DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Friday, December 12, 1917

Page Three

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Strictly Confidential

How Leaders Reacted on Day of Decisio n

1'

By PIIINEAS J. BIRON
THIS WAS THE day of decision...
The vote would tell whether a
Jewish State would come into be-
ing next year or -perhaps not for a
long, long time. Months of strain
were to be rewarded, or to culmi-
nate in a tragedy greater than ever.
Weizmann was the most poised of
the leaders. He sat in his hotel suite
quietly; without dramatics ... Rabbi
Silver, in and out of New York, had
telephonitis. He called up Neumann
every few hours for the latest de-

Velopments.
Emanuel Neumann was tense, restless, although
outwardly he seemed quiet. He could not keep away
from Lake Success. Nahum Goldman never lost his

1-eisonal

confidence, his smile or his optimistic look.
Moishe Shertok, nervous and irritable, yet was
certain of success. . • . Dr. Israel Goldstein, slightly
bewildered, remained non-committal.
The Palestinian advisers appeared unperturbed,
as if to express their disregard for legal technicalities.
In their minds one thing was certain: A Jewish State
cannot be stopped.
•
•
•
YEHUDI MENUHIN went to Germany some
months ago on the invitation of Gen. Clay. He gave
a number of concerts for the benefit of Germany's
poor musicians and other charitable causes. He do-
nated the receiptS of a big musical evening to the
Jewish DP's of Germany. In other words, he had
come to Germany at a sacrifice, giving his best with-
out remuneration.
Suddenly one Yiddish newspaper began a smear

campaign against the great violinist. The slant was
that Menuhin had no business to entertain the Ger-
mans, who are responsible for the Jewish tragedy.
Besides, he was charged with helping to whitewash
Kurt Furtwangler, the German conductor who is un-
der a cloud because he stayed in Germany during the
Hitler regime. And so you have the case.
Is Ychudi Menuhin guilty or innocent of any
wrong-doing? We would like to get your opinion.
We have a definite view on this matter, and shall
present it after we have received a cross-section of
public reaction from our readers.
• • •
WE ARE ADVISED that the 19 writers, producers
and directors of Hollywood whom the un-American
Activities Committee is trying to eliminate may form
a cooperative producing unit specializing in progres•
sive pictures . . . "Crossfire," which two of the nine
(Continued Page 4)

