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DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Still Time to Help
Detroit Jewish Chronicle
Published Weekly by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
WOodward 1-1040
900 Lawyers' Building, 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
Friday, December 22, 1950
Authors Join
to Show Best of
JewishWriting
By HAROLD S. COVEN
THIS LAND, THESE PEO-
PLE by Harold U. Ribalow
(The Beechhurst Press, New
York, 302 pp., $3.75.)
Harold Ribalow, editor of the
Congress Weekly and sports
writer, set himself a difficult task
when he went about compiling
Christmas Thoughts
an anthology of short stories by
American Jewish authors which
Christmas is here again, and with it its great message: "Peace
deal with topics of Jewish in-
on earth, and good will to men."' At a time like this, such a
terest.
message seems stranger than ever. It reaches our ear, but we have
The di, aulty lay in finding
little faith to believe in its fulfillment.
enough first-quality stories of this
However, let us not discuss world affairs. Let us rather go into
type in view of the paucity of
the problems of the Jewish home, which come up with Christmas
author; N.:! , ) write on Jewish
Jew take? What, in
a
time. What attitude tr \yard Christmas should
subjc ts.
particular, should be done to help children to overcome the uncom-
That he li. succeeded so well
fortable feeling that they are left out while their Gentile schoolmates There is still time—in these last days of 1950—to help this father
is a great creili to Ribalow, for
and son find a home in Israel. Pay your pledge in full to the This Land, Th: se People is a
are celebrating a joyous festival?
The question cannot easily be brushed away with the remark Allied Jewish Campaign NOW. The UJA needs $50,000,000 first-rate collection.
that Christians may celebrate their festivals while Jews should urgently to help the homeless and persecuted in eastern Europe
Imagine the effort involved in
celebrate theirs. We all know that this is simply wishful thinking.
and Arabian countries.
finding such works by Waldo
Christians
and
Jews
are
much
too
interwoven
Relationships among .
Frank and Delmore Schwartz, to
to ignore things which run counter to our traditions.
mention but a few. •
What are the facts? Despite the lack of any statistics, we ven-
The stories selected cover every
sizable
number
of
Detroit
Jews
ignore
such
festi-
ture to say that a
type of style and form imagin-
♦
♦
vals as Hanukkah in part or completely but take part in the com-
able from those patterned on
memoration of Christmas, either in the home of their Gentile friends
Sholem - Meld • m to those show-
or even in their own homes. We believe that there are fewer
ing the influmee of Kafka and
Menorahs than Christmas trees in Jewish homes. It is hard for the
Joyce.
surmounted
that
obstacle.
But
Jewish community to resist the charm and attractiveness of
By ALFRED SEGAL
What is• interesting is the num-
HE LADY READS this column bringing up children has us both ber of stories that have anti-
Christmas.
Thousands of Jewish children in public schools face the problem
in the Wisconsin Jewish stumped, as we are both honest Semitism as their theme. Ex-
of Christmas every year. Their classes study Christmas carols, light Chronicle (Milwaukee) and seems enough to admit that we would amples are Irwin Shaw's brilliant
trees, exchange presents. Should these Jewish children stay away to have some faith in my wis- like to see our own faith instilled An Act of Faith and Ludwig
dom. So she asks for advice on in the child. He has stated that Lewisohn's Writ of Divorcement.
or should they join in the general celebration?
he would leave it up to me, but
It seems to us that the problem has to be seen in the light of a strictly per-
I feel he should have as much Just how much American Jews
minor-
a
sonal
problem.
reality. We cannot live our lives without compromising. As
to say on it as I. How can we are sensitive to and react to anti-
The lady is
ity group we have to be broad-minded and seek understanding.
start a marriage by having one Semitism may come as a revela-
Jewish parents who are confronted with the question of what to asking questions
give in to the other on such an tion to many. It would almost
seem that many of the authors
tell their children, first should make up their mind whether they and no gentle-
important issue?
man can keep
are made conscious of their Jew-
intend to bring them up as Jews.
"We
feel
we
can
never
part.
ishness by this factor alone.
