January 2. 1942

Purely Commentary •

The Humor of the War

Some one should start collecting the humor that
arose from situations created by the war. There
are countless good stories coming from all fronts,
and the more oppressive the Nazi tactics, the
keener the satire that is related from the war
zones.
•
Among the jokes coming from overseas is one
related by the London Evening Standard. It re-
ports that Parisians acquire zest froM Nazi-em-
bittered life because of the lack of humor dis-
played by the Germans. The Evening Standard
relates:
"At the Grand Guignol a very creepy play, 'The
House of the Slow Death,' has been running. Out-
side of the theater there is a huge notice 'Visitors
to Paris are cordially welcomed.' Parisians crowd
around the notice and laugh. The only visitors in
Paris are the Nazis, who have not yet seen the
joke."
It is grim business for the Nazis, and it is
becoming more serious for them. It is a sort of
madness that leads to destruction. For the rest
of the world there is salvation and redemption,
and those who are again to be free retain their
courage and strength because they are able to re-
tain it sense of humor.

The Jewish Army Excites and Thrills

Discussion of the need for a Jewish Army—
in Palestine— has created conflicting reactions.
Non-Jews and the Zionist elements are thrilled
by the possibility of Jewish display of valor in
the battle of the Middle East, and the idea of
Jews fighting as a unit serves to arouse new
hopes of more serious consideration of the plight
of the Jew after the war, by the diplomats and
statemen who will have to take into consideration
the sacrifices made by the nations engaged in the
world conflicts
But there are others who have become unduly
alarmed and excited over the very idea of a Jew-
ish army. They are worried lest some one accuse
them Of forming a Jewish religious military force.
Let us look at the facts:
There are more than 10,000 Jews now serving
with the British forces in the Middle Eastern and
African battles and in Palestine. More than 170,-
000 Jews have offered their services with the
British forces. These Jews feel that Jews should
be organized as a unit—and should be recognized
as a unit—just as the Free French and the Free
Poles and the Free Czechs are serving in this
war as distinct units.
Prominent non-Jewish leaders agree with this
idea, which has the unanimous endorsement of
the Jews in Palestine and of all the Zionists.
Congressman John D. Dingell of Michigan made
a strong plea for a Jewish army in Palestine in
the U. S. House of Representatives, and Congress-
man Hamilton Fish went a step further and
urged American aid for such an army, from lease-
lend funds.
But the Jewish Congressman Leon Sacks of
Philadelphia wanted to be sure that the Record
indicated that Representative Fish meant Pales-
tine and not the United States. He spoke of the
100,000 Jews now serving in the American
forces and of the anxiety of Jews in this coun-
try to make all the necessary sacrifices to assure
victory by this country against the Axis. This
being the fact in the case, Congressman Fish
naturally agreed.
Congressman Sacks did not dissent from the
plea of his colleague, Hamilton Fish. He had
heard the story regarding the Jewish army, Con-
gressman Dingell and Fish had explained the ob-
ject of their appeals, and it would have been
highly improper to disagree.
What can you say about a man who, referring
to the Jewish army proposals, attacks the idea
on the ground that "we are fighting as Americans
and not as Jews or as Presbyterians or as Catho-
lics or as Methodists," and who thereby gives
you the impression that a religious army is pro-
jected in this country?
That's the impression that was given by Dr.
Louis Wolsey of Philadelphia, at the colorful
banquet held in Detroit on Dec. 17, in honor of
Dr. Leo M. Franklin's 43 years of service of
Temple Beth El, from which post he had retired
to become rabbi emeritus. It is an impression.
unfortunately made to an audience that included
important Christian as well as Jewish leaders, that
must be corrected.
Rabbi Wolsey made reference to a meeting
held in Philadelphia at which Lieutenant-Colonel
J. H. Patterson made the emphatic declaration
that Jews must be permitted to organize an army
and that unless they do they will not be able to
win their rights after the war. Thereupon, Rabbi
Wolsey waxed eloquent and declared that the
f ght is on the basis of Americanism and that
Here are to be no units for the various religious
denominations.
Here are some elementary things that Dr. Wol-
sey failed to mention: The request is for a Jewish
army in Palestine and not in this country; no
one, colored or white, Jew or Christian, has ever
been known to appeal for separate units for separ-
ate groups in this country; the fight in Palestine
is one of the most challenging in the entire war,
since the defense of the Suez and of the British
position in Africa is vital to the defense of Rus-
sia, and since Jews have been offering to enlist
at the rate of four or five to one in comparison
with the Arabs, there is justification for a distinct
unit which will eventually figure in the recognition
of Jewish rghts.
There are Jews who are not convinced on the
necessity for a distinct Jewish army unit, even in
Palestine. Let them, therefore, debate the issue--
with the proponents of an army, which include
Pierre Van Paassen, Dr. Samuel Harden Church,
president of the Carnegie Institute, and others—
on its merits. But there is no justification for over-
looking or distorting the facts.
Anyone who has read the news stories regard-
ing the demand for a Jewish army with the care

