September 23, 1938
PIEDEntOrdEWIS/I 6IRONICLE
PAGE SIX
an THE LEGAL CHRONICLE
Hebrew it nevertheless points to a new
trend in Bnai Brith work which will em-
brace all important functions of Jewish
and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE
activity.
Published Wook17 by The Jewish Chronicle Publie ► ing Cs. ha.
It is gratifying to know that this new
tendency is proposed by an able and en-
ll.1 March I, 1/11,at tb• Pat-
tetrad OP waned-elver
office at Detroit. Idich, ander Om At of Man. I, II11.
ergetic person. Bnai Brith's work will be
General Offices and Publication Building watched with greater interest and with
the good wishes of all elements in Jewry.
525 Woodward Avenue
telephone: Cadillac 1040 Cable Address: Chronicle Having undertaken to embrace every
London Odic.
cause that serves the best interests of our
14 Stratford Place, London, W, I, England
people, we are confident that Mr. Monsky
ion.
in
Advance...
.........
..._...13.00
Per
Year
and his associates at the head of this
Subscrip t
movement will have the support of the
To insure publication, allcorm...nee nod new. matter
moot reach this omen by Tumid. evening of each
best minds in Jewry.
When maWoc node.., Uuidlr U.
mid• of the paper Golf.
WLEDEI'ROITLIEWIS11 . 0RON1C14
•orrespondeo• oa
The Detroit Jewish Chroniele
Poets of Interst to th• Jowl.h people, bat disclaims mama-
My for an Indorsement of the views expressed by the write.
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal Portion--4.Deut. 29:9-30:20.
Prophetical Portion—Ia. 61-10-63:9.
Readings of Torah on First Day of RDA Hashanah,
Monday, Sept. 26
Pentateuchal portions—Gen. 21; Num. 28:1-6.
Prophetical portion-1. Sam. 1:1-2:10.
Reading of Torah on Second Day of Rosh
Hashonah, Tuesday. Sept. 27
Pentateuchal portions—Gen. 22; Num. 29:1-6.
Prophetical portion—ter. 31:2-20.
Readings of Torah on Fast of Gehtliah,
Wednesday, Sept. 28
Pentateuchal portions—Ex. 32 :11-14 ; 34 :1-10.
Prophetical portions—Is. 55:6-56:8.
September 23, 1938
Elul 27, 5698
5699
Jews throughout the world greet the
approaching new year with a sense of awe
and with an anxiety that has not been
experienced before by this generation.
The uncertainties which envelop the
world and the trials and tribulations which
oppress the spirit not only of Jewry but
also of Christendom are responsible for
an increase of fear.
On the eve of the year now closing,
Jews were hopeful that certain changes
would take place to improve conditions
in the world and to make mankind more
cheerful. But the present year is being
ushered in with deeper concern and with
greater trepidation. There are undoubt-
edly people in many lands who, in spite
of their suffering and insecurity, pray that
the coming' year should at least not be
worse than the preceding one. Such hopes
are indicative of the world's sad plight.
The war scares, the threats to the well-
being of many nations, the fact that in-
fants are being fitted out with gas masks
in England and other countries, are symp-
toms of the spread of hate and the rise of
despair in the hearts of men.
If the coming year will bring good tid-
ings to all mankind, it will react favor-
ably to Jewry. But in the event of, war,
or of revolutions, or of increased hard-
ships and sufferings, we shall not only
be subject to the same sufferings as our
neighbors but will, judging by historic
experiences, be subjected to even greater
horrors than during the past year be-
cause we make such good scapegoats.
To review the terrors of the past year
would merely serve to re-awaken the
fears of the past and to create even
greater panic in the hearts of our people.
Hardly a corner on the globe was im-
mune from hatred and bigotry. Except
for isolated instances of friendship and
kindliness in some democratic countries,
the entire world was one massive hotbed
of bigotry and persecution.
Nevertheless, we must not despair. Tyr-
anny always meets its doom, and decency
and human kindness must always replace
it. It will replace it again, and we pray
that it will be jn our own time.
