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December 17, 1937 - Image 4

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Publication:
The Detroit Jewish Chronicle and the Legal Chronicle, 1937-12-17

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PEDETROrFAItISII efRONICLE

December 17, 1937

and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

FIEVEFROITAWISR ORM

and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

ga ► liehed Weekly by Tim Jawie ► Chrsakle PuielishiRs Ce,

Mitered u Secend•elaer tastier March g U14, at the Net-
office •e.Detrolt• Mich, ender the Ast of Moult 8, UM

General Offices and Publication Building
525 Woodward Avenue

Psdeohoom

Cadillac 1040 Cable Address' Chronicle

Lead. 0111cel

14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England

Subscription, in Advance...- ........ __...$3.00 Per Year

To Inure publication, all correspondence and now. matter
west reach this ofece by Tuesdne evening of nob week.
When mailing notice., kindly one one We of the paper oats.

rm.

Detroit Jewish Chronicle hullo, eorreepondwus is seise
wets of interest to the Jewish people. bet disdains, responele
Mitt, for ea Indorsement of the •Iewe expressed by the writers

Sabbath Scriptural Portions

Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 47:28-50:26.
Prophetical portion—I Kings 2:1-12.

December 17, 1937

Teber 13, 5698

Sen. Vandenberg Hits Nazism

Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg's state-
ment to The Detroit Jewish Chronicle on
his attitude toward Nazism and Fascism
leaves no doubt as to his views on the as-
pirations of dictators. Michigan's senior
United States Senator is bluntly frank in
his declaration when he states: "I hate
Nazism and Fascism precisely as I hate
Communism." His concluding statement
indicates also that he takes the broad view
on the question of free speech and free
assembly when he declares: "There should
be fair play between antagonists in a de-
mocracy—no matter how violently they
disagree."
Senator Vandenberg has indeed re-
deemed himself as a believer In represen-
tative democracy." His declaration will
be applauded by all fair-minded Ameri-
cans.

Italian Fascists show their Colors

Those who doubted the possibility of the
rise of a violent anti-Semitic movement in
Italy must presently admit that they were
laboring under the illusion that there is a
difference between Nazism and Fascism.
In reality, the two reactionary causes are
synonymous in character. There are too
few Jews in Italy upon whom to force
restrictions parallel to those in force in
Germany. But even the 50,000 Jews in II
Duce's domains are now beginning to feel
the sting of oppression.
First came the attack on Zionism. Then,
most recently, came an order commanding
the Jewish press in Italy to publish only
such news from Nazi Germany as will be
passed by the Hitlerite censors. Last week
a report came from Cairo that the chief
rabbi of Italy, Dr. David Prato, is prepar-
ing to resign because of the growing anti-
Semitic agitation, and that he may again
negotiate for a return to his former posi-
tion as chief rabbi of Egypt.
This week occurred the most distressing
incident of all. It is reported from Rome
that a Jewish student named Levine was
shot and seriously wounded by a Fascist
colonel. The latter entered a cafe where
about 200 Jewish students at Pisa Univer-
sity from Poland, Rumania and Lithuania
were conversing in Yiddish. Levine re-
sented his remark "that's a dirty language
of Communism," whereupon the colonel
fired at him pointblank and without warn-
ing. A brawl ensued between Italian and
Jewish students—adding fuel to inter-ra-
cial fire—and anti-Semitism is apparently
assuming a Nazi character in Mussolini's
domain.
Mussolini will have much explaining to
do to disprove that Fascism is anti-Semitic.
In the meantime our people must realize
that Il Duce's front is also becoming a
danger-spot for Jews.

"Stunts" in Fund-Raising

‘.• MI

I

Youngstown, 0., refused to be back-
ward in its fund-raising activity, and its
leaders resorted to a "Stand-Up" strike in
extracting a shortage towards its goal in
a recent relief drive. It succeeded, and
that community is now an ingenious de-
signer of another stunt in campaigning.
Jewish donors are, after all, a devoted lot.
Surely, no one would dare walk out on
a "Stand-Up Strike" in the name of char-
ity. One may be spotted—and that is a
socially-dangerous business in a communi-
ty where the man put on the spot may
suffer ostracism at the hands of his neigh-
bors.
But "stunts" do not last forever. In De-
troit campaigners used to sing their way
to success. Campaign meetings used to
thrill at the sight of funeral marches mark-
ing the burial of defeatism and the de-
pression, tableaux depicting the "poor"
fellow who was to be helped with the
funds raised, cabaret shows staged in the
grandest style. But the glamor of such
"stunts" wears off, and sometimes leaves
a nauseating effect. Funds for worthy
causes must be raised purely on the merits
of the case pleaded for. To achieve this,
it is necessary that there be understand-
ing. To acquire understanding education,
among adults as well as youngsters, must
be made the primary objective of every
Jewish community.

