America ,fetvish Periodical Cotter

Friday April 20, 1945

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Page Five

World Jewry Mourns Death of Roosevelt

Detroit Rabbis Pay Homage FDR e u l gahraG i r s oedups Jewish Leaders Voice Their Sorrow
1) Over Loss of Israel's Best Friend
To Greatness of President

Ilk

(Continued from Page

DR. A. M. HERSHMAN

(Excerpts from sermon de-
livered at Congregation Shaa-
rey Zedek Saturday morning,
April 14, 1945.)

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was
a man of destiny, providentially
a ppointed to guide his people in
time of crisis. Well may we say
of hint: "The Lord hath sought
Him a man after His own heart;
and the Lord hath appointed hint
a prince over His people."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a
man after God's own heart. He
possessed all the prerequisites of
spiritual leadership. The Divine
spirit," say the Rabbis, "rests
only upon hint who is endowed
with wisdom, valor, riches, and
an imposing personality." Frank-
lin Delano Roosevelt combined
these requisite qualifications to
an unusual degree.
He was wise, master in the
most significant of all sciences,
the "science of human relation-
ships". He was far ahead of
popular sentiment.
He was valiant, stout-hearted,
undeterred by difficulties and ob-
stacles. He faced his own handi-
cap with a brave and courageous
spirit. He faced the world's prob-
lems with an abiding faith in the
ultimate triumph of the right.
He was rich and amply dow-
ered with those qualities of heart
and soul that are the secret of
true greatness. His was a big
heart, throbbing with love for
all, keenly sensitive to the suf-
fering of the underprivileged,
deeply sympathetic with the sub-
merged.
He was endowed with a fas-
cinating personality and a buoy-
ant spirit. Not only the masses
but also men of the type of
Churchill and Stalin were drawn
within the spell of the charm of
this commanding figure.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was
a man after God's own heart.
America, Israel the world over,
and humanity at large are poorer
by reason of his death but richer
by reason of his life and inspira-
tion.

RABBI MOSES FISCHER

My first lesson in American
history was given to me more
than four decades ago in a con-
versation by Federal Judge Sam-
uel Alshuler in Chicago. Speak-
ing about the great figure of
American history he summed up
the personalities of Washington
and Lincoln in the words:

Dr. Israel Goldstein, president
of the Zionist Organization of
America, stated:

"Washington was the father,
Abraham Lincoln was the sa-
vior of the country."

Pondering it: this hour of pro-
found global anguish and sor-
row for the loss of President
Roosevelt, over the deathless
services he rendered to America
and to the world at large, I
would like to state that the
unique greatness of President
Roosevelt consists in the fact that
he united in himself both the
faculties of Washington and Lin-
coln, that he was at once the
father and savior of this country
or, as the Bible puts it, "The
father and chariot, 'the warrior-
savior' of Israel".

Father of His People

He revealed himself as the
father of his people in his first
inaugural address made when
the United States was in the
throes of the greatest financial
depression that has ever struck it.

In his first speech, Roosevelt
ventured to offer another solu-
tion for the needs and sufferings
of the submerged and under-
privileged classes.

He recognized as the inalien-
able right of man—as a substan-
tial part of the pursuit of happi-
ness vouched to him by the Dec-
laration of Independence — his
right to work and to find work
if he is but willing to labor in
order to make a decent, digni-
fied livelihood.

He recognized the right of old-
age after a life spent in "tear,
toil, sweat and blood' to be
maintained honorable by the
commonwealth.
He recognized the right of la-
bor to live even at the time of
unemployment when the wheels
of industry rest and rust. He
enacted such legislative measures
to attain these ends, that the
breadlines and apple stands dis-
appeared from American life, not
to return ever, so we hope!

