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CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO

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1943

August 6, 1943

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A LETTER TO A JEWESS WHO
BECAME A PRESBYTERIAN

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

3

Army Engineers ' Bulldozers on Alaskan Highway

the Jews have been the scape-
goat of the world. If anything
went wrong, no matter whether it vr—aar•
By LEE GOLDSTEIN
concerned emperors or the man
EDITOR'S NOTE—The following article was written by a Jewish of the street, it was blamed on
German refugee girl, Lee Goldstein, seventeen years of age, the Jews. In the Middle Ages
of Kalamazoo, Michigan,
they were charged with killing
Christian children and poisoning
This letter is written in re- wah when he's 13 years old. The tdorin1k9in3g3 wahteenr, }al d so on down
sponse to one I've read only
nitler told Ger-
few weeks ago. Alice, to whom a Jewish religion thinks that by many that
Jews were the root
this letter is addressed, is a 17- that time he is old enough to of all evil and had caused the
year-old high school girl who re- understand the obligations he is first world war.
cently left the Jewish religion undertaking by being a Jew.
It vvasn't only in Germany, but
and entered the Presbyterian
also in other countries that the
church. This girl wrote me a When a boy becomes Bar Mitz- sciences, law, and the liberal arts
letter in which she tried to jw- wah lie is grown up for all re- were the only professions open
tify this step, and in my answer ligious purposes. He is obliged to to Jews, The Jewish people had
I've quoted her frequently so as obey all the Jewish laws and be to have some outlet for their
to show her side of the argument.
all that a good Jew is supposed energy and brains which had tra-
DEAR ALICE: This letter is to be. Bar Mitzwah is the high- ditionally been held in check, and
dedicated to you, and all the light in a boy's life. It is the it was only natural for them to
many people, for I realize there symbol of everything Jewish.
throw themselves with eagerness
Alice, I believe you said that into all the work that was open
are quite a few of them: in this
world, who feel likeyou. 1 have you have never read the Old Tes- to them. We Jewish people have
just finished reading your letter, tament. So, perhaps you don't always been a people of learn- i FA- MA.4
know anything of the beautiful jag' The pious Jews have for
and
it has dear
left me
deeply
I realize,
Alice,
that moved,
you tradition that is yours. Let me centuries been studying the Tal-
the wilderness along the Alcan Highway, newly completed
were sincere in what you wrote, attempt
to give you a brief out- mud. The Talmud is a huge book road Through
li ne o f it.
building pro ect of th e
but I think that 'ou '
in Alaska, this powerful
Our anchestors are Abraham, in which our leaders have writ- bulldozer cuts a clear trail 60 to 100 Engineers
feet wide. The Engineers built the
pletely on the wrong track.
Isaac,
and
Jacob.
God
promised
ten
down
the
Jewish
law
to
the
militarily
important
highway
in
record
time.
Army
Engineers, with modern
To use your own quote, I
minutest detail. All through the
"- Abraham that he' d make his des- ages men have added their ex- equipment like this, are ready to build and fight in all parts of the world
can't see m.: way clear to even
unders tand the faith or religion•' cendants as numerous as the planations and interpretations to where they may be needed.
Yet you hate it. How can you sands of the sea. Some day he it, till now it is such a large
would give them the land of Ca- book that would take a life time
when
haven't even
given it a naan. The Lord kept His word, to be read, let alone understood. about God than you do. The Jews, rants; Jews are not allowed to go
dislike you
something
so violently,
chance? Give me a chance right you'll remember. I am now going What good does the readin g
of as well as the Christians, believe to shows; Jews prohibited in
now and let me explain what Ju- to skip a couple of centuries and'
the Talmud
do? Alice,
it .lays
tell you about Jacob's youngest down
the Jewish
law. It
dis- p in • only one God. One prayer swimming pools"; these were
daism at really
that son, Joseph. Joseph was sold by cussed anything that might come winch every Jew says each morn- some of the signs confronting the
will
least means.
leave Perhaps
you feeling
more kindly towards the Jewish his brothers as a slave to Egypt. up in the course of a lifetime ing and before he died in the Jews of Germany after Hitler
