Amerkait 'elvish Periodical Carter
6
Friday, April 12, 1946
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
Page Thirteen
Meeting with "Number 278"
(Continued from Page 3)
At the gate he heard the guard
was supposed to be too ill. Some- ask the driver what was in the
times we do get a little ahead of box. "Oh, just a dead Jew," was the
e kit-
ourselves when we try to fool the casual reply. "Go anead, get rid
Y
of the dirty Jew," came the word
it was the re-enactment in from that stalwart member of the
life of the justly celebrated "herrenvolk," who were busy at
"coup de maitre" of the Count of that time demonstrating their "su-
JI) to
isfonte Cristo — playing the part per-race" qualities by attacking
there.
of a dead man to escape prison helpless minorities. At present, I
— that got me. This was too much understand, their full time and
meek
for the courage of a mere Navy attention is given to more press-
cople
Chaplain in whom the spark of ing personal problems.
We
Several miles out in the country
4 adventure burns so feebly.
auth-
With two older friends and the the driver stopped the truck and
got
assistance of a truck driver, the tapped on the box. This was the
1 for
fabled trick of Monte Cristo was signal that all was clear. Number
them
accomplished in true Dumas fa- 278 removed the lid from the box
C se-
shion. He had met his benefactors with the monkey-wrench. He was
vices
in the hospital. It was their task close to freedom, for the point of
We
to make rough burial boxes in his escape was not far from the
)read
the carpenter shop for the inter- French border. To a lad who had
edu-
nees who died. They explained played with life and death to es-
their plan to him; they would cape from prison, avoiding the
make an extra burial box against German border guards was not
the day when the opportunity difficult. The French officials prov-
would present itself. It was to be ed indifferent, if not friendly, and
his means of escaping.
Number 278 soon made his way
"But why me?" asked Number to the home of his brother in
278, who was eager but skeptical. France.
,
"Because you are young and we
are old," they replied. "You still
have your life before you. You can
stand the difficult voyage to a new
land. You can carry on for our
people. We need youth as never
before. And maybe you can fight
again some place at some time."
So it was agreed. Number 278
does not know how, nor does he
care. No doubt he was to be the
beneficiary of an organized effort
to help as many as possible of the
younger men to escape.
Finally came the day he looked
forward to, yet feared. He had
been told to watch for a certain
truck. As it entered the gate he
ran to the carpenter shop with
the news. He hid himself until the
box was passed through the win-
dow. He quickly got into the box,
a monkey wrench was placed in
with him, and the lid nailed on,
leaving a crack for air.
Number 278 did not know the
full plan, but he could feel and
hear what took place. He had
reached that point where he did
not care what happened to him.
"I made up my mind to die if
necessary to get away. It didn't
matter any more."
E.
Passover
Greetings
are extended to our many
friends and patrons, will:
sincerest wishes for
Happy and Joyous
PASSOVER
.1
Someone has likened a coffin to
a conduit, a channel through
which we pass from life to death.
For Number 278, his rough coffin
proved to be the channel through
which he passed from a living
death to freedom of life.
From France to New York, and
to re-habilitation in the new land,
was the work of the Jewish Refu-
gee Committee. Volunteering into
the Army of the United States
long before he became a citizen
was his own idea. In the Army he
learned to read, write and speak
English. And now he is in our
Amphibious Transport plowing
westward through the clear blue
waters of the Pacific . . . even
westward into the setting sun
What lies ahead?
I wish I could complete the
story of Number 278. I should like
to tell you how he distinguished
himself in battle against the forces
let loose in the world by the mad
men of his own land and Japan.
I should like to write about how
he returned to his adopted coun-
try, and became a useful and dis-
tinguished citizen.
But we had to part before the
story of Number 278 was finished.
Indeed, the pattern of his life
was not yet definite enough to
predict an ending. I do know this
much, however — that wherever
he goes and whatever he does,
he will carry with him his un-
bounded faith in his God. He will
wear one Tephillin on his head
and the other on his left arm,
and he will read the ancient pray-
ers just as father did back home
so long ago.
"Hitler thought he could stop
prayers by burning our synagogues
and bibles. He forgot that we car-
ry our prayers in our hearts,"
said Number 278, with that far-
away, back-home look in his eyes.
"My father taught me how to say
prayers, and I'll never forget."
"Prepare for debarkation," came
over the ship's loud speaker on
the morning of that hot Pacific
day. Small boats were lowered in-
to the water, while naval guns all
around us spoke defiance against
the would-be world conquerors.
One after another the small boats
were called to the loading ladders,
where the men with names which
had come from every corner of
the earth were climbing down
with grim determination. The
melting pot of the world had spo-
ken again!
I stood at the ladder with both
pride and humility. I could not
help feeling proud. Our men were
answering the call of the hour.
But I was humble, too; perhaps
the word is "ashamed." Twenty-
seven years ago I had witnessed
the same determination on the
faces of the young men of that
day, going into battle against the
same forces. But the lesson we
then should have learned was not
heeded. My generation had per-
mitted this thing to happen
again! Yes, I was ashamed as I
looked into the .faces of those
young men going over the side
to make up for our mistakes.
_.•
fr
PASSOVER GREETINGS
•
GREGORY, MAYER 8 THOM CO.
Office Equipment and Supplies
CADILLAC SQUARE
CADILLAC 9330
SINCEREST PASSOVER GREETINGS!
DETROIT CITY ICE Fd FUEL CO.
6247 GRAND RIVER AVE.
TYler 6-9300
A
VERY JOYOUS PASSOVER TO
Perry Feigenson
ALL'
Ben Feigenson
Number 278 stood before me. It
was now his turn to go down the
ladder. He was smiling. Perhaps
my generation had been forgiven.
I hoped so. He and I clasped
hands, but neither spoke.
There are times wnen words
are not necessary.
Season's Greetings
SHEWACH BROS.
BEVERAGES
3579 GRATIOT AVE.
WHOLESALE GROCERIES
1345 Division
CHerry 8643
BURG'S KOSHER
MEAT MARKET
Greetings
10240 DEXTER BLVD.
TO. 8.4673
Season's Greetings
EVELYN'S
SMART APPAREL
To our many friends
7426 MICHIGAN AVE.
VI. 1-9185
and customers on the
*
occasion of
LUSTER - TEX
PASSOVER
Renuvenate Process
Dry Cleaning
— by —
FAMOUS
4LEANERS
ti)
A
Main Office and Store:
4465 Beaubien
Branches:
22148 GRAND RIVER
7340 W. 7 MILE RD.
8941 JOS. CAMPAU
9642 KERCHEVAL
12900 MACK
131 JOHN R
5763 MICHIGAN
3145 HASTINGS
11548 DEXTER
7300 HARPER
8741 2ND BLVD.
2096 PINGREE
14835 E. JEFFERSON
We extend sincere good wishes for a
Joyous Passover filled with happiness
and blessed with full measure of pros-
perity and may these wishes continue to
find fulfillment into the years beyond.
CHARLES H. LOTT
Eh, ROLLINS a.
1528 (Woodward Cave..
General Manager
DETROIT-LELAND `HOTEL
""`"Icr
DETROIT. MICHIGAN
FURS •
SUITS •
CLOTH COATS • DRESSES
MILLINERY • ACCESSORIES
• CORSETS
CASS—BAGLEY
.11