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?age Thirteen

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Friday, August L 1941

HISTORY OF JEWS
IN MICHIGAN

By IRVING I. KATZ

Abba Hillel Silver Lays Executions
and Reprisals at Door of the British

h-
NEW YORK, N. Y.—Comment- does not seem to be interested just as were the acts of the
attaining peace and tranquil- gunists. Is the British Govern-
ill
ing on recent outbreaks of
ity in that country? ment prepared to assume re-
violence in Palestine, Dr. Abba
"The British Colonial Secre- sponsibility for these dastardly
Agricultural Activities
Hillel Silver, chairman of the
ouldto w
s,
j
tary,
Arthur Creech-Jones, ex- etetiesh
American Zionist Emergency
assume
h m
acommunity
S thet
pressed
in
die
House
of
Com-
Council which speaks for all
(This is the first article in a series)
responsibility for the deeds of
major Zionist parties in the mons his feeling of 'horror and the Ingunists? Will Mr. Creech-
JEWS ENGAGED IN agriculture in the United States since the United States, made the follow- revulsion' at the slaying of the
two British sergeants. But he Jones and the British press de-
,' earliest period of American Jewish history. Abraham de Lyon ing declaration:
nounce them as bitterly as they
could not find it in his heart to
brought the vine and silk cultures from Portugal to Georgia. In
''Two British sergeants who express sorrow for the slaying have denounced the slaying of
•
•
the South, Jews were engaged in the production of indigo), rice, had been kidnaped by the Irgun
the two British soldiers, and
of the three men aboard the Ex-
corn, tobacco and cotton.
and held as hostages were odus and the wounding of 50. will they call for the arrest and
the murderers?
There were not more than hanged after three condemned These people, too, were innocent punishment of
• • •
3,000 Jews in the United States Irgunists had been hanged by of any crime. They were on
when Mordecai Manuel Noah the British authorities in Pales- their way to the Jewish Na- BREEDS LAWLESSNESS
announced in 1820 his plan to tine.
tional Home, whither they had
"WHAT IS THE ROOT of all
"These sergeants were inno-
establish a Jewish agricultural
every right to go.
this evil and corruption? Law-
colony on Grand Island in the cent of any crime. The Irgun
"Mr. Jones knows, perhaps
breeds lawlessness. The
Niagara River, a plan that pro- was not vested by the Jewish better than most people, that lessness
lawlessness of the unsanctioned
community
in
Palestine
with
ceeded no further than the pur-
any authority to judge, sentence the restrictions on Jewish immi- British policy aimed at defeat-
chase of the land.
or exc. ute men. The conditions gration into Palestine are with- ing the clear purpose of the
The first concerted effort to attent 1,g their execution were out basis in international law, Mandate and the Balfour Decla-
found a Jewish farm colony particularly revolting. The Jew- are British-made, contrary to ration has led to violence, re-
came in 1837 in Sholem, N.Y. ish Agency and the Vaad Leumi the Mandate, and that they have sentment, punishment, reprisal
For more than 30 years follow- joined in a strong condemnation been condemned by the League and counter-reprisal, to the cre-
ing, no organized attempt at 'of the dastardly murder of of Nations, by Britain's fore- ation of a Jewish underground
most statesmen, and by his . own movement which Jewish author-
Jewish colonization was made these two innocent men.'
Labor Party.
ities are unable to control, and
but Jews in small numbers set-
• • •
"In killing these innocent men to hooliganism on the part of
tled on farms as individuals.
of the Exodus, his government British troops which the Pales-
The year 1881 witnessed the be- EYES FULL PICTURE
ginning of what was at once the
TAKEN IN AND BY itself, was as guilty of murder as the tine government seems to be
most active and the most dra- this tragic occurrence will evoke Irgunists who killed the two unable to control.
matic period in American Jew- a natural revulsion which may sergeants. Both were carrying
"Where will all this end? The
ish agricultural history.
obscure the full lamentable out willful, lawless policies British government is maintain-
The Late Martin Butzel
The persecutions which broke out in Russia upon the acces- story of which this is only a which the moral sense of man- ing today over 100,000 troops in
•
led many Russian Jews to part. Justice and fairness, how- kind must condemn . • .
Palestine, at a time when it is
