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THE JvvVISH NEWS

THE JEWISH NEWS

With Gratitude to God

Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious News
Service, Palcor News Agency, Bressler Cartoon Service, Wide
World Photo Service, Acme Newsphoto Service.
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 the Jewish Welfare
Federation of Detroit, at 40 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.

Dear Boys and Girls:

Last Monday, the Jews of this
country commenced to celebrate
Jewish Book Month.

We are often referred to as Am
HeSefer, the People of the Book.
We have earned this title because
we have given the world the
Bible, and because of our contri-
bution of great prophets and
teachers, who have created ethi-
cal and literary values.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor

NOVEMBER 26, 1943

But in our own time, too many
Jews remain ignorant of the
Bible and fail to live up to the
title People of the Book.

As the Editor
Views the News -

The Freedom of the Mosleys

.

Sir Oswald Mosley, who sought to establish a Nazi regime
in England, has been released from Holloway Prison, where
he has been detained since May, 1940. Freedom also was
granted to Lady Mosley, sister of Unity Mitford, friend of
Adolf Hitler.
This is sad news for the fighters for freedom, and there
is justified indignation in liberal quarters in England.
Herbert Morrison, Minister of Home Security, states that
GUEST EDITORIAL
their liberty is "subject to restrictions."
It will be a blot on British good sense unless their liberty
will also call for increased vigilance on the part of the police,
since a Fascist out of jail must be considered a menace to
By HARRY YUDKOFF
Vice-President, District Grand Lodge No. 6 of Bnai Brith
the security of the democratic form of government.
"Contributing mightily to the preservation of what all
Americans cherish as their way of life, Bnai Brith enters its
second century of service re-dedicated to the welfare of the
nation and the Jewish people which it has served since 1843."
An anonymous writer sends us the following:
This paragraph, culled from an editorial appearing in the
Two homes in the Twelfth Street area were sold to
Washington Post on Oct. 10, 1943, was typical of the corn-
negro families. We all know from experience that it will
ments of the leading newspapers throughout
now continue from house to house and from block to block
the country on the occasion of the centennial
which means that the Twelfth-Linwood neighborhood has
begun to turn to colored.
of the Bnai Brith.
The Bnai Brith, since its organization in
I don't have to say much more excepting that it is not
too late to stem this, and frankly this must be done very
1843, through its manifold contributions to
quickly. Not only will there be a tremendous loss to prop-
the welfare of our country while at peace
erty owners but it will mean that all future areas will be
and at war, serves to manifest the fecundity
completely closed to jews because of the continued reputa-
and flexibility of an organization geared to
tion of first the jew comes and then the negro.
meet the needs of changing times.
Through its Anti-Defamation League,
We are publishing this letter verbatim, without an
Bnai Brith has fought not only against
attempt to correct the grammatical errors or punctuations,
for the reason that we have also received telephone calls Harry Yudkoff prejudice, intolerance and mistaken ideas
from people who are worried about the problem touched concerning the Jewish people, but has made a major con-
upon here. Since this is not an isolated instance of fear over tribution to American unity by exposing - alien-minded forces
the rise of a new problem, we deem it important enough for of hate and stimulating efforts toward interfaith amity, and
brotherhood.
brief comment.
Through the Aleph Zadik Aleph, the Junior Bnai Brith,
Our correspondent overlooks the important fact that if the Hillel Foundations serving on the college campuses of
Jews are to be guilty of establishing a barrier for Negro pop- America, and the Vocational Service Bureau, the Order has
ulation movements, they will have no defense when they been catering to the needs of Jewish youth so that the gen-
fight against similar restrictions imposed upon Jews.
erations of the future will be provided with an intelligent
There is a basic principle involved in the issue that has leadership and an informed and sympathetic following to
been raised:
better cope with the problems with which they will be
If racial and religious prejudices are to be wiped out, confronted.
Traditionally dedicated to a program that embraces the
then segregation of races is unjust. If a family is honest and
peace-loving, it should have a right to settle where it pleases. totality of Jewish life and that concerns itself with every
If this assumption is denied as a basic principle, then restric- constructive Jewish movement, Bnai Brith has long been a
factor in the reconstruction of Palestine.
tions may be applied to Jews as freely as to non-Jews.
On Dec. 12, Henry Monsky, the president of the Order,
Our correspondeliat is right in stating that it is a question long recognized for his outstanding statesmanship, his devo-
of property values. That was the argument advanced to us tion to his people and his sincerity of purpose, will address
by a clergyman who said his parishioners objected to the a meeting that will commemorate the centennial anniversary
building of a synagogue in the vicinity of his church.
of the Order. The Lodges and Women's Auxiliaries of
What is involved here is not the setting up of a barrier Detroit are now engaged in an effort to increase their num-
by Jews against Negroes. The issue is more deep-rooted. bers in celebrating this occasion.
- It would be well for those who have not already done so
People of a kind are often happier among their own. The
mixing of races too frequently has led to rioting and to blood- to take advantage of this opportunity to support this vital
shed. Such manifestations of inter-racial enmity must be organization in Jewish life by affiliating themselves with one
avoided at all costs. Therefore, whatever action is to be of the lodges or auxiliaries in Detroit. The Bnai Brith
taken must be done without an attempt on the part of one deserves the support of every well-thinking Jew and Jewess.
group to set up laws against another. The entire American
community is involved in the issue raised by our correspon-
dent. If this issue is not solved amicably, without arousing
Since the winning of the war is the major obligation of
hatreds and by avoiding the need for racial segregation, then
all citizens in democratic countries, it becomes imperative
the peace and security of all Americans is threatened.
that the most effective assistance be given in improving the
Better housing, improved educational programs, policies services that are functioning to improve the morale of the
of enforcing peaceful relations among all elements of our men and women in the armed forces.
population, are prime necessities in American community
Through the USO, a great job is being done on a non-
planning. Abuse of rights of any citizens involving these sectarian basis, and an unusually effective task is being
needs is un-American and is Fascistic in spirit.
accomplished by the Jewish Welfare Board, one of the USO
This day, on which it becomes necessary to discuss such agencies.
an issue, is not a happy one for free Americans.
The Detroit Army and Navy Committee of the Jewish
Welfare Board has a splendid record for service which is
being offered not only to the Jewish men and women in our
armed forces, but also to non-Jews.
This Week's Scriptural Selections:
This splendid record will be evaluated at the annual
This Sabbath, the twenty-seventh day of Heshvan, 5704, the
meeting to be held at the Jewish Community Center next
following Scripture]. selections will be read in our syan-
Wednesday evening. It is in the interest of improving this

