THE JEWISH NEWS

Page Four

THE JEWISH NEWS

Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish
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Entered as second-class matter August 6, 1942, at the Post Office
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Talk Fast, Herr Dokter!

Friday, February 4, 1944

Talmudic Tales

By DAVID MORANTZ

(Based upon the ancient legends and
philosophy found in the Talmud and
folklore of the Jewish people.)

(Copyright by David Morantz)

For s handsome 195 page, auto-
graphed gift volume containing 128 .
of these tales and 500 Pearls of Wis-
dom. send $1.50 to David Morantz,
care of The Jewish News, or phone
PLaza 1048.

Parental Respect

The story is told of a miller
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
who took his father to live
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
with him in his old age. At:
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
that time there was a law in
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
the land that all persons not
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
HENRY WINEMAN
working for themselves were
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
obliged to work a certain num-
ber of days for the king.
FEBRUARY 4, 1944
VOL. 4—NO. 20
When the time approached
for the old man to be calledi
upon, his son said: "Go thou
and labor for me in the mill
and I will go and work for the
king, because those who work
for the king are flogged if their
work proves unsatisfactory. It is
better, therefore,- for me to run
the chance of being beaten than
Commendations of President Roosevelt's action in ap-
to allow you to risk it."
pointing the War Refugee Board to plan immediate rescue
Such a son indeed deserves
of Nazi victims, and to frustrate Hitlerite plans to extermi-
the reward • of one who honors
nate the Jews, are based on many considerations.
his father.
Says the Talmud further on
The statements issued by the American Jewish Com-
the subject of honoring one's'
mittee, American Jewish Conference, Jewish Labor Commit-
parents:
tee, Zionist Organization of America and other national
"The honoring of one's parents
bodies, including the Emergency Committee to Save the
is as obligatory upon the poor
Jewish People of Europe, emphasize the humanitarian ele-
as upon the rich."
ments and point to the traditional policy of our country in
"The duty of honoring one's ,
effecting programs to rescue persecuted Jews.
parents has n o t ceased when
the earth has closed on their
Other issues are involved. It is important to consider
Rep. John Rankin's "personal privilege" address in the mortal remains. Their memory
the great moral value of the President's action. The Euro-
pean Underground must rejoice over the steps that are to be U. S. House of Representatives on Jan. 26 was vicious to must be cherished and honored."

As the Editor
Views the News -

The Values of War Refugee Board

The Vicious Rep. Rankin

taken to rescue the persecuted. Neutral countries which
have heretofore hesitated to permit temporary entry of refu-
gees enroute to havens of settlement undoubtedly will adopt
a friendlier attitude. It should now be easier to transfer
refugees for settlement in Palestine by way of Turkey, Spain
and other countries.

*

*

*

The President's action has additional value in the fact
that it helps to solve an internal problem. The Emergency
Committee to Save the Jewish People of Europe was re-
sponsible for the introduction in both Houses of Congress
of the Gillette-Rogers Bills.
Hearings on these measures had occasioned controversy
which resulted in an attack upon Dr. Stephen S. Wise by the
Emergency Committee and in a repudiation of this commit-
tee by the American Jewish Conference. The withdrawal
of these bills, which became unnecessary as a result of the
President's action, ends the injection of strife over rescue
measures in Jewish ranks, and prevents the possibility of
serious consequences that could have arisen from internal
discord.
The Emergency Committee, let it be stated for the rec-
ord, has utilized the best known names in Jewish and
Christian ranks to press the issue of rescuing European Jews.
A statement by Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog, of Palestine, was
widely publicized, but last week Rabbi Herzog announced
in Jerusalem that he has "had no contact whatsoever" with
the Emergency Committee, aside from using their address
to send a message to Senator Johnson of Colorado.
Responsible committees, with which the President's War
Refugee Board will deal in the future, should have complete
charge of all rescue work. The Emergency Committee's
propaganda campaign has been effective. Its leaders, how-
ever, owe an obligation to the Jews of America and to the
cause of justice to submit to discipline in order that the best
results may be attained.
Jews everywhere are praying for the success of the War
Refugee Board's efforts. May its activities be crowned with
the effective results demanded by the tragedy of the millions
of. refugees who are suffering from the evils of Hitlerism.

the nth degree. Intended as an attack on Walter Winchell,
it was mainly anti-Semitic in nature.
His misrepresentation of facts with regard to various
liberal attitudes, his distortion of the situation in Russia,
his references to "good Jews," "bad Jews," "kike Jews,"
represented a slur on the intelligence of decent American
citizens.
Rep. Rankin's outbursts have found the proper reply
in the formation of the committee formed to crusade against
anti-Semitism under the leadership of Supreme Court Jus-
tice Frank Murphy, Wendell L. Willkie, members of our
Government, Governors of States and leading clergymen.
Furthermore, the concerted drive against anti-Semitic
violence inaugurated by 100 Protestant ministers meeting
in executive session in New York is a strong indication that
our country's best brains will not permit the sanctity of
American principles to be abused too freely.
Rep. Rankin may have received temporary applause for
his hate-inciting outbursts. But in a showdown, American
principles prevail.

