DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE 4 Detroit Jewish Chronicle and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE Published Weekly by Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc JACOB H. SCHAKNE President Entered as Second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post- office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879. General Offices and Publication Bldg., 525 Woodward Ave. Telephone: CAdillac 1040 Subscription in Advance Cable Address: Chronicle $3.00 Per Year Publisher JACOB MARGOLIS Editor PHILIP SLOMOVITZ MAURICE M. SAFIR....Advertising Manager To insure publication, all correspondence and news matter must reach this office by Tuesday evening of each week. When mailing notices, kindly use one side of paper only. The Detroit Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on sub- ' jects of interest to the Jewish people, but disclaims respon- sibility for an endorsement of views expressed by its writers. Sabbath Scriptural Selections Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 6:2-9 :35. Prophetical portion—Ezek. 28:25-29:21. Rosh Chodesh Shevat Reading of the Law, Monday Num. 28:1-15. JANUARY 16, 1942 TEBET 27, 5702 The Ford Statement Henry Ford's repudiation of anti-Semit- ism and his condemnation of those who made use of his name without authoriza- tion in spreading vile literature defaming the Jewish people serves to put an end to rumors and charges which have been current for years. Mr. Ford's statement is direct and em- phatic and should mark the end of re- criminations and suspicions. The automo- bile magnate, who is now among the leading producers of war material, con- demns anti-Semitism as a means used "to divide our American community and to weaken our national unity." Furthermore, he sums up his views by expressing the hope that the end of the war will see the end of hatred of the Jew. These are views which reflect the ac- cepted attitude of the American people today. They are views which should in- still confidence in American leadership and should revive faith in men like Ford and his fellow industrialists whose efforts are so vital in our present economy and in national defense. Mr. Ford's statement should be supple- mented with steps to prosecute those who continue to use his name for destructive purpose. Also, Mr. Ford is in position to do a great deal to satisfy public opinion by seeing to it that the anti-Semitic ac- tivities of the Anglo-Saxon Federation are exposed and ended and that his own secretary, William Cameron, who is a leader in this federation, should call for a halt to such activities. Mr. Ford's statement is a most welcome document. Jews will certainly accept it in the high spirit in which it was issued. Victory Book Campaign Two appeals to the civilian population of this country demand a hearty response from all. One is the Red Cross. The other is the Victory Book Cam- paign now in progress. The latter drive aims to secure io,opo,- 000 readable books for soldiers, sailors and marines. The American Library Association, the United Service Organizations and the Red Cross have joined in sponsoring the campaign, and the Detroit Public Library has charge of the drive in this city. Send as many books as possible at once to the local library, and help secure a substantial number of volumes from De- troit. Dr. Silver and the U. P. A. The eyes of American Jewry will be focused on Cleveland this week-end, and the deliberations there of the National Conference for Palestine, convened by the United Palestine Appeal, will be watched with great concern because of the im- portance of Palestine as a center of war. This conference assumes great signi- ficance also because it will inaugurate na- tional efforts for relief and reconstruction activities, under the continuing forces of the United Jewish Appeal; and because it will extend the respects of the Ameri- can Jewish community to Dr. Abba Hil- el Silver, U. P. A. national chairman, fn and the Legal Chronicle recognition of his five years of service in this capacity. Dr. Silver's activities in behalf of Pal- estine and the American Jewish commu- nity were not limited, of course, to the last five years. For more than 20 years he has been a factor for creative effort in Jewish life. A man of great culture, he has been able to advance the causes that are dear to him because of his great oratorical gifts. To Palestine he has given his major affections, and it is therefore appropriate that it should be the United Palestine Ap- peal conference that should honor him. But the honors will not be limited to this conference. Jews everywhere, who will be among the fortunate to be under flags which do not deprive them of in- formation and who will know of the ses- sions in Cleveland, will share in the gratitude that will be expressed to Dr. Silver for striving to make Jewish life happier and more dignified. Bnai Brith and the War Bnai Brith leadership has evinced a keen understanding of the needs of the hour, and the organization's participation in defense activities place it in the front ranks of wide-awake movements in the land. Not only are Bnai Brith lodges raising a large sum for the Red Cross and invest- ing in Defense Bonds, but they are assist- ing in providing for the welfare of soldiers and sailors and for their religious needs. Non-sectarian war relief efforts have been and are being aided by Bnai Brith, and the organization is at the same time continuing its obligations to Palestine, whose Jewish builders are the mainstays in the defense of the democratic position in the Middle East. Bnai Brith and its leaders deserve high- est commendation for the spontaneity with which they have thrown in their manpower for the defense of the democ- racies. The "People's Fund's" Gains Known among Jews throughout the world as "The People's Fund," because of its origin in pennies and prutas, the Jew- ish National Fund is now celebrating its 40th anniversary. An interesting report on its achieve- ments has just been issued in Jerusalem. Its possessions, in the name of the entire Jewish people, are 575,000 dunams of land, comprising 40 per cent of all Jew- ish-owned land in Palestine. Half of its total land holdings was acquired in the last 10 years, and all but 67,000 dunams since 1922. The fund's 40th anniversary report shows that Jewish National Fund land provided a livelihood