Americo Yewisk Periodical Cotter
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110
Friday, July 5, 1946
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
REPORT FROM
GERMANY
N
By IRVING HAYETI'
Jewish Chronicle Foreign Correspondent
(Copyright 1946. All Rights Reserved)
The Voice of the
Man in the Street
The Jewish Chronicle will pay
$1.00 to the person whose question
is used in this column. Mail your
questions to the Jewish Chronicle,
525 Woodward Ave., Detroit 26.
This s'rles of articles tells of the War Crimes
tS
Trials in Frankfurt, Germany.
Photos by ERIC BENNETT
Staff Photographer
Page Five
AAN Cr TUE WULF
SAMUEL %V. LEIB who is just completing his third term as a
member of the General Committee of District Grand Lodge Number
Six of the Bnai Brith is saluted by the Jewish Chronicle and accorded
honor as the Man of the Week.
Leib was born in Chicago. When he was five years old, he chose
his profession. The occasion came about when he heard his father, a
building contractor, discussing a business matter with his lawyer.
The lttle boy listened for a while and then spoke tip.
"Dad," he said, "I think I'll be a lawyer."
"Son," was the reply, "if you're going to be a lawyer, be a good
one or none at all."
YA, YA, FROEHLICH!
broidered very carefully and beau- TIME: Sunday afternoon.
From that =molt on, his future was determined and in 1929, on
That just about describes the at- tifully. All the colors of the rain- PLACE: Davison and Beater.
being graduated from the University of Michigan, he entered the legal
mosphere that prevails in South- bow can be found in each costume
profession in which he has remained ever since. '
ern Germany--in Bavaria. It is and because of that Bavaria al- QUESTION: In view of the
charge that Jews are crowding
There were ten children in the Leib family and each of them
Summer and at this time of the ways seems a very gay place.
the professions today, shouid started to help out at a very early age. At the age of seven, Samtfel
year it is beautiful down here. Embroidery is an art that :s
our
Jewish
youth
shift
away
started to sell newspapers and he continued - selling them until he
The trees are in bloom and there beautifully and colorfully worked
from profesions in planning finished high school. His sales station was the corner of Fort and
is green "'grass everywhere. The into all the clothes for both men
their
life
work?
Woodward, at the City Hall. He still sells papers there once a year
German soil is good soil, fertile and women.
on Goodfellow Day.
soil and everything grows beauti-
The country itself, with the Alps DOROTHY STEIN, 3765 Kendall.
fully and strong.
always in the background is
No. A Jew is entitled to make
"I recall when I was a boy," he said, "that a fellow named Frank
The people in Southern Ger- breathtaking in its beauty. But his way just like anyone else. If
Tomalczyk came up and bought all my papers at retail prices and
many seem healthier, stronger and just merely to say beautiful is not
we are more then sold them to the public for the Goodfellows. Years later, Tomal-
happier than other Germans. Per- enough. It is difficult to paint a
talented, it is
czyk and I were partners on
haps because there are very few picture with words. Pictures are
because we
Goodfellow Day. We kept this up
signs of the war in Bavaria. for the eyes, not for the ears.
work harder
until he died last year."
Southern Germany, being the play-
and are more
I went to Garmisch-Partenkir•
He recalls how generous people
ground and vacatio:land of Ger-
desirous of suc-
chen last week end. How can I de-
were to newsbOys.
many did not suffer much bomb
cess. In fact,
scribe this quaint, village nestled
"I remember a Thanksgiving
damage.
success is often
in the bosom of the Alps, so that
Day dinner they gave us where
The houses are all quaint—
a goal with
you will get a picture of its
John McCormack, the great tenor
richly decorated and many colored
beauty, simplicity, old worldli-
Jews.
appeared and sang for us. I de-
and all of them are built of aged
ness—to coin a word—its grand.
I realize there
termined then that if ever I watt
wood and all of them have bal-
cur? The tops of the peaks of the
is a great deal
in a position to do some good, I
conies going all around the upper
Alps are snow capped like a night
of anti - Semit-
would certainly do It."
story and jutting out over the
cap on a sleeping gown, the green
ism and it
Asked about unusual law cases
lower floor. They all are very neat,
trees go up the mountains and might be easier on some Jews if
he had handled, Leib felt that he
clean and prim. The shutters are
form a sort of cloak and down in others chose different fields. But
could not divulge information to
always a bright color and when
the valley are the colorful houses to ask Jewish boys and girls to
the public about most of his work.
you ride along the highways look
and the green grass. It is so change their life work for this
"I did have one unusual thing
like they are blinking at you all
simple and so beautiful in its sim- reason is absolutely ridiculous.
happen, however," he said. I
the time.
plicity and peacefulness that you
once represented a man in a
The costumes in Bavaria are
just stand there and stare and
criminal case and in the course
quaint and very, very colorful. take a deep breath and say to AL MEISTER, 2111 Ewald Chad-.
of time the man was found guilty.
No. Any boy or girl who has
The men wear shorts-- short pants yourself, "It is good to he alive."