There hegained great prominence front birth to death
The a Talmud
Sch'mah Isroel. "Hear Israel the had come to
people, by who
are, after all, your and saved the country from a or law was laid death.
down by
group Lord
people
heritage.
power. The Chris-
thy
the Lord is One."
The Jews became a people terrible famine which lasted for of men who didn't think it was You se e, the
he Christian religion tian Jews didn't at first worry
when Moses led them out of seven years. It was his descend- sufficient to preach ideals, em _ is almost entirely built up on the about those signs. Bah. that didn't
Egypt. Even then they had some ants whom Moses led out of has'
facts
leave the de- old Jewish testament. Jesus was
them.
concerned
the
of the characteristics which you, Egypt. Joshua carried on the task velopment of character to chance. a Jew. The only two great differ- concern
real Jews,
they It were
Christians
Alice, dislike. But then every pee- of leading the children of Israel So they laid down a pattern of ences between the two religions by religion. Hitler was of a dif-
out of the desert when the great conduct, and that is what we call are
ple has some good
some
bad leader died. He fought his way the Talmud.
that the Christians believe in ferent opinion, and for once he
characteristics,
and and
I think
that
into
Canaan and distr ibuted the
the Virgin Mary, Jesus and the was right. "Once a Jew, always
Alic e
in general the Jews have more of l
, the preceding pages have Holy Ghost, while the Jewish re- a Jew," he said. The Christian
the good than of the bad. The and equally among the tribes. g given you
an idea of how little ligion doesn't.
As the centuries passed the you know of th e gran d heritage
Jews in Egypt were loud, undis-
Jews were in a dither. They
Alice, you wrote In your letter rushed from Jews to Christians
p
cilined,
and stubborn. Disregard- Jewish state grew po werfu l. For of ours. I h ope it will mak e you
a
whil
also
that
you
must
stick
to
your
and back again, and all to no
ing Moses' injunctions later they
e the judges ruled over want to know more about your race
even though you hate it. avail. By that time the real Pro-
them and then they chose their background. I'll now t ell you
Quoting
your close
own to
words
"if I testants
proud
to be
Aryans
golden
calf, which
to them around
sym- a own kings, such men as Saul, something about our religion.
made merry
and danced
don't stick
the Jewish
and of were
' course
even
Christian
bolized God. You see, Alice, they David, and Solomon. All during
You see, Alice,
race I am afraid life is going to Jews cold no
to be
were just like you; they only that time the Jews were watched very confusing stat you
emen made
t wh en a give
t be sid
a
me a slap in the face no membersu
knew themselves. They didn't be- over by prophets who guarded You wrote "Why do I hate the matter how I feel." Well Alice, "Aryans" did
of the
not "super
want race."
the Jews.
The
lieve in Moses' word. So they them jealously from all evil that Jewish faith so much? I've never here is one point on which we
clung to this gold
might
befall
them.
These
prophets
had
any
Jewish
friends
wh
golden calf, which However,
o co u can you blame the Jews
ld agree.
you go
as heritage,
you do for not wanting them either?
ich wrote the psalms which you have influence me, yet I've seen enough
now, If Jewish
in on
race,
hate
the
Jews.
in your case is the idea that you surely sung in the Presbyterian of it so that I know I don't want looks, name, and mannerism, and world
crumbled
about them,
When
this carefully
built they
up
'When MOses came down from church. Don't you agree that the y
to
have
anything
to
do
with
It."
everything
that
makes
the
outside
had
nothing
to
stand
on;
no
faith
I,
Mount Sinai he had the Ten Com- are beautiful? The Protestants You also write that you di s
,r
- world
think
are of
Jewish, yet to cling to;- no
mandments with him. That is part think so; otherwise they would liked Sunday school. Well, let
at heart
you you
are not
'
adition which
of the "Torah," namely the two not be sung all over the world in me tell you that can't be the ish faith, life might very Jew- would bind the to
t their fellow
e t ikely Je ws. They had taken
stone tablets on which the ten Christian churches.
taken their
something,
fault of the Jewish religion. Your give you a slap in the face. For Alice, which wasn't
own.
commandments were written in
When Nebuchadnezzar besieged teachers, your environment, any- you seep Alice, you
'
