Americo ,eutish periodical
Friday, January 10, 1947
DI3TROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle
Page Four
Detroit Jewish Chronicle
Letters to the Editor
1
And the LEGAL CHRONICLE
Published Weekly by Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc., 525 Woodward Ave., +Detroit 26, Mich., CA 1040
SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 Per Year. Single Copies, 10c; Foreign, $5.00 Per Year
ntered as Second-class matter March 3, 1916. at the Postoffice at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879
.7
GEORGE WEISWASSER, Editor-in-Chief
NATHAN J. KAUFMAN, Managing Editor
Detroit 26, Mich.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1947 (Teveth 18, 5707)
•
CY AARON, Publisher
CHARLES TAUB, Advertising Manager
Vol. 49, No. 2
32 Years Without a Subsidy
A letter from Lansing advising us that
the Jewish Chronicle's articles of incor-
poration have expired after 30 years
points up the many years of service that
the Jewish Chronicle has given the De-
troit community without ever accepting
a penny of gratuities or subsidies from
public funds despite two wars and a dis-
astrous depression.
The Chronicle recognized through the
years that acceptance of a subsidy would
mean surrender of its freedom, of its right
to speak out freely in exposing venal or
inefficient leadership or in criticising un-
wise or selfish use of public properties or
public monies.
The Chronicle knew that acceptance of
a subsidy would make it a fawning news-
paper that could not call its very soul its
own.
A subsidy, the Chronicle recognized,
would mean that it seldom could speak
for the entire community because it
would be too occupied tending to the
private interests of this fund or that
league subsidizing it so that it would
do its bidding.
A subsidy, the Chronicle realized, would
stain it, cheapen it, weaken it. Perhaps,
for a while, the gifts would make it seem
financially strong and important, but in
the end the public would come to recog-
nize it as a tool of selfish, undemocratic
interests.
to surrender too 'much for the tiny prin-
cipality he envisions. When he says Dr.
Silver and his adherents constitute an
"imperiling" leadership, it is the bleating
of a frustrated old man who refuses to
acknowledge that new leaders, more vig-
orous, more fearless and more realistic
than he are carving the outlines of the
Palestine State on the basis of all of pres-
ent-day Palestine.
Reply to Canadian
Our Canadian colleague whose editorial
bewailed the introduction of a "Jewish
vote" in the last U. S. election on behalf
of Zionist efforts is unduly alarmed.
Americans are used to supporting lob-
bies, blocs and sectional and private in-
terests. Indeed, millions of American vote
straight Republican or Democratic no mat-
ter who the candidate is or what the plat-
form of the party says. Surely, Jews can-
not be taken to task for following a good
old American political custom and exert-
ing a little pressure on behalf of a hu-
mane movement.
We believe Mr. Edelman in the adjoin-
ing "Letters to the. Editor" column makes
a cogent argument in his response to the
same editorial. We call this letter to the
attention of our Canadian colleague.
The Visiting Editor
WHERE IS OUR HOSPITAL? "Visiting Editor" column, poorly
Dear Editor: appraised the situation when he
The need for a Jewish hospital states that many Jewish voters
in Detroit becomes more urgent gave preference to those candi-
daily, yet despite rosy promises of dates with Palestine-solution sym-
the campaign of several years ago, pathies.
nothing is ever heard about plans
It is quite the contrary, Jewish
for building. It has even been ru- people never voted as a body,
mored that the plans for the hos- never will. There are too many
pital will be abandoned altogether. differences of opinion among them.
The situation is tragic. Indigent
Like everyone, they vote for in-
patients have nowhere to turn. The
Home for the Aged is filled and dividuals and the program they
can't accept chronic cases. Eloise believe will benefit most. If their
is their only recourse and I need recent votes favored leaders who
not tell you the Detroit Jewish have spoken out against the mis-
public what a blot it is on its name cries of thousands of homeless,
that their sick religious brethren destitute, beaten, and suffering
must live off state charity because men and women and babies, then
of delays and new delays in its more power to these voters; for
hospital plaris. too few leaders are concerned ex-
I hope that the Jewish public cepting when they themselves are
will demand that the building of the victims.
