Page Two

T.HE JEWISH NEWS

Speaking of
Toil ranee

Quotation of the Week

By DAVID SCHWARTZ

Wendell Willkie continues to reveal
more and more facets of the greatness
of his stature.
The other day Mr. Willkie, accepting
the American Hebrew medal conferred
on him for having done most during the
year for "the promotion of better under-
standing between Christians and Jews,"
made a comment that revealed real
philosophical insight into these matters
of freedom and equality of which we
Americans have been talking so much
lately.
Mr. Willkie deplored the use of the
word "tolerance."
Some people think that "tolerance"
is a very fine term for a very able thing.
But Mr. Willkie knows better. He knows
that tolerance is putrid and he says so.
WASHINGTON ON TOLERANCE
Mr. Willkie, in making this distinc-
tion, was emphasizing a point made by
George Washington back in 1790. In
that year, Washington, just elected first
President of the United States under the
new Constitution, decided to make a
trip around the country. When he visited
Newport, the Jews of that community
presented him with an, address, voicing
their confidence and respect for him.
In reply, Washington thanked them for
their good wishes and went on to com-
ment about religious freedom in the
United States. Said Washington:
"It is no more that toleration is
spoken of as it were by the indulgence
of one class of people that another
enjoy the exercise of their inherent
natural rights."
Washington was happy that the day
had arrived when it was perceived that
the freedom of any class was its natural'
right, not a concession granted it by
another, stronger class.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE GREAT
It was true that "to be tolerated" was
a progressive step, but still it was pu-
trid, and James Madison, later to be-
come President of the United States, but
then a very young member of the
Virginia Constitutional Convention knew
it was so.
He arose in the Virginia Convention
and offered a motion that the word
"tolerance" be expunged, for, he ex-
plained, tolerance meant that only by-
the grace of the ruling group could dis-
senting believers worship in their own
tenets. Madison won his point: The
Constitutional provision was changed to
read, that all men are entitled to the
free exercise of their beliefs.
So Willkie, in his speech, was simply
uttering fundamental American doctrine,
and there is still much virtue and heal-
ing in that doctrine.
It is good to see Americans in this
day talking the language of Washington
and Madison.

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1942, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)

THE POLITICAL POT

Those who would like to see a break-
down in the negotiations between the
Zionists and the non-Zionists in America
on Vs?. question of a united front for
the peace conference will be disap-
pointed . . . A satisfactory understanding
on basic principles is about to be
reached by the leaders of the two
groups . . . At the annual meeting of
the American Jewish Committee in
January there will be a statement read
which will be very acceptable to the
Zionists . . . Is it true that Dr. J. L.
Magnes is expected in America soon?
. . . And it is true that some groups in
this country would like to prevent him
from coming here, fearing that his visit
to America may strengthen the position
of the Ichud party which he formed in
Palestine? . . . We understand that Dr.
Werner Senator, non-Zionist member of
the executive of the Jewish Agency,
called a meeting in Jerusalem of the
other non-Zionist members of the
Agency and told them of his intention
to resign from the executive . . . He
was persuaded by Moshe Smilansky not
to do so . . . Senator also cabled to lead-
ing non-Zionists in America consulting
them ;es to whether he should resign
because of his disapproval of the Bilt-
more Declaration which demands the
establishment of a Jewish Common-
wealth in Palestine . . . Though the
Jewish Daily Forward is not interested
in the fight which is now going on be-
tween the pro-Zionist rabbis and the
group of rabbis who organized them-
selves as the Council for American
Judaism opposing political Zionism, it
has decided to carry an article against
the latter group.

Purely
Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

. Copyright, 1942, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.
•

Between
You and Me

Friday, January I, 1943

"In the name of all Swedish Catholics, I express our innermost
and deepest sympathy with all those who in our day are innocently
persecuted and indiscriminately suppressed. It fills our heart with
bitter pain and constant trembling to know that in Europe, which
was and still should be a Christian part of the world, thousands of
people are persecuted, tormented, killed, or are mercilessly driven
from home and homeland to be thrust into exile and misery because
of race, or because they had defended the freedom of their country
and their ancient rights inherited from their forefathers."--Bishop
Johannes Mueller in letter to Archbishop Erling Eidem, head of the
Swedish State Church.