God's hand. Alice, the Torah is Jerusalem and burned the temple thing might have had something the protection agai haven t got They d idn'elong
t b. Th to th e Prot_
nst cruelities
estant religion
the charter of Israel's peculiarity he carried the Jews to Babylon. to do with it. But, I am quite which the world is accustomed
to they
en why should
Several
generations
later
the
sure
it
isn't
th
and individuality, an agreement
e religi on itse
bask i n its shelter? No
lf
impose
on
Jewish
people.
For
the
Alice,
you
get
punished
for tak- ,
drawn up by the Jew and his Jews came back to Palestine and which you dislike. I could see Protective armor is a deep relig-
God,
ing right.
built the second temple which from your letter that it was in ions feeling for Judaism and by
something that is not yours
The Jewish watchword is "Hear was again destroyed by Israel's the 8th grade that you so coin- P pride in its heritage.
0 Israel, the Lord, our God, the, enemies.
ps
pletely turned against everything
Alice, I have seen the fate of the precedinyou
have seen front
Lord is One." Whatever Israel
g ages
p, Alice that
So you see, Alice, the Jewish Jewish. Alice, it was around that people like you in Germany. They the Jewish people
history
might do, nothing can break this
is a series of ups and time that ou y began to grow up, either didn't care for being Jews It is not a mere history,
have a history.
relationship. People and religion downs . When the second temple You wante d and need
but one
religion, because they didn't believe in we can be proud of.
are not separated in our case.
was destroyed the Jews scat- but you didn't know where to find any religion or they turned away y ou read
Why don't
Alice, you don't like the Jewish tered all over the world. They it. Confide in your parents you from Judaism b
the history of the
ake Jews
they I were
some time
festivals. But look how beautiful were pursued where ever they didn't because they hadn't unfor- afraid of it. because
Now Alice,
am Proud
of t ? It wili m
I)
you
they are. Sh'wuoth, the Jewish went. A country took them in and tunately up to that time provid e
he race to which yo
d sure
don't
it, but
belong
and which I have only u
thanksgiving, is a good example a century or two later expelled you with any Jewish background.
are you
afraid
of realize
the trials
and you
tribu-
the things
will explain in deta il
of that. We give gifts to the poor, theta. And so it continued till the True, you saw quite a few Jew- lations which area Jew's
A,
. . that they, too, can rejoice in middle Ages.
from
hinted
on i in these
ages.
The
p
ish people around your home. the time of his birth to his death.
Jewish
religion
is
In those
years,
mean many
the They
talked about Jewish things, You write about your attempts don't know much about
beau tiful.
it, but
You
our extra
harvest.
Passover
we that
set Middle
Ages,
there I were
you say.
an
dish On
on the
table so
to get into high school sororities there are ways of finding
ements on the Rhine
the stranger at our gate may re- Jewish settlements
out.
Alice,
the reason
you disliked
and
your uncle's efforts to get You don't and can't know the
juice too on the day of the feast. and in Southern Germany. These their
conversation
is because
you you
a job.
peace
that he
come
Passover is one of our most Jews were forced to live in ghet- couldn't comprehend what they Will you think a little about person
when
is in to a Jewish
beautiful holidays. The Jewish tos for protection from out- were talkin g about. Ho w
a synagogue.
this?
Don't away
you think
that you can't
Judaism
ou
holidays are too numerous and ciders. It took all their clever- you? Nobody had ever told could
you are
running
front Judaism
deny is
it, your
so h ome, Ace;
li y
require too many comments to be ness and ingenuity to keep them- anything about Judaism. Alice, not because you hate it, but be- Do you want to wait
till atte
another
why
mpt i t?
discussed here. I can tell you selves alive and from starving. you continue in your letter by cause you hate the restrictions it Hitler tells you that you are Jew-
something about Passover just as Centuries of persecution has saying that you dislike the Jew- imposes upon you?
an example. Passover celebrates hardened them and developed in ish synagogue. So you went to a
ish? Why don't you find out more
I only
repeat that
your it.
religion
race and
the exodus of the Jews from them a power of endurance and Presbyterian church. Why, Be- people
in Germany
who I pity
have the
felt about
recognize
You'll and
be proud
of
Egypt. I should like to tell you cunning which helped them to cause you had a girl friend who like you. I have seen what on
