5

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle

March 20, 1942

Women in the News

By MARTHA NEUMARK

•

LABOR LEADER
The laboring men of Palestine have produced
many great personalities. So have the laboring
women. Perhaps the most distinguished of these
appeared in the news in connection with the
reports of the first annual conference of the
working women of Palestine. Some 52,000 women
were represented by 351 delegates. The broad-
shouldered, impassive Ada Fishman, whose face
has the dignity and the repose of marble busts
of Lenin, must have been proud to see this
remarkable outpouring of women, who are prob-
ably the most productive group of Jewish women
anywhere in the world.
Ada Fishman is the symbol of the equal part-
nership between men and women in the rebuild-
ing of the Jewish National Home in Palestine.
Going to Palestine from Russia in 1907, she was
one of the true pioneers in fighting off the twin
dangers of raiding Bedouins and deadly malaria.
When American women say that life is too diffi-
cult to adhere to the traditions of Judaism, it
must cause amusement to fighting Ada Fishman,
for throughout the years she has remained Ortho-
dox. Her brother, Rabbi J. L. Fishman, is the
scholarly representative of the Mizrachi .Organi-
zation on the Executive of the Jewish Agency
in Jerusalem. Ada Fishman's official title is that
of head of the Moatzath Ma-Poalath. Her inter-
ests extend into every section of Palestine's life.
One of her greatest contributions has been her
insistence on training girls for agriculture. It
was she who persuaded the Women's Interna-
tional Zionist Organization to finance a series of
girls' training farms, the largest of which is at
Ness Ziona. Ada Fishman presides at the Ay an-
other training farm like a benignant and yet
disciplinary mother over these youngsters, who
truly worship the ground on which she walks.
Those who want to know more about the
great women pioneers of Palestine should read
"The Ploughman," which Miss Fishman edited.
When she emphasizes the social importance of
the Sabbath, even to skeptical give heed. When
she urges a larger role for women in the adminis-
tration of Zionist affairs, she has the votes of
those who know her at least, although the men
are inclined to think that she is unique among
women. Even among Zionist men there are rem-
nants of the supercilious attitude to women
which seems still to be the token of a man's
world.
VERSATILE NOVELIST
The critics have added to the laurels which
wreathe Babette Deutsch in commenting upon
her latest novel, "Rogue's Legacy," a portrait
of Francois Villon. Brought again into the lime-
light, Miss Deutsch has been invited to conduct
a course in poetry at Queens College, New York,
thus joining the ranks of such poets as Robert
Frost, Vachel Lindsay and Louis Untermeyer
who have been brought to campuses to impart
their feeling for verse to undergraduates.
A native of New York, Miss Deutsch obtained
her education at Barnard College. Few Ameri-
can writers have been as versatile in their inter-
ests or in their achievements. 1926 saw the pub-
lication of her first novel, "A Brittle Heaven".
The following year brought forth "In Such a
Night," which was something akin to James
Joyce and Conrad Aiken but distinctively fem-
inine. It was in the stream-of-consciousness style
of the moment. Miss Deutsch proved her qualitie'
as a poet in the choice of words to create moods.
As far back as when she was a sophomore at
Barnard she began contributing poems and criti-
cism to important publications, the first to ac-
cept her being the now-defunct North American
Review. Her first fame resulted from her win-
ning first prize in the 1926 Nation Poetry Con-
test, in which 3,000 participated. But even before
that the presses had turned out slim hooks of
her poetry—the first, "Banners," in 1919, and
the next, "Honey Out of the Rock," in 1925.
During this period she also collaborated on
several ventures with her husband, the noted
Russian critic, Avrahm Yarmolinsky. She helped
him on a Modern Russian Poetry anthology in
1921 and an anthology of Contemporary German
Poetry in 1922. In 1927 they again collaborated
on "Russian Poetry," a remarkable anthology.
When a series of monographs was being issued
in 1929 on American culture, Miss Deutsch was

