THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Four
THE JEWISH NEWS
Master Race's Short Memory
Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious News
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Published every Friday by Jewish News Publishing Co., 2114
Penobscot Bldg., Detroit, 26, 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
Punishment of the Unselfish
A very old man was planting
a fig tree beside a street in
Tiberias when Emperor Hadrian
came along and stopped.
"If thou hadst labored in thy
youth," said the emperor, "thou
shouldst not have to labor in thy
old age. Surely thou canst not
hope to live to eat of the fruit
of this tree?"
"Honored sir," replied the old
man, "in my youth I worked and
in my old age I still work. I pray
that I may live to eat of the
fruit of this tree even tho I have
lived for a hundred years al-
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
AUGUST 20, 1943
As the Editor
Views the News - - -
ready."
Harry B. Keidan
Judge Harry B. Keidan's death is a loss to America, to
Israel and to humanity.
He was more than a great jurist. He was a great Ameri-
can whose devotion to .his native land was based on sound
tradition.
One of America's most faithful and most devoted Jews,
his love of Jewish traditions and of all the tenets of our faith
was based on deep-rooted knowledge of the history of our
people.
* *
He knew and loved the Bible. His practice of religious
rules was not shallow, but was the result of a lifetime of
devotion.
His venerable father, the late Abba Keidan, one of De-
troit's most beloved Jewish pioneers, was his inspiration, and
the faith of the Keidans has become a mark of respect and
admiration in the community.
Judge Keidan was a lover of Zion and of all Israel's
causes and institutions. He was the first to be visited by emis-
saries from Palestine and from the leading Talmudical sem-
inaries throughout the world. -
In Allied Jewish Campaigns, in Community Fund drives,
in all civic movements, he was looked to for guidance and
advice.
*
0
He was above•reproach in everything he did. All his wak-
ing hours, away from the bench, he devoted to study of the
problemS which faced him in his duties to the public. These
responsibilities were sacred tasks to him, and he never com-
pleted a case unless he was certain of all its aspects and was
convinced that his decision was just.
He was distinguished also for his anxiety to avoid litiga-
tion, cnd for his efforts to encourage arbitration and settle-
ment of cases out of- court. Especially in matters involving,
family disputes, he made it a cardinal principle to get contes 7
tants into his private office and to effect amicable settlement
of the controversy. -
*
Judge Keidan's work was watched not only in Michigan
but throughout the land.
He was one of America's greatest Jews and his death is a
loss to the country at large and to humanity.
Of him it may truly be said:
Zecher Tzadik Livracha—May the memory of this righte-
ous man be a blessing for all generations to come.
Duplication of Effort
Less than three weeks before the opening in New York
of the American Jewish Conference, composed of democratic-
ally-elected representatives from 600 Jewish communities, a
group acting under the,name "Emergency Committee to Save
the Jewish People of Europe" saw fit to hold a conference of
its own. It sent a delegation to Washington, conferred with
Secretary of State Cordell Hull and was given certain as-
surances.
This committee's delegation—Peter A. Bergson of Pal-
estine, the famous sculptor Jo Davidson and Dean Alfange of
the American Labor Party—may be as good as any that could
have been chosen. The statement it received from Secretary
Hull may compare with the most encouraging ever drawn
from an American statesman. But that does not give this
committee, in spite of the good names it possesses on its sta-
tionery, the right to speak for the Jews of America or to in-
terfere with efforts to unify our people.
The implications in the actions of this committee are that
all Jewisineaders, Judge Proskauer, Dr. S. S. Wise, Dr. A. H.
Silver, Henry Monsky, and scores of others, have failed. In
reality, Secretary Hull merely repeated to the new delegation
what he has already informed other groups time and again.
That strong word "Hefker"—irresponsibility—again ap-
plies in the action of the new group. If we are to attain the
best results in behalf of the millions of Jewish sufferers, we
must attain unity. Without unity, we may fail. Those who in-
terfere with unified action and undertake to sponsor programs
of their own in the name of the Jewish martyrs actually
harm the cause of these • martyrs.
This Week's Scriptural Portions:
This Sabbath, the twentieth day of Ab, the following Scrip-
tural . selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Deut. 7:12-11:25.
Prophetical portion: Is. 49:14-51:3.
.
Talmudic Tales
(Based upon the ancient legends and
philosophy found in the Talmud and
folklore of the Jewish people.)
BBOARD OF DIRECTORS
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
MAURICE ARONSSON
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
FRED M. BUTZEL
• ABRAHAM SRERE
THEODORE LEVIN
HENRY WINEMAN
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
VOL. 3—NO. 22
Friday, August 20, 1943
Jews and Great Britain
Columnist W. L. Clark of the Windsor Daily Star in a
recent issue, under the heading "Labor Zionists Attack
Britain," refers to a statement allegedly issued by Detroit
labor Zionists who "are bitterly opposed to Great Britain's
policy on Palestine." After quoting from the statement
credited to the Detroiters, this columnist wrote:
"The Palestine question is so complex. It is not only
the historic homeland of the Jews, it is also a homeland for
some of the Arab tribes. The British always have been
champions of the Jewish people, offering them a haven,
when persecution beset them in other lands. The Zionists
are carrying on a campaign against the British at the very
time the British are giving everything they have to beat
Hitler, the demon whose persecutions of the Jews have been
so terrible." * *
The fact that Mr. Clark is in grave error about the Arab
situation does not justify the gross injustice of his conclusion,
which might be interpreted as both ingratitude on the part
of Jews as well as interference with the war effort.
