August 1, 1941
I
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle
A NEW FUTURE IN AMERICA
MINUTE MEN FOR PALESTINE
7
DICTATORS
By MORDECAI KONOWITZ
The "Men of Power" Whose,
Editor's Note: The author of this article, Mordecai Konowitz, was
Amazing Feats Controlled
formerly Assistant District Attorney of Queens County, N. Y.;
the World
a member of the executive board, Boy Scouts of America,
Queens Council; a member of the board of Directors of the
Several months ago Viking
Jewish Welfare Board, New York-Metropolitan Division; a
member of the executive board of the Zionist Organization of Press published Albert Carr's
America; formerly president of the Long Island Zionist "Juggernaut, the Path of Dictat-
orship," in which the brilliant
Region.
author who began his career as
Nations today must choose be- throughout Europe, and large a research chemist described the
tween faith, courage, determina- groups of chalutzim were brough t activities of the world's dictators
tion and sacrifice; and cynicism, into Palestine. They fashioned the His young nephew, Joel Carr.
indifference, despair and surren- character of the Yishuv. At the found it hard reading, and Mr.
der. There is no middle ground. outbreak of the war, a reservoir Carr thereupon rewrote his book
America has courageously demon- of 100,000 organized chalutzim under the title "Men of Power, A
strated its will to live as a free awaited the call. They have since Book of Dictators," making his
people in a civilized world, by been drawn into the armies of story more readable for youth.
an unprecedented peace-time pro- Europe, their centers have been Viking Press also produced this
gram which is converting the land destroyed, the movement banned. book, whose value is as great as
into an arsenal for democracy. They are carrying on underground, that of its predecessor.
Jewry too must meet the test. Our sustained only by an indestructible
In this book, as in his preced-
choice is between heeding the Jere- faith in Palestine's future.
Learning a skilled craft is this refugee boy's first step in America. With the
ing work, Mr. Carr describes the
minds which bewail the "hope- Hechalutz in America is not a activities of Richelieu, Cromwell,
aid of the National Refugee Service, which receives its funds from the
lessness" of the Jewish position new phenomenon. Though the Frederick the Great, Napoleon,
United Jewish Appeal, he is taking a course in lathe work which will help
in Palestine and elsewhere; and movement may be
him fit into this country's economic machinery. After he has a job, his
Bolivar, Bismarck, Mussolini, Sta-
activating ourselves to defend our originated in this country it has lin and Hitler. The volume is
problems as a refugee immigrant will almost solve themselves if he has the
position
and
prepare
for
the
re-
been
over-shadowed
by
the
empha-
sympathetic understanding of his neighbors. Refugee adjustment in the
enhanced by a letter to the young
construction of Jewish life at cis upon financial aid to Palestine. nephew and a concluding chapter.
United States, war relief and rehabilitation in European lands and Palestine
settlement are supported by American Jews through the combined nationwide
war's end. Nevertheless about •00 American "It is of the utmost importance,"
This challenge is implicit in young men and women have been Mr. Carr writes his young
drive of the Joint Distribution Committee, the United Palestine Appeal and
the National Refugee Service.
the urgent request of the Jewish settled in Palestine in the past nephew, "that the statesmen who
Agency in Jerusalem that Amer- decade and have created and de- lead a nation and make its laws
ican Jewry train and prepare veloped a number of collective should know history. And it
is
large numbers of our youth for settlements there, possibly the desirable, too, that every intelli-
service
in
Palestine.
It
is
a
call
best
known
of
which
are
Ein
again: "There is only one spot
gent citizen should be able to
left on Goering for pinning a for manpower—sweat and toil— Hashofet, founded and named in think for himself about the way
blood
and
tears,
if
need
be.
How
honor
of
Justice
Louis
D.
Bran-
decoration, they say, and if he
things tire going in the world,
pins one there, he won't be able
deis, and Binyamina, a joint ven- and in his country, so that he
to sit down."
ture with British Chalutzim.
can vote for good men and good
The present emergency has made causes in elections."