If they do—as they should—they will have to understand that her standing by
Is
there
anything
you
can
say
the road and re-
Those less concerned with al 1i-
to guide us in some way to some
their main obligation lies in a more thorough Jewish education than fuse to suggest
Semitism are the writers whose
is usually given today. Understanding of, and participation in, Chris-
sort
of
agreement
acceptable
to
the right way
roots in Jewish life are deep.
tian rites won't hurt Jewish children in the least as long as they to go. There she
both?"
The lady signs herself "A They appear able to concentrate
can see that they are merely spectators, friends among friends, not waits in consid-
on the relations' of Jews to each
Lover of Brotherhood."
Segal
worshippers among worshippers.
erable confusion
other rather than between Jews
So,
which
way
to
direct
her?
put
her
off
a
A greater emphasis on Jewish knowledge and Jewish traditions and I shall not
This is a columnist who doesn't and Gentiles.
in the schools and in the home will give a child the proper perspec- second longer.
Such authors are Meyer Levin
First, I should introduce her know how to hand down dicta (Maurie Finds his Medium) Jen-
tive. He will be able to join his Christian companions without moral
as
popes,
orthodox
rabbis
and
or religious compunctions if he is aware of the fact that his first to the readers: She is Jewish and
ny Klein (Yisgadal) and Yuri
is betrothed to a Christian gen- other columnists do. I won't tell Suhl (With the Aid of the One
and only religious loyalty is toward Judaism.
the
woman
to
break
it
up
by
re-
That the question has come up at all is due to the growing in- tleman and this is the letter I fusing to marry the man unless Above).
difference of the Jewish home toward the Jewish religion. Even in have received from her:
A strange anomaly is found
"As a frequent reader of your he puts it on on black and white
families who are to the right of reform Judaism, only a few selected
in Jerome Weidman's The Kenne-
that
their
children
be
brought
Jewish holidays are observed, in many cases half-heartedly and column, I feel that perhaps you up as Jews.
horrah, where the author obvi-
could give me a little guidance
• • •
without any deep conception of their meaning.
ously means The Nehorrah and
with a very serious and deep
Unpleasant as it may be, we should admit to ourselves that in
I KNOW ANOTHER case of uses the negative term instead.
Although the general tone of
most Jewish homes very little is being done to make our holidays problem.
"It is about the question of similar conflict. A Jewish man
as attractive as Christmas is for most people. There is no reason intermarriage. After a few had married an Episcopalian, the stories is tragic, Jews with-
why this should be so. Many Jewish holidays commemoratae joyous years of being deeply in love and an excellent and lovely lady out humor are incomplete per-
events and do not have to be drab and gray. Hanukkah—although we have decided that marriage she was. They had children and sonalities and so it is often a re-
it is only a semi-holiday—could become a great folk festival like would be a beautiful thing for us. when the question arose, how to lief to pass from Death of an
Christmas if Jewish parents would only take the trouble to familiar-
"We realize that a thing like bring them up—whether Jewish Actor and The Purification of
ize themselves with the traditions of their forefathers. We are, this would no doubt affect any or Episcopalian?—they came to Thelma Aug( nstern to the light-
hearted Mr. KAPLAN the Mag-
indeed, celebrating Christian festivals by default. We are losing our children we might have some a compromise:
Why not bring the kids up nificent by Leonard Q. Ross and
own traditions by our own neglect.
day.
If therefore a Jewish child wants to celebrate Christmas with
As neither one of us is a both in the Jewish way and the Nobody Can Beat Friedkin's
his friends, let him go and learn about other people. But, at the church-goer, we both admit that Christian way? They would Meats by Arthur Kober, both of
same time, don't forget to impress upon him the fact that he is a there are religious customs that know both their origins. They whose immigrant type humor is
Jew and that there is beauty in Judaism and its festivals. Don't we believe to be beautiful and would be children who, by the still effective.
All the selections in this book
neglect his Jewish education, and his contact with people of other also necessary. We believe that experience of the two religions
faiths will strengthen his convictions and enable him to serve both a child should have a religious would come to know that Juda- reflect to an overwhelming degree
foundation that will give him a ism and Christianity weren't too contemporary developments in
America and the Jewish cause.
far apart, after all.
writing among non-Jewish writ-
sense of security.
