Page 4 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.