There is reference to Goering's
it essential to reconstruct and
An almost indispensible book decree, "I decide who is Aryan,"
The postscript, "About Power
enlarge the Hechalutz movement
for an understanding of the Nazi and we are told that when ardent
and Democracy," draws a healthy
in
America.
It
has
become
neces-
mind and the state of affairs in racialists attempted to purge the
conclusion. "Democracy," we are
sary to reorientate its policy and
Germany is William D. Bayles' physical and chemical laboratories
told, "is a way to make sure that
so
broaden
the
base
of
authority
"Caesars in Goose Step," a new of the Reich of Jewish techni-
and support as to include the if our leaders abuse the power
cians and scientists, Goering or-
Harper publication.
entire Zionist movement in this which we, the people, lend them,
Bayles, a foreign correspond- dered them to continue their
country. Its training program has we can take it away from them
work
and
remarked:
"Inventions
without having to fight police and
ent who has met and interviewed
had to be adjusted to new needs soldiers."
and
patents
don't
have
Jewish
most of the Nazi leaders, in-
and its member drawn from all
grandmothers."
But
this
should
cluding Hitler and Goering and
"We Americans need no men
groups in American Jewish life.
Goebbels, writes in intimate and not mislead the reader into be-
First steps have been taken. The of power," the author states, but
fascinating style and tells stories lieving that Goering is a humani-
Zionist Organization of America he qualified this view by saying:
hitherto unpublished. True, most tarian. On the contrary, he has
and the Labor Zionists have al- "True, if we are forced to defend
all
the
Nazi
traits
of
meanness
of the material is known; but
ready appointed committees on ourselves in a war against dan-
and
terrorism.
It
was
he
who
de-
much of it is new, and most of
Hechalutz and pledged full sup- gerous enemies, then in order to
creed
that
Jews
should
not
ride
it is presented in a style and
port to the movement. A National win we may have to give up some
fashion that should help enlighten horses in Germany — "out of
Committee is being formed. He- of our democratic privileges for
kindness
to
animals."
the minds of the democratic peo-
chalutz is not concerned with the a while. Nations fight best when
Bayles tells us about Goering:
ples in their fight against the
party affiliation of its members. there is a single trusted leader
menace that threatens the uni- "His week-ends he spends at
They need not in fact belong to in complete control. But in that
MORDECAI KONOWITZ
verse at the hands of the Hitler- Karin Hall where in an under-
any party. The chief qualifications case we must try to select an
ites.
ground airdrome he keeps two
re loyalty to Zionism, willing- honest man to lead us, one who
shall
of
Germany's
fastest
airplanes
thall
we
play
the
new
role
which
ness
to sacrifice, physical sound- himself respects democracy and
There is, for instance, the por-
constantly
tuned
up
ready
for
trait of Hitler himself. Bayles
prospective postwar need of re- They are pledged to settle per- who does not aspire to be - a
states that Hitler would break a flight. While playing every pos- construction, have forced upon us? manently or serve at least two Napoleon or a Hitler. We must
sible
card
in
the
political
game,
pledge of yesterday if it should
do everything possible to make
For play it we must. Fate has years on the land, and be avail- sure that as soon as the emer-
suit his purpose today. When he he keeps one trick up his sleeve— decreed
that the stron g
escape."
and will- able on call. (Those now in train-
nosed for his photograph in Paris
ing shoulders of Jewish youth in ing have been drawn from Ma- gency is over, our democratic
he turned to his official photogra-
Rudolf Hess is described as
rights are returned to us."
shall be among the sada, Hashomer Hatzair, Avukah,
pher and said: "Take this, Hoff- Hitler's shadow. Following Hit- America
There is a marvelous lesson in
lags supporting the Palestine Habonim and Young Judea, and
mann, then the next one in ler's announcement of his succes-
this volume. It is a significantly
structure,
and
that
the
strong-
are
fairly
representative
of
our
Buckingham Palace and the next sion, Bayles quotes a burly Nazi sinewed and high-minded of this American-born Zionist youth.) American book, with an Amer-
in front of the skyscrapers."
