Page Two
Heard in
The Lobbies
By DAVID DEUTSCH
(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)
FORECASTS—
An important Arab potentate from the
Middle East may soon be expected in the
United States, as our government
strengthens its relations with that section
of the world.
Look for a more effective prosecution
of anti-Semitic discrimination in indus-
try as a result of the presence of Samuel
Zemurray on the President's Fair Em-
ployment Practice Committee. They say
that over 20% of the cases of discrimina-
tion apply to Jews.
The book-trade is predicting a best-
seller in Martin Panzer's "It's Your Fu-
ture," hailed as another "Wake Up and
Live." Panzer, former American Hebrew
editor, is now a United Jewish Appeal
executive.
Rabbi Ferdinand Isserman of St. Louis,
who gave six months to the Red Cross as
a club director, is on his way back from
North Africa.
Chances are there will be no contest
for the presidency of the Zionist Organi-
zation of America, with Dr. Silver being
asked to take the leadership of the Zion-
ist political activities while Dr. Israel
Goldstein heads the Zionist Organization.
If certain personal foes of Dr. Silver in-
sist on keeping him out of service, the
rabbi's friends are likely to insist on
their demand that he enter a political
contest and let the voters decide.
ODE TO LESSING ROSENWALD
A poetically-minded (that's his own de-
scription of his gifts, not mine) anony-
mous correspondent, giving only the
initials M. R., sends me this ode to Les-
sing Rosenwald, who was recently gradu-
ated from preparing the blurbs for the
Sears-Roebuck catalogue to issuing blurbs
for the anti-Zionists in Life magazine.
Some unfriendly critics say the Rosen-
wald style hasn't improved. "Credit and
Credo" is my anonymous poet's title.
There is a mister. hale and bold
In Philadelphia. Penn.
He is, I'm confidentially told,
One of its wealthiest men.
Because he is. he's used to mix—
A knight in shining arm—
Sometimes in Jewish politics
And wreaks a lot of harm
Recently we saw in Life
His thinking's latest fruit.
A contribution to the strife
Of Stephen and Saud. .
His story is not new; it links
—One cannot fail to see—
With that notorious Council, Inc.'s
Program and theory
His credit as a millionaire
Makes headlines of his views
Else nobody a hoot would care
For his credo on the Jews.
A Basic Philosophy
For American Jews
'Brandeis on Zionism' Is Published By ZOA;
Includes All His Speeches,
Statements
"Brandeis on Zionism," recently pub-
liShed by the Zionist Organization of
America, sets forth a basic philosophy for
American Jews by the greatest Jew in
the history of this country. The book
contains the texts of more than 30
speeches, articles, essays and statements
by the late Justice Louis D. Brandeis.
In his foreword, Justice Felix •rank-
furter indicates that the importance of
Justice Brandeis' expressions lies in the
fact that he had "intellectual responsi-
bility." "He expressed views only after
deep searching, and never without con-
fronting the difficulties of a problem. His
convictions were the product of long
brboding; their formulation was the re-
sult of a stubborn struggle for clarity."
What is today popularly known as cul-
tural pluralism was discussed and elabo-
rated more than 25 years ago by Brandeis.
"America," he declared in one of the
outstanding papers included in the vol-
ume, "has believed that in differentiation,
not in uniformity, lies the path of prog-
ress . . . The new nationalism adopted
by America proclaims that each race or
people, like each individual, has the right
and duty to develop, and that only
through such differentiated development
will high civilization be attained."
The contents of the book include such
well known addresses as "True Ameri-
canism," "Call to the Educated Jew," and
"The Jewish Problem and How to Solve
It." But in addition there are others,
texts of speeches and articles, many of
them forgotten, buried away in files and
archives, and made available now for
the first time in all. their pristine glory.
They are all gems of clear thought. They
are, like 'all of his works, "rich in pro-
found, incisive thought, clearly and com-
pactly expressed," as Judge Louis E.
Levinthal characterizes them in his re-
cent bicgraphy of Brandeis. .
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, August 6, 1943
Purely
Commentary
Quotation of the Week
"From c, cornerstone which was merely a symbol, in that the
Hebrew University was not officially opened until later, and during
one of the most difficult periods which the Jewish people have
ever had to face, the growth of the University has been nothing
short of miraculous. In the short span of 25 years it has become
one of the :nost important cultural and research centers of the
Middle East.
"While the Hebrew University was dedicated to research and
scholarship, it has been fortunate in having been able to achieve
two other most useful purposes—one, the preservation of the Jew-
ish spirit and morale at a time when the Jewish people sorely
needed spiritual sustenance, and the other its contribution through
its research laboratories to the Allied war effort.
"As soon as the war is ended, Hebrew University will do its
share toward the establishment of peace, the encouragement of
scholarship,,and the search for truth and enlightenment."
