'al Carter

CLIFTON AVENUH - CINCINNATI 20, 01110

Friday March 7, 1947

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Strictly Confidential

Merchant of Venice'
Portrayal Is Defended

Writer Denies Defamation of Jews,
Calls Picture of Shylock an Advance

Mrs. Levy Reports
on Her Mission

By MRS. DAVID M. LEVY

(Mrs. David M. Levy, chair-
man of the national women's
division of the United Jewish
Appeal, who returned recently
from a two-month mission to
Europe and Palestine as Amer-
ican Jewry's 'Ambassador of
Hope,' presents her first report
of the conditions and needs of
the Jewish conummities abroad.)

Page Three

Personal Problems

We Need Closer Study
of Family Attitudes

Synagogue ls Place to Sift Problems
on Realistic Basi,s, Writer Declares

By DR. W. A. GOLDBERG
ERHAPS I HAVE been in closer touch with a greater variety o I
By PIIINEAS J. BIRON
HAVE JUST RETURNED from
rabbis than many of my readers. . . The other evening, a rabid
WE READ IN THE papers that the Shuberts, who own the theater
'V in question, have requested that the Donald Wolfit Shakespeare I a two-month trip to Europe and ;poke to a small group on "Jewish Marriage and Family Attitudes."
troupe drop "The Merchant of Venice" from its repertory. People Palestine, and I honestly wish I ( thought he spoke well and logically. He talked about the concepts
f "onesness" and "mutuality," found in the traditional Jewish views.
have been writing the Shuberts it seems, to complaint that "The could make a more hopeful report
to the Jewish commuhity of the
I took sharp issue with him, in his presence, not because ws
Merchant . . . " slurs the Jewish people.
belong to different sects or he had
This is, we think, a wrong note. We've never had anything but United States.
I can make no blanket state-
deeper Talmudic education than conceived notion with a foregone
contempt for the stereotypes of
As far as I could determine, conclusion, neither of them logi-
bigoted dramatists. But anyone Embassy the other night to men about Europe, because tie
cal nor rational.
who is familiar with Shakespeare catch his erstwhile protege's such statement is possible. Europe I I s concepts
would never put new show. Terrific, by the way. is a study in contrasts, in humar yore valid.
I want more than these compari-
misery
on
the
one
hand
and
hu.
I
took
sharp
Charles
Feldman
of
Universal-
him in that
sons. I want positive analysis, of
man hope on the other. One ssue with him
International
will
produce
Ben
class.
our own shortcomings, by our-
finds people living at the lowest secause I told,
In the early Hecht's scenario "The Shadow,"
selves; then I want positive sug-
form of human existence in the sim he spoke
with
Orson
Welles
in
the
lead
17 t h century,
gestions to change or eliminate the
DP camps, and close by, a won- )latitudes, that
role
.
.
when the im-
deficiences.
derful children's home we in here exists a
Maurice
Bergman,
jovial
Uni-
• • •
mortal bard
America would be proud of gives ;vide gap be-
versal
advertising
executive,
re-
penned "The
a glimmer that the. future will be tween what he
covering
from
a
back
injury,
BOOKLETS
ARE
USEFUL
Merchant," his
• • •
fulfilled.
;ays is the con-
MY DESK is a booklet call-
sensitive p o r -
Perhaps, the brightest spots in :ept and what I
ed:
ed: "The Jewish Family in the
trayal of Shy- SPORTS NOTES
lock as a tor- "JERE'S A SWITCH: ... Many Europe were Belgium and Hol- Ind is the real-
World Today." It is a study course
land.
It
had
been
a
year
since
I
ty.
Dr.
Goldberg
for temple sisterhoods and the
P. K. Biron tured human 1-1 snorts figures have closed had visited these two countries,
I asked if any group in his sect work of a committee of that group.
being was a tremendous advance the books on their athletic careers
and the progress 'they have made had translated these attitudes into
It is excellent study material.
