A merico,. ffewish Periodical eager
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
)46
Friday, March 22, 1946
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
'I
Page Five
0 1 ltey l ell ILle---
By LOUIS W. ENFIELD
HIC, PETITE, SMILING Mrs. Louis Glasier, president of Ha-
dassah is saluted by the Chronicle as the Woman of the Week.
Born in London, England, she came to the United States us a
child and went to school in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
She first came to Detroit on her way to an Hadassah convention.
While enroute, she met her husband in this city. Now married seven-
n years, the Glasiers have two daughters, aged eleven and thirteen.
"I first became interested in Zionism as a young Judaean when I
only fourteen," said Mrs. Glasier. ''It was a great event in my life
'Omen Henrietta Szold came to Chattanooga to organize a chapter of
Hadassah. A year or two later, a
Junior Hadassah group was or-
ganized and I had the great hon-
or to be elected its first president.
I have been active in the Zionist
fold ever since.
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Women's Zionist Organization
"Hadassah is the women's Zi-
onist organization of America,"
she went on to explain. "The
work started out as a small health
project in Palestine. We sent a
group of nurses and doctors to
help clear the country of tracho-
ma and malaria. We are greatly
responsible for clearing the coun-
try of these two diseases.
"Now we are a major part of
the health program there. We
have clinics all over the country.
Among others, we have a small
hospital in Jerusalem. We are,
however, turning the smaller hos-
pitals over to the Jewish people.
MRS. LOUIS GLASIER
Our latest project is the building
of a 200-bed,. hospital for tuberculosis victims to fill the needs of the
newcomers from Europe. We are also in the process of raising $4,000,-
000 for the first undergraduate medical school in Palestine. This is be-
ing done in conjunction with the Friends of the Hebrew University."
Other parts of the Hadassah program, she went on to explan, in-
cluded the Youth Aliyah movement.
"We have taken 17,000 Youth Aliyah children to Palestine already,"
she said enthusiastically. "We started the movement shortly after the
rise of Hitler. We picked children in the age group of fourteen to sev-
enteen and gave them a two-year course so they could be economi-
cally independent.
"They were allowed to choose any type of work they wished. Most
of them, however, wanted to work on the land and were sent to col-
onies. Thousands of those children later joined the Jewish Brigade
when that was organized in Palestine."
Child Welfare Program
"We still maintain our child welfare program," continued Mrs.
Glasier seriously. "We give a hot lunch to 30,000 school children daily
and we maintain several vocational schools for these children. We also
help support the Jewish National Fund. We have taken in more than
4,000 Youth Aliyah children this past year. We maintain them until
they are self-supporting."
When asked what she thought the reaction of American Jewish
women was to Hadassah, Mrs. Glasier replied swiftly and vigorously.
rnd
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Membership Increased
"The numbers speak for themselves," she said wholeheartedly. "In
the last few weeks, our membership has increased more than 30,000
nationally and more than 800 here in Detroit. I think this proves that
American Jewish women are showing an awareness of the importance
of Zionism in Jewish life today."
President of Hadassah for the past two years, she still finds time
to work as a member of the board of the League of Jewish Women's
Organization and a member of the planning committee of the Women'?
Division of the Detroit Jewish Welfare Federation. She is on the
speaker's bureau of this committee working in the present Allied Jew-
ish Campaign.
"I feel very encouraged about the success of this campaign," she
said. "People have never contributed before the way they are doing
this year. There is plenty of work to be done but I feel sure it will be
successful."
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Shekel Campaign Important
The forthcoming shekel campaign, for the purpose of voting for
delegates to the World Zionist Conference in Jerusalem this coming
August is of special importance in her eyes.
IC
en
ds
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ins
"It Is our great opportunity to prove to Great Britain and this
country that the overwhelming majority of Jews want a Jewish
Commonwealth in Palestine," she explained.
t r
"Detroit is a very well organized community," she went on to say.
