
or two before, and the young-
sters, who have donned their
costumes for the occasion, keep
them on after the party, as in-
deed they do largely for the
next three days. Excitement is
in the air.
Gradually, Jerusalem is filter-
ing into Tel Aviv. One meets
all one's friends, in the thick of
the crowds. All of Jewish
Haifa seems to have come down,
too; and of course the chalut-
zim and chalutzoth from the
neighboring colonies.
Our Film Folk
By HELEN ZIGMOND
HOLLYWOOD, Calif.—At the
studios, regular parking spaces
labeled with the persons' names
are reserved for the cars of the
big-wigs. One day a certain Jew-
ish director drove up majestically,
only to find his space occupied by
a small car ... he wasn't pleased.
When the guilty one, a little
"extra" girl, was found, he de-
manded to know what she meant
by parking in his space. "Well, I
saw the preview of your picture
last night," she said, "and I didn't
think you were here any more!"
crowd—you will see absolutely
no roughness or rowdyism—
and when one of the numbers in
the program is in progress, you
can hear a pin drop. Here you
will see a dramatization of the
story of Esther, in full costume,
presented by one of the profes-
sional troupes, the "Ohel" per-
haps; you will hear a trained
chorus, a brass band, a favorite
comedian; and you will see elab-
orate fireworks set off from the
top of the Opera House. Be-
Patsy Ruth Miller is in New
tween numbers, in spite of lack
of room, little groups in the York, but illness prevents her ful-
audience will start the "Ilorah;" filling her personal-appearance
others will take it up; and soon bookings.
• • •
you will see a whole section of
And William Fox, erstwhile of
the crowd bobbing up and down
as they sing and dance. Per- Fox Films, is again nibbling at
haps you will begin to insinuate Hollywood's edge .. Ile arrived in
yourself out of the mob. You his private car the other morning,
will find that the edges of the but swished northyard again be-
square seem just as full as the fore you could say "Sol Wurtzel."
middle. And if, after your (Wurtzel, may I explain, was
strenuous evening, you are opti- Fox's former associate and still a
mistic enough to hope to obtain nabob at the Fox studio.)
• • •
a vacant table and chair, you
You haven't forgotten Harry
will find yourself wandering
from restaurant to restaurant Rabwin from Detroit? He, too,
and from cafe to cafe—every- has his finger in the picture pie
thing is packed—and if you do ... he's the attorney for a foreign
finally come upon a free table film producing company which
and sing gratefully into a chair, makes Italian and French pictures.
• • •
you will probably discover that
Then there's Abe Simon, the
there is no milk left for your
lawyer, who has a financial inter-
coffee!"
eat in "Lucky Day," local musical
THOSE DANCES!
show.
When you have refreshed
• • •
yourself somewhat, you will
"Girl Crazy" is out ... at last
want to get into the streets
again and become part of the • . . half the first version had to
gay, happy crowds. Everywhere be done over, the retakes alone
is singing and dancing: the costing $200,000. It's a good pic-
"Ilorah," the "Polka," the "Tel ture, but Mitzi Green is the best
Avivia." Even a few of the part of it. That child has a
her take-
Arabs, whom cusiosity and the talent, what I mean
excitement have brought into offs of Bing Crosby, Marlene Diet-
THE JOYOUS MASS
rich, Roscoe Ates and Edna May
the
all-Jewish
city,
catch
the
If one attends the reading of
spirit, and you may see a Oliver brought down the house.
the Megillah at one of the syna-
Herman Mankiewicz adapted
couple of them, with waving
gogues, he is likely to miss the
handkerchiefs, executing an the story to the screen. George
official opening of the Purim
(Rahpsody
in Blue) Gershwin
Arabian dance right on Allen-
carnival by the mayor. It does
by! At Allenby and Nachlet wrote the music.
• • •
not matter specially, however,
Benjamin a brass band is per-
for in that case he will rush ex-
Once you get "filmitis," there's
forming. On the aide streets, practically no
citedly forth, making for the
cure. Raymond
impromptu
parades of boys and
beach, weaving his way through
girls, of young men and young Keane (the name was Kortz, if
the massed, slowly moving
our
memory
serves),
leading man
women, arms interlocked, march
crowds, and bursts full upon the
up and down, singing spiritedly. in "The Midnight Sun" and oth-
torchlight procession on one of
A generous sprinkling of mas- ers a few years ago, tried going
the side streets. There he sees
quers lends color and fun to back to the jewelry business, but
Ahasuerus's court, with a van-
the gay thousands. And if, tired —no likee—he has returned to
guard on foot, a few courtiers
with the strain and the multi- flicker-land, and is in the cast of
on donkeys, and by far the
"Vanishing Men," a Tom Tyler
tude of new impressions, you western.
