—
6
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
s
September I1, 1942
Jews in the Post - War World
BY THE REV. DR. JAMES PARKES
We Extend Hearty Season's Greetings
To Our Many Jewish Friends
•
EDITOR'S NOTE: In a serious consideration of the post-war situa-
tion of the Jews. the Reverend Dr. James Parkes delineates
four primary Jewish needs for today and tomorrow. Empha-
sizin g that any solution which ignores these needs is bound to
fail. Dr. Parkes finds that an adequate solution may be found
by any number of methods.
solution of Jewish needs, and is
willing to share in Jewish con-
tributions, then it is not beyond
the bound of possibility that even
men living today may be able to
write of anti-Semitism as an in-
explicable aberration of their an-
cestors.
Any full consideration of the tributions, these of the Jews are
situation of the Jews after the based on their traditions, their
war inevitably involves a large experiences, and their tempera-
number of controversies, but be- went.
SEASON'S GREETINGS
low the surface of controversy
1. The long Rabbinic tradition
there
are most
certain
points
of prob-
fact has created a certain pattern in
on
which
people
would
ably agree. If only it be possible Jewish life which is shared by
to achieve a general agreement an immense majority of the mem-
and that it is impossible to ex- bens of the Jewish civilization,
pest all Jews ever to think alike, whether they are synagogue-goers
then there is a real chance that or not. The tradition expresses
all the facts of the situation may itself in three ways of consider-
receive due consideration in plan- able value to the world. There is
8723 W. JEFFERSON AVE
ning the future. the instinctive sense among Jews
In old days, before the war, that life is a unity, with no divi-
when Gentiles spoke of the "con- sion between the secular and the
Vlnewood 2-2230
tribution" that Jews made to religious. There is the strong
society, and on the basis of sense of social responsibility
which they should be accepted, which is shown as much in the
many of my Jewish friends used Jewish contribution to 19th cen-
natu•ally to ask: "Why is it tury Europe as in the upbuilding
the Jews must always make a of the National Home. And third-
A Happy New Year
contribution if they are to be ly there is the amazing—consider-
accepted? Other peoples are ac- ing their experience in more than
just because they exist, 1,000 years of history—and in-
Berkower Fur Shop
but we are asked to base our eradicable optimism which Juda-
but
existence on our making a con- ism has created.
tribution."' I think the war has
2. Jewish experience, in a
finished this discrimination. It is world in which we hope that the
12221 Dexter
HO. 3380
quite true that people used to edges of sovereignty and separ-
think that they could draw out atism will be taken off, could be
of the common store of mankind of considerable value. The dis-
without putting anything into it; persion of the Jews has meant a
but the war is changing that, wide area of contact and under-
and men realize that all nations, standing of the lives and problems
however great they may be, can of different peoples. In more pre-
only hope to survive by the con- cise forms they have an unusual
SINCERE HOLIDAY GREETINGS
tribution which they make not experience of the working of dif-
only to the common struggle, but ferent financial and economic sys-
to the common task of peacemak- terns and an invaluable capacity
ing after the war. Moreover, we for improvisation and innovation.
are realizing also that they all 3. In a world in which many
have needs for the consideration things are bound to be new the
of which they will have to ask Jewish spirit of adventure can
the sympathetic attention of their be as valuable as, in a world
Authorized Dealer for
neighbors. The world of inde- which dislikes innovation, it has
pendent, self-seeking, sovereign been found to create difficulties.
