Page Sixteen
THE JEWISH NEWS
JWB Serves USO and War Fronts
(Continued from Page 6)
being at present 55 in various
theaters of operation throughout
the world.
In recent months a plan has
been worked out in agreement
with USO, American Red Cross,
the War Department and the
Navy Department, which makes
it possible for the JWB to send
commissioners or organizers to
the principal foreign areas, to
establish the program of com-
munity hospital and religious
co-operation.
AID TO WAR PRISONERS
By special arrangement with
the War Prisoners Aid of the
World Committee of the YMCA,
the JWB is able to serve Jewish
prisoners of war taken by the
Axis powers.
SERVICES TO COLLEGES
Another field - of expansion
during the year was necessitated
through the institution by the
War and Navy Departments of
the Specialized College Training
Program in colleges throughout
the U. S. More than 100,000
young men and .women are now
in uniform at college campuses.
In the present plan, involving
full use of college facilities, JWB
has already provided service at
over 175 campuses through the
field staff, Jewish Center ex-
ecutives and Army and Navy
Committees. In a number of in-
stances the JWB and Hillel
Foundation of Bnai Brith work
cooperatively.
HOSPITAL SERVICE
Anticipating the need for ad-
ditional hospital services, oc-
casioned by the growing number
of wounded returned from over-
seas combat, the JWB organized
a department of hospital service
to meet the religious and spirit-
ual needs of the men at Veterans,
General, and Post Hospitals.
The Board's function, primar-
ily, is to provide and render ade-
quate religious and spiritual
ministrations for the men of
Jewish faith. Jewish chaplains,
civilian rabbis, and JWB field
representatives are furnishing
this service in Post, Army Gen-
eral. and Naval Hospitals. In
1947 the number of visits made
to individual patients totalled
159,229.
PERSONNEL AND TRAINING
The effectiveness and accept
ance of JWB services are direct-
ly dependent upon the manner
in which its professional men
and women in the field fulfill
their growing duties.
Mindful of thiS responsibility,
the Personnel Department gear-
ed its selection and training of
workers to high personnel stand-
ards during the past year. To
satisfy the needs for personnel,
the recruiting program explored
new sources.
During the period under re-
view, 176 appointments were
made to replace 54 resignations
due to the draft of workers for
military service and to fill 122
new openings.
INFORMATION AND SERVICE
Ever since World War I, the
JWB has rendered personal serv-
ice to men of the Jewish faith
in the armed forces. Enlisted men
seek our JWB representatives
when they are in trouble. Their
fathers, mothers and wives com-
municate with our representa-
tives regarding their kin. Not
only Jewish agencies, rabbis,
fraternal and other organizations
and individuals invoke the as-
sistance of the Board, but many
not of Jewish faith—army and
navy officers, Christian chap-
lains and non-Jewish agencies of
every character — refer Jewish
enlisted men and their families
who may require guidance or
assistance to the JWB.
During the past year, approxi-
mately 85,000 cases were handled
by JWB workers serving adja-
cent to military and naval posts
throughout the country, in which
counsel, guidance or personal
service was given to troubled sol-
diers and sailors and members of
their families.
VETERANS' SERVICES
Service to Jewish veterans, al-
ways an important part of the
JWB
welfare program, was
placed during the year under a
separate department in the na-
tional office, the Veterans Serv-
ice Department.
Of 101 Veterans' Hospitals
throughout the country, 78 are
served by the JWB. 39 of these
institutions are attended by JWB
field representatives, 26 by visit-
ing rabbis and 13 by volunteer
community workers. Contact is
maintained with the other hospi-
tals, so that when Jewish men
are hospitalized in any of them
service is extended to that insti-
tution.
As an agency officially recog-
nized by the Veterans' Adminis-
tration to aid veterans and their
dependents in the preparation
and submission of cairns for pen-
sions, insurance, hospitalization
and other governmental benefits,
JWB has represented thousands
of Jewish veterans and is daily
being called upon by men coming
out of the present armed serv-
ices.
To accomplish these objectives,
the department undertook to
gather and disseminate news of
Jewish participation in the war.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of War
C. W. Stark's 'City of Destiny'
ABook on Detroit's History
Is Fine-lint Incomplete
This reviewer's first "boss" as City Editor of the
Detroit News—George Washington Stark—was given
a grand party last Friday at the Victory Round Table
sponsored by the J. L. Hudson Co. over Station WWJ.
• The occasion marked the appearance of Stark's fine
book, "City of Destiny: The Story of Detroit", and the
guests at the party received a pleasant surprise when
they were awarded as souvenirs of the occasion copies
of the book.
Prominent Old-Timers were on the program—includ-
ing Nate Samuels, life secretary of the Detroit Old
Newsboys Goodfellow Fund. At the informal party
after the broadcast, the M. C., Author Stark, called
upon Alex Schreiber, president of the Old Newsboys,
for a bow.
Judge William Friedman was among the eminent
uests.
"City of Destiny" is, as stated, a fine book. But it
is not a complete book. It is a good history of our city,
and Mr. Stark, president of the Detroit Historical So-
ciety, is following in the footsteps of his predecessor as
Detroit's historian, the late George B. Catlin.
