PiBgeritonjaisnetRONICLE
and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE
TROIT JEWRY'S RESPONSIBILITY
THE
fore unaffected persons;
that a copy of this resolu-
tion be sent to Mr. Weis-
We make this statement in order to emphasize gal and communicated to
that this is not a private commercial enterprise , th at the press."
which is the central agency for the gathering
of funds for Palestine's reconstruction and for
the settlement of refugees in Palestine.
"Romance of a People" Challenges Detroit Jewry To Make
of the Local Performances of the Pageant Out-
standing Moral and Financial Successes.
An Editorial. •
it is a matter demanding the concern of the American I It is clear that the respon-
URING THE PAST YEAR, an unusual spec
ee l
sibility now lies with the De-
tale captured the imagination of Jews and Jewish comm unity; that in addition to its great
cational
value
it
is
an
important
fund-raising
enter-
troit Jewish community to
non-Jews in Chicago, New York, Philadel
phia and Cleveland, with the result that it is brough t prise for one of the most pressing appeals made to make a success of this im-
in many years.
for presentation in Detroit, at the Olympia, beginning Jews Furthermore,
"The Romance of a People" is I Portant project.
with Monday evening, April 16.
in Detroit by the Jewish Welfare Federa- In order to assist in assur-
"The Romance of a People" is without question sponsored
ton and by more than a hundred responsible and ling the success of this enter-
one of the most unusual productions.
honored movements. It is, therefore, a solemn com-
The letters reproduced on this page speak for munal obligation to make the spectacle a great prise, THE DETROIT JEW- 1
ISH CHRONICLE makes this
themselves. Outstanding Jews and non-Jews, leaders
appeal to Detroit Jewry not
in their respective fields, hail this great artistic pa- triumph.
At the meeting of the board of directors of the to fail in the present hour.
geant as a most unusual production.
American Palestine Campaign, held two weeks ago,
One of the letters is from Roland S. Morris, for-
"The Romance of a Peo-(
resolution was adopted:
mer United States Ambassador to Japan, president of the following
"Resolved, that the meeting has received
pie" is an important project
the Philosophical Society of America, president of
with great satisfaction the report of Price,
for an important American
the Wilson Foundation and a leader of unquestioned
Waterhouse and Company, and notes with
Jewish cause.
ability. Mr. Morris was the chairman of the Phila-
pleasure the successful termination of the pro-
delphia pageant committee.
duction of 'The Romance of a People,' in New
The letter from Bishop Francis M. Taitt also
York City; that it heartily congratulates Meyer
speaks for itself.
W. Weisgal on his successful efforts which re-
Dr. Cyrus Adler, great Jewish scholar, president
sulted not only in a substantial sum of money
of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America,
for American Palestine Campaign, but an
president of the American Jewish Committee, presi-
equal sum of money going to the organizations
dent of Dropsie College, seldom exaggerates. His
affiliated with the other Zionist groups, not to
letter is a great tribute to Meyer W. Weisgal, general
speak of the moral and spiritual effect of the
director of the pageant, and his fellow associates in
performances upon large numbers of hereto-
the presentation of this spectac le.
John C. Martin, presiden t and publisher of the
Itiortst # VenitoIlvania
Public Ledger of Philadelphia, under whose sponsor-
hip the spectacle was shown in that city, not only
i pays great tribute to the pageant's producers, but has
p.nnounced that next Sunday, six weeks after the
ms.aa xbutuntil At.
staging of the "Romance" in Philadelphia, his paper
will print a ' 16-page rotogravure section containing
the pageant's photographs as a permanent memento ths Will If of. %song s
rbilttbitiphia
of the remarkable artistic interpretation of Jewish
March fourteenth
3 4
9
1
history.
Similarly, the letter from Rabbi Harry S. Davido-
Mr. Meyer W. - Weisgal,
The Romance of a People,
witz of Cleveland speaks in glowing terms of the spec-
Cleveland, Ohio.
tacle which Detroit will be privileged to see next
Dear Sir:
iveek.
But these are far from being the most impor-
I want to toll you what a pleasure it was for me
tant recommendations for the pageant.
to have the privilege of being present on two occasions
PHILADELPHIA
!larch 13, 1934
Dear Mr. Weisgal:
I hear that you have gone to Cleveland and are
preparing to present there the "Romance of a People". I want to
*mm
IT MUST
SUCCEED
■
t
Aside from the fact that the spectacle in
' itself is such a remarkable artistic triumph, it
must be emphasized that the original purpose
which motivated the sponsors of the pageant
was the raising of funds for the settlement of
German-Jewish refugees in Palestine.
From the proceeds of the performances in
Chicago and New York alone, $100,000 was
remitted for the Weizmann Refugee Relief
Fund, and an additional $50,000 was earned
by Zionist groups in these two cities, this addi-
, 1 tional fund also being used for the upbuilding
I of Palestine and therefore for the relief of the
( German refugees. These twd sums do not
include an additional sum of $150,000 real-
ized in Chicago and New York, from the pa-
geant, for local philanthropic causes.
. This, briefly, is the story which should move
eery Detroiter, Jew or non-Jew—but particularly
eery Jew—to exert every effort to guarantee the suc-
cess of this great spectacle.
I. During the week that remains before the initial
pefformance of "The Romance of a People" in
De. troit, much can be done by every Jewish organiza-
' ton, and - by every individual, to make the importance
of this cause known in this community.
say to you in writing, what I expressed to you personally, that I
extremely worth-
think you and your associates have done something
while from the eduoational point of view, and I also believe that
it has resulted in bringing the picture of some of the important
episodes in Jewish history to the attention
the Museum, or at least deal with it as though it were of a people
that have passi and have left no survival. I hope you will have
better weather in Cleveland and the other cities to which you are
in Philadelphia, where you found, I believe, the
going than you had
circumstances the atten-
worst weather of the season, and under tte
dance was really remarkable.