Banning of Zola Film

First it was in France and in Quebec.
Now it is Hungary that is barring the
showing of "The Life of Zola," which stars
Paul Muni and depicts the life story of the
defender of Captain Alfred Dreyfus. Ac-
cording to the reported explanation, Hun-
gary's censors feared intensification of
anti-Jewish feeling if the film were shown.
There is still need for an Emile Zola
whom Anatole France called "a moment
of the conscience of mankind." We need
men and women to awaken mankind's
conscience and to reason with the unrea-
sonable people who make a vast prison of
the earth's expanse.

The Late Max Shulman

Chicago is not the only mourner in the
death of Max Shulman, pioneer Zionist.
The entire American Jewish community is
bereaved of an able and most.conscientious
guide and devotee to Jewish causes. The
avalanche of statements expressing sor-
row over his untimely death indicate how
varied his activities were. He was not
only an organizer of the Zionist movement
in Chicago and one of the leaders in the
cause of Palestine's reconstruction for 35
years. He was a dynamic force in his
city's educational and social service move-
ments and had taken an active part in the
work of the American Jewish Congress
for many years. He was a devoutly ortho-
dox and observing Jew, and his sincerity
gained for him innumerable friends, ad-
mirers and followers.
As the co-founder, together with Leon
Zolotkoff, Nathan Kaplan and several
others, of the midwestern Knights of Zion
movement, Mr. Shulman became the pion-
eer in a movement which was superseded
in importance only by the Zionist Organ-
ization of America with which it later
merged. Mr. Shulman is well known to
Detroiters with whom he has worked for
many years in midwestern activities. His
demise, at the early age of 52, is a shock
to his friends and co-workers and a great
loss to the Jewish community of America.

Ambassador Dodd's Resignation

Ambassador William E. Dodd's resigna-
tion comes as a grave disappointment to
those who have learned to admire him for
his frank and daring statements against
undemocratic rule. During his stay in Ger-
many he proved the most daring envoy of
any government in expressing the views of
spokesmen for democracy. It is natural,
therefore, that his resignation should be
greeted with satisfaction by the Nazis. The
belief that Ambassador Dodd's resignation
indicates a friendlier attitude on the part
of the United States government toward
Nazi-ruled Germany is, on the other hand,
a cause for grave anxiety and disappoint-
ment for the liberal forces. Mr. Dodd's
comment that in the past three years he
has met with discouragement in his work
in Berlin is another indication that not all
is smooth in the path of a liberal ambassa-
dor in Europe. It is to be hoped that Mr.
Dodd's successor, the Hon. Hugh Wilson,
will show an inclination to be as firm in
defending democratic principles as his pre-
decessor. There is need for strong-willed
ambassadors, and the attitudes of those
representing our government in fascist-
ruled countries are the best indications of
the way in which democracy makes itself
felt in the midst of hostile environments.

Fairness in Sports

From time to time the controversy that
raged last year over the holding of the
Olympic Games in Berlin is renewed and
those who choose to be friendly to the
Nazi ideology are especially eager on
every occasion to criticize those who advo-
cated the boycott movement with the
charge that they are unsportsmanlike and
that they inject politics in sports. The
controversy over A. A. U. membership in
the world Olympics body served primarily
to renew this controversy.
What are the actual facts? The truth is
that blame for injecting racial, religious
and political issues in sports circles lies
not with the anti-Nazis but with the rabid
adherents of the new German philosophy
which believes that the shape of the head
is the criterion for ability; that the church
one goes to or the grandmother one had
is the yardstick by which rules of accept-
ance into the sporting fraternity are to
be measured.
The current bulletin of the Maccabi
World Union carries an editorial under the
title "In All Fairness" in which the issue
is so clearly stated that it defies refutation.
The editorial reads:

