Thursday, December 29, 1949
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Page 4
The Inside Story
Detroit Jewish Chronicle Writer Gets
Reminder of
a Jewish Child
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SHAH-SHAH POurtcS HIPS WHATS
By ALFRED SEGAL
O
UR MR. HILLEL (Hillel
EMILY SOMLYO
Widget Corp.) dropped in, and
SEYMOUR TILCHIN
Business Manager
I asked him how's Widgets go-
Publisher
ing? He was happy to say that
Teveth 9, 5710 this had been one of the very
Thursday, Dec. 29, 1949
best years for widgets. He was
hopefully looking forward to the
time when there would be two
widgets in every pot. . . . "If
From all indications it looks as if the United Nations
there are two widgets in every
begins to see that it erred when it decided to internationalize
pot there will be plenty of work
Jerusalem.
for the Amalgamated Union of
Most indicative of all signs is the invitation extended to
Widget-Makers," he said.
Dr. Ralph Bunche to help the UN Trusteeship Council draft
Mr. Hillel had
a statute for the Holy City which would not only satisfy the
a big idea. . •
UN but also the two powers most immediately concerned,
"It would bed
namely Israel and Transjordan.
nice, wouldn't it
Dr. Bunche has won the respect of the world through his
for a Jewish col-
umnist to extend
admirable and tactful conduct as mediator between Israel and
a beautiful
the Arab nations. His integrity and sincerity make him an
ideal mediator in the delicate—but not unsolvable—problem
Christmas card
with heartfelt
of Jerusalem.
greetings to all
Indeed, we believe Dr. Bunche's appointment is a step
our neighbors.
toward peace. The whole situation looks much brighter than
Jewish column- Segal
it did a feu - 7 days ago.
ists generally
Reports from Lake Success agree in that most of the nations
keep their minds in a ghetto and
which voted for internationalization are now beginning to
seem scarcely aware of the world
realize that the plan is unsound and unworkable. There is
outside."
even talk of calling a special UN session in order to recon-
"Christmas greetings," I said,
sider the Jerusalem problem in the light of the latest develop-
"are pretty well exhausted at
ments.
this period of the season and
After the shouting and excitement have died down, cool
what can I add to everything
reasoning will convince world opinion that nothing is to be
that already has been said of
feared from Israel, whereas it would be doubtful if Russia's
well-wishing?"
access to the Middle East would make things easier or estab-
"There's plenty, , Mr. Segal.
lish peace.
Nothing has been said about
Christmas from the Jewish an-
gle."
• • •
The war crimes trials in Germany are over. The last one
to be tried and sentenced was former Field Marshal Fritz von
"WELL," HE CONTINUED,
Mannstein who was given a prison term of 18 years by a
"we start from the idea that
Jesus was a Jewish child born in
British court.
Bethlehem. Mr. Hillel mentioned
Mannstein was—directly or indirectly—responsible for the
that at this season he invariably
slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Jews in Europe. All
goes to visit the replica of the
documents prove it clearly.
scene of the Nativity which is
However, Mannstein's defense was that he knew nothing
exhibited in one of our parks. ,
about such murders and atrocities, or that he was under higher
UN Reconsiders
4
War Crimes Trials End
orders to order the "extermination," as the Nazis called it.
So the court could take its pick, and the court belieVed
Mannstefn to the effect that he was not free in his decisions.
If memory serves right, the Nuernberg international court re-
jected this argument and established the principle of immoral
orders which ought not to be followed.
Whatever the legal aspects of the problem, the moral issue
remains. We cannot and must not forget that, for reasons of
expediency as well as out of sheer hatred, a civilized nation
killed more than five million human beings whose only crime
was that they were born Jews.
For years we have been arguing if there is such a thing as
a collective guilt. We do not profess to know the final answer.
But we do know that the crime committed during the last war
was so horrible and so spectacular that it should rouse the
conscience of the world whenever the crime is remembered.