5

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle

Women's Congress
Group Increases
By Philip Slomovitz
. Defense Activity

required for good readers knows the situation
with respect to the army's location in Palestine.
Is it possible that Dr. Louis Wolsey of the Ro-
deph Shalom Congregation of Philadelphia has
not read the facts but made use of a phrase
Jewish army as a subject for expressing patriotic
ardor which has never been doubted? Temple
Beth El leaders in Detroit certainly know the
situation in its correct light.
Equally as important as the fair and sound
attitude of leaders of Temple Beth El is the re-
action of some Christians who were present at the
dinner and who took occasion to tell us how the
reference to "a Jewish army" struck them at
the dinner in honor of Dr. Franklin. They were
not misled. "After all," said one of the • distin-
guished Christians who was at the dinner,, "in
this troubled world we are all used to views vary-
ing from our own, and I ant sure those who were
privileged to be the guests of Temple Beth El are
of a type not to misunderstand the Jewish people
of America and their high and intelligent pa-
triotism."
And so, you see, the Gentile does know and
understand.

Colonel John H. Patterson

This gives us a chance to say a word about
Lieutenant-Colonel John H. Patterson. He was
the British Commander of the Jewish Legions in
the First World War. (Dr. Wolsey referred to
him as a "world war veteran," and the added
wrong impression was that the proposal for a
Jewish army was made by an American militarist
to American Jews for action by American Jews.).
Which gives you a clue to an additional fact that
the establishment of a Jewish army would not
be a new thing, but would be repeating history.
Colonel Patterson is an interesting man. He was
a close friend of Vladimir Jabotinsky whom he
befriended during the last war, when Jabotinsky
was an officer in the Jewish army. Patterson sym-
pathized with the Revisionist Zionist viewpoint.
He is ardently in favor of the upbuilding of a
Jewish Palestine. He is the author of a number
of books and pamphlets dealing with the history
of the Jewish Legion in the last war, and one of
his best works is "With the Zionists in Galipoli."

The Need for United Action

The editorial service of the Independent
Jewish Press Service has issued the fol-
lowing important comment on the need
for the establishment of an united and
cooperative front in American Jewry :

Recently, at a meeting of the Board of the
Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare
Funds, a distinguished American Jew ex-
posed the weakness of the General Jewish
Council. He it not a partisan and commands
the respect of all sections of American Jewry.
He is one of the highest-ranking officers of
the General Jewish Council. In his observa-
tions, reflecting a tense of frustration and
despair, he paid high tribute to the American
Jewish Congress and said that during its par-

ticipation

in the General Jewish Council it
had been more co-operative than any other
group. Testimony from that source should
for all time dispose of a canard that did
grave hurt to an important organization and,
at the same time, permitted others to escape
the criticism that they deserved.
One of the most disturbing situations in
American Jewry today is the lethargy with
which, on the one hand, the Jewish com-
munities of America regard the failure to
take united action in a serious hour, and, on
the other hand, the almost contemptuous in-
difference with which some of the civic-pro-
tective organizations regard any demand for
a unification of forces to meet an increasing
anti-Semitic peril in this country.
When the General Jewish Council was
formed in Pittsburgh. American Jews were
relieved. They believed that conscientious ef-
fort would be made to deal with the prob-
lems of Jews in America. That effort was
not forthcoming. A canard was then circu-
lated by interested circles that the American
Jewish Congress stood in the way of effective,
coordinated action. When the Congress left
—or, rather, was forced from—the General
Jewish Council, many believed and hoped
that at least the three agencies which re-
mained could produce a program of action
and not of stifling silence and inaction.
But post mortems are beside the point.
What is important now is to prod the Ameri-
can Jewish Committee, American Jewish
Congress, the Bnai Brith and the Jewish Labor
Committee into one forceful, representative
body.
Who will perform that role? Only the
Jewish communities of America can compel
action. It is a source of regret and curiosity
that the Council of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds. which played a part in com-
pelling the continuation of the United Jew-
ish Appeal, should withhold the moral author-
ity it carries in bringing pressure to bear
for unity in a field far more vital to the
interests of American Jewry. The Council,
which should he the instrument of scores of
Welfare Funds throughout the country upon
whom falls the responsibility for raising funds
for civic-protective agencies, must avoid any
reproach that it skirts problems because of
personal aspects. Officers of the Council
should not allow t ught to enter the
minds of America Je hat because its
roster of directors is si 'lar in many re-
spects to the roster of the American Jewish

Committee, it holds aloof from pressure on
the Committee to abandon its haughty con•