It
fresh in our memory of how our
leading Maccabi swimming clubs in Czecho-
slovakia and our three Austrian champions were
suspended by their respective Federations, for
refusing to participat e in the Olympic Games
in Berlin. At that time, even Jewish opinion
was divided, as many had thought it better
to accept the official fake of pretending that
sport had nothing to do with politics, let
alone the Olympic Games.
The suspension of "Hegibor" Prague and
"Bar Kochba" Bratislawa, only lasted a few
weeks after the Olympic Games, se it was im-
posed merely as • disciplinary formality. The
ban was lifted by the almost unanimous vote
Of all Czechoslovakian swimming clubs at their
first annual meeting held after the Olympic
Games.
The three Austrian girl swimmers are still
suspended, although, Miss Judith Deutsch re-
ceived special permission to Participate in the
London Maccabi Swimming Gala by the Aus-
trian Tureen and Sportfront.
A few weeks ago, the Austrian half-miler
Kaiser (Hakoah) was selected for the Austrian
representative track and field team, to meet
Germany in Nuremberg. The team was wel-
comed there by Gauleiter Streicher, who de-
livered an address on the purity of race, in
consequence of which, the Austrian official
in charge of the team, nominated •
many seconds slower, instead of Kaiser.
This we is referred to here merely ■ s an
illustration. If Kaiser would have said as the
above-mentioned swimmers, that he thought it
undignified for • Jew to compete in • country
where Jews are unwelcome and discriminated
against; expelled from every sports club and
excluded from meeting non-Jewish sportsmen,
he would have been suspended. When he was
ready to represent his country, even on such
an occasion, he was not allowed to do so.

is still

Sports writers who go out of their way
to condone Nazism and are over-eager to
criticize those who insist upon forcing
Germany to adherence of the sacred Olym-
pic rules will do well to read this editorial
and to make an unbiased study of the ac-
tual facts. They will find that the inci-
dents quoted in the Maccabi World Un-
ion's statement can be multiplied a hun-
dred-fold. There is gross abuse of all just
and sportsmanlike rules by Nazis, and it
is high time that sportsmen in all demo-
cratic countries united in condemnation
of bigotry and prejudice when it interferes
with true sportsmanship.

Lights front
Sha ► owland

SHEER IGNORANCE

Strietly
Confidential

By LOUIS PEKARSKY

A Comment on Jews Who Would
Introduce Jesus to Synagogue

Tidbits from Everywhere

(Copyright. 11117. 8. A.

F. II

FILMLAND FACTS
Movie Actor J. Edward Brom-
berg came to Hollywood with a
very old hobby. For years, we are
told, he has been collecting unusual
shoes, slippers and sandals. Be-
sides, he collects phonograph rec-
ords of the world's best composi-
tions, for music bath its charms
for him. Girls, his great passion,
however. is chess.
Orchestra leader Phil Harris
is in Hermosillo, Mexico, at this
writing, to inspect his property in
the Sonora Hills to see if there is
any gold there . . . Harris is re-
ported to have purchased some
Mexican land recently for $500,
and heard that samples of ore
taken from the property indicate
a large gold deposit ... Anyway,
if Phil doesn't find the gold, he will
hunt.
The Los Angeles Chapter of
Mailamm, the American-Palestine
Music Association, has elected
Boris Morris, director of the music
department at Paramount Pic-
tures, honorary president, and
Composer Joseph Achron, honor-
ary vice-president.
Sally Filers will play the hero-
ine nurse in "A Nurse from
Brooklyn" when Universal makes
this screen play from a dramatic
magazine story Miss Eiler's
splendid work in a previous film,
"We Have Our Moments," won her
this coveted role.

