Americo! ffewith Periodical easter
October 17, 1941
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle
Purely Commentary ••
The Right to Self-Expression
An interesting exchange of corespondence ap-
peared in most recent issues of the London Jew-
ish Chronicle on the subject of distrust of Great
Britain in the United States on the Palestinian
issue. Dr. Norman Bentwich, former Attorney
General of Palestine, is one of the participants in
the debate. In the latest of the series of letters,
Prof. Bentwich takes a critic to task. "I deplore,"
writes Dr. Bentwich, "many of the things done
by the British Administration of Palestine before
the war, and some of the things done during the
war." But he proceeds to quote Prime Minister
Churchill, who said, "If we do not forget 'oth.
yesterdays, we may sacrifice our tomorrows," and
he offers this admonition:
"This is the time for the Jewish people to
stand on their duties and not on their rights. We
are fighting in this cause of England and civiliza-
tion not only as Jews or as British subjects, but
as human beings; and in the scale of the struggle
our complaints and grievances are dwarfed. We
do no good to our cause either here or in Amer-
ica, and we are unworthy of our tradition in
magnifying them and letting them influence our
Attitude."
Unfortunately, Prof. Bentwich confuses two
issues here. In the present crisis, Jews would sup-
port England even if she continued to abuse our
rights in Palestine—and Dr. Bentwich admits
that there have been such abuses even during
the war. But, since when are human beings
called upon stand only on their duties and not on
their rights? This is a war for rights in behalf of
which we assume duties. Abandon justice and
you lose responsibility.
There is one point that must be emphasized
above all others: The moment a people—or an
individual—stops battling for justice, it or he
loses the power to fight. When one loses th
ability to self-expression, he loses the right to
self-expression.
Churchill would not suggest stifling of criti-
cism in the House of Commons; by the same
token, we are confident, he would not suppress
criticism on the score of Palestine in the House
of Israel. Certainly, Jews should not be the ones
to suggest that we abandon right and think only
of duty, when we do our duty so well.
Prof. Bentwich's stand is taken at a time when
the British authorities are negotiating with Arabs
and arc speaking of an Arab Federation, and
are at the sqme time ignoring Jewish rights in
Palestine. This being the case, it becomes all the
more necessary to demand rights that are due
those who fulfill their responsibilities. That's the
human way, Dr. Bentwich; and since we are
fighting as human beings, we also demand human
rights.
•
Rabbi Brevis' Services for the Blind
-
Back in 1922 your Commentator was asked
to address the Menorah Society of the University
of Michigan which he had served as president
(luring the First World War days. It was during
the final days of the society's functioning, before
it gave way to Hillel Foundation. He was asked
to discuss the Palestine situation, and was warned
that a certain gentleman would be there to heckle
the Zionist idea. Upon the conclusion of his ad-
dress, the Threatening Menace arose, asked a
most intelligent question which led to lively de-
bate, but instead of being a heckler he proved
a deep student of Jewish affairs. The chairman
who gave warning against him was a poor judge
of one who was then, and is even more so today,
a devoted participant in Jewish affairs.
Later this Commentator befriended the young
man, Harry J. Brevis (a name that is excellent
translation from the original Russian name of
Korotkin). Brevis studied and practiced law.
Then, at the age of 36, he turned blind.
Brevis conquered all obstacles in the course
of time. He entered the Jewish Institute of
Religion, was ordained Rabbi in 1929, and is
today one of the great assets to the movement
to assist the Jewish blind.
Read his article in the current issue of the
Atlantic Monthly Magazine, and you will get an
excellent picture of a brilliant mind that con-
quered difficulty. Rabbi Brevis is at present a
resident of Buffalo. His Primer for the Blind in
the Atlantic Monthly presents the background of
his present career. He studied in the Detroit
schools and has taken research courses in Colum-
bia, specializing in relief laws for the blind and
in social legislation affecting those who, like him,
are deprived of sight.
His Primer for the Blind is a touching document.
But. it is a magnificently helpful paper. It should
prove a great asset to the unseeing, and should
help the fortunate who see to understand their
plight.
At the Zionist convention in Cincinnati, Rabbi
Brevis was present with his Seeing Eye dog. He
presented a courageous front. Instead of capitulat-
ing and of despairing, he made his mark in this
world. He served as Chaplain for the Blind in
Greater New York, by appointment of the New
York Board of Jewish Ministers, and for a number
of years has rendered services in preparation of
papers for Braille and in offering courage and
solace to the sightless.
Far from being antagonistic to Zionism, he is :1
factor in strengthening the movement. In fact,
he is much more farsighted than many who find
their way around without glasses.
Hats off to Harry J. Brevis! He is made of the
stuff that a people needs in its battle for life.
•
Beware of Nazi Anti-Nazis!
It is high time that the fight against Nazism
should awaken Jews and Christians to the realiza-
tion of the need for being on guard against the
rise to prominence and power of former Nazis
who are today being given a hearing as anti-Nazis.
5
Home Relief Dinner
By Philip Slomovitz Dance Sunday Night
First place in this group should be given to
Otto Strasser. He was a party to anti-Semitism
in the early days of Nazism, before his brother
Gregor was murdered by the Hitlerites. Today
he speaks as an opponent of Jew-baiting. But—
study his program, and you will find- that what
he wants is the relegation of Jews to a state of
secondary citizenship, unless they submit to a
program of expulsion and segregation.