The year 5699 should be greeted hope-
fully, even if we can not be too joyous
on the occasion of the current most sol-
emn period on the Jewish calendar. Be-
cause of our traditional battle for justice,
we must not abandon hope. We have been
tried in many fires, and we shall carry
the banner for freedom and for equality
for all mankind to the end of days.
It is in this spirit of hopefulness that
we greet our readers and pray with them
that the year 5699 should mark a return
to human decency. •
May 5699 be marked for happiness and
security for all Israel, and therefore for
all mankind!
This Year's Obligations
The new year 5699 will carry with it
many obligations which Detroit Jewry
will have to carry.
First and foremost will be the respon-
sibility to the refugees from lands of op-
pression. This need is so pressing that
only the most hard-hearted will be found
outside the ranks of those who come to
the aid of the persecuted.
Then there will be the duty of building
a Jewish hospital—a task which will in-
volve the largest single monetary obliga-
tion that has ever faced our community.
Detroit Jews must not be permitted to
forget that there is need for erecting a
new Hebrew school building in the north-
west section of the city. Unless we are
willing to subject thousands of boys and
girls to ignorance and to a lack of knowl-
edge of their history and their language,
the building of a new Hebrew school
must be made a matter of first considera-
tion.
A new Center building will, we hope,
be constructed this year, especially since
there is a possibility of the needed sums
being made available for this purpose.
The upbuilding of Palestine and the
providing of necessary funds for the self-
defense of our pioneers must be given a
place of priority on the agenda of finan-
cial obligations.
European-Jewish relief must not be cur-
tailed.
The year 5699 will be a trying one for
Israel. It will carry with it many respon-
sibilities. It must not find our people
shirking in duty.
A New Era for Bnai Brith
A new era dawns for the Order of Bnai
Brith.
Assumption of leadership by young men
and the adoption of a more militant atti-
tude augurs well for the movement, and
much may be expected from this impor-
tant organization during the current year.
It is safe to assume that under the
presidency of Henry Monsky this year's
activities will mark the beginning of a
greater future than has ever before been
experienced by the movement. We base
our convictions not only on the past ac-
complishments of the new president, but
more especially on his recent utterances.
Most interesting of all of his statements
is the Rosh Hashonah statement he has
issued last week.
Asserting that "Bnai Brith is conscious
of its responsibility," Mr. Monsky points
in his greeting to the following as con-
stituting "the challenge to the Jews of
America and other democratic nations for
the coming year": "Relief for refugees
from the lands of persecution; aid and
assistance in the rebuilding of Palestine;
unremitting effort in the defense of Jew-
ish rights; unswerving loyalty to the de-
mocracy in which we live and the protec-
tion of that democracy and its principles,
ideals and institutions, against all sub-
versive forces and influences; the building
of a richer and more vital Jewish life."
Mr. Monsky speaks of reconsecration to
these purposes and he makes the declara-
tion: "We have supported the rebuilding
of Palestine and this significant and vital
project in Jewish life and history will con-
tinue to receive our profound interest and
generous support." He even establishes
a new precedent for a Bnai Brith presi-
dent of quoting Scripture in the Hebrew
original, and although it is elementary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Rosh Hashonah Facts You'll
Want to Know
By RABBI MORDF.CAI L. BRILL
While the Jews of Palestine ob-
serve all holidays with a one-day
celebration, Rosh Hashanah is an
exception and is observed two
days, even by Palestinian Jewry.
• • e
Many Jewish holidays have spe-
cial dishes associated with the
day. On New Year's eve it is
customary to eat fruit dipped in
honey. The prayer that precedes
the eating reads: "Stay it be Thy
will to renew unto us a good
and sweet year." Ultra-Orthodox
Jews, do not eat, nut., on Rosh
Ilashonah because the numerical
value of the Hebrew words for
nut, "egoz," is equivalent to that
of the Hebrew word for sin-
"chet." Red apples were the
specialty delicacy of the French
Jews during the Middle Ages,
while the Jews of the l'rovence
ate the head of sheep and white
grapes.
