America Avisk Periodial Cotter
November 29, 1940
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE end the Legal Chronic!.
HOOK AT CENTER
urely Commentary • By Philip Slomovitz FORUM TUESDAY
Will Speak on "A So-
Numerical Versus Spiritual Strength
Our Columnists Write—But Do
cial Philosophy
They Read?
Edmund I. Kaufmann, president of the Zion-
for Jews
ist Organization of America, challenged Detroit
H. L. Mcites, editor and publisher of the Chi-
P
and the intellectual tendencies of
the Jewish people.
The remaining two events in
the series include the lecture-
recital on "The Cavalcade of
Jewish Music" on Tuesday, Dec.
10, with Maurice Friedman, bari-
tone, and Susie Michael, pianist-
narrator; and the address by
Maurice Samuel, noted author,
lecturer and traveller, on the
subject "The Great Hatred", in
which he will develop an unique
analysis of the nature of anti-
Semitism, on Dec. 17.
Zionists to be more active than ever before. Dur- cago Jewish Chronicle, writes a column of "Jot-
Sidney Hook, professor of
ing his visit here—the city of his birth—he said tings" for his paper and he signs them with his
he was "chagrined" that Detroit's Zionist Organ- initials. In a recent column he had the following philosophy and chairman of the
philosophy department of New
ization should have only about 800 members, paragraph:
and his demand is for the enrollment of 8,500
"A popular columnist in the Anglo-Jewish press York University, will appear in
Detroiters as members of the Zionist Organiza- asks: 'Why has Maurice Samuel's "The Great the Jewish Community Center's
Hatred" been ignored by the book reviewers so
tion of America.
Here is the basis of Mr. Kaufmann's demand: far?' Judging by Samuel's "You Gentiles" and
Egg Roll — Fried Shrimps 1
Ile takes the number of Jews in a community, other works in which he displayed "great hate"
and All Kind. of
divides it by five—on the accepted assumption and vitriolic chutzpah, it is no wonder that reput-
GENUINE CHINESE FOOT?
able
critics
ignore
him
and
his
writings,
As
a
that the average family numbers that many—
6 Course Dinners — 60c
divides the result in two and asks for that many translator Samuel is ace high, but as an original
members. For this city, the result would be 8,500. writer—he is not so hot . . . "
we Deliver Anywhere
If it were not so rash, this statement would
Those who have been active in Jewish move-
Phone
TERRACE 2.9292
ments for years will be puzzled by this demand. be extremely funny. One may disagree with Mr.
catering. to Parties, Banquets, eta.
Samuel—as
many
do—but
no
one,
even
critics
Bnai Brith has campaigned for members for years
his "You Gentiles", need be so unreasonable
and has valiantly pleaded for support of its anti- of
defamation program. Yet, even the most optimis- as to say that "he is not so hot" as a writer.
• tic person would not admit that it is possible to Because a man calls a spade a spade does not
disqualify him from writing; and because a per-
secure unlimited dues-paying members. There son takes a differing view in politics he does not
3820 CASS AVE.
may be five times that numbers who sympathize necessarily lose his writing power.
with a given program, but it would be difficult
The truth is that Mr. Samuel is as brilliant
to enroll them as dues-paying' members. Not all with his pen in original writing as he is in trans-
people, you know, are "joiners".
lations (translating is his least important task),
It is different in a fund-raising campaign. and as effective as his speeches.
More than 20,000 Detroit Jews have contributed
Furthermore, this columnist, who has read
to the Allied Jewish Campaign. They automatic- "The Great Hatred", endorses the view of out-
ally became endorsers of the Palestine reconstruc- standing Christian as well as Jewish theologians
tion program since their gifts include contribu- that it is a great book. It is tragic that the press
tions to Jewish National Fund, Keren Hayesod, —with the exception of the liberal weeklies and
Hebrew University and several other Palestinian monthlies—ignores books which deal with reli-
gious issues. For this reason, "The Great Hatred"
Funds.
PROF. SIDNEY HOOK
When you think of Detroit you must also con- has been unfairly ignored.
