Paco Six.
THE JEWISH
THE JEWISH NEWS
ti
U.S. Rabbis'
Friday. Jay 3. 1942
FOR INDEPENDENCE .. .
Published every Friday by the Jewish News Publishing Co.
Inc., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit. Mich. Telephone RAndolph 7956.
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Member of Independent Jewish Press Service, Jewish Tele-
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President, Hebrew Union College
War-Time Tasks
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ and PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Publishers
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maurice Aronsson
Philip Slomovitz
Fred M. Butzel
Isidore Sobeloff
Theodore Levin
Abraham Srere
Maurice II. Schwartz
Henry 1Vineman
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
On this Sabbath, the nineteenth day of Tammuz, the following
Scriptural selections will be held in our synagogues: Pentateuchal
portion, Num. 25:10-30:1; Prophetical portion, Jer. 1:1-2:3.
VOL. 1—NO. 15
JULY 3, 1942
A Serious Complaint
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency cable from Moscow
revealing that Jewish refugees were discriminated against
in the course of distribution of aid among Poles stranded
in Russia, carried the following charge:
Complaints also have been received here from refugees
with regard to the old clothing and shoes sent from America.
Most of the articles, the complaints stress, are in such bad shape
that they are of little use. Medical relief received from the
American Joint Distribution Committee, however, is greatly
appreciated here by both the Jewish and non-Jewish refugees
from Poland.
IF
NEWS
This is not the first time that such accusations have
been made on the score of distribution of old clothing
among needy. But in the instance of such shipments to
Russia the blunders are more inexcusable than ever in
view of the difficulties involved both in the collection of
the clothes and their delivery.
Apparently the entire matter needs to be studied.
and if it is inadvisable to send old clothes to the Polish
refugees in Russia, the sponsors of the movement should
be urged to abandon it for the more practical methods of
dispensing relief pursued by the Joint Distribution Com-
mittee.
In the meantime, steps should be taken to prevent
further discrimination against the Jewish refugees from
Poland. Assurances had been given by the Polish Govern-
ment-in-Exile that distribution of relief would be carried
on in an unprejudiced manner. They should be held to
their word and should be forced to adhere to pledges of
good faith and non-partisan humanitarianism.
Willkie — Champion of Justice
Wendell L. Willkie's article "The Case of the Minori-
ties" in the Saturday Evening Post served once again to
call attention to the genius of the Republican standard
bearer as a champion of the rights .of the oppressed.
Mr. Willkie's statement is one of the most brilliant
evaluations of the principles of Americanism that has been
presented to the people of this country in many years.
"Our way of living together in America is a strong but
delicate fabric," he writes. "It is made up of many threads.
It has been woven over many centuries by the patience
and sacrifice of countless liberty-loving men and women.
It serves as a cloak for the protection of poor and rich,
of black and white, of Jew and gentile, of foreign and
native born."
The conclusion to this interpretation of the American
way of life reveals Mr. Willkie's passionate devotion to
his ideal : "For God's sake, let us not tear it asunder. For
no man knows, once it is destroyed, where or when man
will find its protective warmth again."
Hats off to Mr. Willkie ! He has rendered a great
service and has proven again that he has earned the con-
fidence not only his party but the entire American people
place in him and his idealism.
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Don't Be Panicky!
The function of the Rabbi in
the war- and post-war periods
is not essentially different than
in normal times. What differ-
ence there is, is of degree and not
of kind. There is more of service
to be Performed by the Rabbi in
these troubled times, more of
service in many directions; but
its nature has changed and will
change but little, at least as I
envisage it.
He must still be the teacher
and spiritual guide and stimulus
of his congregation and commun-
ity, the spokesman for Judaism
and the Jewish people and the
active, constructive leader in
their cause. All his manifold
tasks in this many-faceted ser-
vice still confront him; only
they have probably become more
numerous and varied, more in-
tense, more urgent and com-
pelling.
MUST PREPARE PEOPLE
FOR A TRUE PEACE
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Detroit's Social Service Program
Perhaps to a greater extent
than ever before, if this be at
Herman Pekarsky's resume of the Detroit Je
all conceivable, he will be called Social Service program for the
past year, published
upon to participate in activities
full in - The Jewish News, deserves careful stud y.
of a communal or national char-
acter and scope. incidental to the analysis shows clearly how well our local program
war effort and the necessity of been carried on during the past year, how our communi
shaping public opinion and build-
organizations are functioning in an efficient and whol
ing up public morale.
