September 5, 1941

•

P urely C ommentary •

Stock-Taking Communities

Jr

it

1 1

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle

Communities are taking stock. They are mak-
ing studies of their populations, are comparing
the native with the foreign-born groups, are
evaluating their social and economic standards.
Compare their studies and you will find that
they do not vary or differ greatly. Detroit and
Chicago are not much different from New Or-
leans and Houston. "Sadno d'arho chad hu,"—
"the ways of the world are alike."—runs an old
Talmudic maxim, and this is true of Jewish com-
munities in the United States. Communities far-
ther removed from the thickly-populated Jewish
centers in the east and middle-west may have
slightly larger percentages of native-born. But
in other respects they do not differ.
Thus, when New Orleans learns that of its
Jewish population of 6,472 the native-born num-
be• 5,011, it does not necessarily show a higher
percentage over most other communities. Such
an advantage is slight at best, and it is to be
assumed that the trend is in the direction of
domination by native-born American Jews, a
condition created by the almost total stoppage
of immigration to these shores during the past
two decades. Only three or four cities throughout
the land may show a variation to this rule.
Economically, all Jewish communities are alike.
Jews predominate as small shopkeepers, as sales-
men and buyers. The professional group is sec-
ond to the trading element and the skilled-labor
percentage is smallest. If those who dislike us
imagine for a moment they can utilize such
figures as argument against the Jews, they are
grossly mistaken. The truth is that the argument
can be shifted against them, since prejudice and
discrimination in employment has kept the doors
to skilled trades closed to Jews, just as so many
of the leaders in educational fields would today
close avenues to professions to our people.
•

Jews and the Professions

The major argument advanced against us eco-
nomically is on the professional front. We are
told: there are too many Jewish doctors, there
are too many Jewish lawyers, .Jews push them-
selves in too many professions and there are
already too many Jewish teachers.
Even on the medical front this is an unfair
statement. America suffers from a shortage of
doctors. Jews have been known to make good
doctors, and many Jews clamor for this pro-
fession; therefore, Jews could till an important
need in the American community. But the bigot
decides otherwise, and he is often the deciding
factor.
Are there too many Jewish lawyers? Of course
there ate—in New York and in Chicago and in
Boston and in Detroit and in Philadelphia; and
often there are many shysters among them. But
very often, too, these lawyers are forced out
of the profession into business or real estate or
sonic other calling because they are unable to
compete. Craving for learning and a profession,
young Jews, denied admittance to other fields,
turn to law. Eliminate the prejudice, and there
will be less clamoring. by Jews for the law and
greater attraction to other work. Jews have been
staying away from engineering and chemistry
and kindred fields because they know that they
have two strikes against them before they start.
That is why so many Jewish men today prepare
for the teaching profession which is still open
to them in the public and high schools; beyond
that, they have limited hope for advancement.
Such is the vicious cycle of economic difficul-
ties. Jews, at least, must not fall prey to anti-
Semitic arguments and must not judge their
brethren in the professions wrongly. Know the
facts, to be on the right track.
•

Another Dangerous Front

On the score of community economic and popu-
lation studies, Jews must. avert falling into an-
other trap. There have been occasions, isolated
ones, of course, but they are nevertheless a
matter of record, when Jewish groups boasted
that they were either 100-per-cent natives, co .
that they favored closing the doors of this land
to immigration, or that they, too. would bar for-
eigners. Wrong in principles, such a boast carries
with it a serious danger: by resorting to it
people help undermine an American ideal. Amer-
ica became great as a haven of refuge for the
oppressed; she will remain great if she retains
this principle. America became great because :be
enabled newcomers to become citizens and to
attain supreme loyalty to this land; she will re-
main great by virtue of such a spirit.
Should communities begin to boast that less
than a fifth of their number are foreign-born,
they will reach the first path to the precipice.
Why does your Commentator bring up such a
terrifying point? Let him recall for your benefit
a bit of history.
At the beginning of the present century, when
the Jews of Russia lived in hourly fear of pogroms,
the Black Hundreds schemed to direct the rage
of the poor against the Jews and intellectuals.
It was their means of diverting attention from
the ruling classes of the Tsar. Captain-General
Trepov, intimate friend of the Tsar, hugged a
similar scheme. Plehvc approved of such plans.
Count Witte described Gen. Trepov's idea as
running along the following lines: "They are
agitators, shoot 'em clown. They mouth big
phrases, give 'em cold steel. The workpeople
want to make a revolution, just secure a few
police for revolutionary service and you have
them at your mercy."
The official theory of these schemers was that
all Jews had to bear responsibility for the admit-
tedly small group who, 2,000 years ago, agitated
against Christ and brought about his doom.
Thereupon an argument occurred to a few Jews
in the Crimea—and they actually advanced it
To the satisfaction of the authorities they proved
that their ancestors had lived on the coast of the

