DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
(Continued from Page 1)
man with such a greeting as:
"Hello, Yankees, and God bless
the United States!"
One group of Americans, fresh
from the Libyan desert after
months of bombing missions
against the Axis, good naturedly
slapped the elevator man on the
shoulders.
"Thanks, Pop, you've got a
nice club here," one of them re-
sponded.
There were tears in Isidore
Soffer's eyes as he watched the
Americans gather up their lug-
gage, and his hand went pro-
tectingly to his breast pocket. In
that pocket were his most prized
possessions—the snapshots of his
two sons now serving in the
armed forces of the United
States.
Like hundreds of others, Isi-
dore Soffer hastened to offer his
services to the American Red
Cross when the city gained in
popularity as a leave , center
among the Americans who yearn-
ed for green grass, trees and in-
Jun. 25, 1943
vigorating sea air after long F orrest, ' Tennessee, when Eric as Friedel Lobenstein. During the
months of service in the desert. was training there bears out Isi- days before war splashed across
When the Red Cross Club dore Soffer's pride in his sons.
the continent, Friedel Lobenstein
opened on March 7, Isidore Soifer
"I want to congratulate you appeared in the leading theaters.
became the day elevator men, upon the fine son you have
She studied under Max Rein-
and though he is old and used to raised,” the Chaplain wrote. "He hardt,
and played in many of his
the comforts of peacetime Vi- is a model soldier and does honor productions
in Berlin and Vienna.
enna, never has he been more to the uniform of the United Her name, before
the Axis terror,
proud of a job.
States."
was a household word among the
"Every American boy I see
So, the memories of the horror drama lovers of Germany and
reminds me of my sons, Manfred of an Axis concentration camp Austria.
and Eric," Isidore Soffer said. and the death of his wife are not
Friedel Lobenstein now is busy
"Manfred is a sergeant in the so heart-breaking for Isidore Sof-
a new play. It is about
Army Air Forces, and Eric a fer these days. At the American writing
heroic defense of Hungary
corporal in the Artillery. They Red Cross Club he is doing his the
about a rising new genera-
make me proud, and when the bit, and the stoop of fatigue and and
which will insist upon peace
American Red Cross came to Tel hopelessness are gradually leaving tion
and justice for all. She wants to
Aviv to open this fine club, I was his shoulders.
produce it for the American sol-
so happy that my services could
Daily to Red Cross Field Di- diers at the Red Cross Club, and
be used.
rector McGregor come the citi- she has Rob McGregor's vigorous
"It makes me feel that I really zens of Palestinian communities support in the undertaking, be-
am helping the country of my with offers of help.
cause Red Cross man McGregor
two sons."
"Fact is, we get so many volun-
a former professor of creative
Isidore Soffer's snapshots of teers that it has become quite a is
at Kansas State College,
his sons bear the inscription in problem," he said. "The people writing
play producing is no new
broad American handwriting, "To here just won't take 'no' for an and
for him.
the best father in the world," answer, so even if there is noth- undertaking
In
her
spare
time, Friedel Lo-
and a letter from Chaplain Ber- ing for them to do for the mo- benstein is in charge
of the lizien
tram Klausner (former directOr ment, we do our best find some
of the Red Cross Club.
of the Bnai Brith Hillel Founda- odd job for them. Take the case closets
She pointed to the rows of
tion at the University of Ala- of Mrs. Lobe . . . "
neatly stacked towels. "These are
bama, who is now in England
Mrs. Lobe is better known in my soldiers," she said. "This is a
with the AEF written from Camp the theatrical circles of Europe new role for me, but I'm finding
•rt
bs
09 .
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it one of the easiest to learn.
The Americans are so kind. I
think I am happy again."
In the library at the Red Cross
club Mrs. Shulamith Flaum holds
sway. Like many another resident
of Palestine, she well remembers
the American Red Cross for its
work there in helping to alle-
viate the distress following the
last war.
Mrs. Flaum served with the
American Red Cross Commission
to Palestine in 1918-19, and
when the Red Cross opened • its
club, she was quick to get back
in harness.
Newest project of Mrs. Flaum
is promoting the study of for-
eign languages among the Amer-
icans. For• this she is well
equipped. She speaks fluently
Russian, German, Italian, Arabic,
French and Hebrew, in addition
to English.
She is well known in the United
States, having toured the country
on lecture tours several times.
Isidore Soffer's helper on the
elevator, the man who operates
it at night, is Karl Eckstein, for-
merly a prosperous paper manu-
facturer in Vienna.
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