DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Page Four
Detroit Jewish Chronicle
Published by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
2827 Bal lurn Tower, Detroit 26, Michigan
Friday, April 29, 1941
his Torch Flames On
WOodward 1-1040
SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 Per Year, 5ingle Copies, 10c; Foreign, $3.00 Per Yeat
Entered as Second-clan usenet March 3. 1916, at the Poet Office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879
SEYMOUR TILCHIN, President
Friday, April 29, 1949
lit
GEORGE WEISWASSER, Editor-in-Chief
(Nisan 30, 5709)
Brief . . .
Senator Austin committed a costly blun-
der when he failed to take a firm stand in
opposition to the referral of the question of
Israel's admission into the UN back to the
political committee of the Assembly. The
American chief delegate's vacillating stand
induced many nations to back postponement.
As a result, the issue is now in the hands of
a committee burdened by more important
matters and with many of its members in
the Latin and Scandinavian blocs openly
hostile to Israel, the former because of the
papal encylical demanding internationaliza-
tion of Jerusalem and the latter perturbed
over Israel's failure to apprehend the slayers
of Count Bernadotte. The American delega-
tion belatedly is talking about speeding ac-
tion on Israel's application. But they know
very well that they are speaking wishfully
in an attempt to neutralize somewhat their
failure to strike while the iron was hot.
There is now grave danger that the question
will not be settled at this session of the As-
sembly and until the Catholic nations are
satisfied that at least the religious shrines are
safeguarded through some international su-
pervision. There should be no doubt now
that Israel would rather forego recognition
altogether than give up Jerusalem. It seems
also clear that the Jewish State will not
agree to division of the Holy City into Jew-
ish and Arab halves permanently. There
are ample assurances in the draft Israeli
constitution to protect the religious shrines
of Christianity and Mohammedanism. Be-
yond acceptance of some nominal interna-
tional control over the shrines, the Israelis
will go no farther. The vigorous new State
would look preposterous indeed without its
heart.
* * *
None Like Stephen Wise
Few men of greatness live to hear them-
selves eulogized. This is because, in our per-
versity, we begrudge a leader any word of
praise until he is dead and because we sel-
dom pause in our carping to acknowledge
his greatness. Stephen S. Wise was a notable
exception. Because there was none like him,
Americans paused on his 75th birthday, a
little more than a month ago, to let this out-
spoken champion of justice and freedom
know how much we loved him, and how
much we owed to him. Now Stephen Wise is
dead_ Will it avail it to repeat our en-
comiums? Will is assuage Jewry's grief to
recite again how mightily this titan, this
prophet of his people labored to bring peace
and a home to dispersed Jewry? It will
bring no comfort; for the truth—a stagger-
ing, bitter truth—stares us in the face, and
that is that there is none to take the place
of Stephen S. Wise, now that he is gone.
There is none who has the vision, the energy
and the gifts that this legendary figure dedi-
cated to Israel and humanity. His voice
would resound and the nations would listen.
His people, not prone to unity, would stop
their bickering to answer his call. Whey he
inveighed again bigotry and inhumanity his
foes quavered, for he spoke with authority.
Is there anyone in Jewry today who com-
bines his faculties of statesman, humanitar-
ian and spokesman for his people! If there
is anyone like him, then mark him well. The
rebirth of Israel has not answered all our
problems. We shall still have need of the
spirit of Stephen S. Wise.
* * *
The Warsaw Ghetto Revolt
There are some events which grow with
the passing of time. Like mountains, they
ere seen best from a distance. The revolt
of the Warsaw Ghetto whose sixth anni-
versary is being observed by Jewish people,
Jews and non-Jews alike, are beginning to
realize the momentous significance of the
event and this realization will grow from
year to year. Historically, the revolt of the
Detroit 26, Michigan
Warsaw Ghetto is coming to be looked upon
as a great landmark of World War II, one
that stands out like Dunkirk, the blitz of
London, El Alamein, Stalingrad and D-Day.
It was the first clear. indication that the
Nazi citadel which had until 1943 seemed
invincible, could be shaken from within. It
marked the emergence of the Underground,
especially in eastern Europe, into the open.
It was the first sure sign that the oppressed
peoples of Europe, were not crushed alto-
gether, that they were beginning to gain
confidence and were ready to face the
enemy. If Stalingrad and the invasion of
Normandy ,cracked the Nazi military ma-
chine from without, the revolt of the War-
saw Ghetto cracked it from within. But the
greatest significance of the revolt was not
political, or military, but spiritual, and its
effect was and will remain deepest, on the
Jewish people. The greatest spiritual lesson
of the Warsaw revolt was that brute force,
even if fortified by all the machinery of
destruction, cannot defeat faith and the feel-
ing of outraged justice in the hearts of men.
It is the most striking proof that the sphit
of man is stronger than all the physical
forces of civilization and that the weakest
people, inspired by a feeling of justice, are
stronger than armies. For in Warsaw, 40,000
of the weakest victims of oppression in mod-
ern history, arose and fought the greatest
organized mechanical force of the Twentieth
Century and, in the last analysis, the weak
won.
* * *
Good Luck to BBYO!
American Jewry has been observing the
progress of the Bnai Brith Youth Organiza-
tion with keen satisfaction, and is happy,
we are sure, to offer the organization sin-
cere felicitations on its Silver Jubilee.
Twenty-five years of service and loyalty as
Americans and as Jews will be commemor-
ated in Detroit at a birthday party Sunday
afternoon with Harold Russell as speaker.