"We are stunned by the tra-
gic news. America has lost its
famous leader. The United
States have lost their archi-
tect-in-chief. The Jewish peo-
pl e have lost an understanding
friend. Zionism has lost a self-
avowed supporter of its pro-
gram. Coming at a tim e when
Germany is practically finished,
Japan is heading for defeat,
President Roosevelt died on
the mountain top of his career,
seeing the promised land but
not privileged to enter it. The
Zionist Organization of Amer-
ica is in deep sorrow.
"President Roosevelt's meet-
ing with Dr. Stephen S. Wise
shortly after his return from
his conference abroad left us
assured that he would be an
advocate of the Zionist solu-
tion of the Jewish problem
through Palestine's reconstitu-
tion as a Jewish Common-
wealth. We hope and pray that
the spirit of President Roose-
velt will go marching on. He
will rank in American history
with Washington, Lincoln and
Wilson. A world order and
international concord will be
a monument to his memory."

JEWRY MOURNS
CHAMPION OF HUMANITY
James I. Ellmann, president of Benjamin I11. Laikin, president
the Jewish Community Council of the Zionist Council of Detroit.
of Detroit, speaking for the —All Jewry, the Jewish commun-
Council's 213 constituent organi- ities in this country and through-
zations, issued the following out the world, mourn the passing
statement:
of President Roosevelt. He was
"With a profound sense of
a great humanitarian. Ile under-
bereavement, Detroit's Jewish
stood the needs of the small
community mourns the pass-
peoples. Ile sympathized with the
ing of President Franklin
aspirations of the oppressed na-
Delano Roosevelt. Th e people
tionalities for restoration of their
of America and the people of
rights.
the world have lost an un-
He was it great friend of the
compromising champion of hu-
Jewish people and of the Zionist
man dignity and decency.
cause. He was the chief hope of
Franklin D. Roosevelt died on
our people in our efforts to see
the field of battle, so that
Palestine restored to Israel. We
common men and women of all
are confident that his work for
peoples, all races, and all
hunmnity will bear fruit, that
creeds may live in a free
the work he did for a restored
world, free from fear and free
Jewish national hom e will ma-
from want.
terialize, and that all humanity
"We join the nation in look-
will be free—thanks to the great
ing with hope and confidence
and heroic work of our President.
to the leadership of President
May he rest in peace and may
Harry S. Truman. May God
his memory be blessed.

The American Jewish Confer-
ence issued a statement which
reads as follows:
"It is with great grief that
we learn of the death of our
beloved President. This grief be-
falls the world on the eve of
victory over the forces of tyr-
anny. A victory achieved because
our late President gave the lib-
erty loving people of the world
supreme leadership in mankind's
struggle for life and liberty for
all men.
"It is one of the greatest of
tragedies for the world now
sorely needed his leadership in
the establishment of a new order
to secure the peace for future
generations. As Americans and
as Jews we of the American Jew.
ish Conference join with our fel-
low-men everywhere in mourning
the death of a man who symbol-
ized the passionate desire to
build a world founded on justice
for all men."
A Cruel Blow
Henry Monsky, president of
the Bnai Brith, declared:

give him strength, vision and
courage to lead our nation
through its crisis, toward the
better world that must be
born out of our present tra-
vail."

HENRY WINEMAN, president
of Peoples Outfitting Co.;
"A great man has fallen as
if in battle itself. The momen-
tum of his leadership will carry
us on to victory and none will
MRS. JOSEPH M. WELT
In the death of Franklin Del- forget his courageous part when
ano Roosevelt, the freedom lov- that happier (lay is here."
ing world has lost its greatest
leader. As an advocate of the
PAUL BAERWALD, chairman
common man, as a staunch be- of the Joint Distribution Com-
hover in economic democracy, mittee, said:
and as the chief draftsman of
"The national and world-wide
an international organization for calamity of the death of Frank-
the preservation of the peace, lin D. Roosevelt fills us with
President Roosevelt has won a particular sorrow. In this tragic
place for himself in American hour, we recall the generous sup-
history along with Washington, port we have received from
Jefferson and Lincoln.
Franklin D. Roosevelt for our
We, of the National Council work on so many occasions. His
of Jewish Women, were proud to unique grasp of world conditions
follow hint as our leader; on his and his unbounded sympathy for
passing, we rededicate ourselves
the distressed gave Franklin
to the high idealism and true
Roosevelt u clear understanding
spirit of humanitarianism that
of our efforts to help the perse-
governed his life and works.
cuted and to relieve the needy.
America has truly lost a great
We are proud of having had his
man; we can best pay tribute to
approval and encouragement, and
hint by forging the kind of world
we shall carry on in grateful
for which he lived and died.
memory."

