Page Four
THE JEWISH NEWS
As the Editor
Views the News -
Early Planning
Friday, April 14, 1944
Talmudic Tales
By DAVID MORANTZ
(Eased
Passover in Palestine
upon the ancient legends and
philosophy found in the Talmud and
folklore of the Jewish people.)
Jews serving with the United Nations forces in the Mid-
dle East were enabled to celebrate Passover in Palestine, as
a result of arrangements made by the National Jewish Wel-
fare Board.
It was a magnificent gesture and the hospitality given
by the Jewish Agency and other national organizations pro-
vided Jewish soldiers with a magnificent thrill.
These soldiers, we are confident, would have enjoyed
their Passover even more if they were given assgrances that
the White Paper would be scrapped.
The United Nations owe such a move to the entire
Jewish people.
Lose Not Your Temper
A story is told in the Talmud
of the man who wagered 400
Zouzim (coins) that he could
provoke Hillel, the great scholar
and rabbi, to anger.
Hillel was known not only for
his wisdom but for his modest,
patient, even-tempered nature.
The man who had made the
wager went to Hillel's home on
a Friday afternoon, when Hillel
was bathing and preparing for
the Sabbath, and cried: -
"Hello! Is Hillel here? Hello!
Is Hillel here?"
Hillel, being president of the
Great Sanhedrin, should have
been addressed according to his
rank, but by addressing him in
this way, the man thought to
arouse him to anger.
Instead, Hillel threw a mantle
over his shoulders and Went out
to meet him.
"What desirest thou, my son?"
he asked kindly.
"I have a question to ask of
you," the man replied.
"Ask, my son, ask," said the
Rabbi.
• "Why are the heads of the
man.
Babylonians round?" asked the
The Schools Must Check Bigotry
Who is to blame for the formation of juvenile gangs, one
of which, in Jackson, Mich., was formed with the avowed
intention of "seizing the government" in 15 or 20 years and
dominating "inferior" races under a universal "rule of
science?"
State Police Detective Dan Wurzburg refers to the activi-
ties of the Jackson gang, whose subversive tricks include
the fomenting of hatred against Negroes and Jews, as juve-
nile delinquency bordering on treason, and he quite properly
asks the question: "How can you take a juvenile into court
on a treason charge?"
What is to be done
. about such manifestations of delin-
quency, which have resulted in some cities in minor terror-
istic acts and destruction of property? Who is to blame for
the demoralization in the ranks of youngsters?
Unless delinquency is checked, it may result in the rise
of gangs and gangsterism with dire results. It is important
"This is an important ques-
that the dangers threatened by misguided youngsters should
tion, my son," answered Hillel,
be dealt with seriously and that proper steps be taken to
The heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto, having chosen to "The reason is that they - have
prevent the spread of ideas that have apparently been trans-
save their honors by fighting against great odds against the no skilled midwives in Babylon."
planted into this country from Nazi Germany.
The man went away bait a
Nazi hordes who enslaved them, selected the first Passover
short while later returned, again
It is clear that the major obligation for the assurance of Seder of 1943 to resist tyranny.
calling loudly:
They were crushed bodily, but not in spirit. Today, as
the perpetuation of the basic principles of our American
Hello! Is Hillel here? "Hello!
democracy rests with the schools. Frequently, we hear of the world prays for a speedy defeat of Hitlerism, the heroes Is - Hillel here?"
The Rabbi wrapped his mantle
bigoted teachers who inject hatred of minorities and of-those of the Warsaw Ghetto emerge as the greatest heroes of the
who differ with the children in color or religion, in the hearts war and as the symbols of an inevitable triumph of right around him, came out again and
over might.
calmly asked:
of the youngsters. Where no hatred exists, there is a lack
"What is it you wish, my son?"
The
anniversary
of
the
battle
of
the
Warsaw
Ghetto
of initiative in adopting firm policies. of -teaching the children
"I have a question to ask,"
will
be
observed
by
the
Jews
of
America
on
April
19—the
the ideal of a militant democracy which rejects race theories
the man said.
date
which
corresponded
with
the
first
Seder
last
year.
It
and honors and respects the idea of the equality of people
"Ask, my son, ask," said Hillel.
will be an occasion for tribute to the tens of thousands of
under political and moral law.
"Why have the Tarmudites
Are our schools and our teachers capable of coping martyrs who defied enslavement and fought valiantly for (the people of Palmyra) oval
with the present serious situation created by the war? If liberty. It will be a signal for Jews to retain faith in the shaped eyes?" queried the man.
"This is a very important
they are not, then an even greater responsibility devolves ultimate triumph of justice, and for all the Allied powers
to renew the fight which will for all time put an end to question, my soh," replied Hil-
upon our government and the leading educational institu- tyranny.
lel. "The Tarmudites live in a
tions to institute such reforms which will make our schools
sandy land and must always
effective instruments for democratic living and thinking.
keep
their eyes half closed to
*
*
*
prevent sand from entering
them."
Gov. Harry F. Kelly is right, of course, in stating that the
The man went away but a
Gerald L. K. Smith has made another boast. Hailing the
home should share in the responsibility of finding a solution
to the problem of juvenile delinquency. A poorly disciplined defeat of Wendell L. Willkie in the Wisconsin primaries as little later he returned and
home can destroy all the good taught in the schools.
"a great victory for the American First people," Smith said shouted again:
Is Hillel here? Hello!
The school and the home complement each other in re- he hoped "that the other possibilities within the (Republican) Is "Hello!
