Americam ifewish Periodical Cotter
Jadatit
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5
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle
May 10, 1940
pui ely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Anti-Semitism—Chameleon of History
for the humanizing of our educational system is
for the parents to display the interest they owe
• Rev. Dr. Edward J. Hickey, Chancel- to the institutions in which their boys and girls
Ver ■
The the Archdiocese of Detroit, has distin- are acquiring a Jewish education. The commend-
ci
d
able loyalty of te h teachers and principals
and
for of himself greatly with a significant raio
guished he delivered recently on the "Church of the schools' supe rintendent is the co mmunity's
theress
Air" program. Chancellor Hickey explained great asset. It can be increased by the devotion
add
persecution. brutalizes the persecutor and of those who should be most concerned, the
how
made the emphatic declaration that parents.
"Anti-Semitism has been the chameleon of
onstantly changing its ground;
history; it is c
it is always making new appeals to the par-
It appropriates
ticular prejudices of the age.
the most hated labels of any period and at-
taches
them to this unhappy people."
Chancellor Hickey's complete statement de-
nouncing anti-Semitism is one of the finest we
have heard, and it is so effective that it deserves
the widest circulation. "Anti-Semitism is simply
anti-Christianity," Dr. Hickey said, and offered
the following rebuke to Christians who abuse their
faith by resorting to hatred:
"Now if I were a Jew, living in the tempest
of anti-Semitic campaign, I am afraid that I
should doubt that Christians ever heard Christ's
command to love their enemies. The yellow news-
papers of Germany vomit forth the most frightful
abuse of the Jews. The brutality of storm troop-
ers falls on Jewish women and old men and little
children. Doctors are driven out of their hospitals.
It becomes a public sport to smash Jewish shops;
it is a national contest to see who can steal most
from the Jews that can no longer claim the
protection of the police. Jewish families cluster
together in the protective dark, wondering when
the fist that clutches an automatic will beat on
their door. Jewish mothers see their daughters
attacked, their sons beaten. Old men feel hot,
torturing fingers twisting in their beards. It has
become an achievement to smash the face of a
Jew. It has become a literary triumph to invent
new insults to heap upon them."
Chancellor Hickey understands the position of
the Jew; therefore lie knows the guilt of the
Christians.
There are sonic in our own community who fit
into the picture of anti-Semitic guilt. Would that
they could be made to understand the Rev.
Hickey's address!
If only this great address could heal sonic of
the sick souls responsible for the conditions de-
scribed by this great Catholic!
•
Business and Professional of
Hadassah to Be Addressed
by Dr. Alvin D. Hersh on
Tuesday
On Tuesday, May 1-1, at 8 p. m.,
the Business and Professional Di-
vision of Hadassah will hold its
monthly meeting at the home of
Mrs. Maurice Landau, 8355 La-
Salle Blvd. At the conclusion of
the business meeting, the program
will be devoted to an address on
Dr. Theodor Herzl to be delivered
by Dr. Alvin D. Hersh. Members
of the Zionist Organization have
been invited to attend.
Mrs. Landau, chairman of the
Central States Region of Busi-
ness and Professional Division of
Hadassah, will discuss the plans
being formulated for the regional
conference to be held in Toledo
on Sunday, May 19, which will
he attended by members from
Youngstown, Akron, Cleveland,
Toledo, Detroit and Flint.
We Applaud Equality Magazine
Equality Magazine stands in the forefront of
American periodicals that are fighting consistently
and staunchly for truth and for the defense of
human rights.
Only a year old, Equality has already achieved
success in its efforts to fight Coughlinism, the
Christian Front and other bigoted movements,
and recently attracted wide attention with its
well documented and factual open letter to Arch-
bishop Spellman of New York condemning the
activities of anti-Semites and supporters of the
Royal Oak disseminator of hate.
Periodicals like Equality create the necessary
media for the vigilant who eternally keep on
guard against abuse of libertarian principles.
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Trujillo and the Dominical Refuge
Only 15 More Applications Can Be
Accepted!
Miss Freda Kirchwey, editor of the Nation,
recently wrote on "Caribbean Refuge," describing
the offer for the settlement of refugees in the
Phone or write lot appointment or information to:
Dominican Republic and the part played in the
negotiations by the dictator of Santo Domingo,
President Trujillo. Miss Kirchwey's views are
based on personal experiences on her trip to
Santo Domingo, in the company of the first refu-
gee settlers. Pointing out that the Dominican
Republic—better known in the past for the
exiles it has turned out than for hospitality to
TYLER 5-2259, Evenings
2516 PINGREE, DETROIT
victims of persecution"—was the only country
TYLER 5-8600, Days
that answered the call for the havens of refuge
sounded at Evian, France, by the Intergovern-
mental Committee for Political Refugees, the
Nation's editor expresses confidence that the suc-
cess of the Dominican project will open other
avenues of colonization for refugees.
Why is Trujillo so anxious to settle refugees
in Santo Domingo, having given valuable tracts
of his own for the exiles? Miss Kirchwey ex-
plains that this man is "It personal dictator, un-
hampered by ideology"; that he "can be magnani-
•
Children of early school age, or even younger,
mous when he happens to feel like it; and he
can be a statesman." She explains Trujillo's de-
reach their late 'teens and early twenties almost
"Yizkor"—In Memory of Millions
sire to make his country a "white" republic, and
before one knows it. Then comes the day when
Synagogues were packed on the concluding day
for that reason welcomes white settlers to over-
of Passover. Men and women came to recite the
balance the colored population in the land. "These
a college or higher technical education is neces-
Yizkor in memory of dear departed ones. Heavy motives," Miss Kirchwey writes, "are neither bet-
sary. Why not make sure now that funds for
hearts were relieved by prayer. In most instances, ter nor worse than the motives of most govern-
ments. Their very selfishness is a fair guaranty
the synagogues will now be empty until the next
their education will be ready when needed?
that Trujillo's promises will be kept. The refu-
Yizkor services.