Dr. Weizmann
Sends Condolences

ADOLPH HELD, president of
the Jewish Labor Committee, de-
RABBI WOHLGELERNTER
clared:
LONDON (WNS—Dr. Chaim
"The Jewish Labor Committee
"Yet thou shalt see the land
Weizmann, the Jewish Agency
joins in the grief of the Amer-
before thee, but thou shalt
office here and leaders of the
not come thither." — (Dent.
Board of Deputies of British scan nation over the death of
British
XXII, 52)
Roosevelt who was a
Jews expressed deep sorrow at
devoted friend ve
of the Jews and
Moses had made two requests:
"The death of President
the death of President Roosevelt
A Light to Mankind
or the labor moment. His slid-
To cross the Jordan, and to see
Roosevelt is a cruel blow to
in
messages
sent
to
Mrs.
Roose-
While these accomplishments
the land. Only the latter wish
den death came as a blow to
all mankind. The people are
velt and to U.S. Ambassador
was fulfilled. Pleading for en- alone would have made Roose-
all interested in the fight for
bowed down in grief. One of
John G. Winant.
trance into Canaan, he was told, velt one of the great Presidents
liberty and justice. I shall never
the immemorial champions of
In a cable sent to Mrs. Roose-
and
social
pioneers
of
the
United
in the words of Sifri: Desist,
forget the words uttered by Mr.
human rights is gone. We vow
velt
at
the
White
House,
Dr.
Moses, the law of nature applies tates—Providence charged him
Roosevelt once, when he received
that the struggle to which he
Weizmann
said:
"The
world
has
even with a greater and more
equally to all men.
gave his life will be carried
lost an inspired leader and fight- it delegation of our organization.
The greatness of the elect lies gigantic task. He was to become,
on and w e pledge that the vic-
er for freedom and peace, Amer- He said: 'I want to live to see
as
the
Bible
puts
it,
"A
light
of
in their very humanity. All are
tory which he was not destined
ica a great president and noble the time when I can stand be-
the
nations,
a
covenant
of
the
subject to physical limitations,
to see will end in a peace
son, and the Jewish people a hind a curtain in Berlin, watch-
but he who brings his life work peoples."
worthy of his great life."
true friend and their most pow- ing. Germans beg the American
He
was
to
become
the
savior
to the verge of completion de-
The Jewish War Veterans of •:rful champion. For myself, may Jew, Herbert Lehman (director
serves the mark of greatness. of America and mankind from the United States, through its I express to you my feelings of general of UNRRA ) , for bread,
To see the fulfillment of a dream, the most sinister and brutal national commander, Archie M.
personal grief and tender my and this distinguished Jew giv-
when one is denied a share in force which has ever arisen in Greenberg, issued the following most profound sympathy."
ing them the bread'."
the
course
of
human
history.
He
its ultimate realization, is all
statement:
The Jewish Agency, in a mes-
was
to
save
America
and
man-
"In the death of President
we can ask for in life.
sage to Mrs. Roosevelt, stated:
kind from the evil power which
Roosevelt, the cause of free-
President Roosevelt has influ-
"The Jewish Agency for Pales-
proposed to make to naught all
dom,
as
well
as
America,
has
enced the course of American
tine respectfully tenders to you
the
achievements
of
the
human
suffered a grievous loss. But
history and of world events in
our heartfelt condolences on the
race
on
the
field
of
human
rights
as good soldiers, we must con-
a decisive manner. The result of
loss of your husband. In this
JERUSALEM (WNS) — The
and liberties, and which under-
his labors for peace at home and
tinu e our battle for the ulti-
crucial hour the world has been sudden death of President Roos-
took to enthrone a master-race
mate victory that will bring
abroad will begin to unfold in
deprived of his wise and noble evelt was a stunning blow to the
over other races, to enslave man-
with it the realization of the
the postwar era. In a true sense,
