America ,fewish Periodical &flier

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO

July 2, 1943

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE end The Legal Chronicle

3

IMPRESSIONS OF A RED CROSS MAN
IN TUNISIA

Meyer Beckman Made
Member of National
Council of Mizrachi

By DR. FERDINAND M. ISSERMAN

Editor's Note: The accompanying intimate close-up of the fall of
Tunisia has been received from Dr. Ferdinand M. Isserman by
national headquarters, American Red Cross. Dr. Isserman is on
leave of absence from Temple Israel, St. Louis, Mo., where
he has been rabbi for many years, and is prominent nationally
as a leader in American Judaism. He is serving as a Red Cross
club director in North Africa.

Meyer Beckman, chairman of
the board and former president
of the Mizrachi Organization of
Detroit, has been appointed a
member of the National Council
of the Mizrichi Organization of
America, by Leon Gellman,
On March 1, I received a leave
president of that organization.
of absence as rabbi of Temple
The National Council is the high-
Israel in St. Louis in order to
est advisory body of the Mizrachi
serve the Red Cross overseas
organizational structure.
as a club director. I arrived in
In accepting the appointment,
Mr. Beckman stated that he was
North Africa just when prepara-
pleased to become an integral
tions were made for what was
part of an organization so vital
destined to be the final, conclu-
to the Jewish people, to Zionism
sive assault against the enemy.
and nationalism. Ile stated the
My request that I be sent to
religious aspects of our claim
the front lines while the cam-
to Palestine are of primary and
paign was on, before I assumed
major importance. "We twice lost
duties as a club director, was
Palestine because our forefathers
granted. I was assigned to an
failed to abide by the true mean-
American Red Cross field director
ing of traditional Judaism, and
attached to an armored division
we do not want to make that
and while there met Chaplain
mistake again," he said. "The
Irwin C. Bailey, Jr., of Reading,
Mizrachi Organization is working
Nlembers of the Jewish community id Algiers. North Africa.
Pa., who took me with him to
for a better understanding of
a medical battalion where I re-
offer
scrolls of the Torah for the use uI Jenish soldiers serving
traditional Judaism and the time
mained until the close of the
that war
lir theater. The scrolls acre ()resented al the Algiers service
Tunisian campaign.
will come when the prophecy of
club of the Amerean Red Cross where Sabbath services are held.
King David will be fulfilled: 'The
As I recall the very dramatic
Left to right: Dr. Ferdinand Issernt7n of St. Imuis, M". American
stone that the builders rejected
experiences which were mine, I
will become the chief corner-
am impressed most by the valor
Red Cross club director, who received the scrolls; Rev. Maurice Eisen
stone.' "
and courage of American youth,
heth. Grand Rabbi of Algiers, who made the presentation. and Major
Three other Detroiters have
by the tremendous power of
Horace N ( 01 Denver. ( oln . Assistant Chaplain of the N.A
Dr. Ferdinand M. Isserman, o
been honored by appointment to
American industry, by the vast
I.• 115 II S Stizno
rt4.
the Vaad Harashi, the National
abundance of American resources St. Louis, Mo.. American Red Cross
Council of the Mizrachi Organiza-
and by the hope that this newly- Club Director in North Africa.
tion of America. They are Irving
discovered American might and
of these boys arrived in North proposing a toast to the Presi- W. Schlussel, president of the
spirit of men, and in materials,
will be marshalled to create a
Africa March 4. Another had dent of the United States and local Mizrachi organization, Dan-
iel Temchin and Jacob Levin.
just peace even as it is now mix- the Passover had arranged, with
the aid of a Catholic chaplain come over from Sicily in an Ital- to the American people.
shalled in a just war.
Rabbi Isaac Stollman was again
,
an
passenger
plane
April
29
and
chosen a member of the Vaad
Every wounded man that I saw, to have a Passover Seder which I
Hapoel, the chief governing body
Immediately had been raced in Junior Service Group
every dead soldier before whose was greatly appreciated.
