ANCIkalf
111111
"(wish Periodical Carter
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
.1111.1.
Friday, April 26, 1946
Page Five
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
MAN CF 1- 1-1E WEUS
Voluble, kindly, dear thinking, Dr. Shmarya Kleinman, lifelong
revolutionary and socialist, is saluted by the CHRONICLE and ac•
corded honor as the Man of the Week.
Dr. Kleinman was born in Baranowka, Volyn which was in the
Russian part of Poland. His grandfather, in whose house he lived as
a child, was the owner of a lumber factory and was the wealthiest Jew
in the city. Dr. Kleinman never knew any hardship as a child.
As a boy, he received the typical Jewish upbringing. His Hebrew
education began at the age of three and continued until he was four-
teen. He also received a secular education and finished high school in
the city of \Vilna.
So They Tell Me---
Personal Pioblents
By LOUIS W. ENFIELD
In the early days of the found-
ing of the city of Tel Aviv in
Palestine, the country was under
the rule of the Turks. One of the
worst mismanaged, graft-ridden
governments in the world, there
By W. A. GOLDBERG, Ph.D.
Director, Counselling Service
Copyrighted, 1946, by W. A. Goldberg, Ph.D.
All rights reserved
was a constant turmoil of red
Your questions in personal problems will be answered
mail as far as possible or in these columns. Send
tape which made efficiency impos-
by
sible.
your question and a stamped, self-addressed envel.
Abraham was a young pioneer
ope to Dr. W. A. Goldberg, 1314 Eaton Tower, De-
who was a child during the found-
troit 26, Mich. or to the Detroit Jewish Chron-
ing of the city of Tel Aviv. As he
icle, 525 Woode,verd Avenue, Detroit 26, Mich.
Although he received high scholastic honors, he was unable to
grew up, he was steeped in tia,
attend any Russian university because entrants were chosen on a
tradition of the Chalutzim, Uh?
STAND UP AND BE COUNTED
lottery system and he did not draw a suffleiently high number. Ile
early pioneers. In his early youth,
therefore went to Berlin where he enrolled in the university there.
he became a Shomer or guard. It
This community and others are now engaged in a campaign for
In 1914, with the outbreak of the first World War, he went back was his duty to ride a horse with
funds for various local and overseas purposes. In that campaign,
to Russia where he worked for a year as a medical student in a Red his gun at his side and protect
where do you stand? Will you be a leader, a giver or will your name
Cross hospital. Then he attended a medical school in Rostov which had the colonists.
be missing from both lists? As a person able to persuade others of
before the war been the University of Warsaw.
The Arabs of the time consid- the need to participate, will you give your time and energy, free and
ered the colonists fajr game. As with intent for this cause? Or, as a person whose contribution is just
In White Army
soon as an Arab acquired a gun, as important, will you furnish the large and small sums necessary?
In 1918, he was mobilized into the White Army which was fighting he had to try it out by shooting Or will you sit by idly, thinking of yourself and forgetting the crying
the Red Army in Russia. At stake was his medical diploma whicl, a Jewish Chalutz. The situation need of your fellow man over the entire world?
was not to be granted unless he entered this army. When the White became so had that the Shomerim
The Passover season is just past. You recall the story of the four
Army was defeated, he joined the Red Army with which he was were organized. They let it fie sons, the wise one, the wicked one, the meek one and the child too
sympathetic and served as a physician. He became a lecturer and al, known that for every Chalutz young to ask the meaning of the holiday. If we may parody this talc,
instructor in hygiene and public health in the Rostov military academy. who was shot, two Arabs had to how would you classify yourself'? Where do you belong?
pay with their lives.
"My home as a child was
Beyond the financial aspects of the major campaign are all the
For months there was grim war- implications of social organization and the individual member. Adjust-
typically bourgois," he said. "But
fare. The Shomerim would ride ed persons are both selfish and selfless. Selfishness is required for
revolution was in the air. I joined,
their horses for as much as thirty- personal success, for assurance to one's family. Selflessness is also
my first revolutionary group at
six hours at a stretch. In the needed to tie each individual into the larger social order and the fame
the age of twelve. I threw off my
moonlight, a Chalutz would be ily. Your social intelligence level is marked by your sacrifices for
orthodoxy when I was fourteen. It
working in the fields when a shot others. Of course you can get along without participating. You can
did not seem to have the answer
would ring out. At the funeral, say, with the Wicked Son, "Of what use is this service to me?" and
to my problems."
the word would be passed around. thus exclude yourself from the community of the world, from the com-
In the darkness of the night,
Then the next day, two Arabs munity of your brethren.
he and his friends listened to lec-
would die.
