Americo Yewisli Periodical ea

Thursday, May 25, 1950

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Page 4

Shabuoth — Time of First Fruit

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

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.

SEYNIOUR TILCHIN
Publisher

Thursday, May 25, 1950

GERI1ARDT NEUMANN
Editor

Sivan 9, 5710

Nazism on Its Way Back

The Anti-Defamation League showed courage when it can-
celed a speech to be delivered at its Chicago meeting by Ben-
jamin J. Buttenwieset assistant U.S. high commissioner of
western tli, rmany.
The speech was a cloar-cut attempt to justify our poor de-
nazification policy.
ADL went so far as to chaige that the speech would have
given "aid and encouragement to those vicious elements in the
new German nationalism which Mr. Buttenwieser himself admits
are re-emerging today."
We do not agree with Brig. Gen. Julius Klein, past com-
mander of the Jewish War Veterans, who charged that the ADL
had adopted "the totalitarian state tactic of denial of free
speech."
"Although I disagree with Buttenwieser's recommendations
and findings, he was still entitled to express his views, whatever
they may be," he stated.
No doubt, the speaker was entitled to utter his views. But
for the ADL it was a matter of policy. Such a speech might have
been interpreted as the sentiment of the ADL. In the face of this
dilemma, it was more desirable to cancel the speech than to run
the risk of officially welcoming the Nazis back into the demo-
cratic fold.
Only a few days after this incident the daily papers carried
a news item from Stuttgart, Germay, which disclosed that an
official German survey found that three-fourths of the officials
in the Wuerttemberg-Baden state government are former Nazis.
The survey covered 11,004 officials in five major ministries. Of
these 8,457, or 7G per cent, were one-time Nazis.
Bnai Brith is worried ever the resurgence of Nazism in
Germany. So are the American. Jewish Congress and many other
Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. Worried also are countless
Jewish individuals in this country and elsewhere, whether or not
they suffered personally from the Hitler regime.
In the Jewish mind, Nazism has become synonymous with
the utmost in human degradation. Nazism is a peril, not only to
Jews but to all freedom loving people.
It is an ironic twist that the rapid recovery' of Nazism has
been made possible by its arch-foe. Communism. The Germans
were quick at taking advantage of the cleavage between west
and east. They are hoping and praying that in this conflict we
may forget them aqs1 concentrate on the Russians.
It is a simple and crArer scheme. If we play into their hands,
the cause of democracy will be lost.

Arab League on the Rocks

The Arab League continues to reverse itself continually,
because it cannot create the unity for which it was set up. The
recent decision to declare Jordan's annexation of Arab Palestine
"illegal" and the threat to expel Jordan from the League are
steps in the direction of dissolution.
From Israel's point of view, this development is good news.
The disunity of the Arabs is really a stabilizing factor insofar as
no Arab country will have the courage to start another war since
it never can be sure of its allies.
It is, of course, an uneasy peace that is based on dissension.
Good will and understanding, combined with a free exchange of
goods and ideas, are the basic foundations of real peace. From
this kind of peace, the Middle East is far removed. There is no
hope that any Arab country wilj recognize Israel as a factor in
progress. There is a whole world between the democracy of
Israel and the feudal society of the Arab states.
However, there also are signs that the Arabs are beginning
to see the light of reality. Recent reports from Egypt say that
influential Egyptians believe it would be foolish for Egypt to
sign a security pact that would automatically bring the country
into a second war with Israel. The Egyptians, whatever their
feelings toward Israel may be, arc not anxious to suffer another
defeat.
Israel, on the other hand, does not intend to take chances.
Again Aubrey S. Eban, Israel's UN delegate, warned the western
powers that Israel needs arms so that the military balance will
be restored in the Middle East. He added that there could be
no serious hope for peace as long as a "sense of Arab military
superiority" was created.
On the whole, the Middle East picture is one of utter con-
fusion. Israel benefits from this confusion. But there is no reason
to rejoice over this abnormal situation. Real peace, that's what
we are looking for.

