America ,7eivish Periodical Coder
ti
Friday, July 12, 1946
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
REPORT FROM
GERMANY
By IRVING F1AYETT
Jewish Chronicle Foreign Correspondent
(Copyright 1916, All Rights Reserved)
This pmries of articles tells of the War Crimes
Trials in Frankfurt, Germany.
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.
Photos by ERIC BENNETT
Staff Photographer
•
Page. Five
MAN OF Tilt WEEIE
"I think the future of Jews in America is tied up with the study
of Hebrew and the good fortune of Palestine," said Samuel J. Benavie,
musical director of both Radio /Station WJR and of the Jam Handy
Motion Picture Organization. "Too many Jewish youngsters are secret-
ly ashamed of being Jews because they do not know what it means.
would like to see every Jewish youngster learn enough Hebrew to
study his own history in the original language and to know what it
means to be a Jew.
JEW MAY DISAPPEAR
TIME: Sunday afternoon.
"Otherwise, "he went on soberly, "I am afraid the Jew as such
PLACE: Dexter near Davison.
will disappear from America in a few more generations unless some
QUESTION: Do you observe the very powerful stimulus of Jewishness comes out of a successful, free
I will now present a list of the ceived the order, because of com-
Sabbath?
Palestine.
accused in the Flossenberg Con- plaints of the villagers, there
"The terrific intermarriage in
centration Camp Case with the should be no more head shots, but SAM STOCKLEII, 3281 Pasadena. this country and Canada points
charges against them and their rather body shots. Prisoners were To a certain extent I do. I believe directly to annihilation. And it is
reactions when the charges were shot for attempting to get food, in Sabbath observance but my all due to the fact that our Jewish
read to them.
they were shot for their physical business does not permit it. When. youngsters who don't know their
ever I am idle language and history cannot see
inability to continue to march.
The Defendants:
They
wet
all
his
responsibility.
on Sattirdays, I why they should remain Jews."
No. 1—Friedrich Becker joined
BORN IN UKRAINE
(Shook
his
head
and
sneered.)
go to the syna-
the Party in 1937 and was a 2nd
Benavie was born in Dunaevce
gogue.
I
make
Lt. in the Waffen SS. He was sta-
No. 4—Konrad Blomberg was the
it a special in the state of Podol in the Uk-
toined at the Concentration Camp political chief of Concentration
raine. His father was a teacher
point to attend who had opened a new kind of
Flossenberg from 1941 until 1945. Camp Flossenberg. He was a
synagogue o n Hebrew School. Hebrew was
Under his direction the inmates of member formerly of the Gestapo.
holidays and taught in Hebrew without trans-
Flossenberg were sent to the va- His request of "special treatment"
especially on lation into Yiddish or Russian as
rious factories to work. His as- for a prisoner resulted in the exe-
those days had been the custom. Another rare
signment of sick, undernourished, cution of that prisoner. He knew
when they have custom was that corporal punish-
emaciated prisoners to strenuous that executions were not based
memorial serv- ment was strictly forbidden.
work accelerated their death. He upon judicial decisions, but on ad-
"In my home," said Benavie, "we
ices.
was an important cog in the ad- ministrative acts ordered without
In my home spoke Hebrew exclusively. How-
ministration which during the judicial proceedings and without
time covered by these charges, ex- hearing the person scheduled for we make some attempt at obser- ever, on the outside, I studied and
spoke Russian and German. I ac-
terminated 25,000 prisoners. (And execution. He mistreated prisoners vance. We have the special Sab- quired a love for Hebrew that I
Becker shook his head and looked during the interrogations. (No re- bath meals, all strictly kosher. In have never lost. I still correspond
this city, however, it is pretty
worried.)
action.)
with my family in Hebrew.
hard to be a Sabbath observer.
NO ANTI-SEMITISM
No. 2—Joseph Becker was a
No. 5—Peter Bongartz was a
"The town I lived in had about
Romanian. He arrived at Flossen- Capo at Hersbruck, an out-camp
%, , berg 'as a guard in August 1944. of Flossenberg. He beat prisoners FLORENCE ORECIIKIN, Canada. 13,000 Jews. There was not too
No, at least not directly. I don't much anti-Semitism there. During
The following month he was de- who were on his work detail un-
SAMUEL J. BENAVIE
go to the synagogue on Saturdays the wave of pogroms that swept
tailed to Wolkenburg where he til they died. (No reaction.)
the
Ukraine
in
1904
and
1905
our
city
was
entirely free. It came about
althbugh
I
do
on
holidays.
remained until the end. He left
in this fashion. We had long had an organization for fighting fires in
No. 6—Wilhelm Brusch was a
In our home,
Wolkenburg when the Americans
the town. When a fire broke out, the trumpets sounded the alarm and
were coming with a transport and Czech who belonged to the Waffen the Sabbath
the entire crew would turn out.
killed two women on that trans- SS since 1940 and was Command- gets more ob-
servance
than
ing
Officer
at
Wolkenburg;
an
-mar
the
"The—firglithe
raYed
gangbrlitiOdIfirns—itarte'd -leciting stotes
port- Becker—Nit
town, the signals were given on the trumpet and the entire firefight-
straight ahead — showed no signs camp of Flossenberg. He had give it person-
charge of approximately 350 wo- ally. We have
ing squad assembled. The hoodlums were disposed of in summary
of emotion at all.)
men. When the camp was evacu- special meals
fashion and both the looting and the progrom were over.