I am not so sure that Hermann Rauschning's
mantle is altogether clean. He, too, needs further
fumigating.
Would you trust Fritz Thyssen, who financed
Hitler, were he to reappear on the scene as a
possible candidate for a cabinet post in a recon-
structed German Reich?
These are the men who are today bargaining
for the right to become the masters of Germany
when Nazism is destroyed.
This is the type of men to be rejected for
leadership, because their hands were not clean
when they were in power.
Should one be silent in the fact of an ultimate
danger, simply because there is the more imme-
diate need of defeating Der Schoene Adolf? Your
Commentator dissents and says that the future
is as important as the present and that one
should shout in protest if there is a posibility
of dangerous characters assuming control over
the destiny of future generations in a recon
structed Europe.
The leading event of the season
sponsored by the Home Relief
Society, its annual dinner dance,
will take place Sunday, at Hotel
Statler, at 6:30 p. m. Mrs. Sam
Feldman, general chairman, and
Mrs. Charles Bassey, pledge chair-
man, will take reservations from
those who have neglected to make
their pledges.
Mrs. Al Weisman and Mrs.
Reuben Allender, chairman of ar-
rangements, will make arrange-
ments for seating upon receipt of
a telephone call.
with CLEAN
•11111111GS•
The Ladies of Yeshiva Beth
Judah are planning their annual
donor dinner to be held at the
Knights of Pythias Hall on Tues-
day afternoon, Dec. 16. Rabbi
Morris Adler of Shaarey Zedek
will be the guest speaker. Further
plans will be decided on at the
next meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
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Expose of Nazi "Justice"—By Contrast
KOSHER
Restaurant and Dining Room
The latest issue of the London Jewish Chron-
icle carries an interesting expose of the Nazi
idea of "Justice." It publishes two items, indicat-
ing how justice is meted out to Jews and Aryans.
Here they are:
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FOR THE "ARYAN":
The Nazi court at
Breslau has astounded
the population of the
city, including even
many Nazis, by im-
posing the death pen-
alty on a Jew for an
a 11 c g e d
"Rassen-
schande" (race pollu-
tion)
offense.
The
sentenced Jew, Benno
Zadik, is only 22
years old.
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Ladies of Yeshiva Beth Ju-
dah to Plan Annual
Dinner
•
FOR THE JEW:
DEFEND
12017
DEXTER BLVD.
NOrthlawn 9786
"The penal court at
Cuxhaven has sen-
tenced . . . ., aged
45, to three years'
hard labor for com-
rnitting immoral of-
fenses against his two
daughters, aged 8 and
9 respectively, and
violent rape of his
daughter, aged 14.
The court denied any
mitigating c i r c u in-
stances." — Hambur-
ger Fremdenblatt.
Here is Exhibit No. 1 which history will use
to indict the disgraceful regime of Nazism.
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•
"There Is No Retreat But in Slavery"
Once in a while, especially in these trying
days, one should turn back the pages of history
and study the sentiments Of great men who fought
heroically for freedom.
Take for instance the historic speech deliv-
ered by Patrick 'Henry in 1775 before the
Virginia House of Burgesses.
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"There is no retreat but in submission and
slavery," this hero of '75 admonished.
The men of that time knew the meaning of
the battle for justice; and they knew their
Bible. In the speech referred to, Patrick Henry
declared: "Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace—
but there is no peace. The war is actually be-
gun!" The quotation is, of course, from the
Prophet who declared many centuries ago "Sha-
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lom, shalom, vein shalom."
The Patrick Henry address of 1775 is so appli-
cable today that it is worth quoting a bit. Said
Patrick Henry:
"They tell us, sir, that we are weak—
unable to cope with so formidable an adver-
sary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it
be next week or the next year? Shall we
gather strength by irresolution and inaction?
Shall we acquire the means of effectual
resistance by laying supinely on our backs,
and hugging the delusive phantom of hope,
until our enemies shall have bound us hand
and foot? Sir, we are not weak, if we make
a proper use of those means which the God
of nature hath placed in our power. Three
millions of people, armed in the holy cause of
liberty, and in such a country as that which
we possess, are invincible by any force which
our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir,
we shall not fight our battles alone. There
is a just God who presides over the destinies
of nations; and who will raise up friends to
fight out battles for us. The battle, sir, is
not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant,
the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have
no election. If we were base enough to desire
it, it is now too late to retire from the
contest. There is no retreat but in submission
and slavery!
"It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter.
Gentlemen may cry, peace, peace—but there
is no peace. The war is actually begun! The
next gale that sweeps from the north will
bring to our ears the clash of resounding
arms! Our brethren are already in the field!
Why stand we here idle? What is it that
gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is
life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be
purchased at the price of chains and slavery?
Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what
course others may take; but as for me, give
me liberty or give me death!"
Such words are so easily forgotten when men
become deluded by the falsehood of peace-wings
out of which tyrants forge slave-chains. There-
fore, such prophetic words should be resurrected.
Let them be shouted from the housetops in the
same spirit as Patrick Henry's which demanded
from Almighty God that he forbid slavery and
called upon men to value liberty above servility.
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An interne in a hospital took out an Ordi-
nary Life Preferred Risk policy for $25,000
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Just a year later he died of tuberculosis
although there had been no history of this
disease in his family. His brother was
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best advantage of the family of the de-
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