A ffiericam Yetvish Periodical Cotter

Friday April 19, 1946

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

44AN CF TUT WEEI

So They Tell Me---

By

B

RISK, SCHOLARLY, intelligent Rabbi Joshua S. Sperka, spirit-
ual leader of Congregation Bnai David, is saluted by the Chron-
icle and accorded hortpr as the Man of the Week.
Sperka was born in Wloclaweck, Poland, and was a boy there dur-
ing the first World War. As a boy, he studied in the Yeshiva and
was destined almost from the beginning to he a rabbi.

"Life in that Polish city was not unpleasant," he reminisced.
"The city had a population of 50,000 with a large Jewish com-
munity. %Ve had almost no experience with anti-Semitism there.
I did, however, have one experience with a pogrom that I will
never forget.
"It was the custom in the Yeshiva where I was studying to start
our day at six a.m. We used to
study there for two hours, then
have breakfast.
One day at about 10:30 in
the morning, we heard the noises
of shutters being slammed in all
the stores of the neighborhood.
This sound, normally coming in
the late evening, was so unusual
that we all rushed to the windows
to see what was going on.
"Outside we saw a mob of
about one hundred ruffians with
clubs in their hands. They were
looting the stores, beating every
Jew in sight. There was no mur-
dering, just beating and pillaging.
"We piled chairs and tables
against the door for we feared
that the Yeshiva would certainly
be the target of the hooligans.
However, they passed us by com-
pletely.
Ran to Assure Parents
"The first thought that oc-
curred to me was to run home
and assure my parents that I
was safe. I rushed out hi the
RABBI JOSHUA SPERKA street and turned toward my
house. The next block, however, I passed the tail end of the mob
and a few of the hooligans turned to chase me.
"Fear lent wings to my feet and I outdistanced them all. I turned
for safety to a nearby house and as I sprang up on the steps, some-
one threw a huge stone at me. I heard it thud against the wall a
few inches from my head. Had it struck, I should certainly have been
killed. I will never forget that experience," he concluded, "but I have
not allowed it to prejudice me in my thinking about people.

I

LE

LOUIS W. ENFIELD

T HAPPENED in the early
days after the closing of the
first World War. A young ty-
coon made his mark as a banker.
He pyramided his stocks and
made investments on a sweeping
_though economically sound scale.
When he was thirty-two years
old, in 1928, he was a millionaire
several times over.

Page Five

bo x

Why Anglo-Jewish Newspapers

DEAR EDITOR:

My friends and I have been discussing the pros and cons of hav-
ing an Anglo-Jewish newspaper. Can you justify the existence of such
a newspaper?

DOUBTER.

(ED. NOTE: Next week we will devote an editorial to this sub-
ject).