••
Pre-Talmudic • literature con-
tains not a single statement to
the effect that Rosh Hashonah is
a day of judgment. It is in the
Mishna (135-220) that the Jew-
ish New Year is first referred to
as a day on which God judges
mankind, the reference being
" . . . on New Year's Day all
men shall pass before Him like
young lambs.:
A Hospital Is Needed
STRICTLY
CONFIDENTIAL
PURELY COMMENTARY
Old Customs for
The New Year
Wishing You a Year of Joy
We approach the threshold of the new year
5699 with trepidation and with a sense of awe.
Everything about us is wrapped either in hate or
in mystery. The world is in jitters, and fear
dominates the heart of man.
When, therefore, the Happy New Year wish is
exchanged at this time, it becomes an expression
of prayer mingled with hope.
There was a time when the advent of a new
year was greeted with idle talk about resolutions
and the futility of trying to adhere to them.
Today it is much more serious. In our time it is
a question of nations deciding on policies, reli-
gious groups determining upon firm adherence to
faith.
The Jewish people, being the most sorely tried,
has much to account for and a great deal to
deliberate upon. Because it is so difficult to
decide on major principles for action in dealing
with our enemies, it is essential that important
basic and elementary obligations be adhered to.
It is important, for instance, that we do not
yield an iota of loyalty to our faith, to our tradi-
tions, to the Law which is the foundation not
only for Jewish existence but for the survival
of every religious and national entity that is
concerned with the highest ethical and moral
principles of humanity.
We must not lose faith and courage, and it is
of the utmost importance that we should remem-
ber that in the end justice and - truth will prevail
and the persecutors will meet their doom.
We must carry our obligations with courage
and dignity and if it is necessary to battle for
existence we must so mobilize our forces that
an united people will defy indignity by standing
erect and by refusing to be humiliated.
Above all, we must retain our sense of humor
and must not yield completely to despair.
Pious Jews fast most of the
ten penitential days from New
Years to the Day of Atonement,
but not on the day immediately
preceding Yom Kippur, on which
fasting is forbidden.
• • •
According to one opinion held
by early Rabbinic teachers, the
world was created on the first days
of Tishri—Rosh Hashonah day.
r • •
Rabbi Johanan (3rd century
teachpr) held that on New Year's
Day three kinds of record books
are opened; those for the com-
pletely ri ,,hteous and for the com-
pletely wicked are at once writ-
ten up and sealed, the one to life
and the other to death; but the
books of "the great middle class"
are kept open for ten days (till
the Day of Atonement) that they
may repent. Repentance was the
sine qua non if one wanted to
expiate for sins. All other forms
of expiation were conditional
upon repentance.
• • •
If tradition is to be believed it
was on Rosh Ilashonah that Joseph
was freed from imprisonment and
the Hebrew slaves stopped work-
ing for Pharaoh.
• • r
It is impossible for the first day
of Rosh Ilashonah to fall on Sun-
day, Wednesday or Friday.
•
Fighting Bigotry With Laughter
The latter ought to be made one of the most
powerful weapons in meeting the onslaught of
the enemy. It is true that it is not possible
always to laugh away danger, and that at times
it is impossible to be witty in the face of hu-
miliation and insult. But as a general rule it
should be possible for us to resort to the deadly
weapon of wit and humor in dealing with forces
that betray humanity and seek to crucify the
Jewish people.
In his splendid book, "Pity the Persecutor,"
Rabbi Julius Gordon of St. Louis proposes wit.
ridicule and satire as a weapon against persecu-
tion. Ile points to an interesting example of the
use of wit as counter-propaganda against Nazism
by quoting from a letter written recently to the
Nation by the Rev. L. M. Birkhead of Kansas
City who tells that he sent the following telegram
to the German ambassador to the United States:
"I hereby apply for a special visa to go to Ger-
many for the purpose of organizing branches of
the Friends of Democracy among German citizens.
Included in this permit, I should like to have
the privilege of marching the members of the
Friends of Democracy through German highways,
carrying the Stars 'and Stripes and shouting slo-
gans from the Declaration of Independence and
Bill of Rights. I should like, moreover, to have
it specifically stated in my visa that the Friends
of Democracy may set up semi-miltary camps on
German soil and carry on both secret and open
propaganda to educate the German people in
ideals of liberty and democracy."