"I think people should have more information about it, however. Cer-
tainly the Jewish Community Council has a very definite place in this
community. It is up to all of us to cooperate with them."
Unable to speak Hebrew, much to her regret, Mrs. Giesler does
speak Yiddish very fluently. She likes to go to conventions and con-
ferences. She found the last convention of Hadassah in Chicago a very
thrilling experience.
7
'
Ambition To See Palestine
Her greatest ambition is to go to Palestine. She expects to re-
alize this ambition when unrestricted travel is once more allowed.
Her reading is usually limited to current Zionist literature. In this
connection, she thinks one of the finest hooks she has ever read is
lierzi's Judenstaadt, the book which laid the basis for the Zionist
movement.
She likes to travel, especially back and forth to Chattanooga
where most of her family live. She and her husband, an attorney, have
also traveled to the west coast.
Although she works constantly with non-Jewish people and has
done so most of her life, Mrs. Glasier has never had any experience
with anti-Semitism which, in view of her own strong personal charm, is
readily understandable. However, she is keenly aware of its existence.
Proper Education the Answer
"I think proper education is the answer to this problem," she said.
I think further that there ought to be Federal laws against this. The
'Iristian Committee on Palestine is doing a good job in the proper
71nd of education and should have everyone's fullest support."
The future of Jews in America would be greatly benefited, she
feels, if we were to get Palestine. This would go a long way toward
the elimination of anti-Semitism in this country eventually.
In addition to contributing money, Jews should also become fully
informed on political issues In Palestine. In this connection, she con-
cluded, everybody ought to read Frank Gervasi's book "To Whom
Palestine."
Working under Mrs. Giesler, according to some of the people on
her committees, is a wonderful experience. She is very easy to get
along with, thSy aver, and yet gets results that are little short of
remarkable.
While extemporaneous speaking is not her forte, she is most noted
for her ability to smooth out difficulties. It is an accepted maxim in
women's organizations that personality clashes are as inevitable as
changes in weather. It is her ability to straighten out difficulties that
arise as a result of clashes of temperament that make Mrs. Louis Gla-
sier one of the most successful presidents in the history of Hadassah.
N ONE OF the larger high
schools in the city of De-
troit, there are two history
teachers who never speak to each
other. They appear at the same
school meetings. They sit in the
same room at departmental gath-
erings. They teach in rooms next
to each other. But they never ut-
ter a word of greeting and each
acts as though the other were not
alive.
At one time, these two teachers
were bosom pals. They rode to
school together. They always
lunched at the same time. They
discussed students, lessons, poli-
tics and religion. They went to-
gether to baseball games and
concerts. You seldom would see
one without the other.
Then came the time when they
joined the schoolmen's bowling
league. Both were ardent bowlers
and consistent high point scorers.
Both had ambitions that one day
they would reach the height of a
bowler's dream, to roll perfectly,
a three hundred game.
Came the playoff of the season
and John was on one of the con-
testing teams. That night he was
really hot. Seven strikes came in
a row. Each one hit the kingpin
just right. The pins went down
like trees in a hurricane.
When the eighth strike came,
every bowler left his alley and
came to see the sight. Very few
there had ever seen a perfect
game and it looked as though to-
night would be the night.
Frame number nine came along
and John's face was pale. He
strode over to the line, gripping
his ball. He stepped, he bent, he
raised his ball and let it fly. Bang!
Strike number nine. One more
frame and the perfect game.
At this point, Steve entered the
picture. Steve was possessed of a
sense of humor and he felt that
he ought to indulge it. He had a
newspaper in his hand. On one of
the pages, there was an adver-
tisement of a Florida hotel. On
the page was a large picture of
a Florida bathing beauty. Her
bathing suit was very revealing.
The figure was very curvaceous.
Steve took one look at the set
face of his pal. There was grim-
ness written all over that face.
There was determination to do
or die.