No. 3—Franz Berger is the high- ated on the 13th of April 1945, which we have
est ranking officer on trial . . . 369 women started on that trans- only on this
TIIREATEN RED ROOSTER
a Major. He was second in com- port and 116 reached Dachau, day. Mother
"The out of town Ukrainians were waiting for the pogrom to get
mand at Flossenberg . . . Upon their destination. He watched his lights the can-
out of hand so they could be in at the kill. The firefighters went out
the evacuation of Camp Flossen- guards shoot prisoners in his care. dles and ob-
and gave them the threat of the "Red Rooster." This was the symbol
berg he had the order to bring the He permitted beatings and mis- serves 'other
of fire. The firefighters could set tires as well as put them out. The
transport to Dachau. Hundreds of treatment. (Shook his head and ceremonies.
Ukrainians were told in no uncertain terms that with the advent of
prisoners that evacuated Flossen- smiled.)
In fact, the entire day is set off any attacks in Dunaevce, all the neighboring villages would be set on
berg en route to Dachau were
from other days by the things we fire. The threat sufficed and the town thereafter was entirely free from
killed. They were his charge. It
(Next week's article Will continue do and have in our home and I pogroms."
was his responsibility. His were
suppose that this is what Sab-
Russia at that time had the quota system of education. Jews
the guards that shot prisoners with the names of the accused, bath observance really is. In that
were only allowed to enter institutions of higher learning in the pro-
the
charges
and
their
reactions.)
through the head and then re-
sense, I suppose my answer to portion of one to twenty of the other population. Benavie wanted an
the question should be yes.
education but there was no opportunity in Russia. At the age of seven-
teen, therefore, he went to Palestine by himself where he continued his
SAM DAITCII, 3339 Kendall.
education in music. For two years he studied there and played the
Very seldom. I just don't have violin. Then he went to Egypt. Here he learned to speak French.
By LEON SAUNDERS
the time as I have to work on
TOSSES COIN
Saturdays.
When I think the matter over,
"I had only been there a short while," he reminisced, "when I had
I have my doubts as to whether I to make a choice. An Italian Jew offered me a position as a violinist
In the Letter Box of this issue, there is an attempt by a Mr. would observe Sabbath even if I in a Palestine orchestra. At the same time, I got a letter from my
Domnitch to belittle the art of criticism and the person of the critic. had the opportunity. I feel that uncle in Norfolk, Virginia offering me a position there. I had to make
The author of the letter supports the barking grouchiness of Dr. Sabbath observance is basically a choice, so I tossed a coin and then headed for Virginia"
Samuel Johnson who seldom approved of anything or anybody.
very good and even necessary.
In 1916, he came to Detroit. Although he was already married, he
The author of this letter wholeheartedly agrees with that old
However, in the type of world
ruffian. However, he fails to establish any issue on which we can dis- we are living in, there just doesn't attended Central High School where he took the entire high school
pute. There is no solid argument against critics or criticism. He just seem to be any place for it nor English course in two semesters. At the same time, he was a violinist
in the old Madison Theater. In 1925, he became musical director and
doesn't like critics much the same as he probably doesn't like spinach.
held this position for three years.
His premise is based on the old, unsavory dictum, "Do me something." any time.
I believe in
Since the art of writing was invented, writers, poets and artists
In 1928, the Fisher Theater opened its doors as the last word in
an orthodox
have objected to critics. "Kill the dog, he is a reviewer," cried young
life. If it were theater magnificence. Benavie remained musical director there until
Goethe.
not for the che- 1933. He then moved to the Michigan Theater where he stayed for
I take note that Mr. Domnitch did not avoid presenting documen-
two years.
der and the
tary evidence of his thesis. He explains that Wolcott liked "Abie's
snag ogue, we
Irish Rose." He notes that some critics like O'Neill's "Ah, Wildner-
JOINS WJR
Jews would al-
ness." I infer that Domnitch did not like "Ah Wilderness" and feels
In 1935, he joined Radio Station WJR as the music director, a
ready be out of
annoyed that some critics did like it. It must be that "Ah Wilderness"
existence. It is position which he still holds. A year later, he added to his duties the
is poor drama. And yet some critic declares it is good.
