Page Four
THE JEWISH NEWS
As the Editor
Views the News -
For Them. the War Is Over
Hungarian Tragedy
There is no end to sad news from Nazi-
controlled territories.
The Independent Jewish Press Service re-
ports that the intervention of the United
States government, the International Red
Cross and neutral governments in behalf of
Hungarian Jewry seems to have failed, and
that 100,000 Hungarian Jews have been
loaded into deportation trains and shipped
to forced labor camps in Germany and
Austria. The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has
received a cable from its Bern correspondent
corroborating this report, although the JTA
places the number of deported at 50,000.
"Special privileges" enjoyed by 60,000 bap-
tized Jews in Hungary are reported to have
been cancelled and the Hungarian govern-
crovern-
ment is charged with having grabbed 75 per
cent of the foodstuffs and clothing which
was delegated by the Swedish Red Cross for
distribution among Jews in Hungarian
ghettoes.
The situation in Romania remains serious,
and the French-Jewish position is far from
improved.
The combination of events points to an
endless chain of misery engulfing the entire
Jewish people.
It is clear that there is no end to the
tragedy of Israel and that it becomes neces-
sary again to resort to protests and to de-
mands that everything possible be done to
rescue the unfortunate Jews of Europe.
The War Refugee Board has already ren-
dered great service. Its hands must be
strengthened and we must exert all avail-
able influence to assure the continuation of
this governmental body, by Congressional
action, after Jan. 22, when its present man-
date expires.
THE JEWISH NEWS
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.
Member American Association of English - Jewish
Newspapers.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
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Entered as second-class matter August 6, 1942, at the
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March 3, 1879.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISADORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ
HENRY WINEMAN
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
A. R. BRASCH, Advertising Counsel
VOL. 6—NO. 8
NOVEMBER 10, 1944
The Week's Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-fifth day of Heshvan,
5705, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 23:1-25:18.
Prophetical portion—I Kings' 1:1-31.
On thursday and Friday, Rosh Hodesh Kislev,
Num. 28:1-15 will be read during synagogue
services.
Facts You Should Knott)
Answers to Readers'
Questions About Jews
An End to Political Bias
The lessons of the political campaign
which has just come to an end are saddening.
In spite of pledges made by leaders of
both parties that appeals to racial and re-
ligious prejudices will- not be resorted to,
they were in evidence during the final
weeks of the campaign.
The spread of anti-Semitic buttons, the
emphasis frequently placed on the names of
Dubinsky, Hillman and Morgenthau,, the
veiled references to minority groups have
caused consternation. They have not lent
dignity to what we hoped would be a very
clean political campaign in a time of grave
crisis.
The campaign is over and we must, as we
will, all live in harmony as Americans.
But we must strive to put an end to re-
currences of bigotry and to appeals to. preju-
dice. While our first task is to win the war;
_it, is our obligation to strive to put an end to
prejudicial outbursts in years to come. It is
sincerely to be hoped that there shall never
again be injected into the life of our people
any references to minorities, to race and
nationality groups, to religions, in order that
we may all feel that America is truly devoid
of bias and internal hatreds.
Friday, November 10, 194
Where was the first Jewish congregation
in North America started?
—S. P.
In New York, then New Amsterdam, in 1656.
This was the Congregation Sheerith Israel (Rem-
nant of Israel), whose first minister was Saul
Brown (or Moreno), who came to the synagogue
from Newport, R. I., and officiated regularly
until his death in 1682. _
*
*
*
Who is credited with having established
the Jewish calendar used in its present form?
—A. A. M.
The famous sage, Hillel the Second, in the
year 360.
*
*
*
What is the Septuagint?
---R. R.
The earliest Greek translation of the Old
Testament Scriptures, made directly from the
original during the third to the first cen-
Anti-Semitism, instead of waning as a result of the Hebrew
tury, B. C., for use of the Hellenistic Jews. It
world's experience with this horrible menace which became is still used in the Greek church.
Can Anti-Semitism Be Outlawed?
the major weapon of Nazism against the democracies, has
increased. Those who have seen the effects of this poisonous
growth are concerned that there sho.uld be an end to bigotry.
