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P urely Commentary •
Hendrik Willem Van Loon
Hendrik Willem Van Loon, brilliant author,
cartoonist, geographer, historian, musician, lec-
turer—there are a few additional appellations
which properly belong after his name—is one
of America's outstanding fighters for the cause
of justice and liberty. His coming to Detroit,
therefore, to address the convention banquet of
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations is
an event of great significance.
Van Loon belongs to that small group of men
who do not pull their punches. H, hits straight
and hard, and he knows what he is fighting for.
Back in 1925, Van Loon wrote a book on "Tol-
erance". A short time ago this volume appeared
in a revised edition published by Liveright. He
wrote an introduction to the new volume in
which he said:
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"As far as I understand the present situa-
tion, it is too late for a direct c ounter-attack
with any hope of success. We encouraged the
enemy to come in. We gave him every sort of
safeguard until he felt himself strong enough
to turn directly upon his protectors and to
doom them to a life of shameful degrada-
tion—a life without liberty. But in the few
corners of our planet where a semblance of
freedom survives, it is the duty—the impera-
tive duty—of those who have retained some
hold upon their sense of fairness and right-
eousness to save and preserve themselves
for the day when tl-ey can begin the work of
reconstruction.
"No one should accept this as an expres-
sion of defeatism or as the counsel of one
who is afraid to accept battle. Far from it!
Only facts are facts and due to our unpar-
donable carelessness and our unwillingness to
have the courage of our responsibilities, we
have lost so much territory that temporarily,
at least, we must withdraw and then prepare
for a new campaign of enlightenment.
"This will impose upon us the task of drill-
ing ourselves in the manual of tolerance
with much greater care than we have ever
done before. There should be an end to
our easygoing indifference and we must
above all rid ourselves of the notion that
such things can't happen over here. They
not only can, they already have and far too
frequently. While boldly accepting the
harsh discipline of any army that is called
upon to fight a desperate battle, we must
steadfastly get ready for the joyous hour
when once more we can march forward to
bring about the ultimate and enduring tri-
umph of that power of reason which alone
can set us free.
"And there, my friends, is a job for a
few strong-hearted volunteers. I grant you
it will be the most difficult campaign ever
undertaken, but one which carries with it a
reward far outshining all others. For the sur.
vivors of that glorious warfare will be hailed
as the true benefactors of mankind—as those
who have delivered the human race from
the bondage of those age-old prejudices of
self-righteous superiority which, whenever
combined with suspicion and fear, will turn
even the humblest and mildest of citizens
into the most ferocious animals of all crea-
tion and the sworn enemies of the ideal of
tolerance."
5
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle
April 25, 1941
MICHIGAN STATE DEPARTMENT OF
By Philip Slomovitz JEWISH WAR VETERANS TO HAVE
ALL-DAY CONVENTION SUNDAY
do something. This, my friend, is a war to decide
whether all of us shall be free or accept slavery.
I am on the whole for that freedom without
which I can not imagine living at all.'
"These are serious charges, and because they
come from a man as eminent and as sincere
as Mr. Van Loon they should be given deserved
consideration."
Let the admonitions sink in. They are as timely
today as they were when they were first uttered.
National Commander, F. B. I. Chief Bugas and Other
Leaders to Address Banquet; Radio Program
Saturday Evening
Attendance of 500 people is ex-
pected at the Jewish War Vet-
eran's State Department annual
convention, Sunday, April 27, at
the Book Cadillac Hotel.
A banquet will be given in honor
•
of national commander of the
An Old Story With a New Angle
Jewish War Veterans, Fred S.
"Bulletins From Britain," issued by the British Harris of Connecticut.
On Saturday evening, April 26,
Library of Information, contains the following
Mr. Harris will be the guest
story:
speaker on the Michigan Jewish
A Lance-Corporal at Sidi Barrani, after
War Veteran's 29th Goodwill Ra-
considerable maneuvering, succeeded in gain-
dio program over State WWJ,
ing a position 30 yards behind a n Italian
7-7:15 p. m.
machine gun nest—when he r ealized that he
The convention and banquet pro-
had forgotten to bring a bomb along. Not
gram includes addresses by the
to be thwarted, he just stood up , blew his
following: Dr. Robert Rosen, de-
whistle, fixed his bayonet and, signalling to
partment commander; Harry
imaginary comrades, shouted: "Outside with
Schaeffer, Samuel Rhodes, Samuel
your rifles, you !" It acted like a
Zusmann, 1)r. Perry Burnstine,
charm.
Arthur Fixel, Otto A. Silvers, El-
As a sequel came a high commendation
lis E. Goldberg, Jack Ellenstein,
from his Colonel for getting the prisoners;
William Bobier, national vice-com-
and from his Company Commander came
mander, William Berman, J. S.
a sound condemnation for forgetting his
bomb.
This anecdote serves to remind us of the story
told during World War I about a Russian Jewish
soldier who kept on bringing in large numbers
of Austrian and German prisoners. His superior
officers commended him and inquired as to the
secret of his successes. He explained that every
morning he made it a practice to go out of his
trench and shout to the enemy: "Yidden, es felt
zu a minyan" ("Jews, we are short of a min-
yan.") (A minyan, you know, is a group of
ten men necessary to form a quorum for prayer).
Thereupon, groups of "enemies" would appear
to participate in services, and he would capture
them.
These are all old stories—with new angles—
except that the Sidi-Barani lance corporal's story
is claimed to be absolutely true.
