Page Four

THE JEWISH NEWS

THE JEWISH NEWS

Freedom's Rainbow

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.

By DAVID MORANTZ

(Based upon the ancient legends and
philosophy found in the Talmud and
folklore of the Jewish people.)

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
HENRY WINEMAN

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor

As the Editor
Views the News

APRIL 23, 1943

MI III Int

The Bermuda Refugee Conference

It is impossible, and in some respects unfair, to judge
the Bermuda British-American Conference on the Refugee
Problem before specific news comes to us of the decisions
reached by the delegates representing the two great democ-
racies.
Unfortunately, the fact that this conference is marked
by a certain amount of secrecy and that the Jewish people,
the first group to be affected by Nazism and the most serious
sufferer in this war, is not represented at the Bermuda ses-
sions, justifies the skepticism over its results. It is no won-
der that many believe that it will prove another Evian.
Nevertheless, because of the demands for action in
saving Jewish and Christian sufferers from Nazism that
have come from important groups in democratic countries,
there is reason to hope that the delegates at the Bermuda
conference may be moved to take steps to provide imme-
diate havens of refuge for the many thousands who can be
saved at once.

Any other step is unthinkable and merely would be
giving comfort to the Nazi-Fascist enemies of the human
race.

A Great Cultural Force

The latest books issued by the Jewish Publication Society
of America serve to call attention to the importance of this
organization as a cultural force in American Jewry.
"Jewish Pioneers and Patriots" by Lee M. Friedman,
from whose fascinating book The Jewish News was privi-
leged to reprint several important historic incidents, and Leo
W. Schwartz's "The Memoirs of My People," are a credit to
the efforts of the society which was formed 55 years ago to
provide American Jewry with the best Jewish books in
English.

American Jewry will be called upon to assume leadership
not only politically, in efforts to secure justice for Jews
everywhere, but more especially in the cultural field, the cen-
ters of learning in Europe having been destroyed.
The Palestinian and American Jewries will have to up-
hold the spiritual banners for Israel, and the Jewish Publica-
tion Society will be one of the great constructive forces in
making this possible.
The Jewish Publication Society was first to publish the
works of Israel Zangwill. It issued the History of the Jews by
Heinrich Graetz and sponsored the latest English translation
of the Bible.
To its credit also are scores of historical volumes, impor-
tant essays, novels and a children's library. The work of such
an important cultural movement must be encouraged, and the
Jewish Publication Society should be given all possible sup-
port by the Jews of America.

Talmudic Tales

Be Not Blinded by Silver

-

VOL. 3—NO. 5

Friday, April 23, 1943

A Record of Jews in the Service

For several months, The Jewish News, with the assist-
ance of the Detroit Army and Navy Committee of the Jewish
Welfare Board, the Jewish Welfare Federation and its affil-
iated agencies, and many of our readers, has been compiling
a list of Detroit Jews who are serving in the armed forces
of our country.
Until now, we have compiled a list of 5,000 men and
women in the service.
A complete compilation of those in the service is an
important necessity in the retention of the historical records
of our community. It is necessary also for the sake of the
record of American Jewry's participation in the war, now
being gathered nationally by the Jewish Welfare Board.
* * *
The call to the Jews of Detroit, appearing on Page Six
of this issue of The Jewish News, therefore, should receive
the prompt response of all those who are in position to pro-
vide data about our servicemen.
It is of the utmost importance that you send all the
information you possess about your relatives and friends in
the service to the Detroit Army and Navy Committee of
the Jewish Welfare Board. Do it NOW by filling in the form
provided on Page Six of this issue.

Abraham Srere: Assembly Convenor

The important announcement of the National Jewish
Assembly's executive committee that the proposed demo-
cratic conference of American Jews, to prepare for the pro-
tection of Jewish rights everywhere after the war, is to take
place on July 1, has been followed up by another important
announcement which makes it clear that the executive com-
mittee of the Assembly is determined to assure representa-
tion for all elements in American Jewry at the historic con-
ference.

The plan of action, announced this week, points to an
approach which will give a voice in the elections to the As-
sembly to every American Jew.
The selection of Abraham Srere, president of the Jewish
Welfare Federation of Detroit, as Convenor for the Assembly
in Detroit, is an especially fortunate choice. Mr. Srere's
more than 25 years' experience as a leader in Detroit Jewry
has provided him with a background which enables him to
know and understand every element in the community.
His sense of fair play assures a voice to every group in
the planning for the conference in Detroit.
It is necessary that Detroit Jews should be kept fully
informed on the Assembly's aims and responsibilities. To
this end, The Jewish News plans to devote its editorial and
news columns during the weeks to come, preceding the ses-
sions of the National Jewish Assembly. At the same time we
invite our readers' -participation in a discussion of the prob-
lems facing the Conference.

