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THE J,EWISH NEWS

Purely
Commentary

Quotation of the Week

"Our earth is but a small star in the great universe. Yet of it
we can make, if we choose, a planet unvexed by war, untroubled
by hunger or fear, undivided by senseless distinctions of race,
color or theory. Grant us that courage and foreseeing to begin
this task today that our children and our children's children may
be proud of the name of man."

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)

HUMOR'S EVOLUTION: FROM GHETTO
TO THE FIGHTING BRITISH

Remember the old story, repetition of
which annoyed us, about the Jewish
mother who tried to smuggle her son
past a street car conductor for whom she
reduced the youngster's age in half by
explaining, "Can I help it if he worries
and therefore looks older?"
Now, we have a new version of this
story. It comes to us frorin- England,
through Newcastle Journal. It reads:
"You must pay for the boy,' said
the conductor, while the six-year-old
tried to shrink in his seat.
" 'He's only three,' said his mother
tartly.
" `Lumme: he looks older!' exclaim-
ed the conductor.
"The mother threw out her hands
helplessly.
" 'Can I help it if he worries about
the war?' "
In this form, we need not be upset. The
joke is at the expense of a British woman
who tried to "get away without paying
the fare." But it is natural for us to
resent it when it is a Jewish mother who
is introduced as the cheat. Isn't that the
way with minorities who are always
picked on anyway? On the other hand,
that's also the natural evolution of humor.
One day it may be a story at the ex-
pense of a group of people who are
maligned; the next day it became a natu-
ral reaction in a natural environment.
Perhaps the knowledge of such evolution
should teach us to be more calm in times
of stress.
* * *
UNITY—AND DISCIPLINE

We talk a lot about unity, and achieve
very little of it. We acquire even less
discipline, in view of the numerous con-
flicting movements in America Jewish
life. Apparently the enfor scement of dis-
cipline is a simpler matter in England
where there is the central authority of a
Chief Rabbi. In the London Jewish
Chronicle, on the eve of the Fast Day
set as a mark of mourning "to express
Anglo—Jewry's heartfelt grief at the
suffering of their brethren" in Nazi-ruled
Europe, there appeared the following
warning, on the first page:
"To Jewish Shopkeepers, Stallholders
& Others: A Solemn Warning: The Chief
Rabbi, the Beth Din, and the Board of
Deputies of British Jews, most earnesly
plead that all Jewish places of business,
shops, stalls, etc., be CLOSED on the
Fast Day on Sunday.
"Any disregard of this solemn obliga-
tion upon Jews would be an act of
wanton and heartless contempt towards
Jews and Jewish feeling, an inexcusable
betrayal of our tortured brethern in
Europe who are at this very hour being
butchered in their thou,sands by the
Nazis, and a treacherous deed of sabot-
age of the Community's endeavour to
express before God and man their grief
at • the unutterable sufferings of their
fellow-Jews."
Study this warning, and judge for
yourselves whether such an act of total
community discipline is possible in a com-
munity like ours. It is hardly conceivable
that it possibly could be enacted in an
American Jewish community. But since a
Chief Rabbinate is equally as inconceiv-
able for our type of Jewish community
organization, the condition is more easily
understandable.
Nevertheless a central organization,
with power to enforce discipline in issues
democratically decided upon, could travel
a long way on the road to eliminating
rancor and enforcing principles that
would react for the good of all Israel.

Tickling* the News

By MARTIN PANZER

(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)

Best gag of the month: Szyk's reference
to Peyroutonitis as the prevailing disease
in North AfriCa.
* * • *
LASKER GIVES $50,000 FOR BIRTH
CONTROL—Headline. Not too little, but
still too late. Where was Mr. Lasker
when Schiklgruber, Sr. met that woman?
* *
FIRST ANNIVERSARY SEES 2,200 IN
ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) in
Palestine—Headline, Ats fine.
* *
WARNS JEWS WAR HAS NOT END-
ED JOB DISCRIMINATION—Headline.
Better warn the Christians. The Jews
knoW it.

From the Prayer for the United Nations, by Stephen Vincent Benet.

Strictly
Confidential

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

(Copyright, 1943, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate)

Between
You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1943, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)

Friday, February 5, 1943

Heard in
the Lobbies

By DAVID DEUTSCH

(Copyright, 1943, Independent
• Jewish Press Service)

