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July 5 040

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

P urely Commentary

There Is Strength In Our Weakness

Review the history of our people, study the
various cycles through which the tragic wheel of
Jewish destiny had moved during two millenia,
and you will find that we have been weak in per-
iods o f strength and have risen to great heights
during times of distress. There were times in ou:
d to be strong. Our
history when we appeare.
ffl uent.
people held powerful positions. W e were a
envied
us.
In
all
these
qualities
lay
The no
akne::s. Because we had then worshipped
Wt
our
strength and had forgotten our heritage. On the
other hand, during cycles of misery and want we
have been known to rise to great heights, to ac-
cept our fate with courage and dignity befitting
the people of the Maccabees. IVe created new vill-
videnced by the lasting contributions of
ties as e
Mosts ben Maimon IMaimonidesl who was an
exile from the land of his birth; and we elevated
not the purse but THE BOOK.
It is possible that the present period of misery
and distress may prove merely an introduction to
another great cycle in our history which will be
marked by the re-creation of faith, by the re-
evaluation and strengthening of spiritual values,
but the birth of a new era of greatness by "the
nation of priests" who will again aspire to be-
come "a holy people."
An indication of such new trends, of the re-
capture of faith by the Jews of Germany in de-
fiance of horrible persecutions, is given in a
special article published a few days ago by the
Christian Science Monitor from its correspondent
in Zurich, Switzerland. We present this article in
full since it throws new light on the present
situation, and especially because it proves that
the world has not ceased working in cycles which
are distressing most of the time but which have
their golden periods. The Christian Science Moni-
tory correspondent writes from Zurich;

Close acquaintance with the Jews of Ger-
many leaves the impression that they are hold-
ing their own in the "war of nerves" now
being waged in Europe. Indeed they appear
to have gained increased spiritual strength
through persecution.
During the first years of Nazi rule, the
Jews, unaccustomed to their new trials and to
isolation from the Germans, appeared to be
unnerved. Their only topic of conversation
was how to get out of Germany—affidavits,
visas, permission to travel—and the brooding
over new outrages practiced against them by
Brown Shirts.
As time went on, however, and the ranks
became thinner, those remaining learned to
find other topics of conversation and dis-
covered inner sources of spiritual strength
and courage.
The writer made a visit to a rabbi who
lived in the rear of a half-burned and ruined
synagogue in Mainz. The grounds were
guarded by an S. S. man who regarded
the writer suspiciously.
The rabbi was friendly and fearless though
surrounded by so many foes. A venerable and
learned scholar, he corroborated the observa-
tion that the Jews in Germany were return-
ing to their religion and to their holy books,
which they had neglected in their days of
prosperit y and for which they had suffered
much abuse from the Nazis. The book of
Job, he claimed, was a frequent source of
consolation.
Festivals, he continued, which had long
since fallen into disuse, have been renewed
in the intimate circle of family life. He men-
tioned particularly the celebratio n of the
memor y of the Maccabees, that warlike Jew-
ish family of the second century B. C. who
foLght for Jewish freedom.
At this festival the longing for Jewish free-
do m reglows in the hearts of young and old.
Th e rabbi considered faith to be the best
protectio n against persecution, which is more
inclined to demoralize than actually to be
fatal.
Famil y life, too, has become more im-

portant for the Jews, for they have been
barred from all entertainments and social
activit y among the Germans.
It was shortly after the Jewish New Year,
a day of mutual forgiveness of sins among
the Jews. The rabbi said that this year his
community had offered up special prayers for
th e Germans, that they might be forgiven
fo r th e outrages committed against the Jews.
For himself he hoped that the Jewish per-
secutio n would benefit the Germans rather
tha n injur e
them. "We German Jews are only
a small minority," h e said, "what happens to
us is not important. The Germans are, how-
ever, a large people with great possibilities
for their own good and the good of Europe.
We hope that they will realize them."
Amon g the Jew s the writer felt that the
most difficult trial was not to be able to
work at their former professions. Doctors,
lawyers, teachers, businessme n with rich
store s of knowledg
e and ability are standing
idle or forced to do work for which they were
not fitted.

