Friday, February 28, 1947

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Page Four

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

And the LEGAL CHRONICLE

Letters; to the Editor

Published Weekly by Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc., 525 Woodward Ave., Detroit 26, Mich., CA 1040

SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 Per • Year, Single Coeies, 10c; Foreign, $5.00 Per Year
'littered as Second-class matter March 3, 1916. at the Postoffice at 'Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879

GEORGE WEISWASSER, Editor•in.Chief
NATHAN J. KAUFMAN, Managing Editor

CY AARON, Publisher
CHARLES TAUB, Business Manager

Vol. 49, No. 9

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 '(Adar 8, 5707)

I

Now Is the Time!

Foreign Secretary Bevin paid unintended
tribute to American Zionists when he at-
tributed the failure of negotiations on Pal-
estine•in London to pressure by the Amer-
icans.
Had he had to deal with British Jewry
alone, he told Labor party leaders, he
would have obtained a settlement. He
meant, of course, that he would have been
able to bulldoze them into compliance. So,
. if not for the Americans, he implied, some
kind of a one-sided partition or ghetto
scheme could have been forced down the
throats of the cowed Jews and the Arabs
and he could have presented the British
people with "peace in our time" with re-
gard to Palestine.
It is to be noted that he scorned Pales-
tine Jewry in his castigation of the Amer-
icans, knowing that without their support,
. the Yishuv would sooner or later have been
' pushed to the wall and been forced to ac-
quiesce to British-dictated terms. After all,
how much can a people take from superior
forces, if it gets no moral or material back-
ing from outside forces?
Which all goes to prove that the modi-
cum of good that did result from the Zion-
ist Congress in December was United States
inspired despite some earnest attempts to
show that the Silver program of militancy
"did not originate in America but was ac-
tually the handiwork of Ben Gurion and
the outcome of Agency propaganda. The
point is that it was American pressure, the
force of public opinion, Jewish and non-
Jewish, that beat down the British even be-
' fore they reconvened the farcical London
conference with the Arabs.
' All'this is not brought up just to per-
-1- mit 'American Zionists to crow about
their victory and then rest on their
laurels, We comment only to point out
again that the power of American Jews
with regard to the Palestine issue, if
used wisely, can be so decisive that Be-
vin can be forced to bring the problem
before the UN at once and not put off,
a settlement for another hideous year,
which is his intention.
Now is the time for the Zionist leadership
to induce Mr. Truman to make an out-and
out demand that the British turn over the
Palestine question to the UN at once. Mr.
Truman has made definite pledges, speak-
ing for the United States government and
for the Democratic party. The Zionist
emergency conference last week, in ,ti ,reso
lution, asked Mr. Truman to assume leader-
ship in the sudden turn of events and honor
those pledges.
Mr. Truman should be made to realize
that if he does not wish to alienate Amer-
ican Jews and Christians of goodwill, who
are his loyal supporters today, he must act.
now to fulfill promises made in accordance
with American tradition on behalf of the
persecuted and in the name of humanity.
Jewish voters can have no respect for
an American president who, contrary to the
Americhn ideal of fair play, makes com-
mitments and promises and then fails to
keep them, particularly when he does, so
in subservience to a foreign power.
Let American Zionists take this message
to the President. Let them inform him that
outraged American Jewry, counting on his
humanitarianism and his wisdom, arummit-1
ing for his answer.
% I
.

Detroit 26, Mich.

a nation which calls itself the champion
of justice.
What's another 12 months to the hounded
Jew ?
Twelve months, Mr. Bevin, mean degre-
dation and despondency, defeat and death.
And for your satanic remark, Mr. Bevin,
may the God of Mercies make you and the
people who support you pay, if you do not
repent.

