Page Four

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Cluonicla

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

Friday, May 31, 1946

Book Review

By

LEON SAUNDERS

and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

'sblished Weekly by Jewish Chronicle eublishing Co., Inc., 525 Woodward Ave., Detroit 26, Mich., Tel. CAdillec 1040

Red Prelude

David Footman, who wrote "Pemberton" and "The Balkan Holi-
day," recently came out with an opus which will disclose to the Amer-
icon public a world of fiction and melodrama which is stark realify,
Editor-in.Chief, LOUIS W. ENFIELD
Publisher, CY AARON
Managing Editor, NATHAN J. KAUFMAN in spite of the events related in it which the average American read-
e• would not believe.
The book is called "Red Prelude," the life of the Russian terrorist,
Vol. 48, No 22
FRIDAY, MAY 31, 1946 (IYAR 31, 5706)
Detroit 26, Michigan
Zheliabov. While telling the life story of this famous revolutionist,
Footman actually gives the history of a certain period of the Russian
emphasized by the modern Jew, particu- revolutionary movement. Why the author chose Zheliabov as the
larly in America where Shabuoth has be- center of the narrative while there were men like Michailov, and wo-
There is no occasion for rejoicing now come linked with Confirmation exercises, men like Sophia Perovskaya, is not clear, but one is as good as the
other when it serves to tell the story of the murder of Tsar Alexander
that the Allied Jewish Campaign is over

SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 PER YEAR. SINGLE COPIES 10c: FOREIGN, $5.00 PER YEAR

tr tered as Second•cless matter March 3, 1916, st the Post cffice at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879

Still More Work

with the goal of $2,000,000 reached and
far surpassed. The need which called
forth this vast sum is still too vividly
planted in the minds of Detroit Jews to
let them feel that the need for coopera-
tion is over.
The city should feel an immense debt
of gratitude to Mr. Nate Shapero, chair-
man of the campaign, and the host of
workers who gave unstintingly of their
time and efforts.
There is also an immense debt due to
Isadore Sobeloff, executive director of the
Federation, for his genius in organizing
the work of the campaign so that the
goal might be reached.
It is to be hoped that this same genius
of Mr. Sobeloff will be utilized to help
unify the Jews of this city who have
worked together so well and so purpose-
fully in this gigantic effort. When all
Jews unite to pull one load, enormous re-
sults may be achieved. There is great
work ahead. There is still need for unity.
With great leaders and willing workers,
mountains may be moved.

when the youngster is sent forth sup-
posedly having been adequately versed in
the Torah.
Shabuoth has thus become emphatical-
ly a young peoples holiday. It comes at a
time when the world itself seems young,
when nature appears in its most lush
colors and vegetation and the sun, with-
out being oppressive, is radiant and
warm. It is the time when school is over
and people are preparing to go on their
vacation holiday.
The ;Inking of the Law—the Torah—
with vacation, with summer and flowers,
in some ways seems incongruous, yet real-
ly it is a happy marriage indeed. The
Law teaches responsibility and joy with-
out responsibility is doomed. With it, the
human race securely marches on.

Discrimination

Canada and the United States were
urged by F. H. LaGuardia, director-gen-
eral of UNRRA, to open their doors to
some of the 1,400,000 displaced persons
in Europe, many of whom are persecuted,
homeless Jews.
It's Time to Get Busy
Yet in Toronto a Jewish lad, veteran
While Britain has just announced the of four years in the army and ten months
calling of a new conference with Arab, of fighting on the continent, lost his job
leaders and the American government, in a hardware store because shoppers
too, is not revealing any particular ac- complained to the owner that they didn't
tion in the matter, there came a number want to be waited on by a Jew.
of statements from sources thoroughly in-
The world offers advice, freely and
formed on the problem- of the refugee with high-sounding phrases of democracy
Jews which call attention to the great and freedom, to England about admitting
importance of immediate action.
100,000 Jews to Palestine with the event-
From J.C.C. sources abroad came re- ual aim of setting up there a national
ports that the demoralization in the state for the one group of mankind with-
camps is proceeding at such a rapid pace out a state.
that the immediate removal of the 100,-
Yet last week a St. Catharines boy, just
000 Jews must be effected at once, if discharged from the service, was refused
complete ruin is not to be invited.
a job in Toronto because he was a Jew.
In similar vein, two American mem- Prospects for the job looked good until he
bers of the Palestine Inquiry Committee went for an interview and his religion
spoke this week. Mr. McDonald, speaking was discovered. Then he was told that
in New York, called upon President Tru- because the firm was going to move its
man, who has led the fight for the admis- offices, there would be no job for him.
sion of 100,000 Jews to press for the re-
Before and during the war, Hitler's
alization of the plan. Said Mr. McDon- treatment of the Jews was given as one
ald, "There is no question but that Pal- reason for going to war. Such religious
estine can absorb many times 100,000 and racial discrimination must not exist,
immigrants." The whole question of ab- the world said in outraged terms. Yet the
sorptive capacity, he pointed out, is bound world fails to come to grips with the
up with the reclamation of swamp and problem and continues to allow persecu-
desert lands, and Jews in Palestine have tion of Jews, even though it be on a moral
shown themselves very adept at this.
rather than a Nazi physical basis,
Mr. Crum, speaking at San Francisco,
The world is heartily in support of
revealed the virility of the Jewish Yishub freeing the Jews from persecution and
in Palestine when he said that the Com- providing them with the freedom guar-
mander of the British forces in Palestine anteed to all minorities—just so long as
had testified before the Commission that it can all be settled some place far away.
the Hagana, or Jewish self-defense force Until we put our own houses in order
in Palestine, was strong enough to hold and stamp out all signs of discrimination,
Palestine against any Arab country or wherever they may appear, we can say
combination of countries, and, Mr. Crum little about what other people do.
went on to add, besides this force, the
British have more than 100,000 troops in
Palestine.
The Hebrew Teacher Shortage
To all of these reasons must he added
According to a survey. reported by
another reason — any delay must neces- Dean Moses Feinstein of the Herzlia
sarily give a chance to the Arab opposi- Teachers Seminary of New York, 300
tionists to increase the irritation.
cldsses in Hebrew schools throughout the
From all points of view, the 1130,000 country are threatened with 'closing on
victims of Hitlerism must be moved with- account of the lack of Hebrew teachers.
out delay to the only country that wants
The rabbi is a respected man in the
them, the only homeland they have — community, but the Hebrew teacher, who
Palestine.
must impart the .rudiments of Hebraic
This is no time for more conferences — culture, which is integral in JudaisM, sel-
but time to get busy.
dom gets the respe0 to which his services
entitle him. The Hebrew teacher really
plays a very significant role in the' pres-
Shabuoth
ervation of Judaism. True, the number of
In ancient times, Shabuoth was an agri- parents who send their children to the
cultural festival. The Jewish farmer in Hebrew school is not as large as it should
Palestine rejoiced in the harvesting and be. But, however small, _those who receive
gave thanks to God for the harvest.
Hebrew training forth the real bulwark
To this original purpose was added for the preservation of Judaism...._.
also the celebration of the giving of the
We have made the Hebrew teacher a
Law, which, according to tradition, took too humble figure in our life. We have
olace at Shabuoth.
ignored him—and he now begins to ig-
t is this latter aspect which is most nore us. It is not a healthy situation. -