of Mizrachi.
battle. "I landed here on th
body I stood reverently, appealed
Is
Compiling
List
of
The setting for this service 29th," he said resentfully. "Im 1-
eloquently to the America of To-
morrow to create a peace which wasmagnificent; on a plateau mediately they shoved me into Members in Service
by hills not far from battle. Two weeks ago I left
will both be just and enduring. surrounded
Report Nazis Will Not
the Medit err arse
T
Any sacrifices demanded by such "1 look up unto the hills psa m , home—here I lie wounded. Tunis
The Junior Service Group is
fro
m
peace would be inconsequential whence cometh my help," forced is lost and I think the whole war." in the process of compiling an Permit Any Jews to
When I told these boys I was a honor roll of its members serv-
alongside of the blessings it would itself upon my lips. The boys,
Leave Occupied Europe
bring to the family of men. That too, seemed to sense the power rabbi, a look of fear came into ing in the armed forces.
my country may be the instru- and the majesty of God. Here, their eyes. "Rabbis aren't as bad
Because of the immensity of
LONDON. (WNS) — The Nazi
ment of ushering in such an era far away from home, they were as Julius Streicher has written the task, a complete list cannot
Government has definitely decided
in
'Der
Sturmer,'
"
I
added.
is both my hope and my prayer. carrying on their hazardous, but
be published at this time. How- not to permit any Jews—adults
When I entered an operating ever, David A. Goldman, presi-
Summer E. (Robbie) Roberts, merciful ministry. Many of them
assistant field director, American were ambulance drivers. They fre- i tent, three major operations were dent, has obtained the present or children—to leave any part
Red Cross, took me with him to quently go right into thick of n progress. On a table lay a mailing addresses of former mem- of Europe occupied or dominated
the front lines to bring Red Cross battle. At times they are com- Jewish soldier named Rube with bers of the board of directors. by the Axis, according to a reli-
report received here this
supplies to men who had been pelled to cross roads where shells a fractured limb. His pulse was At the request of many members able
week.
in battle and who were in need are flying continuously and furi- gone. The pallor of death was of the group, this list is being
This report is in sharp conflict
of comfort articles. The Red ously. Casualties were not un- on his face. Hastily the blood published.
with rumors circulated in Allied
Cross merely supplements the common among them. There ap- t plasma was brought in. The dis-
The Junior Service Group and neutral countries that Ru-
supplies of other Army depart- pears to be some truth in the illed water was mixed with the urges its members to write to
ments. The boys were profuse in saying that there are no athe- i p owdered plasma. It was poured the boys—they enjoy hearing mania and Bulgaria, both Nazi-
their thanks. We told them these ists in foxholes. Certainly there a nto his system. It worked mir- from their friends back home and dominated, were willing to re-
supplies came from the folks back are fewer.
cies. As if touched by the angel about the activities of the Junior lease large numbers of Jews for
specified sums of money. One ru-
home who appreciated what they
I accepted Chaplain Bailey's c f life the wounded man revived. Service Group, and other organi- mor had it that Rumania was
were doing and wanted to make invitation to spend some time n olor came to his cheeks, re- zations.
them as comfortable as possible with him, administering to the ewed animation to his body.
Corp. Maurice A. Glasier, Hq. willing to permit 70,000 Jews
under the circumstances of war. wounded at the receiving hos- h Some generous American, per- & Hq. Det. 5th Acad. Gp, Cha- to leave the country for an esti-
The headquarters chaplain, haw- pital of the (deleted) Medical aps Christian or Jewish, perhaps nute Field, Ill.; Lt. Helen Good- mated $50 apiece.
ing heard a rabbi in the service Battalion. He recalled hearing p A w hite or Negro, perhaps rich or man, 716 WAAC Post H.
Q. Co.,
of the Red Cross was in the vi- me on a national broadcast and w oor, perhaps from city or farm, Stockton, Calif.; Pvt. Philmore
