Friday, September IS, 1144

THE JEWISH NEWS

Page Seventy-two

J ws In The tied Cross

(Copyright, 1944,
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

A

T * THE END OF
the year the Jews of America can
take pride in their contribution to
the work of the American Red Cross..
At Red Cross Washington headquar-
ters the statement is made that when
the history of its work in World War
II is written, much credit for its ac-
complishments for humahity must go
to Jewish men and women and their
organizations throughout the United
States.
• Jews are serving here, and in all
the foreign theaters of war, as Red
Cross field directors. They are hos-
pital workers and staff assistants.
They help to., keep American soldiers
and sailors in touch with their fami-
lies. - They help service men in all
sorts of personal emergencies. In the
hospitals where lie the maimed and
the wounded, Jewish organizations
tUrnish recreational facilities, and or-
ganizations and individuals help carry
on the Red Cross social work, This
Work Army authorities now recognize
not only as of high value in building
up morale, but as a virtual necessity,
Gifts to Blood Banks
Much of the work being done by
Jewis for Red .Cross is on a profes-
sional basis. Those who serve, are giv-
ing 24 hours a day to their duties. In
addition, literally hundreds of thou-
sands of Jewish men and women at
home are devoting many .hours . of
their time to this work on a volunteer
basis. As one Red Cross official in
Washington put it: "They - are piling
up a cred
credit on the humanitarian ledger
that will be difficult to balance.",
Not least among Jewish contribu-
tions to Red Cross, is their mass con-
tribution to the blood banks. It is an
ironical thought that Jewish blood,
given freely and voluntarily in' Amer-
ica, is now probably coursing in the
veins oft Nazi war prisoners whose
lives it may have saved. In every one
of the 35 cities in which the Red Cross
has established blood donor, centers

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a steady stream of Jewish donors
has made this offering, some of
the donors coming repeatedly.
Bnai Brith's Record
Bnai Brith alone records more
than 56,000 blood donors among.
its membership, of whom Bnai
Brith women and girls are re-
sponsible for recruiting more
than half. The National Women's
League of the United Synagogues
has recruited an additional num-
ber 'in excess of 3,000, while -the
National Federation of Temple
Sisterhoods reports that the blood
plasma program is high among
the Red Cross projects Which it
is sponsoring. This plasma, processed
from whole human blood, goes directly
to the fighting front, and is often
administered to wounded soldiers and
sailors under the very guns of the
enemy.
Other Jewish organizations which
have worked hard and well to supply
the needed blood plasma are the Na-
tional Council of Jewish Women, the
National Federation of Temple Sister-
hoods, the National Federatiori of
Temple Brotherhoods, Hadassah, the
Jewish War Veterans 'of the United
States, the Independent Order of
Bnai Brith Sholom,: the Independent
Order of Brith A b r a h am, Miz-
rachi and the United Synagogue of
America, as well as numerous syna-
gogues and local JeWish groups.
The Women's Activities
Almost as important as blood plas- .
ma are the millions of surgical dress-
ings which are needed in emergency
care of the wounded. Bnai Brith re-*
ports that its women members have
made more than 3,500,000 such dress-
ings. The National Council of Jewish
Juniors finds this phase of Red . Cross
service one of its most popular ac-
tivities and similar reports have been
received from the National Federation
of Temple Sisterhoods, the National
Women's League of the United Syna-
gogue and other organizations.
These groups not only have made
literally millions of surgical - dressings.
In addition they have served as nurse's
aides and Gray Ladies. They have
driven cars in the Red Cross Motor
Corps and have done vital clerical
work as Red Cross staff assistants.
The Bnai•Brith reports some 6,500 of
its* members active in these fields of
work, and similar reports from the
National Women's League of the Unit-
ed Synagogue show upwards of 6,000
so active, while an additional 15,000
have completed Red Cross first aid
and nutrition courses. Three hundred
members of the League have also been
serving as Red Cross instructors in a
variety of subjects.