I made a routine motion to have
planned a profession as a vocation
- -"Hose" made out of leather and
Saturanty nignt we wentisto the should continue with his plans.
the jury polled. The judge was
very profusely decorated, then
Stadium which is somewhat the There is anti-Semitism and there
out of the court at the time and
they have suspenders with a cross
size of our Madison Square Gard- is no use try-
the clerk directed the poll. The
bar, also made out of leather and
en except that it has no roof. It ing to deny its
first five jurors said that this was
also decorated with colorful em-
is an Ice Palace. Here the skating existence.
their verdict and the sixth said
broidery and ornaments. They
this was not his verdict. The
and hockey meets were held and
The only an-
wear white woolen long hose
SAMUEL
W.
LEIB
clerk was so befuddled that he
here now one of the most color- swer to that,
which come up to the knee and to
discharged the jury who thereupon left the court.
top it all off they wear those fun. ful, skillful and entertaining Ice however, is that
shows is put on for the GI's, offi- every Jew must
ny little Barvarian hats with the
"That meant a new trial for the man and when he was tried for
cers and all Americans and Allied behave in a way
feather,—a long one- - and many
the second time, before a new jury, the verdict was not guilty. This
personnel that care to see it. The that makes him
decorations.
is a very rare occurrence in the practice of law. The man in question
- The women are all dressed in as show runs for about 2 hours and a credit to his
is now a proniinent business man here in the city."
has everything, costumes, skating people. The pro-
many colors as possible. They
skill and grace, choreography, fessions should
Leib's work is now largely in the field of corporation law. In the
wear peasant blouses with the low
scenery, jumping and comedy. It be entered into
course of this work, he is director of a good many corporations and
neck line, a bodice, full aproned
is indescribable, sitting there un- not alone for
hence has a feel on the business pulse of the city.
skirt and cover their heads with
der the stars with the Alps, the the purpose of a livelihood but
kerchiefs. The women, too, wear
He was appointed by Mayor Edward Jeffries as a member of the
with
service
to
humanity
as
a
(Continued
on
Page
14)
the long white woolen socks, em-
Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Waterway Committee whose purpose is to
goal.
To deny opportunity to anybody foster legislation in Congress to create the project and to mobilize
because of his race or religion is public opinion in its support. Leib is a firm believer in the usefulness
of this project and thinks it is particularly necessary for the welfare
completely unAmerican.
of the central states. The project is being fought by the eastern rail-
By LEON SAUNDERS
road interests who are fearful they thereby be deprived of freight
1271
R. W. IIENDERSIIOTT,
revenue. Leib feels that on the contrary, the project would add to
Tyler.
their wealth and to that of the entire country.
Absolutely not. I am not Jewish
This novel goes back to the days of the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
One of his primary interest is Bnai Brith. In 1937-38, he was
but I think the very idea of deny-
The author speaks of it as a "novel of Pagan against Christian" and
ing to anyone his right to choose president of Pisgah Lodge. During his term of office, eight new youth
through it, shows the proselytising spirit and the combativeness of
his own vocation is disgraceful. organizations were brought in. For two terms, he was president of the
early Christianity.
Everything that is American in Michigan Bnai Brith Council, consisting of all the lodges In the state
The heroine of the book, an actress who was born in Antioch,
me rebels at the very thought.
of Michigan. He himself has been instrumental in the organization of
Syria, and who later became famous in Rome, is used as a mouthpiece
This is a democracy and the several Bnai Brith lodges. He travels extensively_ through the state
against Christianity. By making her an unsympathetic character, the
very essence of democracy is the speaking to lodges all over Michigan. While chairman of the Michigan
author thereby weakens the objections she voices and throws greater
right to pick for yourself.
Council, he inaugurated what later became known as the Michigan
glamor and sanctity on the defenders of the then new faith.
Plan for the foundation and purchase of Hillel homes through the
I know that
The story itself is told through the medium of an elderly director
anti - Semitism
Bnai Brith.
of the Imperial theaters, one Roscius, a non-Christian. He is a man
exists and per-
He is firmly convinced that the comprehensive nature of the
with a sense of justice and righteousness and is perhaps the only
haps it exists
services rendered by Bnai Brith stamps it as the foremost Jewish
really human character in the whole book.
in the profes- -
service organization in the world.
The story starts off with the trouble that Emperor Hadrian was
sions because
having with his imperialist schemes, particularly with his efforts to
From the inception of the ration board system during the wat.
many Jews
conquer the Parthans and the Judeans as well as all the little Eastern
Leib was chairman of such a board. When these were consolidated
want to enter
countries. During his reign, the new sect of Christianity had already
under the price control commission, six such boards were set up. As
them. If Jew-
acquired great power and many followers were flocking to the banner
far as he knows, he is the only Jewish chairman of such a hoard.
ish boys and
of the apostles.
girls are real-
He is a Zionist almost by inheritance.