Hellel here?"
sponsibility towards creating a decent society. But while the party have learned by now, that the way to make votes is
The Rabbi again wrapped his
home sets the example, the school serves as the guide and as not to attack Gerald Smith aged the American First Party." mantle around him and came
At least one other Republican candidate for the Presi- out.
the interpreter of law, order and the basic principles of de-
mocracy.
dency, Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York, had already
"What desirest thou, my son?"
The individual citizen's duty is to establish a home based spoken in answer to Mr. Smith, when he stated, in his ad- he quietly asked.
"I have a question to ask,"
on the highest morality leading towards the most decent hu- dress at the opening dinner of the United Jewish Appeal in
man relationships. The school's responsibility is to teach the New York, that those who would "foster racial or religious replied the man.
-"Ask, my son, ask," said Hillel.
American boys and girls not to be influenced by bigotry and discord" included "the blatant rabble-rousers or worse, who
"Why are the feet of the
intolerance. To strengthen the school as an effective instru- seek, under the guise of nationalism or by playing upon Africans so broad?" asked the
racial
or
religious
prejudice,
to
divide
their
country
in
time
mentality for democratic action, there is a definite responsi-
man.
bility for cities, states and the nation at large to seek to in- of war for financial or political profit. The Gerald L. K.
"Because they live in a
troduce such methods of training our youth which will be Smiths and their ilk must not for one moment be permitted swampy land," answered Hillel.
(Hence their broad feet prevent-
above reproach and which will fit into the American way of to pollute the stream of American life."
Smith had a reply to this, also, and has informed Gov- ed their sinking).
life on the basis of the highest principles evolved by the
"I have many more questions
founders of this great republic.
ernor Dewey that he was "misinformed," and made claim
to other partnerships by stating: "If you insist on referring to ask, but I am afraid, lest I
thee angry," said the man.
to my 'ilk,' remember it includes such names as Col. Robert make
Hillel wrapped himself in his
McCormick, Arthur Vandenberg, Henry Ford, Gerald P. Nye, mantle, sat down and in a kindly
voice said:
Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish Robert R. McReynolds and numerous others."
Mr. Smith has already been rebuked by a Ford spokes-
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious News
"Ask, my son, all the questions
Service, Palcor News Agency, Bressler Cartoon Service,• Wide man. Senator Vandenberg had previously denied any con- thou desirest."
World Photo Service, Acme Newsphoto Service.
"Art thou Hillel, who is called
nection with him. We are inclined to believe that he stands
Published every Friday by Jewish News Publishing g Co., 2114 alone and that not a single presidential candidate—unless it a prince in Israel?" asked the
Penobscot Bldg., Detroit, 26, Mich. Telephone RAndolph 7956. Sub- be one of the Smith America Firsters choosing—will accept man.
scription rate, $3 a year; foreign, $4 a year. Club subscription of one
"Yes, my son," answered the
issue a month, published every fourth Friday in the month, to all this rabble-rouser's support. Governor Dewey's denunciation rabbi.
subscribers to Allied Jewish Campaign of the • Jewish Welfare in all probability will be representative of the sentiments of
"Then why hast not a man of
Federation of Detroit, at 40 cents a club subscription per year. all responsible Americans, and "the Gerald L. K. Smiths such eminent standing as thou
Entered as second-class matter August 6, 1942, at the Post Office and their ilk" will be completely repudiated.
been aroused to anger by my
• Warsaw Ghetto Anniversary
Another
G.
L. K. Smith Boast
THE JEWISH NEWS
at Detroit, Michigan, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BTJTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
HENRY WINEMAN
PH ILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
VOL. 5—NO. 4
A. R. BRASCH, Advertising Counsel
APRIL 14, 1944
This Week's Scriptural Selections:
Scriptural selection for seventh day of Passover, Friday,
April 14:
Pentateuchal portions: Ex. 13:17-15:26; Num. 28:19-25.
Prophetical pertion: II Samuel 22.
Scriptural selections for last day of Passover, Saturday,
April 15:
aI
Pentateuchal portions: Deut. 15:19-16:17; Num. 28:19-25.
Prophetical portion: Is. 10:32-1216.
Shir HaShirim—The Song of Songs—is read on the last day
of Passover.
Arabs and Jews CAN Get Along
There has been too much propaganda to the effect that
Arabs and Jews can not work together in harmony.
This claim has been disproved effectively by the co-
operative efforts of labor groups in Palestine.
Histadruth, the Palestine Jewish Federation of Labor,
was instrumental in organizing Arab labor unions and in
cementing friendship between all workers in the land.
Last week, a meeting of more than 70 representatives
of Arab workers' organizations affiliated with the Palestine
Labor League met in the Histadruth Hall in Tel Aviv, and
organizational methods for mutual aid adMinistration were
discussed. Addresses were heard in Hebrew and Arabic and
the gathering was greeted by the Government's Regional
Labor Inspector.
That gathering added to existinci proof that Arabs and
Jews CAN get along. The propagandists'
bluff to the con-
b
trary should b be called at every turn. The British authorities
can and should help dispel rumors which tend to divide the
Palestinian population.
action.; and questions?" asked
the man.
"Why so, my son?" returned
the rabbi.
"Dost thou not know that thou
hast caused me to loose my
wager of 400 Zouzim because of
thy even temper?"
"I am sorry that thou bast
lost thy wager," returned Hillel,
"but it were better that thOu
shouldn't lost 40 Zouzim and 400
Zouzim on top of that, rather
than that Hillel should lose his
temper."
Says the Talmud further on
the subject of temper:
He who is slow to anger and
easily pacified is truly pious and
virtuous."
(Copyright by David Morantz)
For a handsome 195 page, auto-.
g raphed gift volume containing •128
o f these tales and 500 Pearls of Wis-
c da er m. send $1.50 to David Morantz,
of The Jewish News,' or phone
'Mara 1048.