A.
as
reaching
out
through
the
cinity, sent a message asking me appeared eager to have me ac- R
Leemon, Hdqtrs Co., 1603 Serv- Downtown Theaters
ed
Cross
and
its
blood
bank
to
to conduct a service there for company him. He had a regular g
ive a helping hand to this ice Unit, Camp Ellis, Ill.; Can-
Jewish boys who had not had a chaplain's truck 11
FOX—"Crash Dive" is being
-
a e wounded patriot, stumbling i didate Albert L. Lieberman, Co.
Jewish service for over six with Red Cross flags, symbolic of t
n X 33-3rd Engineering School held over for a second smashing
months.
his noncombatant status and b he valley of death. This hand Reg. 6th Platoon, Ft. Belvoir, week at the Fox. Packed with
Sherman A. Callahan, Red hence was not to be attacked, R nought him back to life. Befor e Va. ; Pvt. Sol Schwartz, Dis. exciting action, technically su-
Cross field director, drove me in according to Geneva convention. b ube left the operating table I S. E. R. or V. Co., 10th A. D., pervised by the Navy, filmed at
his jeep to corps headquarters With him was his clerk, Corporal lessed him. He was pleased APO 260, Fort Benning, Ga.; the U. S. Naval Base in New
about five miles up the road. Larry Meyers of Nebraska. Be- 11 Blood plasma has saved my Sergt. Leonard Bielfield, 327 Ba- London in stirring technicolor
There we had our lunch. The sides their personal belongings fe," he said.
sic Training Flying Sq., Minter and starring Tyrone Power in
chaplain had arranged for a 1 and sleeping tents, they also car- o Our medical company moved Field, Bakers Field, Calif.; Pfc. his farewell role for the dura-
o'clock service, to be held in the ried a portable organ, hymn w n. We drove beyond Mateur Ruben Gold, Hdqtrs Sq. 18th Re- tion, the film is smashing all sea-
officers' mess, a large tent right books, and comfort articles, given A hich had been shot to pieces. placement Wing, 153 South 2nd son records!
behind the field kitchen which by the Red Cross for distribution u 11 along the highway we saw W., Salt Lake City, Utah; Lieut.
MICHIGAN — Starting Friday
was mounted on a truck. About among soldiers. Chaplain Bailey's G pturned tanks and abandoned Charles T. Prussian, Public Re- the Michigan will present a giant
20
to 25 Jewish boys, attached altar, when he held a service, was o erman equipment. We camped ations Office, New England Sec- 4th of July celebration show on
to headquarters, found them- erected on the tailboard of his ze n a hillside, opposite Lake Bi- t or, 150 Causeway St., Boston, stage and screen with Horace
selves free to attend the service. truck.
rte. In the distance we could
se e the town of Ferryville. I Mass.; 1st Sgt. Kopel R. Rubiner, Heidt and his Musical Knights
The only music was the clatter
I pointed out to Chaplain Bai- w
Camp McAllister, Okla.; Lt. Sam- with Frankie Carle appearing, in
of pots and pans in the adjacent ley, before starting on our mis- vi alked up the hillside to an Arab uel T. Travis, 806 T. D.
Bn., person, on the stage, and "Back-
llage.
It
was
deserted.
I
saw
truck. The boys were very de- sion, that a number of Jewish th
ground to Danger" co-starring
Camp
Ricker,
Ala.;
Pfc.
Abe
e
humble Arab homes. Then I
vout. Prayer meant something to soldiers had been buried in the
sa w American soldiers coming Friedman-- No 34146323, Hq. George Raft and Sydney Green-
them. During the worship I saw cemetery across the road and fr
& Hq. Squadron, 8th Air Force, street on the screen.
more than one tanned and hel- over their graves had been placed flo o m Ferryville, covered with APO 12082 c/o Postmaster, New
UNITED ARTISTS—Audiences
meted soldier whose eyes were crosses, the symbol of Christi- th wers. They told stories of York City.
are leaving the United Artists
filled with tears. When the serv- anity. Army regulations call for cc e royal reception they had re-
whistling and humming some of
ice was over the boys hoped the placing of the six-pointed ha ived at the hands of the in-
the haunting song numbers which
that I would remain in the area star, the shield of David, over fo bitants. Nothing was too good Gifts to North End Clinic Judy Garland sings in "Presenting
