2

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Detroit's Jewish Community Council--

January I, 1943

!leant, the pressing demand by
many individuals upon our Coun-
cil staff for assignment of t•e- •
sponsibilities in community ser v-
ice is one of the most hopef ul
as J. fiiran
portents. So great is this d e-
mand that it has become one
By JAMES I. ELLMANN
by P Phi" uel Neumann, director of public
our major problems. What is n of
ot YEAR-END CHECK-U
With 1942 a page in history relations of the Zionist Emerg-
Editor's note: This article is a speech which was delivered at the so well known is that the prop e ,r..
Quarterly Conference of the Jewish Community Center on distribution of such responsibi ' let's glance back at the prophe ency Committee, is determined not
ties to lay individuals needs muc h ties the late Erik Jan Hanussen to withdraw the resignation he
Dec. 13, 1942.
preparatory work on a profe 5- Hitler's Jewish soothsayer, left had tendered . . . Negotiations
. . . Right on the between the ZOA and the Com-
To single out one year in the
sional level by the staff, and i 11- for that year.
life of an institution as being of
tensive follow-up — a task fo r nose was his prediction that 19-12 mittee for a Jewish Army are
historic value may seem a little
which our office is not yet full y would see the complete collapse still in progress . . . The Zionist
of France as a great power leadership recognizes that the
manned.
presumptuous. Yet, we cannot
properly discuss our hopes for
At our last Council Institut and her loss of all her colonies. Committee has done an A-1 job.
the future withot doing that very
on Nov. 15, many of the new rt. . . . And not so far off was an- . . , Dorothy Dennis, featured
thing. Nearly six years of active
gions of action and cooperatio ' 0 other prognostication stating that player who stole the show at the
with constituent agencies wet May 23, 1942, would witness "the premiere of Broadway's newest
association with the Commnity
fully indicated. But many mot 'e fall of the man who wants to be musics, "New Faces of 19-13,"
Council during every stage of its
the ruler of the world by brute gives e substantial share of her
must become part of the nom 11 c,
beginnings and development, and
,
development of the Council if i force" . . . True. neither Hitler salary to the Committee for a
more than a year's work as its
is to retain and develop its chat nor Benito nor Hirohito fell on Jewish Army each week.
titular head, do furnish some-
acter as a vital, dynamic, an , that day . . . But Walter Dane,
thing of a vantage point for this
all-encompassing agency of Jev, ° Nazi Agriculture Minister, who
frank discussion.
had quite ambitious plans for Women's Sabbath Club
ish life.
. A year ago the work of pro-
himself, was deposed from office
But is not the Council taking on that day, and hasn't been heard Meeting Monday, Jan. 4
posed executive management seem-
on altogether too many unneces- from since As for Hanussen's
ed quite forbidding. There were
sary jobs? Is it not asking to predictions for 1913—we'll give
The Women's League for Sab-
serious and bothersome questions.
assume an unduly important sta- you a couple, and if it amuses bath Observance will meet Mon-
Will it be possible, we asked our-
tus so early in its development? you you can check up on them a day afternoon, Jan. 4, 1:30 p.
selves, for the Council to serve
The Council is, of course, a very year from now .. . One concerns tn. at Congregation Shaarey Ze-
as a fortifying cohesive force
young child, requiring every sort • the present war, and declares that dek, Chicago and Lawton. The
in the deeper unification of our
of contraption for its proper de- "the biggest sea battle of all guest speaker of the afternoon
community, with its one hundred
velopment. A full pariod of heal- time" will take place in the South will be Rabbi Jacob JI Nathan of
and ninety component organiza-
thy, unstinted growth is its im- Seas sometime this year . . . And Congregation Bnai Moshe.
tions? Will such unity be pos-
portant need. When it has once the other says that the most ter-
Several announcements will be
sible even in the face of an end-
acquired full stature it will be rific earthquake in many years made at this meeting and all
less variety of viewpoints, from
time to say to it: "You are fully will occur in Japan during 1943. members and friends are urged
extreme right to severest left, on
grown up. Henceforth, let's pro-
JAMES I. ELLMANN
to attend. The membership drive,
the intellectual, social and psy-
ceed a little more slowly. Let's NEWS OF NEWSMEN
under the leadership of Mrs.
chological level? Surely such dif-
You can't discourage some peo-
ferences could easily discourage not despair. There were doubts appraise more conservatively the ple . . . Here's F. B. Opper, who Abraham J. Caplan, is continuing
and meeting with marked success.
even those of greatest fortitude. as to what shall be our next next stages in your career."
In theory, at least, few will "sed to be editor of the Shanghai
In a statement, Mrs. Caplan
But in the light of actual ex- step; there were doubts and mis-
Post,
and
only
recently
returned
perience, the results are rather givings on the part of propon- still dispute the essential need to these shores after having been said that "We are gratified with
enlightening if not heartening. ents of the Community Council for an agency which can approxi- interned by the Japanese . . . the extent of spiritual re-awaken-
For who would have thought that principle. For, as a people, we mate a democratically conceived Now he's planning to return to ing this organization has brought.
