America ffewish Periodical

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Page 4

UN Flag for Paris

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
Enteredas Second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at
Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879

Friday, January 5, 1951

2 Story Books
Recommended
for Children

By WALTER FARBER
Bnai Moshe Religious School
Director,
DREIDEL
WHO
THE
SEYMOUR TILCIIIN
WOULDN'T SPIN by Libby
Publisher
M.. Kiaperman. (B ehr man
GERIIARDT NEUMANN
NORMAN KOLIN
Editor
House, New York, $1).
Advertising Manager
There are a number of books
Tebet 27, 5711
put out for youngsters—but few
Friday, January 5, 1951
have appeal in terms of language,
print, pictures and general con-
tents. "The Dreidel Who Wouldn't
Happy New Year? The familiar wish at this time of the
Spin" is one of those volumes in
season sounds almost like a blasphemy. Not for a long time
a series of picture books for chil-
has this plagued world of ours been so unhappy as in 1951.
dren that k delightful for young-
Will it be peace or will it be war? Will terrible weapons lay
sters between the ages of 4 to 8.
waste cities and civilizations? Or will reason once again
A committee of five outstand-
ing educators has been assembled
triumph and prevent a senseless destruction?
These are the questions which have to be answered in
to offer guidance in the selection
do not know what the final answer will be. But we
and preparation of modern,
1951. We
meaningful and exciting stories
think that as Jews it is not only our duty to hope for the best
that acquaint the child with the
but to work actively for the cause of peace. Any future war
serious threat to the continued existence of Israel,
varied aspects of Jewish life.
would be a
"The Dreidel" is indeed well done
just as to any other country outside the Russian orbit.
and deserves a place on each
worry over Israel, notwithstanding the narrow views
Our
Jewish child's library shelf.
some ultranationalists, is quite justified. It is an added worry
of
In this story, the dreidel is
to our concern about the threat to the security of the United
Bnai Brith in Paris presented the French capital with a UN flag.
personified and given human
States. Our loyalty belongs to his country, but nothing can
Left to right: Gaston Kahn, BB president of France; Cecil W.
stop us from fearing for the freedom and stability of the Jewish
Gray, American Consul General; Paul Haag, prefect of the Depart- qualities. "I'll show them," he
mutters. won't spin. I just
state whose existence is inextricably tied up with our interest.
ment of the Seine, and Georges Jacob, vice-president of France's
The question what we can do as individuals or as a group
won't spin for them."
Bnai Brith.
"You won't spin? But there
to prevent war is difficult to answer at this late stage of the
are just two days till Hanukkah,"
game. For the many things that could have been done years
the Menorah exclaims. "What
ago and were neglected it may now be too late. We believe,
will we do without you?"
however, that the most effective argument against anti-demo-
"I don't care. I'm just not go-
cratic ideologies is a more perfect democracy. We do not be-
ing to spin."
lieve that in this struggle of ideas weapons will have the last
The kiddush cup, the silver
word. It was the same in 1918 and 1945: the guns rested but
esrog basket, the Havdalah
the economic and ideological struggle continued. This is the
I don't notice whether he is a candle and the spice box come
- tragedy of our century.
By ALFRED SEGAL
Christian gentleman, a Buddhist to life in this simple narrative
As Jews we are in the midst of this struggle. We are in-
Y FRIEND Jim Allen (we I
what have you. I describe him of Hanukkah as the story un-
As in the continued existence of a free society since there
work on the same daily news- , or
veils the background of Judas
is no room for us in any other society. That which is left to
paper, he being the city editor) only as an unhappy gentleman
Maccabee and the Jewish fight
who
came
home
so
unexpectedly.
us is to strengthen our own Jewish organizations in- a demo-
started to tell me a story. " heiWhy do you have to make a Jew for freedom.
cratic way and to set an example for brotherhood and sincerity
•
•
"A couple of Jews
The illustrations by Laszlo
out of your gentleman? Are you
in our dealings with each other and our fellow men.
began.
Matulay are beautiful and the
maybe an anti-Semite?"
I raised a
With Jim Allen I could be firm. story is well told. However, it is
warning hand,
short. It took me only
I
had
taken hold of his coat lapel a 10 little
like the traffic