Here is a piece of mind which, if widely broad-
cast, would serve to hold up to ridicule efforts
of Nazis in Germany as well as those who are
trying to plant the seed of Nazism through Bund
camps in this country.
•
about the Fuehrer's harangue of the Jews at ,a
large public rally. Adolf was gesticulating and
shouting and emitting venom against the Jews.
He asked his audience whether they knew who
was responsible for all of the world's and Ger-
many's troubles, and he gave the answer by
screaming: "The Jews! The Jews! The Jews!"
Whereupon a tiny, shriveled-up fellow, with an
umbrella under his arm, sitting in the rear of
the hall, remarked calmly: "And the bicycle
riders." Hitler was stunned. No one had ever
dared to interrupt him or to interject anything
in the middle of onO, of his speeches. He turned
to the little Jewish fellow and asked: "Why the
bicycle riders?" And the Jew calmly replied:
"'Why the Jews?" According to Van Paassen,
the hall was in an uproar of laughter. For once
the Nazi chieftain was licked.
It is possible to hold him up to even greater
ridicule by repeating these stories and by passing
them on from mouth to mouth. The Hitler Joke
Book should become the best seller. Let the
jokcsmiths get busy. Such a book should be
made the major weapon against Nazis and Nazism.
•
Artistic Calendars
Have you selected your calendar for the New
Year?
As in previous year, we again have the op-
portunity of selecting very interesting calendars,
and the most attractive available Jewish almanacs
once again come to us from three sources: From
Se Palestine Publishing Co. at Tel Aviv, from
the Jewish National Fund and from the National
Federation of Temple Sisterhoods.
The Sisterhood's calendar this year features the
artistic works of Louis Kabrin. talented young
New York artist who has illustrated books for
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
From the Jewish National Fund comes a splen-
didly arranged booklet, beautifully printed and
packed full of interesting information about Pal-
estine and Jewish national agencies. An inter-
esting picture of achievements in Palestine and
advances made in the Jewish National Home are
a part of this booklet.
But the finest calendar of all is the one which
is available from the Palestine Publishing Co.,
Ltd., 6 Harakeveth St., Tel Aviv, Palestine. The
best art from Palestine is included in this calen-
dar, and a splendid picture, seven by eight inches
in size, illustrates every weekly cycle in the
Jewish year. But it is not the excellent art
alone that makes this calendar stand out as a
piece of fine art. Each photograph is accom-
panied by an appropriate Biblical quotation. It
is appropriate, for instance, that the opening
photograph, showing a patriarchal flee. should
have the explanatory sentence from Exodus 15.2:
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is
become my salvation."
It has long been a tradition for Jews to pro-
duce artistic calendars. The three to which we
referred are an excellent collection to choose
from when purchasing your copy. and the • one
that comes from Tel Aviv and is illustrated with
52 excellent photographs is by far the best and
most artistic production of the year.
Scoops of 5698
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We're going to simplify your
reading of Jewish news for the
coming year .. . In other words,
we'll now give you the highlights
of the headlines for 5698 .
If you'll read this column care-
fully you'll be in line for the post
of social lion in your community
. . . You'll be as amazing as we
are . . . Ladies and gentlemen,
lean back . . . Lights out .
Operator, flash the news for the
year 5698 . . .
POLITICAL PREVIEW
You'll wake up one morning to
find front-page reading matter
about new schemes to send large
numbers of German Jewish refu-
gees to Mexico, Madagascar and
Canada . . , Don't let your heart
beat too fast, though ... It won't
mean a thing except publicity for
this or that individual or organ-
ization . . . Then there will be
the well-informed sources whence
will emanate the authoritative pre-
diction that a certain millionaire
will prove to have made a will
leaving millions for the solution
of the problem confronting our un-
fortunate brethren in Germany
and Poland . . . Forget it, and
double your contribution to the
JDC For the will, when pub-
lished, will leave the money to
some university or to a home for
lost puppies . . . Sonic evening a
visiting celebrity will give you ad-
vance information that Shalom
Asch, the Yiddish novelist, will re-
ceive the Nobel award for litera-
ture for 1939 . . Tell your dis-
tinguished scoopster that he's all
wet, and tlept a comparatively un-
known Swedish or French writer
will get the coveted prize . . .