Jews, by Mr. Clark's own admission, are the greatest
sufferers of Hitlerism. But they also have suffered from
broken promises on the part of British statesmen. The
British, who "always have been champions of the Jewish
people, offering them a haven," have whittled down the
pledges contained in the Balfour Declaration, in the San
Remo Decision and in subsequent actions of the League of
Nations. Even the frequent amendments to these decisions,
contained in a series of White Papers, have not been adhered
to.
"Well, if thou dost live to eat
the figs from this tree," said his
majesty, "I pray thee let me
know of it."
It happened that the old man
did live to eat of the fruit of that
tree and recalling the words of
the emperor, he filled a small
basket with the choicest figs from
the tree and called at the palace
to present them to the emperor.
The emperor did not at first
recognize the man " when he was
admitted to his presence but the
old man said: "Dost thou not re-
member me? I am the old man
whom thou didst see planting a
fig tree and recallest not thy
words, 'If thou dost live to eat
figs from this tree, I pray thee
let me know of it?' Behold I have
come and brought thee of the
choicest of the fruit of that tree,
that thou mayest enjoy it like-
wise."
This kind and thoughtful act
of the old man pleased the em-
peror very much and he accepted
the figs with thanks and filled
the old man's basket with gold
coins, sending him happily on his
way.
It happened that next door to
this old man lived a -very selfish
woman who was very much in-
terested in the story which he
told on his return home. She fill-
ed an immense basket with figs
and said to her husband, "Carry
this basket to the emperor. He -
loves figs and will fill thy basket
with golden coins in return." .
Arriving at the gates of the
palace he said to the guards.
"These figs I bring as a gift to
his majesty. Empty my basket I
pray, and fill it with gold."
When this message was • de-
livered to the emperor, he order-
ed the man to stand before the
palace so that all who passed
could pelt him with his figs.
When the figs were all gone he
was permitted to return home.
Dejected and unhappy he told
his wife of his experience.
"Do not mind," she consoled
him. "Be thankful that they were
figs instead of cocoanuts or you
might have suffered even harder
raps."
Is it to be implied that the Jews, who have been and
will remain the most consistent supporters of the United
Nations' cause, are to be deprived the right to criticize their
friends among whom there are statesmen who seek to stifle
progress in the building of a small sanctuary for our people?
* * *
The Arabs have immense territories which are greatly
underpopulated. But little Palestine, already enriched by
Jewish enterprise, has become a chief plum in their bargain-
(Copyright by David Morantz)
ing for more land. This small spot is begrudged the Jews.
For
handsome 195 page, auto-
The Arabs have, until the United Nations' victories in North graphed a gift
volume containing 128
Africa, played a role antagonistic to the democracies. The of these tales and 500 Pearls of Wis-
dom, send $1.50 to David Morantz,
Grand Mufti is to this day at the beck and call of the Nazis. care of The Jewish News, or phone
But are the Jews to be denied even the right to plead PLaza 1048.
for their rights? The tendency to follow the line of thinking
of Mr. Clark is very harmful to Jewish hopes. The position
he takes is not a fair one and should be discouraged.
* * *
The implications of the "gun-running" trial in Jerusalem
do not help the situation. They aggravate a sore issue. Some
one has quite evidently set out with determination to hurt
the Jewish hopes in Palestine. The Zionists will have to be
on guard to prevent one of the worst betrayals in history
now being plotted by the enemies of the Jewish people.
ORIGIN OF THE PSALMS
Our
CHILDREN'S
CORNER
The Temple Israel Building Fund
News of major importance is the announcement made
last week that Temple Israel has inaugurated its drive for
funds for the erection of its proposed synagogue building in
the northwest section of Detroit, upon the conclusion of the
war.
The progress made by Temple Israel has provided ade-
quate proof that many Detroiters were unaffiliated with any
synagogue at the time Temple Israel was organized. Many
more remain unaffiliated, but the needs of those who have
ioined the new Temple, under the leadership of Rabbi Leon
Pram, are now being fulfilled.
In its own building, Temple Israel will, naturally, be
in position better to provide for the spiritual and cultural
needs of its members and their children.
We are confident that all Detroit Jews wish Temple
Israel success in its efforts to raise $350,000 for its building
fund.
The Psalms are the hymns, or
religious poetry, of the people of
Israel, and were used for chant-
ing in the services of the Second
Temple. The principle of repeti-
tion rather than rhyme, is the
basis of this poetry. A thought
is expressed in the first line, and
repeated in modified form, or
with further explanation in the
lines which follow.
* *
*
HILLEL
Hillel, one of the greatest
Jewish teachers, was born in
Babylon, about 110 B. C. He is
best known as the advocate of
the Golden Rule as an exposi-
tion of Judaism. He said -in this
connection: ."What is hateful to
thee, do not unto thy fellow
man; this is the law; the rest is
commentary, study