Final Meeting of Shaarey
Zedek Y.P.S. on May 24
The Young Peoples' Society of
Congregation Shaarey Zedek will
hold its last regular meeting of
this season on Sunday, May 24,
at 3:30 p. m., in Room 302 of
the synagogue. Election of the
board of directors for the 1941-
1942 season will take place at
that time. Members in good
standing only will be admitted
to this meeting.
•
Dr. Chaim Weizmann's Wit
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, Jewry's outstanding
leader, is known as a brilliant chemist, as a
statesman, as an inspiring leader. His friends
also know him as a wit. He loves to hear a good
story, and he loves to tell one.
The gravity of the present world situation has
caused his addresses to be grimly serious. But
there was diversion in the speech he delivered
at the "Third Seder" of the Jewish National
Workers in New York on April 13. For the first
time in years, he delivered his address in Yid-
dish. (Detroiters will recall that when Dr. Weiz-
mann spoke here in 1921, shortly before the
historic Cleveland convention of the Zionist Or-
ganization of America, he also spoke in Yiddish.)
There was wit and wisdom in that address. It was
the Weizmann who failed from the Jewish
masses speaking to the Jewish masses.
At that interesting gathering, which was also
addressed by U. S. Senator Alben W. Barkley,
Majority Leader, Dr. Weizmann spoke of the
Seder, pointed out that in the Diaspora Jews ob.
serve two Sedorim, while in Palestine there is
But a true libertarian never gives up the battle,
only one, and in this country some groups now
and the sentiment with which Van Loon closed have three Sedorim. "The closer you get to Pal-
his volume "Tolerance," back in 1925, retains
estine," Dr. Weizmann said, "the less Sedorim
its significance, and its long-range faith, in the
you have."
following words:
The most interesting point in his address was
"The day will come when tolerance shall
the reference he made to "commissions" and
be the rule, when intolerance shall be a
"surveys". Jews are so often inclined to appoint
myth like the slaughter of innocent captives,
"commissions," to "survey" situations, to go into
the burning of widows, the blind worrhip of a
"research" of issues. Therefore Weizmann spoke
printed page.
of the first commission of this sort. and said:
"It may take ten thousand years, it may
"In these days of Passover, we are mindful
take a hundred thousand.
"But it will come, and it will follow close
upon the first true victory o f which history
shall have any record, the triump:1 of man
over his own fear."
An interesting story is connected with Van
Loon's attitude toward the Jews. On May 12,
1931, this column carried a long article on "Van
Loon on Jewish Leadership"'. A portion of that
comment was as follows:
"In a recent issue we commented on Hendrik
Willem Van Loon's introduction to Konrad Hei-
den's 'The New Inquisition," a new Modern Age
Books publication, in which he said: 'Hitler knew
perfectly well that he talked nomense when he
began to agitate for a race of pure Aryans, for
there is no such thing as a "pure" Aryan and
never has been. Herr Hess, too, his trusted ghost
writer must have had his tongue in his check
when he dictated those chapters devoted to the
inherent wickedness of the Jew. But it was a
swell story, for the Jews, by some queer kink in
their own make-up, have never been able to de-
fend themselves. They are too individualistic—
too hopelessly divided into groups and cliques to
offer any sort of organized resistance to attacks
of this sort.' Our comment at that time was that
'action will bring about the desired unity,' and
we pointed out that 'inactivity has divided us.'
Whereuon we received from Mr. Van Loon the
following interesting personal note:
" 'I am afraid, my dear sir, that I have to
agree with you. I am 101 per cent Aryan but
I came from a people to whom the idea of racial
discrimination is so silly as to be almost abhor-
rent. I have spent all my time these last days
and weeks and my last penny on the refugees.
Three times during my own career when I was
desperately in need of understanding and help—
Jews stepped forward and saved me from sure
doom. Therefore whatever I did I did gratefully.
It gave me a chance to pay my debt.
" 'But I am in despair when I see the bad lead-
ership of your race at the present moment. I
hope you have the courage and the strength to
of the climax of the story of the Exodus.
Moses the Lawgiver sent a dozen spies ahead,
to scout out the Land of Canaan. Of these
twelve, only two came back with a 'favorable'
report. Whereas the majority saw the huge
obstacles and dreaded the task of building
their promised land, these two—Joshua and
Caleb—viewed these very same barriers as
mere challenges. So in our own days, there
have been those who have pointed out the
hardships involved—practical, political—and
they have sought other solutions to the Jew-
ish problem, other 'easier' lands to settle.
But that handful which half a century ago
went to Palestine and saw the hardships,
set out to conquer them. These are modern
Joshuas, who can make suns stand still as
they toil day and night to create a Home-
land, and defend it!
"When this war is over, and we remain
firm in our belief that the right side will
win, we hope that reason and common sense
will prevail in the settlement of the world's
problems. And in that reasonable and com-
mon sense solution, there can be no question
as to the place of Palestine. The Jewish
people desires but one o pportunity—the op-
purtunity to rebuild the Palestine Jewish
Commonwealth. There may be other programs
offered, but none will suffice or endure save
the recreation of the Jewish National Home
among a family of democracies.
"The Jewish 'pariahs' of modern times will,
like our ancestors who were once subjects
of Pharaoh, once again build for themselves
a nook in a tiny c orner of the globe. There
in Palestine they will again live as normal
human beings, they will create anew accord-
ing to that measure of genius which Provi-
dence has granted us."
It is necessary to read the Yiddish text of
Dr. Weizmann's address to be able to appreciate
the significance of these references. As a typical
(Continued on Page 16)
Bugas, F.B.I. chief of Detroit
area.
Governor Murray D. VanWag-
oner is expected to attend the
banquet.
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