On one occasio n a chid had been struck
by an automobil e and wit' lying unconscious
on a public street. The crtiltd was unable to
help. A Jew stepped forward and leaning
ove r
the child soon brought it back to con-
sciousnes s . The n
an S. S. man arrived o n the
scene. Suspecti ng
the man's Semitic ancestry,
he demanded challengingly, whethe r he had
treated the child. The crowd, however,
shouted :
"It does not matter. Let him go."
The Jew slipped quietly away.
The German s are fightin g
a war with ma-
terial means; the Jews ar e fighting a war
of patienc e
and endurance, their weapons
are purely spiritual and intellectual. The Ger-
mans
will lose many of their strongest char-
acter s
and moat talented in the great battles
being fought and run the risk of being
weakened and exhausted by the drainage on
their man power; of the Jews only the weak-

srd the Legs! Ch•crlcle

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

est are likely to perish in the silent war of
the rest seem ready to emerge
steeled by hardship and suffering and ready
with intellectual and spiritual weapons for
the economic warfare of peacetime.

Wins in I N. F. Quiz Jewish Community
Group Sponsors
Student Fliers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — (Reli-
gious News Servicel—The Jew-

ish Community Center of Kansas
City has announced that it will
sponsor at least 50 Jewish youths
in pilot training courses similar
to the Civil Aeronautics Author-
ity flying program.

This report should be read in the light of what
transpired in the past, in order that the reader
may appreciate the truth that "history repeats it-
self." It should be studied from the point of view
of Jewish traditional determination to carry on,
to refuse to despair, to aspire to create spiritual
values.
Israel is not dead, in spite of Nazi ideology.
Israel will yet make real his heritage, which
must become the heritage of all mankind if peace
is to r' ign on earth and justice rule among men.
•

A Business Man Heads Zionists

All conventions have been shattered in the se-
Amram Nowak, 15. student at
lection of the new president of the Zionist Organ-
Unspoiled Michigan offers more
ization of America—Edmund I. Kaufmann of the De Witt Clinton High School,
to the vacationist at lower cost
New
York
City,
who
won
the
Washington. He is a business man, is reputed to
e du.
first
prize
in
a
nation-wide
than any other state. Plan to
be a multi-millionaire, has made a success in the
we Michigan this year and have
furniture and jewelry business and as a hotel aticonal contest conducted by the
owner. This man, a native Detroiter, is the first Jewish National Fund's Youth
the outing of your life.
Department.
A
full
season's
stay
non-professional man to head the American Zion-
in
Camp
Achvah,
Goddefroy.
ist movement. Furthermore, he is the first man
New York, is his reward for giv-
We will gladly help you ar-
in history to be selected for such leadership al- ing the most perfect answers to
range a vacation at a cost you
though he has never been more than a dues-paying 75 questions pertaining to Jewish
member who had never attended a Zionist con- history, language and Palestine.
an easily afford.
vention and is not versed in problems of Zionist
affairs of state.
This is "Travel America
But the younger elements especially and the Charge Nazi Propagandists Incite
Indians Against U. S.
Year."
retiring president, Dr. Solomon Goldman, insisted
WASHINGTON. (WNS)—John
on his selection, and he is now the acknowledged
leader of the movement. It will, therefore, lot Collier, director of the Office of
interesting to watch his activities and to study Lndian Affairs, declared here
Phone or write for
the results of his efforts. Will American Jewish that paid Nazi propagandists
youth join the Zionist movement in the tens were trying to incite the 30,351,-
information.
of thousands, as was predicted? Will men of 000 Indians of the Western
wealth give more liberally for Palestine under his Hemisphere against the United
tutelage? Will the "reformation" promised by States. Mr. Collier said that the
the Kaufmann group bring strength to a great Nazis were concentrating on the
Detroit Terminal
ideal?
Indians below the Rio Grande
Now that the contest over the presidency is River, the campaign among In-
Washington Blvd.
ovt r. all Zionists will support their new leader dians in the United States meet-
at Grand River Ave.
and will hope that he will achieve that which his ing with little success.
supporters have promised for him. They have
He reported that the German-
CA. 9000
assumed a great responsibility in his name, and American Bund and the Silver
they will be given wholehearted and loyal support Shirts were active in this work.
to accomplish it.
"They are working among In-
It is to be sincerely hoped that the scenes dians in this country and 30,000,-
enacted at the Pittsburgh convention, and two 000 others in Peru, Bolivia,
years earlier at the 1938 convention in Detroit, Ecuador, Mexico and other coun-
will not be repeated again. Too much time has tries," he said.
been wasted in political maneuvers at Zionist con
ventions. Time has been limited in the considera-
tion of the major issues facing Zionism. This must
change.
Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Louis Lipsky and Dr.
Drop In For Lunch. Dinner or After the Theater or Party
Solomon Goldman emerged as the unquestioned
It aders of the Zionist movement in this country.
Try Our Special Sunday Dinner
Under their guidance. Mr. Kaufmann should suc-
Featuring
ceed in bringing a new spirit into American
Zionism.
Vienna Delicatessen, Steaks and Chops
In an article in the current issue of Harper's
Free Delivery to Any Part of the City
Magazine on "The Conventions and the Presi-
dency, Prof. Harold J. Laski uses the following
Phone University 2-9784
interesting sentence: "There is no generosity in
Private Dining Room for Parties, Banquets, etc.
the fight for power." Indeed, there was no gener-
osity in the fight for leadership at the Pittsburgh
DELICATESSEN
Zionist convention. But now that power has been
RESTAURANT
acquired by one group, all elements must recognize
that we must have generosity in Zionist fraternal
COCKTAIL LOUNGE
relationships. This is the present obligation of the
15361 LIVERNOIS—Paving of Livernois fully completed now.
leadership of the American Zionist movement.
Parking directly in front of Adler's.
•