Heard in
the Lobbies

By DAVID DEUTSCH

(Copyright, 1942, Independent
Jewish Press Service)

JOB-HUNTERS

Strictly
Confidential

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

(Copyright, 1942, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate)

(Copyright, 1942, Independent
Jewish Press Service)

THE WAR AND ANTI-SEMITISM
It is becoming more evident daily
that the war is no longer acting, as a
check on anti-Semitic propaganda in
this country. A new type of mouth-to-
mouth story and hand-to-hand circular
is making the rounds. There are stories
about alleged Jewish cowardice, about
Jews who are "out to get" more tires
and gasoline. There is not a word about
Jews doing their wholehearted duty in
the fight for freedom.
Your CornMentator made a study of
some figures. In Michigan, for instance,
there is one Jew in the service to every
40 in the population. The list published
by The Jewish News carried nearly
2,500 names of Jews in the service, ac-
counting for one in every 34 of the
Jewish population—and this record is
short of at least 1,000 more names that
are now being compiled.
The record, if made known, will indi-
cate to those who seek the truth that
charges of non-participation in the pres-
ent war effort are gross libels. -
The trouble is that those who desire
to know the truth ordinarily refused
to listen to the nonsense of anti-Semi-
tism; but the crack-pots, who are re-
sponsible for the libels, will refuse to
listen to facts, as their minds are too
thoroughly poisoned against Jews and
others whom they hate.
* .* *
IN THE LAST WAR

