A mericam 'wish Periodical Carter

Friday, Sept. 13, 1946

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, 01110

Eye-Witness Depicts
Refugee Ship Battle

F

OR HALF A CENTURY, the name of Ehrlich has been synony-
mous with the jewelry business in Detroit. The oldest of that
name, Moe Ehrlich, will be honored Monday night when his family
and his friends gather at a dinner in the Hotel Statler to celebrate
his seventieth birthday.

TEL AVIV (Palcor)—A 20-year-old refugee today
told how he and his companions battled British sailors
on the blockade steamer "Four Freedoms" off Palestine
last week and how he was one of few to escape.
His name must be witheld for obvious reasons.
He jumped off the "Four Freedoms" and swam for

New Zionists Map
Legal Fund Drive

The executive committee of the
New Zionist Organization will
meet at 8:30 p. m. Sept. 18, at the
home of M. Manuel Merzon, 2615
Taylor avenue.
The principal item will be the
naming of a city-wide committee
to aid in the work of the Asiral
Zion fund, which helps provide
legal and other assistance to Jews
detained by the British authorities
in Palestine and to their families.
The project is non-partisan. It
has a national committee which
includes Rabbi Leo Jung and
Morris Weinberg, publisher of the
Jewish Daily Day. Among backers
of this effort in the Yishuv are
Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog, Israel
Rokeach, mayor of Tel Aviv, and
Prof. Joseph Klausner of the He-
brew University.

Scene is Pitiful
LOUIS BERRY
as Jews Board
Ship to Cyprus Support Urged

HAIFA, (Palcor) —Twelve hun-
dred ragged Jewish refugees of
the "Four Freedoms," denied the
right to land in Palestine and ex-
hausted from their 12-day voyage
across the Mediterranean, the last
four of which they were without
drinking water, were transferred
by armed British troops and ma-
rines across rolling landing barges
in the middle of Haifa bay, to the
British freighter Heywood . which
sailed for the deportation center
of Cyprus.
The transfer, which lasted from
early morning until 6 p. m., was
accompanied by hysterical scream-
ing of women and children and
the intimidating rattle of machine
gun fire from the British cruiser
Mauritius, which stood by to "dis-
courage" any attempt by the Jew-
ish resistance movement to inter-
fere with the deportation opera-
tion.
TOO WEARY TO RESIST
As this correspondent watched
from a police launch, the refu-
gees, who two days before had
battled fiercely against a boarding
party from the British destroyer
which towed them to Haifa, stum-
bled listlessly, too weary to resist,
to the deck of the deportation
ship.
Many fell as they tried to make
their way across the unsteady
barges and had to be lifted bodily
over the rafting. Those who faint-
ed or took sick were lying on
stretchers on deck waiting for
army launches to take them
ashore, where ambulances shut-
tled all day between the dock and
the Government hospital.
One 12-year-old girl screamed
pitifully for her sick mother who
had been taken ashore.
The government reported that
67 persons were transferred to the
government hospital. There were
160 pregnant women aboard the
refugee ship, and also 200 cnil-
dren, mostly orphans.
"I'D RATTIER DIE"
As police launches circled to
pick up any refugees who might
try to swim ashore, one man
broke through the cordon of sol-
diers on deck of the Empire Hey-
wood and shouted to press men
on the launch below: "My father,
mother and sister were destroyed
in Europe. I've been seven years
in camps.
"Now I come to my country,
my Homeland, and you take me
away. I'd rather die." He was
prevented at the last moment
from throwing himself in the bay.
Deportees in the bow of the
nearest landing barge shouted in
chorus: "Heil Hitler, Heil Bevin,
Heil Oswiecim."
Aboard the Empire Heywood,
the refugees were sprayed with
DDT and herded into a barbed
wire enclosure rigged on the fore-
deck. Their few bundles and hav-
ersacks were taken from them
and dumped into the hold. Parched
with thirst, the refugees holdi,ng
out empty water bottles milled
about the ladder leading to the
bridge, and begged for a drink.
When they were given water
some ran to the side of those ly-
ing on stretchers and made them
drink.

