4ierialit 'apish Periodical Cotter
0
Commen Lary •
The Sholem Aleichem Anniversary
This month marks the 25th anniversary of
the death of Sholem Aleichem, great humorist
whose writings were like a tonic providing
strength for Jews in periods of sorrow.
An interesting tribute to Sholem Aleichem by
Ben Hecht appeared in a recent issue of PM.
The article concluded with the epitaph on Sholem
Aleichem's tombstone which Hecht rewrote as
follows:
Here lies a Jew, plain as an old vest
Who suffered like the devil but wrote
comedy the best,
Who made other Jews laugh—a very
fine sound
That doesn't help you much six feet
under ground.
Here lies a Jew as full of troubles
As any of his pious, hard-working
doubles,
Who took his woebegone body away
And left behind something so chuckling
and gay,
So full of laughter—the angels hardly
knew
They had been handed the remains of
a Jew.
4;.)
4
Under normal circumstances, it would have
been expected that the Jewish communities where
there is still freedom to hold Jewish celebrations
would set aside a period of time for the ob-
servance of this anniversary. But there is little
indication that there will be much celebrating,
and except for isolated articles in the Jewish
press, the occasion is being ignored. What is
the reason for such apathy and indifference?
We wonder whether the following release, which
came to us from the Newspaper Guild of New
York, is responsible for it:
71
,
5
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle
May 30, 1941
P urely
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO
"The 80-year-old widow of S h l e m
Aleichem, celebrated Yiddish writer and play-
wright, and her daughter will picket the
struck Jewish Day, at 183 East Broadway,
on Monday, May 19, from noon to 1 p. m.,
to 'protest against the desecration of my
husband's name on the 25th anniversary of
his death.'
"Mme. Sholem Aleichem and her daughter,
Mrs. Marusia Goldberg, will join a picket
line which has been maintained about the
newspaper by the Newspaper Guild of New
York ever since Feb. 14, when the Day
Unit of the Guild walked out on strike rather
than submit to discriminatory discharges and
pay cuts directed against its members.
"In a public statement of protest against
the Day's full page summation of Sholem
Aleichem's career, his widow said: 'I want
to express my deepest protest against the
Jewish Day, which has desecrated the name
of my husband on the 25th anniversary of
his death—and this at a time when the Day
has spread the most vicious canard against
my children (the strikers), who are on the
picket line at the very door of the Day and
have been there these past 13 weeks. I am
certain that if my husband had lived, he
would never have crossed that picket line
to enter the Day building and would not
have written a line for that struck news-
paper.' "
This release, of course, tells only one side of
the story involving the strike on the Day (Der
Tog). Sholem Aleichem's son-in-law, Dr. B. Z.
Goldberg, was charged with unethically present-
ing credentials to Communist writers while editor
of the Day, and was demoted. Others on the
staff had their salaries reduced and a strike
ensued. The main issue in the Jewish press with
relation to this strike is over formation of a
Jewish chapter of the Newspaper Guild by a
group who left the Perez Ferein which is the
recognized union of Jewish writers.
If the involvement of the survivors of Sholem
Aleichem in the strike on the Day contributes
in any way to the lack of attention given to the
anniversary of the death of the great humorist,
then another sad issue darkens the internal status
of the American Jewish community. Frankly, we
doubt whether even the widow of Sholem Aleichem
has a right to speak with certainty over what
attitude her great husband would have adopted
in an issue like that of the strike at the Day.
Certainly, we refuse to believe that he would
have condoned the slightest encouragement to
Communism among Jews. Also, we are not so
sure that he would have encouraged secession
from the Perez Ferein by a small group of writers
who should have felt obligated to retain unity
and strength in an organization of standing and
prestige in the Jewish community. But it is de-
plorable that the issue should have arisen, that
bitterness should have been created in Jewish
life, that Sholem Aleichem's name, instead of be-
ing honored on the anniversary of his death,
should have been made an occasion for rancorous
controversy.
In Detroit, the observance of the Sholem
Aleichem anniversary assumes a non-political and
impartial aspect, being sponsored by the Jewish
Community Council. A great name could have
been honored at countrywide impressive events
had other communities resorted to sponsorship
similar to Detroit's.
•
A Roosevelt Is Pleased with Palestine
Captain James Roosevelt thought of his mother
on his tour of Palestine. He was so pleased with
what he had seen—especially with the colony Ain
Hashophet, named in honor of former Justice
Louis D. Brandeis and populated by young Amer-
ican Jews—that he said: "I only regret that my
mother could not see this place. I am sure she
would have liked it immensely and I think she
may come some time after the war together
with me."