Two interesting proposals on this score are worth record-
ing.
* * *
Meyer Levin, the eminent writer, cabling from Brussels
as the war correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency,
quotes Prof. Chaim Perelman of the department of logic and
philosophy of the Brussels University as stating that one of
the first concerns of any international authority set up after
the war must be action against anti-Semitism.
"Anti-Semitism is now the center of anti-democratic
propaganda all over the world," Prof. Perelman told the cor-
respondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "You can't
preach fascism without being interned, you can't attack the
Allies without being interned, but you can speak freely
against the Jews. So the whole of internal fascist propaganda
is funnelled through the channels of anti-Semitism. This gives
them an opening for post-war attempts to win, in ideology,
what they may lose on the battlefield. I believe the only way
to combat anti-Semitism is by an international effort, even
by international law."
* *
D. Zaslaysky, an editorial writer on the Soviet news-
paper Pravda, which reflects official Soviet views, in a
special article syndicated by the Independent Jewish Press
Service, calls for an international ban on anti-Semitism. Mr.
Zaslaysky writes:
"Rabid anti-Semitism considers Germany its h o m e. Of
course ; the destruction of Hitler Germany will bring about the
destruction of the principal center of brutal Jew-baiting, but
its branches remain in all parts of the world. The same holds
true of its disguised supporters. Already today, when Germany
hasn't yet received her last and decisive blow, the fascists are
feverishly changing color. In voices appealing for clemency for
the Hitlerites, one can hear fear lest Hitlerism goes down to-
gether with them. Attempts are being made to save Hitlerism
by sacrificing the lives of Hitler and his associates.
"Such voices are impossible in the U.S.S.R. It was in our
country that the demand was raised for supplementing Hitler
Germany's military and political defeat by her moral and politi-
cal debacle. Any manifestation of racial and national hatred in
our country is punishable by law. Incitement to national enmity
is considered a crime under Soviet laws. It is the duty of
democracy in all countries to insist on this.
"There can be no real democracy unless national and racial
enmity is treated as a grave crime. Advocacy of anti-Semitism in
the press and public speeches, in politics and science must be
punished and surrounded with contempt. Children in all schools
of the world must be educated in this spirit so that -the idea of
the destruction of peoples may never enter their heads, for the
Hitlerite executioners were able to perpetrate their heinous
crimes precisely because for a number of years they had been
fostering hatred for Jews in German schools.
"The clearly criminal absurd contenticm that the advocacy
of anti-Semitism is allegedly part of freedom of press and
speech must be constantly exposed. Nowhere in any country
of the world does freedom of speech and press imply the free-
dom to advocate the breaking of safes or the violating of women.
The greatest freedom of the press has never permitted the
publication of a newspaper by a society of thieves to popularize
the best methods of robbing trains and homes. Anti-Semitism
is more criminal than . theft or burglary.
"Criminal prosecution of national enmity and persecution
must become one of the most important clauses in the constitu-
tion of the future world peace and security organization. Any
nation aspiring to the place of Hitler Germany's successor must
not be admitted to this organization.
"The inclusion of such a point in the constitution of an inter-
national organization was impossible in the past during the
period of the League of Nations, when individual states were
jealously safeguarding their right to practice brutal persecutions
against the Jews, when rabid anti-Semitic propaganda could be
covered up by freedom of the press, and when cannibalism
could be a mark of state sovereignity. There was a time when
slave traffic was considered the sovereign right of some states.
It was subsequently forbidden by international agreements."
* * *
Proposals similar to these are frequently made by re-
sponsible leaders in this country. Public pronouncements
often endorse such policies, but the outlawing of racial and
religious prejudice has until now been limited to a handful
of states.
The late Wendell L. Willkie is said to have favored legis-
lation against anti-Semitism. Candidates for the Presidency
have condemned the spread of bigotry.
Can anti-Semitism be outlawed? Will the admonition'S
of responsible European leaders who are in position to know
the facts bear fruit?