So, in 'their house they give ers. So that while these stories
"Knowing all these things,
Agreement Undesirable
how can we come to a conclusion Seder every Passover; the chil- may be accurately termed
as to whose religion our chil- dren attend the Unitarian Sun- "Jewish writing" they are as
Unbelievable as it may sound, agreement of Israel and
dren should follow? Would it day school where, in accordance much "American writing."
Jordan on acceptance of the Swedish plan for Jerusalem led to
Although Ribalow does not list
be possible to send a child to with the liberal Unitarian mind,
its defeat in the United Nations Special Political Committee.
one church and yet have him they are taught the essential the dates of all the works, it is
The Swedish plan proposed delegation of a UN representa-
observe customs and holidays universality of all religions. They clear that most of them were
light Hanukkah candles. They done in the 1930s and 1940s. They
tive to Jerusalem to watch over the holy places. The plan killed
pertaining to both?
are a happy family without any therefore represent the present
• • •
internationalization of Jerusalem.
Argued the Lel•anese delegate: "If Jordan approved of the
"WE HAVE A DEEP under- conflict, since the religions of generation of authors, and as such
resolution, it must be useless."
standing of one another. Cir- both the mother and father are are illuminating.
Observed the Chilean representative: "Little wonder Jordan
cumstances have thrown us to- respected and observed.
Whether they be realistic or
Now, by way of being one of expressionistic in form, almost
accepts it—nothing would be done."
gether in a peculiar way and it
It seems rather obvious that the Arab and Catholic blocs
is not a romance that can be the meeker among columnists, I without exception they reflect the
smelled a danger tc their pet idea: internationalization of Jerusa-
discarded. As far as our friends am not telling the Wisconsin lady cultural duality of the American
lem. Naturally, neither Israel nor Jordan are interested in such
and relatives are concerned, we that this is the way to do in her Jew.
have no hindrance, since they case. I wish her a happy mar-
With their minds the authors
a senseless solution.
Thus we see the UN fall back on the time-honored method
are very fond of my intended ried life which should not be have accepted American cultural
difficult
to
attain,
since
her
gen-
problem
which
is
husband. He has been a friend
of delay by starting another inquiry into a
patterns, but with their hearts
of the family for a number of tleman appears to be a Chris- they are torn between America
perfectly clear to anyone except the politicians who are afraid
tianly Christian.
of burning their fingers. Under the Belgian plan adopted by the, years.
and cultural memories of several
He, according to the lady, is
"Of course, there are the usual
committee—and subject to two-thirds approval by the General
thousand years. For so many of
willing
to
leave
it
all
to
her.
exceptions who shake their heads
assembly—a new commission would go to Jerusalem to study
them the conflict still rages and
She
can't
bring
herself
to
ac-
and smirk. We have never
the question and make recommendations.
even the war and the events of
cept
this
generosity;
she
feels
he
thought of ourselves as of dif-
As if the investigations of scores of commissions, which
1933-1648 have not shown the
ferent faiths until just recently should have as much to say in answers.
were sent to Palestine during the last 30 years, had not revealed
the
bringing
up
of
the
children
when these problems arose. Is
everything there is to know about the Holy Land!
For presenting to the public
there a way for us to solve as she.
In the meantime, the people of Jerusalem may see how they
this
collection, Ribalow is to be
good
as
a
I can tell him that
these things now so that there
can best organize their community, how they can keep' open
heartily
congratulated. The book
won't be any need for hard feel- Christian he will never have helps to fill a crying need in this
communications with the rest of Israel, and how the Hebrew
cause
to
regret
his
Jewish
chil-
ings later on when it is too late?
University and the Hadassah Hospital can continue to function.
country for a better understand-
"As my intended husband is dren, Jewishly brought up. He ing of what American Jews are
These are none of the worries of the UN.
will
find
in
them
spiritual
as
willing to be married according
writing and thinking.
We think it is time that the UN close its Jerusalem farce
to the Jewish tradition, we have well as biological kinsmen.
issues
of
the
day.
end turn to the more important
SEYMOUR TILCHIN
Publisher
GERHARDT NEUMANN
NORMAN KOLIN
Editor
Advertising Manager
Tebet 13, 5711
Friday, December 22, 1950
I ssue of Intermarriage—
and a Diplomatic Reply
T