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CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The •

Friday, Aug. 2, 1946

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Chronicle

MAN
The Voice of the
Man in the Street

Page Five

or THE WEEK .

"My first experience in being under fire was in Sydney, Austra-
lia," said Rabbi Ellezer A. Levi, spiritual leader of Congregation
Bnal Moshe. "Early in 1942, the city was shelled by two Japanese
submarines. There was very little damage, as most of the shells were
duds. In fact, the only damage was one broken leg in the whole
city. But Sydney was scared out of its wits.

The Jewish Chronicle will pay
$1.00 to the person whose question
is used in this column. Mail your
By IRVING RAYETT
questions to the Jewish Chronicle,
Jewish Chronicle Foreign Correspondent
525 Woodward Ave., Detroit N.
"I had been to a meeting that evening," continued Rabbi Levi.
i (Copyright 1946, All Rights Reserved)
Photos by ERIC BENNETT
"I returned home at midnight and had just started to read when
,.Ills striae of articles tells of the War Crimes
Staff Photographer
the first shell landed just back of my apartment. Everybody ran out
Trials in Frankfurt, Germany.
I
screaming and the confusion was indescribable. To add to all the
TIME: Sunday afternoon.
excitement, ten minutes after the shelling had stopped, all the air
raid sirens began to blow. When the excitement died down, I went
PLACE: Dexter Blvd.
back to my room and promptly fell asleep.
QUESTION: Should corporal pun-
ishment be given to children?
"There was another time, however, when I was really scared.
It was more the result of thinking than anything else. I was on a
To date, I have presented de- 1945. he beat a man to the ground
boat trip up to New Guinea. It was mostly bush
scriptions of 25 defendants in the and continued beating him until MAX RUBIN, 3797 Calvert.
country and we had very little defense. We were
Flossenberg Concentration Camp he died. He beat repeatedly and
No.
There
is
no
use
in
hitting
passing through submarine-infested waters and I
Case. The brutality of the others severely.
children.
It
makes
them
hate
and
Number 31, Olschewski, comes
did a lot of thinking.
involved which, like that of those
fear
their
parents
and
does
little
already mentioned, taxes the un- from Westphalia. He was desig- or no good.
"At this time, I was the only Jewish chaplain
imaginative mind and should not nated by the Germans as a hab-
in the American army in the South Pacific area
There is a much better way to
itual
criminal
and
has
been
in
be reported for dust-collecting files.
and I felt a tremendous responsibility. I knew they
get children to
Therefore, I am continuing with prisons for the past nine years.
were all watching me like hawks. I had to prove
do
the
right
the accounts of these Nazi sadists. He was known in Flossenberg as
that a Jewish chaplain could take it. I was just
thing. We must
scared to death as to how I would react under
Number 26, Matzke, comes from "The man with the whip." He hit
teach them and
and killed workers by beating.
pressure.
explain to them
Post Bruckberg. He has been in
prison for the last 24 years. He He was Capo at the quarry doing
why they have
"No sooner had I landed, than a lieutenant
camp cleaning and road building.
to obey their
came up and handed me a revolver. 'This is against
has beaten prisoners when he was
He
bragged
before
prisoners
that
Rabbi E. A. Levi regulations, chaplain," he said, 'but you better have
parents.
11 4 a Capo of Block 2 in the Messer- he had already killed 500 and
Children like It' On the way to the trenches, I was really afraid. Jap patrols might
schmitt factory. Finding a turnip wanted to kill more. If a pris-
to talk. A frank pass within ten feet of my trench.
in an inmate's pocket, he stuffed
oner was weak, he would say to
discussion with
the turnip in the man's mouth the prisoner that he would have
"Once under fire, however, that feeling disappeared. I no longer
them about felt afraid. I was merely annoyed and angry. I had a curious feeling
and made him stand against the
the hospital within ten
in
him
their problems that the Japs were out to get the next fellow and not me at all.
wall with the turnip in his mouth days and he always did. He would
arouses the ir
for two hours.
average three or four brutal beat-
After that I was never worried."
•
interest because even little chil-
Number 27, Maurer, comes from ings daily.
talk about them.
Levi was born in Toronto, Ontario, in Canada. In school, ho
Regensburg. Prior to his arrival
Numbee 32, Oswalt, comes from dren like to
never was very active because he was very small. In his last year
at Flossenberg he had 21 con- Austria. He joined the SS in 1942 selves.
Children also like stories and of high school, he shot up nine inches in only six months. After
victions. While in charge of the and was a guard at Lublin before
punishment detail at the Messer- coming to Flossenberg. He ad- that is a good way to start a dis. that, and in the University of Toronto, he was very active. He did
schmitt plant, he beat men so se- mits killing two women on the cussion. If their interest is some boxing, ran on the indoor track and played basketball. He rep.
verely that they died. He left as transport between Wolbenburg aroused and the explanations are resented,the University Menorah Society in a series of debates with
a guard on the transport in and Dachau. He states that of satisfactory, they can be per. McGill University. He was also very active in Young Judea.
