December 25, 1942
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
THOU SHALT HATE
;4 2
Theater Guild's Children's Performance Given
By Ben Ami Troupe Was Great Success
By JUDITH BIELY
The performances of Peretz the children from the various
Hirchbein's "The Green Fields," types of Jewish schools met and
that sooner or later they would
sponsored by the Jewish Theatre enjoyed together a Jewish per-
realize that they were torturing
Guild, on Dec. 13, for the chil- formance in common.
an innocent man, and that they
dren attending Jewish schools in
Over seven hundred children,
would release him from that
Detroit, was a unique achieve- ranging in age from five to
The
little
girl
tugged
gently
at
awful concentration camp. Now
ment. Not only was this the first eighteen, gave rapt attention to
it is all finished." She waved her mother's sleeve.
time that the Jewish children of the charming, idyllic play, pre-
"Now,
Mother?"
she
asked.
her slender arms in despair.
"Now can't we write my letter?" Detroit were given On opportun- sented to them by the artists of
"He is not the first one to die
"Why of course, Betsy," Mrs. ity to see a suitable play in a the Jacob Ben-Ann-Bertha Ger-
mysteriously in a concentration Carson grinned. "Are you going Jewish theatre, without charge, stin troupe. The actors, stimu-
but it was the first time that lated by the whole-hearted inter-
camp," Gretchen said by way of to write it or am I?"
comfort. "At times I get so dis-
est of the children, responded
"Well," Betsy said. "Maybe
gusted I could . . ."
with warmth and brilliance. The
you'd better kind of say it to me.
and pants are full of mud."
children were an exemplary audi-
"Ssh . . . Remember that walls Only I'd love to write it."
She began wiping it off with a ence and demonstrated by their
"All right, then, Miss Carson,
have rears." Esther cautioned.
dry rag. "You must learn to attentive and respectful behavior
"You had better leave, mein Lich- take a letter," her mother said.
walk more carefully."
that they are interested in and
•hen. It always worries me to walking slowly up and down the
room. "Ready? 'Dear Mr. Mor-
"I never did fall," Heinr:ch do enjoy the Jewish theatre when
have an Aryan in my home.. You
genthau: The way I save money
know how I love you, and it for War Stamp buying is to steer burst out. "The boys threw mud it is presented to them with taste
would finish me if you were to all the small household jobs to- at me as I left grandpa's house." and understanding, despite the
A bitter, long suppressed cry fact that they are sometimes
pay for this visit—consoling your
ward my pierced the room, and penetrated, handicapped by an unfamiliarity
Jt vish friend."
daughter, who
like it stiletto, the poor, helpless with Yiddish. Jacob Ben-Ami
is eight years
"There was not a soul around
mother's heart. "0. Mutter], why spoke to the children at the end
old. She is so
when I came here, and I'll also
of the performance, telling them
keen about was I born a Jew?" The weeping
make sure to slip out of here un-
what it pleasure it was for the
buying War boy quickly lost all restraint.
noticed by spying eyes."
artists and himself to perform be-
Stamps
that
I
At this Gretchen took off her
know all the
An hour later a changed Es- fore them and complimented them
hat and coat, and pulled down
money
I
might
ther
came out from her son's on their excellent behavior.
the blinds. Then she turned on
The other two events recently
"The child needs skillful medi- the light.
have paid to someone else for do- bedroom, where she had succeed-
cal care," he had said.
"You could stand a cup of cof- ing the jobs will go toward Victory ed finally in pacifying Heinrich sponsored by the Theatre Guild,
and getting him off to sleep. Her the Pinski Celebration and the
"I am at a loss, Paul, I really fee," she observed, looking not when paid to her.'
"Now make a list, Betsy. 'Win- face was compassionate and stern theatre-evening, were equally suc-
don't know whom to consult. It without pain at Esther's haggard
idows washed, 60 cents. Apples and she stepped more firmly as cessful. Members and friends of
is terrible that you can't look face.
after him."
"Don't bother, Gretchen, I'm so ;picked from under the tree, 25 if she had got rid of a great the Guild, anxious to meet Jacob
',cents. Emptied trash cans, 4 burden that was preying on her Ben-Ami, Bertha Gerstin and the
He smiled bitterly and recom- uneasy about you being here."
ticents. Sold string beans from the mind. Her tear-stained eyes shone members of their ensemble, pack-
"Stop
worrying
about
me."
mended a good doctor of the su-
garden, 15 cents. Sold strips of with a determination, her heart ed the Workmen's Circle Center
perior race.
spoiled:film to children for sun- was filled with a new hope. But auditorium to capacity, Dec. 10.