ANTI-ZIONIST FRONT
Dr. Julian Morgenstern, President of
the Hebrew Union College, has with-
drawn from the ranks of the American
Council for Judaism.
Although some eminent Zionist mem-
bers of the Central Conference of Ameri-
can Rabbis are trying in all good faith to
bring about the dissolution of the Ameri-
can Council by freezing their Conference
into permanent neutrality on the issue
of Zionism, a meeting was held last week
in the study of Rabbi Jonah Wise in New
York. Among those reported present, in
addition to local colleagues, were Rabbis
Wolsey, Philipson and Fineshriber. Story
is that Rabbi Wise is trying to keep out
of the limelight of this picture because
of his leadership in one of the major na,
tional organiaztions which would be dis-
tinctly hurt if people realized the extent
of his feelings on the Zionist subject.
Who was the white-haired gentleman
from New York seen in the neighborhood
of the State Department in Washington?
Wasn't that some anti-Zionist proposal
which he had brought with him from
New York for the inspection and approval
of certain people in the State Depart-
ment?
IN TRIBUTE
In two wars now the Aaronsohn family
of Baltimore and Cincinnati has paid the
price for American freedom. In the last
war Michael Aaronshon was blinded in
the Argonne and returned to the United
States to win his degree as a rabbi ..
Now, his brother, Dr. Aaron S. Michel-
son, Lieutenant j. g. Medical Corps, Unit-
ed States Naval Reserve, is reported
"missing in action" since the great battle
on Nov. 13 of the destroyer U.S.S. Laffey,.
of which Michelson was the medical of-
ficer. Mike Aaronsohn is National Chap-
lain of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
PERSONALITIES
The whole nation read the story of the
five Sullivan brothers of Waterloo, Iowa,
listed as missing in the sinking of the
cruiser Juno in the American sea victory
over the Japs in the Solomons. It seems
there was some Jewish blood in their
veins, according to their grandmother,
Mrs. May Abel. The Chicago Herald
American carried the scoop, which had
the Sullivan brothers' maternal grand-
mother saying: "The boys are Irish and
Scotch and they have some Jewish blood.
One of my grandparents was Jewish. I
guess you would say the boys are typical
Americans. A goocs mixture makes a good
American. Isn't that right?" And Basil
Talbott, reporting on the case, adds: "It
is, everyone tells her."
Adolph S. Oko has become one of the
editors of the Contemporary Jewish
Record, marking a new pivot for the man
who started life as an anarchist; became
librarian of the radical theological Heb-
rew Union College; contributed to the
pages of a Bible encyclopedia published
for the use of Fundamentalists; cham-
pioned the nationalistic philosophy of the
Menorah Journal—and, for the time
being, might be said to be in the assimila-
tionist camp.