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Billions of bacill i are studied daily in the

laboratories of the National Jewish Hospital at Denver,
free pioneer medical center for the tuberculous poor.
Dr. H. J. Cooper (above) , head of the hospital's re-
siarch department, has recently given the world a
anew tuberculosis test white will help to safeguard
the health of all peoples-during the coming year.

Recreation Facilities
Bnai Brith reports
haVe given 902 sepa-
rate recreational fa-
cilities, including day
rooms at army camps,
Canteens, solaria at
hospitals and other
iterris: In addition it
h a s contributed 53
pieces of mobile
equipment such as
canteens, ambulances,
and mobile blood
donor wagons.
There are more
than 4,000 military
and naval establish-
ments being served
by such installations,
and commanding - of-
ficers Call on t h e
Camp and Hospital
Councils for aid when
it is needed.
They have provided
furniture and games,
musical instruments
and funds to equip
company clayrooms,
hospital sunrooms and
other places where
the health and spirits
of fighting men are
kept up and restored.
All of this Personal
service leaves out of
account the large cash
contributions which

By HERBERT J. SELIGMANN, Chief of JTA Bureau in Washington

Jewish organizations and women have
made to the Red CrosS war chest. The
Bnai Brith alone has given $30,000,
during the year, bringing its total
contribution since September, 1939, to
$220,000.
In accordance with their tradition,

on the broad fill of humanity'S need;
which, knows neither race, color nor
creed, the Jews of America have done
their part and this service of theirs
is acknowledged by Red Cross head-
quarters in Washington.

The Year In Sports

By JAY GRAYSON

(Copyright, 1944,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

Sports have been greatly affected •
by the war. Tens of thousands of
Jewish youths, who in times of peace
would have turned to athletics, are
now engaged in a far greater and
fiercer combat. Thousands of former
Jewish athletes, w h o excelled in
every field of sport, are now fighting
in the Armed Forces of our country.
Many Jewish, athletes have given
their lives for our country. Many
others have covered themselves with
glory and were decorated for
valor. Barney Ross, the for-
mer world's lightweight
and welterweight cham-
pion, who enlisted
in the United
States Marine s,
:ft. was acclaimed as a
hero. He fought va-
liantly at Guadal-
canal and he was decorated for sav-
ing the lives of his comrades-in-arms.
He was wounded and contracted ma-
laria, and he was returned here for
a cure and rest. But Barney Ross
could not and would not rest; not
while the fight is still going on. He
left his hospital cot and has toured
the country, appearing at many ral-
lies, and addressed war workers. He
has also helped raise funds for the
Red Cross and participated - in War
Bond drives. Once, he collapsed and
was returned to the Naval Hospital.
There is no immediate cure -for ma-
laria and Barney w a s honorably
discharged from the Marines last
Spring, but he continues his war
efforts on the Home Front.
Greenberg in Line for Promotion
Capt. Hank Greenberg, the former
baseball star, , now somewhere at a
Far Eastern front, was the outstand-
ing Jewish ball player of his genera-
tion, and was one of the first drafted.
'The former outfielder for the Detroit
Tigers was the highest paid player in
both'major leagues. He was honorably
discharged from the Army in the fall
of 1941. A day after Pearl Harbor,
he reenlisted and joined his old out-
fit. He rose quickly from the ranks
and became a commissioned officer.
Now, he is a captain, is doing a good
job and is in line for promotion.
Benny Leonard, the former world
lightweight champion, is now a lieu-
tenant (s.g.) of 'the United States
Merchant Marine. Benny, a veteran .
, of the first World War, is. now train-
ing thousands and thousands of young
seamen of the Merchant Marine Train-
ing Base at Hoffman's Island. Benny\
is doing the same task as Lieutenant
Commander Jack Dempsey is doing
at the Coast Guard Training Base in
Sheepshead a n d Commander Gene
Tunney is doing in the Navy,
Professional Players Carry On
Baseball, boxing and football are
still carrying on, but with much in-
ferior human material and more lim-
ited resources.
L Two Jewish players, Phil Weintraub,
the first baseman, and Pitcher Harry
Feldman, were among , the outstanding
players of the New York Giants. Phil
Weintraub piled up an impressive bat-
ting average and helped his team stay
in the hist division of 'the National
League. Harry Feldman won a num-
ber of games fpr the team and was
one of the few starting pitchers 'of
his team who were able to go the
entire route and finish a game.
The Brooklyn Dodgers also acquired
one Jewish player, 'Goody Rosen.
Goody had previously played- with the
Dodgers and he -was. acclaimed a po-
tentially great player. However, he •
failed to make the grade and Larry
MacPhail, the erstwhile president of
the team, sold him down the river.
Goody spent many years in the min-