These voters must have rea-
the hospital be started at once.
Stores and bowling alleys go up soned, any man who will fight
everywhere. Certainly a hospital against such disgraceful abuse of
human souls must be righteous,
should have priority.
humane and of rare courage.
JEROME KAGAN
2242 Blaine avenue What's wrong then with choosing
leaders with these qualities?
Congratulations careful voters.
BACKS JEWISH BLOC
Dear Editor:
BERNARD EDELMAN
I believe the writer of the edi-
3343 Lawrence
torial, "The Jewish Vote" in your
a
Des Moines Teachers Are Taught
Chanukah Ideals in Tolerance Lesson
(Continued from page 3)
worship over tyranny. Because of
the glorious ideal of religious liber-
ty the festival commemorates, it
has been affectionately cherished
by the Jewish people throughout
history . . .
"The ideal of religious tolerance
for which the Maccabcans stood
has ever since been an inspiration
to many men in many lands. In
our country the ideal of religious
liberty is cherished by all free-
dom-loving people and has become
a basic law of our land. Here all
men worship God, each in his own
way. In a sense, Chanukah — the
first triumph of religious freedom
—has assured America of its re-
ligious liberty. Let us keep our
country free and strong in faith."
Thus Mr. McCombs brought
something of the meaning of Jew-
ish life to the understanding of
his teachers. They should be able
to get from it the idea that the
aspirations of Judaism are essen-
tially not different from the ideal-
istic strivings of the other re-
ligions, that Judaism like Pro-
testantism and Catholicism are all
cut on the same pattern of man's
heart. The common denominator
of which Mr. McCombs wrote.
This the Chronicle knew. And so as it
Confusion in Zionist Ranks
reaches its 32nd year of devotion to the
needs of the community as a whole, it is
Two major facts emerged from the
proud that it has never taken gifts for
World
Zionist Congress which abruptly
,
the sale of its editorial columns and pages.
ended last week without seemingly having
We pledge that it never will.
accomplished anything. One prominent
fact is that within the Zionst ranks,
united in the desire for a homeland for
New Leaders Take Over
its people, there was no unity or organi-
zation or agreement on a single issue.
We agree with Dr. Stephen S. Wise
The second is the role and influence
that the Zionist Congress "was nothing Dr. Chaim Weizmann exerted and con-
less than tragic in its inadequacy," but tinues to exert over Zionist and Jewish
his precipitate withdrawal from the Zion- bodies, for despite the fact he was not
ist Organization of America because of it re-elected by the Congress to its presi-
was childish. Why cannot Jewish leaders dency, he still remains one of the most
learn to take defeat gracefully?
influential personalities on the Jewish
To Dr. Wise, the Congress was a failure, scene.
The general confusion at the Congress
of course, because the more militant view-
point of the Americans under the inspired was baffling to Zionists first, to the gen-
leadership of Dr. Silver won a temporary eral Jewish community secondly—what
victory. We say temporary because there then must have been the reaction of the
are signs that the new executive may outside world, of Britain as it read reports
override the Congress vote and approve of bitter fighting, bickering, name-calling
participation in the London Conference. among a group as disunited as must have
If this action is predicated on unequivocal been those building the Tower of Babel...
concessions by the British, the move may
Once the sessions started, the disunity
prove to be wise. But if it should be an-
within
the parties and the dissension on
other step in the policy of appeasement
which the flaccid Congress failed to nul- the few issues became a surge of com-
lify, Dr. Wise will be able to add another plete confusion, of such strife that the
tragedy on the heap he has witnessed end result was indecision, lack of accom-
plishment, disappointment and even some
in his years of Zionist activity.
fear of what the future for Judaism may
hold if within the rooms of their own
If we are to accept the word of "an
conference the leaders are not able to
authoritative spokesman" quoted by the
United Press, Britain's response to the
reach agreement.