"You are making a serious mis- gazing, at one cent a yard, 20
This had been the first time
The program consisted of read-
take, my dear Esther," Gretchen cents. Total, $1.24. Yours help- a surge of pain seized her as she
that Gretchen had ever called at
ings, recitations, and songs, pre-
approached her sobbing friend.
said, „sipping her coffee.
fully,
I
hope,'—and
then
I'll
sign
Dr. Loewe's without seeing his
sented by the artists and a talk
"Perhaps so, but I simply can- it at the bottom."
"Gretchen, I have . . ." she
wife who was Gretchen's child-
on the history of the Jewish thea-
not bear to part from my sonny.
Betsy was puffing like a gram- began, but stopped abruptly as tre and its present status, given
hood chum. How many happy
He is the only thing I have left pus from her labors. The tall, her friend's deep blue eyes, dim-
days—nay years—the two of them
by Jacob Ben-Ami, international-
in the vale of tears and sorrow. painstaking letters tottered brave- med with tears, looked interroga-
had spent together! Adolescent
ly famous Jewish actor.
I would go out of my mind imag- ly across the sheet of paper. tively into her own. "Why, my
infatuations, first serious court-
"Yankl Der Shmied," the fam-
Gravely
Mrs.
Carson
took
the
pen
sweet
Gretchei,
you
too
.
.
.
you,
ings, love affairs, engagement, ining that my Heinrich might
to sign.
too, have my sonny's 'Weltschmerz' ous drama by David Pinski, spon-
marriage, marital ups and downs have taken ill or met with an
"Mother, would it be the proper expression in your lovely eyes." sored by the Guild in connection
—all these they had confided to accident in distant America."
etiquette if I signed it too?"
"Have I no heart? What a with the 70th anniversary of the
each other, often laughing, some-
"All I can say is that you are
"Perfectly proper, I think," miserable world to live in! Oh, great writer and dramatist, was
times crying over their experience. not in a position to decide on this Mrs. Carson said without a smile, the poor child. It almost broke presented Dec. 15, at Littman's
With the arrival of the children important issue at the present. and handed the pen back to
Theatre by Jacob Ben-Ami, Ber-
my heart."
the bonds of their friendship You must remember that your Betsy.
"Perhaps what happened to- tha Gerstin and their cast of ar-
were strengthened by an added child's future and his happiness
(Letter from an actual commu- night is for the best. It made me tists. The large audience at-
depth that springs only from depend upon his departure from nication in the files of the Treas- see that I was failing in the most tending witnessed both a play and
motherhood. Ever since the new Germany. The state of mind you ury Department.)
sacred and the most responsible a performance of high artistic
racial theories made it dangerous are in just now is not conducive
task, that of motherhood. You merit that afforded great satis-
to see Frau Loewe, Gretchen's to clear thinking. I feel that if
were right, my dear friend, the faction and enjoyment. The pleas-
heart was pining for the com- I had your opportunity I would your little boy."
child's safety and future come be- ure and interest of the evening
panionship of her loved friend. certainly send away my two
"Heinrich felt just as bad. The fore sentiment."
was greatly augmented by Jacob
Nothing short of death could have youngsters without any hesita- two of them used to get along so
Mestl, assistant director to Jacob
overcome her fear of setting foot tion."
well."
"I pray and hope," said Esther Ben-Ami, and an actor. and au-
in a Jewish house, even though
"You say so, because, as pure
At the mention of his name seeing Gretchen to the door, "that thor of note in his own right,
it were her. dead friend's home.
Aryans, there is no necessity for Heinrich stepped into the room. the day will come when our sons who spoke on the achievements
Sighing heavily, she entered the them to leave their parent's he was well built and rather tall won't be hindered in cultivating of David Pinski as artist and
man.
for his eight years. His big eyes it friendship like that of ours."
usually cheery kitchen to find home."