minutes to read it to my chil-
by
way
of
shaking
him
and
A discussion about the religious situation in Israel has been
cop at the cor-
dren. I would like to see several
pressed my fist into his chest, pages added to the book, espe-
ner: "Stop! Jim,
going on for some time. The Jewish state has been charged
like
a
stern
though
kindly
father.
cially with more emphasis on the
is it absolutely
with-sUppressirfg religious Ireedorn by ,..turning -all religious
I wasn't going to let Jim get miracle involved in the Hanuk-
necessary to
functions over to orthodox Judaism.
away with it.
recent memorandum entitled "The Application of Home
kah story instead of the victories
hang funny sto-
A
"Jim," I said as kindly as I of the Maccabees.
Rule to the Protection of Religious Observance in Israel,"
ries on Jews?
could, "I don't care to hear your
Parents ought to buy the book
which was transmitted to the Israeli government by its authors,
You of all peo-
story about a couple of Jews. by all means. It can be re-read
ple, Jim!"
Samuel H. Hofstadter, N. Y. Supreme Court Justice; Col. Harold
Segal
From here on I am going to stop many times at intervals with the
Riegelman of New York, a member of the American Jewish
I could speak
that way to Jim, not merely be- all such stories before they get satisfaction of knowing that rep-
Committee, and Jacob M. Dinnes, education chairman of the
cause some of his best friends are started. I shall teach you how etition of so many symbolic
Long Island Zionist Region, sheds some new light on the
things is good education and
Jews, as the saying goes. Jim's to tell a story properly.
question.
youthful associations had been
The memorandum seeks to outline a way for an acceptable
"Jim, tell me, does a funny builds up appreciation of tradi-
quite Jewish. His family had story have to be about Jews? tional values.
resolution of the problem. It takes the view that the separation
• • •
lived in a Jewish neighborhood Human nature is the very same
of state and church is the preferable way for Israel, although
MEIER SIIFEYA—A CIIIL-
and—what do you know.—Jim in all kinds of people and why
not feasible now.
went along to Hebrew school should you discriminate in the DREN'S VILLAGE IN IS-
"The desires of a majority of the people in each com-
with the Jewish kids. He picked sholl
munity," the authors state, "can be measurably accomplished
telling of a story? A funny story RAEL by Sonia Gidal (Behr-
up Hebrew and Yiddish words
by permitting the majority in each community to apply their
if it is really funny—remains man House, New York. $1.25).
Some of the best text books
and he utters them without funny no matter upon whom you
own reasonable criteria of public decorum and conduct insofar
and stories for youngsters have
hava
to
straining.
do
you
as they affect religious observance."
Why
I hang it?
been written in the past by par-
"You too, Jim!" . . . I felt I hang i t on a couple of Jew s?
Home rule, the authors believe, would provide at least a
ents who could not find suitable
should
give
him
a
lecture.
I
had
temporary solution. "Generally, the local protective legislation
I could see that Jim was listen- material. Sonia Gidal and her
wanted to lecture other Gentiles
would be more or less restrictive of activities offensive to the
on the same subject but always ing to me most respectfully. This husband, Tim, who did the illus-
devout majority in the communities which adopt such measures.
ave it up as a useless job. But was altogether like Jim—a rea- trations, also sat down and did a
But the legislation could not, consistently with freedom of
to
Jim Allen I could speak as to sonable man of broadminded un- story for their four-year-old son.
conscience, require any positive act of religious devotion or
But it seems that the sentence
another member of the Anshe derstanding. I couldn't have
observance on the part of any person."
spoken that way to the one who structure and language of this
It appears that this solution is a reasonable and equitable
Giborim Shul.
Only the other day a fellow had told. me about the gentleman book would best suit a child of
one. Religious observance differs widely in the various cities
who came home too unexpectedly 8 or 10. A four-year-old could
stops me to ' tell me about a
and settlements. The acceptance of home rule will depend,
a
Jewish lady who called on Mr. or the one who had told me about hardly retain much at one read-
however, on the willingness of the religious parties to adopt
Anthony, the radio sage ..." And the lady who wished to know ing. The book is undoubtedly a
more tolerant attitude toward non-observant Jews. So far they