from the vicious caricatures then to move into the more grueling towards economic recovery is tru-
practice? I asked if, in his own We need more of them. But we
current among writers. Let's keep arenas of politics, but this is the
ly amazing.
congregation,
he
had
Inculcated
also need tracts, leaflets, throw-
fighting defamatory characteriza- first time--that we know of—that
• • •
these ideas into his members' aways, similarly prepared, to be
tions wherever they appear, but an elected representative of the
POLISH
INFILTREES
lives?
A
gentleman
and
a
good
sent home from Sunday school
let's keep some perspective! . . people has travelled the road the
THE GOVERNMENT has been debater, he admitted that he was with the child or distributed to all
• • •
other way. We're talking about
splendid'
to
the
returned
Jewish
speaking
of
hopes,
of
the
possi-
Sammy Kaplan, New York State
parents in our congregations.
BROADWAY GOSSIP
people, And they are rapidly being bility of making the ideas real.
By repetition, such material
DANNY KAYE'S next for Sam- Assemblyman from the 24th A.D. absorbed into the national life.
•
•
•
in Brooklyn.
would be read. In such reading
"' 1101 Goldwyn, will be "That's
Belgium
would
have
the
same
sto-
Sammy is one of the all-time
would be the first step to tie
Life," a new title for the old, old
basketball greats to come from ry to relate if it were not for the UNFAIR COMPARISON
closer the family and the syna-
story of the long-haired music
Jewish
infiltrees
who
fled
Poland
A
GAIN,
I
TOOK
issue
with
him
i
that cradle of hoop stars. A vet-
gogue, to make religious teachings
professor who starts an academic eran of more than 10 years of pro- last July after the Kielce pogrom.
for his comparisons between pertinent to daily living. The
study of jazz. The script is sec-
The
Dutch
office
of
the
Joint
Dis-
Jews
and
Gentiles.
I
am
always
fessional ball and hailed by Coach
benefit would be both to the
ondary with Danny. He's one
Bernie Sedran as the "greatest tribution Committee has been disappointed to hear this same family and the synagogue, I am
comic who makes a corny script
merged
will
the
Belgium
branch,
circular
argument:.
The
Jews
must
basketball player that ever laced
sure.
funny instead of vice versa . . .
and it is hoped that as soon as be superior to the Gentiles because
on shoes."
Jews, to my best knowledge,
Did you know that Milton Berle
the
Polish
DP
problem
is
solved
the
goyim
have
narrow
views
on
Sam will return to the peach-
have have not been ardent pam-
was an accomplished magician?
in
Belgium
that
office
will
close.
marriage,
the
family,
etc.
baskets on March 21st, when he
phleteers. In the field of home
His card tricks are the envy of
What I saw in France among
heads an all-star quintet—includ-
I recall this same argument life, family, marriage, the severe,
many sleight-of-handers . . .
ing such court artists as Bernie the Polish' infiltrees was heart- between two non-Jews. The "X" Protestant denominations have ex-
Zero Mostel was discovered by Fliegal and Hal Judenfriend- breaking. With whole-hearted hu-
Barney Josephson, Cafe Society against a Bronx American' Labor manitarianism the French govern- denomination, says an adherent, celled us by their works. With
professional assistance, they tie ti'-
proprietor, several years ago.
ment has opened its borders to is perfect; to prove it, just look
(Continued on page 15)
(Continued on page 4)
these unfortunates who find Po- at "Y." That compares a pre-
We caught Barney visiting the
land a graveyard of horrible mem-
ories. Many are the only surviving
members of their families.
They are lost, despairing and
incredibly sad. They have come to
France in hordes, and are living
in converted chateaux outside of
Paris. These bomb-shattered cav-
erns are without heat and the
walls are dirty and crumbling.
They arrived after riding in trains
for four days without water or
food. The only clothes they own
they wear.