Bruce Barton, the aggressive Con-
gressman, will one of these days
issue a grand and glorious scheme
for the solution of the Jewish
problem ... But you just remem-
ber that Mr. Barton is going to
make a serious bid for higher po-
litical honors Justice Brandeis
will be reported resigning and
Felix Frankfurter will be talked
about as his successor . . . You
can bet your shirt that the Grand
Old Man of the Supreme Court
will resign
gn x be p f i i o . e r s p Ib t u oo ts etye
hal's se c-
ond
Frankfurter, who deserves the
honor of being his successor, will
not get it ... Speaking of politics,
De J. J. Golub's statement in this issue
prepare yourselves to address Gov-
of The Detroit Jewish Chronicle in which
A Dialogue sWith a Moral
ernor Lehman as senator, and Sen-
he declares, on the basis of his investiga-
The Basle National-Zeitung reports an inter- ator Wagner as Mr. Justice . . .
tion, that a Jewish hospital is needed in
esting dialogue that was overhead by a party Don't be stunned if George Backer,
of Swiss hikers on the Austrian-Lichtenstein versatile Jewish and Labor ('arty
Detroit, is a dramatic culmination of more
frontier, between an elderly Jew and a uniformed leader, will be on the New York
than 30 years of local community striving
German official.
State ticket for the position of
for such an institution.
"I beg you to let me stay in Austria," the lieutenant-governor . . . And,
It is too early to state whether a cam-
old man pleaded. "I was born here and my son speaking of new Jewish faces in
died in the war. I can't go into exile in my the big political headlines, remem-
paign for a hospital is advisable at this
old age without any means, can I? Don't you ber the name of our old friend,
time, primarily since the distress and suf-
understand? Aren't you also a human being?" M. Maldwin Fertig.
fering of world Jewry places such serious
The answer was: "Silence! I am a German!"
ZIONIST PREVIEW
obligations on every Jew.
This dialogue speaks for itself. Its moral is
The British Imperial Partition
Most recent of all Rosh Hash-
too
impressive to need elaboration. The only Commission will report on its find-
An
Old
Story—Always
Good
But the fact is now definitely estab- onah customs is the practice of
comment
it
can
possibly
evoke
is
that
the
Germans
e
recall
the
story
that
was
told
by
Pierre
ings
and will come out with a
lished that a hospital is needed, that it sending New Year cardl. It did
Van Paassen, just before Hitler came to power, are to be pitied.
( PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 7 )
( PLEASE TURN TO OE 7 )
'should be built as soon as possible, that
--------
the wealthy Jews of the community ought
to pool their resources for the construc-
Dr. Wile in New Year
tion of such an institution.
Broadcast on Sunday
Dr. Golub's forthcoming findings rela-
The Price of Freedom
Rosh Ilashonah, which is to
By LUDWIG LEWISOHN
tive to the attitude of Detroit Jews on the
begin on Sunday evening, Sept.
question, and Harry L. Lurie's study of
By DOROTHY THOMPSON
25,
will
be
ushered
in
on
that
chau.
In
other
words,
this
Euro-
How shall we begin this year
the f,nancial problems involved, may fur-
pean gentleman, this writer, schol- day by a special broadcast
after the unsurpassable horrors ar, thinker, is being ignominiously over a nationwide hookup of ran ae hare both demoentrY and eronomle security? Must we ...once one
ther complicate the issue.
to net the other? flow much freedom mould we rite op for the sake
W
ROSH HASHONAH 5699
But in view of the need, now definitely
established, nothing should be permitted
to stand in the way of realizing the de-
sired and needed goal.
The building of a Jewish hospital in
Detroit will increase considerably the com-
munity's obligations. The construction of
such a building will involve not only the
initial construction expense but also the
added obligation of a large maintenance
fund. But where there is a need a way
should be found to fill it. We are confi-
dent that the way can and will be found.
Barbed Wire for Refugees
There is no end to the misery which con-
fronts the refugees who are fleeing the
countries of oppression.
Two weeks ago world public opinion
was moved to sympathy by the report that
more than a thousand German Jews slip-
ped into Switzerland through an under-
ground subway. But now barbed wire is
being strung along the Swiss frontier with
Austria to keep out additional exiles.