Bnai Brith's Century of Services

Racial Issue Arises to Plague Us

Jewish Book Month should,
therefore, be utilized to encour-
age Jews to possess and read the
Bible and other great Jewish lit-
erary works.

I hope all of you boys and girls
will help spread the idea that
Jews should strive to live up to
the historic and enviable title
given us as Am HaSefer.

I am devoting a portion of
this column to the great Am-
erican festival of Thanksgiving.

I wish you all a pleasant
Sabbath.
UNCLE DANIEL.
* * *
"The Picture-Book History of
the Jews"

Among the books I recommend(
very highly for the very youngi
readers is Howard and Bette:
Fast's "The Picture-Book History:
of the Jews." It was published
by Hebrew Publishing Co., 79 -1
Delancey St., New York.

This fine book tells in very!
simple language our early history. i
It is beautifully illustrated and
it relates the Bible stories in a
way that even the very young
child will be able to understand
it.

The book is intended for chil-
dren of 7 and older, but even
younger ones, and much older
ones, will appreciate it.

I hope that many of my read-
ers will secure copies of this fine j
book.

* * *

Thanksgiving Day

(Prepared as a religious message to
servicemen by the National Jewish
Welfare Board, and printed here for:
the benefit of the readers of this col-;
umn.)

It is common knowledge that
the American Thanksgiving Day
was modeled after the biblical
Succoth festival, when Jews
thanked the Lord for the harvests
they had completed raping. Not
alone on the festivals, but
throughout the year, Israel is
called on to express its gratitude
to the Lord for all the bounties
of life.

The Psalm for the Sabbath Day
(xcii), regularly used in the syn-
agogue ritual, begins, "It is a good
thing to give thanks unto the
Lord, and to give praises unto
Thy name, 0 Most High." Else-
where we read such verses as
(Ps. cviii, 4): "I will give Thee
thanks among the people, 0
Lord: and I will sing praises unto
Thee among the nations." The
Bible is dotted with similar
phrases. Unfailing gratitude is
called for from the people of the
Lord.
No matter what the circum-
stances in our United States, in
peace or war, prosperity or panis,
the annual Day of Thanksgiving
has been proclaimed by presi-
dents and governors. There are
no interludes in the expression of
thanks for our present destiny.
The Jew has never bent his
head in weary resignation to the
bludgeonings of chance. He has
looked upward and thanked God
for everything he possessed,
though that everything might be
but little. And the Jew's head,
even in the pogrom lands, is still
job that the men and women who have participated in the bloody but unbowed.
Jewish Welfare Board program should be present at this
We are happy that this Jewish
meeting and hear of the accompliShments of the past two spirit
of Thanksgiving had its
years and of the plans for the future. A thorough knowledge share in creating the never-
of the JWB objectives will help in the further advancement failing Thanksgiving Day of the
of this specific task to help win the war.
American people.

Jewish Welfare Board Program

gogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Gen. 25:19-28:9.
Prophetical portion: I Sam. 20:18-42.
Pentateuchal selection for Rosh Hodesh Kislev, Sunday:
Num. 28:1-15.

Our

CHILDREN'S
CORNER

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

VOL. 4—NO. 10

Friday, November 26, 1943