To combat this sect, Hadrian conceived the idea of sending the
istic enough to
"My father," he said, "became the first secretary of the first Zion-
actress and the director to Antioch to foil Christianity through the
want to choose
ist organization in Rumania in 1895 in a chapter that was organized
medium of a series of satires calculated to make the new religion look other fields for
by Theodor Herzl himself. I have been a member of the Zionist organi-
ridiculous in the eyes of the citizenry of this eastern metropolis.
this reason, they have the privi. zation for many years. I believe in the creation of a Jewish national
However, the author of the satires is, in secret, sympathetic to
lege of doing so. But the very idea homeland and the immediate rescue of all the unfortunates in Europe.
Christianity. The same is true of the governor of the city. Towards of barring them makes my blood
It may take time before the creation of such statehood but I feel that ,
the end of the book, the satire writer declares -himself openly a fol-
boil.
prospects are good."
lower of the Nazarene. Emperor Hadrian finds himself baffled but his
When asked what in his opinion the greatest needs for the Jew-
problem is settled by a timely earthquake which also takes care of
ANNA ROSE, 4002 Clements.
ish community of Detroit were, Leib replied thoughtfully.
all the characters in the book.
No. I think on the contrary that
A number of novels follow this pattern. Sinkievich in'"Quo Vadis," Jews should go into the profes-
"I think the greatest need for Jews in Detroit is a sense of unity.
Florence Marvyn Bauer in "Behold the King," Sholom Asch in his un- sions and become outstanding in The Detroit Jewish Community Council is a fine organization around
fortunate "Nazarene" and a host of others depict the struggle be- them. A professional man has as which this can be done. Every Jew in Detroit should feel obligated to
tween Christianity and Judaism or between Christianity and paganism. his ideal service to humanity.
cooperate with the Council.
In all these books, the Christians are idealists, saintly persons, and
In a way, he
"Next, we need adequate recreational and cultural facilities for
the Romans, Greeks, Jews and other nationalities arc pictured as
is a necesary our youth. As soon as there is money to spare from overseas needs,
inspiration,
completely
without
any
f
crass materialists, lacking in divine
evil. By that I that money should be set aside for this purpose. In the entire city
refinement of the soul.
mean he usual- there is a sad lack of educational facilities.
as
The one exception to this threadbare pattern is Kingsley's "Hy-
ly gives some
"Another great need is for more active work against discrimina-
patia." Here the writer also portrays the struggle of Christianity to
pain because he
tion against Jews in the schools and colleges of this state. I come In
assert itself. However, he is a little more honest and makes no
is called when
contact with this discrimination through my work in the anti-defama-
ignorance of the prosely-
attempt to hide the coarseness, cruelty and
you are in
tion league of Bnai Brith and through the Community Council. I
trouble. The
"stizers.
think anti-Semitism should be fought openly and vigorously. The fact
In "Hypatia," there is again the struggle. This time it is between
dentist hurts
,i )
that it exists particularly in medical colleges ought to be brought to
he fight for survival of Greek culture with its worship of beauty
when he drills
the attention of the public in general and to the tax authorities in
against the confining narrowness of Christianity which, with its "mor-
but he does you
particular.
ality," fights against the worship of beauty. Through the treatment of
good. The doc-
characters, the author makes the heroine, Hypatia, much more sym-
"Another great need is for adult education in Jewish lore. How-
tor comes when
f pathetic and saintly than the victims of Roman oppression. At the you are sick. The lawyer is seen ever, this ought to be done more on an individual basis than on the
theocratic
becoming
a
community level."
same time, the author shows how a religion in
when there is trouble.
power turns from a meek, persecuted cult into a persecutor and op-
Because people rely on the pro.
For a hobby, Leib works on a fifty acre farm which he owns. His
°
Book Review
ANTIOCH ACTRESS
4,
pressor on its own account.
Of all the novels on the subject of this struggle between religions,
perhaps the weakest of all from both the literary viewpoint and from
its ideology is this same "Antioch Actress." The theme is flimsy and
the plot not only lacks subtlety but is positively naive. Had this been
a simple narrative, one could accept it for what it is worth. But to use
this canvas to portray a whole idea, an idea of such dimensions as the
struggle between Christianity and all the other religions, was very un-
fortunate. It missed its mark by a great distance.
- -
Hebrew, English and Jewish books available at the Zion Book Store,
9008 12th Street, near Clairmount.
fessional man for help in time of father, Joseph Leib, manages and operates the farm, staying there
need, there is a great deal of pres- all summer long.
tige that goes with the profession.
On weekends, Leib himself comes out to the farm and digs right
Jews need this prestige and are in at hard physical work. He plants and cultivates and reaps the actual
entitled to it.
harvest.
There always has been, there
There is a private lake on the farm and friends of the Leibs
always will be jealousy in the pro-
gather there for a lot of fun on weekends and holidays. He finds that
fessions. A part of that jealousy
the farm is a paying proposition, not only from the standpoint of
naturally expresses itself in anti-
actual cash, but from the point of view of health and recreation.
Semitism. But to ASC this to bar
Jews is positivey outrageous. Leib is married and has two children.