chosen to write "Potable Gold," an analysis of
the art of poetry.
Her various magazine stories are now climaxed
by her fictional biography of the 15th century
poet of Paris. Miss Deutsch's great gifts of hu-
man understanding, brilliant characterization and
poetic prose find their richest expression in
"Rogue's Legacy".
LIBBY HOLMAN BACK
Cincinnati's gift to the bizarre and exciting
among American stage women is Libby Holman,
who is somehow reminiscent of Tallulah Bank-
head in her self-assurance and colorfulness. No
one who saw Miss Holman playing leads in her
university musical comedies could have predicted
that five years thence she would be singing "Body
and Soul" and stimulating an entire nation and
that 15 years thence she would be the richest
musical comedy singer in the land.
Miss Holman, widow of one of the wealthiest
tobacco scions, and wife of Ralph Holmes, now
in the Canadian Air Force, is planning to emerge
from her two years' retirement since she last
appeared on Broadway and to k„ o on a concert
tour with Joshua White, guitarist. Mr. White, a
Negro of South Carolina, has been rehearsing
Negro spirituals with Miss Holman, who thinks
that her low, husky voice is particularly adapted
to that medium.
Libby Holman at 37 has had about as much
adventure and excitement as is vouchsafed to
any human being in a lifetime. The fact thnt
she is Jewish has seemed to be no bar either to
success or to romance. Qualities of congeniality
carried her far, enmeshing her eventually on
one of the grimmest tragedies any woman could
face. Since then she has been in more or less
retirement. Not that she wouldn't star in a musi-
cal show if one were available ; but apparently
she felt that life on her Greenwich, Conn., farm
would be more serene.
If you happen to pass Libby Holman on the
street and nod to her, don't be offended if she
seems to pass by deliberately. Her eyesight is
poor. She was, incidentally, one of the first
women to get the lenses which fit snugly over
the eyeballs.
Perhaps an ordinary woman strolling about
the countryside moaning negro spirituals while
Joshua White guitared wouldn't be able to make
a living from concert receipts. But that's one
advantage Libby Holman has: she doesn't need
the money.
IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Wherever the American Flag flies today in
defense of American frontiers, Jewish soldiers
are to be found alongside Americans of other
faiths. Naturally, therefore, there is a contingent
in Northern Ireland which has attracted special
attention because of the curious attitude of
Eamon de Valera's government.
Two women relatives of medical men attached
to the A. E. F. in Ulster exemplify the typical
response of American women whose husbands or
sons have joined up for service. They are Mrs.
Louis Silverstehl and Mrs. Herbert Weltchek,
whose menfolk are lieutenants in the medical
corps.
The Silversteins have been married two years.
For four years Louis Silverstein has been a re-
serve officer, having joined immediately after
graduation from the University of North Caro-
lina medical school. Asked what her husband's
reaction was when the call to arms came at a
time when he was just beginning to build up a
medical practice, Mrs. Silverstein said: "He felt
very proud and honored. Whatever sacrifice he
may have made in giving up a good practice he
felt was fully justified."
That was also the story of Mrs. Abraham
Weltchek whose unmarried son, Herbert, a grad-
uate of Marquette Medical School and Rutgers
University, had originally applied for a commis-
sion in the Army Medical Corps.
"It's a pleasant shock," was the only response
of the mother upon receiving news that her son
was far off in Ireland. In both Mrs. Silverstein
and Mrs. Weltchek there was an attitude of pride
that the "four freedoms" about which so much
was being said had defenders in their husband
and son. If there was anxiety, it was that justifi-
able interest which all people have in the ulti-
mate safe return of their loved ones.

Committee for Kashruth
Reports on Its Activities

Representatives of 14 congre-
gations attended the meeting of
the Detroit Committee for Kash-
ruth held at the Yeshiva Beth
Yehudah auditorium, Thursday,
March 12. Reports by the execu-
tive committee showed that
weekly examinations of Shochtim
are conducted by the Beth Din
of the committee, that the super-
visors (mahgichim) now bring
weekly reports of their findings
to the committee, and other ar-
rangements for the benefit of
Kashruth have been instituted.
During the next few weeks it is
hoped that at least two caterers
will formally be under super-
vision. These have accepted
supervision in principle and are
now waiting for the technical
details of supervision to be

O

worked out. A survey of kosher
restaurants has also been un-
dertaken, with a view of bring-
ing order into this field.
Abbe Levi, chairman of nom-
inations,
reported on the pro-
,
posed board of directors, and
the list proposed by his commit-
tee was adopted, pending reply
from those invited to act in
directors' capacities. The execu-
tive has also been enlarged, in-
cluding more menbers of the
rabbinate. Rabbis Hershman and
Adler have also expressed their
willingness to cooperate with the
committee in executive capaci-
ties.
Rabbi Isaac Stollman made a
plea for strenuous efforts in the
direction of PassoveN Kashruth,

Trees Planted in
Palestine Forests

especially in the matter of maca-
roons, which are often sold with-
out any supervision or guarantee
of their fitness for Passover use.
The assembly empowered the
executive to work in this field.
A financial report was read • by
Rabbi Jacob Cohn, executive
secretary. All representatives of
synagogues present pledged cer-
tain sums for the furtherance
of the work of the committee.
The next meeting of the com-
mittee for Kashruth is scheduled
for April 16.