Rabbi,

By SOLOMON GOLDMAN
Congregation Anshe Emet of Chicago

By

PH1NEAS J. BIRON

,(Copyright. 1537. 13. A. T. RI

BY SUBMARINE CABLE
Don't be surprised if Hitler
To mouth superficialities about Jesus in the
celebrates the advent of the new
presence of hundreds of Jews and Christians is year by announcing his engage-
not only to evince a lack of learning, but what ment to the daughter of a Ger-
is even worse, it is a want of delicacy and good man baron . Hitler's "experts"
taste. The historicity and ministry of Jesus, the on the Jewish question will find
themselves in a concentration
historic moment when Judaism and Christianity camp one of these days because of
parted roads, the social, political and religious con- their failure to inform the
ditions that brought about the cleavage between fuehrer that the dietary laws ob-
the religion of Jesus and Judaism are too compli- served in his personal kitchen are
cated and too delicate for irresponsible public akin to kashruth It is strictly
verboten to mix meat and milk
discussion. The whole matter demands painful dishes in preparing Adalf's food
and prolonged research, vast and laborious eru-
, Two of Hitler's most intimate
dition and an alert and vivid imagination. There associates are the Englishwomen
are scholars who are known to have toiled in the Unity Freeman-Mitford and Mrs.
Bryan Guinness, daughters of
field for more than half a century without un- Lord Redesdale . . . Both are
raveling a single nodal problem in the skein, of Streicher-like in their anti-Semi-
probabilities. It would take almost a full life- tism . , Their friendship with
time only to read the great Lives of Jesus. We 'litter has led to their enforced
resignation from the Council of
are not referring to the romances or semi-romantic Emergency Service, an organiza-
tales of the absurd and unscholarly Papini, or the tion which trains Englishwomen
superficial and vacuous account of Ludwig. We are for war-time services as officers
thinking of that endless aeries of Lives initiated in women's corps.
by Reimarus and continued to this day by the
Berlin is tickled pink over the
Loisys and Klausners. It is a literature which but resignation of United States Am-
few mortals can hope to master. He who is not bassador Dodd He was so
proficient in Hebrew, Syriac, Greek, Latin, in openly anti-Nazi in his views that
half a dozen European languages and in the maze the Nazi authorities regard his
of Rabbinic literature dare not attempt it. There resignation as a major diplomatic
are so many pitfalls, so many obscure corners triumph.
where only the profoundest scholarship, the min-
is being considered
utest research and the keenest historical insight in Sterilization
Berlin for the 300,000 half-Jews
can serve as guides.
who
are
not
accepted
by either
Two and a half centuries of relentless and
or non-Aryans.
"Friday Night Stories," a prodigious labor have achieved little that is posi- Aryans
Those
anti-Semitic
slogans
that
tive and incontroversial. The super-mundane
New Collection of Stories Christ of the Church and the historic Jesus of lined the roads from Berlin to
Nuremberg, torn down overnight
For Children, Issued by Nazareth have not yet been brought together; during
the Duke of Windsor's visit
between Jesus the Jew who would not change a
Women's League of Uni- little of the Mosaic law, who would not send his because Hitler didn't want the ex-
king
to
go touring the world ad-
disciples to Samaritan towns, and Jesus, the foun-
ted Synagogue
der of Christianity, there still yawns an unbridge- vertising Nazi anti-Semitism, are
being
replaced.
able chasm.
Ex-Kaiser Wilhelm's popularity
NEW YORK. — A collection
There are not wanting scholars who maintain
of stories for children. formerly that it is futile to hope that a critical life of Jesus in Nazi circles took a nose dive
when
Berlin learned that evelopes
published in four small booklets, will ever be consructed with the available source
have been reissued under one material. The date of his birth, the duration of containing letters from Berlin are
destroyed
before his aides give him
format, "Friday Night Stories," his ministry, the number of his visits to Jerusalem
it was announced this week by and what is more important, his religious philoso- the letters, as he can't stand the
M rs. Samuel Spiegel, national phy, his own conception of himself—did he re- sight of the swastika on the en-
President of the Women's League gard himself Prophet, Messiah or the very Son of velopes.
New regulations issued by the
of the United Synagogue. Adapted God—all these questions are for the historian still
Nazi ministry of education make
for children by Shulamith Ish- wrapped in an impenetrable mist.
Kishor and Emily Solis-Cohen,
Unfortunately a number of self-appointed Jew- it necessary for all professors and
the stories originally come from ish apostles to the Gentiles are blissfully unaware teachers to know all about the
Dr. Louis Ginzberg's The Leg- of all of these intricacies. The American-Jewish Jewish problem.
Nazi secret agents have been
ends of the Jews" and other pulpit, alas, alas, is as frequently the playground
sources. The new book is priced of ignoramuses. These men have made it a prac- given orders to find the two secret
at 75 cents and may be ordered tice to go up and down the country and vociferate radio stations in France that are
Parcel Post C. 0. D. from the and gesticulate about Jesus. They reveal in their broadcasting anti-Hitler programs
Leaoue's New York offices, 3080 utterances not only ignorance of Rabbinic litera- into Southern Germany every day.
Broadway.
German scientific magazines are
ture but even unawareness of so simple a thing
Among the titles of the stories as Klausner'a revised edition of his Life of Jesus. crediting industrialist Carl Bosch
from Dr. Ginzberg's "Legends" From the works of the Justers and Guigneberts with the invention of the artificial
are: "At the Beginning of the they are evidently far removed. For only those nitrogen fixation process , . But