The Rejoicing of the Rescued

Enthusiastic scenes, marked by singing and dancing, are
reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in the descrip-
tion of the departure of the Portuguese streamer Nyassa,
which previously carried refugees from Lisbon to the United
States and which last week carried 170 Jews on the way to
Cadiz, Spain, where 570 additional Palestine-bound refugees
were picked up.
Blue and White flags decorated the Nyassa, and the
spirit of rejoicing indicated how the men and women who
were rescued from Nazism welcomed the opportunity of
settling in Palestine.
Dr. John B. Wise, acting in behalf of the Joint Distribu-
tion Committee through whose efforts these refugees are be-
ing saved, in a letter to American rabbis asking that prayers
be recited for the -ix safe arrival, pointed out that three things
made possible the rescue of these 800 men, women and chil-
dren:
"The first, of course, is the leadership and courage of the
British and American armed forces. A little over a year ago
the British were at bay at El Alamein and no Americans
Introduction in the U. S. House of Representatives of were in North Africa. By their faith and courage a new
the resolution calling for the opening of the doors of Pales- road of rescue has been opened. The second factor is the
tine to free Jewish immigration and the establishment of ability of the JDC to find the means promptly to send these
a Jewish Commonwealth is rightfully being greeted with people along the first open road to freedom which presents
satisfaction by our people.
itself. The third is the availability of Palestine as a refuge."
Thus, the Joint Distribution Committee, in cooperation
This resolution represents an act of justice in a critical
with
the Jewish Agency, remains in the forefront of rescue
period in our history. The U. S. is a party to the efforts
for the establishment of the Jewish National Home in Pal- work for unfortunate Jews. The sailing of the S. S. Nyassa
estine, dating back to the Balfour Declaration of Nov. 2, is an historic event which should encourage increased con-
1917, in the framing of which President Woodrow Wilson fidence in the efforts of the major philanthropic Jewish
played an important role. Adoption of the present resolu- movements and should dispel antagonism towards a Jewish
tion should serve as a signal to the British government Palestine in the ranks of those who fail to recognize the his-
toric values afforded by the establishment of the Jewish
that pledges to our people should be adhered to.
National Home.
Congressmen James A. Wright of Pennsylvania a n d
Ranulf Compton of Connecticut have earned our gratitude
for introducing this resolution. Our thanks go forth also to
Congressmen John. W. McCormack and Joseph W. Martin
In the tributes paid to the memory of William Allen
of Massachusetts, Majority and Minority leaders of t h e White, the great American newspaper editor who passed
House, for their encouragement of the resolution's sponsors. away last week, it was recalled that he took the lead in

Palestine Resolution in Congress

The Late William Allen White

This Week's Scriptural Selections:

This Sabbath, the eleventh day of Shevat, 5704, the fol-
lowing scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion: Ex. 13:17-17:16.
Prophetical portion: Judges 4:4-5:31.
(Harnit3ha Asar b'Shevat—New Year of the Trees—
occurs on Wednesday, Feb. 9).

condemning the outburst of race hatred by Charles Lind-

Our

CHILDREN'S
CORNER

Dear Boys and Girls:
One of our minor festivals-
Hamisha Asar b'Shevat—will be
observed on Wednesday, Feb. 9.
Hamisha Asar b'Shevat means'
the fifteenth day of the Hebrew
month of Shevat. The festival
also is known as Rosh Hasnahah
Le-Ilonoth, the New Year of
the Trees.
It is a. Palestinian festival
which is observed by Jews wher-
ever they reside. The trees be-
gin to blossom at this time in
Palestine, and the occasion is a
great event for our people in
the Land of Israel who rejoice
in seeing the land becoming
fruitful.
Young and old have made it
a tradition to plant trees in
Palestine on that day, thus en-
riching the land.
Outside of Palestine, Jews
contribute towards the tree-
planting program of the Jewish
National Fund and enjoy eating
fruits that grow in Palestine—
dates, figs, St. Johns bread
(boksher). These fruits are dif-
ficult to obtain now, on account
of the war. It would be a great
Mitzvah to spend t h e money
usually used for food on this
holiday for the purpose of fur-
ther redemption of land in Pales-
tine.
I hope all of you will plan to
join in celebrations of Hamisha
Asar b'Shevat in your schools
and your homes.
—UNCLE DANIEL

e

The Wanderer's Tree

By Jesse E. Sampter

(Poetess who came from the U. S.
to Palestine in 1919 and died at Givath
Brenner in 193S).

I have no garden by my house,
Nor yet a little yard,
But all around
Above the ground
The stones are cold and hard.

And yet I plant a little tree
Within my garden plot,
And it shall grow-
")3'Hamisha
Asar b'Shevat."

I always move from place to
place,
I've even crossed the sea,
But in a spot
That changes not,
I plant my little tree.

bergh several years ago.
That declaration was one of a great many in which
Mr. White had expressed his liberal attitude on political,
social and economic issues. He was consistent in his opposi- And ever growing, ever green
tion to bigotry and had played a great role in all efforts 'Twill shade what house is mine;
to protect the democratic principles of our country.
In that dear land
His memory will live as a blessing for generations to
My tree shall stand—
In blessed Palestine.
come.