There isn't a Jewish leader in
the land who wouldn't drop what-
ever he's doing to answer a sum-
mons to Washington to help win
this war . . . Well, begin sum-
moning, Uncle Sam!

Invest With Uncle
Sam—Buy Bonds!

LASALLE

The Jewish National Fund
Council of Detroit announces the
planting of trees in Palestine
forests as follows:
In the Ehrlich Forest : 35 trees
by Dr. Maxwell Hoffman, honor-
ing his parents on their 35th
wedding anniversary ; two trees
in memory of Rabbi Isaac Reich-
man, by Edith Muskin ; one tree
in memory of Ida Weine, by Mr.
and Mrs. Maxwell Silverstein ;
two trees in memory of Rose
Kass, by Yound Judaea Leaders'
Council of Detroit; one tree in
memory of Joseph Iskovitz, by
his children ; two trees in mem-
ory of Nathaniel Peiman, by Mr.
and Mrs. William Hordes; one
tree honoring Bar Mitzvah of
Maurice Goldberg, by Mr. and
Mrs. Benjamin Gordon ; two trees
in memory of Rose Kass, by Mr.
and Mrs. Max Reitman ;; one
tree honoring Bar Mitzvah of
Alvin Mendel Harrison, by Mr.
and Mrs. Joseph Fisher.
In the Mizrachi Forest : One
tree honoring birth of Michael
Allen Jaffee, by Mrs. J. Pearl-
man ; one tree honoring marriage
of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kellman
and one tree honoring marriage
of Mr. and Mrs. F. Fishman, by
Young Women's Mizrachi Organ-
ization; two trees in memory of
Nathaniel Peiman, by Sisters of
Zion Mizrachi; one tree honor-
ing her daughter, Alta Kazdan,
by Mrs. Molly Seligson.
To plant trees in Palestine
Forests call the chairman of the
tree committees of the Jewish
National Fund Council of Detroit,
Mrs. Alexander W. Sanders, Ho-
garth 0967, 12342 Broadstreet.

Window Shade Co

WINDOW SHADES
MADE TO ORDER
Cleaned and Repaired
LINOLEUM
Inlaid and Battleship
Rugs and Furniture
VENETIAN BLINDS
Drapery Hardware

Oct Our Primp and Save
Free Rattmatee Furnished

8625 LINWOOD

CALL TYLER 5-1230

For
Economy
Comfort
Convenience

THE WILSHIRE

Apartment Hotel

Collingwood at Third

1 to 4 room suite•,
furnished or unfurnished,
Hot•I service optional,
dining room, garage in

connection,
TOWNSEND 8-2680

FOR A QUARTER CENTURY
—DETROIT'S FINEST FOOD

The utmost care is exercised in planning our
menus to insure sufficient variety to please the
most exacting taste.

VISIT OUR COCKTAIL .LOUNGE
Your favorite drink mixed by exports

HARRY BOESKY

12TH and HAZELWOOD

PHONE TRINITY 2-9366

"THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A LONDON"

LONDON'S

Delicatessen

Featuring WILNO KOSHER PRODUCTS
All Kinds of Sandwiches
Be Entertained with Sweet Music While You Eaf
MEET YOUR FRIENDS AT LONDON'S
12133 LINWOOD
TO. 8-0545
Beer 8 Wine to take out and served - - We Deliver

EXPERIENCE

ABILITY — SERVICE

APPROVED F.H.A. MORTGAGES

We invite your mortgage business.

It will receive our careful considera-

tion from inception to completion.

•

General Discount Corporation

1605 Barium Tower

WANTED AT ONCE
Furniture, Rugs and Household Furnishings
Complete Home or Odd Pieces

FOR HIGHEST PRICES CALL. TY. 4-9231 OR TY. 5-1071

AMERICAN AUCTION HOUSE

4849 GRAND RIVER AVE.

AUCTION SALE EVERY MONDAY—PRIVATE SALES DAILY