MAN CF 1-11-11E WEEI

Aids Campaign

Youth Describes Struggle of Jews
to Avert the Threat of Deportation

nine hours, eluding naval craft
and police launches, safely reach-
ing a Jewish settlement.
UTTERS DEFIANCE
The youth gave the interview
under the auspices of Haganah.
Speaking in imperfect Hebrew,
which he learned in a Lithuanian
Yeshivah he said: "Like myself,
thousands of others win escape
the British blockade net and will
arrive in our homeland. As long
as I live I will never forget, or
forgive this encounter with the
British."
The youth is now hiding out
with Haganah. A companion,
who dove off the refugee ship
with him, vanished and is be-
lieved to have drowned.
While it is doubtful whether
publication of his story will be
permitted in Palestine, the outline
that follows gives the background
to the tragic incident.
The youth said: "Our ship left
an European port of embarkation
on Aug. 23. She was a tiny for-
mer Greek coastal trader and was
dangerously overcrowded. We suf-
fered most of the journey from a
shortage of water.
Our water supply gave out
completely on the eighth day, and
although we had food, we could
not eat because of the lack of
water.
REJOICE AT SIGHT
"On Monday afternoon we
reached a point six miles off Tel
Aviv. We saw the white city from
afar and our rejoicing was un-
bounded.
"Then, suddenly, a plane swooped
low over our vessel and continued
to circle above. We hoisted the
blue and white Jewish flag and
a placard, reading in English:
'We are unarmed. Do not halt us.'
"But soon afterwards, a British
destroyer came and ordered us to
heave to. I was in the engine
room at that moment and we dis-
regarded the order. The destroyer
then fired machine gun bursts at
us which hit our after cabin. They
also fired one shell.
"11'e were compelled to halt
and 20 armed sailors and an
officer tried to come aboard.
We resisted them fiercely. Many
of us were struck with rifle
butts but we grabbed their
rifles and hurled them into the
sea.
"The officer in charge signaled
for help. The destroyer came
alongside, ramming a large hole
in our stern.
FACE DEPORTATION
"The sailors on her deck turned
a jet from one of the fire hoses
on us. Under cover of this water
barrage another party boarded our
ship and managed to pecure
towline from the destroyer.
"We were told by the British
officer that we were to be trans.
(erred to another ship for deporta-
tion. Many of our men jumped
over board, but a motor launch
from the destroyer picked them
up.
"MY companion and I waited
until the launch returned to the
mother ship. Then we dove into
the sea and began to swim toward
land. My companion disappeared
shortly afterwards."

Page Five

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

for Zion Fund

Goodwill Work
Evokes Appeal

Harry Schumer, chairman of
the general Zionist fund cam-
paign, and Abe Kasle, chairman
of the Zionist expansion fund,
called upon all Detroit Jews to-
day to support the , Zionist pro-
gram in America by contributing
to the campaign.
Louis Berry, Milton Atlas, Leon
Kay and Charles Wolok were ap-
pointed captains of teams of
workers in the drive at a meet-
ing of the expansion fund com-
mittee Sept. 5, at the home of Dr.
and Mrs. Perry Burnstine.
PLEADS FOR SUPPORT
A visitor from Palestine, who
was a guest at the meeting, had
the following to say:
"The Jews of Palestine have
the choice of living a life of pros-
perity and security, if they are
content to have the doors of Pal-
estine remain closed to their
homeless people.
"But instead of accepting this
choice, they are ready to sacri-
fice their all in order that their
brethren may enter their home-
land. What they ask of the Jews
of America are funds and the
creation of favorable public opin-
ion."
PUBLICITY NEEDED
Berry, one of the leading work-
ers in the campaign, points to the
great expense entailed in creat-
ing goodwill by newspaper and
radio publicity. He urges all
Jews to take their stand in de-
fense of the Jews of Palestine.
A general meeting of the De-
troit Zionist organization will be
held Sept. 30 at Shaarey Zedek to
pick delegates to the 49th annual
convention of the ZOA, Oct. 25, in
Atlantic City.

Peace Pacts Silent
On Rights of Jews

NEW YORK, (JTA) — Sponsor.
ship for the Jewish demands to
to be included in the peace trea-
ties at the Peace Conference in
Paris has not been secured thus
far, it was reported this week by
Louis Lipsky, head of the Ameri-
can Jewish Conference delegation,
following his return from Paris.
"No specific references to Jews
appeared in the treaties as sub-
mitted by the Big Four," he said:
"Well worn cliches bearing upon
human rights and fundamental
freedoms were used, but specific
details were deliberately avoided.
"Thus far, sponsorship for the
Jewish demands has not been se.
cured, and the Jewish representa-
tives are condemned to the humi-
liating task of finding ears willing
to listen in the scattered lobbies
where the representatives of the
21 states gather for their discus-
sions.
"An appeal is now being di.
rected to the , Big Four calling
upon them — in spite of their In-
ternal agreement to act in con-
cert in support of the treaties as
submitted—to take an active part
BILBO QUIZ CHARTED
WASHINGTON—A probe of the in furthering the Jewish demands.
anti-racial statements and cam- The results of this effort were not
paign expenditures of Senator known when I left Paris."
Bilbo has been promised by Sena-
TRUMAN MESSAGE
tors Ellender W., La.), Hicken-
NEW YORK (JTA) — Designed
looper (R., Iowa) and Bridges
(R., N.H.) of the Senate campaign to stimulate Jewish parents to
expenditures committee, and by give their children a religious edu:
Senator Ferguson (R., Mich.) of cation, "Jewish Education Month"
the committee on privileges and began this week with a message
elections, of which Senator of indorsement by President Tru-
man.
Bridges is also a member.

Modest, soft-spoken and friendly, Moe Ehrlich for many years
conducted one of the city's best known jewelry stores on Adams ave-
nue at Hastings street, which at
the time was in the heart of the
Jewish neighborhood.
There he sold his wares and in
his work and in his growing fam-
ily, he found his greatest happi-
ness. Community institutions could
always depend on generous gifts
from Moe Ehrlich, for his hand
was broad. He left it to his broth-
er, the late reverend Joseph Ehr_
lich, however, to carry the family'
name into the roster of leadership
in Jewish and civic affairs.
Today, rich in the love of his
children and grandchildren and
in the respect and affection of his
neighbors, 'Moe Ehrlich reaches
his Biblical three score and ten
and the wishes of the community
go with him that he will celebrate
many more happy birthdays to
come.