I will be glad to show you how it can be done
How many among those in the large congrega- gees, especially those who come in under the
wing
of
the
Dominican
Republic
Settlement
Asso-
in a simple practical manner.
tions stopped to consider that Yizkor should be
recited today for millions of Jews who are being ciation, stand a good chance of peace and happi-
ness—at
least
as
long
as
Trujillo
holds
power."
uprooted and destroyed, and whose destruction
Here we find the tragedy of the average coloni-
spells the death of entire Jewish communities?
Today we are called upon to mourn not the zation movement. Throughout our history we
passing of individuals and those dearest to us, have been dependent upon the magnanamity o
1512 Union Guardian Building
but the decline of entire cities and villages. And individual kind rulers. Now, in the case of Tru-
Telephone — Randolph 0446
es we mourn we must think in terms of recon- jillo, we are again given assurances that the
struction. How can we best honor those who were refugees will have peace and happiness "at least
"'GREAT - WEST
nearest to us if not by saving their kinsmen who as long as Trujillo holds power." And after that,
COMPANY
AssurtAmcn
MIIAD OPPICIl• •W1011411.1[0
form the large body of Israel? —what? Are there assurances of the continuation
Perhaps we lay too much stress on the individ- of the agreements for amicable settlement of
ual Yizkor, without giving thought to collective refugees and the continued peaceful existence of
tragedy. those already colonized? Our negotiators must
Israel, Oh Israel! You must think of a tragedy remember to keep all the possible dangers of the
future in view in dealing with the fate of the
that is greater than that which can be solved
here with a few tears. What we need today is exiles.
•
courage derived from the traditional prayers for
A Child-Adoption Achievement
the good of an entire people.
Yizkor alone has never saved anyone. The
In June, 1916, the Free Synagogue of New
words of Yizkor without its spirit are valueless.
A few words of Yizkor in a limited time spent York founded a Child Adoption Committee under
GET IN TOUCH WITH
in the synagogue may prove worthless; the spirit the chairmanship of Mrs. Stephen S. Wise. The
of Yizkor translated into action can save a record of accomplishments by this committee is
so impressive that it should be known more
nation.
widely.
Less lip service and more action will save
Here are sonic interesting figures of this com-
Israel. Will Israel learn this lesson?
mittee's work:
Perhaps .. .
•
As of the end of 1939, this committee received
4,564 applications for the adoption of abandoned
Needed: A Parent-Teachers' Group
or orphaned children. The total number of chil-
d•en placed for adoption during that period
The tendency 'n Jewish ranks is for greater was 1935, and the total number of children
W y
interest in Jew ish learning and in Hebrew educa- adopted during these years was 1732. Of the
Detroit Phone
at
0650
P bo
tion. Even in most assimilated countries, shortly 4,564 applications received, 1,551 families at this
Vinewood 2-3060
SALES
AND
SERVICE
before the advent of Hitlerism, Jewish youth be-
writing remain open for consideration of their re-
gan to turn to the study of Hebrew and to peru-
quests by this committee.
Wyandotte, Mich.
2400 Biddle Avenue
sal of Jewish history for the sake of a loyalty
It is interesting .to note that "the Free Syna-
that was awakened by the nefarious forces that
threatened their existence. In many instances the gogue Child Adoption Committee is the only
agency caring for abandoned or orphaned Jew-
parents were antagonistic to their children's activi-
ties on the subject of Jewish loyalties, with the ish babies from birth to 12 years of age in in-
dividual country homes under the care of foster
youth proving in the right as a result of subse-
parents, where they are treated as members of a
quent experiences.
In a sense we are experiencing similar reac- family, until homes for permanent adoption can
be found for them."
tions in this country. While youth is enthusiastic
The remarkable achievement of this committee
over Jewish values, many of the elders remain
is clue in the main to the efforts of Mrs. Stephen
aloof from such loyalties. The United Hebrew
S. Wise. Like her husband, the eminent Zionist
Schools presented an interesting exhibit in proof
of this state of affairs during the Passover cele- and American Jewish Congress leader and the
Rabbi of the Free Synagogue, she has an enor-
brations. On several occasions the observances
drew large audiences of children, but their par- mous capacity for work, in spite of her own
We invite your mortgage business.
frailness. She is the president of the national
ents were conspicuous by their absence. Had the
Women's
Division
of
the
American
Jewish
Con-
It will receive our careful considera-
parents only of the young "actors" attended the
inspiring performances, it would have been nec- gress, she lectures extensively, is a good cam-
tion from inception to completion.
imigner, finds time to translate books from the
essary to turn away people from the halls, But the
parents are lukewarm even to the activities of French and is an able artist.
their own children, and that is a sad condition.
This great combination of Wise and Wise lias
What the different branches of the United
made American Jewry its debtor. When the
splendid child-adoption work is added to the many
Hebrew Schools need is the interest of parent-
teachers' associations. The parents must be other achievements to the credit of Mrs. Wise,
it becomes a matter of amazement that one per-
awakened to a sense of responsibility in the
Jewish training of their youngsters. They must SOP should be able to do so much constructive
1605 BARLUM TOWER
realize that it is more important to train Jewish work for the American Jewish community—and
hearts and to save Jewish souls than to be merely what is even more interesting is that there are
concerned with drapes and curtains and furnish- two people in one family with such tremendous
ings. The parents must introduce the human ele- capacity for service.
ment in the schools—and the first requirement
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