P

O

Capital Letter

Plain Talk

U.S. Medals for Saud
Give Writers a Laugh

Religion Doesn't Need
a New York Address

Arab Did Not Join Allied War Effort
Until He was Certain of Nazi Defeat

• • •

Reform Judaism Is Urged to Remain
Among the Common People at Home

WAYSIDE STATION
FRANCE IS A railroad station
to these people who want so des-
perately to emigrate. I am afraid
By CHARLOTTE WEBER
the word "Peace" doesn't mean
By ALFRED SEGAL
WASHINGTON—Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Amir Saud, paying much to Polish Jews who have
KNOW THE PRECIOUS value that's attached to a New York
IT his farewell visit to President Truman before setting out for again become victims of anti-
I address. The Oshkosh Doorknob Corp. all at once began to feel
home in the President's private plane, was decorated by Truman Semitism.
with the Legion of Merit, for "exceptionally meritorious contribution
Conditions under which Jews inferior because it is just of Oshkosh, though there's scarcely a door
to the war effort of the United Nations."
are living in DP camps in Ger- that hasn't an Oshkosh knob.
So the Oshkosh Doorknob Corp. rents desk space in the Empire
At the same time he was entrusted with a simillar decoration— many are indescribably bad. Al-
one with a tonier designation--
though the Army provides basic State Building and hires a girl to sit there. Its stationary blossoms
for his father, King Ibn Saud, of G e r m a n politicians and food requirements, J.D.C. must with the prestigious words: "New
for his "notable contribution" to agents to the Arab East, the supplement the diets of the sick, York Headquarters, Empire State in. Genevra had skipped out for
flow to Arab countries of money pregnant women, children and Building." This is Oshkosh vanity. New York in the night. That's the
the war effort.
Frequently, though, to aspire way of foolish girls like Genevra.
Some of the correspondents had and of Arabic newspapers and must provide the "amenity" sup-
found In their morning mail a magazines from Germany and plies such as clothes, cigarets, toward New Yet this is not just an essay
on vain doorknob corporations
document called "The Arab War Italy, the propaganda broad- books for the children's schools York is also
and foolish girls. What , I really
Effort," prepared by the American casts in Arabic by the radio sta- and religious facilities. Privacy the folly of the
mean to say is that Reform
Christian Palestine Committee. tions of the Axis" all contrib- is unknown in a DP camp. The hometown girl
Judaism lately has been show-
Documented with official British uted to the close bond of sym- camps are terribly overcrowded. who is sure her
ing signs of being like the vain
papers, the booklet told the story pathy.
Every Jew ought to make a talents bel o n g
doorknob people and the foolish
• • •
of Arab cooperation, and lack of
pilgrimage to the Warsaw ghetto in the big city.,.
t
Genevra.
She gets rest-
cooperation, with the war aims MN SAUD AIDS NAZIS
because there you see Nazi mad-
Much more wisdom is to be ex-
s
of the Allies. Although the story WHEN LEADERS of the pro- ness, inhumanity and bestiality at less in the old
pected of an organization of re-
of Arab collaboration with the IT Axis national bloc of Syria its lowest. To kill Jews in the homestead; the
ligion, particularly of Jewish re•
Axis has been told before, its re- escaped to Iraq and Saudi Arabia, ghetto the Germans went into f riendly old
ligion. To be Jewish is to have
telling at this time only serves it was through the good offices of every house and blew it up. There neighbors a r c
AI :segal
to point up the Quisling nature Ibn Saud that they were able to are not two bricks standing one boring; the lived a very, very long time in
and the johnny-come-lately aspect return to Syria and assume - high upon the other in the Ghetto. hometown boys are able to buy the world and to have learned by
her only cokes and sodas but in experience that there are values
of Arabs war efforts.
positions in the Syrian govern- I think the tragic fight the Jews
• • •
in the Warsaw Ghetto made the big city there are all those much more worthwhile than liv-
ment.
millionaires, any one of whom she ing next door to Zebediah Zilch
According to figures presented against their murderers is the
WAITED TO 1915
may marry and thereby enter into the New York millionaire who is
In history.
OINTS MADE BY the Amer- by the itish Secretary of State most courageous
the mink-coat and crepe-suzette reputed to be easy with his money
• • *
ican Christian Palestine Com- for War, 25,714 Palestinian Jews
station of life. when the giving has to do with
served in the British forces and LAUGH IVITH CZECHS
mittee in their report:
Her father says, "Genevra, you something Jewish.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA was an-
• • •
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and 9,041 Arabs.
In Transjordan and Palestine a other bright spot. Because all the don't need a big city to be corn-
Lebanon did not declare war on
fortable
in.
There's
your
mother
GROWTH
IS
GREAT
Germans
from
the
Sudetenland
Germany until February, 1945, propaganda and sabotage cam-
who was born here and grew up f REFER PARTICULARLY te,
when victory for the Allies was paign oapported the active mili- were expelled, there is a terrific here. If being fine Is being rich, I- the Union of American Hebrew
assured. They were only formal tary assistance given the Axis by manpower shortage in Czecho- she's one of the richest around Congregations, central body of
declarations since none of these the Iraqi revolt. The Iraqi revolt slovakia.
Wonderful cooperatives are be- here." , Reform Judaism, which for some
countries took part In military of pro-German forces within that
• • •
70 years has lived in Cincinnati,
country in the spring of 1941, ing set up where the people are
operations.
its native town. It was founded
LESSON
FOR
JUDAISM
being
retrained
and
are
sent
out
Their actions were obviously an came at a time when Britain's
'1ER MOTHER SAYS: "Genev- by the sainted author of Amer-
into private industry as quickly as
attempt to gain seats in the fortunes were at lowest ebb.
' ra; we've always got along ican Judaism, Isaac M. Wise.
Neither Russia nor the United possible. In the Tatra Mountains
United Nations since only coun-
well here, your great-grandmother From a handful of congrega-
tries who declared war before States had yet entered the war. I saw an excellent child care your grandmother and I. Could dons, it has grown to embrace
March 1, 1915 could participate in Victory over the Allied seemed home. The youngsters were bloom- the big city have done any better some 400 congregations. Like the
assured. The revolt had been plan- ing with health. They were laugh-
the UN.
for us? Aren't we respected and girl Genevra's family, it has be-
ing and responsive.
The close Arab-Axis ties were ned as an integral part of Ger-
Everywhere in Europe one rea- contented people and isn't that come rich in all the things worth
a result of the "long-standing man strategy. Had it been suc- lized that the children are the being rich enough?" having.
relationship" between certain cessful, the Allies would have lost
It has modernized Jewish edu-
But Genevra says horsefeathers.
precious heritage, the vestiges
Arab circles and the Axis pow- their chief source of oil in Iraq that must be salvaged. Panic- One morning her mother finds cation and has spread Its bene-
and
Iran.
Hitler
could
have
split
ers. "The trips by Arab students
(Continued on page 4)
Genevra's bed hasn't been slept
(Continued on page 10)
to Germany and Italy, the visits the British Empire in two.

P

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