Mr. Meites ran away with a prejudice when second annual lecture and con-
sider the large enrollment in Zionist forces. Next
to the synagogues, the Zionist movement has the he penned the paragraph we have just quoted. cert series, on Tuesday, Dec. 3,
largest organizational enrollment. The combined Is it possible that men who write columns do not at 8:30 p. m.
Prof. Hook is one of the fore-
strength of all Zionist parties here is in excess read some of the things they criticize?
most contemporary American
of 4,000. You can't ignore this fact in evaluating
•
philosophers. He is the author
Detroit's possibilities for Zionist membership cam-
The Bible-Reading Proclamation
of "From Hegel to Marx", "John
paigns.
Dewey: An Intellectual Portrait",
This must not be interpreted as differing with
A proclamation has been issued by the Zionist "Reason, Social Myths and De-
Mr. Kaufmann's challenge. The president of the Council of Detroit, calling upon organizations to
Zionist Organization of America is justified in open their meetings with a reading from the mocracy", and numerous articles
making the demand that this community—he Bible. This call coincides with the action taken in philosophical journals. He has
calls himself "one of us" since he was born here by the Vaad Leumi of Palestine for daily Bible held a Guggenheim fellowship,
has had a singularly successful
—should have an enrollment of several thousand readings.
as educator, and has par-
The proposal is an interesting one, even if it career
members.
But suppose the Zionists fail to secure such a does admit that the People of the Book have ticipated actively in progressive
large enrollment? Then, they must not be dis- neglected their Book. The truth is that all peo- social movements of American
•
couraged, since numerical strength is not every- ples are abandoning or have abandoned the Holy life. He is an acute thinker, a
great teacher, and engaging pop-
thing. They continue to possess the spiritual Scriptures.
LEADER is not just a cleaner
strength which makes the movement the pre-
There was a time when the Bible was the in- ular
lecturer.
—LEADER is a specialist in
The
subjec t of Professor
dominant factor in Jewry, and such strength is dispensable Book in all homes. The world's great-
cleaning Rugs, Carpets and
by far the more important asset to a movement. est statesmen were inspired by the Bible. Even Hook's address will be "Promise
Upholstered Furniture.
You can not eliminate the emotional and the today, the most brilliant oartors and writers are without Dogma—a Social Philos-
sentimental from a movement. On the contrary, those who are able to draw upon Holy Scriptures. ophy for Jews". In this address,
LEADER
The Zionist Council of Detroit will have ren- he will examine the various com-
without it a cause can not survive. A people's
Carpet
Cleaning
Company
aspirations are valueless without sentiment, just dered a great service if it succeeds in encourag- peting social philosophies of to-
as an individual home or a community or a na- ing a revival of interest in and concern for the day in the light of the interests
tion is worthless without the spiritual element. B ible. But t it would be a travesty on the call of
Thus, numbers may denote strength in time the Vaad Leumi of Palestine if use of the Bible
of war; they do not denote power for us whose were to be limited to a brief reading at the
weapons are the moral and ethical codes and the opening of an organizational program. The Pal-
ONE OF THE MOST MODERN IN THE STATE
appeals to justice which mark our claims for estine National Council issued its original call
NEW PUPILS NOW BEING ENROLLED
human rights, as a nation and as individuals. more than a year ago for all Jews, as individuals,
11812
Linwood Ave., corner Tuxedo, upstairs
at
Mr. Kaufmann need not feel discouraged if to turn back to the Bible, to read a portion from
SIMON RICHARDSON, Principal
the dues-paying numerical strength of the Zion- Holy Scriptures daily, to seek consolation in the
ist Organization of America will not be 500,000. present crisis in the Book of Books, and to make
Private Lessons Can Be Arranged
It is far in excess of that in the endorsement of use of the Book also in time of joy.
Transportation
furnished for children who live at a
the movement among the masses of American
Here is a call that ought to be heeded by all
distance from the school.
faiths, since the Bible today belongs to mankind.
Jewry.
For information call TOwnsend 6.1698
But the Jews, who have given the Bible to the
•
world,
should
be
the
first
to
return
to
it.