greater number on camels, all
reluctantly leave the streets at
• • •
bearing flaming torches, all in
2 o'clock in the morning, you
colorful costumes of red and
The Joseph Schenck yacht
will leave the gaiety at Its
gold and purple that gleam and
anchored
the
other day, and the
height, with all the fun just as
shine in the fitful light. Small
enthusiastic and fresh as it was Doug Fairbanks picture unit had
matter that the costumes are
arrived
in
Papeete,
Tahiti. The
at 6 o'clock in the evening.
merely strips of colored paper
picture is to be a modern Robin-
You will want to attend at son Crusoe story of the South Seas
imaginatively sewn together.
least one big "Neshef"—they —to be called "Tropical Knight"
The procession, with flowing
are all masque balls—perhaps — not a travelogue..
head-dresses, on lolloping cam-
els, as it winds slowly down, the one in Mugrabi Hall. When
I was there, the storm had
Bialik street, for instance, .by
Maybe you don't stop 'to worry
blown off part of the roof, so the about how the stars keep their
the light of the flickering
upper
ballroom was a huge youth or where they acquire those
torched, must be a fabled cara-
pond, entirely unavailable for classic profiles, but Dr. Josif Gins-
van lifted bodily out of Arabian
dancing. Consequently, the burg, famous plastic aurgeon,
Nights, or indeed the veritable
lower floor and stage were realizes the importance of too
court of the great Ahasuerus
crowded past belief. It was - gay `much or loo little nose.
himself. After following them
enough. Everyone was in cos-
Dr. Ginsburg came direct from
for a while, one 'permits him-
tume; two bands kept up a con- Austria to Hollywood eight years
self the luxury of standing still
tinuous flow of dance music. It age and has operated on many fa-
and watching them disappear
was far too jammed to make mous people, Bebe Daniels, Kay
the torches are mere gleams in
dancing, in its ordinary sense, Johnson, Paul Lukas, Georges Car-
the night, and one remains be-
possible,
so one just permitted
pentier, Elinor (Three Weeks)
hind in the weird moonlight; for
oneself to be pushed along more Glyn, Noel Francis and Vivienne
in Tel Aviv, on moonlit nights,
or
less
in
time with the music, Segal are only a few of them.
there are practically no electric
and then spent a hilarious half- And when you marvel at the youth
lights. Then one surges on with
hour trying to locate one's and beauty of some who have been
the crowd toward Allenby ave-
friends. The "Ohel" company stars for a good many years, just
nue.
interspersed the evening with remember, "A stitch in time saves
Allenby and Nachlat Benja-
clever little sketches and songs. nine"—or ten years,
min are ablaze with lights—
And you were free to leave
Forty-second street and Broad-
whenever you had had enough
Just between ourselves, the
way transplanted to Tel Aviv.
—at 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 o'clock in genuine caption of Mervyn LeRoy,
People crowd the sidewalks and
the morning.
whirlwind director, is—Levi.
the driveways; traffic, vehicular
His next picture will be "Cen-
as well as pedestrian, is im- THE BIG PARADE
Of course you will witness the tral Park." And, by the way, did
peded. Before you know it, you
parade
on
the
last
afternoon
of
you know that Mervyn was a child
are in the huge square in front
the carnival. House-tops and prodigy as an actor years ago?
of Mugrabi Hall, the opera
• • •
balconies will be full along
house, and as the evening
Allenby avenue; but the num-
Sergei M. Eisenstein, Russian
wears on you are sucked deep-
bers
gathered
there
will
scarcely
film director, who has been in
er and deeper into the dense
square. An open-air perform- _seed to relieve the crowds in Mexico for more than a year, was
the streets. And although the refused re-entrance into the U. S.
ance is taking place on the
parade may not prove tremen- He has made a picture dealing
steps of the opera house. It is
a remarkably well behaved
(Turn to Next Page).
(Turn to Next Page.)
RANDOM THOUGHTS
FORD'S CAMERON
by Charles
H. Joseph
opinion seemed to be that the bur- gather with the MIDDLE CLASS
den of responsibility rests upon WELL-TO-DO SNOB who are the
the majority religion, Protestant- worst offenders. Just check this
ism. The Protestants who are in up and you'll see that it's true.
the large majority are the ones
—4—
who should take the initiative, be- DISCRIMINATING JEWS
cause it is hardly likely that the
Someone
writes
to suggest that
Catholic and Jewish minorities can •
certain large soft drink corpora-
make much headway. To say that
tion
discriminates
against
Jewish
the Jew is aloof is ridiculous in
the extreme. The Jew is forced agents; that is, it will not give
agencies
knowingly
to
Jews.