Rabbi Fram's Anniversary

Rabbi Leon Frain came tc Detroit 25 years ago, and it is not
only his congregation, Temple Israel, but the whole community
of Detroit that is proud of this human dynamo.
Jewish life as well as community life in Detroit would be
almost unthinkable without Rabbi Fram. There is hardly a cause
to which he has not devoted his time and his energy. As a Jewish
leader he has had a tremendous influence on the reorganization
of the Reform Jewish schools.
He was one of the first rabbis of a reform congregation to
become an active Zionist leader. He has served as president of the
Zionist Organization of Detroit. The impact of his personality
is felt wherever he applies his efforts.
Interfaith and intercultural movements, industrial surveys,
labor disputes, city charter—there is almost no field in which
Rabbi Fram's advice is not sought
In the 25 years of his stay in Detroit he has left his mark on
this community. The Jewish Chronicle joins his many friends in
extending sincere congratulations to Rabbi Fram on this occa-
sion, hoping that we can celebrate with him many more anni-
versaries to come.

•

Book Stresses
41 Negative Sides
of Life in Israel

By GERHARDT NEUMANN
REPORT ON ISRAEL by Irwin
Shaw and Robert Capa (Simon
& Schuster, New York).
The avalanche of books on Is-
rael is still upon us. Every book,
be it good or bad, contains worth-
while information, and that's
what we are interested in.
The present book is notable for
its pictures. Robert Capa has es-
tablished his reputation as a pho-
tographer firmly.
Since the book deals with Tel
Aviv, Jerusalem and the Galilee
only, Capa has limited his shots
to these targets. It's the faces of
the people that intrigue him. The
faces tell the story of suffering
and hopes, of passions and resig-
nation, of fighting against Arabs
and with an obstinate soil.
Shaw tries to get away from
"candied" reports. He prefers
candid reports. He shows the ne-
gative sides of living in a new
country. Transportation is "mis-
erably inadequate." The climate
is atrocious. Women don't feel
quite at home in this rough-and-
tumble society. Public manners
are bad. People are stubborn, and
their self-reliance "has become a
vice."
The union of synagogue and
state seems to irk Shaw particu-
larly, and he dwells with gusto on
was largely of German origin and religious tensions. In describing
By ALFRED SEGAL
the birth of a refugee baby, he
EFORE I START this story, I of the Reform persuasion.
predicts the boy will be fairly
They
were
taking
care
of
the
it seems necessary to report
the rare news that a recent col- new immigrants, seeing to it that happy in Israel, but "he will be
umn of mine has had only bou- they were settled in jobs and oppressed by the weather, the
homes and went to night school land and his God." He does not
quets and not a
to learn the English language and explain the latter remark.
brick in the lot.
Frictions also prevail in the set-
the American way. It was a se-
Yes, on one mat-
rene Jewish life—a golden age, tlements of the Galilee, according
t e r, at least,
you might say—and then all of a to Shaw. People like to praise
Jews are in
sudden that had to happen in that communal life, he says, but are
agreement a n d
town: The rabbi's daughter had not prepared to try it themselves.
that is some
We welcome every book that
eloped with the Gentile youth
thing worth re-
shows that Israel is a human crea-
and been married to him!
q~
porting before I
• • •
tion, with its good points and its
I
start t h e story
shortcomings. Too many people
of t h e rabbi's
IT COULD HAVE broken up already seem to picture Israel as
daughter.
all rummy games in the Jewish
Yes, the read- Segal circles of the town, if rummy a sort of Utopia.
ers seem to be unanimous on the were known then. Instead it was
idea that it's none of the business the year's talk in all the rococco
of Judaism to go hunting for con- front parlors where, in that pe-
verts to bring them over to our nod,
•
people took their recreation
side. Some of the rabbis had sug- just sitting around and gossiping.
gested that maybe it's about time There
here wasn't even one cosmic in-
for Judaism to start proselytizing, cident
•
to talk about.
to send rabbinical missionaries
There was much sympathy for
into the world to tell Gentiles the rabbi. To think, it was said,
