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DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Detroit Jewish Chronicle
A Word to the Wise
Published by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
WOodward 1-1040
2827 Cadillac Tower, Detroit 26, Michigan
SUBSCRIPTION:
$3.00 Per Year, Single Copies, 10c; Foreign, $5.00 Per Year
Entered as Second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at
Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Thursday, Nov. 24, 1949
(Kislev 3, 5710)
Leader States
Principles of
Brandeis U.
Brandeis University is not a
Jewish institution but a contri-
bution by Jews to America's
academic life, George Alpert,
president o f the university's
board of trustees, said here last
week in an exclusive interview
with the Jewish Chronicle.
The Boston lawyer and former
UJA co-chairman was in Detroit
in' order to outline the story of
Brandeis to a group of commun-
ity and business leaders.
Brandeis University, he ex--1
plained, was not founded as a
EMILY SOMLYO
Business Manager
SEYMOUR TILCIIIN
Publisher
Thursday, November 24, 1949
Detroit 26, Michigan
Dr. Weizmann 75 Years 01(1
Dr. Chaim Weizmann will celebrate his 75th birthday on
Sunday, and the whole Jewish world will join him in com-
memorating this event.
Not often does it happen that a dreamer lives to see the
realization of his dreams. Dr. Weizmann is one of them.
During the greater part of his life he had to spend his time
persuading Jews to help build up colonies in Palestine, con-
vincing them that the Zionist cause would not hurt their rights
as citizens of their own countries and arguing with the per-
ennial foes of the idea of a Jewish nation.
protest against the quota system*
but as a recognition of the fact /
that the great majority of Amer-
ican colleges were created by
denominational endowments.
The years of drudgery and near-hopelessness were finally
rewarded with the issuance of the Balfour Declaration in 1917,
for whose preparation Weizmann did more than any other man.
But was he happy?
In his autobiography "Trial and Error" he relates that his
joy over the Balfour document was tempered by his knowledge
of the difficulties that lay ahead. He knew that a promise does
not establish a Jewish land.
11% JEWS ON CAMPUSES
With a Jewish population of
four percent and more than 11
percent of Jewish students on
the campuses. he pointed out, the
However, the first ray of hope had come and Zionism had
proved that it was more than a dream. Against overwhelming
odds, against a hostile Arab world and against the resistance
of influential Jewish groups, the foundations were laid for the
State that was to become Israel.
The rest is history. Israel was born in the flames of war, and
Dr. Weizmann became its first president. Many honors were
showered upon him, but it was he who honored himself most:
His faith in the Jewish cause had justified and sanctified his
whole life.
Dr. Weizmann, statesman and scientist, man of action as
well as man of thought, represents the best in the heritage of
the Jewish people. We are grateful that this man was destined to
be the living symbol of the hopes and aspirations of two gen-
erations.
Take Up the Fight, Laurence!
The "New York Times" relates a moving story of 11-year-
old Laurence Goldstein of Lynn, Mass., who was kicked by
older boys because he was a Jew.
The boy's father had died in the war. Laurence asked his
mother what he had died for. Not knowing the answer, she
wrote a letter to the "Lynn Item" asking others for their opinion.
George H. Craig, comriander of the American Legion, saw
the letter and wrote the boy:
"You have been a victim of an isolated instance of hatred.
"Because such brave men as your father died, America
today remains free and our minorities protected.
"The law and public opinion are on your side and that of
every minority in our land who can always get relief from
oppression."
Frankly, we are disappointed in this answer. There are too
many such instances to write this one off as "isolated." Too
many people already take it for granted that a Jew can be
beaten with impunity, They may even think they are great
"patriots."
Your experience, Laurence, is not singular. It has happened
a thousand times. Jews even went to their death for their faith.
The only advice we have, Laurence, is this: Follow your
father's example and keep on fighting for a better world.
Maybe your generation will be more successful in this fight
than the present one.
Let's Start Thinking
Judging from all reports it appears that the Frisch plan for
democratization of Jewish life has struck an echo in many
quarters.
At last week's national convention of the American Jewish
Congress, Rabbi Philip Bernstein, without mentioning the
Frisch plan, called for a democratization of Jewish life and
pointed out that the welfare funds have served a useful pur-
pose but "should come under the control of democratically con-
trolled Jewish community councils."
Some columnists also have been speculating that the backers
of the Frisch plan are increasing in numbers and may band
together within the forseeable future in order to bring the plan
closer to realization.
We believe there fs not much time to lose. We feel certain
that Frisch states only a commonplace when he voices the opin-
ion that the federations and welfare funds, under their present
make-up, are not providfig the leadership that could be
expected of them.
Frisch also is right in his belief that the federations "cannot
expect to be entrusted with the direction of Jewish life through a
system of planning and budgeting" unless and until they accept
the control of the organized democratic Jewish community.
However, it is a safe bet that nothing will be done unless
the man on the street begins to take a greater interest in the
organization of Jewish life.
We invite our readers' comments on this problem. No doubt,
it is time we started thinking about it. How can we put Jewish
life on a broader basis? How can we substitute the "Koved"
system by a democratic system? How can we, in short, organize
along the American democratic lines?
It will be in the interest of the whole community to
solution as quickly as
possibly.
Ana a
Letters to the Editor
METROPOLITAN'S VIEW
Dear Editor:
Your report on Nov. 17 of the
'American Jewish Congress con-
vention headlined "Metropolitan
Loses Battle" contains several in-
accuracies which, I am sure, you
will want to correct.
The Metropolitan Chapter lost
no battle—it wasn't even in one.
