THE JEWISH NEWS

Tv.-o

Purely
Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

"CAUCASIAN" ANTI-ZIONISM

An unsual "statement of principles"
has been made public in Houston, Texas.
Drawn by Reforin Congregation Beth
Israel of that city, this statement would
bar from membership all believers in
"the rabbinical and Mosaic laWs which
regulate diet." In other words, if you be-
lieve in Kashruth, you can not be a
Member of this Houston synagogue. •

Here are the interesting points in this
synagogue's proposed regulation: The
Union of American Hebrew Congrega-
tions is taken to task for not repudiating
the Palestine Resolution of the Ameri-
can Jewish Conference; a demand is
made for an investigation of Hebrew
Union College and other Reform JewiSh
agencies for the purpose of purging "na-
tionalistic" elements; it is charged by
the leaders of this congregation that
the textbooks of the Union of AmeriCan
Hebrew Congregations are too adjust-
able to Orthodox and Conservative
schools and are therefore not in the
spirit of Reform Judaism; there is re-
sentment for the substitution of the
term "Liberal Judaism" for "Reformed
Judaism."
The new leader of this congregation
is Rabbi H. J. Schachtel, formerly of
New York; a leader in the anti-ZiOnist
American Council for Judaism and the
Son of an Orthodox cantor. The state-
ment; accredited to him, calls the He-
brew language "unintelligible" and de-
blares that "our race is Caucasian" in its
repudiation of the existence of a Jewish
nation or race.
The Houston congregation's pledge is
so fantastic that we present the follow-
ing quotations to our readers for their
scrutiny:

"We are Jews by virtue of our acceptance of
Judaism. We consider ourselves no longer a
nation but we are a religious community and,
therefore, we expect neither. a return to Pales-
tine nor a restoration of any of the laws con-
cerning the Jewish State. We stand unequivoc-
ably for the separation of Church and State.
We are neither a nation, a nationality nor a
race. Our religion .is Judaism.: Our nation. is
the United States of America. Our nationality
is American. Our flag is the "Stars and Stripes.,
Our race is Caucasion . . .
."We accept as 'binding only the moral laws
of Mosaic legislation and Prophetic teaching.
We reject the rabbinical and Mosaic laws which
regulate diet, priestly purity, dress and similar
laws which originate in ages and under influ-
ences of ideas and conditions which today are
entirely unsuited, unnecessary and foreign to
the beliefs and observances of progresSive Ju-
daism in modern America . . .

"The treasures of Divine revelation were given
in the Hebrew language and in sucli mlanguage
are preserved the immortal remains of a litera-
ture that influences all civilized nations. As the
fulfillment of ' a sacred duty, therefore, 'the culti-
vation of the. Hebrew language . . must always be
urgently desired by us. However, the Hebrew
language. has become- unintelligible to the vast
majority of our co-religionists; therefore, it
must make way, as is advisable under existing
circumstances, to intelligible language in pray-
. er ,. which, if not understood, is a soulless forin.
"The basis of unity among the Jews through
the world is Religion. Hence, it is our duty
to help our coreligiOnists whenever .and.wherev-
er the need may arise, even; as we must help
all mankind that may be in.•'need, in aOeordance
with the principles of our faith.
"I/we having read the foregoing basic prin-
ciples do subscribe to the same:"

*

*

THE TRUE VOICE OF U. S. JEWRY
Is it possible . that the -sentiments -con-
tained in this statement represent the
viewpoint of an appreciable portion of
American Jewry?
Here is the other side of the picture:
The - Synagogue Council of America,
which represents all factions in Ameri-
can Israel—Reform, Orthodox and Con=
servative—issued a memorandum in
connection with the conference of the
United Nations Relief and Rehabilita-
tion Administration, setting forth the re-
ligious need's of the Jewish population
in liberated countries. The UNRRA is
urged to make provisions for the liber-
ated Jews, bearing in mind the morale-
value of religious rehabilitation. Other
religious bodies have issued similar
memoranda.
The Jewish memorandum urges kosher
feeding, the reconstitution of •synagogueS
and Jewish religious institutions in dev-
astated communities : and the re-estab-
lishment - of 73,ObbiniCal functions. The
kosher feeding provision in this merno-- ,
randunt 'reads: . -