"Wait a minute, John," called
Steve. "I've got something to show
you. Here, take a look at this.
It'll make you feel better."
Ball in hand, John took a look
at the picture. It did something to
him. He rolled two balls in suc-
cession — in the gutter.
So there are the two erstwhile
friends, in the same school, during
the same hours. But for all they
have to do with each other, each
one might as well be dead.
• • •
He is now a well-known doctor,
respected in his community and
on the medical board. But once
he was a struggling beginner wno
had just hung out his shingle and
was waiting for a patient to show
up.
Like many other beginners, he
was desperately poor, so poor that
the problem of laundry was a
very pressing one. One day, the
brilliant idea came to him that
while waiting, he might as well
wash his shirt, the extra one.
Accordingly, he filled the bowl
with water, picked up the bar of
soap and coinmenced to rub dili-
gently. Then the bell rang.
He was expecting a letter from
his mother and thinking this
might be the postman, he rushed
out, hands still dripping with
suds. The door opened and there
stood a patient, inquiring for the
doctor and looking askance at the
sudsy hands.
Our hero was nothing if nst
quickwitted.
"Sit down for a while, please,"
he said authoritatively. "I'm just
finishing an operation."
The patient sat down and the
doctor calmly went back and fin-
ished his washing. After waiting
about fifteen minutes, he spoke up
in a booming voice.
"And now, Mrs. Murphy, go
home and rest. In three days, you
will be well."
He then walked over to the side
door and shut it with a slam.
Then he walked into his office.
The patient there was impressed.
He paid his fee without a murmur
and sent in his -friends. That was
the start of a large and well-pay-
ing clientele. The doctor attrib-
utes practically his whole success
to one successful job as a laundry-
man.
I
Resents Communwation
Dear Editor:
The enclosed letters are self-explanatory. They refer to the picket-
ing of the British Consulate in San Francisco, which took place Feb.
15, 1946, under the auspices of a Community Demonstration for Pal-
estine Committee.
The demonstration at the Consulate was carried out as a prelude
to a Mass Meeting held at the San Francisco Opera House on Feb.
17, 19t6, which was attended by some 3,000 persons, protesting British
policy in Palestine.
JOINT ZIONIST COUNCIL OF SAN FRANCISCO?
Jewish Survey and Bnai Brith Community Committee.
Dear Sirs:
This letter is written on behalf of the Joint Zionist Council of San
Francisco, representing the several Zionist organizations in San Fran-
cisco listed below. It is written, after careful consideration and dis-
cussion. to protest your letter of Feb. 26, 1946, to the British Consul
in which you wrote:
"Interested as our organization is primarily in Jewish public
relations in San Francisco, we desire to express to you our dis-
approval of such picketing when engaged in for political purposes.
"We naturally, with others, deplore the plight of the Jewish
people overseas, but this letter is not written for the purpose of
engaging in any discussion of that matter but solely to express
our objection to the act of picketing which took place under the
circumstances above mentioned."
That communication is deeply resented by us, as it must he by
every self-respecting American, Jew or non-Jew.
The demonstration at the Consulate was arranged by responsible
leaders of important sections of this community. Those who partici-
pated acted in exercise of the fundamental American rights of free
speech and assembly. They brought forcefully to the attention of the
public here the plight of the suffering Jews of Europe and the injus-
tice of Britain's Palestine policy. Similar demonstrations have been
held in other communities throughout the nation, by those who feel
deeply the great wrong that has been done and is being done to the
Jewish people.
By what right do you act to nullify this effort in San Francisco?
Yours is not a democratically elected body. You do not speak for the
San Francisco Jewish Community. You certainly do not represent us.
your letter to the Consulate is, to our minds, a betrayal of the
Jewish people. It will earn no respect for Jews, or for you, even from
the British Consul.
Your people lie sick and bleeding, and you apologize to the repre-
sentative of the British Government. Timidly you concede that you
"wilh others" deplore the plight of the Jewish people overseas, but this
matter you do not wish to discuss with the Consul.