for 51,000 people in villages and have given sites to 17,000 others in urban localities. Sixty per cent of the Jewish land workers live on Jewish National Fund land in 157 villages, constituting 60 per cent of the total numper of Jewish vil- lages distributed in all parts of the coun- try among 75 collectives and 82 co-opera- tives. In addition, 20 rural quarters, 57 workers' camps, 12 girls' training farms and 16 urban quarters are located on its soil. In the last fiscal period, the Keren Kayemeth reached its peak income of £620,000 representing an unbroken risl in the past decade. During that 10-year period, the National Fund collected £3,638,000. In the 40 years of its exist- ence, the Jewish National Fund obtained 38 per cent of its income from the United States, 30 per cent from Europe, 22 per cent from the British Empire and 6 per cent in Palestine. During the 1940-41 fiscal period, the United States provided 64 per cent of the total income. There is romance in these figures. Land-acquisition is the most important as- pect of Jewish reconstruction efforts in Palestine, and during the war the Jewish National Fund has become an arsenal for the democracies, since its colonies have been the providers of food for the British forces. The 40th anniversary of the Jewish National Fund should be a signal for in- creased efforts for this fund and for greater activity for Palestine as a central spot in the war against the Axis. January 16, 1947 .'.Heard in the Lobbies:. By DAVID DEUTSCH ALL FOR UNITY Weather permitting, Zionist President Chaim Weizmann will be in the United States before the end of January. Strange that it should be the non-Zionists and not so much certain Zionists who are anxious for the brilliant chemist-leader to visit these shores . . . Kudos for the re- marriage of the partners in the United Jewish Appeal is being given to shy-spoken David Watch- maker of Boston, who's been making a name for himself for diplomacy and modesty, rare vir- tues these days . . . The remar- riage is said to be streamlined, for as soon as the knot was tied the spouses—all three of them, JDC, UPA and NRS—went in separate directions, each to tell of his—or is it her?—virtues to separate audiences . . . The Coun- cil of Federations, having enjoyed pretty good success with the United Jewish Appeal, is re- ported to be trying the shadchan role for another betrothal, this time to get the American Jewish Congress and the General Jewish Council people to kiss and make up . . . There's quite a dither about a full-page ad on a Jewish Army which appeared in the New York Times last week. Jews got frightened until their Christian friends began congratulating them on their courage and then they began to smirk and look mighty proud. But the official Zionists looked pretty peeved, all because the Revisionists got up this Jewish Army Committee whose enterprise is knocking the spots of the stodgy old-timers Funny thing is the Zionists are getting the credit for what the outside-boys-looking-in did. IN THE NATION'S DEFENSE Those front-rank playwrights, George S. Kaufman, Ben Hecht, Lillian Hellman and Clifford Odets —all of whom have smash hits running around the country—have given their services to the gov- ernment and are rushing out scripts to tell citizens how to conduct civilian defense and to tell the doughboys what they're fighting for. Their films will soon be in your neighborhood theater. It's no easy job that Maxwell Rabb of Boston has taken as secretary to Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, who's all wrapped up in the defense effort. Rabb, .Harvard Law '35, has been with the youth- ful Massachusetts legislator since 1936. That was a very nice gift of $500 to the Red Cross from Mrs. Elinor Morgenthau. Did you notice, by the way, how the Rockefellers gave $200,000? While some Jews complained miserably about giving money abroad, no less an American than John D. wrote to Red Cross Chairman Davis: "In making this contri- bution we are happy to be tak- ing part in the support of an organization which is doing so INVINCIBLE 1 much for humanity, not only in our country but in other outlying areas as well." Orchestra leader Fredric Frad- kin is proud of h s son, Russell. Fred tried to volunteer for the Spanish-American War, but en- listment officers ruled him in- eligible. Now Russell is at Mitch- ell Field as a member of Uncle Sam's air force. A Papa's am- bition realized. Walter Winchell is keeping up his column, broadcasts, etc. He may be working for the Navy but the Navy knows best and says Walter has to do everything he did before plus a four-day-a- week office stint in uniform—be- cause it's all propaganda for the same cause. A SON RI:MEMBERS Among the reminiscences in Variety's anniversary number is one told by Grouch() Marx about the early theatrical days of the Marx Brothers : "The night we opened in 'I'll Say She Is' at the Casino Thea- ter in New York, my father, who was in on a pass, was sitting in the third row. He's always been careful with his money and never made a bet that didn't look like a sure thing. Two well- dressed men sitting in front of him began a conversation and my father picked up his ears which, somehow or other, had fallen to the floor. "The one gent: 'Those fellows aren't really brothers. I know them well. Two of them are brothers and the other two are cousins. They pretend they're brothers for business purposes, but it's just a gag.' this, father, hearing "My tapped him on the shoulder and in a rich Yorkshire dialect, which he had also picked up Off the floor, said : 'Did you say these fellows aren't brothers?' "Gent in front : 'That's what I said, pop. Two of them are broth- ers and two are cousins.' "My father: 'Is that so? I bet you $10 those fellows are broth- ers.' "Gent in front: 'Okay, pop. I'll bet you ten they're not broth- ers.' "My father looked at him warily, hesitated a moment, then said, 'Okay, I bet you $10. What odds will you give me?' " ON THE AIR WAVES That fellow Henry (Hot Lips) Levine, hot trumpeter for the "Chamber Music Society of Lower Basin Street", who interprets American swing music as few ethers do, was born in London 34 years ago. Arthur Tracy, the "Street S:nger", denies that his theme song, "Marta", is his own com- position. He brought it back from Cuba as one of the unpublished tunes of Moises Simon, composer of "Peanut Vendor". by BRESSLER