BLUE GOOSE

LINES

Dine in Comfort, 70 0 Cool

ADLER'S

The Survey of Synagogues in Michigan

The Michigan Historical Records Survey's
study of Jewish congregations and organizations
in Michigan is a valuable acquisition which should
fill a long felt need. For years an effort has been
made to compile a survey of the state's syna-
vogues and important organizations. Except for
articles in year books published by The Detroit
.Jewish Chronicle and several articles by this
commentator, which were incorporated in recently
published encyclopedias, no extensive effort has
been made to complete the study and to include
in it all the synagogues in all the communities in
Michigan. While "Jewish Bodies" published with
the aid of the Federal Works Projects Adminis-
tration is far from complete, it is nevertheless the
fullest survey made thus far.
This study is valuable because it does not limit
itself to listing synagogues, a number of organ-
izations and cemeteries. Based on available data,
which is not easily procurable, this book presents
a birds-eye view of the history of the Jews in
Michigan. It should be helpful to the student of
Jewish affairs, and it is especially useful as a
directory of Michigan's congregations. Stuart
Portner, the director of this survey did a com-
mendable job.

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•

An Alley Cafeteria

Detroit has a distinction: it possesses "the Sliest
modern and elaborately appointed alley cafeteria
in the United States."
This is not an idle boast, since Jacob Chicorei
actually has an address-313 Bagley St.—which
leads to the alley in back of the Detroit Times
where his cafeteria relieves the pangs of hunger
of employees in all departments of the Times.
There is a story connected with "Jake" Chi-
corers "alley success." Chicorel came to this
country in 1916, from Turkey, where his ances-
tors settled after the Spanish Inquisition. Now,
he and Mrs. Chicorel, who are the parents of six
children, are among the heads of the small
Spanish-Jewish community in Detroit. Fifteen
years ago Chicorel opened his "alley restaurant,"
and among his daily diners are young men and
women who started their careers on the Times as
youngsters. They have stuck by him throughout
the years—and that is a great tribute to the
courteous manner of "Jake" Chicorel, who has,
in a sense, become an important part of the
Times organization.

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•

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