YEAR-END CHECK-UP
Governor Lehman is being flooded
With 1942 a page in history, let's
with requests from successful and not- glance back at the prophecies the late
so-successful Jewish social workers all Erik Jan Hanussen, Hitler's Jewish
over the country for jobs on his com- soothsayer, left for that year . . . Right
mission for Foreign Relief and Rehabili- on the nose was his prediction that 1942
tation. Right now the State Department would see the complete collapse of
is carefully choosing personnel and France as a great power and her loss
even that is still very limited, until the of all her colonies . . . And not so far
sentiment of the next Congress can be off was another prognostication stating
tested . . . That was clever psychology that May 23, 1942, would witness "the
in entitling assistance to be rendered by fall of the man who wants to be the
Lehman as "war-aid," instead of "refu- ruler of the world by brute force" .
We should not, however, be misled
gee-aid" and "lend-lease." Vast quanti- True, neither Hitler nor Benito nor into believing that the experiences of
ties of "war-aid" are being purchased Hirohito fell on that day . . . But Walter this war are worse than those of the
to supply distressed populations in the Darre, Nazi Agriculaure Minister, who last. Your Commentator was in the stu-
path of the United Nations' armies of had quite ambitious plans for himself, dent audience in Hill Auditorium in Ann
liberation . . . What makes a Jew like was deposed from office on that day, Arbor, Mich., in 1917, at a patriotic
Louis B., Mayer tick? Here is a Variety and hasn't been heard from since
. . . As rally, attended by men and women of
asserting that Leland B. Ford, the Cali- for Hanussen's predictions for 1943— all faiths. A prominent speaker told a
fornia Congressman who was displaced we'll give you a couple, and if it story about Jews and Jewish liberality;
by Will Rogers, Jr., had the steady sup- amuses you you can check up on them which ended with a Jewish character
port of M-G-M's Mayer. Anyone read- a year from now . . . One concerns the supposedly asserting: "We Jews are a
ing Congressional Record is familiar present war, and declares that the "big- charitable people. Let's give three cheers
width the type of speeches Ford used to gest sea battle of all time" will take for the Jews."
make and especially the one in which place in the South Seas sometime this
This story so roiled many members
he defended himself against the charge year . . .. And the other says the most
of anti-Semitism. Mayer, incidentally, is terrific earthquake in many years will of the faculty that they demanded con-
demnation of such sentiments in time
the brother-in-law of Boston's Julius occur in Japan during 1943.
of war, when all elements in the
Meyer, old-time Zionist zealot . . And
American population were fighting foi
talking about the ticking of Jews, that NEWS OF NEWSMEN
the same cause. The university news-
million dollar gift of Bernard M. Baruch
You can't discourage some people . . •
was very generous. It's strange, though, Here's F. B. Opper, who used to be edi- paper, the Michigan Daily, the net day
that a man of his assumed knowledge tor of the Shanghai Post, and only re- carried an editorial which criticized the
of world affairs found it possible to give cently returned to these shores after offender for his lack of judgment.
only $20,000 to the Joint Distribution having been interned by the Japanese
We thought of this story when we
Committee, especially at a tragic time . . . Now he's planning to return to read the circulated piece of nonsense
for Jews like this. We Jews get all the China . . . Opper, incidentally, is the about American heroes—all Irish—and
hell from the Berlin radios which blare grandson of the late Frederick Burr the appended remark that "Abe Cohen
forth Baruch's Jewishness but we don't Opper, creator of the "Happy Hooligan" was the first man to secure four new
tires."
always get the compensations. Inci- and "Alphonse and Gaston" cartoons.
dentally, Baruch is pretty sensitive on
When Pierre van Paassen predicted
Good Americans are obligated to con-
the score of attacks on him for hi; some months ago, in an article in Look
Jewishness. He keeps a big clipping bool magazine, that a secret army which demn such tale-bearing. Good Ameri-
cans will repudiate such sentiments, as
with every vicious anti-Semitic cartoon Stalin had in reserve would launch an some
already have done.
and every nasty libel printed about him irresistible offensive this winter, the
by our enemies. Of course, the fact military experts' laughed out loud . . .
that all Jews have common enemies Now their faces are red . . . Van Paas-
doesn't mean that they themselves have sen, by the way, is writing a play on a
to be common friends.
Jewish topic.
NEWS ITEMS
Laugh of the week was provided by
Sentiment created by Joseph East- Arthur Szyk with his New York Post
man's plea against conventions unless cartoon showing Addled Adolf de-
Recently instituted. at the National
they definitely contribute to shortening claiming to Gory Goering: "I will sell
the war almost halted the Cleveland my skin dearly"—and Hermann blandly Farm School, Bucks County, Pennsyl-
vania, are special war-time courses in
convention of the Council of Jewish inquiring: "But who will buy it?"
the care and repair of house and farm
Federations, which wired its members
implements. Neighbors for miles around
for their reaction. Fortunately for sound JEWISH FRONT
attend nightly classes in welding and
sense, they all said go right ahead.
Emanuel Neumann, director of public
designed to give added life
The son of the late Israel Friedkin, relations of the Zionist Emergency Com- mechanics
to machines and tools which are becom-
publisher of the Jewish Morning Jour- mittee, is determined not to withdraw ing increasingly scarce. The National
nal, whose mother has majority stock the resignation he had tendered.
Farm School was founded in 1896 by the
in the famed Yiddish daily, is trying to
Negotiations between the ZOA and late Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf of Phila-
learn how to run the sheet, even though the Committee for a Jewish Army are delphia. The agency is a beneficiary of
he knows no Yiddish. Being an enter- still in progress . . . The Zionist leader- the Allied Jewish Campaign.
prising fellow, now training for the ship recognizes that the Committee has
Signal Corps, young Friedkin deserves done an A-1 job.
A formal plan for the creation of a
to succeed.
single welfare organization to direct
This fellow Elmer Berger, who seems MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
civic-protective activities in the United
to have escaped that Jewish Welfare
Somewhere along the long Atlantic States has been submitted for approval
Board Committee which appoints eligible coastline of these United States there's to the four major defense agencies by
rabbis to chaplaincies in order to direct a strip of beach officially known among the Committee on Civic-protective Organ-
the new American Council for Judaism, the Coast Guard as Dinah Shore, in izations of the Council of Jewish Federa-
used to raise an awful lot of fuss in his
tions and Welfare Funds. The plan pre-
town of Flint to get his own temple to honor of our favorite radio warbler sented to the American Jewish Commit-
be a beneficiary of the funds raised for . . . But where that shore is the Coast tee, American Jewish Congress, Briai
Guard won't tell, claiming it's a mili-
overseas purposes.
Brith and the Jewish Labor Committee
tary secret.
CONGRATULATIONS
The Jewish Welfare Board, which envisages the establishment of a single
Congratulations to Rabbi Israel M. somehow had acquired a couple of type- operating body which should be respon-
Goldman of Providence and Mildred writers that once belonged to Bundist sible for the policy-making, allocation of
Gandal on their forthcoming marriage. Fritz Kuhn, made' a point of presenting funds, budgeting, financing and directing
Mildred used to be secretary to the them to the USO headquarters at Man- of the American civic-protective pro-
grams. A report on the action of this
famous educator, the late A. H. Fried- hattan Beach, New York.
plan by the four civic-protective agencies
land, then to that other famous educa-
will be presented to the General Assem-
tor, Azriel Eisenberg, of Cleveland, and ABOUT PEOPLE
more recently, she has been secretary to
Joseph Weiner; the former Canadian bly of the Council of Federations and
Louis Finkelstein, president of the Jew- who is one of Washington's most dis- Welfare Funds which will be held in
ish Theological Seminary.
tinguished economists, is being men- Cleveland, on January 16 and 17.
Best wishes to Pierre van Paassen in tioned for the post of Director of the
The Jewish Child Welfare Association
his defense against the libel suit Office of Civilian Supply of the War
and the Jewish Family Welfare Bureau,
brought by the Duke of Hamilton, Production Board.
Scottish peer who charges that "That
Mrs. Maxim Litvinoff, wife of the both of Toronto, have merged into one
Day Alone," describing the reasons for Russian Ambassador to this country, has agency, which will be administrated by
Rudolf Hess' flight to Scotland, reflected just finished a new novel, which will be one board and one executive director.
on him.
published soon . . . But, to hear her The merger has a two-fold object: To
Friends are already congratulating Sid- tell it, this is quite unimportant corm make possible an improved service to
ney Hollander of Baltimore on his re- pared to the achievement of her son, clients and community; to stimulate
election as president at the forthcoming Mischa, who has just been raised to the greater interest and participation in the
convention of the Council of Jewish Wel- rank of lieutenant in the Soviet Air work of the agency in order that it might
become an integral part of the commun-
fare Funds.
Force.
ity.

Service on
Many Fronts