I also think you did something of importance to
the young people who took part in this performance. They gave theft
services as a labor of love but I believe many of them will carry
it along as an experience in their lives and that it will deepen
their Jewish consciousness.
Believe me, with best wishes for the future
success of the pageant,
Very sincerely yours,
Mr. Meyer weisgal
YIAA1 1\14(
Terminal Tower Building- Suite 511
CTRUS
ADLER
Cleveland, Ohio
They seem to have boon a people marked out for
suffering, and yet they have always come out victorious.
The present persecution in Germany is singularly unjust.
Because of the blood that flows in one's veins and entirely
irrespective of the blessings these people have brought to
the nation they are being expatriated and cruelly treated.
I trust that soon those troubles will be over and that tie
spirit of justice and gentleness will prevail.
a.
The pageant itself was extremely impressive. I enjoyed
its second production even more than the first. I am sure
no one can see it without experiencing pleasure and deep
appreciation for the beautiful pageant itself and also have
a higher regard for these people who have been such a bless-
ing to mankind.
Sincerely yours,
1 1A
Bishop of Ponnsylv 4ania
"The Romance of a People" is the prop-
erty of the American Palestine Campaign,
PUBLIC Ogleto LEDGER
RABBI HARRY S. DAVIDOWITZ
MORNING
IIVMDAY
EVENING
CLEVELAND. OHIO
INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
Jolts C. MARTIN
'.`.arch 19, 19:4.
AND !REWIRE II
PHILADELPHIA
TEIAMEt•
larch 5, 1934
orricul or
ota.
PHJLADELPWA
Ct.I.Cew , m
C &&&&& C. • .1, ■ ••
•.••• ■ .ows.s
5 !Larch 1934
Mr. Meyer W. Weisgal, General Director
The Romance of a People
656 Ledger Building
Philadelphia
MY dear Yr. Weisgal:
I am so sorry I could not be with you at
the closing performance on Saturday and I have just learned
from my secretary, Miss Jones, that you are leaving the city
this evening. I cannot let this occasion pass without
telling you how much I have enjoyed my association with you
and your staff during the preparation and presentation of
duction itself far surpassed my expectation when I first
consented to act as Ohairman of the Philadelphia Advisory
.
olifel asgPa e l fiple"
er
eY man
"TieMRo
lir
Philadelphia.
My dear Ur. ITeisp..1:
I
S AW
DUANC.MORRIB & HECKSCHER
The Romance of a People here in Philadelphia. The pro-
CURLER A.TYLER
Ur. L:eyer 7leisgal, Director,
'The Romance of a People",
Terminal Toner,
Cleveland, Ohio.
of a very large number
of people who are used to relegate the Bible or Jewish history to
of tho presentation of"The Romance of a People". My
interest in the Jewish people has always been intense.
I feel that the Christian world owes so much to them in
that in the olden times they carried the knowledge of the
true God through idolatrous nations into the present time.
FPT/FEG
DROPSIE COLLEGE
FOR HEBREW AND COGNATE LEARNING
Permit me to express to you ray sincerest per-
sonal gratification at havin„- witnessed the
performance of "The Romance of a People". To
tell you that I have beer. touched and t':_rilled
might only be revealing a personal reaction of
no moment to anyone but myself. I have however,
been interested in learning the reactions of
many people in the con-aunity and I therefore
have no hesitation in saying to you that among
a11 the efforts that are put forward nowadays
to insure Good will and co-operation between
Jews and Gentiles in this country, the contirroed
presentation. of "The Romance of a People" is
bound to be by far the most effective in its
results. The thousands of young pen anl women
who participated actively in the nroduction, in
the praying, and tiedancing, will
the sinin „
be the best leaven for spiritual fellows:ip in
far-reaching and I am only sorry that the extraordinary
Dear Yr. Weisgal:
weather conditions made It so difficult for our suburban
I wish to thank you for your letter of March 3rd,
and I really feel you are giving us a great deal more
credit than we deserve.
population to get to the city during most of the nights
Now that the last performance of "The Romance of
a People" has been given in Philadelphia I want to
tell you how happy we are in having bad the opportunity
to sponsor it.
the splendid audiences and their enthusiasm. I think
While, because of the unusually bad weather, it
was not the financial success it should have been, I
feel that, from an artistic and educational standpoint,
this pageant more than met our expectations.
America.
U7 hope therefore is that you will find your way
marvelous spectacle in every
clear to present this
important city in the Union. If somehow, you e_uld
such
evolve the idea of making the presentation of bi-
ratter of annual or
a spectacle a permanent
really
believe
you
will
have
annual occurrence. I
succeeded in maldng a lastin,; contribution to the
of American liberalim and Jewish self-res-
CMSAR
pect.
Very cordially yews.
4,0
Committee. Its influence in this community has been
-5-
64A4
May I say that never before in my experience have
we cooperated in any undertaking that when it was all
over we had not one single misunderstanding of any kind,
and I wish to take this opportunity of thanking
you and
with which you ap-
your staff for the absolute fairness
proached every question that arose.
great pleasure to us to have been
It has been a
associated with you in this project, and I wish you all
success in your future presentations.
Tours sincerely,
that it was here. Nonetheless I congratulate you on
that our non-Jewish population enjoyed the pageant just
as much as the Jewish people themselves and I know that
it has given to many of us trained in Christian tradition
or
a wider and finer outlook on the history and struggles
Israel.
I do hope you will have every success in future
presentations.
With kindest personal regards,
very sincerely yours,
/Ida.
This Space Contributed by The Detroit Jewish Chronici
Towards the Success of the "Romance of a People."