In commemoration of the happy event, Ehrlich is presenting
a large cash gift to the Clara Ehrlich Memorial Fund which he
and his children created upon the death of Mrs. Ehrlich last year.

This fund, which is supervised by the United Jewish Charities,
offers scholarships to deserving students and artists to enable them
to do advanced study in their fields. The first beneficiary of the
fund, a promising young Detroit pianist, has just completed a period
of study with a famed New York teacher.

•

•

HRLICH AND HIS children plan to increase the fund's principal
regularly so that eventually several persons at a time will be
benefiting from its grants.

1

"If I leave my money in bricks," Ehrlich explained, "it will
be just heartless mortar and stone. Through the fund, my gifts
have meaning and spirit for I give substance to the hopes of
youth."

Ehrlich came to Detroit from the Ukraine in 1000, bringing with
him his bride of only a few months. The following year, he opened
his jewelry store and in ensuing years he launched a chain of six
stores in the Detroit area.

In 1931, he entered the wholesale diamond business in which he
is still engaged at 1111 Metropolitan Building. His office is pleasant
and tastily furnished in leather. On the walls are portraits of his
six grandchildren, "my lovely three" pairs," two each, the children
of Harold, a Wyandotte jeweler: Beatrice, (Mrs. Milton Klivens),
wife of a Youngstown, 0., jeweler; and Helen (Mrs. Lawrence
Michelson), wife of the well-known Detroit advertising man.

E

• • *

XCEPT FOR TRAVELING, Ehrlich takes little time for recce-
, ation. He is a Zionist and a member of the Detroit Round Table
of Catholics, Jews and Protestants. For many years he has been
treasurer of Perfection Lodge.

He is a member of Temple Israel. When the new temple goes
up, it will contain a room dedicated to the memory of a daughter,
Sally Ehrlich Gingold.

Shdrt and white-haired, Ehrlich's blue eyes shone as he told
how he looked forward to his birthday celebration and to the greet-
ings of those who are so close and dear to his heart.

Concentration Camp Inmate Named
Mayor of His Hometown in Geimany

(Continued from page 3)
close by had tombstones dated In
the 1780's. They were honored
people in Klein Eichsholzheim,
good neighbors of the Christians.
There were about 20 Jewish
families in Klein Eichsholzheim
and the only difference between
them and their Christian neigh-
hors was in their respective
ways of worship. Nobody made
anything of that. The Jews had
a small synagogue.
Even after Hitler came In the
Jews felt it could never happen
in Klein Eichsholzheim. H o w
could such a cruel thing happen
in a place so friendly? Every Jew
practically knew every inhabitant
of Klein Eichsholzheim; it was
like knowing the next door neigh-
bor with whom you speak every
day over the garden wall. He
could never hurt you.
• • •
BUT IT CAME THERE
UT IT DID happen even In
Klein Eichsholzheim. The
Jews could tell by the friendly
glances of their old neighbors that
they didn't like this at all, but
what was to be done about a
thing like that in a totalitarian
hell?
The Jews of Klein Eichsholz-
heim had to get out as Jews else-
where in Germany. Some went to
America and others to concentra-
tion camps or to the violent deaths
the Nazis had scientifically pre-
pared.
Fritz Bettigheimer went to a
concentration camp. The good
house he and his people had
lived in for many years was
taken away from him. His busi-
ness was confiscated. Fritz Bet.
tigheimer could feel he was for-

B

ever through with the good life
that ho and his kinsmen had
known.
•
A SUITABLE MAYOR
F HE WAS MINDED that
way, Fritz Bettigheimer could
find sustenance only in Jewish
history. Yes, after 1000 years his-
tory might even up the awful
score, but history waits too long.
Yet, it appears that in a me-
chanical age history moves swift-
ly by airplane, by motor truck, by
tanks, la radio. So within a year
after tlfe Normandy invasion the
U. S. Army was in Klein Eich-
sholzheim and Fritz Bettigheimer
was going home from the concen-
tration camp.
The American military govern-
ment looked about for a suit-
able mayor to govern Klein
Eichsholzheim, particularly one
who never was a Nazi and was
an able man besides. Well, there
was Fritz Bettigheimer who
had been a good citizen of Klein
Eichsholzheim through many
years. him they made mayor.
They gave him hack his house
which the Nazis had taken
away.
Fritz Bettigheimer's eyes were
dazzled by the sight of justice so
perfectly beautiful and coming in
his own time. Yet he felt duly
humble with the humility that
holds a civilized man back from
arrogance in the hour of victory.
Besides, justice hadn't yet caught
up with the thousands of his
homeless kinsmen to render unto
them what was their due. Yet he
could rejoice 'uecause in this in-
stance justice had shown the
righteousness it is capable of do-
:ng for all.

•

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