large segments of our conscious must stem from Missouri: so institution to speak for all of us China . . . Opper, incidentally, is Shop keepers and consumers are
Jewish community would learn, great is our readiness to doubt as a common body whenever such the grandson of the late Frederick realizing that a day of rest is
for even a short time, to sub- everything. With the rank and need arises. Certainly we are Burr Opper, creator of the "Happy an essential thing to both and
merge their particular ideological file there was never any serious blessed with first rate spokesmen Hooligan" and "Alphonse and that the Jewish Sabbath has a
claims in the interest of a com- doubt of the imperious need for everywhere. But we have a right Gaston" cartoons . . . When great contribution to make to
mon purpose? Yet that is exact- a common agency to build, unite, to feel that the considered iudg- Pierre van Paasen predicted some their lives. This organization wel-
ly what we seem to have learned defemd, and represent a single ment of democratically elected and months ago, in an article in Look comes all Jewish women to its
to do. However, caution demands and secure front. They felt, no carefully selected experts out of magazine, that a secret army membership and feels that they
that we realize that this fresh doubt, that no people could en- the whole community is more which Stalin had in reserve should find a place therein."
Mrs. Joshua Sperka will pre-
experience may not represent a due living in a disorganized likely to speak for it at the right would launch an irrestible offen-
permanent state of blessedness.
state of perpetual emergency. And time, in the right place, and in sive this winter, the military ex- s'de at the meeting.
The representatives of all the the Jewish community of Detroit, the proper authoritative manner. perts laughed out loud . . . Now
organizations have felt the deeply even more than most others in Even if in no other area, at least their faces are red . . . Van Paas- Dr. S. Ralph Harlow
urgent need for a single medium the land, was eager to get be- in the development of this dis- son, by the way. is writing a
to represent and to express the yond this feeling of constant ciplined approach alone the Com- play on a Jewish topic . . . Laugh To Address Council of
common thought and interest of emergency and disorganization. It munity Council can make sub- of the week was provided by Ar-
the whole community; to formu- is aware that only by a common stantial claims. And by this ap- thur Szyk with his New York Jewish Women Jan. 4
late its general policies of inter- phalanx could it get sonic sense proach it has already eliminated Post cartoon showing Addled
On Monday, Jan. 4, at 1:30 at
nal discipline; to create some cer- of relief from the feeling of im- petty politics and prevented self- Adolph declaiming to Gory Goer-
the Jewish Community Center,
tainty that policies so conceived pending calamity. And now, after appointed, self-starting individ- ing: "I will sell my skin dearly" Detroit Section National Council
are truly representatives of our a few brief years of effort to- uals from embarrassing and hu- —and Hermann blandly inquiring: of Jewish Women will have as its
"But who will buy it?"
needs and of our aims; and to wards a common unity, the corn- miliating us periodically.
guest speaker, Dr. S. Ralph
But we have a long way to go.
wake emerging plans the fruit of munity can have a sense of sat-
JEWISH
FRONT
Harlow, professor of Literature
Even
twenty-five
years
would
be
isfaction
at
some
modest
accom-
the best thought and endeavors
Those in the know nrt•dict that and Biblical History at Smith
but a brief historic moment in
of our lay and professional guides plishments.
the
fight
between
the
Zionists
and
College. Professor Harlow's sub-
the life. of an institution of this
throughout the country.
In following a direct route, not sort. The Council, even more than anti-Zionists will develop on a ject will be "What I would teach
turning
too
much
to
the
tight
or
t he old Kehilla, must once again wide front, though quite a sub- my child if I were a Jew."
In this one year in the per-
formance of our many tasks we too much to the left, the Com- bring to life the skill, the ex- stantial portion of the American
Members of the Round Table of
munity
Council
has
gained
have found far greater coopera-
perience and the background of a Jewish Committee is still holding Catholics, Protestants and Jews
tion than frustration. Contrary strength, approval and adherents. c ouple of thousand years of train- out for an agreement . • . Eman- as well as the alumni of Smith
to general belief, the national As a consequence of its unifying ing in social management. We can
College have been invited to at-
Jewish agencies, such as the efforts the Council has had to to this. The times demand it.
tend. Mrs. Maurice Klein will
ocratic
and
anti-semitic
forces.
American Jewish Committee, the become somewhat more alert to New exigencies make it mandat-
Rather is it the one in which we introduce the speaker.
.
American Jewish Congress. the the possibilities and techniques of ory. This last year has been some- can stand up to our detractors
The membership committee un-
Bnai Brith and its Anti-Defama- harmonizing conflicts, or creating thing of a reeducational experi- and meet them on it footing of der Mrs. William Frank has
tion League, the Jewish Labor and maintaining dignity and dis- ence to all those who were close equality on every level, psycholog- asked each member to bring a
Committee, all of them were in- cipline, and of providing prophy- to the Council. We have a long ical, social, cultural, intellectual. prospective new member to in,