Will
Business Men as Leaders
they?
During Edmund I. Kaufmann's visit in Detroit
•
there was a lot of talk about business men being
Labor Was the Nazis' Target
at the head of important Jewish movements.
Is Mr. Kaufmann's ascent to national leader-
Rep.
Clare Hoffman of Michigan would curb
ship a departure from previous policies, and is
the unions and make it illegal for workers to
his choice, as a business man, unique in Jewish strike as means of preventing interference with
community affairs? Not al all. In local communi-
GET IN TOUCH WITH
ties business leaders have always been at the preparedness.
At the same time, the American Federation of
head of community projects. They have directed Labor
is planning voluntary banning of strikes
Federations, Zionist organizations, charity move-
during national emergency.
ments, educational institutions.
In planning cooperation of all elements in our
Nationally, too, business men have been lead- population it would be well for our legislators
ers in Jewish affairs. They are at the head of to remember that one of the Nazis' first targets
important departments in the J. D. C., in the
to the Jews—was labor.
Zionist Organization of America, in the ORT, —next
Let Labor plan its own program of curbing
even in labor movements.
And on the world front, the business man's strikes, of guaranteeing wholhearted cooperation
assumption of a share in the responsibility of with the Government; but the legislative branch
of our Government should be careful lest its ac-
handling Jewish matters is not a departure from tions should serve to give a severe blow to the
Wyandotte
Detroit Phone
established precedent. The outstanding instance strongest force for democracy—a powerful labor
Phone 0650
Vinewood 2-3060
of a business man as a leader was the late David
SALES AND SERVICE
Wolfsohn, who succeeded Dr. Theodor Herzl as movement.
The action of the A. F. of L. is logical; that
president of the World Zionist Organization. of Rep. Hoffman is dangerous to the security of
Wyandotte, Mich.
2400 Biddle Avenue
Business men have been at the head of the Keren our form of government.
Kayemeth (Jewish National Fund), the Keren
•
Hayesod (Palestine Foundation Fund), the Jew-
ish Colonial Bank, and other Zionist agencies.
Richards and His "Keidansky Discourses"
In most instances, leadership entailed experi-
ence in handling the affairs of the agencies in
Two issues back we commented upon Louis
Adamic's "From Many Lands", a significant new
volved.
Not to be forgotten also is the fact that Jewish Harper publication, and called attention to the
business men who were community leaders were revival of interest in this book in Bernard G.
not devoid of culture, that some of our business Richards' "Discourses of Keidansky". A number
leaders in the Old World were men of the world of readers called to inquire whether Richards'
who were equipped with knowledge of the secular interesting work is still procurable. It is—in some
sciences as well as of Hebraic values.
libraries. But the volume is not to be gotten on
In the instance of the Zionist Organization the market, having been published a generation
We invite your mortgage business.
of America, there is one thing to remember: ago.
Zionism, besides being a colonization movement,
Mr. Adamic, in addition to making a great
It will receive our careful considera-
is also a political movement. To be a Zionist personal contribution to the cause of American-
tion fro'r inception to completion.
leader requires statesmanship, it requires ability ism with his "From Many Lands", has rendered
of a sort that may be totally unnecessary in other a service to the Jewish community by calling
attention again to a nearly-forgotten classic. The
movements.
Mr. Kaufmann is an intimate friend of former discussion of "Keidansky's Discourses" by Mr.
S
Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis, at Adamic should help create a demand for the
whose request—so it is said—he became a mem- republishing of "The Discourses of Keidansky".
ber of the Zionist Organization of America many It is a volume that should be re-read today, in
years ago. He has the ear of men and women the light of latest world developments and the
who have had great experience in directing the aggravated position of Jewry in this country. We
1605 BARLUM TOWER
political affairs of Zionism. The rank and file add our own voice to the urgent request—to Mr.
of the American Zionists therefore expect that Richards and to a far-sighted publisher—to issue
Mr. Kaufmann's leadership will be as fruitful in a revised edition of this splendid book.
wise action as were previous administrations.
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