He was married to a social
climber who used his wealth to
further her own position. They
were not too fond of each other
and there were no children to DEAR EDITOR:
bring them together. However, he
I wish you would publish this letter addressed to the Jews of
made a habit of giving her large Detroit.
sums of money on occasion which
In your attic or in your basement there may be a sewing machine
she put away for a rainy day.
which is urgently neeeded by some Jew in Poland or elsewhere in
The rainy day came in 1930.
Europe or by some Jewish organization which is restoring the sur-
The stock market had crashed
vivors of our tragedy to useful life.
again and again and the banker
That machine may make a vast difference in their lives, the dif-
had been caught and stripped al-
most clean. He had had a stormy ference between self-respect and dependence upon charity, betweer
session with his wife. Fifty thou- idleness and useful industry. To all of us here it represents a way of
sand dollars could not only save rehabilitating a fellow Jew.
him but make him rich again. He
The Canadian Federation of Polish Jews now has a way of get-
had given her many times that ting your machine to the people in Poland who need it. Please tele-
sum and she had more than a phone us and let us call for it. Our repair depot is prepared to over
hundred thousand dollars in cash haul it if necessary. The United Jewish Relief Agencies of the Cana.
besides her property. But her an- dian' Jewish Congress have undertaken to deliver the machines fa
swer to his request was a suit for Poland or elsewhere in Europe.
divorce.
The recipients in Poland will be informed of your generosity. Yc,.:
On this particular day, the will doubtless find great satisfaction in knowing that the sewit
banker sat with his head in his machine which you can spare is performing so great a service.
hands. His whole fortune amount-
ed now to eleven hundred dollars
Sincerely yours,
which he had on deposit in the
HARRY AMSEL
bank. Everything else was gone.
JACK LIEBMAN
His wife had secured her divorce
Co-Chairmen of Collection.
and was off in the far west. He
(ED.
NOTE:
Letters
should
be
addressed
to the Canadian Fecht•
had no job, no prospects, seeming-
ly no future. He thought only of ration for Polish Jews, 5215 Hutchison Street, Montreal 8, Quebec).
suicide.
It was then that he saw this
most curious ad in the Personals
column of a newspaper.
"That experience made me feel strongly the validity of Zionism
"Looking for a pleasant way to
and the total insecurity of building the destiny of our people in
commit suicide? We guarantee to
strange lands.
By LEON SAUNDERS
send you out happy. Absolutely
"I have always been a Zionist," he continued. "I cannot re-
painless. Prices reasonable, pay-
member riot being one. In my mature thinking, however, I have
ment in advance."
always felt the importance of Palestine from a religious point of
At first it sounded like a prac-
view. Eretz Israel as a Jewish Commonwealth would save the Jew-
tical joke. Investigation, however.
ish people. So many aspects of life are tied up with the Jewish cul-
showed that it was not. There ac-
N 1943, MR. MAX RADIN envisaged the trial of the arch criminals
ture that no land in the diaspora could possibly preserve the Jew-
tually was a hotel, located in the
which is now taking place in Nurenberg and presented it in a
ish people.
shadow borderland between the
book form entitled "The Day of Reckoning." The writer must have
"Complete Judaism cannot be practiced in the diaspora. Every
United States and Mexico. In the been a lawyer, for he Is also the author of several books on lega!
Jew who has a deep appreciation of the role of Palestine in Jewish
chaotic conditions then existing, subjects, "Handbook of Roman Law," and "The Law and Mrs. Smith."
life would want to live a free, unhampered and spiritually independent
it was under the jurisdiction nei- The book under discussion could not have been written by a layman,
life and one can have that only in Erctz
ther of the laws of Mexico nor for the procedure at the trial and the phraseology indicate an inti-
Still Loyal to America
those of the United States. Pecu- mate knowledge of law.
"I do not feel that this in any way interferes with my loyalty t.) liar conditions were in effect and
The author must have been endowed with a clairvoyance which
America," he philosophized. "All that this country demands is obedi- no news of any kind leaked out
ence to its laws and coming to its defense in time of danger. One can to substantiate the rumors of the enabled him to foresee and present a picture of the trial in Nurenberg
as though he were present at it now.
feel a deep appreciation of American culture, history, music and the things that were going on.
•
like and at the same time be religiously a Zionist. There is no con-
The banker did not make too
The only difference is that in his book he eliminates Goering in-
flict."
much of an investigation. His stead of Hitler. The trial in the book takes places in Luxembourg and
Sperka's religious philosophy is fundamentally grounded in ortho- mind was made up as to what Ile the nations are represented by four judges, an Englishman, a Russian ,
doxy.
wanted to do. Accordingly, three a Chinese and an Australian. The defendants are: Hitler, Goebels,
"I see no future for either Conservatism or Reform in Judaism," weeks later, he found himself at Himmler, Ribbentrop, Funk, Gasten and Mitch.
he said. "In social life, compromise can be beneficial but in religion the hotel talking to the manager.
Why the writer selected those is not explained. They are repre-
it just cannot be. Faith demands sacrifice and any compromise for
"We will put you in room 1433,"
sented by one lawyer, Dr. Sheering, who tries hard to defend his
the sake of luxury or convenience lets the bars down.
said the manager. "You will he
clients but who gives the impression of having his own ideas about
absolutely happy during your stay
"Jewish history shows," he continued warmly, "that only those
them. For the sake of impartiality, the whole trial is conducted In
who have citing to practice and faith have remained in the stream
here. Your going out will be pain- German.
of historic Judaism. All movements that have tried to harmonize
less and you will not know when
with their environment and compromise with their principles have
Mr. Radin, knowing well the crimes committed by the defendant-
it comes."
been lost to Judaism. Of course those who do not practice ortho-
"Here is one thousand dollars," and not wishing to risk his case against them by instituting charges
doxy are not ruled out as Jews but they contribute to the disinte-
replied the banker. "It is every which may have proven beyond the jurisdiction of the Commission,
gration of Jewish tradition.
cent I have in the world. I leave has chosen an apparently safe method of proving the defendants
all the details to you. One thing, guilty. He did not charge them with starting the war, with murder-
Change Order of Universe
however, I am sure of. You can- ing millions of innocent people, with ruining the world. He charges
"('hange is the order of the universe. But the fundamental
them instead with the murder of a Frenchman, a Czech and a Rus-
not make me happy."
principles which were laid down on Mt. Sinai are as valid today
But he was wrong. On the sec- sian.
as they were then. Change comes in form of expression but prin-
ond day, he was introduced to a
ciples remain the same as ever. That which was laid down in the
Another reason for this charge is to present the satanic evil-doert
Miss Suzette, a beautiful lady as mere murderers and not as Lucifers.
Torah is divine. Hence it is unchanging."
•
Rabbi Sperka was educated at Columbia University and took his from France. For two days, he
It is a small book, but the author manages to present a complete
S degree at the Institute of Chicago. He received his Master of Arts squired her about amid the many
degree from the University of Michigan and was ordained a rabbi hotel amusements. He talked with picture of the trial and the speeches of the prosecutor and of the
in Chicago. He is married and has three children.
her constantly. Under her sympa- defense.

