Page Four
- THE JEWISH NEWS
THE JEWISH NEWS
Member of Independent Jewish Press Service, Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious News
Service. Palcor News Agency, Bressler Cartoon Service, Wide
World Photo Service.
Published every Friday by Jewish News Publishing Co., 2114
Penobscot Bldg., Detroit, Mich. Telephone, RAndolph 7956. Sub-
scription rate, $3 a year; foreign, $4 a year. Club subscription of one
issue a month, published every fourth Friday in the month, to all
subscribers to Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion of Detroit, at 50 cents a club subscription per year.
Entered as second-class matter August 6, 1942, at the Post
Office at Detroit, Michigan, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Friday, March 26, 1943
Keep 'em Grounded
The Weekly
Sermonette
Speedy Deeds Needed
To Stop Brutality
By The Late
CARDINAL HINSLEY
(EDITOR'S NOTE: From his
sick bed, Arthur Cardinal Hinsley
of England sent the following
message to the great Madison
Square Garden rally of the Amer-
ican Jewish Congress on March 1.
It may have been his last written
words. He passed away in London
on March 17. We publish it as an
appropriate Sermonette).
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ and PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Publishers
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
HENRY WINE lVIAN
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
VOL. 3—NO. 1
MARCH 26, 1943
This Week's Scriptural Pori-ions:
This Sabbath, the twentieth day of Adar Sheni, the
following Scriptural selections will be read in our Syna-
gogues: Pentateuchal portions, Lev. 6:1-8:36; NUM. 19;
Prophetical Portion, Ezek. 36: 16-38.
As the Editor
Views the News -
The Algerian Tragedy
The situation in Algeria may well be termed a tragedy
for Jews.
At a time when we expected firm action on the part of
the United Nations to guarantee equal rights for Jews
everywhere, Gen. Henri Giraud's decree with one hand
abolishes the anti-Semitic Vichy decrees, but with the other
deprives the Algreian Jews of citizenship by nullifying the
Cremieux Decree of 1870.
The latter action may appear to some as meaning merely
that Jews and Moslems acquire the same status. It is sur-
prising—and rather disappointing—therefore that none of
the newspaper reports explain the reason for the difference
which existed prior to the action taken by the French
general.
The biography of Adolphe Cremieux by S. Posener,
published three years ago by the Jewish Publication Society
of America, explains that "The (Algerian) native population
was composed of Moslems and Jews. The Moslems considered
themselves superior to all other inhabitants and, according
to their point of view, naturalization was an insult to their
religion. The Jews, however, had for a long time demanded
naturalization."
Nevertheless, the impression is given that Jews received
special privileges.
Not only has the latest action of Gen. Giraud harmed
the position of the Jews, but it has aggravated the Moslem-
Jewish situation and has created a problem that did not
hitherto exist.
Thus, real harm has come to about a quarter of a million
Jews from those whom we had expected to act as friends
and liberators of the oppressed.
Anti-Semitism in England
/ Brendan Bracken, British Minister of Information, re-
plying to a question placed to him in the House of Commons
by Oliver Locker-Lampson, stated that "it would be an
insult to our Jewish fellow citizens if the British Broad-
casting System attempted to broadcast replies to stale Ger-
man lies."
The British Minister of Information added: "If there
is any need to state the case for the Jews, our Jewish fellow
citizens need not be on the defensive. They play their fair
part in bearing the burdens and sharing the dangers, like
all- His Majesty's subjects, in their resistance to German
aggression."
This is as the situation should be, and we would be
happy if the people of Great Britain were to accept the
views of their government.
Unfortunately, the spread of anti-Semitism in England
has caused the London newspapers to press their govern-
ment for action to check organized anti-Jewish propaganda.
Reports from London are disturbing. The anti-Jewish lies
are spreading by word of mouth as well as by the painting
of signs on buildings throughout the British capital.
It is a sad situation which could be helped if the British
government were to pursue the policy enunciated by Mr.
Bracken through public pronouncements. Emphatic state-
ments of the kind he has made in Commons would go a long
way towards shaming anti-Semites and possibly causing
them to stop their disgraceful propaganda.
A Poison-Nest Destroyed
The Stuttgart Institute for the Study of Jewish Problems,
which was organized for the study and dissemination of
anti-Semitism by the Nazi leader Alfred Rosenberg, has
been destroyed by a British bomb. This information, coming
from the Swedish Nydag, ought to prove as a warning to
those who set up nests for the poisoning of the minds of the
German people that fate will catch up with the culprits.
The Community Lecture Series
Inauguration of a community lecture series by the Jewish
Community Center and the Jewish Welfare Federation is a
commendable step in the direction of keeping our people fully
informed on what is transpiring in Jewish ranks and on the
plans being made for post-war reconstruction of Jewish life.
The central theme in the series, "The American Jew
Looks at the World of Today and Tomorrow," and the specific
subjects of the group of prominent Jewish leaders, should
lead the community to a better understanding of our position
in the world and the efforts that are being made to assure
the protection of the rights of our people everywhere.
It is evident, from plans promulgated in this educational
series, that entrance of the Allied Jewish Campaign into the
War Chest did not preclude abandonment of community-wide
cultural projects. On the contrary, the freezing of our forces
of responsibilities for fund-raising this spring allows in-
creased opportunities for educational work.
The Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Welfare
Federation are therefore rendering a real service to the Jews
of Detroit by inaugurating this lecture series on "The Ameri-
can Jew Looks at the World of Today and Tomorrow."
The Federation's Report
Elsewhere in this issue, readers of The Jewish News
will find the exceedingly interesting report to the Jews of
Detroit by our Jewish Welfare Federation. This report was
promised to our community by Mr. Abraham Srere, presi-
dent of the Federation, in his message at the annual meeting
on March 8.
The Federation's report is important from many points
of view. It analyzes the community's efforts during the past
year in the fields of social welfare, education, cooperation
with servicemen's organizations, especially the USO and the
Army and Navy Committee of the Jewish Welfare Board, and
the work of reconstruction in Palestine and overseas relief.
This report gives a clear picture of the community's
status in time of war. It outlines with the utmost clarity the
efforts being made to continue the work of all our educational
welfare and recreational agencies, and at the same time to
send all the help possible for our unfortunate kinsmen,
through the United Jewish Appeal for Refugees, Overseas
Needs and Palestine.
The report should be read and studied by the entire De-
troit constituency. We are confident that a careful perusal
of this statement will assure uninterrupted cooperation of the
entire Jewish community of Detroit with the Jewish Welfare
Federation in all its multiple responsibilities.
The Children's Day of Sorrow
On Sunday morning, April 4, most of the Jewish schools
of Detroit will be closed and the children will assemble at
the Shaarey Zedek and at the Hampton School in observance
of our Children's Day of Sorrow and Re-Affirmation of Faith.
This demonstration is part of a series of nationwide
children's gatherings which were initiated in New York three
weeks ago. They should serve to strengthen the sense of kin-
ship of our children in this country with the unfortunate
Jewish boys and girls who are suffering under the heel of
tyranny in Nazi-held territories.
In a sense, these children's demonstrations may be more
effective than those that have been sponsored by their adults.
An appeal to the United Nations from youngsters that havens
of refuge should be created for the unfortunates in Europe
may receive a more ready ear from the democratic powers.
It is to be hoped that these gatherings will not be
limited to the children now attending Jewish schools in De-
troit, but that those who do not attend Jewish classes will
also show their kinship with world Jewry by participating
in the two gatherings on April 4. Perhaps such demonstra-
tions can serve the additional purpose of stimulating the un-
affiliated children. to enroll in a Hebrew, Yiddish and con-
gregational schools, thereby expressing also the spiritual kin-
ship of all Jews.
"In unison with voice of indig-
nant protests that cries aloud from
all human hearts and in accord
with declarations of the Church
I denounce with utmost vigor the
persecution of the Jews by the
Nazi oppressors. From the most
recent reports it is clear that the
terrible situation facing the Jews
in Europe shows no sign of im-
provement, but is actually more
terrible than ever.
"Words are weak and cold;
deeds and speedy deeds are
needed to put a stop to this brutal
campaign for the extermination
of a whole race. Justice must be
done and quickly.
Our Fellowmen
"It is little use uttering tirades
against anti-Semitism. Jews and
Christians are our fellowmen and
brethren. If Christian mercy finds
no place in the Nazi breast then
the lesson of stern retribution
must be given in such wise that
never again shall these hideous
wrongs be possible. The blood of
innocent victims of savage hatred
cries aloud from the earth to the
highest heaven for vengeance.
"There is the almighty God
above who has said 'Vengeance
is mine.' We are assured that the
guilty will suffer in the measure
of the cruelty they have perpet-
rated. Yet this thought gives little
consolation to those who are at
this moment suffering extreme
torture of body and soul from
their pitiless persecutors.
Immediate Action
"To all who have the power to
help or to rescue them we appeal
for immediate action. Meantime
as individuals we are helpless to
aid save by our prayers and by
our protestations.
"I trust that the great demon-
stration which is being held in
Madison Square Garden New
York on March 1 under the aus-
pices of the American Jewish
Congress will stir public opinion
the world over so that relief of
every possible kind may be
quickened to succor the victims
from the appaling cruelty of the
Nazis and to end this inhuman
brutality."
Talmudic Tales
The Tongue
By DAVID MORANTZ
"Go to the market place and
bring to me something good,"
said Rabbi Gamaliel to his ser-
vant.
"Yes, master," he replied and
went to the market place re-
turning with a beef tongue.
On another occasion to test
out his servant, the Rabbi said:
"Go thou to the market place
and bring me something bad."
"Yes, master," the servant re-
plied, and again he went to the
market place a•kd again he re-
turned with a - tongue.
"Why," asked the Rabbi, "did
you bring a tongue on both oc-
casions?"
"A tongue, my master," re-
plied the servant, "may be the
source of either good or evil.
If it is good, there is nothing
better. If it is bad, there is
nothing worse."
Says the Talmud further on
the subject of gossip:
"Guard thy tongue
from
gossip."
"Guard thy mouth from utter-
ing an unseeming word."
"The listener to slander is even
worse than the slanderer, like
the receiver of stolen goods is
worse than the stealer."
(Copyright by David Morantz)
("Talmudic Tales," containing 128
legends and 500 pearls of wisdom,
are available in the autographed,
195-page volume, from the author,
David Morantz, Grossman Eldg.,
Hansast City, Ran., at $1.50).