what a good religion we have, that this should happen to a
By R. C. W. ETTINGER
and won't they please join us.
rabbi! The members of his con-
American
officials do not lis-
For my part, I said in this col- gregation felt embarassed to ap-
ten to Jewish advice about Ger-
umn recently, I would settle for
the idea of Christians trying just proach him in an hour of such many. They think it stems from
hatred, and they are partly
to be good Christians. Why travail.
bother to bring a righteotethris- I The orthodox group which was right.
tian over to Judaism? A real very small then and scarcely ar-
Our policy makers think we
Christian can't be an anti-Semite. ticulate, merely shook its heads are forced to appease the Nazis
Nor does he despise other people solemnly. What else can you ex- in order to win Germany as an
on account of- their color. He be- pect from reform Judaism, these ally against Russia.
Using the Germans as cannon
haves like an authentic member pious people asked.
The marriage of the Reform fodder in the anticipated war
of the brotherhood of man.
Besides, I said, rabbis have rabbi's daughter to the Gentile with Russia is a beautiful idea,
enough to do to keep Jews Jew- should teach the reform Jews a except for one thing. The Ger-
ish in the sense of Sinai and the lesson, they said. Maybe by the mans will not cooperate.
They would be fools to fight
Prophets. To convert all the Jews light of that lesson reform Jews
in his town to an understanding might be persuaded to go back Russia, and their foolishness
of Judaism is a life-time job for to the old, traditional standards. does not lie along these lines.
(In far later years the orthodox "Deutschland uber Mies" is still
any rabbi.
• • •
community was to suffer distress the motto.
WELL, THIS, you might say, is on account of intermarriage in its We must remember two things
the second chapter of my column own circle. It would hear of one about Germany. Their promises
on that subject. It is suggested to and another of its children being of help are only fnade to get
me by a lady of my acquaintance intermarried. It would happen money out of us, and their
threats of "going Communist"
who reports the story of the rab- even in the strictest families.)
No Jew in that town felt bold are empty as long as we have
bi's daughter, particularly for the
purpose of showing what a wise enough to ask the rabbi what he the army of occupation.
A simple German policy there-
thought of it all. Certainly there
man the rabbi was.
Believe it or not, the rabbi's were no mazel toys. The rabbi fore suggests itself:
1. Stop giving the Germans
daughter married a Gentile and was philosophizing on the matter
the matter was on all tongues in in his study. It remained for a money.
2. Maintain the army of oc-
their town. This occurred more rather, thoughtless b u t well-
than 60 years ago and all t h e meaning Christian neighbor to cupation, at German expense, un-
til the world picture clears.
uncover the rabbi's heart.
principals are long dead.
A little thought will show that
Intermarriage was no problem
"Rabbi," said the neighbor,
at all of Jewish communities then "what a pity your daughter mar- such a policy would be not only
fair, but extremely practical and
and anti-Semitism was the occa- ried a Christian."
The rabbi replied: "If he only realistic.
sional violence of some hoodlum
The German war guilt justi-
pulling the beard of a Jewish were a Christian!"
peddler. The hoodlum's ideas had
The lady who reports his reply fies us in implementing our poli-
not yet infected the better social thought it fits in well with the cies there by force, at German
circles. In that time the only idea expressed in the recent col- expense. It allows us to save our
money for research and develop-
Jewish problem had to do with umn on converts.
ment at home. And it allows us,
the care and culture of immi-
to treat our allies better than
grants who were just then arriv-
ISRAEL SHOES TO U. S.
ing in the United States in large
TEL AVIV—(ISI) — American our enemies, instead of giving
numbers, in flight from the po- stores have placed trial orders the Germans a standard of liv-
groms in Russia.
for 4,000 pairs of men's handmade ing higher than that of France
or England.
Until then the Jewish group Israel shoes.

The Rabbi Knew Why
Intermarriage Failed

B

Don't Look
For Reich As
Ally In War