Sewing Machines Wanted

Book Review

I

thetic influence, he felt a new am-
bition surging through his whole
being. He had succeeded once. He
could do it again. So he spoke to
the manager once more.
"I made a bargain with you,"
he said. "Now I want to back
out of that bargain. I said you
couldn't make me happy. I was
wrong. I have met Mademoiselle
Suzette and she has promised to
be my wife. I am now supremely
happy. I don't want to commit
Writes Book
suicide at all. But there is on e
His first book, on customs of mourning, was written for his thesis rather delicate matter. I gave you
as a doctor of philosophy although the press of his work has not per- all the money I have in the world.
mitted him to finish the work necessary for the degree. The book wit.: Could you give me, say, half of it
sent to the chaplains of all the services by the Jewish Welfare Board. back if I leave the hotel tomor-
Speaking of the present Allied Jewish Campaign, he felt assured
row so that I can use it to got
of its success.
started again?"
"The campaign is only a minimum share of our giving," he sail.
"We will give you all of it back
"This giving must be accompanied by sacrifice. Every Jew should feel over your hotel bill," smiled the
that his giving is an offering of thanksgiving for his own lot."
manager. "Tomorrow you will go
He feels the need for great participation of Jews in community and my best wishes go with you.
Boy!" he called. "Take this gem
life.
tleman to Room 1433 and pack
"There are thousands of people," he said, "who are not affiliat-
his bags so he can leave tomor-
ed or identified with any religious institutions yet who seek the
row.'
service of the community in their moments of need. Every Jew
When the banker had gone, the
ought in some way to he identified with the community and help
manager sent for Mademoiselle
support it at all times.
"The Community Council takes the places of the old Kehilla in this Suzette.
"Suzette." he said, "you have
respect. Every Jew ought to be identified with it so as to enable the
community to influence all its members and thereby exert its influence done well. Monsieur is very hap-
py. We have fulfilled our part of
snd guidance."
the bargain and tonight, the gas
Rabbi Sperka is very optimistic about the future of Jews in Am-
erica and feels that the trend will ultimately be toward greater observ• will be turned on in Room 1433
at two o'clock in the morning."
ance.

Now the spiritual leader of Congregation Bnai David, he has ap-
plied his doctrine of service to the community in a very practical way.
He is on the executive board of the Zionist Organization and of the
Jewish National Fund. He is a member of Bnai Brith, the Histadruth
Ivrith and the American Sociological Society. He is on the Rabbinical
Council of Detroit and president of the Menorah Society. He is on the
executive Board of the Jewish Community Council, the Jewish Com-
munity Center and the Mizrachi. He is honorary president of the
Federation of Polish Jews and vice president of Russian Relief. H.)
is former president of the American Jewish Congress and also of the
Jewish National Fund of Detroit. He is on the executive board of the
House of Shelter and on the board of both of Detroit's Yeshivas. H•)
was the first Jewish Chaplain of Prisons in the state of Michigan.

The Day of Reckoning

The attitude of the defendants was one of defiance and the denial
of the commission's right to try them. Technically, the attorney based
his argument on the theory that Hitler was a sovereign and hence
subject to a German Court only. The defense is that the crimes were
committed during a war and that the defendants are human sacri-
fices to be immolated by the victorious enemies. They are charged
with crimes only because they lost the war.

The Presiding Judge properly reminded the attorney of what hap-
pened to all the criminals in the last war. All of them were released .
All the defendants were found guilty and the execution was car-
ried out by administering cyanide gas.

We don't know what the punishment will be for the murderers
tried at Nurenberg, but we know that the English presiding Judge is
giving Goering a chance to use the Court for propaganda purposes,
and, that instead of being presented to the German public as the rat
he is, the Germans hear him attack all their enemies and he appears
as a paladin of righteousness and patriotism.

No civilized man would suggest any other procedure against crim-
inals other than the one accepted by the whole civilized world, but
the men on trial at Nurenberg by their actions have put then—elves
outside the pale or civilization, No Indians, who scalped their pris-
oners have devised such tortures which the Nazis invented. They not
only tortured the bodies of men but poisoned the souls of the world
of their own children. Treating them with kindness only evokes their
contempt. The whole reeducation of Germany in the American am
English sections is wrong and will bear terrible fruit in the future.

The "Day of Reckoning" is a very interesting booklet giving th•
reader a fair idea of what takes place in Nurenberg, even though
was written before the trial took place. It is not an account or a pic-
ture of the actual trial. But that is good writing, a vision, a picture
of reality through the prism of the writer's imagination.

Hebrew, English and Jewish books available at the Zion Book Store,
9008 12th Street, near Clairmount.