a long time and would return to the graves of Jewish dead. To- ga ✓ the American liberators. They
Lily Mars," now playing its sec-
In honor of the birthday of ond week with "Pilot No. 5"
them, gether we spoke to the sergeant th e ve them wine. They gave them
I conducted a religious service in charge of the cemetery detail. in little food they had. They Mrs. Andrew Wineman, from starring Franchot Tone, Marsha
at the (deleted) Evacuation Hos- He told us the shields of David bo vited them to their homes. The Mrs. Leo M. Butzel; in honor of Hunt and Gene Kelly.
ys were happy.
the birthday of Benjamin Epstine,
pital in the evening, at the re- were in the warehouse and that
quest of Chaplain Woodruff. It he had therefore, temporarily, co I accompanied the company from Mrs. A. Ermann and Miss Next Outdoor Concert
was attended not only by the put the crosses on Jewish graves. of mmander to town, to find an- Marcia Ermann; in honor of the
Jewish personnel of the hospital, Later I met Chaplain Stone, di her camping site. A Jewish sol- 80th birthday of Henry Freund, Wednesday Night, July 7
who numbered about 35, but also one of the few Jewish chaplains ra e/. had told the Ferryville local from Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Pren-
Lucile Miller, Detroit soprano,
by wounded soldiers who were in North Africa, who had noticed va bbi that an American rabbi tis; in memory of Albert Schloss,
convalescing, among whom were the same thing and ordered the see s with his company, in the from Mrs. Carrie May Berger; and Betty Kowalsky, 14-year-old
several Moroccan Jews. This serv- sergeant to remove the crosses we vice • of the Red Cross. We in memory of David Oppenheini, pianist, Center pupil of M.
ice was held in the open, behind immediately lest this become a chi re followed by a group of 15 from Mr. and Mrs. Max Smitt; Chajes, will be the guest artists
the chaplain's tent. His organist precedent.
Wren, boys and girls, who
memory of Mrs. Walter Laib's t at the next outdoor concert in
we re delighted at being freed. father, from Mr. and Mrs. Abe he Jewish Community Center on
had last year played in the
These roadside cemeteries are Th
Catholic cathedral in St. Louis. temporary. The chaplain makes a syn e rabbi showed me the Jewish Srere; in memory of Samuel Wednesday night, July 7.
Mrs. Miller will sing arias from
Now he was to play on a field careful record of the location of mo agogue which was nothing Smith, from Mr. and Mrs. Abe
organ for a Jewish service con- each grave and identifies it with we re than a small room. There Srere; in memory of Mrs. Dora Mozart and Verdi and songs by
Malotte, Frimmel,
ducted by the rabbi of Temple map symbols. It is planned later fa re altogether about 100 Jewish Driesen, from Mr. and Mrs. Jack Strickland,
Israel of St. Louis.
in Ferryville. All the Weiss; in memory of Julius Worth.
to move these bodies for burial yo milies
ung men had been forced to Greenthal, from Miss Hattie Hil- S Betty Kowalsky will play the
The men wore their steel hel- in permanent cemeteries.
wo rk as slaves for German sol- burn; in memory of Nathan Fin- a cherzo in B-flat minor, as well
mets during the service. They
At an evacuation hospital I die es.
The community had been ley, from Mr. and Mrs. Saul R s compositions by Liszt and
sat on the grass and lustily sang spoke to two German prisoners. fin
some of the familiar synagogal Both declared that they were bee ed 20,000,000 francs and had Copin: in memory of Richard Da- achmaninoff.
chants.
n warned that if the money vid Finley, from Mr. and Mrs.
Lois Holmes will he the accom-
receiving excellent treatment and wa
p
Chaplain Woodruff was most appreciated American kindness. hou s not forthcoming within one Saul Copin; in memory of Morris anist for Mrs. Miller.
There will be no charge for
sympathetic. He had been con- On the table next to the bed one The ✓ the fine would be doubled. H. Prince, from Mr. and Mrs •
admission.
ducting Jewish services regularly of these Germans I saw a pack- not y were all poor and could Saul Copin.
on Friday evenings and during age of American cigarettes. One rab raise such a large sum. The
bi drank some wine with me,

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BUY WAR BONDS' • BU Y WAR BONDS!