April, 1945, and shot prisoners on 370 to 380 women who left Wol- suaded to do what is wanted.
"I don't know what made me really decide to be a rabbi," he
the march. He had a cart with kenburg, only 116 reached Dachau.
said. "I had an intensive Jewish training. My father objected to my
him and collected the shoes from
Number 33, Pachen, comes MRS. SAM BRAVERMAN, 2911 entering the rabbinate because he felt that Jewish learning should
the prisoners after they were from Hausham. He is a first lieu-
Lawrence.
riot be commercialized. Accordingly, he kept a business running for
Yes. One ought not to make a me all through my seminary training. I was graduated from tho
killed.
tenant and was in charge of the
habit
of
it,
but
sometimes
that
is
Number 28, Mohr, comes from two columns leaving Flossenberg.
Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1932 anad started off
Rotenburg. He had been in the He stared that on the march he the only way to impress children as a rabbi in Birmingham, Alabama. Then I went to Auburn, New
Waffen SS since 1939. He was in got an order that only heartshots and make them aware that they York, where I stayed for seven years. Then I went to Australia in-
charge of the arrest bunkers at should be given instead of head- have done wrong.
It depends largely on the deed. tending to take a post in Sydney.
Flossenberg in 1943* His duty was shots. (The Germans around the
"Just at this time, however, the war came along and I volun-
It
is better to
to serve on the execution detail, route of march complained about
teered as a chaplain in the American Army. When the American
participating in hangings and the hcadshots being too messy — spank them
troops began to pour into Australia, I was the only Jewish chaplain
shootings. He tortured prisoners what with brains running out of when they run
in the Southwest Pacific area under General MacArthur. It was just
by hanging them by the wrists. the head). He stated that he out in the street
by accident of being on the scene that I was the first Jewish chap.
than
to
cry
thought
the
order
referred
to
Number 29, Mussfeldt, conies
lain to serve American troops on foreign soil. It was thought that
over their dead
from Brandenburg. He was a those lying along the road and
Australia would never be able to hold out and in February of 1942,
bodies.
guard on the transport from too weals to go on.
my family was evacuated, together with all other women and chil-
Of course,
Number 34, Pawliczek, comes
Flossenberg and shot prisoners.
dren back to America.
from Germany, address unknown. spanking ought
Number 30, Neye, comes from
ed in
In Flossenberg he was a Block to be used
"For certain reasons, the number of Jewish soldiers appeared to
Berlin. He has been a convict for leader, where he killed prisoners. m o dere tion.
be very small. In fact I was told that Jewish boys did everything
13 years. At Gannacken, a by- He threw prisoners' hats under And it never
they could to avoid actual fighting. The reason soon became plain
camp, a Jew asked to go to the the wire and chased them to the should be in-
to me.
hospital because he had a fever. wire, where the guards shot them dulged in be.
Neye made him remove his or they were electrocuted. He has cause of temper or irritation. Dis-
"A great many of the Jewish soldiers felt they ought to hide
clothes and pushed him into a shot prisoners and held their cretion must be practiced on their Jewishness. In the early days of the war, there were as high
cold stream, keeping him there heads under water until they every occasion in dealing with as twenty percent of the soldiers of no religious denomination In this
in the water. The same day the drowned. He would strike prison- children.
area. At least half of the no denomination boys were Jewish. Within
Jew died. He repeated many
a year, that no denomination count went down to one-half of one
with whatever weapons came
ers
times that it was his intention to
ALBERT A. SMITH, 9730 N. percent.
to
hand.
get rid of any and all Jews who
(Continued on Page 12)
"Religion entered into army considerations in many ways," he
Martindale.
came under his control. In April,
No. The impression that a beat- continued. "Once a soldier asked me to investigate the burial of a
ing makes on a child is too last. sergeant who was Jewish. The man, having put 'P' after his name,
ing. Sometimes it boomerangs had been buried as a Protestant. I cabled his home and learned that
and produces the exact opposite his family was not only Jewish, but extremely orthodox. When I
(Continued from Page 4)
of what is intended.
talked to the chaplain in charge, he showed me a letter he was
intellectual because he read Sho- them. "You will laugh," replied result
By constant education, a child sending to the family in which he said that the boy had 'died in the
the editor, "but we have convic-
penhauer's "Parerga and Para- tions." How many editors in can be induced
arms of Jesus'. Needless to say that letter was never sent and the
lypomena" while in hospital, but America have "convictions" out- to have respect
young man's grave now has the Star of David over it. As a result
because his work, his time and side of those of the publisher or for others and
of this incident, I was ordered to survey all cemeteries and burial
his efforts were devoted to things
for his parents.
records in that area. I left for this country but the work was done
advertiser?
worthwhile — thought. Unlike so
by my successor and many hundreds of graves were re-marked."
The author of the "Confessions" A child is nat-