World," "Why the Cat and Dog ignorant both of the religion of Jesus and of world scientists know the real in-
Are Not Friends," "The Coming Judaism find no difference between the two of ventor was the late Fritz Haber,
of Eve," "The Gentle Shepherd," them. Only fools would assume that Jews have German-Jewish Prize winner,
"The One Who Was Always been suffering for 19 centuries as a result of the whom the Nazis drove into exile
Right" and "Sabbath in Heaven." rejection of Jesus out of sheer stubbornness. Only and suicide.
Dr. Ginzberg is one of the fore- charlatans will advise Christians and Jews to unite THEY DON'T LIKE JEWS
most Jewish scholars in the world on the religion of Jesus and still remain rabbis.
A new rash of anti-Semitic
The teachings of Jesus, assuming for the mo-
today. Professor of Talmud at
sheets has broken out in the West
the Jewish Theological Seminary ment that there is no doubt as to what they were, ... From P. 0. Box 215, Omaha,
differ
from
the
teachings
of
the
Prophets
and
the
of America, he was honored by
Charles B. Hudson is publishing
Harvard University with an hon- Rabbis even as the philosophy of Spinoza departs The American Danger, a privately
orary degree as one of the 60 from the Rabbinism of Akiba and the metaphysics circulated bulletin containing the
greatest scholars in the world on of Maimonides. True, Spinoza was rooted in both usual Jew-baiting tripe A new
the occasion of its recent 300th but so do apple trees and pear trees have their edition of the "Protocols of the
roots in the same earth. To toss and bandy about Elders of Zion" is being circulated
anniversary celebration.
In suggesting the new edition such terms as love, brotherhood, justice and peace by the American Publishing Com-
of "Friday Night Stories" as is as proofs of the oneness of Judaism and Christian- pany from P. 0. Box 165, Seattle
suitable Chanukah gift for chil- ity is either the attestation of ignorance or the
. P. 0. Box 619, Lincoln, Nebr.,
dren, Mrs. Spiegel also took the device of sycophancy. Informed Jews and in- is the address given for "Program
occasion to call attention to an- formed Christians know that they differ. The late of Confusion," also anti-Semitic
lamented
George
Foote
Moore
knew
both
the
reli-
other children's publication of the
rag . And another anti-Jewish
League Press, "The Adventures gion of Jesus and Judaism and he knew how vastly sheet, "Mysteries of Babylon,"
of K'tonton" by Sadie Rose Weil- they differed. Informed Jews and Christians who comes from 4610 East Lake Street,
are
also
liberal
and
kind
do
not
seek
to
extermin-
erstein (New York, $1.65). This
c loth bound, lavishly illustrated ate one another because of these differences. A Minneapolis . . . The Factfinders
Box P. 0. Box 1644, Lincoln,
book is best described as a Jew- Procrustean bed is not a symbol of enlightenment Nebr., is also a clearing house for
i sh Tom Thumb. Published last and good-will.
and anti-Semitic weekly called
But
these
apostles
not
only
reveal
an
extreme
year, it has already achieved a
sale of over 2,000 copies and is simplicity of mind but also a remarkable cringing anti-Semitic literature ... A Nazi
"Bridgeport" is being published in
n ow in its second edition. The of character. They are on their knees before their
author of the book is the wife Christian audiences, assuring them over and over the Connecticut city of that name
by
Kornel Czongradi, a Hungarian
of Rabbi B. Reuben Weilerstein. again how deeply grateful they are for the privi-
lege of addressing them. It does not once enter Fascist . . . And while we're on
their minds that among equals, friends and breth- the subject we might call atten-
A New Biography
ren the exchange and interchange of views is some- tion to the publishing firm of
thing to be taken for granted. In hundreds of Madison and Marshall, of 18 East
In 1938 will occur the 500th synagogues, hundreds of Christians deliver ad- 48th St., New York, which has
anniversaro of the birth of the dresses every day in the week. We are still to issued a number of pamphlets con-
famous Spanish Jew Isaac Abrav- learn that any of them perform special genuflect- taining anti.Jewish material . . .
anel, -od in honor of this a new tions for the privilege of standing in a Jewish Among them are "Secret Societies
biography of this famous states- pulpit. Why, then, this bending of the knee, this and Movements," "All These
philos-her and hero of the excessive jubilation when a Jew is invited to speak Things" and "Stealing Party Nom-
Spanish Inquisition, will be Pub- before Christians. If a Jew does not stand in a inations."
Frederick T. Birchall, the New
lished soon. (Bloch Publishing Christian pulpit as a brother, as a fellow human
Co., N. Y. $2.60). The author being, then the self-respecting Jew does not belong York Times' roving European cor-
there.
The
self-respecting
Jew,
like
every
self-
of the volume which in entitled
respondent, revealed some over-
"Don Isaac Abravanel," is Dr. respecting human being, spurns tolerance. He has optimism in his Warsaw dispatch
Joseph Sarachek, who is also the nothing but contempt for Jew-baiting and intoler- of Dec. 5 when he said that anti-
author of "Faith and Reason," ance. lie expects fellowship, not condescension. Semitism "is common to every
the conflict over the rationalism The fact that there is hatred of Jews in one coun- country in Central Europe except-
of Maimonldes, for which the try does not make its absence in another country ing only Austria" .. That'll
.
be
Jewish Theological Seminary of a virtue.
news to the Jews of Austria.
Woe unto thee, 0 Israel, that thou begettest
America awarded him the Abra-
A Catholic clergyman's group
ham Berliner prize, and "The such spokesmen, and woe unto thee, 0 Christianity, in New York is fathering an anti-
Doctrine of the Messiah in Jewish that thou hearkenest unto flattery even when it Jewish publication called "Wis-
Literature."
cometh from the mouth of ignorance.
dom."