But it is to be hoped that some glaring omissions
will be corrected in future editions of the book. Some
very important names are missing. Also, while churches
are listed, synagogues are omitted; and so are facts
about some Christian denominations. Perhaps a thorough
search will indicate that Mohammedans also have played
a part in the building of Detroit.
Albert Kahn has a place in "City of Destiny" as a
builder who "had the imagination, the spirit and the
knowledge."
So has the late Ossip Gabrilowitsch, the man who
made a place in Detroit for the Symphony Orchestra
which he built to occupy an important role in America's
musical field.
Richard Cohn is mentioned as one of the members
of the old Jeff Webb Gang.
"City of Destiny" is a timely book, portraying
Detroit as the arsenal for democracy and for the better
future that is to follow the war.—P. S.
Records had been established and
with more complete information
made available through its ef-
forts, the department issued "In
the Nation's Service."
BUREAU OF WAR RECORDS
During the past year, the Bu-
reau of War Records of the Jew-
ish Welfare Board completed its
organizational procedures, set up
its aims and policies, and made
great strides towards its goal of
recording the participation of
American Jewry in the second
world war.
The Bureau was organized on
Oct. 9, 1941, with an Advisory
Committee representing the na-
tional organizations affiliated and
co-operating with the JWB and
representative members at large,
and a Technical Committee on
studies and operations of the
Bureau.
On Feb. 18, 1942, the Technical
Committee presented its prelim-
inary report on the scope of the
wqrk to the representatives of the
national affiliated organizations.
The report arrived at the follow-
ing conclusions:
It is impracticable to secure ac-
cess to the official records in
Washington, for the purpose of
making an actual count of the
number of Jewish men in the
armed forces. FUrthermore, these
records either do not show relig-
ious affiliation or, where they do,
cannot be regarded as complete
and would require other methods
of checking.
The report recognized the value
of building up the record of par-
ticipation of Jews in the armed
forces and advocated the follow-
ing measures:
(a)—Sample surveys to be
made in a selected ntimber of
cities, to determine statistically
the number and proportion of
Jews in the armed forces corn-
ing from these communities.
(b)—A day by day record to
be kept of all honors, citations
and achievements of Jews in
the service, every such instance
to be authenticated before re-
lease of information to the pub-
lic.
(c)—A similar record to be
maintained of casualties, in-
cluding deaths, missing, wound-
ed and prisoners.
(d)—When the war ends, the
War and Navy Departments
and other bureaus of the gov-
ernment to be approached with
a view to making possible a
comprehensive count of Jews
in the armed forces, casualties,
honors, promotions, rank, etc.
Since Pearl Harbor the Bureau
compiled a checked and authen-
ticated list of about 1,000 Jewish
casualties and several hundred
awards for heroism:
Friday, November 26, 1943
Pistol-Packin' Rita
Gun Case Exposed
Mysterious Woman's Testimony Seals Fate
Of 2 Jews in Palestine Arms Trial
Independent Jewish Press Service, in a syndicated article
by Bernard Lerner, this week exposed Rita Max, alias Hein-
tin Hendricka, as a mysterious woman who was one of the
witnesses who maligned the two Jews convicted in the gun-
running trial in Jerusalem.
Quoting David Ben Gurion's address before the Assephat
Hanivcharim that there were
"grounds for the assumption that her husband who is confined in
there has been fabrication of evi- a hospital.
dence . . . for the benefit of the
"She stated that she had ob-
prosecution" in the trial of Leib served that there was something
Sirkin and Abraham Rachlin, Mr. strange in the behavior of her
Lerner writes:
friends. She had noticed that
"Rita Max, alias Heintin Hen- they avoided military police; she
dricks, testified that she had met also had caught scraps of con-
the Jewish defendants many versation referring to the sale of
times in the company of the two weapons, and she knew that a
British Army deserters, Harris "Jewish boss" was involved. She
and Stoner, star witnesses against admits that she was suspicious
Rachlin and Sirkin. On cross ex- and yet had done nothing about
amination Madame Max conced- it. The defense attorney made
ed that at the first police inquiry much of this point.
into the case, she had made no
"The defense attorney at the
mention of having seen civilians arms trial inquired whether Ser- •
with the soldiers and could not geant Ball, one of the accused at
explain why she had omitted such a murder trial, was a friend Of
an important fact.
Madame Max.
Denied the Charge
Passed as Jewess
"You don't call everyone a
"At one time she passed her-
self off as a Jewess. Now she friend," she retorted.
"The defense sought to prove
claims "Aryan" descent. She al-
leges that she is part German and that Madame Max was influenced
part Dutch. The Hebrew labor by police officers to change her
testimony. She denied the charge.
daily, Davar, quotes Madame
"She is a multi-faceted person-
Max's own statements of fact
about herself, made from the wit- ality. Many questions may be
ness stand. They are revealing raised. Is she Jewish? Dutch?