many others, he did not sell his relates the whole Calvary of Ger. urally selfish
From Australia, Rabbi Levi was sent back to the United States.
soul to evil to save his body.
man intellectuals from the begin- and must be
His rank in the army was now captain. From Hot Springs, Arkan-
He Is an intellectual and he Is ning of Hitlerism and tells it as taught to have
sas, where he was stationed, he came to Detroit on terminal leave
not reluctant in calling himself an intelligent. In 170 issues of regard for the
and became the spiritual leader of Congregation Bnal Moshe.
such, because he is capable of the magazines, Hitler was satir- rights of oth-
Although he has been here less than seven months, he is already
discernment in art and science.
ized. One caption under a cari- ers.
active in Detroit circles. He Is a member of the Board of the Zion-
Working among and with ar- cature reads: "I would be just as
Punishment is
ist Organization and also of the Detroit Jewish Community Council
tists, he ridicules the pretensions good as Mussolini, but the higher- often necessary
and Yeshivath Beth Yehuda. He is a member of the Rabbinical As-
of the "scientists" in art. As a ups won't let me." And the tal- but there is a
student In the university and as ented Guilbranson pictures Hitler better way than spanking. That sembly of America which is the organization of the conservative
an editor of a powerful maga- in a burlesque Germanic cos- way is to deny the child some synagogues in this country. He is also a member of many other or-
zine, he is able to separate the tume, prancing around Mussolini pleasure or something that he ganizations.
wheat from the chaff. For his de- and begging him: "Big brother, likes. I think this would be much
A dynamic speaker and organizer, he is very active In Jewish
gree he was given as a subject please call me Hitlero". The most more effective.
War Veteran circles. Under the auspices of Congregation Bnal Mo-
for his doctorate a subject: "The Influential and important publish.
she, he organized the new Maurice Rose Post number 420, of which
Role of the Comma in the Poetry ers in Germany were the Ull. YETTA TOFFLER, 9977 Cascade. he is the chaplain.
of Virgil." He also relates the fa- steins. The members voted "That
Yes. I'm sorry I spank my chil-
He feels very strongly that all will be well eventually in Pales-
mous story stout the angels on the House of Ullstein cannot af- dren quite often, but I think it
tine. I am not a prophet nor the son of a prophet," he said. "But I
the
tomb
of
Verocchio.
One
of
is
necessary.
One
ought
not
to
do
ford
to
have
opinions."
k
was known to be the first
Franz Schoenberner belongs to that too often. Discussion and believe there will be a Jewish state in Palestine. If there is no jus-
but which the type of people, who, without
teaching is tice for the Jew, there will be no justice for anybody. I believe that
Michelangelo,
of
tion ork
rbia . ,e? A library of books had been fanfare and beating on the chest,
,:llkhem
very much to justice will eventually prevail. But we must fight.
be preferred.
do their duty as liberal and hon-
.iritten on the subject.
"I haven't too much faith in Britain. The old Rabbis had only
All the Psy- one experience with imperialism, that of the Roman Empire. Of that
It was truly said that Germany est citizens of the world. He did
chologists a r e they said, 'Just as the swine spreads out its paws to show 118 cloven
had no citizens, only subjects. not belong to any party and was
or'
a g ainst corpo- hoofs and hides its snout to disguise the fact that it chews no cud.
hampered
by
any
political
is
not
true
of
all.
Schoen-
not
op This
ral punishment and then claims it is a kosher animal, so is the Empire of Rome.'
berner belonged to those who party affiliations. He knew that
and I think
knew that Wilhelm the Second Nazism was a menace to the
"I feel that the British Empire similarly proclaims a hypocritical
they are right
was a dangerous moron: that world and fought it by means
feeling for justice and at the same time acts for its own imperialis-
most
known
to
him.
As
an
editor
he
for
the
Gerhard Hauptman would turn
tic and selfish purposes. But I still feel we will win out."
part.
out to do what he did, sell out knew what was good literature
and
what
was
art,
and
although
I
have
found,
Rabbi Levi lives with his wife and three children, two sons and
to Hitler, etc.
however, from a daughter. He likes the rabbinate and feels that he can be of set.
How did ':Simplicissimus" get all the liberals together did not
my own expe- vice. He finds it a little difficult, he feels ruefully, to accept the
along in the Germany of Wil- save Germany from Ilitlerism, he
a time judgments of boards after his army experience where he was the
helm the Kaiser? A Boston edi- acted in accordance with the dic- rience, that there comes
how to do it. He intends to stay in
tor visited Schoenberner and tates of hs conscience, and that when a child has done something sole judge of what to do and
is
more
than
many
a
writer
or
very
bad
and
that
has
to
be
very
his
work.
asked him what were the direc-
forcefully impressed on him. If
tions of the owner and if he took politician did.
"The only ambition I have," he concluded, "is to try to make
not done in anger, a good spank.
people a little more happy through my work."
Hebrew, English and Jewish books available at the Zion Book Store, In is extremely educational.
9008 12th Street, near Clairmount.

tr

The Flossenberg Concentration Camp Case
(Continued)

BOOK REVIEW