A Ship in a Storm

A Fable of Palestine Today

By C. V. KLOETZEL
Noted Palestine Publicist

ISIATOWS NOTE: A ship al sea riding out a vents, with Its deekcrew and
men in the hold sharing the responsibility, is the s)mbol teed by thie
will-known writer to describe the Jewish homeland. The note of warn-
ing that is sounded is timely for the National Conference for Palestine le
be held al the Hotel Mayflower, Wisehington. D. C., Jan. ft and t3: The
conference, 4-specter' to be the mord reprmentotIve assembly of eser7 aw•
lion of American Jewry, her been summoned by the United Palestine
Appeal and outstanding national Jewish orguniusttona

JERUSALEM.--Re who would
write today of Eretz Israel, of the
future of the Jewish people, in-
evitably begins with the sentence:
"The hour of fate has struck."
Nevertheless. there is a certain
reluctance in using such strong
terms. For it is one of those
phrases which have lost their full
significance through all too fre-
quent usage. We have too often de-
clared that the hour of fate has
struck; and fate has disappointed
us. Jewish writers are, therefore,
not very anxious to speak of the
hour of fate, for Jewish readers,
who have much too frequently and
needlessly been shocked by this ex-
pression, are subsequently not in-
clined to put much faith in it.
But truly fateful times are dis-
tinguished by unmistakable sign
of genuineness: They and their
problems are of great simplicity.
The situation in which fate is
about to deliver a decisive blow is
—no matter how unintelligible ex-
ternal circumstances may appear
—of such singular meaning that
nothing can describe it so well as
one of those annaloglea which

have illuminated Jewish life since
the incident in which: "The trees
have decided to elect a king."
A Skip With Splendid Crew
An analogy can be found; it al-
most forces itself upon our minds.
Eretz Israel, and everything which
the Jewish people associate with
it by way of pride in the present
and hope for the future, can be
likened to a ship laboring in ■
severe storm at sea. It is a good
ship, not large, but very fit. The
storm is dangerous, almost a hur-
ricane, but the ship has already
gone through many storms. It pos-
sesses a splendid crew who stand
fast at their jobs on deck. Every
single one of them knows well
what he has to do, and he also
knows that any minute a wave
may wash him overboard. Indeed,
some people have already been
swept overboard, for the storm
and the sea have demanded their
victims. Nevertheless, their faith
in the good ship and in the ability
of its captain and helmsmen to
steer it safely into harbor, does
not falter even for one moment.

(PLEASY TURN TO LAST PAGE)

Are Pogroms the
Alternative to
Partition?

A Frank Analysis and An
Answer

By PHILIP R.