It will be interesting to know whether sentiments ex-
pressed during political campaigns can be translated into
reality when the legislative bodies of this land settle down
to practical business after the heat of political campaigns is
over.
Talmudic .Ta les
(Rased upon the ancient legends and philosophy found 1*
the Talmud and folklore of the Jewish people dating back
as far as 3,000 years.)
By DAVID MORANTZ
THE FOX AND THE BEAR
One night a bear came upon a 'fox who was
eating and stretched out his paw as though to
appropriate the food for himself.
'If you are hungry," said the fox, "this morsel
will not nearly satisfy you. Let me finish and
I shall lead you to a place where you will find
food in plenty."
The fox, after finishing his meal, led the bear
to a well where two large buckets were tied on
either bnd of a rope, which ran through a pulley
suspended from an arch.
Pointing to a reflection of the moon in the
clear water of the well, the fox said:
"Do you see that fine large cheese?" Let us go
down and eat of it as there will be enough for
both of us and to spare."
Entering one of the buckets the fox took with
him a stone to balance the weight of the bear.
When the bear entered the second bucket, the
fox threw • out the stone which caused his pail
to rise, while the bear,. being so much heavier,
fell suddenly to the bottom.
Thus was he punished for having endeavored
to appropriate the food (property) of another.
Says the Talmud further:
"Every man must suffer for his own sins."
"Touch not that which is thy neighbors."
(Copyright by David Morantz)
For a handsome '195 pagb, autographed gift volume con
taming 128 of these tales and 500 Pearls of Wisdom, send
$1.50 to David Morantz, are of The Jewish News, or
phone PLaza 1048.
Children's Corner
Dear Boys and Girls:
I have just seen a copy of the Bar Mitzvah
book. issued by the Jewish National Fund in
Jerusalem.
It is the most attractive book of its kind, and
those who possess it, because their names were
inscribed in the Bar Mitzvah Book in Jerusalem
on their Bar Mitzvahs may well be proud of it.
The beautiful illustrations of Prof. Hermann
Struck's paintings, the special articles by several
of our greatest scholars, the quotations from the
Bible and the Talmud—all these go to make up
a classic work.
I hope every boy of Bar Mitzvah age will
possess this book.
There is a Bar Mitzvah sermon in this book
by Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog of Palestine.
A special article describes the significance of
the Number 13—the age of Bar Mitzvah—in Jew-
ish tradition.
The following quotation, "On the Threshold of
Manhood," is quoted from Proverbs 6:
My son, keep the commandment of thy father,
And forsake not • the teaching of thy mother.
Bind them continually upon thy heart,
Tie them about thy neck.
When thou walkest, it shall lead thee;
When thou Best down, it shall watch over thee;
And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
There_ is reference in this quotation to the
Tephilin—the phylacteries—worn during week-
day services by Orthodox men over Bar Mitzvah
age.
I shall make further reference to this great
book in forthcoming columns.
A pleasant Sabbath to all.
UNCLE DANIEL.
* * *
THE LADY OF PRAGUE—"LIKE A BIRD"
By LADY MAGNUS
In the House of 'Life, as Jews name their
burial-grounds, at Prague, there stood—perhaps
stands still—a stone, erected to the memory, and
recording the virtues, of a certain lady who died
in the Jewish year of 2628.
Her benefactions, many and minute, are set
forth at length, and amongst the rest, and before
"she clothed the naked," comes the item, "she
ran like a bird to weddings."
Through the mists of those terrible stories
which make of Prague so miserable a memory to
Jews, the record of this long dead woman
gleams like a rainbow. One seems to see the
bright little figure, a trifle out of breath maybe,
the gay plumage perhaps just a shade ruffled—
somehow one does not fancy her a very prim or
tidy personage—"running like a bird to weddings."
She seems, the dear sympathetic soul, in an
odd, suggestive sort of way, to illustrate the
charitable system of her race, and to show us that,
despite all differences of time, place and circum-
stances, the one essential condition to any "char.,
ity" that shall prove effectual, remains unchanged;
that the solution of the hard problem, which may
be worked out in a hundred ways, is just
sy,
inn a thy,