Journal de Geneva writes that the refu-
gees "have kissed the ground of Switzer-
land, they were so moved by the thought
that they had reached security." Pointing
to the fact that the unfortunates who are
escaping from Germany are waiting for
propitious moments to enter Switzerland
which they consider the promised land,
this newspaper predicts another flow of
immigrants and writes "The Saint-Gall
gendarmes of the Rhine Valley have had
ample occasion in the past 20 years to
see the misery of refugees and men with-
out a country entering Switzerland clan-
destinely, yet what has been witnessed be-
fore was nothing compared with the phy-
sical and moral distress of the Jewish
refugees fleeing Germany since the begin-
ning of August."
But while the exiles are housed in a
disused textile plant in the village of
Diepoldsau, over which they hung a sign
reading "Thanks to the Swiss People,"
"it is forbidden to them to have any close
relations with the Swiss population and
engage in any political or lucrative ac-
tivity."
In the meantime one land after another
is shutting its doors tight to refugees, and
as the days pass into weeks and months
opportunities for saving them decrease and
the situation becomes more horrible. With
Italy joining in the mad rush to the anti.
Semitic bandwagon from which is being
disseminated the worst type of discrimina-
tion — including heartless expulsions cf
Jews—and with Czechsldvakia in danger
of being absorbed into the family of atroc-
ious Nazism, the immediate future looks
frantically hopeless for millions of Jews.
We have indeed come upon evil times!
and tragedies that marked the
year just gone? Let us at least
begin it in the spirit of that say-
ing of Rabbi Jizchak: "If the
year is poor to begin with, it will
be rich in the end." Let us, in
other words, begin it in a spirit
of indomitable hopefulness, of ac-
tive hopefulness, in that trans-
cendent and magnificent spirit
which Shelley hoped would be the
spirit of all humanity but which
must be, as a mere matter of
survival, the spirit of the Jewish
people in this age:
hounded to death by jungle ways.
A number of years ago I sat with
him in his beautiful house in Vi-
enna, filled with books and ob-
jects of art, and he lifted quietly
a little stub of a pencil and said:
"With this I have earned that."
Before the world war he had been
sincerely playing the part of be-
ing an Austro-German. His plays
were on all stages, his stories in
all hands, his weekly critical ar-
ticles were widely read. He even
went in for hunting. lie had per-
sonally known an archduke or
two and hunting-trophies were in
To suffer woes which hope
his house.
thinks infinite;
In later years a rift was made
To forgive wrongs darker
in the darkness of his false se-
than death or night;
curity. Zionism was not as un-
To defy power which seems
fashionable as it had once been.
omnipotent;
West European gentle-folks were
To love and bear; to hope
curiously taking it up. Salten met
till hope creates
Kurt Blumenfeld, most versuas-
From its own wreck the
ise of men. A spark began to
thing it contemplates.
glow in him. Ile went to Pales-
tine. Ile wrote a book Neue
It is curious to contemplate the Mensehen auf alter Erde (New
exactness with which these un- Men on Ancient Earth), a beau-
dying verses describe what is and tiful book, a book with the right
must be the attitude of the Jew- vision and the right perception,
ish ample. We have year after
book worth a wilderness of those
recent year and especially during a tales
(Bambi, etc.) with which
that just past, suffered infinite he made money and reputation.
woes; we have been afflicted with I thought that Felix Salton's will
wrongs darker than death or had been awakened and had iden-
night; we have had at least by tified itself with the will and des-
our erectness of spirit to defy
apparently omnipotent power; we tiny of Israel.
But evidently it had not done
have sought, especially 'in Eretz
Yisrael, to love and bear; we so. For the years went on and
must, we must cling to the kind! Salten drew no inference in ac-
of hope that does literally, again tion from what he doubtless sin-
especially in Eretz Yisrael, create cerely embraced as genuine opin-
from its own wreck the sub- ion. He remained in Vienna. I
do not even know whether he
stance of its ultimate vision.