BERNSTEIN

EDITOR'S NOTE: ('an partition be
&ridded In Poleeline? It there any
proctical alternative le II? Should
J ew. aceeM II? These are the vital
Some.. bearing on the Palatine
si twat ion posed and answers,' by
Rabid Bernstein, who hoe in.* re-
turned from Palestine, whoa. frank
and realistic ankle we present by
;F eria/ arrangement with the Ne-

in 1926 I spent four months
in Palestine. This year I re-
turned for ■ visit of three
months. The changes which I
noted convinced me of the ne-
cessity of partitioning Palestine.
For in my earlier visit I travel-
ed freely and without fear
throughout the entire country.
I visited Arabs in their homes,
slept in their inns, even thumb-
ed rides on their horses. I en-
countered nothing but courtesy
and friendliness. There was
sonic anti-Jewish feeling, but
it was not widespread or in-
tense or spontaneous. It was
artifleally fomented for the
most part by self-seeking ef-
fendi. I remember one peasant
asking whether it was true, as

(rLDAEll TURN TO PAGZ LIGHT)

PURELY COMMENTARY

By

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Dr. Louis Finkelstein's Proposal:
For Unity: A Conclave of Scholars

An interesting program for the eradication of
negative attitudes towards Judaism and the ac-
quisition of a semblance of unity on the basis of a
cultural approach is made by Dr. Louis Finkelstein,
provost of the Jewish Theological Seminary of
America. Prof. Finkelstein approaches the issue
by pointing out that "the time has come to change
our emphasis to that which is positive and unify-
ing in Judaism," and urges that the effort should
be made on the basis of the following plan: 1. A
conclave of scholars, writers, rabbis and educators
be called "to discuss their points of agreement and
disagreement" and to meet the Jewish problems
by substituting "study and deliberation for pas-
sion and partisan emotion." 2. If such a con-
clave could be organized, that the group proceed
to establish a world movement on a similar basis;
the Eucharistic Congresses of the Catholics and
the Ecumenical Conference held at Qxford last
summer are pointed to as similarly significant ef-
forts instituted by Christians. 3. That such an organ-
ization should meet to "offer free and untrammeled
criticism of our organized Jewish life," Dr. Fin-
kelstein declaring on this point that the lack of
such criticism is one of the greatest deficiencies
in Judaism today. 4. That the importance of
Judaism be emphasized as a tradition; that too
much emphasis is placed on fund-raising for re-
lief, reconstruction and defense and that it is
tragic that "practically the whole of Jewish life
is being absorbed in fund-raising and defense;"
that "we must assert the truth that even in the
darkest, most difficult times, the learning and tra-
dition of Judaism must be preserved at all costs."
It is evident that Dr. Finkelstein's program is
the cry of a man of learning who desires to see
Judaism become a positive force for our people.
It is equally as evident that the learned Talmudist
and professor would like to see the realization
of a scheme which would again re-establish Juda-
ism as an aristocracy of learning. He has out-
lined a program which must command the atten-
tion of representative Jews in the ranks of every
shade of opinion. Men and women who will be
called upon to consider his plan will be forced
to ask themselves whether his scheme is practical
and feasible, and whether it would actually pre-
sent a solution to the existing major problem of
Jewish disunity.
It is well to recognize that the central theme
is predicated on the proposition that "the time has
come to change our emphasis to that which is posi-
tive and unifying in Judaism," and that it is neces-
sary "to substitute study and deliberation for pas-
sion and partisan emotion." On this score Dr.
Finkelstein's proposals are not too striking or
revolutionary. All movements speak of form-
ing bureaus for. research and study. Only a few
days ago Alfred P. Sloan, Jr.. chairman of the
General Motors Corporation, gave a gift of $10,-
000,000 to a foundation for the promotion of
wider knowledge of economic truths through re-
search and education. During the week, the
Seattle, Wash., Council of Churches announced the
creation of a fact-finding commission to inves-
tigate strikes, election issues, vice and other issues
of a controversial nature. Similar fact-finding
bureaus either exist or are being formed widely
by all groups of all creeds.
We find it impossible to become excited over
the proposition that learning be made the basis
of our approach, and that Judaism as a tradition
be used as the central method of approach to the
Jewish issues. This is not the first time that the
Jewish problem has been thought of as something
that needs an approach from the cultural and so-
cial angles. Neither have we much hope that it
will be easier to find solution to the cultural prob-
lem on a basis of unity than there has been in
problems of defense and fund-raising.
If Dr. Finkelstein's proposals were to be aimed
at a solution of our cultural problems, where there
is plenty of confusion, we would endorse it heart-
ily. There is neither unity among the synagogue
groups, based on the three major divisions, nor
is there total amity even on the question of creat-
ing a well-co-ordinated Jewish educational sys-
tem. In very few communities do all Hebrew
schools co-operate, let alone those schools which
have a mixed curriculum of Hebrew and Yiddish.
Furthermore, Jewish learning is handicapped be-
cause Jews do not read or buy Jewish books. Dr.
Finkelstein can attest to this truth from personal
experience. There is room for a well-organized
and centralized movement to encourage educa-
tional movements, the printing and distribution of
books, the building of more adequate school sys-
tems, and other similar efforts. But this is in no
sense to be interpreted as meaning that we can
Possibly ignore the fund-raising or defense efforts;
nor does it mean that the wish for unity will as-
sure the realization of a unified program.
It is well to know that Dr. Finkelstein is not only
thinking in terms of arriving at a unified Jewish
program, but that he is enlisting the help and en-
couragement of other leaders. But his conclave
idea appears to lack elements of feasibility and
practicability. Perhaps further study and develop-
ment will lead to a desired program.