Despite the releases issued by
convention officials, the ouster of
the Metropolitan Chapter from
the AJC was not affirmed by the
convention. In !act, the case of
the Metropolitan Chapter was not
even allowed to come to the floor
of the convention ...
Your article states that the ac-
ceptance of the report of the AJC
executive director was "a vindi-
cation of its (AJC's) action with
regard to the dissident elements."
As a matter of fact, no mention
of the suspended groups was
made in the printed report of the
executive director. The\latter
gave this extremely important
business only a side reference in
his oral comment on "certain or-
ganizational occurrences during
the past year .
The deliberate denial of all op-
portunity to discuss the prece-
dent-shattering expulsion of a le-
gal chapter is only one signpost
which has marked the road along
which the present leadership has
led the American Jewish Con-
gress to betrayal of its own prin-
ciples and those of its founder,
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise.
This leader could not afford to
allow any discussion which would
reveal that the Metropolitan
Chapter was not being expelled
for lack of discipline, as alleged,
but for insisting upon an action
program to achieve Congress di
rectives
The executive board of the
former Metropolitan Chapter has
voted unanimously to continue its
efforts to obtain reinstatement
within the AJC and insists upon
its right to a convention hearing
as provided in the AJC constitu-
tion.
Until such time as this matter
is democratically decided, the
chapter will continue independ-
ently to organize to achieve those
same goals for which we have
worked consistently, namely, the
elimination of anti-Semitism, the
reversal of our government's re-
nazification policies and the de-
fense of the civil rights of all
minorities.
MORRIS GLEICHER,
Pfesident,
Former Metropolitan
Chapter, AJC.
founders of Brandeis felt Amer-
ican Jews had long neglected
to do their share in following
up the American academic tra-
dition.
While the general response in
the academic world is favorable,
Alpert said, some Jews object to
Brandeis as being not Jewish
enough or being too Jewish.
The curriculum, he added, is
in principle the same as that of
other colleges, and it will take
about three to four years until
graduate schools can be built up.
DETROITERS AT BRANDEIS
About 25 percent of the stu-
dent body is non-Jewish, and
approximately 30 percent of the
teachers, are non-Jews, he said.,
Two students from Detroit are
enrolled at Brandeis. They are
Albert E. Aaron, 7617 Mack ave-
nue, and Hubert Forbes, 16188
Lawton avenue.
Alpert also said that Brandeis
is working on the extension of
student exchange services. A
$10,000 scholarship for an ex-
change between Brandeis and the
Hebrew University has just been
set up.
MENORAH REPLIES
The housing program of the
Dear Editor:
university is progressing satis-
The source for my statement
factorily, Alpert said, adding that
that JTA received $150,000 in the
greatest need is for dormi-
1949 from the national United tories.
Jewish Appeal is the report of
the Council of Jewish Federa-
tions and Welfare Funds, which
is distributed to its member
agencies throughout the country
for allocating purposes.
I am pleased to learn from
Mr. Henry Montor's letter that
this information is not correct,
and that JTA received no grants
NEW YORK—Israeli police are
from the national UJA in 1949.
I note, however, that he does troubled by cattle rustling, the
not deny my statement that the "New York Times" learned when
national UJA gave JTA $75,000 Yeheskel Satin, inspector gen-
eral of the Israeli police, recently
in 1947 and $75,00 in 1948.
distussed his problems with New
ALLEN LESSER,
Managing Editor, York's Police Commissioner Wil-
Menorah Journal liam P. O'Brien.
Sahar was accompanied
Omos Ben Gurion, the pri me!
minister's only son and chief
minister's
training officer of the Israeli po-
Communities Awaken
to Local Relief Needs
By WILLIAM ZUKERMAN
(Jewish World News Service)
events have recently taken place which clearly indicate
S EVERAL
that the American Jewish community, after 10 years of almost
Arab Rustlers
Keep Israel's
Police Busy
lice.
The two officials were visiting
police headquarters in order to
study modern police methods and
organization.
Cattle rustling, Sahar ex-
plained, is done by bands of ma-
rauding Arabs from adjoining
countries, adding he hoped it
would soon be stamped out.
Another police problem in Is-
rael is the growing traffic. The
number of automobiles, Sahar
stated, is growing whereas the
streets are narrow.
Crime, he noted, has been de-
creasing ever since the war end-
ed. •
exclusive preoccupation with Jewish interests abroad, particularly
in Israel, is beginning to break. .
away from this pattern and is munal work to follow from year
seeking to become independent.
to year. Certain vested interests
Ever since the outbreak of the which have thrived on this sys-
second world war, Jewish com- tem, have tended to perpetuate
munal activities have been cen- the idea and make it appear as if
tered around the collection of the American Jewish community
huge funds that were needed to had no other social aims and pur-
meet the emergencies of the war poses except to supply
the fi-
and post-war periods, and for the nancial aid required to make
establishment of Israel. This was good the damage of the
an historic emergency and doubt- the upbuilding of Israel. war and Beth Yehudah Students
less required emergency meas- • . •
Elect Council Officers
HOME NEEDS NEGLECTED
urea to meet it.
Officers elected for the first
But the emergency lasted so AT THE BEGINNING of this student council of Yeshivah Beth
long that with some people it has year, a natural reaction began to Yehudah are Shlomo Sperka,
come to be- looked upon as a set in against this abnormality, president; Milton Stollman, vice-
normal situation and a perms- and voices were beginning to be president; Marvin Rubinstein, sec-
Lent pattern for Jewish corn- (Costlased as Page 11)
retary, and Joel Sperka, treasurer.