It was an Ain IIashophet (meaning The Well
Shevuoth Services
Council's "Service
At the Bnai Moshe
By Philip Slomovitz To Foreign Born
Day" on June 23 Shevuoth services will be con-
of the Judge) that an idealistic young Detroit
ducted by Congregation Bnai
boy, Ephraim Philip Ticktin, gave up his life The Detroit Section of Na- Moshe twice daily, at 8:45 a. m.
during the Arab terrorism in 1939. Also, it was tional Council of Jewish Women and 7:15 p. m. Cantor David
at Ain Hashophet that young Ticktin and his will have a "Service to Foreign Katzman will lead the prayers.
fellow colonists established the foundation for Born Day" at the Franklin Hills
Rabbi Moses Fischer and Rabbi
a new life for Jews—a life that must spell dig- Country Club Monday, June 23,
Jacob J. Nathan will alternate in
nity and self-respect, a life that will help revolu- The full course luncheon to be
delivering sermons during morn-
tionize the post-war world.
served at 12:15 p. in. will be
Captain Roosevelt was evidently so well pleased followed by entertainment and ing. devotions, Sunday and Mon-
day. Yizkor prayers will be said
with what he had seen that he did not speak bingo games, with prizes.
Monday morning.
objectively of a future visit in Palestine by his
The proceeds of the day will
mother; but he looked at the matter subjectively be used to carry on the National
and said that the great First Lady of the Land Council's program for service to
would come with him.
the foreign born. This includes
Before he left the Jewish National Home, Cap- international case work, port and
tain Roosevelt made another statement. "I thour- (lock service at 17 ports of entry,
°uglily enjoyed visiting the Jewish settlements," national and local services to the
he told Palcor Agency's correspondent. "I found Refugee, embracing citizenship,
the development and the mode of life of the naturalization, changes in citi-
colonies extremely interesting. I was particularly zenship status, help on affidavits
amazed to see how. the American chalutzim of for European emigres, American-
Ain Hashophet, with their metropolitan back- ization, and ninny other services.
ground, have become good farmers and have mas-
The National Council has de-
tered the art of cultivating the rocky hillsides."
When the Roosevelts visit Palestine after the voted itself to immigration work
war—as we hope they will—it will be a great for 45 years.
Mrs. Nate Shapero has been
holiday in Eretz Israel. It would be an even
appointed general chairman of The
greater occasion if the Roosevelts were to take
Perfect
along with them some of their Jewish friends "Service to Foreign Born Day." Holiday Make your every holiday wish
Her
co-chairmen
in
charge
of
W
who, in spite of the amazing achievements of
come true. Golf, ride, go boat-
Land
ing all Summer long. Enjoy
young pioneering Jews, remain antagonistic to special gifts will be Mrs. Joseph
B.
Gaylord,
Mrs.
Fred
Ginsburg,
Free Doming, "Talkies", Ten-
Jewish national aspirations.
Ms, Swimming every day.
Mrs. Harry Keidan and Mrs. In
•
the
llave a \yonder I ul time this
Alice N. Tabor. Mrs. Robert Heart
Summer at :Monteith Inn.
Newman is treasurer.
The Resistance to Nazism
Kosher Food, All Ou4sIde
of fh°,
Regular
tickets
are
$5
and
pa-
Rooms,
lint and Cold Itun-
Mu
mk°°°
American Friends of German Freedom, with
llllls
%Voter, Private Both,
offices at 342 Madison Ave., New York, function- tron tickets are $10. Contribu-
New Modern Tennis Courts.
ing under the chairmanship of Dr. Reinhold tions of $15 or more are being
Niebuhr, issues one of the most important news considered as special gifts.
rickets are available at the For descriptive folder, '1. -8, write to
bulletins regarding happenings in Nazi Germany,
Hotel or to Mr. II. Shopsowitz, 295 Sim.
under the title "Inside Germany Reports". The Council o office, 7644 Woodward dims
Ave., Toronto, l'anadit. Phone
son 6970.
May issue of these reports carries some unusually Ave., Madison
Trinity 0862.
interesting items. We learn, for instance, that
/110/1111111111M.....1 111011111.1..1 1
Germany is suffering from terrific blows admin-
istered by the Royal Air Force; that the work- Camp "Kinderwelt
ers are resisting the Gestapo; that there is dis-
Opens on June 29
satisfaction with Hitler 1,3m.