to the throne of Alexander III
sion
• • •
forced to consider withdrawing
seek refuge in other lands. Some went to Palestine, others came ever, demand that we keep the
entire picture in proper focus. CIVILIANS MURDERED
its troops from Germany, Italy
.
to the United States.
and Greece because it is short
The ingenuity of American Jewry was taxed to the limit to "Upon learning of the execu-
"WITHIN
THE
LAST
few
member
of funds, because it is short of
provide for the newcomers and to put them on the road toward tion of Sgt. Martin, a
days, following the execution of manpower' to run its industry
self-support. Farming was conceived as an outlet. Within a few of his family in Coventry, Eng-
o the two soldiers, British troops at home. "These 100,000 troops.
report
years 16 known attempts at agricultural colonization were made land, told gov
ernme
ors, nt. 'We The dy shot up the village of Pardess maintained at high cost, have
blame the
in seven states.
not brought peace to the Holy
should have waited. Surely Hanna.
• •
•
"Riding in armored cars in Land. They have brought war.
JEWISH FARMING in Michigan goes back to 1882 when they know how desperate these
Tel-Aviv, British soldiers fired The British navy is now waging
Lazarus Silberman, a Chicago banker, assisted 12 families to settle people are and they could have
were safe upon a bus full of people, all of war upon helpless women and
at Carp Lake, in Emmet County, about six miles south of Mackinac waited until our lads
before executing those terror- them innocent of any crime. children. British forces are be-
Straits. The experirdent had but a brief existence.
Five were killed and 15 were ing used 'by Mr. Bevin to im-
In 1890 Isaac Berliner was assisted by the Jewish Agricul- i sts.'
wourded. pose a blind and blundering
"Why,
indeed,
did
the
British
twists' Aid Society of Chicago to settle at Twelve Corners in
"Then followed a night of policy upon Palestine which he
Berrien County, on Lake Michigan, in the neighborhood of Ben- government not wait? What terror in Tel-Aviv, during which knows cannot be enforced. That
was the frantic rush to hang
British troops and police fired policy must be quickly aban-
ton Harbor.
In 1891 an attempt at founding a colony in Michigan was these three Irgunists?
shots and threw bombs into res- doned, before anarchy sweeps
"The
UN
Special
Committee
made by 16 families, all Russian immigrants, who settled in Bad
taurants and cafes, into crowds over the Holy Land.
Axe in Huron County. They called their settlement Palestine. on Palestine, foreseeing 'the emerging from the theater;
• • •
The land was heavily timbered and little farming could possible unfavorable repercus- stores and shops were raided,
therefore be done. The settlers were soon in dire straits but, in sions that execution of three smashed and destroyed.
LOOKS TO THE UN
the spirit of the true pioneer, were determined to carry on. death Sentences pronounced by
"An armored car manned by
"THE UNITED Nations com-
a military court in Jerusalem British police deliberately
•
•
•
mittee is to submit its report
'would
have,
had
officially
re-
suf-
A JEWISH PEDDLER, who had witnessed the colonists'
plunged into a Jewish funeral i within four weeks. All men of. .
ferings, brought the story of their heroic struggle to Martin Butzel quested a delay.
procession. causing death and good will hope that this report
• • •
of Detroit with whose firm this peddler had had business dealings.
injury. Similar pogroms were may pave, the. way to•a just and
perpetrated in other parts of satisfactory solution of the Pal-
(A biographical sketch of Martin Butzel, father of Leo M. Butzel WOULD BRING VIOLENCE
and Emma Butzel of Detroit, appeared earlier in this series.)
estine problem.
"WHY DID THE BRITISH Palestine.
"These acts were undoubtedly
Butzel was known for his broad philanthropies and was at
"The British government can
government
refuse
to
heed
the
irresponsible acts of reprisal, make a major contribution to
that time president of the Beth El Hebrew Relief Society. He
special plea of this impartial body rep-
a
became very much interested in the colony and appointed
the pacification of Palestine if it
committee. to investigate conditions at Bad Axe The committee resenting the United Nations
will abandon the Exodus prac-
Educator
and
earnestly
bent
upon
the
visited the colony and was so impressed with the calibre of the
tice of forcibly returning Jew-
solution
for
the
of
a
sum of money was immediately appropriated for finding