variably most willing to sit down lactic treatment for many hither- way to travel in building up the and patriotic. For this we need augu•ate the opening of Council's
with us to find ways and means to to unknown ailments. It has also whole contour of such a body— something of the full strength of Golden Jubilee year when the na-
resolve civic-defense and other had to develop the techniques and i ts points of excellence and those all our inner forces and the tional Council will celebrate the
problems of national or even lo- machinery for realizing these pos- o f lesser importance.
knowledge of how to make use of fiftieth year of its founding.
cal implication. Instead of indulg- sibilities.
The Council is also raising funds
Indeed we are engaged in re- the therapeutic qualities of this
In many of these new areas of building, if not transplanting, our strength in our every day thought to provide x-ray equipment for
ing in characteristic jealousies
and bickerings they were ready action we have acquired some traditional way of life (or at and action.
the United States Naval Hospital
to give and take of counsel in reasonable comfort in this one least its essence) upon a new
We are also learning, slowly now approaching completion at
treating any particular ailment. year of supervisory attention atyl scene, out of the welter of ex- perhaps, that we can be mutually St. Albans, Long Island, New
If we have thus preempted local- we sense a climate of greater co- periences resulting from contacts cooperative even when we are York. This will be given by the
ly some of their own work we operation from individuals, from with friends and foes, past and not in full accord on many prob- National Council as a memorial
have also been able to demon- organizations, and from the na- present. And we are also learn- lems of policy; that we can give to its first president and founder,
strate to them and to ourselves tional agencies. Progress is in ing to remold many of our atti- and take; that we can yield to Mrs. Hannah G. Solomon, who
again and again that any agency the air. We have watched with tudes of the past which have been each in the interest of a common died in Chicago on Nov. 6, in her
well equipped to perform and wil- much gratification the greater re- found inapplicable to the present. purpose even where existing ideo- 85th year.
ling to perform should have the sponsiveness of almost the entire
And even in this period of logical differences might have
means of performing.
community to the efforts of the greatest trial as a people we are caused greatest outbursts at an- Junior Congregation
But in the course of nearly six Council and an increasing aware- regaining some sense of certain- other time. We are learning to
Of Shaarey Zedek
years of existence we have also ness of what it is trying to do.
ty, of balance and of strength appraise better the very meaning
had some moments of doubt, if
But what is even more signi- which should stand us in good and practical value of ideologi-
The regular Sabbath service of
stead in the days ahead when our cal differences. This does not the Junior Congregation of Shaa-
better organized community will mean that we shall not have dis- rey Zedek will be held Sabbath,
be able to speak for us with even putes of the most serious charac- Jan. 2, in the Prayer Room of
higher discipline, dignity and clar- ter in the days to come. It would the Kate Frank Memorial Bldg.
If You Are Interested In Quality Meat, Call at
ity. For the time to learn all the be most unnatural. But we are Phyllis Isaacs will review the
lessons of unity is not when unity approaching the time when we Biblical Portion, and Arlene Hal-
11632 Dexter Blvd.
must be sought in a storm. The shall have evolved instrumentali- perin will discuss the Propheti-
(Between Burlingame and Webb)
lessons and values of unity must ties and techniques through which cal Selection. Fayette Singer will
be gathered slowly and painstak- to evaluate differences and agree lead in the reading of the Ashrey.
ingly during all times, even those upon formulae of action or defer- Myron Rosenthal will act as Can-
of greatest calm.
ment of action.
Kreh
tor and Philip Caplan as Bnai
The sound and alert body we
All this but means a sort of
Kosher Meat f3 Poultry Market envisage is not the one in which improved
insurance plan that
On Jan. 16 the Junior Congre-
we shall have succeeded in ar- when stupid or vicious insults as- gation will be privileged to con-
resting only temporarily anti-dem- sail us we have the necessary duct the services in the Main
dignity and the strength of mind Synagogue. Participants in this
and of soul to meet them with service will be announced in the
skill and determination on the Junior Congregation.
basis of our own knowledge and
The first social of the Junior
of the expneriece of other com- Congregation was held Sunday,
munities. Greater appreciation and Dec. 13, and was a complete suc-
understanding of each other is yet cess. Thanks are extended to the
to be fully learned through the ladies who aided in preparing
efforts of the Community Coun- refreshments: Mesdames Kramer,
cil. But the Council has been Orley, Rosenthal, Pensler, Adler
found to be the most satisfying and Perlis and to the entertain-
clearing house we have as yet ment committee under the able
been able to devise for social chairmanship of Myron Rosenthal
dilemmas of all sorts.
and Robert Kasle.
It is perhaps still too early
to grasp fully or evaluate 'its
ultimate results, .but its unify-
ing principle is already at work
for the common good of all.

Another Year

TRICTLYCONFIDENTIAL• • •

Aaron B. Margolis

Season's Greetings and Best It ishes to All

UNITE Sill

ID IFS 11 IR I 113 ir ID R

BUY WAR BONDS