how to make French toast. Jim fascinating, but it calls for
what's your problem?" he asked
have not shown any willingness to compromise.
longer concentration span than
her. "Please, Mr. Anthony, tell was taking it.
"Jim," I said, "I knew I could might be expected of a fledgling.
me how to make French toast,"
This is a story of children who
she replied, after reciting her speak to you frankly on a sub-
ject so touchy. Now take the case have come from all over the
whole sad story.
Social reforms in the Near East are admittedly one of the
I wouldn't repeat the story here of the couple of Jews you started world to join the Junior Iladas-
to tell me about. All right! Does sah's village of Meier Shfeya in
most urgent tasks facing all nations concerned with that part
even if she were a Christian lady
of the world. At the last session of the United Nations it
or a Mohammedan lady or a lady it improve your story any to say Israel. It is written in letter form
seemed as if the Arabs were willing to adopt a reasonable
from Tibet. Why do they have to, that they were Jews? They could to "Dear Judy and Jerry" and
attitude, because they agreed to participate in a regional World
pick on a Jewish lady? Aren't as well be any other kind of describes the lives of youngsters
Health Organization meeting in Istanbul at which Israel would
there other kinds of ladies who people and the human comedy in the village from morning to
knows no discrimination in its night.
be represented.
would like to know how to make I I
The young readers will enjoy
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a program of
French toast under similar cir- laughter.
"Suppose, now, Jim, you try to meeting "my friend Jacob" as
health and welfare and to familiarize the Arab 'nations with
cumstances?
modern techniques and methods. Social reforms also were to
But with Jim Allen it is dif- tell me your story without drag- well as Dan, Gideon and Jona-
couple of Jews into it. If than who tell them all about the
be on the conference agenda. It seems to us that the latter
ferent. When he starts a story ging a
about a couple of Jews I can you have to hang it on any group routine work of the youngsters
caused the Arabs to go back on their word.
their
According to a news item from Cairo a few days ago, the
speak to him like man to man. why not make it, say a couple of and introduce them to
cows and chickens.
Arabs, at the close of their all-Arab social welfare conference
"Now, Jim, you know better than Chinamen instead of a couple of horses, sheep, is
a credit to the
The book
that." Jim is not like that other Jews. As you tell your story you
in Cairo, decided not to carry on with a joint social reform
Junior Hadassah Organkation of
you
don't
need
Jews
see
that
planning program and regular conference if Israel is repre-
man who only the other day will
button-holed me right on the in it to be funny. So make 'em America. The village was estab-
sented.
Chinamen. There aren't enough lished in the hills of Samaria and
The interesting point is that the Arabs at first agreed to
street and said, "Have you heard Chinamen around to feel offended has become a haven for needy
sit together with Israeli representatives but later changed their
the story of the Jewish gentleman
children.
who came home unexpectedly? and, besides, they have no Chi-
mind. We suspect that the reason for this adamant attitude
A glossary explaining the He-
nese anti-defamation committee
is the fear that the modern ideas of Israel might prove more
Stop me if you've heard it."
brew terms would have been a
to
protest.
Make
'em
Chinamen.
forceful and appealing than the feudalistic ideas of the decadent
I should have stopped him then
great help for readers not fa-
and there. "Why should you pick Leave Jews out."
Arab world.
miliar with the Hebrew language.
Jim
agreed
it
was
a
good
idea.
Everyone knows what is needed: higher living standards,
on a Jewish gentleman? Don't
The photographs deserve our
healthier
"a couple
"Well,"
he
began
again,
higher wages, better housing, more cleanliness, a
Christian gentlemen at times
special commendation. They cap-
achieved
as
a
be
of
Chinamen
were
coming
from
diet and many other things. But this cannot
come home unexpectedly? When
tulie the life in the village in all
ruling class every
long as the present social setup gives the
I tell a story about a gentleman brith." Jim! You so and sci!"
its reality and excitement.
advantage while the toiling masses are practically excluded
"Aw
who comes home unexpectedly I
from all civilization.

Asa New Year Begins .. .

'Expert on Jokes' Runs
Into Unexpected Snarl

M

Religious Home Rule for Israel

Arabs Oppose Reforms