It
to huddle by himself because he
finds the door closed to him by his so happens that there are, or at
Protestant neighbors. That's the least a few years ago there were
reason why he has to have his own to my personal knowledge, Jews
that organization holding rather
business men's clubs, his own in
important positions. However, I
lunch clubs, why he is restricted
am
not mentioning the name of
in the choice of living conditions,
why he has to be careful where he the corporation in question be-
cause
even denial of such accusa-
travels in order to assure himself
and his family hotel accommoda- tion brings publicity, and possibly
unjust
publicity. I am well aware
tions, and so on and no forth. But
to me the interesting part of the of the fact that there are certain
types
of
corporations that do not
whole business is that it is the
middle class and the upper social employ Jews in key positions. We
set who are the worst offenders. find this among outstanding manu-
You won't find prejudice so much facturing industries; it may be
among the INTELLECTUALS in doe to the fact that the Jews have
all walks of life; it is the MON- not developed, possibly because of
MACHINE-MADE MAN
EYED MAN in BUSINESS and lack of opportunity, to become
The machine age has made ma- BANKING and INDUSTRY to- technically adequate for top posi-
tions. I am not familiar with the
chinery of some men. Share with
situation sufficiently to speak au-
your starving neighbor seems to
thoritatively on the subject, but I
be the rule of the day. And one
My Zionist Credo
have always had the impression
would imagine that a human be-
that
the leading railroads of the
ing possessed of untold millions of
By PIERRE VAN PAASSEN
countries do not seem to have Jew-
dollars might forget his efficiency
ish executives I have never no-
long enough to reach into his vast
To those of us among the Goy- ticed Jewish names among the
financial resources and give gen-
erously to the starving. But we im who have taken the Zionist leaders of our great steel indus-
have evidence that some of the ideal to our hearts, for the reas- tries (not smaller independent
richest men in the world living in son that therein we think we companies). Oh, I have seen Jews
this country have contributed a have recognized and seized upon listed as directors or fiscal agents,
pitifully meager part of their one of the moral world-factors but I ant speaking of operating
wealth to the worst economic dis- that k to play a role in our own heads Perhaps we have not de-
tress ever experienced in this vision of a better humanity, the , veloped along those lines. It is
Jewish national movement , true that Radio Corporation has
country.
throughout the world and the Sarnoff, but his is an exceptional
THE GOOD-WILL RALLY
transformation of Palestine into case. In the automobile industry
That was quite an interesting
a National Home for the Jewish I find no Jews, with possibly one
Good Will gathering in Washing- people, teems at all times of exception, who has achieved any
ton when leaders of all faiths tried vaster import and significance kind of a position as an operating
to develop some workable plan of than most movements that ■
are head. Jewish agents there are,
eliminating intolerance and hatred current in the world of thought plenty of them, but in the manu-
along all the good church people. and action.
facturing end of the industry they
of the country. The consensus of I
teem to be off the map.
In an account of the riot in
front of the Ford factory the
other day I notice that William J.
Cameron was the spokesman who
gave out the Ford statement. I
imagine that he is the Cameron
of the infamous Dearborn Inde-
pendent fame; the famous Old
Sleuth who had every garbage
barrel in the country turned over
in the hope of finding something
that might be used against the
Jew. I am not surprised that Ford
is keeping him on his payroll; he
did a dirty job for him and while
it landed Ford in a libel suit and
almost in the witness chair, yet it
was a good job. And I suppose
that the greatest apostle of the
recent machine age admired Cam-
eron's efficiency. But so far as
the general public is concerned
what Ford has to say might be re-
ceived with greater respect than
delivered through such a discred-
ited mouthpiece as William J.
Cameron.
By-the-Way
■
MMIPINgian
_
Tidbits and News
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
(Copyright, 1932. Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Dear Ed:
You want to know what's the inside stuff in New York? Well,
right now—as this is being written—there isn't much inside stuff.
The topic of chatter in New York right now is probably the same as
out there in Keokuk—namely, the Lindbergh baby. The first ques-
tion that's popped at you as you enter any Jewish organization now
is: What does the latest extra say about Lindbergh's baby? Just
a while ago, I said there was no inside stuff. Well, I withdraw that.