Unfortunately, the world has a short memory. Things are
moving at a rapid pace, and indignation cannot be kept fresh
on ice like meat in a freezer. However, we have to remember
the past when we are charting the way of the future.
Haman, Pharoah, the Spanish Inquisition—they all shaped
Jewish destiny just as much as the many friendly nations whom
we met on our 2,000-year pilgrimage through history.
Hitler and his henchmen cannot be stricken from the
records. Their acts were meant to destroy the Jewish people.
They succeeded in giving the Jewish people a terrible blood-
letting, but they could not kill us.
From the ashes of European Jewry, from the anguish of the
war arose a new and stronger Jewish nation. This is the great
lesson we have to learn from our history. The Nazis killed
bodies, nut the spirit. As their prophet, Nietzsche, said:
"That which does not kill me makes me stronger."
Servants of Brotherhood
As we reported last week, the United Jewish Appeal has set
up a Christian Committee under the chairmanship of Franklin
D. Roosevelt Jr with the purpose of enlisting the help of
Americans of all faiths in the reconstruction of the UJA.
This is a highly unusual step and, as far as we know, the
first time that a UJA drive appealed to Americans other than
Jews.
We are glad to see that so many prominent Christian
Americans are giving support to the Jewish cause. A united
front is being created which will not only alleviate misery
abroad and facilitate reconstruction in Israel but a new feeling
of brotherhood and common responsibility.
Roosevelt said at a press conference that he welcomed
the opportunity "to help rally Americans of all faiths behind
UJA" adding that he could conceive of "no greater act of
Christian brotherhood than helping in the task of rescuing
and rehabilitating hundreds of thousands of Jews who were
left homeless and destitute as a result of World War II."
Vice-President Alben Barkley recently told 1,000 Jewish
community leaders in Miami that Israel is an "outpost of
democracy" and that "we cannot afford not to help a free
nation in the Middle East that is essential to the security of
our liberty and ideals."
these prominent leaders share our
We are happy to see
spur the Jewish communities
troubles. Their example ought to
all over America to double their efforts to lay the cornerstone
for
the renaissance of Jewish life:
•
•
Indignatton Over Israel
•
•
•
Lacks Ring of Sincerity
the Israeli what he thought of
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
HE DECISIVE MEASURES England.
The Israeli replied that the
taken by the Tel Aviv gov-
British people made an excellent
ernment on the Jerusalem ques-
impression on him but that in
tion may not be palatable to
h
those who schemed its severance his country there was no aware-
ness of the fine virtues of the
from Israel. But it cannot be
said they were not forewarned. English people.
"You see," he went on, "in my
When the opponents of inter- country we think of you in terms
nationalization told the Assem- of the days when your flying
work
bly the scheme wouldn't back-
squadrons played havoc with us. "
they s poke against the
"I appreciate your attitude,*
ground of Israel's unmistakable the Englishman replied, "but I
position not to yield Jerusalem. have a confession to make, it
"Yes," he said, "I go there for
Vatican balloons speak of Is- was I who was in command of
historical, ethical and sentimen-
rael's defiance. . . . Where was the flying squadrons."
tal meditations. I think how
• • •
the word defiance when the
beautiful this is: People coming
Arabs flouted UN decisions by ISRAELI PREMIER David Ben
here to worship a Jewish child
gun and fire? Where was the Gurion has a reputation for ar-
and to rededicate themselves in
tongue of condemnation when riving at his office punctually at
his name on his birthday. In this
the Arabs destroyed the holy eight each morning. On the
child they discover all the de-
places about which there is so morning of Nov. 1 the sentry at
cencies they would like to pos-
much concern now? the government building saw a
sess in the characters of their
London reports say Britain is limousine pulling over with Ben
own lives."
shocked by Israel's flouting of Gurion stepping out. The guard
Mr. Hillel was practically writ the UN decision. Where were looked at the Premier with sur-
ing my column for Christmas. It Britain's sensibilities when Bev- prise and asked, "Sir, why so
seemed presumptuous to tax him in's government refused to obey early?"
for more. Nevertheless, I asked the UN edict following the par-
"Early," replied Ben Gurion,
him: "Just what good wishes tition decision?
aren't you men aware yet of the
shall we wish them?"