Plain Talk

Problems

Match Toy to Child,
Parents Are Advised

Durability and Safety of Plaything
P>imld Be Considered by Buyer

Some Stories
Jews Who Celebrate
and Legends
ChriStnias Rebuked
on Chanukah

Failure to Appreciate Chanukah

THERE ARE JEWISH com-
munities where It is customary
Shows Their Spiritual Poverty
to light Chanukah candles in the
Synagogues and public institu-
By ALFRED SEGAL
.
tions early in the morning. . . .
By W. A. GOLDBERG, P. D.
Observance of the Chanukah WITH NO DISPARAGEMENT of Christmas which is a very
WITH CHANUKAH here, many parents wilt buy toys for their "mitzvah" is so urgent that when
holiday, too, I should like to point out the merits of
" youngsters. Dad will be tempted to buy an electric train for one has only enough money to Chanukah.
Junior but won't let him get near the set.
buy either wine for "Kiddush"
Christmas has been impinging all around us almost for a
Mother will buy her daughter a fuzzy doll and then keep or oil for the Chanukah lamp month already, and only a most impervious Jewish child can re-
cautioning the child not to get it dirty to the extent that the child precedence must be given to the main unaffected by its gentle
often loses interest in the toy.
change the appropriate greeting
oil. . . . Women are obligated to implication.
There is no standard formula thinking parents buy toys which light Chanukah candles.. . . It is
Christmas in all the shop win- and, in fact, wish my neighbors
for selecting toys. The common are dangerous for children—toys customary to light the Chanukah
dows! Christ- a good Christmas all the year
mistake is to buy toys too old which have sharp edges, which candles from right to left, but
masy
pieces in 'round—from Dec. 25 to Dec. 25,
for the child. Much common can be swallowed, breakable one great Rabbi reversed the
that is. By that I subtly imply
the
newspa-
toys which may cause serious order so as to comply with the
sense is need-
"White my hope that they will keep
pet's!
injury. Pins, coins and other Talmudic dictum, "Wheresoever
ed to gauge
Christmas" on every day in the year the char-
small toys are not suited for thou turnest, thou must turn
the right toy
the radio prat- itable impulses that move them
young children.
for the phys-
only to the right.' . . .
tically every at this season.
•
•
•
• • •
ical and men-
night!
The "Rock of Ages" hymn was
MATCH TOY, CHILD
tal develop-
NO SELF-RESPECT
ment of the
If I
THE BASIC purpose of play composed either in the 12th or
had con-
child.
trot over
my YET
g I FEEL GRIPED to hear
(and toys are an instrument 13th century. . . . The Maggid
of Jewish families that make
Toys are of-
grand children,
in that direction) is the develop- of Trisk, it is said, had a Cha-
I wouldn't much of Christmas and nothing
ten bought
Al Segal
ment of the child's muscles, nukah Menorah of pure silver
weighing several hundred pounds warn them against the influence at all of Chanukah. It's all right
with selfish-
imagination and experience.
ness on the
Father and mother can often and having winding stairs and a of Christmas or otherwise try to share with the neighbors their
part of parents. Dr. Goldberg
make toys for their children, jute box on top. After the Rabbi to sequester them from this an- celebration of goodwill on earth
and the hope of peace, but
Actually, toys are often pur- equal in value (from the view lit the Menorah the jute box nual folkway.
there's something lacking of self-
chased to satisfy parental ideas, of the child's development) to would play the "Rock of Ages"
After all, it's good for all chil- respect in those who do not
with total disregard to what the the most expensive store play- hy mn. . . .
dren to know one of the social appreciate their own lovely spir-
• • •
child wants or can use.
thing.
decencies, even if it conies only itual treasures. However rich
• • •
Mother can make dolls, doll OBSCURE CUSTOM
once a year and even if it is their houses may be, they are
dresses
and
furniture.
Father
NEEDN'T BE COSTLY
special to one of the religions the pitifully poor of spirit, the
TIIE
ORIGIN
of
the
card-play-
can make toy wagons, scooters,
And it's good for brotherhood poor whose empty souls can find
LONG WITH the toys, there
pull toys and telephone sets all ing custom on Chanukah is ob-
must be a place where the with inexpensive thread spools. scure. Some say it began among for children to know something no food except crumbs they
child can store them, a place wheels, boards and other things German Jews during the Black of the religion of their neigh- gather from their neighbor's
abundance.
where the child can use his toys readily picked up.
Plague as a diversion from fear. bors.
A few years ago I discovered
without interruption.
I, myself, am not unaffected
In the end, the real consider- Later it spread to Italy and other
Wise parents know that "put- ation for a toy is to select it Jewish communities.
by the significance of the sea- one of these poor. I was at-
ting away" toys is part of play, according to the physical and
At Bologna, Jewish leaders son. With not the least effort tending a party at which a Jew-
that small children need to be mental level of the child.
of religious conscience I ex- ish lady of means and consid-
(Continued Page 4)
erable local prominence also was
helped to acquire the habit of
a guest.
cleaning up.
Off
the
Record
After the cocktails had cir-
Toys need not be expensive
culated awhile, she addressed
They may be if the family bud-
herself to a certain gentleman
get permits. The essential value
(not Jewish) with historic fam-
of toys is to match them to the
ily connection that dated back
interests and abilities of the
to the Mayflower.
child. •
cording
to
unconfirmed
rumors,
gesture
against
Russia.
Russia,
NATHAN ZIPRIN
"How I envy you, Mr. —,"
Toys are more than gadgets. THE By SECRET
according to a highly informed plan settling in the Jewish State
BEHIND
the
she exclaimed.
They arc elements for self-ex-
immediately
upon
its
official
source,
had
opposed
the
planned
'
dramatic
request
by
the
pression, for the development of -I
"What for?"
inclusion of China in the As- formation.
good habits. They are media French delegate for a 24-hour sembly's Commission on Pales-
"Your
background, Mr. —!
The
Orthodox
Jews,
many
for ridding minds of frustration postponement is now out. As tine and China retaliated by with beards and caftans, who Your history! Your family's
Parody took the Assembly floor
and for building imagination.
chanted the Psalms and prayed prominence in big affairs through
he was advised that a high abstaining.
• • •
so many years! There's so much
French official in Washington Evatt, Pearson and Aranha were outside the Assembly building in having background."
the final deliber2tions
4 STANDARDS
was on the phone.
a trio that worked like Trojans while
'FORTUNATELY, there has al-
• • •
Rather than risk possible dis- to carry partition to victory. were on did not, as you can
'11 sobeen a reemphasis re- obedience of last-minute instruc- When the publication ban is guess, desecrate the Sabbath A WISE REPLY
v upon books and music. tions he asked for a postpone- lifted from off-the-record talks They walked tens of miles from
NOTHER SIP at his martini
1..dren's books have been re- ment on the pretext of alleged and deeds it will first be realized all Jewish sections in Greater
seemed to fortify the em-
designed with much color and intimation of conciliation by how their amazing statesman- New York, starting out early
after the morning Sabbath ser- barrassed gentleman enough to
attractive pictures. The record Arab spokesmen. This inno- ship saved the historic day of vices so as to greet, as one of give him a devastating reply.
player now permits the use of cently set off a wave of specu- Nov. 29 from becoming perhaps them said, the sure sign of the "Mrs. —," he replied, "may I
the classical records adapted for lation and charged the atmos- the most tragic day in Jewish coming of the Messiah.
tell you how much I envy you
phere with tension. Even Sher- history . .
,children.
• • •
your own deep, immense back-
•
•
•
tok
admitted
that
it
was
with
a
Toys must meet four stand-
POSITIVE EVIDENCE that ground.
ards: They must be durable. good deal of apprehension that
"Your great history! The
WHEN DR. ABBA HILLEL some State Department officials
they must be safe and sanitary he remarked "Twenty-four hours
were working to wreck parti-
of your people's relig-
and they must be artistic and will not change the course of SILVER was asked for a state- tion reached President Truman courage
ious convictions that has kept
ment immediately after the his-
history" .
have continued usefulness.
The Arab failure to use the toric decision he broke down in just in time to prevent perver- them alive for 2,000 years! Your
Nothing is so devastating to
sion of the great efforts of Hill- prophets! Your Old Testament!
the child as a toy which he has opening effectively convinced tears. All he could say at the dring and Johnson . . .
Mrs. —, you have a much
moment
was
"L'Cliaim"
to
a
many
of
the
wavering
delegates
learned to enjoy but which is
Hatikvah will not be retained deeper background than mice."
kind
hand
that
handed
him
a
that
the
Arabs
were
hopelessly
suddenly broken. The young
The lady let out her confusioc
as the national hymn of the
drink . . .
child cannot understand this adantant.
The usually emotional Eman- Jewish State though it has ad- in deep blushes. She managed
China's defection from the
sudden frustration. Durability
partition ranks after announcing al Neumann was more stoic vocates who would change it to finally: "Thanks, Mr. --.
in toys is essential.
(Continued Page 21)
Both Silver and Neumann, ac- comply with the new situation
Too often for comfort, un- support of that solution was a

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UN Delay Boomerangs on Arabs

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