"Is that so? Don't you con- revealed an infinite sadness, and
"Don't worry! Our boys will
there an atmosphere of despair
and desolation. Frau Loewe sat sider me human enough to wish gave one the shocking impression get together," Gretchen exclaimed
Canada Backs Joint United
in a rocking chair, her eyes fixed to protect my own flesh and that the worries of the world with confidence.
on a photograph of her late hus- blood from false doctrines, which were laid heavily on his tender
"We'll live and see—that is if Nations Action To Halt
plant the seed of hatred? I hope shoulders. He greeted the two we do live."
band in a military uniform.
Nazi Terror Against Jews
"Don't be ton pessimistic, my
"My poor Esther," Gretchen you did not forget how seriously women quietly, rubbing his eyes
you
and
I
took
motherhood."
surreptitiously.
Frau
Loewe
real-
dear
Esther.
There
is
an
end
to
OTTAWA (WNS)—Prime Min-
managed to utted before a lump
"The books we used to read on ized that her big little man was everything. This mad teaching ister W. L. Mackenzie King an-
filled her throat.
child psychology, mental hygiene, trying to control his emotions of hatred has gone far enough! nounced this week that the Ca-
As in a trance Frau Loewe nutrition . . ."
just as she herself had been using Any sane person can see the nadian Government was "glad
shifted her gaze to the young
" A lot of good it does us now. all her will power to hide her destruction it has wrought. It has to associate itself" with the joint
woman.
Are we allowed to bring up our grief from him ever since word poisoned our minds, thrown back United Nations' declaration
"Why did you come? You children according to our ideals? reached her that her husband had civilization to the Dark Ages!"
"strongly condemning the Nazi
can't help me. No one can bring And, moreover, do you think the met with a fatal accident in the
"Please, Gretchen, don't let policy of extermination of Jews
back to me my beloved Paul." youngsters don't sulk when con- concentration camp. She pressed yourself be carried away so. You in territories under German con-
Two big tears welled up slowly stantly bossed about? Half of the dear little body to her bosom. are courting disaster with such trol."
in her dark eyes and flowed down the time they don't know what is Suddenly her arm felt something talk if you should be overheard."
The Canadian Prime Minister
her pale cheeks. "Only yester- wanted of them. It was heart- wet and slimy.
"How well I know it! But just said: "The governments of free-
day morning he was still alive. rending the way my Walter cried
"Why, my dear child, you the same," her voice dropped to dom-loving nations have joined in
Up to the moment they had in- when circumstances made it neces- should have told me that you a whisper. "My heart tells me this declaration in order to make
formed me of his death, I hoped sary to become separated from had fallen down. Your sweater that our people will awaken to the it clear to Nazi leaders that thou'
•
stupidity and ruthlessness of this extermination policy, far from
abnormal commandment, 'Thou rendering- the Nazis' position more
shalt hate'."
secure, is having the opposite ef-
The two women embraced ten- fect of speeding Allied efforts to
derly and parted with mixed win an early victory and to bring
feelings of hope and apprehension. closer the day of retribution."
(A Picture of Life in Nazi Germany)
to
lien
love
vish
ious
the
ions
olic
ion;
who
es.
like
ne-
be-
7ed
-4
len
ust
to
rev-
the
ion
re-
do
ore
ion,
.hat
we
du-
tors
this
has
the
lust
iave
;her
ons,
Ions
ople
in
)uld
iuld
hole
Pwri
ing
will
Ling
ons.
vish
ing
ings
von
now
aus.
she
lab
of
ears
im-
ikah
that
the
to-
the
she
hall
ene-
and
for
hink
Re-
r.
0
Dusk began to change into
darkness when Gretchen reached
the house where her recently wid-
owed friend lived. Making sure
that she was not seen by anyone,
she sidled in the heavy gate and,
like a thief, tiptoed up the stairs.
On the door the shining brass
sign of Dr. Loewe gave her the
sensation of seeing a ghost. There
was no answer to her light knock,
so she tried the door which open-
ed easily. The familiar hall had
a strange air about it and Gretch-
en halted a moment before she
took another step.
Her last visit came back to her
in a flash. How well she remem-
bered Walter's sudden sickness!
rho first impulse had been to call
Dr. Loewe who had looked after
the child ever since his birth; but
upon reflection she had decided
it would be too dangerous to con-
sult a Jew. However, she took
the risk of calling at Dr. Loewe's
home to discuss her little son's
sickness with him.
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