Page Two
THE JEWISH NEWS
Heard in
The Lobbies
By ARNOLD LEVIN
(Copyright, 1945 Independent Jewish
Press Service, Inc.)
LONDON WIRE
A memorandum demanding the re-
interment of Captain Ramsey, M. P. and
notorious fascist, was submitted by Jew-
ish laborites in Britain. They point out
that Ramsey continues his baneful acti-
vity by distributing, every morning as
Parliament is called to order, anti-Semi-
tic, fascist-tainted literature.
Miss Rachel Wingate, sister of the late
Brigadier General Orde Wingate, has
joined WIZO„ Women's Zionist Organiza-
tion, in Britain. She is very proud of her
biblical name. Miss Wingate occupies a
high post with the British Ministry of
Information as expert on Middle East
Affairs.
The popular British weekly "Every-
body's" carried a very interesting com-
parative article On Palestine and Birobi-
djan. Praising highly "both experiments,"
the weekly emphasizes that Birobidjan
is of import to Soviet Jewry alone, while
:Palestine concerns world Jewry involv-
ing as it does Jewry's Messianic striv-
ings.
The silver wedding anniversary of
Prof. and Mrs. Selig Brodetzky was the
occasion for an interesting get-together
of British Jewry's leading writers, artists,
scientists.
Quite a rumpus among Austrian Jew-
ish refugees in Britain over the advis-
ability of demanding the restoration of
Jewish property in Austria, if and when
that country is liberated. Some fear the
re-emergence of anti-Semitism should
the Jews demand what is legally theirs.
GIFTS TO FRANCE
The Association for the Restoration of
Jewish Institutions in France, with head-
quarters in New York City, has under-
taken the ambitious program of supply-
ing the Jewish synagogues in France with
Holy Scrolls to replace those "deported"
by the Germans. The goal is 300 Holy
Scrolls.
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ENGINEERING SCHOLARSHIP
The Association of Civit Engineers will
establish a - $5,000 annual scholarship for
Jewish 'engineering students in the mem-
ory of the late Leon Moisseiff, a Yiddish
writer in his youth and later one of Am•-:
erica's leading engineers, "father" of the
Manhattan Bridge and of San Francisco's
Golden Gate.
FRINGE
Millionairess Merry Fahrney, friend
of German agents here in pre-war days
and the wearer of .a gold swastika, is en-
route from Buenos Aires to Mexico City
where she will receive a chilly welcome,
Walter Winchell reports. •
The isolationists are gearing for a
comeback, according to one of them, JOhn
O'Donnell, Patterson-McCormick Wash-
ington columnist. Says he: "We'Ve seen
the draft of one sPeebh scheduled . for
Senate delivery next month which will.
demand the return of all American troops
from Europe to fight our real No. 1
enemy, Japan—unless ,Roosevelt tells
Congress - exactly what we're
w
fighting for
in France." Note the snidest Japan is
our enemy, and the fighting in Europe
is without explicable reason. The same
Mr. O'Donnell was caught red handed
doctoring a G.I. letter to make it appear
that Germany was a godfearing country.
Elizabeth Donahue of PM revealed the
truth. A colleague of Mr. O'Donnell,
Broadwayite Danton Walker, reports that
"San Francisco will be the scene of the
next outbreak of labor trouble," similar
to the Philadelphia streetcar strike." The
Philadelphia "labor trouble'? was a racial
outbreak, following the Christian Front
pattern.
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CAPITOL NOTE
Bernard Baruch and Harry Hopkins
have chilled toward each other, according
to the latest Washington rumor. They
were formerly close chums.
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DON'T MISS THIS
Just saw "New Americans," - a "short"
distributed by RKO Radio Pictures in its
"This Is America" series, and showing
the newest crop of Americans, refugees
from Hitler-dominated Europe, from
their arrival here through the period of
adjustment. Frightened faces slowly re-
capturing the ability to smile and to re-
gard officials as fellow humans instead
of persecutors; a Bavarian Jewish coun-
try doctor transformed into an American
country doctor, and some of the most
famous New Americans—Albert Einstein,
Thomas Mann . . . It is a tribute to
America and to the New Americans, a
refutation of the Peglers and Sokolskys
• • • Don't mists it.
Friday,
Jews in America's Armed Forces
Summary of a Study to Be Published in "Yivo Bleter,"
Journal of Yiddish Scientific Institute
BY DR. SAMUEL C. KOHS
Director of Bureau of War Records of National Jewish Welfare Board
(Copyright, 1945, Independent Jewish Press Service, Inc.)
There is no unanimity of opinion among the Jewish leaders of this
country on the subject of gathering facts about Jews, dealing with any phase
other than just their religious affiliations. There are some who question the
desirability of doing that. It is believed, however, that the preponderance
of Jewish opinion supports the securing of as much information about our-
selves as possible in order to provide a basis for our own understanding of
ourselves, and for planning the conduct of our communal affairs on a scien-
tific and effective basis. More specifically, the major reasons for making a
separate count of Jews in the armed services, may be stated as follows:
a. Minority groups are always vulnerable to attack. Such a group owes
it to itself and to the well-being of the country as a whole, to accumulate
accurate information by means of which • to controvert baseless rumors and
prejudiced attacks.
b. To ask questions about any minority group is the right - of every
citizen of this country.
c. The gathering of information about Jews in the armed forces should
take into account our own group needs and our own group purposes.