There's a hit of inside stuff connecting Lindbergh's baby with the"
Jewish world that will probably never see print—except in these
columns—a story how Lindbergh's baby helped to make Jewish his-
tory. That's inside stuff, and I don't know whether I have the right
to print it, but my brakes are off right now and so here goes.
My story goes back to the year 1927. The New Palestine, Zionist
organ, at that time entered into a contract with a non-Jewish agency
for the selling of advertising space in the Zionist organ. About a
month later, the business manager of that periodical wrote the adver-
tising agency that the contract was off. The advertising agency com-
menced suit for $80,000. The case went to court and the judge
threw it out. The advertising agency appealed the judgment, and the
higher court reversed the inferior court and ordered a retrial, with
the result that the Zionist organization lost and a judgment of $22,000
was awarded to the advertising agency.
Well, you know, Ed, the Zionist organization had been owing
something like $150,000, but arrangements had been made for the
installment paying off of this debt. But when this new judgment
of $22,000 against the organization came, there was weeping and
wailing and gnashing of teeth. That had to he paid at once, or a
sheriff would come in and the Zionist organization would be declared
bankrupt.
Getting $22,000 in a few days' notice in these days is quite a
difficult thing, Ed. And the worst part about it was that the lawyers
for the advertising agency knew that they held the whip hand over
the organization, for they knew that the Zionist organization could
not dare face the moral effect of bankruptcy proceedings.
Yet, Ed, let me tell you, that there were plenty of people who
advised that the organization bury its pride and let the sheriff come in.
A meeting was held—and this is where Lindbergh's baby helped
to make Jewish history.
The meeting, Ed, began something like a wake. Not one of those
Italian wakes, where everybody drinks beer and enjoys himself while
he mourns, but one of those honest-to-goodness wakes where every-
body wears a long face, and feels longer than he looks.
Here was $22,000 that had to be raised before you could bat your
eye—or bang would go the sheriff's hammer.
Well, a number of speakers got up, and said bankruptcy wouldn't
do—it wouldn't do at all. Among them ware Rothenberg, Delius,.
Wise, etc. They joined in asking what would the world say—what
would the Arabs say—what would the British government say, if it
were announced that the American Zionist Organization, richest and
strongest of all Zionist organizations, went into the hands of a
receiver. They would say that the Jews of the world were not behind
Zionism, or that, if they were, they weren't worth much considering,
for here the richest of them couldn't face a debt of $22,000.
Well, here Abe Goldberg rose. Goldberg possesses at least one
faculty which every one must concede. Ile has the faculty of pre-
senting something abstract in some small homely way that instantly
reflects the whole thing. It was Goldberg who brought out this
Lindbergh's baby business. Suppose the kidnapers, said Goldberg,
would ask of Lindy $50,000? Would he not give it? Suppose
they asked $100,000—would he not give it? In the final analysis, said
Goldberg, Lindbergh, if there were no other alternative, would strip
himself of his last cent to get his child back.
"Well," said Goldberg, "Zionism is our 'Lindbergh's baby.' This
money has got to be raised—wherefrom we don't know, but there
can be no talk of bankruptcy or talk of failure to get the money."
That simile caught fire, and soon all the other speakers were
referring to the trouble as Lindy's baby.
Well, Ed, a small crowd was there, among them few really rich
men. Most of them have more than you and I—but no big pluto-
crats among them. Yet there was Szold—for instance—not a rich
man, who gave a thousand on the spot. Wise contributed $500, Judge
Mack gave $250, Rocker and Tulin gave $500 each. Well, in a few
minutes, they had something like $6,500 and the promise of other
support.
Of course, Ed, I am not saying that if Abe Goldberg had not
sprung that Lindbergh's baby story, this happy ending would not
have come about anyway, but it helped, Ed, and I figure that Lind-
bergh's baby ought to have a place in Jewish history.
Marvelous, Ed, how one episode can so focus the mind of the
world. There are, I am told, something like 700 kidnapings a year.
All together, they never attracted one fraction of the attention that
this one kidnapping has stirred. Of course, part of it—perchance even
the greatest part—is due to the prominence of Lindbergh. But I feel
that much of it is due to the fact that mankind cannot grasp of evil
in bulk. It must have one little episode—one little incident.
Here, for instance, Ed, this week, there died Briand, the French
statesman, and his career recalls a similar episode in which he figured
—the Dreyfus case. Think of all the attention that case attracted.
Besides Briand, there were Clemenceau, Jaures, Anatole France. I
do not say that the Dreyfus case made all of these, but it helped a
powerful lot in bringing all of these figures to the public eye.