By Philip Slomovitz

Bnai David to Open
Religious School on
S un d ay
orning

Black Sea long before the crucifixion, that they
had traded there for more than 2,000 years. Sessions Held at Central High;
Therefore, they claimed, they were immune from
Make Provisions for Non-
sharing blame with the rest of the Jews.
Members' Children
Such self-degradation should always be avoided.
Should the time ever come—as it has been known The Bnai David Religious
to occur on a few occasions, including the most School announces that registra-
recent German experiences (remember Nau- tion for the new season will be-
mann?)—when some Jews will claim immunity gin on Sunday morning, Sept. 7,
because they are different, because they are and will continue on Sunday,
natives, because they are unlike their brethren, Sept. 14, from 10 to 12 o'clock,
it will be the worst experience in our history. at the synagogue, Elmhurst and
But as long iv, we retain our self-respect, we are 14th Sts. Registration is open to
safe morally and spiritually and we retain the children from kindergarten age
stature of men and women. through high school. The school
•
is under the personal supervision
of Rabbi Joshua Sperka and
Charles J. Jacobson, the super-
There are 15 teachers,
An envelope with the Congressional a intendent.
music teacher, assembly and
frank of Representaitve Hamilton Fish of dramatic director.
New York, containing anti-Semitic liter- Due to the need for hi'rger
ature, was addressed to the Fight for facilities the Bnai David religious
Freedom Committee with the salutation school meets in the class rooms
of Central High School. For as-
"Fight for Jewdom Committee."
semblies the spacious auditorium
Denying that he had ever sent out anti- of the school is used. The reac-
Jewish literature, Congressman Fish tion to holding the classes in
charged that there was a "frame-up" Central High School has met with
great response due to excellent
against him and cited his 21-year record a facilities.
Once a month on fest-
to indicate that he was not guilty of dis- ive occasions and on Sundays
criminatory acts.
prior to a Jewish festival the
A brief review of the eminent Con- religious school meets in the
Elmhurst and 14th,
gressman's record is in order. Representa- synagogue,
for assemblies and celebrations
tive Fish was the co-author of the Lodge- in the spirit and mood of the
Fish Resolution expressing the approval Holidays.
of the United States of the Balfour Dec- Sunday, Sept. 21, school opens
a Rosh Hashonah Assembly
laration and of the aims for the establish- with
in the synagogue. A special chil-
ment of the Jewish National Home in dren's service will be held, in
Palestine. (The late Senator Henry Cabot the main auditorium of the syna-
Lodge introduced the resolution in the gogue. Junior asembly will take
U. S. Senate). He spoke at numerous Jew- place in the social hall. It is
that the record enroll-
ish meetings in protest against pogroms expected
ment of 500 of last year will
and in opposition to enactment of legis- be surpassed with the progress
lation stifling Jewish effort in Palestine. and expansion of the school.
His last address before a Jewish gather- The policy of the school has
been to deny no child the oppor-
ing was at the conference of representa- tunity
of a religious education.
tives of communities from every section of Therefore a nominal sum cover-
the United States held in Washington to ing only office expenses is charged
gather support against the British White to non-members. Parents are
urged to bring their children
Paper on Palestine.
P.,•-•.erTistration. The Sister-
It is safe to assume that someone may hood of
Congregation
have stolen a franked Fish envelope and of which Mrs. Joseph Jacobs is
included therein anti-Semitic literature for president, sponsors the school.

5

CHERRY 2110

WILSON

T HEATER

MADISON AND BRUSH

Sun. Eve., Sept. 7

ONE NIGHT ONLY!