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
PALESTINE AND THE BIBLE
The announcement that the Hebrew
University Press in Jerusalem will soon
produce what will be the first Hebrew
text of the Bible to be printed in Pales-
tine must have produced amazement in
Jewish ranks.
Think of it! Palestine never before
published a Hebrew Bible!
It is true.
Until now, only the Christian mission-
ary groups published Hebrew Bibles in
Palestine.
Nevertheless, the Bible planned by the
Hebrew University Press, as announced
at a press conference on Mount Scopus
a few days ago by Dr. Judah L. Magnes,
president of the Hebrew University, will
not be the first Hebrew Bible to be pub-
lished in Eretz Israel.
* * *
A 5699 POCKET EDITION
Two years ago, your Commentator se-
cured from J. S. Schenkerman of New
York, the well known traveling book-
seller, a copy of a pocket edition of the
Hebrew Bible.
At that time, Mr. Schenkerman proud-
ly said that he was in position to supply
this writer with the first Hebrew Bible
to be published in Palestine.
This Bible is one and a sixteenth inch
thick, three and a quarter inches wide
and four and three-quarters inches in
depth.
Under the main heading "Sefer Torah,
Nevi'im u-Ksuvim," this pocket edition
has the explanation that this complete
Bible is published "Meduyok Hetev Al Pi
Hamsoro"—meaning that it is "correct
according to tradition."
It was published by the Israel Publish-
ing Co. of Tel Aviv in the year 5699
(TARTZAT).
Is it possible that Dr. Magnes and his
associates were unaware of the existence
of this Bible—the first Hebrew text to
be published by Jews in Palestine?
* * *
BIBLES AS GIFTS
Speaking of Bibles, an interesting
story was released last week by Relig-
ious News Service from Huntington, Ind.
It relates to court action that has been
taken to test the validity of a 40-year
practice by Rock Creek Township, in
Indiana, to give Bibles as gifts to high
schoql seniors.
The Indiana Department of Inspection
and Supervision of Public Offices, the
State of Indiana and Attorney General
James A. Emmert are defendants in their
efforts to recover the cost of the Bibles;
while Clarence B. Samson, trustee of
Rock Creek township, has asked the Cir-
cuit. Court for judgment to confirm the
contention of the township trustees that
they are permitted legally to spend
money for Bibles as gifts to high school
seniors.
It will be interesting to watch the re-
sult of this suit, since it may have some
bearing on attempts to keep church and
state separate by preventing the spend-
ing of public money for religious books.
—A. S. W. ROSENBACH, President of American Friends
of Hebrew University, in a statement on the 25th an-
niversary of the laying of the University's corner-
stone in Jerusalem.
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.)
VICTIMS OF TODAY
JEWISH NEWS
The American Jewish Conference
"The World of Yesterday," by Stefan
again may be postponed . . . A number Zweig, just published by the Viking
of its key participants feel that it might Press, is the autobiography of the great
be easier to hold the Conference when writer who became a wandering Jew
when Hitlerism began to cast its shadow
peace is nearer.
- A resettlement Committee for Euro- over Europe . . . In this final book, the
pean Jewry, sponsored by the New Zion- Jewish tragedy in Europe finds its most
ist Organization soon will make the eloquent expression in the very last chap-
headlines . . . Meir Grossman is one of ter . . This chapter reads like a testa-
ment, like a self-analysis, like something
its leaders.
There are rumors that the opposition which seems to have been on the author's
to Dr. Chaim Weizmann in certain Pal- mind for many months, if not for many
estinian circles led by David Ben Gurion years.
To him the most tragic aspect of this
is assuming grave proportions . . . Ben
Gurion believes that the White Paper Jewish tragedy of the 20th century was
will stand unless heroic measures are that those who suffered it knew that it
taken . .. Weizmann, on the other hand„ was pointless and that they were guilt-
less . . . Their forefathers and ancestors
has confidence in ChurChill.
Since Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver has an- of medieval times had at least known
nounced his determination to remain a what they suffered for; for their belief,
candidate for the presidency of the Zion- for their law . . . They had still possessed
ist Organization of America, the support- a talisman of the soul which today's
ers of Rabbi Israel Goldstein are talking generation has since lost, the inviolable
faith in their God . . . As lczg as their
of a compromise slate.
religion bound them together they still
WE'RE TELLING YOU
Notwithstanding Italy's collapse, Gen- were a community . . But the Jews of
eral Franco is interning more refugees the 20th century had for long not been
than ever in Spain ... Because he wants a community . . . They were conscious of
to be holding hostages when the time their Judaism rather as a burden than
as something to be proud of . . . They
comes for negotiations.
Hermann Ullstein, scion of the famous strove to integrate themselves with the
German publishing family, who is now people with whom they lived . . . Melted
a refugee in this .country, has written down into other peoples, they were more
"The Rise and Fall of the House of Ull- Frenchmen, Germans, Englishmen, Russ-
stein," and Simon and Schuster have ians than they were Jews . . Now they
were forced into the ever-recurring com-
published it.
munity of expulsion.