German? How did she manage
enough.
to pass herself off as a Jewess,
"Madame Max came to Pales- especially in the strictly Ortho-
tine as an illegal immigrant. She dox Tirath Zvi?
did not explain how she had man-
"The reflections are on those
aged to join a party of Jewish
refugees and pass herself off as responsible for preparing the evi-
a Jewess. In Haifa, she married dence in the arms trial. Will they
a Jew. She then joined the Or- really stop at nothing in their
thodox colony, Tirath Zvi. She effort to bolster the shaken
soon wearied of the pioneering foundations of the White Paper?
Are these the methods the Pal-
life and decided to explore new
territory. She found employment estine administration intends to
as a waitress in Haifa and was use in its effort to find moral
"much happier than at Tirath justification for the immorality
Zvi." Of late she has been un- of the White Paper which is to
employed and "received favors'' take full effect April, 1944?
"April, 1944 is also the dead-
from Stoner and Harris.
line for the morality of those re-
Won Gift at Cards
sponsible for the British policy
"At one time she had received in Palestine.
from them the sum of £15. At
"Rita Max is an episode, but
another time they had offered a revealing and indicative epi-
her £200 for which she was to buy sode, a criterion by which one
a cafe in Jerusalem. The lady can judge the Jerusalem arms
shyly explained that she refused trial and all similar proceedings
the money gift but later won the which the foes of the Jewish Na-
£200 in a card game. That, of tional Home may be planning for
course, was all right.
the near future in an attempt to
"She went with the soldiers to consolidate the immorality of
Tel Aviv. The motive for her their policies against the Yis-
coming to Tel Aviv was to visit buy."
Twenty Years Ago This Week
Compiled From the Records of the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM — Haifa; with its natural harbor
facilities, is favored as the site of the port of. Pales-
: tine, in a report by an engineering expert to the
Colonial Office. A controversy has been raging here
since Britain assumed the mandate over the respec-
tive merits of Jaffa and Haifa, with the Arab . mer-
chant class favoring the former.
ROME — The Italian news agency Vota denies
the truth of the report that the Vatican inspired the
protests by Cardinal Faulhaber of Munich to Pre-
mier Stressman concerning the anti-Jewish agita-
tion in Germany. Vita says that the Cardinal's pro
test is in "accordance with the spirit of the Vati-
can's constant exhortations."
WARSAW—A move to retain the old Czarist re-
strictions on Jews in the Polish Republic was seen
here in the withdrawal by the leaders of the Gov-
ernment Party of a bill which would abolish
throughout Poland all restrictions applying to Jews.
Jewish members of the Sejm have protested any at-
tempt to perpetuate anti-Jewish legislation.
MUNICH—The first day of the Hebrew calendar
month of Kislev has been decreed by Chief Rabbi
Ehrentren as a day of fasting and prayers for the
next 10 years in commemoration of the averted
massacre of the Jews when the Hitler-Ludendorf
putsch miscarried on Nov. 8.
LONDON — The Earl of Balfour this week re-
ceived from Dr. Chaim Weizmann a miniature
statue sculptured in honor of Lord Balfour's au-
thorship of the Declaration providing for a - Jewish
National Home in Palestine.
LONDON — Karl Kautsky, veteran Socialist
leader, urges the Jews of Russia to help overthrow
the Bolsheviks since, he says, the fall of Bolshevism
will unloose violent terror against the Jews.
Committee Is Formed to Seek
Historical Museum Fund Here
The Committee for the Building and Endowment
Fund of the Museum of the City of-Detroit has been
formed under the leadership of Frank Cody, council-
man and for a half-century identified with the public
schools of Detroit.
Dr. David D. Henry, executive vice-president of
Wayne University, is •vice-chairman; Harold M. Hast-
ings, secretary of the Adcraft Club, is secretary and
McPherson Browning, chairman of the board of the
Detroit Trust Co., is treasurer.
These and other members of the committee, to the
number of 40, were selected by George W.,Stark, presi-
dent of the Detroit Historical Society, and the members
of the board of trustees. Leonard Simons is taking an
active interest in this campaign.
Recently, Stark was able to announce a $50,000 gift
from Mrs. Charles B. Pike, of Chicago, the only remain-
ing child of the late Gen. Russell A. Alger. • She stipu-
lated her gift to be used for the building of a memorial
hall, to be known as the General Russell A. Alger Mili-
tary Memorial Hall, and to be built into the first unit
of the new museum.
Another condition is that a sum of $250,000 (in-
cluding her own $50,000) be raised to build the first
unit, which is the immediate task of the committee.
The committee and other civic leaders vision a
museum that will take industrial and commercial, as
well as historical directions. Such a plant could well
cost a million dollars. The plan is to have it erected
on the campus of Wayne University as part of the post-
war plan. The new building will be on an axis with
the Public Library and the Art Institute.
"Detroit has the oldest and richest history in the
Middle West, but it has done the least in preserving or
dramatizing it," said Stark. "We propose not only to
dramatize that, but also to dramatize the great commer-
cial and industrial development since the turn of the
century. That is the most amazing story in the history
of Mankind."