A. LITTMAN

PRESENTS

Congressman Fish

Moishe Oysher

The World's Foremost

Cantor

(IN PERSON)

In Concert Recital

Folk and Classical Songs

Tickets on sale now to date of
concert at Littman's Theatre
12th and Seward
For Reservations Call—
CHERRY 2110

mailing to "Fight for Jewdom Commit-
tee". It would be unfair to accuse Con- New $1,000 Gift Brings To-
gressman Fish of anti-Semitic leanings
tal Bnai Brith Aid for THIS SERVICE TO
But there is ground for objecting to Con-
Care of Refugee Children LUDINGTON
gressman Fish's statement that the
to $32,000
and MICHIGAN'S
charged "frame-up" was the work of "an
WASHINGTON, D. C. — Bnai GREAT WEST COAST
enemy, Communist, hysterical refugee.
fanatical Jew or Christian war-maker, but B•ith's contributions for the care
VACATIONLAND
of refugee children from the
whoever is responsible has only succeeded European
countries under totali-
A
Greyhound
trans-Michigan bus
in spreading flames of anti-Semitism in tarian rule mounted to $32,000
route is now being operated to
America".
this week when Henry Monsky,
Among whom have these "flames of president of Bnai Brith, sent a serve you . .. providing time-
saving service over a short direct
check for $1,000 to Marshall
anti-Semitism" been spread? Is it among Field,
president of the United
route from eastern and south-
those who are already tainted with these States Committee for the Care eastern Michigan to Ludington
sparks, or are others falling for the clap- of European Children, Inc.
and the air-conditioned play-
trap contained in the Fish franked en- This Committee is launching grounds along Lake Michigan.
a campaign for $500,000 at a
velope?
Take advantage of this cool con-
dinner in New York City on
Since when does a person who harbors Sept. 10 to finance the trans- venient, carefree travel way and
no prejudices against a people or a reli- portation from Europe to the save time and money, too!
gion consider it a fault to protest against United States of 600 child refu- LOW FARES
One Round
gees from Nazi oppression and
Trip
indignities?
care for more than 1,500
LUDINGTON ... $5.00 $9.00
Why, Congressman Fish, do you give to
British and continental child
4.00 7.20
the impression that insistence upon truth refugees already here. Mr. Mon- SEARS
4.05 7.30
and resentment of untruth is a stimulant sky is a member of the national EVART
committee of the U.
REED CITY
4.15 7.50
to hatred rather than to admiration for sponsoring
S. Committee for the Care of
BALDWIN
4.65 8.40
those who fight for justice?
European Children, Inc.
SCOTTVILLE
5.00 9.00
Congressman Fish, when he learned
that one of his envelopes was used for Russians Devise Anti-Racial
Bus leaves 1:00 P. M.
Exhibit
anti-Semitic purposes, would have done
( onneetions nl Heed ity for Cedilla?.
LONDON (JPS)—Scorning the
Trat er.o
better had he utilized the occasion to "racial exhibitions" which the
11) 111111 ( haulm oix
condemn the material disseminated in his Nazis produce in Germany and Greyhound also oilers convenient low-
name and to reaffirm his disgust with the in the cities which they newly cost suburban service In the Detroit
metropolitan area.
anti-Semites. He should have taken the acquire, the Russian government
has set up an exhibition of its
stand that is needed today to unmask the own
to prove the absurdity of
GREYHOUND TERMINAL
elements who are imbued with Nazi anti- the racial
and "Aryan" theories Washingto
n Blvd. at Grand River
Semitic ideas, even though many of them of the Nazis.
Phone
Cadillac 9000
are often in his audiences when he speaks Prepared by Professor Youlak,
the exhibition features the wax
under "America First" auspices.
figures of healthy, blonde, hand-
This he did not do.
some Russian Jewish men and
Therein lies his guilt.
LINES
women whose names and ad-
dresses are given. These are con-
•
trasted with figures of Goebbels
Leave Church Politics Alone
CHRONICLE CLASSIFIED
and Hitler who are supposed to

GREYHOUND

There is so much of shut-politics in Jewish life be "pure Aryans."
that we ought to stay away from church politics.
A short time ago, we came across the follow-
ing interesting item in the Presbyterian of Phila-
delphia: "It is good to see Christian congrega-
tions of various doctrinal ancestry worshipping
together; but is it right to follow the present
growing tendency to share Christian pulpits with
men who have no faith in our divine Lord, or who
even deny Him? Yet instances of this sort are
increasing. The kind of united service mentioned
below. by Religious News Service, was not illog-
ical, but could a Christian preacher consistently
have taken a part in it?" And the item referred
to from Religious News Service is interpreted by
Presbyterian as follows: "Unitarians and Jews

ADVERTISING PAYS

TWO GREAT BEERS

(Continued on Page 12)

DETROIT BREWING CO, .

Established 1868