READERS' GUIDE
WHY THIS FATE?
Pierre van Paassen's article on Pales-
And Zweig, asks: Why this fate for
tine in the Protestant aroused so much them and always for them alone? . .
attention that the Protestant had to print Driven out of lands but without a land
an extra 20,000 copies.
to go to, these Jews stare at each other
Read Joseph Brainin's article in the on their flight: Why I?
Why you? . . .
current issue of Soviet Russia Today . . How do you and I who do not know
It is a close-up cf Prof. Michoels and Lt. each other, who speak different lang-
Col. Feffer, the Soviet Jewish delegates uages, whose thinking takes different
now in this country . . . The delegation's forms and who have nothing in common,
last public function in this country will happen to be here together? . . . Why
be a dinner in New York . . . And there's any of us? . . . These questions Zweig,
talk about a return visit of an American who was far from Jewish nationalism
Jewish delegation to the Soviet Union could not answer . . . He discussed them
By EMANUEL G. FRANK
. . . It would be timed for some time with Prof. Sigmund Freud whom he (From His Book "Lesser Clay and Other
in 1944.
Poems")
considered "the clearest seeing mind of
SMALL TALK
this time" and the latter too was baffled Is it for this Humanity has wrought
- Chaim Weizmann's memoirs are mak- . . . Thus Zweig, exhausted by years of
With toil and anguish through the
ing headway . . . Sholem Asch is not in homeless wandering, came to the • con-
fruitless years?
the best of health . Maurice Schwartz clusion that after one's 60th year, un- Is it for this the early fathers fought
wants to direct movies . . . Lazarus Phil- usual powers are needed in order to start
And mothers stained the altars with
lips, young Montreal lawyer, is a can- life all over again . . . And so on Feb-.
their tears?
didate to succec'd the late Peter Berko- ruary 23, 1942, he bid good-bye to the Is it for this that saints and martyrs died,
vitch in the Federal Parliament at world and took his life in a suicide pact
That every age gave sacrificial
Ottawa.
with his wife.
blood?
While the movie version of "This Is
Is it for this that manhood was denied,
the Army" is packing them in Manhat- Baltimore's Cantor Adolph Weisgall.
And youth was lost in yesterday's
tan and points West, the stage version LADIES' CORNER
red flood?
of it is preparing to go "on the road"—
"Queen of the Jukebox" is the new
to England and Africa . . . Irving Berlin, title bestowed on canary Dinah Shore, A tyrant's lust is ravishing the earth
creator of this hit show, will be in the since her Bluebird record sales have
And guiltless blood has quenched the
traveling cast too . . . Also about to leave broken all sales records for feminine
sacred flame
for overseas, where he will once more singers of popular songs • . . Dinah may That Justice kindled, to proclaim the
entertain American soldiers, is Al Jolson. also be called a doll, as a new cut-out
birth of Liberty and Freedom in Her
name.
WITH THE MILITARY
book for the youngest generation is now
From California comes the report featuring "Dinah Dolls" . . . Other titles Torn millions die or walk in dark despair
about a recent cartoon in the Camp Rob- held by Miss Shore include that of the
And question if there be a God to
care!
erts Dispatch .. . It shows a Nazi soldier Army's Number One Sweetheart and of
before a billboard that features a man Blues Singer Number One . . . All of
lounging beneath an awning while a which reminds us to report to you that says Higgins, "I saw a buddy of mine, a
bathing beauty serves him something in Eddie Cantor, who sponsored Dinah's Jewish kid from New York . . . He was
a tall, cool glass . . . And the caption is: radio rebut way back when, is now re- uncovered in the pelting rain, and when
"You too can be a prisoner of war . . . cruiting WACs for his Uncle Sam . . . he knelt the mud soaked into the knees
Don't delay, surrender today . . . United Eddie says that the Army, having heard of his uniform .. . When mass was over
Nations Chamber of Commerce."
about his five daughters, decided that its I remarked to him casually that I was
A recent arrival at Camp Roberts, by feminine branch was the place where surprised to see a Jewish lad getting
the way, is Pvt. Mendy Weisgal, son' of he could best cooperate.
wet and muddy at Catholic services . .
Meyer W. . . . And Sgt. Hugo Weisgall, TRUE STORY
He said: 'What kind of services you go
Meyer's nephew, last week conducted one
Ed Sullivan publishes a report from to don't count; what does count is that
of his own compositions at Royal Albert Artilleryman Mike Higgins on a field , if I get it next, the Boss will know that
,Liondon
, Hugo is the son of iN„,s held in Tunisia . , "At this mass) ", at least I tried.' "
•
Is It For This?
,
C"
.
.""