rl

"In planning the feeding of liberated. com-
mtmitiea. when hao tilitics cease, Nye urge that
suppliesbe. ,Made .7iivailaliVe
t by . he authorities;'
prepared' , accordance- with. the -,religiouw
scruples of tbe Jewish pojmiation-zix1 ProPOrtiOn
to their, ratio tis a , vis to, the general com-
munity We understand that 'in the shipment of -
food to the liberated _countries of..North Africa
due regard was give to the rel;gious scruples
Of - the Moslem population: We ask 'similar con-
sideration far the. Jews of Europe when' Um&
can be shi; ,),.-4 to theM."
-

TWO - CONFLICTING VIEWS , • •
- Here • you haVe two conflicting . views:
that of the . "Caucasian ranti-Zionist" who
would, prosCribe kashrutli :,..arrrong.. their
rnembers;;.and the one , .:yttered by •the
united opinion of air Jewish religious
groups who prefer to respect_ 414e feelz....

Tel Aviv's Mayor on the Stand

EDITOR'S NOTE: Several' weeks .ago Eliahu Sacharoff was sentenced by a military
court in Jerusalem to seven years' imprisonment for possession of two bullets. Israel
Rokeach, for seven years mayor of Tel Aviv, was a character witness for the defense.
The following are excerpts from the testimony as reported in the Hebrew labor daily
Davar. This record speaks for itself. We believe that these excerpts constitute a vigorous
refutation of the libels voiced at these trials agains the Jews.

The scene is the military court in Jerusalem. Mayor Rokeach is on the witness
stand.
Prosecutor: Do you view gun-running in Palestine as an illegal act?
Mayor: Yes.
Prosecutor: Don't you know that Sacharoff is a member of a clandestine military
organization?
Mayor: I don't know.
Prosecutor: You've heard of the Hagana (Jewish self-defense), haven't you?
Mayor: I have. Why. do you call it a military organization?
Prosecutor: Does the Hagana possess arms?
Mayor: I think it does .. . I think that it should cause no surprise if any indi-
vidual or group possesses arms to defend lives and property.
Prosecutor: When attacked, will you try to obtain arms from various sources?
Mayor: Yes.

The prosecutor then referred to the charge that the bullets found in Sacharoff's
possession belonged to a cache stolen from a military arsenal.
Prosecutor: You are not much concerned whether the army has arms or not,
as long as .you can obtain arms for self-defense?
Mayor: I did not mean the arniy when I spoke about obtaining arms' from
various sources. I don't consider the army a source for this purpose.
Prosecutor: What are the sources you have reference to?
Mayor: I can't tell you. I do not engage in this activity.
Prosecutor: Where do you obtain your arms?
Mayor: As Mayor of Tel Aviv I hereby state emphatically that I have 'no
knowledge as to how to obtain arms.
The prosecutor then referred• to the Yishuv's demonstrations protesting the
White . Paper bah on Jewish land purchases in Palestine. The demonstrations were
held, in 1940.
Prosecutor: Don't you kno* that Sacharoff 'participated in the Tel Aviv
disturbances?
Mayor: What disturbances?
Prosecutor: The disturbances of 1940:
Mayor: You mean the demonstrations.
*
*
*
Prosecutor: All who possess arms (illegal) - are criminals. Do you share that
view?
Mayor: It depends on the purpose.
Prosecutor: For self-defense?
Mayor: One has a moral right to obtain weapons for self-defense.
Prosecutor: You are aware that it is against the law to carry weapons without
a permit?
Mayor: Yes.
Prosecutor: One who seeks to carry weapons for self-defense still needs a
permit—otherwise his possession of 'arms is a violation of the law.
Mayor: Yes, I know that this is what the law states.