The program of BBYO aims to make its
members an informed generation of matur-
ing young people who will know that being
Jewish is something much more than acci-
dent of birth, that it means an understanding
of Jewry's past and of its hopes, that it sig-
nifies an awareness of the traditions that
have enobled the Jewish character. BBYO
seeks to make its young people self-reliant
and well poised. It helps brash and boister-
ous youngsters to grow into sensible and
dignified young men and women. It pro-
vides facilities for young people to make
friends. It emphasizes a program of com-
munity responsibility and teaches the boys
and girls resourcefulness and patience. With
the help and advice of the lodges and chap-
ters of Bnai Brith, much of this program
is coming to fruition. It is laudable that
the parent organization has undertaken such
a project. It is a tribute to BBYO to say that
its young people are doing a splendid job.
We are looking to 25 years more of healthy
achievement.
* * *
Republicans Weaken FEPC
If no FEPC measure to assure all men
equality of treatment in jobs and other fa-
cilities is passql in this session of the Michi-
gan legislature, it will be the fault of the
Republican party. There can be no question
of this. Only a few weeks ago, state GOP
leaders assured liberal spokesman that they
would go ahead with a strong FEPC meas-
ure to offset Gov. Williams' proposal of a
bill similar to the successful New York act.
But the spring election has restored the con-
fidence of the GOP reactionaries and they
saw in their victory a mandate opposing
liberal legislation. On April 14, they intro-
duced a tepid FEPC measure that has little
affirmative qualities to it. Moreover, it car-
ries a provision for a popular referendum
with all its implications of intolerance. Let
us not forget that it is the Republican party
again that is blocking humanitarian legisla-
tion.
How Israeli Emblem
Came to Be Designed
INTERESTING sidelight on Israel's conscious desire fur a
A N continuity
with ancient Jewish tradition is afforded by the story
of how its national emblem came to be adopted.
The government announced an'
open competition for the design Subsequently we were informed
of a suitable emblem. The design by the chairman of the Emblem
that was finally chosen was the Committee that our design had,
work of two brothers—Gabriel indeed, been accepted, but this
and Maxim Shamir—who hat was coupled with a request that
worked in collaboration and had we replace our stylized candela-
to their previous credit the very bra with the one from the Arch of
popular symbol for "Tozeret Titus (the traditional one.)
"We disagreed with this re-
Haaretz" (locally manufactured
quest, for the reasons stated, but
products).
The clipping at hand describes complied with it anyway. Subse-
an interview with these two ar- quently, the revised sketch was
unanimously adopted by the Na-
tists. One of them tells that—
"When the competition was an- tional Council.
". . . The background of the
nounced it was stated in the rules
that a candelabra could be in- emblem, the shield, is dark blue.
cluded in the emblem, or the The candelabra and the rest of
Maccabean seal, or any other the elements—the olive branches
item desired by the artist. In and the name 'Israel'—are in sil-
other words, a great deal of free- ver.
"As for the letters, we didn's
dom was given.
use any existing type. We en-
* e *
deavored to make stylized char-
EXCLUSIVE ITEM
acters which would, at the same
"OUR FIRST STEP was to time, preserve the essential form
make a systematic study of the of the Hebrew letter."
emblems of all existing states. We
• • •
discovered, in so doing, that none THE PRETENDER
of them use a candelabra. This is
DR, SAMUEL SOLNIK ,a den-
not the case with the Shield of tist of Natanya who claims direct
David, which is contained in the descent from King David and
Liberian emblem.
therefore claims the crown of Is-
"... After we decided to use a rael for his five year-old son, has
candelabra we sought an addi- sent a congratulatory telegram to
tional element, and came to the President Weizmann.
conclusion that olive branches
When it was pointed out to Dr.
would most aptly express the love Solnik that his telegram would
of peace which is characteristic of be interpreted as de-facto recog-
the Jewish people. Besides, the nition of a republican system he
olive leaves would be highly dec- admitted that there were no pros-
orative in themselves.
pects for restoring the monarchy
"Next, we were faced with the under the present regime.
problem of choostng a candela-
When Dr. Solnik had anointed
bra. We weighed the matter care- his son at an elaborate ceremony
fully, and finally decided to draw in Jerusalem he had received a
a stylized candelabra rather than special greeting from Prime-
the traditional, ancient one. Our Minister Ben Gurion.
purpose was to create a modern
Dr. Solnik has changed his
symbol and forego the traditional name to Oharbanel, and is now
form.
serving in the Israeli army.
"We concluded that the can-
• • •
delabra is, in itself, an ancient SIGNS OF THE TIMES
symbol, and that its mere pres-
The following notice appealed
ence in the emblem would con- recently in the "Apartment Ex-
stitute a traditional element; but change" column of the Palestine
the style, we felt, should be mod- Post:
ern.
"Two room apartment, New
• • •
York City; all the conveniences.
BACK TO TRADITIONAL
Will exchange for a similar apart-
"ON THIS BASIS we complet- ment in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem.
ed our design and submitted it. Inquire at ..."
Israeli Housing Need Halts 8,000
,
About 8,000 youth immigrant the Jewish Agency is making
candidates are being held up in
available as a temporary measure,
DP camps by the lack of funds
and the desperate need of hous- small one-room bungalows, each
ing in Itrael.
accommodating four children at
To expedite their migration, a cost of $420 per unit.