v itstericam lavish Periodical eager

'46

Friday, March 8, 1946

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Detroit Immigrants Make Rapid
Adjustments to American Living

HISTORY OF JEWS
IN MICHIGAN

By

re-

IRVING I. KATZ

Executive Secretary, Temple Beth El, Detroit

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is a wrie5 of articles cotering Jew's in Mich-
igan from 110 to date. It Is written by the historian
— . 7 of Temple Beth El and
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ARTIf LE VI

Michigan's First Jervish Congregation

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N SEPTEMBER 22, 1852, Congregation Beth El adopted Its first
Constitution and By-Laws (original German version). While
there is no copy available of this Constitution, it is believed
that it was substantially the same as the original Articles of Incor-
poration.

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and
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In the same year, the Congregation rented a room above the store
of Silberman & Hersch on Jefferson Avenue, where the members met
for the next seven years.

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In 1854, Detroit was visited again by a plague of cholera, one of
the most dreaded scourges known to mankind. During June and
July of that year, over two hundred persons in the city met their
death from this pestilence. Among the victims was Reverend Samuel
Marcus who had served the Congregation as its rabbi since 1850.
He was interred in the Chaplain Street Cemetery, where a bronze
tablet on his grave bears today the following inscription: "Erected
by Congregation Beth El in memory of Rabbi Samuel Marcus, its first
rabbi, 1850-1854."
Dr. Liebman Adler
Rev. Marcus was succeeded in 1854 by Dr. Liebman Adler who
had just emigrated to this country. Dr. Adler was born on January 9.
1812, at Lengsfeld, Grand Duchy
of Saxe-Weimar, Germany. His fa-
ther was a teacher and until the
age of thirteen he studied partly
at his father's school and partly
at a preparatory school in the vi-
cinity. He also received Hebrew
instruction from the rabbi of
Lengsfeld, and later studied Tal-
mud and Rabbinics at Gelhausen.
He then attended a Jewish High
School at Frankfort-on-the-Main
and took a two-year course at the
Teachers' Seminary in Weimar
where he was graduated as teach-
er and was given charge of a Jew-
ish congregational school in his
native town. Mainly through his
efforts this school was amalga-
mated with the public school of
the city and In 1849 he was ap-
pointed principal of the combined
school.
Dr. Adler was a teacher by
choice, loved his profession with
DR. LIEBMAN ADLER all his heart and soul, and na-
ture seemed to have selected and endowed him especially for this
profession•le coetacquently was very successful in his work in the
schoolroom. But five years later, Adler left Germany, in the hope
that America might afford a better career for ilk children.
Shortly after his arrival, he was called by Beth El to fill the va-
cancy created by the death of Rev. Marcus. His annual salary was
WO and his duties were similar to those bf his predecessor. As a
religious teacher and preacher, Dr. Adler was consistently conserva-
tive, clinging to the orthodox customs and usages, but he never was
an obscurant. His thoughts were clear and free from bigotry; he fully
understood the demands of modern times, and was therefore tolerant
to the opinions and claims of the younger generation.

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Recent immigrants in Detroit
(usually referred to as "refu-
gees") have exhibited a remark-
able degree of adjustment to Am-
erican life and conditions, accord-
ing to information received from
Dr. Maurice R. Davie, Yale Uni-
versity sociologist, who is com-
pleting a study begun about a
year ago.
Altogether 2 8 9 questionnaires
were returned, representing from
one-fourth to one-third of the ref-
ugee families estimated to have
settled in Detroit. Of the 285 re-
porting religion, 259 were Jewish,
16 Christian and 10 "none."
Two hundred forty Were born
in Germany or Austria, and prae
tically the same number reported
their last citizenship to be Aus-
trian or German.
The high proportion of educated
pebple in the refugee group is
one of the chief characteristics
distinguishing it from other immi-
grant groups. Of the 197 who an-
swered this question, 43 graduated
from college or received post
graduate training in Europe; 30
others had some college training,
and 33 were high school graduates.
Economic Adjustment
Economic adjustment in this
country has been very good con-
siderink that more than one-half
arrived in the United States in
1940 or later, although to be sure
this period represented peak war-
time employment conditions. The
median income of the 178 employ-
ed full-time was $50-$74 per week
and 32 reported weekly earnings
of $100 and over.
Roughly speaking, as the fol-
lowing figures show, about half
experienced no change either in
living conditions or social status
in this country as compared to
Europe. The other half, on the
whole, are enjoying better living
conditions, but a lower social sta-
tus.
Present Living Conditions: Bet-

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ANNOUNCEMENT!