Friday, November 26, 1943

Strictly
Confidential

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

(Copyright, 1943, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate)

Hats off to Al Jolson for his succinci
comment on the current waves of anti -
Semitism in certain parts of the coun
try , . . . Speaking of his visit to an Am -
erican Army cemetery in Italy, Al said
"There were many white crosses ove r
graves of 'our heroic dead_ • • . Ther €
were stars of David, too . . . But no
where in that American cemetery did
see any sign reading 'Restricted' "

YOU SHOULD KNOW
Paul Scheffer, who until Pearl Harbo r
was Goebbels' news representative in
this country, and who now hobnobs witl-
American newspaper columnists one
commentators in his swanky Park 'Ave.
nue apartment, is whispering to his inti -
mates that the tales of Hitler's exterm -
ination of millions of Jews are highly
exaggerated . . How does Mr. Scheffe i
know? . . . He supported Hitler's anti -
Semitism in the days when it looked a s
if Adolf were winning the war.
PM, Marshall Fields' New York after -
noon tabloid, has fallen into a trap . .
In its carnpign against anti-Semitism ii
brings daily statistical tables showing
that the Jews of America are not more
successful than their percentage in the
population warrants . • . Such reasoning
places democracy on a quota basis, and
would justify anti-Semitism if Jew s
should get ahead beyond certain statis
tics.
.
* * *
WAR ECHOES
'Danish Ambassador De Kauffman, in
a recent speech before an" audience o
The prosecutor referred to Sacharoff's participation in the demonstrations
against the White Paper, for which he had been interned.
Jews gathered to mourn the loss of near -
Mayor: Sacharoff apparently was interned for participating in demonstrations, ly 4,000,000 of their brethren, told hi
he did not participate in disturbances . . . Nor was he interned for thefts or burg- hearers that Denmark has lost one third
lary .. . He was interned for participating in protest demonstrations.
of her national wealth . . . A nationally
Concluding his testimony, Mayor Rokeach asked that he be permitted to make
known Orthodox rabbi, who was grac-
a statement for the record.
ing the speakers' platform on that oc-
Mayor: I should like to make clear the difference between crime and self-
casion, is reported as having commented :
defense. I have seen many disturbances in Palestine .. .
President of the Military Tribunal: We do not want to hear you. We called "Allewei auf uns gesogt."
you regarding the possession of two bullets.
Hitler's days, puns Harry Hershfield
Mayor: The question was not raised by me. It was raised by the prosecutor
are growing fuehrer and fuehrer.
* * *
and deserves clarification.
The President of the Military Tribunal then read aloud the Mayor's testimony.
JEWISH NEWS
President: Is that what you have testified to?
Flash . . . David Ben Gurion and Dr.
Mayor:. You have on the record' the contents, but not the spirit of my testimony.
Chaim Weizmarm, who are on the outs
I repeat, when an individual or group is in danger, they have the right to defend
themselves ... The demonstrations were aimed against the White Paper, not against will soon meet in London to straighten
the government.
out their controversy. - -
The editor of the New York Post tells
President: Who implements the White Paper, if not the government?
Mayor: The demonstrations were aimed at the government which implements
1:. -3 that as a result of its serialization of
the White Paper.
Pierre van Paassen's "The Forgotten
The President of the Military Tribunal, interrupting the Mayor, who had testi-
Ally" the paper is receiving inquiries
fied in Hebrew, instructed the interpreter to tell Mr. Rokeach—"that he'll make a from many non-Jews asking how they
much better Mayor of 'F'.--1triy, ;f T- c.'11 jz-,--- r-t - r. 44..:Lynt - Iv and sneak less."
can .join the Zionist. Organization.
(Copyright 1943 by INDEPENDENT JEWISH PRESS SERVI C E, Inc:)
* * *
ABOUT PEOPLE
•
Leonard Lyons recalls this anecdote
concerning the late Max Reinhardt and
-Rudolf Schildkraut . . It seems that
when Schildkraut first began to play
under Reinhardt he always came late
for rehearsals . . . And each time the
By BORIS SMOLAR
By DAVID DEUTSCH
same ritual was followed—Schildkraut
paid a 2-mark lateness. fine. to the stag
(Copyright. 1943 j.T.A., Inc.)
(Copyright, 1943,. Independent.
manager,- who then gave him a receipt
1e?"i^7? Press Service)
WASHINGTON DOINGS
bearing Reinhardt's signature . . Fin-
PRIVATE WIRE
The fight :between the 'AineriCan Jew-:
Representatiyes of Jewish women's or- ally, however, Reinhardt grew tired of
.
ish Conference and the American Jewish •
ganizations met. the First Lady last week this chronic tardiness, and suggested to
Corriinittee is being *closely iiti-Etched
to discuss Jewish postwar relief and re- Schildkraut, that he might mend his
official Circles in Washington . . Some
habilitation and the function of Pales- ways . . . "But I make a living out of
high officials in the State Department
tine in this scheme. Rumor has it that this," Schildkraut protested . . "My
are. becoming tired of the numerous
Eleanor suffers a blind spot on the sub- role is small, and so is my salary . . . So
Jewish representatives and delegations ject of the Jewish National Home. Some- I come late, pay my two marks, get
which appear there so often recently . . . one has whispered into her ear the well- your receipt—and then I sell your auto-
Speaking to a Jewish representative, a known tale of Jews displacing Arabs and graph for five marks."
prominent State Department official in- until lately few have bothered to con-
Congratulations to Dr. Isaac Landman,
dicated in good humor that pretty soon vince her of the contrary. That was editor-in-chief of the Universal Jewish
the Department will have to establish a criminal negligence on the part of Encyclopedia, on the marriage of his '
special office to deal with all the Jewish Jewish leadership. Here's hoping' that the sister, Miriam, to James B. Mathew of
delegations. •
women's groups have helped to dispel Schenectedy.
Especially busy in Washington at pres- the fog.
This season, which marked the 25th
ent are representatives of Jewish groups
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver's report to anniversary of the Yiddish Art Theater,
which believe that :the State Department the American Zionist Emergency Coun- will be the last Yiddish season for
may establish an advisory body of lead- cil on his activities in Washington kept Maurice Schwartz, its founder and star
ing Jews, Catholics and Protestants to everyone spellbound. Some, who are . . . Beginning next year he will concen-
deal with the problem of rescuing Jews -used to postponement and dilatory tactics trate on the English stage.
from Europe . . . What the State Depart were shocked out of their wits by the
ment actually is inclined to do is to con- Rabbi's dynamism . . . They expected
sider a plan for rescue "work to be car action, but action is so upsetting,: you
ried out through the Intergovernmental know . . . The Laborites hope that un-
Committee which was expanded after der Silver's guidance the Zionists in this
the Bermuda Conference:
By SAUL T
country may accustom themselves to co-
_ SCHERNICHOWSKY
. operative effort to such degree that the I am the. Jew. Dost Thou remember' me?
ings of those who insist ..:upon AidherenCe - Berl (Gi.irion plan for a Zionist Federa- Between us there is enmity.:' forever!
to dietary laws.
tion may become acceptable to . them.'
It would _be interesting to
Independent Jewish Press . Service's And 'yet behold me! I have wandered far,
whether there will be very many mem revelation that the Board of Directors of By eroOked ways, froth those that - were
bers of the _Houston Congregation who Rabbi . Schachtel 's new congregation
before me,
will sign the pledge proposed to them. recommended that as ruth-obserying And others after me : shall knOW' this
- person need not himself adhere to t JeWS be barred froM voting niernberShip
_
. path.
— .
kashruth' 'in order to respect the views has the wires burning from New York But amongst those that will return to
of his fellow-mien Who insist upon strict to TeXas. Deform rabbis and laymen feel-
thee
adherence to MOsaic. laws: • ; that the decision is a libel against Re- I' was the - .,first to -free My 'soul that
. Sq, ladies and gentlemen, a spokes- form Jewry. By the time you read this
groaned
man , for the American Council for ju-' the Texa0 congregation's • MemberShip Beneath -the agony of gerieratiO0;
daism is not satisfied • ...jvith preventing will have Voted on the question. Should For a day carne could endure no. more,
Jewish,.: efforts in. PaleStine on a na- the ccingregation affirm the Board of And on that day my spisir _burst its
tional scale: he Would also put an end Directors' action, it will :face ari , ouster
to 1Vrr:Sic law. "V that an interesting era from the • Union :of . American liebrew.
d'A tii h r 4n in
ed. ga
in
-
ards. .:the living
ytte . CongregatiOns we hear.
earth.

:Between
ou and

Me

Heard in
The Lobbies

Before Statue
Of -Apollo

•

-