ish refugee's to Europe and if it
colonists that a
tortuous Palestine problem?
will refrain from similar acts
urgent necessities.
"Why
were
the
sentencing
of
of provocation.
(Neat week—An Appeal to Michigan Jews)
these men, the confirmation of
"The Irgun, had observed an
their sentence, and their execu-
'armistice' all through the period
tion timed to coincide with the
of the inquiry of the UN Com-
period of the UN Committee's
mittee until the Palestine gov-
.•
investigation? It was surely
ernment pronounced the sen-
clear to everyone that this
tence of death upon its men.
would prdvoke violence and
tence which might well have
bloodshed . .
been delayed if reason and po-
NEW
YORK
—
Encouraging
"For
over
a
year
now,
so-
litical judgment had prevailed.
Initiating a greatly expanded
summer
special
called illegal immigrants who
program, the board of directors progress in the
"The Ilaganali has not only
SOS
(Sup-
arrived off the shore of Pales-
of the Junior Service Group has toy campaign of the
maintained law and order, but
announced that the JSG will be plies for Overseas Survivors) tine were trans-shipped by the
it fought in every way short of
devoted to a three-fold purpose collection of the Joint Distribu- mandatory government to Cy-
provoking civil war, to curb the
prus.
This
was
a
bitter
enough
tion
Committee
was
reported
by
in 1947-48—philathropy, culture
activities of the dissident Jew-
Miss
Dorothy
Kittay,
chairman.
disappointment
to
the
helpless
and sociability.
ish groups. It could not, and
More than 35,000 dolls, mechan- refugees and to the Jews of Pal-
cannot, however, stand idly by
Working with a membership of
ical toys, stuffed animals, games. estine. Thirty-two such boat-
in the face of acts such as the
nearly 1,000 young Jewish adults
puzzles, hobby horses, garden loads of refugees had thus been DR. EMANUEL GAMORAN, government's piratical attack
from 16 to 30 representing every
director of education for the
tools, roller skates, slates, har- sent to Cyprus.
upon the Exodus and the inten-
hase of Jewish society, the board
monicas, footballs and a wide
Why was this policy suddenly Union of American Hebrew sified campaign against Jewish
as drawn up a tentative pro- variety of miscellaneous toys
Congregations,
is
attending
changed during the meeting of
immigration.
gram schedule which will enable
were donated by 108 manufac- the United Nations Committee the first international confer-
JSG members to participate in
"Men of goc
seeking for
ence
on
Jewish
education
at
well-rounded act iv ities built turers, wholesalers and jobbers in Palestine? Why were the the Hebrew University. Dr. peace will endeavor to keep the
in New York City and other toy refugees on Exodus 1947-4,500
around Jewish community life.
centers throughout the country. men, women and children— Gamoran will conduct insti- total picture • in mind, in judg-
Prominent Detroiters have been
Purpose of the SOS toy cam- forced to return to Europe? This tutes in Germany for religious ing events and in assaying re-
invited to lead discussion groups
sponsibilities."
paign
is to provide each of the ship was rammed on the high school teachers in DP camps.
and a speakers' forum. Other pro-
170,000
surviving
Jewish
chil-
seas
by
British
destroyers,
en-
book
review
a
grams will include
series, featuring leading literary dren in Europe with a toy "he dangering the lives of everyone
on it.
critics; play productions by the can call his own."
• • •
The drive, now in its third
JSG Players; Music Study Group,
week,
was
launched
with
a
spe-
A STUPID ACT
and religious services. In addition
to these activities, the group will cial plea to toy firms.
"WAS ALL THIS calculated to
Detroit's Leading Jewish Funeral Director
sponsor a series of special dances,
insure calm and tranquility in
SATURDAY NITS DANCE
"just for fun."
Nation Wide Affiliations
Palestine
during
the
period
of
The Saturday Nite Dance Com-
Anyone who is interested in
the inquiry of the UN Commit-
mittee
will
hold
a
dance
at
9:30
joining the Junior Group should
11NiiersitY 1-7700
3800 Puritan at Dexter
the tee? Or was it a stupid act
call Sylvia Collings, TO. 8-1448, p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 in
bordering on provocation, on the
outdoor
court
of
the
Jewish
,
,
I I •
or Leonard Baruch, TY. 5 7997,
' art of a governMent• w h'i
Community Center.
membership chairmen.

Article 71

is

I

Junior Group's
Program Charted

30,000 Toys

Contributed to
SOS by F irms

'p

Lewis Bros.

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