If Mr. Domnitch had been more familiar with the personality of
this essential musical directorship of the Jam Handy Motion Picture Organization.
Alex Wolcott, he woulld have known that the irrascible Alec would
part of our re-
He has been an ardent Zionist all his life. At present, his father,
have stood on his head on the 100th floor of the Empire Building
ie,g I o n that mother, three brothers and a sister are all living in Palestine.
just to be contrary. Since all the critics panned "Abie's Irish Rose,"
"I think," he said, "that barring any extreme action on England's
keeps us alive
Wolcott praised it. And why did critics like "Ah Wilderness"? Because
part, Palestine's future will be bright. There is a new kind of Jew
as a people.
it happened to be written by a good writer and because it also hap-
Nevertheless, I don't observe the there, one that has tasted national life and acquired national pride.
pened to be good. What is wrong with that?
Sabbath. It just doesn't work out They will fight for their land to the last drop of blood. People who are
Our Mr. Domnitch evades the whole question of the nature and for me.
as determined as they are must win out in the end.
function of a critic and delves into personal problems, such as the
TROUBLES TEMPORARY
and an
into
critic s competence
n g rat
y. This sounds to me like a personal TREVA GOLD, 3013 Waverly.
grudge bong aired.
Yes,
I
observe
the
Sabbath
to
"The
troubles
they
are undergoing now are only temporary, in my
I prefer to discuss only the question of criticism from the point of
view of its function and its philosophy and avoid personal recrimin- the best of my ability. I don't opinion. The English are trying to appease the. Arabs and at the same
work on this day. Whenever I get time they are testing out the Jews. They are just finding out what
ations.
Professor Spingarn in his article, "Literary Criticism," asked, the chance, I go to the synagogue. they have to deal with. The pioneer spirit is strong there just as it was
"What has the poet or writer tried to express and how has he ex- At home, we have the special in this country. It will be just as successful."
pressed it?" In this question, he set forth the only method a critic may Sabbath meals both on Friday
Funny things are quite common in show business and Benavie has
had his share.
use. The critic must possess enough aesthetic judgment to amount to night and Saturday.
Most of my
creative art itself. From Goethe to Carlyle, from Carlyle to Arnold,
"I remember once," he smiled, "when something went wrong with
from Arnold to Wilde, the creative function of criticism was the sub- friends observe
the pit elevator. The orchestra sits in this pit and slowly rises before
. g: this day also. It
ject of speculation. Arnold considered it a social unc
the audience. On this occasion, the elevator went haywire and started
to go up and down without stopping. We finished in a stirring burst,
is a day set
importance.
Of course a critic may not possess the genius of a Shelley or a apart as it is
six feet below the stage.
---
Byron and yet possess an exceptional talent in discernment and a com- supposed to be.
MANY MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES
plete ability to separate the rood from the bad. Beyele-Stendall was a
I have always
great critic. He never wrote line of poetry or drama. yet the reading felt that the
"There are a lot of musical opportunities for children in our public
public lent hint its ear.
Sabbath is the
schools," he mused. "They learn music skills and above all, music
To find talent in others, to interpret the meaning of a work of
most important
appreciation. I am very much interested in Jewish music but little of
art, is a sufficient justification of the existence of the art of criticism.
n s titution in
it infiltrates in my field. Most Jewish music Is being written for sym.
It is an art which requires special ability, plus real erudition and a
phony orchestras."
the Jewish re-
keen mind.
Benavie enjoys, golf and swimming. He used to box regularly and
Mr. Domnitch should not have made his pronunclamentos so ligion. Every
enjoyed a good game of handball. He is married and has two boys.
blatantly. Criticism and the critics deserve much more respecet than effort ought to
he carelessly bestows upon them. Let him bear in mind that a critic be made by Jews not only to ob- The elder, just back from the navy, is returning to the University of
is an interpreter between the inspired and the uninspired, between the serve it themselves but to help Michigan where he had already earned a Bachelor of Science degree
prophet and those who hear the melody of his words. The critic opens make It possible for others to do in Engineering and where he is now entering law school. The younger
is a student at Central High School.
the eyes of those who catch some glimpse of the material meaning but so likewise.
miss the deep import. As such, the critic has his definite place in Ed. Note: We Invite our readers
"Some day," he concluded, "I want to go to Palestine. And if I
literary life.
to express their opinions on this ever retire, I want to devote the rest of my life to bringing to the
aubjeet in letters to our Letter Jews of the Diaspora a better understanding of what Is happening
Hebrew, English and Jewish book, available at the Zion Book Store,
i II Palestine."
Box.
9006 12th Street, near Clairtmount.
The Flossenberg Concentration Camp Case
ft
):1
CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO
—
Book Review
Reply to a Critic of Critics