There are numerous practical reasons for accumulating this record. A
substantial number of our men and women in the armed forces will be re-
turning to their homes when this war is over, physically or mentally injured.
When this holocaust is over, Government agencies estimate that 10% of those
in our armed forces will require some remedial attention to their acquired
physical and mental handicaps.
What Is Our Bureau's Program?
The Bureau of War. Records carries the responsibility of developing
uniform procedures for the local gathering of data on Jewish men and
women in the armed forces and stimulating and directing their program
throughout the United States.
Besides stimulating local initiative in the interests of co-ordination and
time-saving, the Bureau has also formulated a pattern and program for the
organization of state and regional units for war records keeping. At the
present time, approximately 500 Jewish communities throughout the United
States have active committees at work on the compilation of war records of
Jewish men and women in the armed forces. In operation, or about to be
launched, are 21 state and regional organizations.
The reader should be cautioned that all the figures are tentative, repre-
senting only a partial achievement, and should be regarded only as an
interim report indicating, in embryo, some. of the material which will become
available later in more extended and more ample form. No generalizations
should be made based upon these figures covering facts either for an entire
group, for specific Jewish communities throughout the country, or for the
Jews of this country, as a whole. Only when all the evidence is in will such
generalizations be possible.
Between
You and Me
By BORIS .SMOLAR
(Copyright 1945, JTA, Inc.)
THE ZIONIST SCENE
Behind President Roosevelt's desire to
personally handle the Palestine issue,
without any action by Congress, is the
President's hope that he may soon meet
with Ibn Saud, the ruler of Saudi Arabia
and strongest figure in the Arab world
. . . President Roosevelt hopes that in a
person-to-person talk with Ibn Saud he
may succeed in convincing him of the
necessity of compromising with the
Zionist demands for Palestine . . . Once
Ibn Saud is convinced, any other Arab
opposition would not matter . . In
Washington, it is pointed out that Pales-
tine is definitely one of the territories
whose fate will be considered not only
by Britain, but by the Allies . . And
that no decision with regard to Palestine
will be taken without consulting Jews
and Arabs..
It can be safely predicted that neither'
the Mizrachi, nor the Zionist Laborites,
will resign from the 'American Zionist
Emergency Council because of the oust-
ing of Dr. Silver from leadership of the
Council . . Although they originally
planned to withdraw from the Council in
case Dr. Silver was defeated, the two
groups were prevented from doing so by
Dr. Silver's last-minute announcement
that he intends to remain an ordinary
member of the Council . . It then be-
came obvious that since Silver himself
will remain in the Council, it would be
illogical for his supporters to leave it .. .
There was, a critical moment at the deci-
sive session of the Council when -the Miz-
rachi and the Laborites, after the re-
election of Rabbi Wise to the chairman-
ship and the acceptance of Dr. Silver's
resignation by 12 to 8, were about to walk
out of the meeting . . . However, an ap-
peal from Judge Morris Rothenberg pre-
vented the breach.
Strictly
Confidential
By PHINEAS J. BIRON
(Copyright 1945
by Seven Arts Feature Syndicate)
January 5, 1945
Purely
Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
CHRISTMAS AND HANUKAH
Arthur James, head of the Detroit
NeWs Questions-and-Answers D e p a r t-
ment, is one of Detroit's best informed
men. A confrere of ours of the early
twenties, we have found him to be an
accurate person.
It was a matter of extreme interest,
therefore, to read his answers to ques-
tions about Christmas and Christmas
customs w hi c h appeared in a recent
"Listening in on Detroit" column by
H.C.L. Jackson in the Detroit News.
Mr. James was asked: "Why do we
have lights on Christmas trees?" And he
replied:
"Perhaps the best explanation is the
one that derives this custom from the
Jewish festival called "Chanukah," or the
"Feast of Lights," in which lighted cand-
les were used.
"Whether this is correct, or whether
Martin Luther originated the practice
himself after having traveled through
the forest, with the stars shining through
the branches at him, remains doubtful."
This is exceedingly interesting from
the point of view of the - early and lasting
traditions established by Jewish customs
not only for ourselves but for the sister
faith which sprang from Judaism. -
DR. ARONSTAM - BIBLICAL SCHOLAR
The magnificent poem "The Valley of
Decision," appearing on this page, de-
serves comment.
Dr. Noah E. Aronstam has earned his
laurels in medicine. He is an accomplish-
ed scientist and a leader in his profes-
sion.
But he is much more than that.
He is also a great scholar, a linguist,
an essayist, a novelist and a poet.