You can also say, "These are my brethren. My stomach will be
tures on the overthrow of the
After some months, it gradually just 'as full if I give ten hours' time promoting the cause. My family
Czar, on the freedom of the mass-
dawned on the Arabs that shoot- will be just as well fed and clothed if I increase my contribution."
es and the coming good life for
ing Chalutzim was dangerous bu- We who enjoy the privileges of a democracy can well afford to assist
all. Ile helped spread proclama-
siness. The practice was stopped our brethren, those few remnants of our family who have no food, no
tions to the peasants. Later he or-
but by this time the Turkish gov- clothing, who have suffered for us at the hands of the modern op-
ganized evening classes for work-
ernment took a hand in the me- pressors.
ers. The ostensible purpose of
ter and executions became com-
Perhaps you may think also to store up a few good deeds for
classes was to teach the Russian
monplace.
yourself against the time when you meet your Maker. You may or
laneuage but the classes were
At this time, Abraham was
may not hold with the concept of casting up it balance on the Judg-
used largely to spread revolution-
nineteen years old. He had al-
ment Day. It should warm your heart to know that you have given
ar• literature.
ready killed more than a score of
your time and your money to those who have nothing.
His activities got him into
Arabs and death was a matter if
As you grow older, you will find that life consists essentially of
trouble very early in life. At one
routine with him. One day, how-
time, he was expelled from school
ever, he came home to learn that living with yourself and with others. What will your conscience say
to
you
on the day of reckoning? Will it be sustained by your partici-
his father had been arrested by
for teaching these classes. At an-
the Turkish government and was pation, with others, in these life-saving activities? Or will you hide
other time, he was arrested for
to be sent to Damascus to be your head from your own thoughts because you passed by the call
DR. SIIMARYA KLEINMAN
calling a strike in the scheol. He
of the community.
was also arrested for revolutionary activity in Kiev. In 1914, he was hanged.
We know well the dangers of isolationism, personal or national.
Abraham
made
inquiries
at
the
exiled to Siberia but was released in the customary manner when his
constabulary and there he learn- You cannot he an ostrich in the social world. Stand up and be count-
grandfather bribed the proper officials.
ed that there had been an error. ed among those present. Be a leader, if you can. Be a giver. But
The real prisoner was supposed to leader and giver or just a giver, lend a hand!
Darkest !lour
When he was seventeen, the darkest hour had arrived for his be a man with the same surname
(Dr. Goldberg is available to clubs and groups of parents for dis-
but with a different given name.
beloved Russia. The Revolution for which he had worked so hard
When, however, Abraham demand- cussion of personal problems. Address him directly at the above ad-
seemed a complete failure. All the great leaders of the 1905 revolu-
ed the release of his father, he dress or in care of this newspaper.)
tion had disappeared and the rank and tile had no organization and ran afoul of the peculiar workings
no leadership. All the youngsters were in despair and a wave of of the Turkish law.
suicides swept the land.
When a prisoner was arrested,
Sunk in depression, Kleinman tried to turn to religion. He went he could only be released by the
to the priests of one faith after another. Nowhere could he find what commandant and this man was
he wanted. He even visited Count Tolstoy of whom he had heard s.) off on a hunting trip which might
much. The result was completely negative.
last months. In the meantime, the
At length, Kleinman decided that nothing was left in life. He de- man in prison would be hanged
termined to commit suicide. But first lie went home for a visit to his at Damascus. Even though the
family. He spoke to his mother of the complete emptiness of his life. records showed a clear case of Dear Editor:
mistaken identity, nothing could
There was no freedom, he said. Religion was an empty fake.
be done except by order of the
Six months ago my wife was apparently one of the healthiest and
commandant.
Berdichever Rabbi
happiest women in our community. Then one day tragedy struck. I
Abraham argued and pleaded. took her to one of the largest hospitals in our country where they
Alarmed, his mother sent him to the great Berdichever rabbi.
"I still remember that great man," said Kleinman. "He was hand- His talk fell on deaf cars. An ex- cut part of her body away. But apparently it was too late. She has
some and clever and he had a marvelous voice. When I saw him I ecution of a man with such and suffered every conceivable agony and torture, and I watched her go
such a name was called for. There- blind. The dozens of doctors that examined and tried to help her have
was impressed.
fore this man must be hung. The always given me the same answer: "I am sorry, just try to make her
"His first words were, 'Ah, it's hard to live without God.' I was
commandant could not be reached. comfortable."
thunderstruck. I poured out my heart to him for more than an hour.
No one else would take the re-
She now has a few hours, or perhaps days, to live, and I have
Ile listened in silent sympathy and when he spoke, he struck - ex-
sponsibility. As the execution date
neared, it became clear that Ab- some satisfaction in knowing that she no longer suffers, for now she
actly the right note. Ile talked like a philosopher, explaining the
is in a coma and can no longer tell me of her tortures. There is
raham's father was doomed.
meaning of religion. I was so impressed that I went away com-
forted. The thought of suicide never entered my mind again."