flimsy victory of the bolder Zionist
At this point in Jewish accomplishment,
group will be the offer of a Jewish State
desire and need for a Jewsh home and
in a partitioned Palestine. If the Con-
a place to bring the wearied and hungry
gress had had the daring and vision to
of Europe's refugee camps; at a time
declare itself the Provisional Govern-
when the world waits to see if the work
ment of Palestine or, at least, shown
and labor and love of two generations of
unanimity in support of the Resistance
Jewish pioneers and sympathizers is to
forces and given Dr. Silver an unchal-
continue or to stagnate in mute testimony
lengeable mandate, Britain today would
to British imperialism; at this most trying
be considering a Jewish State in all of
and disheartening time in the hopes and
Palestine and not in the third she may
needs of a people, the accomplishments
be willing to offer. This was the time to
and actions of our Zionist leaders at the
have struck hard. The Congress dilly-
World Congress do not seem to have
dallied instead and made only half-
measured up to the greatness expected
hearted gestures.
of them.
THE JEWISH PRESS
Dr. Wise is anxious to "live to see a
Omaha, Neb.
Jewish State in my time." He is willing
S o, biting about, this spite, this
WHAT'S ALL THIS back-
hate, this evil gossip? It is to be
hoped that Mr. McCombs' teadh-
ers found ways to hand his ideal-
ism down to their pupils. (It's the
children who still can be saved
from the vile contagion. Their
elders are practically hopeless.
They cherish their prejudices and
hates like precious possessions.)
Thanks to Mr. McCombs who
is showing the way toward the
brotherhood. I think his way of
education is much better than
the way that prevails in our
Jewish communities. We busy
ourselves with smiting the flies
in the garbage cans of anti-
Semitism. We swat at characters
like Gerald Smith and Bilbo
who live and thrive on our hos-
tility. Individuals like them re-
joice in the publicity we give
them.
Education is the better way. In
our town groups of Protestant
Sunday school children go visit-
ing at the synagogues where the
rabbis explain to them the moan-
ing of Jewish ceremonial objects
and Jewish ritual. Like Mr. Mc-
Combs of Des Moines their min-
isters point the authentic way to
brotherhood.
Irish Veteran Joins a JWV Post
`Because It Has a Program of Action'
NEWARK, N. J.—Because the
Jewish War Veterans "believe in
action," Gordon Verge, an Irish
veteran of World War II, joined
the Lt. Herbert Elin Post of
Newark.
Such was his explanation when
George Margolis, commander of
the post, reluctantly asked for his
resignation because the JWV con-
stitution limits membership to
Jews.
When the post commander dis-
covered that Verga, a new member,
was not a Jew, he checked with
State Commander Abe Horrowitz
for a ruling. Horrowitz said that
the "JWV was honored and flat-
tered to have Verge as a member
but as much as we'd like to, we
just can't accept him as such be-
cause of constitutional regulations."
Questioned as to how he joined
the Jewish War Veterans, Verge
said:
"I was once invited to a meet-
ing and found they believed in ac-
tion. They helped several men di-
rectly while I was there. They
sent one art student to Paris at
their expense. So I went up there
the following week and asked to
join. I was merely asked for my
discharge and no questions asked.
So I became a Jewish War Vet-
eran."
Looking Back Through the Years
Events as compiled from the files of the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
25 Years Ago
Louis James Rosenberg, Detroit attorney, made life member of
French Academy of International History.
Mrs. Henry Wineman of Kirby avenue east entertained at a
luncheon Tuesday at the Redford Country Club in honor of Mrs. Vic-
tor Brenner of New York, wife of the noted sculptor.
20 Years Ago
United States urged to protest Romanian pogroms.
Miss Queenie E. Berkovitz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Berko-
vitz of Blaine avenue, has returned to the University of Michigan
after spending her school vacation with her parents.
•
10 Years Ago
Tel Aviv mayor charges Palestine government with hindering
Arab-Jewish unity.
Cadet Milton Fishman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Fishman, has
resumed his studies at St. John's Military Academy, Delaficld, Wis.
10 Years Ago
President Roosevelt hits discrimination against aliens and foreign-
born citizens by war plants.
Mrs and Mrs. David Bader of Pasadena avenue will hold open
house Sunday, Jan. 11, in honor of their son, Lt. Benjamin Bader,
who is home on leave from Ft. Knox, Ky.