One of the items in the May Inside Germany
Reports carries the following information regard- The 13th season of the Far-
ing the workers' opposition to the Gestapo, the band Camp and "Kinderwelt,"
incident having been reported by a friend who located 58 miles from Detroit
until a few weeks ago was an employee in the near Chelsea, Mich., will corn-
mence on June 29. From all in-
Deutz Motor Works near Cologne:
dications it will be a successful
"In our plant some workers discovered a
season.
spy who had denounced several people to the
Registration of campers goes
Gestapo. He was beaten up so badly that he
on daily. Jewish parents who
died. The following day three Gestapo offi-
are looking for a proper sum-
cers arrived to investigate the case. They
mei. vacation for their children
were threatened by the workers and called
are urged to register them now.
a detachment of armed SS men for help.
Kinderwelt is well known for
The workers demanded withdrawal of the
its beautiful and healthy stn.-
troops: when this was refused they Struck.
houndings, natural lake, sunny
A few hours later an officer arrived by plane
large rooms, nourishing food,
from Berlin and declared that Goering had
devoted care and Jewish atmos-
ordered the investigation called off for the
phere. Write or call the office,
duration of the war. The only thing that
1912 Taylor, Ty 4-8988; or one
mattered today was that work was carried
of the registrars, Mrs. S. Sislin,
on until victory was assured. The SS men
To 5-9772, Mrs. D. Kumore, Un
were withdrawn and work was resumed ... "
Since internal dissension is expected to help 1-7054, or Mrs. S. Levine, Tr
bring about the collapse of Germany, such loci- 2-3001.
dents are encouraging to the democracies.
The May reports of the American Friends of
Violinist Fritz Kreisler is at
German Freedom also relate the following popu-
this
writing slightly improved,
lar joke about the air raids:
but the virtuoso is still only semi-
Goering wants to inspect the "achieve-
conscious as a result of the skull
ments of his Luftwaffe", and takes off
• eon—TYLER 5-8400 •
fracture he suffered when a truck
with a German Air Force pilot. Af ter some
ran him down last month.
time of flight northward a devastated area
MONTEITH INN
DEFEND
YOURNOldliTOO
with CLEAN
•RIIGS•
LEADER CARPET CLEANING CO.
covered with ruins comes into sight. Goering
is enchanted and full of praise for the good
work done—until the pilot explains to him:
"Herr Reich Field Marshall, we are not yet
over London; this is Bremen."
An item of more than passing interest to
Jews, in the May reports, refers to the elimina-
tion of Jews from business in occupied Paris and
relates sets of incidents regarding the position
of the Jews. The following is an excerpt from
the report on occupied Paris:
Jewish persons, whatever their nationality,
were required to make a declaration at the
commissariat in their residential district be-
fore November 15, 1940. Their declaration
was recognized and their identity card mark-
ed "JEW". Jewish businesses must post a
large yellow sign: "Juedisches Geschaef t"—
Jewish Business. For the moment, Jews are
not bothered. Further, many French Jews
don't register. I know also of cases where
people went to the commissariat to make
their declaration, but the declarations were
not wanted. In one instance the policeman
said: "Oh, Madam, you can go home, your
name is not Jewish." Or another policeman
asked: "Do you absolutely insist?" German
Jews are under the protection of the German
Consulate. Often the German authorities pro-
tect the Jews even against the French author-
ities. I know of a case where a German
Jew did not receive his identity card at the
police station. He went to see the Germans.
The clerk who received him wrote furiously:
"That is a scandal. We take care of our
Jews; the French have nothing whatever to
do with it. We consider them representatives
of Germany abroad." And he was sent back
to the police station where he immediately
received his identity card.
Popular feeling among the French is described
as follows:
Although the German soldiers were well
enough received on their arrival—people
were glad that they paid for all they took;
their conduct was so very correct; they were
even polite—the situation has changed. The
subsequent hardships, no food, unemploy-
ment, and the German grip on the whole
(Continued on Page 12)
SIG WOL LAKE ci
NEAP GRASS LAKE, MICHIGAN
'
•
•
•
•
RECREATIONAL, SOCIAL 114.4 .
• i EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
SWIMMING
• BASEBALL
HORSEBACK RIDING • HIKING
PING PONG
• BOATING
TENNIS
• FISHING
•
•
•
•
VOLLEY BALL
CAMP-CRAFT
DRAMATICS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Under Excellent Supervision
THE CHILD'S WELFARE—OUR PRIMARY CONCERN
For Boys and Girls
6 to 16
Nursery Camp
3 to 6
"MICHIGAN'S FINEST CAMP"
SEASON FEE $160
For registration and information call or write
Director: Mrs. Leo Mellen
4330 GREENWAY AVENUE
TYLER 4.0226
DETROIT, MICH.
Mrs. E. J. Levenson
2947 GLYNN CT. — TOWNSEND 7 5772
-
—
DETROIT
Registrations - - - Now Being Taken
60PSHERBROOKE