THE JEWISH FRONT
PITTSBURGH ECHOES:
To the credit of Henry Monsky, presi-
Now it can be told . • . The Laborite-
dent of the Bnai Brith, chalk down a Zionists, the Mizrachi, the Hadassah and
great achievement in bringing to life the even Robert Szold, at first were hesitant
American Jewish Assembly.
about participating in the Pittsburgh Con-
Tribute is due Frank Weil for his ference called by the Bnai Brith to estab-
clear-eyed leadership of the Jewish Wel-
lish a united Jewish front on post-war
fare Board, which is making a glorious
plans . . . During two sessions of the
record, beyond its regular activities, as
American Emergency Committee for
the contemporary historian of Jewish
Zonists Affairs they argued against par-
participation in this war.
ticipation in the Pittsburgh conclave .. .
David Ben Gurion, who claims as his
own the famous -Biltmore Zionist pro- They changed their minds completely,
however, after their delegates attended
gram which the Palestine leadership has
the conference . . . They are now strong-
adopted, seems to forget that all its main
ly behind the project of creating an
points had previously been formulated by
American Jewish Assembly to which the
Dr. Chaim Weizmann in an article writ-
ten for Foreign Affairs over two years Pittsburgh Conference gave birth . . .
Incidentally, some express suspicion that
ago.
it was Dr. Chaim Weizmann who inspir-
Ben Hecht's stirring piece about the
ed the Bnai Brith president, Henry
Jewish tragedy, "Remember Us," appear-
Monsky, to convoke the Pittsburgh gath-
ing in the February issue of Reader's
Digest, is only the first of six magazine ering after it became obvious that the
negotiations between the Zionists and
articles from his pen on injustice toward the
American Jewish Committee leaders
the Jews . . . One of these Hecht master-
for a united front had reached a dead-
pieces will be published in the Saturday lock.
Evening Post.
Dr. Weizmann, we understand, pleads
TRUE STORY
not guilty . . • On the other hand, we
Shapiro, Bernstein and Company, the hear that he was directly consulted in
popular music publishers, have been writing, but allegedly replied that this
suffering from a bad conscience for some was a purely internal affair of American
years • now . . . It wasn't their fault, of Jewry with which he, as a guest, did not
course, but the fact remains that it was feel justified in interfering . . . The most
a Shapiro, Bernstein publication, "Beer moving scene at the conference was the
Barrel Polka," which contributed to the sight of Henry Monsky, father of the
fall of Norway . . . This happened back parley, stirred to tears.
in April, 1940, when a band of Nazi musi-
* * *
cians kept the Oslo populace so enthralled UNTIMELY DISCLOSURES
with the Polka's rollicking strains that
There is a good deal of commotion in
the Norsemen didn't even notice, until
Zionist circles here over Ben-Gurion's
it was too late, that their country was
being occupied by Nazis who weren't revelation this week in Tel Aviv that
Americans have worked out a plan to
playing music. But now, reports L. L.
dig a channel between the Mediterranean
the publishers have found a way of re-
and the Dead Sea in Palestine . . • This
lieving their smarting conscience . . .
news had been kept secret for a long
For when the Army's call came out for
time and the present announcement is
300,000 copies of a popular song each
considered untimely .. . The project, it
month, the Shapiro, Bernstein people
can now be stated, does not emanate from
were the first to sign up for this morale-
Jewish sources . . . It comes from Ameri-
building project.
can experti who have a good knowledge
WITH THE ARTISTS
of Palestine's topography.
Arthur Szyk, whose 66 satiric drawings
It is these non-Jewish experts who are
are attracting thousands upon thousands convinced that a channel between the
of visitors to New York's Andre Selig- Mediterranean and the Dead Sea would
mann gallery, is now working on a draw- provide a waterfall which would furnish
irig which will be acclaimed his best .. . irrigation and huge quantities of electric
He calls it "De Profundis," and it depicts power to the Middle East . . . The project
the Jewish world tragedy.
has been under careful study for the
A sexageneraian newcomer to the last six months by American agricultural
world of art is Abraham Levin, a Bronx and engineering experts who have even
tailor who only a couple of years ago worked out blueprints for the scheme
decided to give up thread and needle for . .. Zionist leaders were kept advised of
brush and easel. That the switch was it, and a certain foundation has made
successful is attested by the fact that definite arrangements to finance the re-
Levin has already had a one-man show, search work in connection with the plan.
and his pictures are appreciated by con-
, All this necessitated keeping the pro-
noisseurs.
ject a secret, perhaps until the peace
By MARTHA NEUMARK
STAGE AND SCREEN
conference . . . In fact, it was hoped that
It'll be a new Charlie Chaplin that Jews could bring the project before the
(Copyright, 1943, Independent
you'll see in his next picture, on which peace conference as a major argument to
Jewish Press Service)
he's now doing the preliminary work prove that millions of Jews from Europe
One of the most remarkable Jewish
. The plot centers about Landru, the could be settled in Palestine on deserted
famous French Bluebeard, so you under- Negeb land irrigated under the new mromen in America is Mrs. David M.
stand why Charlie is planning to change scheme and converted into fertile terri- Levy, whose many interests in the civic
his make-up.
tory . . Dr. Weizmann, we hear, con- and Jewish world are constantly broad-
Louise Rainer, absent from the screen sidered this project a trump card of tre- ening. Her newest post is that of Treas-
too long, is slated to get the coveted mendous importance to the Jewish nego- urer of the Museum of Modern Art, the
feminine lead in the screen play to be tiations on post-war Palestine . . . No greatest stimulus to the creative art of
made of Stefan Heym's "Hostages," the wonder that Rabbi Wise and other mem- our time in America. Mrs. Levy has been
best-seller on the underground movement bers of the American Emergency Corn- a member of the Board of Trustees of
in Czecho-Slovakia.
mittee for Zionist Affairs were so upset this institution since 1940, encouraging the
Mordecai Goerlik, co-author with Wil- about Ben-Gurion announcing the plan promotion of experimental arts as well
as the individual artists in various media.
liam Kozlenko •of a play titled "Dancing that they sent him a very stiff cable.
Mrs. Levy is the daughter of the late
Soldiers," has hopes of seeing the drama
Julius Rosenwald. She is a trustee ofthe
produced in a screen version, with none IN THE ARMY
other than Greta Garbo playing the lead.
"L'Chaim" is the name of a weekly Julius Rosenwald Fund, which has en-
publication issued by Jewish servicemen riched many aspects of her life, and on
ABOUT PEOPLE
Washington rumor has it that conside- in Fort Riley Kan. . . . The Jewish of- the Board of Trustees of the New School
erations of health may compel Secretary ficers and men at Ft. Riley are organized for Social Research, where some of the
most eminent scholars of Europe as well
Morgenthau to resign from the Cabinet. in a Bar Kochba Club.
as some of the most daring minds of our
When the Cleveland Symphony Or-
Honors for the toughest name in the own country have found a forum.
chestra's Artur Rozinsky comes to New army goes to Hyman Hyman Hyman,
The other boards on which she serves
York next season to wield his baton for which is the full name of a selectee from
would
require a paragraph of listing.
the Philharmonic, his place on the Ohio Richmond, Va., who is a member of the
Mrs. Levy and her husband, noted New
podium will be taken by Efrem Kurtz, AZA, Bnai Brith's youth organization.
York psychiatrist, have an outstanding
the ballet conductor, Danton Walker re-
The Jewish Welfare Board may face collection of modern art, including paint-
ports.
difficulties this Passover in sending chap-
A new Jabotinsky generation is on its lains by planes to remote parts of the ings by Cezanne, Degas, Renoir, Toul-
way . . . The proud parents-to-be axe the globe where American Jewish boys are ouse-Lautrec and Seurat. Some of these
Eri Jabotinskys (he's the only son of fighting the enemy . . Military planes works have been seen on many occasions
when the Museum of Modern Art has
the late ReVisionist leader).
are too crowded to carry chaplains-

Mrs. David 31. Levy:
Patron of the Arts

sponsored large loan exhibitions.