Are the Jews Great Debaters?

"Jews are great debaters; they love to argue:,
they butt in too much in everyone's affairs; we
must check their vociferousness."
Very often have we heard these comments by
non.Jews. On one occasion a Y. M. C. A. director
refused to admit a young Jew to membership in
his branch because "Jews argue too much."
But in Detroit, a group of young boys who set
out to reorganize what was once a Jewish Forensic
League gave up with an admission of defeat.
"There is insufficient co-operation," they announce.
Have Jews stopped debating?
Ask the anti-Semite—he will say NO ,
Ask the boys who could not muster sufficient
support for a debating league. Apparently their
answer will be in the affirmative, although they
would like it to be a 'negative one.

Do Jews Carry Chips?

Literary Anti-Semites, Figments Or Realities

By

HENRY MONTOR

EDITOR'S NOTE: The literary minor of the Seven Arts Feature SyndleAte hoe
mrne pointed t hings to my shout Jews se elms...ern in contempontry
netion In this trenchant resin. of Thom. Wolfe's .01 Time and the
River...

Patiently I waited almost three
years to read Thomas Wolfe's "Of
Time and the River." With its
912 pages it rested stolidly on the
bookshelf until I could conquer
my distaste for its longevity and
its currency. Every time there
was a temptation to dismiss it
from the pending list it was re-
sisted by the rumor which had
reached me that Wolfe was anti-
Semitic.' The literary chauvin-
ism bred of book-reviewing for
English-Jewish journalism kept
my attention fastened to this
heavy tome.
It was an exhilirating exper-
ience to read Wolfe, for his ap-
petite for living is so hearty and
all-encompassing that it creates
on equal zest in his reader. His
great sprawling interest in hu-
manity and in the earth Itself,
his eagerness to embrace every
experience open to man. his hor-
ror of dying before he has tasted
of the beauty and wonder of the
universe stamp him as the great
omptimist among American writ-
ere. It is an optimism that is
wholly emotional and subjective,
bearing no relationship to any
philosophy or ideology. It has
no saccharine qualities, therefore
In the light of the frank revela-

Lion of his inner spirit, which is
as spacious and translucent as
any in American letters, it seems
unendurably petty that the charge
of anti-Semitism should have been
levelled at Thomas Wolfe.
"Of Time and the River" is
the story of the youth of
Eugene Gant, a Southern boy
who turned his back on a deter-
iorating family and sought a cre-
ative career first at Harvard and
then through a variety of other
experiences. Among the latter
was a period of teaching at the
College of the City of New York,
where poor Jewish boys work
hard and study hard to achieve
a career. It is in his analysis of
these boys that Wolfe manifests
what has apparently been mis-
taken for anti-Semitism.
Gant
was himself • youth, who hated
the cramped quarters in which he
lived in New York, who wanted
more time to enjoy the sights and
sounds and smells of the city.
But here he was cooped up all
day with tense, earnest, irritable
people who. to hide the bitter re-
pressions induced by their pov-
erty, were not averse to riding
the young teacher.
Here is the Impression that En-

TERM TO NEXT FADE)

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