Rock of Ages Memorials
states might come into existence That the Jewish contribution
again after the war for a brief should be expressed both in an
23436 GRAND RIVER
and tragic period, but it holds upbuilding of purely Jewish life,
out no prospect of a stable peace and in a sharing in the general
Opp. Grand Lawn Cemetery
or a better world. upbuilding of purely Jewish life,
Redford 0458
There is, then, no reason why and in a sharing in the general
.lews should consider themselves upbuilding of world society, is
different from others in that they inherent in the past history of the
also beneath the surface of their Jews. But it no longer distin-
controversies, have to put forward guishes them from other peo-
both their needs and the contri- ples. For to some extent the
bution which they can make.
same dual contribution will be
ROSII HASHONAII GREETINGS
There are four primary Jewish required of many nations. We
needs for today and tomorrow: have, for example, begun to un-
1. In so far as their relations derstand that in the colonial ex-
with Gentiles are concerned the perience• of the European Em-
urgent need if for a change 9f pires each has something which
atmosphere. I believe that we it expresses only in terms of its
may, without undue optimism, own traditions. Nor is the situa-
hope that the very fact that the tion confined to the colonial field,
age-old anti-Semitism of Europe for the collaboration between Rus-
has received such artificial stim- sia and the Western Powers will
ulation and imaginary forms in only be fruitful if there is the
Nazi propaganda may lead to a same dual sense.
more complete collapse of the It is a foolish piece of pessi-
8053 MILITARY AVE.
anti-Semitic movement after the mism to consider the Jewish prob-
war than most expo, t. "Small lem insolvable. There will always
showers last long, but sudden be b among men those who have a
TYler 5-5758
storms are short." In any case, dislike of the unlike, but if the
it is certain that no healthy solu- post-war world finds an adequate
tton is possible without a real
change of atmosphere.
2. I think it is true of Jews as
of Christians that the spiritual
vitality which has been born of
the suffering of the past years
will need new forms and organ-
isms for its expression if much
of it is not to be lost, and this
presents an urgent problem to the
religious leaders of both religions.
3. The overpowering material
need of the Jewish people is for
homes in which they may feel
secure. It is impossible today to
say what number of homes may
be needed, but this aspect of the
Jewish question needs repetition
in all political and economic dis-
and Sincere Wishes for a
cussions of the future.
4. One of the most valuable
Jewish activities before the war,
Year of Health, Happiness,
of both national and international
Jewish bodies, was the retraining
of thousands of young Jews for
and Contentment
more constructive livelihoods. This
also is work which needs to go
on as part of the general plan-
ning of any society.
These needs are constant be-
neath the surface of controversy.
Orthodox and non-religious Jew,
Zionist and non-Zionist, may pro-
pound different methods of meet-
ing them, but if they propose
solutions which ignore them they
are bound to fail.
If Jewish needs are met, to-
gether with the needs of others,
what in turn is the Jewish con-
tribution—again a contribution to
be made with that of other na-
PFEIFFER BREWING CO., DETROIT, MICH.
tions—to a more stable and crea-
tive order? Like all other con-
SCOVERA
CARTAGE CO.
Operated by
FRED A. SIMONSEN
RESTAURANT
2951 WOODWARD AVE.
Open Day and Night
CAFETERIA
COFFEE SHOP
1130 GRISWOLD ST
7 a. m. to 9 P. m.
L-
Redford
Granite Works
IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SEASON. WE EXTEND SINCERE
WISHES TO ALL THE JEWISH PEOPLE
FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR
—HAROLD C. ROBINSON
Film Truck Service
FILM EXCHANGE BUILDING
2310 CASS AVE.
CADILLAC 6475
A Happy and Prosperous New Year to All
C. P. MILLER AUTO SERVICE
CLYDE P. MILLER, Prop.
COMPLETE AUTO SERVICE
We Pick Up and Deliver Your Car
Rosh
llashonah
Greetings
17420 GRAND RIVER AVE.
Phone VErmont 5-9791
Le Shono Tovo Tikosevu—A Happy New Year
F. W. BASCOMB & SON
MANUFACTURING CHEMISTS
9387 LIVERNOIS
HOGARTH
1868
SINCERE HOLIDAY GREETINGS
BORIN BROS., Inc.
COAL and ICE
For Quality and Price See Us
1635 Westminster
STANDARD
STANCHION
MFG. CO .
Townsend 8-8800
A BOND A DAY KEEPS THE AXIS AWAY