'The Grand Mufti, who has been
in Berlin since 1941, played a role
in the decision of the German
Government to exterminate the
European Jews.'
"The return of these men can
only be the means of rekindling
the fires of hatred and distrust
and the beginning of new organ-
ized agitation against Jews and
other freedom-loving people in the
Holy Land.
"In God's name, Mr. Ambassa-
dor, what can His Majesty's Gov-
ernment hate in mind when It
refuses a haven to the victims of
Nazism in Palestine, but instead
grants sanctuary to those very
Nazi followers who are responsi-
ble for the mass murder of 6,000,-
000 Jews, who endangered the life
of the Empire and of democracy
everywhere.
"We, who represent the 900,000
fighting Americans of Jewish faith
who have twice been called upon
within the last quarter of a cen-
tury together with our fellow Am-
ericans to battle in Europe on the
side of the British Empire, believe

we have a right to k now just
what it is the British Government
has in mind.
"True, we cannot bring back the
dead or restore the maimed. but
even at this late date we veterans
'of World Wars I and H, who sur-
vived these wars, desire to be in-
formed as to whether or not we
may now regard all or the sacri-
lice and bloodshed as having been
in vain.
"Many thousands of our men
who fought alongside the British
Tommies in the trenches of World
War I and in the forests and
towns in World War II, have
learned to know and admire the
fortitude of the British soldier.
We are now alarmed and puzzled
at the policy of His Majesty's
Government.
"May we have the honor of a
reply from you on these ques-
tions, which appear to us to ne
of overwhelming importance it
the present moment?"
MAXWELL COHEN,
National Commander,
Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.

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"Our attention has been called
to the use or rather 'abuse' of the
Star of David, the 'Mogen David'
which for many thousands of
years has symbolized the Jewish
will to live.
"The tradition of the 'Mogen
David,' its glorious history, and
the full import of its meaning
should not permit its commer-
cialization by business firms which
have evidently not given too much
thought to the abuse of this sym-
bolic insignia.
"Members of the Jewish War
Veterans should undertake. in ca...11
community, to carry on an edu-
cational campaign by visiting the
business houses which use the
'Mogen David' for commercial
purposes and cell their attention
to the faCt that such use is not
in keeping with the dignity of this
Jewish symbol and is considered
highly undesirable.
"They should enlist the support
of Rabbis by personal visits and
letters, and use the Anglo-Jewish
press to conduct this educational
campaign. e
"The 'Mogen David' is a symbol .
of our people and their great
courage throughout the ages. It
must not be abused!"

Bill and Harry

CLifford 1220

■ •

ON THE USE OF TIIE
"MOGEN DAVID"

Daily Pickup and Defiler). to Detroit and Suburbs

E

"The Corned Beef Kings"

‘41-1;414)=Z;

In an editorial, appearing in the
February issue of the JWV Re-
porter, the official publication of
the Jewish War Veterans of the
United States. attention is di-
rected to abuses of the "Mogen
David" by commercial firma who
have been using it as part of their
display, advertising and sales pro-
gram which has been a subject of
considerable complaint by Je..vish
War Veteran posts throughout the
United States. The editorial fol-
lows:

Give your clothes the best care to make them
last longer. Be wise ... Vitalize ... because Vi-
talize care meant double the wear .. . gives you
that clothes assurance in spite of the clothing
shortage. And only Forest Cleaners in Detroit
bring you this exclusive cleaning process.