Not only did that one single case help make all of these French-
men, but look what it did to the Jews. Did anything do more to start
Zionism than the Dreyfus case? It was the Dreyfus case which, you
recall, turned Theodor Herzl into that agitation of mind which led
him to write "Die Juden Staat."
And if you want further evidence of the power of one little epi-
sode—think of little Eva. Here was an episode which was purely
fictional, and yet, do you know any one of a half-dozen things com-
bined which did more to cause the Civil War than Ilarriet Beecher
Stowe's story?
Otherwise, there isn't so much. Oh, yes, met the other day that
mathematical wunderkind, Dr. Finkelstein, who has come from Ger-
many to exhibit himself before the leading universities. They say
that while working in the Polish government bureaus, his mind was so
apt at figures that he alone could replace some several dozen tabulat-
ing machines. Professor Einstein, I am told, after noting the quick-
ness of Finkelstein's mind, remarked that Finkelstein was but a fore-
runner of what all humanity would be a thousand years hence. In
other words, we shall ultimately perhaps become superior to the effi-
ciency of our machines.
Speaking of Justice Holmes' birthday anniversary, a new biog-
raphy just issued of him tells a good story about Holmes and Brandeis.
Once, it appears, Brandeis, moved by social injustice, urged Holmes.
who was about to go.on his vacation, to read up on social statistics.
"All right," said Holmes, "you pick out the right books and send
them to me." In due time a box arrived at the resort at which Holmes
was stopping. Holmes looked at the studies of the textile industry,
the eight-hour day, minimum wages, employers liability and similar
topics for a moment. Then he turned to a servant. "Just nail it up
and send it back to Brandeis," he said.
Speaking about books, in our two thousand years of wandering
since the destruction of Jerusalem—even going farther back—since
the days when your ancestors and mine were in the brick manufactur-
ing business in Egypt, do you ever remember when there were as
many books published about Jews. "Jews in Love," 'Jews Without
Money," "Jews on Approval,"—and now Louis Golding has one about
Jews and goyim. All of the dirty linen, too, is being washed right in
the open, so that goyim may see.
I see where Fanny Hurst says that every one has some great book
within him, but unfortunately it does not get printed, perhaps for-
tunately. Imagine what it would be if every one actually published
a book. Job was more sensible than Fanny. He said "Oh that my
adversary would write I book." He would leave publishing entirely
in the hands of his enemies. I think he was more right than Fanny.
With beat regards and hoping that little Lindy will be back in his
mother's arms before this reaches you.
D. S.
SYLVIA SIDNEY
A New Jewish Star Upon the Horizon.
By HILDA KASSELL
(Cnprright, 1982, Jewich Telegraphic AM.).
A five-foot bundle of exquisite
simplicity, Sylvia Sidney typifies
the modern Jewish beauty—slight
of figure, with undulating curves,
jet-black hair, violet-blue eyes,
luminous with intelligence—she
epitomizes that which is repre-
sentative of the modern Jewish
girl—beauty with brains.
Five—six years ago she was
gallavanting with the children in
the Theater Guild school. Now,
hardly out of her teens, she occu-
pies dressing room No. 1 at Para-
mount Studios, previously tenant-
ed by such stars as Clara Bow and
Gloria Swanson.
It was to replace Clara Bow in
"City Streets" that gavo Sylvia
Sidney her first big chance in the
cinema. The rest—"Confessions
of a Co-Ed," "An American Trag-
edy," "Ladies of the Big House"
—is movie history.
tar.)
Born in a Bronx flat in New York
she will even point it out to you
the very house, if you are inter
ested. Her father, Dr. Sigmund
Sidney, a New York dentist, Ls of
Rumanian stock, and her mother,
of Russian descent, is considered
the youngest-looking mother in
Hollywood.
To the parents of Sylvia Sidney
goes all the credit for intelligent
application in edueating and the
bringing up of their talented
daughter. A student at the Ethi-
cal Culture School, she tired of it
d left it atthe age of 12 to
study i the school
1By the time she was 15 years of
age, at a performance of "Pro-
nella" given by the Theater Guild
School, other children's doting
parents and fond relatives grudg-
ingly conceded that the honors for
the performance must go to Pro-
nella—identitied on the program
Born in Bronx Flat.
Not for all the pseudo-glamor as someone named Sylvia Sidney.
Her Career on Stags.
of publicity possibilities will Syl-
Since then she has appeared on
via Sidney budge one inch from
the
legitimate
stage in such di-
the true history of her early life.
It is her story and she sticks to it.
(Torn to Next Page).