spirit. Jewry, in its hour of need, Jewish community in Palestine.
kind and to exterminate Israel!
ideals for which our late
he has been one of the "right-
mourns a steadfast friend who
Flags on all buildings housing
It was Roosevelt who was the
Commander-in-Chrief lived and
eous men among the nations,"
was possessed by vision, and a Jewish institutions flew at half-
first
to
challenge
this
barbaric
died.
who are assured a place in the
great champion of their cause in mast this week. Special prayers
new order . by the demand to
world to come.
"in behalf of the Jewish War
Zion." The blue-and-white Jew- in all synagogues in Palestine
quarantine the Nazis and Nazism.
Veterans of the United tates
ish flag was flown at healf-mast were ordered by the Chief Rab-
It was Roosevelt who, following
we extend our sincere sympa-
over Agency headquarters.
binate.
Lincoln's example, proclaimed
thy to his loyal helpmate, Mrs.
The Jewish National Council,
"The world cannot exist half
Eleanor Roosevelt, and pledge
PROF. EINSTEIN RETIRES
immediately upon receipt of the
Nazi and half free." It was
our undivided support and co-
PRINCETON, N. J. ( W NS) — news of Mr. Roosevelt's death,
Roosevelt who threw himself
operation to our new President
Professor Albert Einstein has cabled President Truman as fol-
"between the living and dead,"
and Commander-in-Chief, Har-
been retired from the faculty of lows:
The Pioneer Women's Organi- and saved the freedom-loving,
ry S. Truman."
the Institute for Advanced Study
"The entire Jewish community
zation has opened its third an- peace-loving countries from domi- Architect of Future
here with the title of Professor of Palestine is shocked at the
nual Child Rescue Fund drive for nation and enslavement by the
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, prom- Emeritus. Prof. Einstein was 66
tragedy which has befallen the
April and May.
Nazis. and saved at the same inent Zionist leader, declared
14.
American nation and fighting hu-
The sum of $15,000 was trans- time from extermination—Israel. that the deceased President of March
manity in the death of President
mitted by the local Pioneer Wom-
the United States "will be re-
Israel's Best Friend
Roosevelt, who guided the Allied
en Groups through their Coun-
membered by a grateful world, frend of the Jewish people, and
Mrs. Roosevelt, this great wom-
ship to the port of Victory. We
cil, towards this year's Child
along with President Wilson, as bitterly denounced its Nazi per-
en, after learning of the sudden
mourn the sudden death of a
Rescue Fund national quota of
one of the architects of the world secutors. Time and again he
shocking death of her husband,
i - leader of humanity and a great
gave expression to his deep in
$150,000.
of
the
future."
exclaimed: "I am more sorry for
The following are group chair-
President Roosevelt, he said, terest in the cause of Zionism friend of the Jewish people."
America and the world than for
and the rebuilding of the na- In u cable to Mrs. Roosevelt,
men: Club I, S. Sislin; Club 2,
ourselves." She could have added "was a great and good man who tional life of our people in its the Council said: "Jewish Jeru-
It Levine and S. Sheraga; Drora
served his country and mankind
right,
"I
ant
mostly
with
o f
-
historic home. Israel mourns the
Kadimah, J. Mulamud; Brandeis, to it with full
sorry for Israel," for the people in faithfulness and high devotion
sag a at
l is the tragic news of m your
E. Gersuk and M. Raimi; Mas- which has lost in Roosevelt the in one of the most critical pe- passing of a true friend and ing ien
husband's death. Heartfelt con-
sada, M. Wise; Hanita, E. Drach-
history of our c oun-
loyal faithful
freem en.and a great leader of
s in the world.
sroel,'ta
I dolences from Zion."
"O
ler and I. Slutsky; Goldie Mey- greatest
was
a
He
try l and the
protector.
greatest fri end band protector
erson, R. Edelman.

Death of Roosevelt
Stuns Palestine

r

Pioneer Women
Send $15,000 for
Child Rescue Work