Now In Our New Larger Quarters
To Serve You Better
1429 Broadway at Grand River

.0 I

ter 93, Poorer 52, Same 136.
Social Status in U. S.: Higher
40, Lower 97, Same 141.
Americanization Record
The level of Americanization
can be measured by a number of
scales. One of them is the propor-
tion and rapidity of naturaliza-
tion. Here the figures are well-
nigh perfect. Of the 138 who ar-
rived prior to 1940, 112 have at-
tained citizenship, and 23 have
filed applications. Probably no
other immigrant group can boast
of such a record.
Another measure of Americani-
zation is familiarity with the Eng-
ish language. This can be gauged
from the type of newspapers read.
Only 12 read non-English papers,
269 read English language papers,
and three read both. Another
gauge is school attendance in De-
troit. Only 50 report no schooling
since immigrating, 67 have attend-
ed citizenship classes, and 124
have attended various types of
schools from elementary to col-
lege and professional.
Helped War Effort
During the last four years, one
of the best indications of Ameri-
canization was undoubtedly con-
tribution to the war effort. Here,
too, the refugees' record is ex-
tremely good. Only two answered
"none," with 6 omitting an an-
swer. But 269 purchased war
bonds, 116 donated blood, and 73
had members of families in mili-
tary service.
The picture, as revealed by the
study, amply confirms the impres-
sions of those• who have been in
close contact with the group, that
the recent immigrants are becom-
ing rooted in American life and
have shown an amazing tempo
of adjustment. Of the 287 who
replied to the question about post-
war plans, 281 said they intended
to remain in the United State ,
four were undecided, and only two
intended to leave this country.

JWV Editorial
Objects to Abuse
Of Sacred .Si,,
f

Return of Pro-Nazi Jamal El Husseini to Palestine
Evokes Severe JWV Protest to Great Britain

NEW YORK. — Entering a vig-
orous protest against the return
of Jamal el Husseini and other
exiled pro-Nazi sympathizers, the
Jewish War Veterans of the Unit-
ed States has dispatched the fol-
lowing letter to the British Am-
bassador:
"My dear Mr. Ambassador:
"We view with deep concern
and alarm the trend of recent
events in Palestine and all of
their implications as evidenced by
the return, with the full sanction
of the Palestine Government, of
Jamal el Husseini and other ex-
iled pro-Nazi sympathizers. It is
Rental of Hall
difficult to believe the evidence
On Slay I, 1859, the Congregation, having increased in member-
in the press which, if true, can
ship. leased a hall over Dr. Scherer's Drug Store at 39 Michigan only lead to the conclusion that
Grand Asp. (now Cadillac Sq.) at the yearly rental of $140. The lease
we have fought in vain and that
Wadi signed by Morris Hirschman (grandfather of Clarence M. and
any principles we sought to
Maurice A. Enggass) President, and expressly stipulated that "this achieve through war have been
hall is to be used as a meeting house and school room."
wiped out.
'Has the British Government so
(Next week's article tells of Michigan's first Dual Brith Lodge.)
soon forgotten that these men
were among the worst Nazi, anti-
British and anti-Jewish agitators?
That they pursued the same pol-
IT'S ACCESSORIES
icy of advocating extermination
of the Jews and undermining of
any democratic form of govern s
ment and that they were the real
fomenters of trouble between the
Arabs and Jews in the Holy
Land? If so, then permit us to
quote from a London dispatch by
Edgar Ansel Mowrer recently,
2629 WOODWARD AVE — CA. 7543
which says: 'The Mufti shares the
responsibility for history's foulest
massacre with Heinrich Himmler
"Apparel of Distinction"
and other Nazi butchers.' He fur-
ther states that an affidavit is
MURRAY SABIN
now in the hands of the Nuren-
berg Judges to the effect that

'ere

Page Three

Sinai Kosher Products Chicago No. 48

3=IF:6=64711=0

Dossntown Branch: THE J. L. HUDSON CO.

MARRY

11

3rd Floor Fanner Street Bldg.

/

` 10,,zaareativenweloweenso

.....

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