Abraham was a youth who had nothing left for me but to await her death. But for the 17,000,000
alive today, that are also destined to die of cancer, there
He was very active in the February Revolution of 1917 and was lived in danger for many years. Americans
must be an answer!
a member of the first Soviet. The October Revolution, hoWever, with He knew how to act boldly and
The cure for cancer is no more inconceivable than the discovery
the Bolsheiik dictatorship was not the answer to his social philosophy. on the day his father was to be
He worked with the revolutionists for a while but finally gave up shipped to Damascus to be harm- of the cure for other fatal diseases. Our nation has spent more than
ed he appeared at the prison. He two billion dollars to discover the atomic bomb and yet, during this
and escaped to Poland.
walked up to the guard and bark- same time from Pearl Harbor to V-J Day, the nation has taken little
There he joined the Bund. When he learned that he was being ed. "Step aside!"
interest in the fact that twice as many people-died of cancer as were
sought by the police for his activities, he fled to the United States
"Who are you?" asked the guard. killed by the war.
He became a physician in the state of Massachusetts and as soon
Abraham replied by smashing
We can conquer cancer but only if the public is aroused. There
as he opened his offices, he at the same time started a branch of the his fist in the guard's face. Since
Socialist Narty and a branch of the Workmen's Circle. In 1927, he came this was the customary way in are thousands of wives, husbands, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters
which a Turkish officer would be- who may he the next victims of this scourge. I also was most corn-
to Detroit which has since been his home.
have, the guard lay on the ground pla,Tent until cancer hit my happy home, but no man, rich or poor.
u nity
where he had fallen and Abraham white or black, knows when cancer may strike next.
Active in Con
strode into the prison.
There will be a cure for cancer if we give our great doctors and
He became a director of the Ort and was active in the Workmen's
For a moment, he glared bale-
Circle. - For eighteen years, he was a member of the Detroit Philosophi- fully at both guards and prison- scientists the means to study. Help raise enough dollars and they will
find the cure. Public opinion must be aroused and money must tr,
cal Society. He was also co-chairman of the Jewish Labor committee. ers.
raised either privately or through the government. There is no more
He was one of the first members of the executive committee of the
"Attention, everybody!" he yell- important mission than to find a cure for a disease that is killing
Jewish Community Council of which he is now the vice-president. He ed. All stood at attention and
about 13 per cent of our population.
is also on the board of the Jewish Social Service Bureau.
Abraham looked around the room.
S. L. J., Altoona, Pa.
"You,
there!"
he
yelled,
pointin'
When asked about the campaign now going on for overseas relief,
he said, "I hope it will be a huge success. The need is great. I do to his father. "Fall in behind me
not- feel that we American Jews have fulfilled even one per cent of and march!"
Without a word, he strode out
our obligation to European Jewry.
of the room with his father fo--
"We ought to stop every day and think of the duty we owe to the lowing meekly behind him. No- Dear Editor:
living and to the dead. Most of us are here only by accident.
body interfered or said a word.
A letter was referred to our office from a person by the name of
"I, am not a Zionist," he continued. "But if we don't bring as The two walked out of the prison
Mary Davidovna Pentman (or Paintman1 who lives in Moscow, ad-
many Jews to Palestine as possible, we are pot worthy of being con- and his father was free.
In the evening the comman•- dressed to her sister, Rose Averbach of Detroit, Michigan.
sidered Jews."
She seeks her sister, whose address she lost and begs her to write
ant
returned but he too was heln-
Of the Community Council he said, "The future of the Council lies
less Under the peculiar workings as soon as possible. This letter was sent by the post office to a
in the hands of Detroit Jews. So far we have done a good job bur
of Turkish law, there was no way Rose Averbach in Detroit and she phoned almost everyone in the
we can do far better with the proper support. The lack of leadership
of returning this man to prison telephone directory by the name of Averbach, but no one seems to be,
in the Detroit Jewish community is obvious. But we arc a young, when the order called for a man
related to Mary Davidovna Pentman.
community and with time we will do better."
of a different name.
We would appreciate it if you would publish this in your paper
But an execution was called for
Dr. Kleinman's hobbby is his work.
and in that way, there may be a possibility of locating the sister of
picked
a
1
entered
medicine
because
of
my
desire
to
serve
humanity.
For
so
the
commandant
1
the same reason, I became a socialist to serve humanity's ills in the Turkish guard at random and sent Mary Davidovna Pentman. You may refer them to our office as we
him to Damascus to be executed. ' have the letter on hand and will gladly give it to the person desiring
social and political field. I shall continue at both until I die."
Abraham's father lived in Tel it. Write to Russian Relief, Inc., 2457 Woodward or phone RA. 3923
Kleinman
is
specializing
in
internal
medicine
and
At present, Dr.
and we will furnish the letter.
is on the staffs of the Women's Hospital, the Florence Crittenden Aviv unmolested for fifteen more
JOSEPH SCHIFFER, Director
years.
1
Hospital and the North End Clinic.
l
LILT
Danger Lurks Everywhere
Seeks Relative
•
•