The Visiting Editor 11

Statement of Dov Gruner

Officers of the British army:
I do not recognize your right to judge
me. This court has no lawful existence be-
cause it has been appointed by a regulation
which itself is devoid of any legal basis.
You have come to Eretz Israel by reason of
an obligation which was entrusted to you
by nations of the world.
You were entrusted with the task of cor-
recting the greatest injustice ever inflicted
upon any nation, the injustice of the dis-
petsion of the people of Israel, which makes
them the world's foremost victims of per-
secution and massacre. This obligation and
this obligation only, is the legal and moral
basis for your presence in this country.
You have committed a wicked breach of
this obligation to a mere scrap of paper,
and then tore it to pieces .. .
For you know only too well that the rape
of our country and the closing of its gates
means a continuous mass attack on the
lives of millions of men, women and chil-
dren—my people. Notwithstanding this, or
perhaps because of it, you are determined
to transforni this country into, one of your
military bases, one of the many—and to
steal it from the people which has no other
home in the world than this, which was
given to it by the Lord and by history—a
History sanctified by the blood of genera-
tions, a land which has been made to flour-
ish by the blood and sweat of its devoted
sons.
After having cancelled and annulled the
obligation which you solemnly undertook
towards our people and our country you
have no right whatsoever to be here.
The cause for which the international law
was created under which you came to ad-
minister this country was other than the
use to which you have corrupted this sacred
trust. It was for the revival of the Hebrew
state in the country of our forefathers.
Thus it is expressly stated even in the text
of the Mandate of the League of Nations..,
'One provision recognizes the historical
connection between the Jewish people and
Eretz-Israel; and the other provision states
that you undertake to reconstruct our Na-
fibnal Home.
What the historical connection between a
nation and its country is, is something I
need not explain. And what does "to re-
construct" mean ? It is only possible to re-
construct what has existed in the past and
was destroyed. And what existed in the
past in this country? Look into this book—
lying in front of you, the Bible, and you
will learn.
But you mocked at or attempted in your
arrogance, to mock at the Lord's promise,
as in your vanity, you trod upon the inter-
'national treaty which you signed with our
people and the nations of the world .. .
A rule existing in any country, when
transformed into a rule of oppression, ceas-
es to be lawful ; it is the right of its citi-
England's Haman
zens—moreover it is their duty—to fight
All the tragedy, all the agony, all the against this rule and to overthrow it. This
despair of European Jewry were scornfully is what the Hebrew youth is doing and this
minimized by Foreign Secretary Bevin it will continue to do, until you evacuate
when he answered Winston Churchill's this country and return it to its lawful own-
criticism of the new postponement of a ers—to the people of Israel.
Palestine settlement with:
For this you must know: there is no
. "After 2,000 years of conflict, another 12 force in the world that can break the link
months will not be considered a long delay. between the people of Israel and its own
Of all the brutish, callous remarks in
and only country. lie who attempts it shall
the history of malevolence, this should
have his hand cut off and the curse of God
go down as the most heartless, because
fall upon him for ever and ever.
it was uttered by the representative of
THE ANSWER.

'

DOV GRUNER STATEMENT
Dear Editor:
I am transmitting to you the
statement which Dov Bela Grun-
er, a Jewish prisoner of war in
invaded Eretz Israel, made before
the British Military "Coqrt."
I ask you that you reprint this
statement. It is an unusual, cour-
ageous historic document that will
be counted among the greatest
pronouncements of those who
fought for freedom and independ-
ence of their people and their
country.
I know that you stand for mili-
tant Zionism. Your editorials ex-
press definite opposition to the cur-
rent ideas of "a viable Jewish
state," to condemning the fighters
for Israel's freedom and to the
hopeless bewilderment in Zionist
ranks. Your paper must publi-
cize this statement which — for
obvious reasons — will not find
its way in the other Anglo-Jewish
newspapers.
LOUIS PANUSH.

The Chronicle publishes a largo
part of the statement in the ad-
joining "The Visiting Editor"
column.

1

SEEK OPERA TALENT
Dear Editor:
The Detroit Opera Founder's
Guild Inc. has been born out of
the need of our young talented
artists of the future.
This Is a non-profit corporation
backed by prominent civic-minded
organizations and individuals.
In short, it is our plan to pre-
sent a streamlined version of cer-
tain standard operas (in their
original language) with a running
narration in English. These pro-
ductions will be mounted in ut-
most simplicity but in good taste.
We are anxious to hear all po-
tential opera talent, cast second-
ary roles and chorus, male and
female. Auditions are held at 2920
W. Grand boulevard. Phone MA.
5150 or GE. 6262 for an appoint-
ment.
ADRIANA R. HATCHER

GRATEFUL
Dear Editor:
The Louis Marshall Women are
grateful to you for the publicity
which you are giving them at all
times. Thank you very much.
MRS. J. RODMAN

A Glossary for Purim

From Adar to Vashti

As part of its program service to Jewish Community Centers and
Y111-Y‘VIIAs as well as other Jewish community agencies, the Na-
tional Jewish Welfare Board has published an 84-page illustrated
program manual on Purim. From this manual, which contains a
wealth of material for planning Purim programs for young and
old, we have extracted this Purim Glossary . . .