the The bookgives a list of the revolutionary heroes, a revolutionary
Who's Who, with brief biographical facts and a list of books dealing
a
with the
Zheliabov was born
family of slaves. Endowed with natural
ability and curiosity, he rose to fame even in those terrible times
when it was impossible for a free peasant, let alone a slave, to climb
out of went as s f he a belonged
the University
He
eraity and acquired a formal education
although he never actually graduated. The evolution of his political
development went through various stages in the movement, but he
remained honest with himself and his beliefs until his death. He was
the only one who stood like a rock at the trial fighting and demanding
his rights.
He started by becoming a member of the Narodnaya Volia, the
People's Will, the organization which was imbued more with roman-
ticism than with actual theory.
Marx wa4 not heard of in those days. People had not heard of
classes and‘ class struggle. Russia as a whole needed freedom from
tyranny. The fight was with tsarism against slavery, for elementary
human rights.
The men and women who were doing the fighting were not those
who lacked privileges or comforts of life. They were mostly aristro-
crats. Ekaterina Breshkovska was a daughter of an army officer. Vera
Figner was a daughter of an official. Kravchinsky was the son of an
army doctor; Michailov, the son of a land owner and Sophia Perov
skaya, a daughter of the governor general of Petersburg. Lizogun,
himself, was a wealthy land owner. The only ones who had no rights
and were oppressed were the Jewish members of the movement, like
Aaron Zundelevich, Gesya Helffnan and Grigory Goldenberg, who
from weakness and stupidity implicated their associates. The glamor
of the movement was supplied by types who would appear unreal in
a .movie. An aristocrat, Valezian Ossinsky, good-looking and fasti-
dious, organized the escapes from jail of his comrades. Vera Sazulich
went into the office of Governor Trepov, shot him and was acquitted
by the jury.There were patient preparations for attempts; months de-
voted to digging tunnels; living in the tsar's palace with dynamite
under one's pillow; all that sounds melodramatic and unreal. But for
every step, every act of these people, there are documents in the ar-
chives of the Russian police.
The theoretical side of the movement is not fully given by the
author, but there is enough to give one an idea of the aims and Iva-
sons for the party's existence.
It was Plekhanov who split the party on the basis of the program.
The question at that time was whether the party should engage itself
in terroristic acts. The anti-terror faction already had a definite atti-
tude and was promulgating the socialist theories and working towards
a Constitutional assembly. It was Perovskaya and her group who sep•
arated from the party led by Plekhanov and Tichomirov, just as the
same Plekhanov split with Lenin later, in 1903, when the Social dem-
ocratic party divided into Mensheviks led by him and the Bolsheviks
led by Lenin.
Why the terroristic faction was so persistent in killing Alexander
the Second is explained by the party's declaration and fear of failure.
They were, so to say, bound by the "noblesse oblige" dictum. They
had to finish the job they proclaimed would be done and, finally, they
did it on March 1, 1881.
They, with Zheliabov as their leader, were tried in open Court,
and while they had no chance of acquittal, one cannot help compar-
ing this trial with the treatment of opponents in the 20th century.
How would they have been treated by the Nazis or Fascists?
Another thought arises while reading this book. What times, what
heroic ((rents, what men, what women! Without fear, inspired by an
ideal they believed in, they went into it fully aware of the conse-
quences and accepted their fate gladly.
When one looks around now to find anything to resemble them.
one finds such a void, such pettiness and only a murky moral fog
that one begins to long for those terrible but heroic times when men
were giants of deeds and spirit.

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

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