But it must be no supine or left his foreign royalties abroad
or
kept them to be stolen from
merely prayerful hope. It must
be active and sacrificial. Often him. Hitler came. Central Eu-
and often is the Midrash quoted rope grew darker and darker.
to the effect that God permits no Even under the successive recent
makka, no ill or misfortune, to be- Austrian governments, Jews were
fall Israel until the "refuah." the treated with every species of open
remedy therefor is already in ex- chicanery and contempt. Salten
istence. Profoundly true! The remained. He did not protest by
truth of that Midrash is vibrantly his withdrawal. He did not seek
alive in history by both positive actively to identify himself with
and negative examples. It is ex- those new people upon an ancient
emplified with burning clearness earth. He was not even on that
in this age. There is a "refuah" last train of fugitives to Prague.
for our present unspeakable ills. With will frozen, with soul unified,
There is. But it is at yet latent an Austro-German to the end, he
and not active. It is as yet only awaited his doom.
Let us not in its various mani-
dimly discerned and by many,
many thousands it is not yet seen festations await our doom or eon-
at all. The remedy for the ills sent to a doom which an evil and
of Israel is in the re-born will of pagan world may be minded to
Israel. Birth pangs are felt here bring upon us. Let us not mouth
and there, birth pangs are felt by words and neither mean meanings
individual souls and by small nor translate them into action.
groups. The will of the entire Torah is to be "learned" in order
people is not yet reborn. It must to be put into practice. Visions
be if the people is to survive. For are to be seen in order to be em-
that rebirth of a people and • bodied in realities. he will to-
people's single will to life is be- ward the survival and the good of
yond all question the "refuah" Israel is to be wholly roused and
which the Eternal has designed to become identical with the total
for the "makkoth" of our time. will, with the total inner man. So
The matter may be illustrated and only so will we have • better
by a single symbolical life and year. So and only to will we do
tragedy. Bitter news comes that our duty as Jews and as men, our
the well-known Viennese man of duty to Israel and our duty to
letters, Felix Salton, aged 70, it humanity. We ourselves are the
in the concentration camp of Da. "refuah," the remedy of the Eter-
DEMOCRACY AT HOME
the Columbia Broadcasting
system in which Dr. Stephen
S. Wise. chairman of the ex-
excutive cvommittee of the
United Palestine Appeal, will
be the principal speaker.
Madame Goeta Ljunberg,
noted soprano, formerly of the
Metropolitan Opera Company,
will be the featured artist.
The Iligh Holy Day broad-
cast, which is to be presented
under the auspices of the
United Palestine Appeal, will
be heard over Station WABC
in New York and other sta-
tions of the Columbia chain
throughout the country on
Sunday afternoon, Sept. 25.
from 4 to 4.30 p. m.
In addition to Madame Ljun-
berg's appearance on the pro-
gram, the broadcast will also
include ritual music by the
choir of the Free Synagogue
under the direction of Prof.
A. W. Binder.
During the course of his
address Dr. Wise is expected
to review developments in the
past year in Jewish life
throughout the world and dwell
on the significance of the re-
building of Palestine as a ma-
jor force in the solution of
the problem of Jewish suffer-
ing in various parts of the
world.
The United Palestine Appeal
is now conducting a nation-
wide campaign to raise $4,-
500,000 for the settlement in
Palestine of Jews of Germany,
Austria, Poland and other
lands.
nal—we, our hearts, our souls,
our burningly awakened wills.
Mankind watches us; part of the
good of all the world is in our
keeping. In the will of every
Israelite the roads of choice cross
today. The decision is to be made
now; the re-dedication is to be
achieved today. Never was a be-
ginning of a year more fateful in
the long history of Israel. But
fate does Oct depend upon the
world. Its essence depends upon
us, upon Jews, upon each Jew
and his love of his people and his
valiant hope for it and his de-
termination that all he is and has
will be placed in the service of
its survival and redemption.
(copyright, Mk S. A F. R.)
"Trust in the Lord with all
thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all
thy ways acknowledge him, and
he shall direct thy paths."
—Proverbs 3:6, 6.
Men must eat many a peck
of• salt together before the claims
of friendship are fulfilled.
—Cicero
Everything is pardoned use
want of tact.
of a new owl. order? Thew are some of the 11.1 questions diseussed
and answered by Miss Tito/Noon, oar of the greatest of women Journalist..