Steeped in knowledge of the Bible and
the Talmud, Dr, Aronstam has been able
to inject the genius of his people in the
verses he has been writing for more than
30 years.
On his next birthday, Dr. Aronstam
will be 73. But his poetry shows the
vigor of a man of 40.
His contributions to his people ha v e
been truly great.
LISTEN HERE
Gaelic American, Father Coughlin's
New York organ, is being revitalized . . .
* * *
Edited by James MacDermott with the FLORIDA-BOUND BUSINESS
assistance of the Rev. Edward Lodge
Appeals to Jews not to make Florida
Curran, the paper is being groomed for
a larger role in the revived crusade for their havens of rest due to the war situ-
ation are generally being adhered to.
isolationism.
We like that news story about Hubert Those who have gone to Florida or are
Williamson of Grand Rapids, who some planning to make the trip are in main
years ago was fined $10 for saying naugh- people who are compelled to go there
ty things about the head of a then for their health or to visit their sons in
"friendly" government—viz., Hitler . . . service. But there have been a few deaf
Williamson is now suing for a rebate, on ears, and there are examples of news-
papers which feature - Flericia hotel adver-
the grounds that the judge who fined him
should at last realize that he, Hubert, tising—because business is business. A
Brooklyn weekly even devoted an entire
was right:
The - crisis in the Zionist Emergency section to Floridian hotels, justifying
Council brought about by the resigna- their publication in a lengthy editorial.
Government agencies, however, are
tions of Drs. Wise and Silver may soon
be mended . . . Rabbis Silver and Wise taking steps to repudiate such action, and
may accept a new formula of cooperation there is every indication that the seekers
•
that is now being worked out by a special of Floridian comfort will suffer from
committee of which Louis Lipsky is the a certain amount of ridicule.
moving spirit.
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THE WINNAHS!
The' winners in our prize contest, who
received autographed copies of Pierre van
Paassen't "The Forgotten Ally," include
Mrs. Nathan Minkoff, Detroit, Mich.;
Ann Parker, Detroit, Mich. . . . As for
the initials the winners correctly identi-
fied: 'J. R. C. stands for John Roy Carl-
son, A. E. K. for Albert E. Kahn and
H. H. for Henry Hoke.
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'MILITARY INTELLIGENCE
The continental edition of the Nov. 5
issue of Yank features a most unusual
woodcut, the work of your good friend
Sgt. David Lax, who bids fair to emerge
as the war's outstanding artist. Congratu-
lations to 1st Lt. Sid Meyer who just re-
ceived the Bronze Star for gallantry in
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France . . . A few months ago he was the
FACTS AND FIGURES
recipient of the Purple Heart.
A memorial hall honoring the late Sgt.
Jews have spent $600,000,000 in Pales-
tine during the last 25 years . . . Of this Meyer Levin, Brooklyn's first major hero
amount, $125,000,000 was raised by Keren of World War II, is projected by the Jew-
Hayesod, Jewish National Fund and Ha- ish War Veterans.
* * *
dassah . . About $350,000,000 was
brought in by immigrants . . . The re- BOOK NEWS
maining $125,000,000 was invested by
Sholem New
new novel will deal
companies and individuals, resident and with the New York scene.
non-resident . . . In recent years there
From the other side of the footlights
has been an increase in receipts from come two new authors, both making their
national funds raised abroad . . . But the literary debuts as autobiographers . . .
amount per capita of the Jewish popula- We refer to Alexander Granach, who
tion in Palestine has decreased . . . used to be one of Max Reinhardt's favor-
During the last four years, immigrants ite actors on the pre-Hitler Berlin stage
brought in about $25,000,000, which is and now is clicking on Broadway in- "A
less than the annual average during the Bell for Adano," and who has written a
eight years preceeding. 1940 . . . This de- volume called "From a Childhood in Ga-
cline is probably permanent, Harry Vi- licia"; and to Sophie Tucker,' who writes
teles, representative of the Palestine •Eco- about her career under the title "Some
nomie Corporation, believes •
of These Days".
The Valley
of Decision
A Poem Pertaining to the Present World
Conflict and Israel's Aspirations
By . DR. NOAH E. ARONSTAM
(Written for The Jewish News)
"Afultitudes, Multitudes in the Valley
of Decision"—Joel 4:14
Girded fo;. the final strife:
Crash of -armor is resounding,
In the air it is rebounding,
For the struggle is for Life!
Aye, there cometh the decision
In the Valley of Decision.
Myiltitudes are gathered there,
Fiercer grows the battle's thunder,
Fiery darts that rip asunder
Blast on blast the fiendish lair.
Aye, there cometh the decision
In the Valley of Decision.
All our hopes and all our dreams,
All that human heart assuages
And the pledge of coming ages—
There it dawns and breaks and beams.
Aye, there cometh the decision
In the Valley of Decision.-
Hearken ye to Fate's decree:
"Lo! your efforts will not fail,
Peace and justke shall prevail
And the world again set free!
Nigh the day for the decision
In the Valley of Decision!"