ADAR:—Purim occurs on the
14th day of Adar which is the
12th month in the Jewish calen-
dar. In a leap year, which occurs
seven times in a cycle of 19 years,
a 13th month, known as Second
Adar, is added. During leap years,
Purim is observed in Second Adar.
The Jewish month of Adar falls
about March.
•
ADLOYADA:—A word recently
coined in Palestine to designate
the grand carnival on Purim in
Tel Aviv. The name is derived
from the Talmudic recommenda-
tion, "on this day one should
drink 'ad lo yoda' (till one knows
not) the difference between 'Ba-
ruch Mordecai' (blessed be Mor-
decai and 'Arur Haman (cursed
be Haman)."
•
AL HANISSIM:—(Literally—for
the miracles) A special prayer in-
cluded in the Eighteen Benedic-
tions and in the Grace after meals
on Purim and Hanukah.
•
AHASUERUS:— The King of
Persia who plays an important
role in the story of Purim. He is
usually identified as Xerxes I
(485-465 B.C.E.)
•
ESTHER:—The heroine of the
story of Purim originally called
Hadassah. In the Persian lan-
guage, Esther or Ishtar means
"star."
•
ESTHER TAANIT:—The Feast
of Esther which pccurs on the
day before Purim (Adar 13th) aild
commemorates the fast of Esther

prior to her pleading for her peo-
ple before Ahasuerus.
•
GRAGGER:—(Haman Klapper)
Noise maker used on Purim in the
synagogue during the reading of
the Megillah. Everyone the name
of Haman is mentioned, the chil-
dren swing their graggers.
•
HAMAN: — Minister to King
Ahasuerus and villain of the Pu-
rim story.
•
HAMANTASH:—A three-corner-
ed Purim pastry filled with poppy
seed. The word "haman-tash" Is
German—Haman pocket. A num-
ber of interpretations have been
put on the custom of eating Ha-
mantaschen.
•
MEGILLAH:—Hebrew word for
scroll. The word is frequently
used as referring to "Megillat Es-
ther"—Scroll Of Esther, i.e. scroll
containing the story of Purim,
read on Purim during the even-
ing and morning service.
•
MIS}ILOAH MONAT:—The cus-
tom of sending gifts to either
friends or to the poor. On Purim
it was obligatory upon the poor-
est Jews, even upon one who was
himself dependent upon charity,
to give to other poor.
•
MORDECAI:—The hero of the
Purim story and the cousin of
Esther.

•

PURIM:—The Feast of Lots or
the Feast of Esther, a minor his-
torical festival. Derived from the
Hebrew word "pur" meaning
(Continued on page 12)

Looking Back Through the Years

Events as compiled from the files of the Detroit Jewish Chronicle

25 Years Ago
Abe Srere has been named head of the local committee of Keren
Hayesod. Morris Blumberg was elected vice-chairman.
In an address before the Men's Temple Club, Dr. Hugh Cabot,
who occupies the chair of surgery at the University of Michigan,
denied that World War I advanced medical science.

20 Years Ago
The American Jewish Congress announced that it will continue
to aid the fight of East European Jews for protection of rights
guaranteed under national minority treaties.
Members of 27 Jewish women's organizations have started a
boycott against Kosher butcher shops in Detroit as a protest against
the increase in meat prices, which began last fall.

10 Years Ago
Thirty Jews, 30 Arabs and two British policemen were slightly
injured and one Jew killed when fighting between Arabs and Jews
broke out In Tiberias, Palestine.
A united Catholic-Jewish front for the defense of the intellectual
velues of the civilized world was advocated by Oscar de Terency,
Catholic publisher.

5 Years Ago•
Stefan Zweig, 60, noted, Austrian-born author who became a man
without a country when the Nazis swept over Europe, and his wife,
Elizabeth, committed suicide in Brazil.
Asserting that the liberal world has failed to aid the Jews be-
cause it has not understood their problem. Prof. Reinhold Niebuhr
of the Union theological Seminary urged a more generous acceptance
of the Zionist program is ' a solution.