Is this Jewish leadership? Is there courage or dignity In what you
have done? We think not. We protest and repudiate your action, and
we call upon the Jewish Community of San Francisco to join us in
this repudiation.
This letter will be released to the American Jewish press for pub-
lication.
-Yours very truly,
GEORGE EDELSTEIN, Chairman,
Joint Zionist Council.
Hadassah, San Francisco Chptr.
Junior Hadassalm
Eva Bloch, President
Selma Cornet, President
Jewish National Workers Alliance Zionist Organization of America
San Francisco District
L. Tussman, President
Saul E. White, President
Poale Zion
Mizrachi Zionist Organization
H. Rogawin, President
Z. Blechman, President
Pioneer Women of Palestine
F. Shipnuck, Pres., Bracha Grp. Mizrachi, Women's Organization
Bella Hirsch, President
C. Hirsch, Pres., Blaustein Grp.
Hashomer Hatzair
Zionist Emergency Council
Zev
Brinner, President
Sidney Rudy, Chairman
(Editor's Note: Our information is that this action was not that
of the National Bnai Brith, but merely of a local chapter.)
Correct Name
Dear Sir:
In the issue of March 15 you introduced all the members of your
staff, among whom the undersigned was one.
I would like to correct one misstatement. I am not the President
of the Detroit Philosophical Society whose President is Louis James
Rosenberg, but am the Chairman of the Detroit Philosophical Dis-
cussion Club. Thanking you, I am,
LEON SAUNDERS.
Endorse Schwartz
Dear Editor:
At a recent meeting held by the Nathan Straus Executives, the
organization unanimously endorsed Frank Schwartz, prominent De-
troit attorney, for the Federal Judgeship recently made vacant by the
retirement of the Honorable Edward J. Moinet.
This endorsement was made after due consideration and investi-
gation of the present candidates mentioned for this judgeship. We
feel that Mr. Schwartz has earned the right to this endorsement by
reason of his many years of statewide activities in the Democratic
Party and non-sectarian communal activities. We believe that by rea-
son of his fine temperament and legal qualifications, he is especially
fitted to this judgeship, and we have so recommended him for this
appointment to the Democratic leaders and to the President of the
United States.
JOSEPH G. ALLER, President.
Nathan Strauss Executives, 1945-48.
Book Review
By LEON SAUNDERS
The Mysterious Kafka
ECtNTLY, there appeared in the French language Kafka's
"Punitive Colony" and a book about Kafka by Max Brod. Tak-
ing these works for a basis, Andre Rousseaux in "Illustration"
ana yzes the peculiar talent of that exceptional and not yet fully un-
derstood Jewish writer.
In 1883 in Prague a child was born to a prosperous Jewish mer-
chant. This child was endowed with a thirst for learning and espe-
cially for literature. Had it depended upon him alone, nobody would
have heard of him and of his talent. Forty years after his death,
there appeared a translation of his work at the time when Jewish
books were burned on the German holocausts.
At first Kafka was admired more for his originality than his depth.
He shocked more than he impressed. The translators opened new
avenues to the understanding of Kafka. Max Brod, Kafka's intimate
friend, tells us of the writer's life and of certain secrets of his per-
sonality. The reading public becomes interested. Why? Because the
most terrible works of Kafka's Imagination became a terrible reality.
What seemed figments of surrealistic horrors actually took place in
Europe during the last years.
Kafka did not predict nor had he foreseen the horrors that the
Gestapo and the Wehrmacht perpetrated. Kafka is first and foremost
a poet of anguish. lie went deeper into the problems he poses for
his readers.
He makes men ask, "Where is Justice? Where is Order? Where is
Happiness?" He dwells In the world of dissatisfaction and the inac-
cessible. The situations he pictures are where our dreams take us
sometimes. Some of his novels seem like dreams. Take for instance
(Continued on Page 16)
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