The world has not yet forgot- fact that I always arrive at
"Well, we'll not wish them a ten how British officials in Pal- eight?"
When the uniformed man pun-
Merry Christmas. ,They've been estine sabotaged all UN efforts
getting enough of that. Let us and how the British government ed out his wach and satisfied he
wish them for their own lives all kept on supplying the Arabs Premier it was only seven, Ben
the good they see in that child with money and arms in the Gurion broke out into loud
in the crib: His compassion, his teeth of a UN request for em- laughter and said, "I am guilty,
I guess. of breaking a govern-
love, his mercy, his justice, his bargoes.
ment decree."
feeling of brotherhood, his devo-
The sensitive Arabs have sud-
Daylight saving had gone into
tion to the persecuted, the meek denly developed an anxiety corn-
effect the previous night, with
and the peace-makers.
plex. They just can't understand
press and radio cautioning Is-
how it is possible for Israel to
• • •
rael's citizenry to move their
"WE'LL WISH THEM a full- act as it does.
timepieces ahead by one hour
ness of all that. That shall be
When the word sanctions was but the Premier had just forgot-
igh ,
our Christmas gift. What gor- mentioned in the days when they ten all about it. gir
geous people they can all be if behaved themselves like the cut-
• • •
THE LATEST STORY told in
they accept it for the decora- throats they are, they wept bit-
tion of their lives! People who do terly at the wrong deal they Tel Aviv's cafes is about Ben
not push their neighbors around. claimed they were getting. In Gurion and a man whom he
They find no fault in a neighbor those days they threatened to promised a high government pos-
because of his complexion. They quit the UN and form a separate ition.
do not despise him because of his Arab blo - c.
When time passed and the ap-
religion or because of the na-
Soviet Russia's game is clear, pointment was not forthcoming
tionality of his origin. They hate Moscow is not interested in the the man came to collect the po-
only injustice and persecution. holy places. It is interested in litical debt.
They know man and respect him stirring political confusion and
Ben Gurion kept on saying all
in the brotherhood.
pulling the chair from under portfolios were filled and the
man kept on insisting he must
"Mr. Segal, don't you see? Britain's feet.
We're giving the best Christmas
If the severance of Jerusalem get one. Finally Ben Gurion
gift of all the neckties and mink from Israel serves that end Mos- asked "what post whuld you
coats, better than all he washing i cow will have no moral qualms. have?"
The man enumerated several
machines and refrigerators, bet- Now that Israel has applied
ter than all the straight whisky, fire to the straw we must wait and the Premier had one reply.
the five-starred brandy and old and see what other ring if any . . . They were all filled.
Ben Gurion was growing im-
wine given this Christmas." they will form. In any event
Mr. Hillel's eyes were bright there can be no doubt that the patient and asked for a clear an-
"you
as by the lights of a Christmas plan to wrest Jerusalem from swer. "Why," said the man,
tree. There wasn't even the sign Israel has failed. In the end the could appoint me as a minister
of a widget in them. The widget UN will admit it—if it has the of colonies."
Ben Gurion looked up. "How
factory seemed reduced to the moral courage.
• • •
can I appoint you to such office
least important of Mr. Hillel's
A HIGH HAGANAH officer when we have no colonies?"
concerns. In fact, he said to hell
"If so," his tormentor went on,
with that when, as he rose to recently visited England. While
appoint
leave, I wished him a succesful in London he met a top British "how did you happen to
widget year. I thanked him for officer and in the course of con- Kaplan as minister of the treas-
versation the Englishman asked ury?"
this column.
T