as having said, "Hess would American-born generation shall be They and the many others whose ican slant on a great theme that
Hitler is not alone among the never have a chance. Himmler the anvil upon which Jewish lives training awaits the realization of disturbs all peoples. Its conclu-
Nazi leaders who speaks in or Ley would shoot first while
be reforged. adequate financial support, will sions are a definite contribution
terms of conquering the Ameri- he ran home to see if his permit shall
Witness the facts. To the five be organized into Plugot Hechal- to freedom and to the rights of
to
carry
a
pistol
was
in
order."
can continent. Bayles quotes Der
million Jews already made home- utz—"Palestine Pioneer Units" man.
Auslandsdeutsche, official organ
D okt or Goebbels, "Hitler's less and desperate by Nazi con- under the authority of the Jewish
of the Nazi Foreign Organization. Loudspeaker," is described as the quests, are now added as many Agency.
32,000 Jews Expelled from Cra-
as writing that "may the day not most hated member of the official more who live in Russia and
cow in 1940, Nazis Boast
The
Hechalutz
movement
has
be far distant when a man of Nazi family.
Sovietized lands. It was from been enlarged to include agricul-
our race will preside at the con-
Joachim von Ribbentrop, "Hit- among these ten millions that the tu•e, aviation, special vocational
ZURICH.
(WNS) —At least
ference table in Washington." ler's Salesman," is presented as stream of physical and spiritual courses, and cultural preparation 32,000 Jews were
driven out of
Goering is quoted: "Ja, the Amer- audacious, crude. The author tells energy, intellectual power, sacri- for Palestine. Sixty chalutzim now Cracow in Nazi-occupied Poland
icans! Their turn will come, too!" of his early association with face and idealism flowed into Pal- live and work collectively at the during 1940, according to
an ar-
There are stories about the Jews and his trick in disposses- estine in past years. These well- Cream Ridge and Hightstown ticle boasting of this "achieve-
Nazi chieftains, and some inter- sing his former employer, the springs of dynamic Jewish values Farms in New Jersey, under con- ment" in the Krakauer Zeitung,
esting ones about Goering and wine dealer Sichel.
are now dammed up. When peace ditions which test their capacity official Nazi organ in Poland.
his medals. We quote Bayles
Heinrich Himmler is called conies the dam will burst and the for the difficult tasks ahead. Re-
"Hitler's Policeman." He is de- stream will again rush furiously cently a vanguard of seven chal- or defense. Whether the monies be
scribed as cruel, responsible for into Palestine, bringing with it, utzim received their pilot's licenses earmarked for specific purposes
however, helpless, beaten and upon completion of courses in fly-
Ghettos Established in 25 Cities the pogroms on the Jews.
broken men, women and children, ing, mechanics, navigation and or be assigned to the general
in Nazi-Occupied Poland
Others pictured in the book
starved
and maimed in body and meteorology. In Baltimore and in fund, does not matter. What is
are Robert Ley, "Hitler's Labor
important is that this tremend-
BELGRADE (WNS)—Nazi au- Boss"; Alfred Rosenberg, "Hit- soul—themselves in need of re- Toronto, and at numerous univer- ously important program shall
habilitation.
sities
throughout
the
country
oth-
thorities in occupied Poland have ler's Mystagogue"; Erich Raeder,
not be impaired by financial
In Palestine also the war has ers are receiving specialized train-
established ghettos in 25 cities "Hitler's Admiral"; and a group taken its toll. Apart from the ing in electrico-mechanics, diesel stringencies. Our youth are ready
since the beginning of the war, of Hitler's generals, among whom stoppage of pioneer immigration, engineering, auto mechancs, avia- to serve. Is American Jewry
is Ergard Milch, "whose name,
ready to make it possible for
according to the Cracower Zei- meaning 'milk,' has worked thousands of chalutzim have been tion and other vocational pursuits. them to do so?