There was once a wealthy man
who was very miserly and who
was never known to give to char-
ity nor help the needy in any
way.
One day his rabbi sent for him
and asked if he would not con-
tribute to the assistance of a cer-
tain very poor family, greatly in
need of food and medicine, but he
refused.
The rabbi then handed him a
mirror and said: "Look into this
mirror and tell me what you see."
The man took the mirror and
looked into it: "This is no dif-
ferent from any other mirror,"
he said. "I see my face in it but
nothing else."
"Now," replied the rabbi, "look
through that window and tell me
what you see."
He looked through the window
as the rabbi bade him and said:
"I see men and women going
about their daily duties. Now I
see two lovers walking by, en-
grossed in each other. And there,
across the way, is a group of
children playing. But why do
you ask that?"
"You have answered your own
question," replied the rabbi.
"When you looked through the
window you looked at life but
when you looked into the mirror
you saw only yourself.
A mirror is only a plain piece
of glass, like the window through
which you looked, but which is
coated on the back with a layer
of silver.
Just as this bit of silver on the
back of the glass has concealed
your view of life and enabled you
to see only your own counten-
ance, so has your silver, your
wealth, concealed all else from
your sight and narrowed your
view so you can see and think
only of yourself. This silver has
shut out from your view and
thoughts all the worth while
things of life."
As the rabbi spoke the rich
man hung his head.
"You are right, my good rabbi,"
he said after a short reflection.
"I have been blinded by a bit of
silver but thanks to you, I now
see the light."

(Copyright by David Morantz)
("Talmudic Tales" containing 128
legends and 580 pearls of wisdom,
are available in the autographed,
195-page volume, from the author,
David Morautz, Grossman, Bldg.,
Kansas City, Kan.)

Social Background
Of Old Testament

Discussed in Fascinating New
Hebrew Union College
Book by Dr. Jacobson

As a second volume to the
Hebrew Union College Alumni
Publication Series, "The Social
Background of the Old Testa-
ment," by David Jacobson, Ph.
D., published by Hebrew Union
College Press, Cincinnati, is a
valued addition to highly schol-
r
All Jewry mourns the death of Brigadier Frederick H.
arly research material by Jews.
Kisch who was killed in action in Tunisia.
Dr. Julian Morgenstern, pres-
He was a great leader who had made lasting contribu-
ident of Hebrew Union College,
tions to the reconstruction of Palestine, and he was a mili-
to whom this volume is dedicat-
tary man of great ability who won deserv e
ed, points out in his foreword
. d honors in the
last war and in this one.
that "this work is a valuable
study of the origins and early
Detroit Jews have fond recollections of his visit here
stages of development of the
in 1929 in the interests of the Keren Hayesod campaign.
fundamental social institutions
He won the hearts of our people here, as he did of all com-
among various Semitic peoples
munities which were privileged to make his acquaintance.
of antiquity, with particular at-
The name of this great British Jew will be recorded in
tention to the Hebrews, especial-
our history as that of one of our ablest leaders.
Samuel D. Weinberg was more than a newspaperman. He ly in that period of their cult-
was a warm-hearted Jewish scholar who was deeply interest- ural evolution of which the
Bible is the principal record."
ed in all affairs affecting our people.
This Week's Scriptural Portions:
It is evident even to the lay
- • He was a lover of Jewish art and literature and a strong reader
that Dr. Jacobson has put
supporter of the Jewish theater.
On this Sabbath, Chol Hamoed Passover, the following
into this effort an immense
His • "Jewish Social Services in Detroit," which has the amount of work. Each chapter
Scriptural selections will be read in our Synagogues: Penta-
distinction of being the only book of its kind published in is annotated with references re-
teuchal portions, Ex. 33:12-34:26, Num. 28:19-25;
Prophetical
portion, Ezek. 36:37-37:14.
Yiddish by a Federation in this country, reflects the deep- vealing a depth of knowledge
rooted interest he - had in JeWish community affairs.
and research.
On the Intermediate Day of Passover (Chol Hamoed), on
Mr. Weinberg loved people, and his devotion to his own
Providing the background
Sunday, the following Scriptural selections will be read: Sun-
kinsmen was therefore all the greater. For many years an af- against which the Old Testament
day, Num. 9:1-14, 28:19-25.
filiated member of the Socialist Party, he possessed a great life is to be understood, this
On the Concluding Days of Passover, the folIoWisg
sense of social values which helped and guided him in the se- study of Biblical culture con-
Scriptural selections will be read: Monday, Pentateuchal
por-
lection
and preparation of news for the Detroit editions of the cerns itself with anthropological
tions, Er. 13:1 - 15:26, Nu m.28: 19-25 ; Prophetical portion,
Jewish Daily Forward which he edited . in a fair and un- and sociological problems. Its
II
conclusions lead to a better un-
Sam. 22; Tuesday, Pentateuchal portions, Aleut. 15:19-16:17,
biased spirit. .
derstanding of the Bible and
Num, M19-25; Pr'opherical portion, Is 10:32 - 12:6.
His death is a serious loss to the Jewish community of gives
a fascinating analysis of
Detroit.
numerous probjeals.

The Late Brigadier Kisch

The Late Samuel D. Weinberg