It is characteristic of these
times that we discuss democracy
and freedom with a clear impli-
cation that both of them are on
the defensive. Apparently our
liberal democracy is on the de-
fensive on two fronts, externally
against the powers outside that
are not democratic and that are
bombarding the rest of the world
with anti-democratic propaganda
and internally against our real
or imagined enemies within.
Unfortunately, democ-
racies don't even seem to agree
about the external ideological
enemies to be onnosed to say noth-
ing of internal ones. The Soviet
Union represents the ideal of
many of our brethren of the left
who consider the American way
of life merely a botrgeoisie al-
ready in an advanced stage of dis-
integration. Fascism; on the other
hand, is their King Charles' head,
and they want us all to mobilize
against it not because it also
menaces our society, which it cer-
tainly does, but because it threat-
ens to become the successor of
the present social order, and they
want to inherit it themselves.
The real weakness of democ-
racy, it seems to me, comes from
the fact that in a world with
very clearly defined other ideolo-
gies, people who claim to believe
in democracy seem unable to
clarify even in their own minds
what it is they really believe in,
and at all points they qualify
their belief. They believe in
democracy providing it works,
and sometimes when you ask
what democracy has to do in or-
der to prove that it works, you
find that it has to do all the things
that despotisms do, onl• do it
without despotism.
Now, it seems to me that it is
high time to come out and say
that there are lots of things that
despotisms can do that democ-
racies can't do and remain democ-
racies. Some of these things seem
to be at first sight impressive and
desirable. In the field of domes-
tic affairs and particularly in the
field of economics, whole masses
of our people are asking for things
that the despotisms claim to have
accomplished and that we certain-
ly haven't accomplished, and even
in high and responsible govern-
ment circles we are being told
that we are challenged and that
unless we can do these things,
democracy is a failure, the infer-
ence being that democracies are
going to have to bribe their citi-
zens in ...order to obtain their
loyalty.
The government is being asked,
for instance. to guarantee the
economic existence of every in-
dividual and to guarantee that
every individual will have satis-
factory work at a satisfactory
annual wage, work that he likes
to do, a field that he likes to do
it in, otherwise democracy will
not be justified, and all sorts of
devices are being thought up to
bring about this unquestionably
highly desirable end.
But democratic government—
government, mind you — cannot
do this. It is my firm belief that
a democratic society as distin-
guished from government is a
society in which the energies of
the people are released, in which
high standards of official work are
encouraged, in which punitive re-
strictions are minimized, and in
which the main activity of gov-
ernment in the economic sphere
is confined to setting of reason-
able and universal rules, taking
carefully planned action to sup-
plement private initiative when
and in so far as that is demon-
strably necessary, and devising a
taxation s-stem that will operate
to keep production and distribu-
tion going rather than clog it.
It is my firm belief that this sort
of society can produce and dis-
tribute a greater amount of, con-
sumable wealth and national in-
come than any other system that
we yet know about, and so give
the average man a higher stand-
ard of living than any other 'sys-
tem that we yet know about.
But government in such a so-
ciety cannot guarantee the in-
dividual that he will live again in
a Garden of Eden, protected
against all the exigencies of life
by a benevolent state and even
without any increased effort on
his part.
Now, I may add that despotisms
cannot do this either, but they
can perhaps come nearer to guar-
anteeing universal security at a
very low level of existence until
they get into war. We shall have
to wait on history to see whether
even this is so. The German
government, for instance, can for
the time being guarantee that
everybody shall have work, but
everybody cannot have work of
his own choosing; he has got to
take what is offered and not to
take what is offered becomes a
penal offense. Ile has to be will-
ing to serve in the army, work in
labor camps, and stay on the
farm if the state decides that that
is the sphere where he belongs
or what the state under condi-
tions determines for him and do
precisely what he is told. In re-
turn for doing that, the govern -
ment guarantees his existence,
and he pays for it with his con-
science, his freedom, even with
his immortal soul.
Our form of democratic gov-
ernment can't do this. No gov-
ernment can do this unless it has
complete control over all the
means of production and distribu-
tion of wealth. It may get that
PLEASE
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