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. Subscription rates, $3 a year; foreign, $4 a year. Member of Independent Jewish Press Service, Jewish Tele- —By— graphic Agency, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious News Service, Palcor News Agency, Bressler Cartoon Service, Wide DR. JULIAN MORGENSTERN World Photc Service. 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. • 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 • " - r ya( ■•••••■■■rly. • • ;4; ••• ••• • ' • • 3 - _ -111 i • rt 0 3 I I 1 1 4 I (A11.53,", • ' ■ •• ■ •••••• • •-• - - • - - • 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 ' 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) •. •• • r •••,..- ier••• • 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.