ly together.
something more about this, for it survive, but later led their ere- happened to go there. Did it ever pened to them, and I can only
Jews, have
every
of
All of All
us Jews
to one
stand
illustrates so well how history re- mies to look down upon them. occur to you that you might have hope that it will never happen us. "
peats itself. You will remember
In the Middle Ages, Alice, had a girl friend who belonged to to you. For years these German fall."United we stand; divided we
that Pharaoh oppressed the Jews there were only a few occupa- another Protestant denomination, Jews had been trying to assimi-
in Egypt. He killed their firstborn bons open to Jewish people. or might have been Catholic? Do late themselves. They had sue-
and made the Israelites work Among these law money lenders you think you would have the ceeded quite well. Some even
night and day on hispyramids. was an important one. Alice, the same "satisfied feeling," as you looked like Germans. Their chil-
If they rested for a minute he Jews at that time were driven to expressed it, in one of their drn became baptized and were
this method of makingg a living, churches as you had in that Pres- educed in the Protestant re-
sent 10 plagues upon Pharaoh. for there wasn't an y other way byterian church? Did it never ligionat
, not
because but
they
hated the
which range all the way from After the Middle Ages, Alice, strike you to go to another Jew- Jewish
religion,
because
it
it
was
the
"House
of
Rothschild"
ish
synagogue
than
the
one
to
would
be
one
more
step
away
pestilence
to
famine.
Alice,
Ma-
that
financed
the
greater
coin-
whic6
you
went
the
first
time?
taoh learned that there is only
COMPLIMENTARY
from Alice,
the burdensome
one God. lk let Moses lead the tries of Europe and their leaders. You know there are three dis- Jews.
when Hitler lot of the
Jews out of Egypt into the des- This House of Rothschild was a tinct Jewish divisions. There is power, these Jews were the came
most to
err, through which they you'd highly respected bankin g
house the orthodox Judaism which is unhappy people I've man, seen.
eventually come to Canaan.
composed of several brothers who exactly what the name implies. Hitler is a very bad , but he
Today, in spring, 5,000 years established
their banks across Eu- It is the literal interpretation of did one good thing: he tore re
ro
later,
later, we still celebrate this min pe. When one ran short of the Torah, with little regard for veil of hypocrisy that shielde d
acle. Why? Because since that funds, the other brothers helped the changes which have taken these assimilated Jews. By that
time Jews have moved from one him. This banking house, another place in Jewish thoughts through time most of them had forgot-
Until Aug. 7
country into the other, and today form of money lending, conferred the centuries. Then there is re- ten the meaning of the word.
at Retail Stores Only!
especially Passover helps us to great benefits on its users and form Judaism. This includes the "Jews are not allowed in restau-
understand our oppressed broth- without it the kings of Europe liberal group of Jews. The third
ers more deeply. For two nights could not have existed long. and last great division i th r_ -'— ..
the religious Jews celebrate. We There were other wealthy Jews conservative group. The all s the 1. -------
pat Matzo
Matzos to commemorate the upon whom the kings depended lieve in one God, only they s have
unleavened bread which the Jews for money. It was natural for different interpretations for some
had barely time to bake before these kings to dislike paying their parts of the Bible, are less strict
they left the land of their slay- debts, but after all the Jews about keeping the Jewish laws
KOSHER
ery, weren't just born rich, they work- and holidays, or conduct a differ-
Ceremony plays an important ed just as hard and often harder eat type of service in their
Restaurant and Dining Room
their gentile
neighbors.
So temle.
p
UNEXCELLED Fool)
part in Judaism. It gives expres- than
the kings
hated the
Jews
and
Alice,
you
said
in your
letter
AIR CONDITIONED—OPEN 24 HOURS
sion
to
our
ideas
and
ideals.
Have
stirred
up
bad
feeling
against
that
one
of
the
reasons
why
you
you ever heard of Bar Mitzwah, them.
Prliste Dining Room for Parties
Alice? A boy becomes Bar Mitz-
don't like the Jewish religion is
12017 DEXTER BLVD.
Throughout the centuries, Alice, because Jews believe differently

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FRE D S 0 NI'S

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NOrthlaw n 9786