ors. Earlier this season, the Dodgers
recalled Goody from the minors. He
Was hailed by the Brooklyn hopefuls
as a potention savior of the Brooklyn
team. However,. Goody's . bat failed
to extricate the team from the lower
depths. But as , the saying . goes in
Brooklyn: • "Wait
next year."
Goody Rosen may yet prove his met-
tle and may yet become the Hero of
Brooklyn.
The Boxing Honor Boll
The Honor Roll of Boxing was
studded with names of Jewish cham-
pions. Great ones . and - not so great
ones. For a tithe,* - the lightweight . di-
vision was considered a "Jewish Mo-
nopoly." No need to mention here the
naines of all the "Second Benny Leon-
ards," the promising Jewish fighters
in the lighter division of FiStiana, who
aspired to . occupy the throne left va-
cant by Benny Leonard. There were
a number of Jewish lightweight.
champions, Al Singer, Barney Ross, to
mention but a, few.• There were other
outstanding. Jewish fighters, cham-
pions and contenders in the other di-
visions. HoWever, this is all in the
past. There' is no outstanding Jewish
fighter today, NOT. ONE. But Jews
dip control and proMote boxing. The
outstanding promoters are Jews. Mike
Jacobs, the head of the Twentieth
Century Sporting Club of New York,
is the foremost boxing, promoter not
only in New York, but in the World.
Next is Herman Taylor of Philadel-
phia, who stages the bigger and bet-
ter boxing . shows in the city of
Brotherly Love.
Chubby Al Weill, who was one of
the shrewdest prize fight managers
and who piloted many fighters to
championships. , has branched out as
a promoter in Washington, D. C., and
he has staged many great fights in
the capital.
Larry Atkins of Cleveland, is the
outstanding fight promoter in t. h e
middle west,
Harry Markstin Is a Zionist
Nat Rogers, the match-
maker of t h e .Twentieth
Century Sporting Club, is
the foremost in h i s
49
fields so . is Harry
t.;; ;T J
'Markson, the drum-
beater for Mike Ja-
cob's enterpri s es.
Harry is an ardent
nationalist and is
deeply interested in
Zionism and the -Jewish problem,. He
is • attempting to spread the Zionist
gospel on Jacob's -.Beach, among t h e
purveyors of the Sock and he has to
his credit a number of converts among
Jewish prizefight managers and sec-
ho, as a rule, are interested
onds who,
•primarily in matters of fisticuffs.
Ittis doubtful whether there will be
many Jewish star players on the ros-
ters of the professional football teams.
The Sid Luckmans and other _out-
standing Jewish players have Docked
to• the armed services, or are engaged
in defense - Work:
It is the IR,nanimous opinion of all
spelt expertS and forecasters that the
end of the v∎rar will bring the greatest
revival of sports..
I need but point out the growth, of
Jewish sport organizations - in Pales-
tine; Poland, Lithuania and - o t h e.r
Eastern European- countries, as • well
as in countries thrOughout..the world,
in the , two deeades following World
War I. Menaberstof. these Jettrish sport,
organizations -helped to. organize and
lead the heroiC resistance against the
NaZis in the WarSaw . ghetto and
• other Vanquished - countries.
When the war*iS•at an end and life
begins' once more its peaceful course,
Sports will again take its rightful place
and . Jewish athletes will again dis-
tinguish and' cover 'themselves with
glory as they did in peace. and war.

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