Also to a far greater degree some way, in spite of the war. At the same time, all t
must the Rabbi concern himself facilities of our community structure are being proper
with the problem of public re-
geared to action made necessary by the war situation. T
lations, particularly as these
must affect the Jewish commun- accomplishments reviewed by Mr. Pekarsky are a credit
ity of America, either in the im- the responsible administrations as well as to the men an
mediate present of the war situa-
women who have been charged with the duties of supe
tion or as they may develop in
the processes of post-war read- vising the local program.
justment. That this readjust-
ment may be extreme, and even
radical. in its social, enonomic
and religious aspects, that it will
The June 17 issue of the Congressional Record co
be attended therefore by bitter tains a political gem. Under "Extension of Remarks,"
struggle between competing
the Appendix, Cleveland's Congressman Martin
forces, each struggling, not mere-
ly for mastery, but for actual Sweeney inserted a statement on "Service to Jews." Th
survival. is already clearly es- Representative from Ohio who had filed several lawsui
tablished. That in such a period against columnists and newspapers for calling him
one or the other party may, in anti-Semite, now finds himself on the spot because of a
its desperation, grasp at the ex- organized effort to defeat him for re-election, and
pedient of a scape-goat, is not "Service to Jews" article is a part of his counterattac
at all improbable. And that the and is one of his methods of defense against those who
Jew would still be the scape- he charges with aiming to "crucify" him.
goat most ready to hand. is pat-
Congressman Sweeney, a "pal" of Father Charles
ent to all. For this potential and
not at all improbable situation Coughlin with whom he shared the public platform an
it now becomes the duty of the whom he often quoted in Congress, addresses himself
Rabbi to prepare both himself Jews. He pointed out that he had appointed three Jews
and his people, and his commun- West Point, that he had helped many Jewish constituen
ity too for that matter, so that that "I have assisted in bringing to the community certai
whenever the situation may Jewish rabbis of the orthodox faith to administer spirit
arise, it may be met by all con- ally to the Jews of my community." This clever politicia
cerned calmly, wisely and in the has kept a record
of the people with whom he had co
spirit of true democracy, to the
responded and whom he challenges--by inserting a Ion
end that the forces of reaction
and of evil may be overcome and list of their names in the Record—to stop calling hi
eventually a true peace for man- intolerant.
kind be established.
This is a neat political trick. It is equivalent to sayin
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A Political Gem
to some of the people listed that since he has assisted the
at one time or another they should not oppose him an
MUST AFFIRM UNIQUE
SERVICE OF JUDAISM
One duty above all else the
Rabbi must now perform. It is
in no sense a new duty; but he
must now devote himself to it
as never before. This new and
better order of society, this new
and better world, will not be
fashioned without the help, the
guidance, the inspiration and the
leadership of religion. What
shall be Judaism's part therein?
It too is no new task; but it
has now become urgent as never
before. It requires authoritative
knowledge, lofty vision, exalted
purpose, consecrated zeal. It
represents the. prophetic aspect
of the Rabbi's service. But does
not the modern Rabbi regard
himself as more, even far more,
of the prophet than the priest?
And was it not always the mo-
ment of crisis which called the
true prophet into being, the
A niillion Jews are reported to have been murdered prophets who are • the very cap-
stone of Judaism's arch of glory?
by the Nazis since the outbreak of the war.
is not this a time of crisis,
Their blood cries for justice, and the United Nations' And
which must challenge - all that
spokesmen have responded to the outrage by assuring that is prophetic within our Rabbis
these murders will be avenged.
and draw forth, in the name of
May the day of reckoning come soon, in order that God, active, creative endeavor?
PM made much of the Schiller Case in New Hyde
Park, N. Y. The Schillers, being the only Jewish family
on the block in their district, were taunted, their child
was called "dirty Jew," and they were compelled to sell
their home. A liberal judge rebuked their neighbors.
Readers of PM w9re outraged. It was justified resentment.
But in more than one sense it was so ordinary an
experience that we are impelled to say to those who had
read the stories that they should not become panicky. We
could cite dozens of instances of a similar nature in our
',own community. In most cases, the Jewish residents who
Ilk been abused survived their tormentors and are now
recognized and respected residents of their sections.
There is a lack of neighborliness, there are too many
offenders, and prejudice is too widespread to be tolerated
by anyone. But we accomplish nothing by being panicky,
since we have to fight for justice and tolerance on so many
fronts.
The Blood of a Million
justice shall be re-established on earth.
(Copyright, J.T.A., 1942)
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should overlook his endorsements of Coughlin. But th
latter must count for something, and it is difficult to be!
lieve that Rep. Sweeney will be forgiven, by eithet=
Christians or Jews, for "palling" with a leader of the anti'
Semites in America who gave comfort to the enemies
this land through his unjustified attacks upon the heads o
our Government and the policies they pursued in defensi
of democracy.
Our New Presidents
Detroit's leading Jewish movements have just helc
annual elections, and the choices they have made in of
ficers deserve commendations.
Abraham Srere has been re-elected president of th4
Jewish Welfare Federation, his selection for a fourth tern
indicating how well he has 'merited the respect in which
he is held by the major Jewish community organization
Abraham Cooper's many years of service givf
promise that he will make a splendid president for th(
Zionist Organiiation of Detroit.
Similarly, the election of Rudolph Zuieback as heac
of the United Hebrew Schools is the result of his morn
than 20 years' interest in educational activities.
These men and their associates hold pivotal positiont
in Jewish life in a time when we are sorely in need of wise
leadership. They deserve the wholehearted support 01
all of us, in order that they may succeed in guiding oui
cultural, philanthropic and recon s truction efforts.