tung, which reported that plans against his career as much as diverted from their normal con- In New York City, a unit of 30
A poignant portrayal of "Youth
structive tasks, and are hearing chalutzim is being trained in ra-
are proceeding to open whettos in has a nasty but persistent story arms or are engaged in war in- din. All are given Hebrew instruc- Amidst the Ruins" appears in a
that his mother swore to adultery
recent publication of that name,
every Polish city with a Jewish in order to satisfy Nazi racialists dustries. The resources of the tion and general Jewish cultural which consists of extracts from
population. The Nazi newspaper that he • not the son of h r Yishuv will be taxed by the prob- work at the farms, and at sum- the diaries of the war-stricken
lem of readjusting the dislocated mer and winter camps and semi-
listed Warsaw, Lodz, Lublin, Cra- husband, Jewish Herr Milch, an economy. There will be urgent nars. Nursing, seamanship, de- chalutzim in Europe. Their in-
credible fortitude, faith and loyal-
cow, Radom and Kielce as some apothecary in Wilhelmshaven."
"Caesars in Goose Step" is an need of thousands of young men fence work and other industrial ty are a challenge to us, who are
of the larger Polish cities where
and
women
who
shall
have
been
trades
will
be
added
as
condi-
ghettos have already been estab- indispensable book for an under- specially trained and prepared for tions will require and funds per- more fortunately situated. Speak-
standing of the German situation. permanent or temporary service in mit.
ing at an Emergency Conference
lished.
of the Polish movement in 1940,
Palestine, in agriculture, mechan-
Hechalutz presents an oppo•tun- one of them said:
ical and industrial trades, nursing ity to American Jewry and espe-
SOUTH HAVEN, MICHIGAN
"Even though we must avoid re-
aviation,
radio and cially to Zionist districts and calling the horrors of the past lest
such
other seamanship,
skills as the security
and upbuilding of Palestine shall groups, of directly and intimately they interfere with our present
Private Baths, Showers, Running Water in Every Room
require. Whence shall they come? identifying themselves with the tasks, one cannot help but speak
56-60 NORTH SHORE DRIVE
The Yishuv looks to us, the only physical, moral and spiritual of our next step as a movement,
give utterance to the feelings
Telephone 581
remaining large, free Jewish com- forces which will count so heav- and
of pain and grief at our calamity.
munity.
An Ideal Place to Lye
An Exceptional Place To Dine
Many a time I am gripped by the
Fortunately the groundwork has ily in the reconstruction of Jewish urge again to pass through those
We
low....
A Rendezvous el Fun
CATERING TO THE
STELIIIIE•S been laid for such a program. life after the war. Specific pro- cities where once was heard the
sevr.
IN SOUTH HAVEN
Younger Generation
NICK
The Hechalutz movement was the jects in aid of Hechalutz may be happy noise of our youth, again
ON 140•Tre GNOSIS DM of
FOR 35 YEARS
Swimming Tennis . CoN
Dancing
outgrowth of the first World War. undertaken by individuals or to peer into the darkened windows
It was then apparent that the groups. An airplane was recently of our empty meetings rooms and
training and transfer of groups donated by a group in Milwau- to let my voice echo and re-echo
of young pioneers to settle the kee and another in Detroit. Others the question now bombarding our
land, promote its industry and may choose to contribute farm minds: WHAT NOW?"
defend it against attack, was in- implements, defray the expense of
What now? That is the question
dispensible to the success of the altering or enlarging the facili- which American Jewry—Zionists
rising Jewish Commonwealth. ties on the farms, or perhaps and non-Zionists alike, must ans-
Training centers were established underwrite the training, industry, wer.
To Know Nazism:
Read "Caesars in
Goose Step"
I.