(Continued on Page 12)

i

f,
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The Women's Division of the
American Jewish Congress is
planning a series of activities for
the forth-coming weeks. Entrance
of the United States into war has
increased the work of the Amer-
ican Jewish Congress in defending
democracy. Plans for inter-relat-
ing work of Congress with civil-
ian defense are rapidly being .
formulated. Several classes in first
aid have been organized and other
activities will be announced in
the near future.
On Jan. 7 a membership tea
will be held in the home of Mrs.
M. Kogan, 28.10 Cambridge, at
1:30 p. m. Dr. Clarissa Fineman
will be the speaker.
On Jan. 9. a fund-raising rally
and tea will take place in the
home of Mrs. Perry Burnstine,
8151 LaSalle, at 1:30 p. m. The
speaker of the afternoon will be
Mrs. Morris Weingarten.
The annual paid-up membership
luncheon will be given on Jan.
14. A prominent speaker from
New York City will be present at
this meeting.
A breakfast meeting of presi-
dents of various women's organi-
zations in the city is being called
for Jan. 15. This meeting is ex-
pected to establish a precedent.
A noteworthy speaker will be
present to discuss the relationship
of the American Jewish Congress
to other organizations.
Regular meetings of committees
will be held as usual throughout
the month.

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Judges Announced by LaMed Fund

Eminent Writers Will Select Awardees in Yiddish and
Hebrew Literature for 1941; Bi-Lingual
Foundation to Publish "Ha-Measef"

The Louis LaMed Foundation
for the Advancement of Hebrew
and Yiddish Literature, formed
two years ago by Louis LaMed
of 12801 Broadstreet„this week
announced the selection of the
following judges who will act as
a jury. for the awarding of prem-
iums from the fund for 1941:
Prof. Hillel Bavli, Jacob Klat-
stein, Dr. Haym Greenberg, Dr.
Max Weinreich and David Pin-
ski.
There will be two awards for
the best works in Hebrew and
two for the best Yiddish literary
works. The first prize in each
group will be $200 and the second
prize $150.
Details regarding the character
of books of manuscripts which

will be taken into consideration
will be announced soon.
"Ha-Measef," an an t h o l o g y,
will be published soon under the
joint editorship of S. Niger and
Menahem Ribelow. It will contain
translations into the Hebrew of
modern Yiddish poetry as well
as other works. There will also
be published research material
dealing with Jewish literature and
with the influence of Hebrew and
Sramaic on philosophers and poets
of the Spanish-Jewish period, as
well as material on the literary
styles of H. N. Bialik, Mendel.
Mocher Serorim and others.
Among the works to be published
will also be short stories dealing
with Jewish life in Europe, Amer.
ica and Palestine.'

Campaign Launched for Yemenite
Jews; Zechariah Gluska in Detroit

Zechariah Gluska, head of the
Yemenite Jewish Community in
Palestine, is in Detroit directing
renewal of the annual appeal in
behalf of the Jews of Yemen.
The committee which functioned
here last year, under the chair-
manship of Walter Field, is again
operating in an effort to secure
renewals of gifts made for aid to
the Yemenite Jews, in Palestine,
last year
Dr. B. Benedict Glazer of Tem-
ple Beth El has accepted member-
sh;p on this year's committee, and
the contribution from the Temple
Beth El fund will be renewed, it
was stated this week.
Mr. Gluska has indicated that
21 Yemenite colonies are func-
tioning in Palestine, and that
these communities need constant
encouragement for themselves as
well as to bring additional fam-
ilies from Yemen to Palestine. He
said that at present 100 addi-
tional visas are available for
Yemenite Jews who will be
brought to Zion as soon as funds
are available. He expressed the
hope that Detroit Jews will assist
in raising the necessary money.
To indicate the sad state of
the Yemenite community and the
dire need for help, Mr. Gluska

pointed out that undernourish
meat is a cause of a large death
rate among Yemenite children. He
quoted figures to show that the
death rate of two-year-old chil-
dren among Yemenites is 32.6 per
cent compared with 5 per cent
among Ashkenazim and 6.2 per
cent among Sefardim.

Honor Award Goes to
Melvin De Groote

The annual award for outstands
ing achievement was presented to
Melvin De Groote of St. Louis,
Mo., at the 32nd annual Conven-
tion Banquet of the Sigma Alpha
Mu Fraternity on Monday, Dec.
29, at Hotel Chase in St. Louis.
A committee of 18 business and
professional men throughout the
United States and Canada select-
ed Mr. De Groote for the 1941
Award because of his distinguished
work in his profession of Chem-
ical Engineering. He is today
one of the outstanding workers in
a field vitally important to na-
tional economy and national de-
fense—the highly complex and
specialized field of Petroleum

Technology.

Jay