Friday, March to, 1945
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Six
A Detroiter's Experiences
With GIs in Palestine
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
An exclusive interview with an
American Red Cross leader who
- has returned from two years of
service in the Middle East.
speaks with reverence about her, and with admira-
tion for the devotion with which she handled the
ACK KENNARD, of Detroit,
children's resettlement projects..
•
for two years a Red Cross worker in the Middle
Mr. Kennard took occasion especially to recall
East—most of that time serving as supervisor of
his visit with Miss Szold at a children's settlement,
where the eminent woman Zionist leader interview-
American Red Cross Headquarters in Cairo—has a
ed newly settled refugee children whom she in-
fascinating story to relate about his experiences with
spired with a new courage. His last conversation
and
Palestine
plays
a
major
role
in
the
de GIs,
with Miss Szold was over the telephone, when he
'thrilling tales he tells about hospitality for service-
helped her locate her nephew, Sgt. Levine of Balti-
men and the serious cooperative efforts that are be-
more, who was in a Cairo hospital.
ing exerted to help win the war.
Among those whom he befriend-
Out of his experiences come
ed also were Dr. Judah L. Magnes,
words of admiration for the great
president of the Hebrew University,
history-making work by Jews for
who was one of the two Jewish
the redemption of their land. His
members of • his Red Cross Com-
narrative reflects the spirit which
mittee, which aLso included two
has marked the enthusiasm of the
Arabs, two Englishmen and two
thousands of GIs who • have been to
Americans; and Gershon Agronsky,
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and who
have had the joy of hospitality at
editor of the Palestine Post.
the cooperative colonies established
But the person of whom he speaks
by Jews in Zion.
with greatest admiration is the
As director of the Red Cross Club
other Jewish member of the Red
in Tel Aviv for three months early
Cross committee — Mrs. Samuel
in 1943, Mr. Kennard had an ideal
(Madeline) Lewin-Epstein, sister-
introduction to Palestine and to its
in-law of Dr. and Mrs. A. M. Hersh-
thriving Jewish community. From
man of Detroit—who is known to
Tel Aviv he was transferred to
thousands of GIs throughout the
Jerusalem, where he directed Red
Middle East as "Mom Epstein."
Cross work for another f our
Mrs. Lewin-Epstein, w h o . is
months. He then went to Eritrea
known to many Detroiters, having
and from there was assigned to his
post in Cairo.
visited here before the war, is no
longer surprised when she hears a
But throughout his residence in
distant call "Hello, Mom," whether
the Middle East, he made periodic
it is in Jerusalem, or Tel Aviv, or
visits to Tel Aviv. It became a reg-
Eritrea or Cairo. Mr. Kennard re-
ular routine for him to go for a
lates that he has heard her called
Supervisor
JACK
KENNARD:
week-end visit by plane to Tel
by this affectionate.name by GIs
of
American
Red
Cross
Head-
Aviv. Before returning to the
wherever she visited Red Cross
quarters in Middle East, who de-
United States, late in February, he
centers, and that he had stopped
scribed the achievements of Jews
spent another two weeks in Tel
wondering why so many soldiers
in Palestine in an interview with
Aviv—from Dec: 16 to 29—visiting
would rush over and hug her out of
the editor of The Jewish News.
with friends and enjoying the hos-
appreciation for her hospitality.
pitality of friends and co-workers.
The Lewin-Epstein story is fairly well known
"Rugged" is• the term he applies to the life of the
by now, but it assumes new significance in the de-
Jews of Palestine, but more often he goes into
scription of Mr. Kennard who brings not only a
ecstasy with the terms "astounding" and "wonder-
word story of her efforts but also photographs, some
ful" when speaking of the remarkable achievements
of which are reproduced here.
of the Jewish community which has taken sand-
dunes and has transformed them into garden spots.
The three-story home of the Lewin-Epsteins has
been transformed into a hospitality center where
Although he prefers Jerusalem to Tel Aviv—
parties are arranged periodically for visiting serv-
because of the historic and cultural values connect-
icemen. The very large room on the second floor
is used as a dance hall and game room, and there
is always a snack for GI Joe. An adjoining room,
used as an ante-room by Dr. Samuel Lewin-Epstein,
is used more often for Red Cross-GI Joe hospitality
than for the hostess' husband's professional work.
When Mrs. Lewin-Epstein sees a lonesome serv-
iceman in Jerusalem, she is at once on his track
inviting • him to her home, Mr. Kennard said. He
estimates that during the last three years she en-
tertained more than 5,000 American soldiers and that
thousands of other servicemen—Australians, South
Africans and others—were entertained at her parties
during the past five years.
Incidentally, Mr. Kennard speaks of Dr. Lewin-
Epstein as the man who makes the greatest con-
tribution to dentistry in Palestine.
Mr. Kennard stated that he found it hard to
learn Hebrew, but he boasted of being able to salute
his friends with the traditional "Shalom." He praised
the linguistic abilities of Palestinian Jews and said
that one of his secretaries, a former Czech Jewess,
knew nine languages fluently and could type well
in four of them.
Among the Jew-
ish services rend-
ered to the Red
Cross, he named
the Tel - Litwinsky
Camp, 10 miles
from Tel Aviv, and
the Allied Service
Club in Tel Aviv,
whose brilliant su-
pervisors are Ruth
Guttman and Susan
Davidowitz. T h e
HOSPITALITY: At the Jewish
latter is the daugh-
Service Club in Jerusalem where
ter of Mr. and Mrs.
GI Joe is given a taste of Pal-
Harry Davidowitz.
estinian Jewish hospitality.
Mr. Davidowitz
was formerly Rab-
with
the
Holy
City—Mr.
Kennard
speaks
of
the
AMERICAN GIs: Are
ed
bi in the Jewish
all-Jewish city of Tel Aviv ast "the garden spot of,
shown during a visit in
Center of Cleve-
the Middle East." It is the only place in the entire
a collective Jewish col-
land and recently
ony
near Haifa. They
Middle East, he stated, where a GI feels safe to eat
translated "Ham-'
were
accompanied by
anything and anywhere.
let" into Hebrew.
Mr. Kennard who took
He is now super-
On this point, he was exuberant in his ex-
this photo.
vising a teeth-man-
planation of his admiration for the sanitation and
ufacturing plant in
cleanliness that was brought to the Mediterranean
Tel Aviv where a perfectly-made tooth—which Mr.
area by Jewish settlers. He explained that the only
Kennard displayed to his interviewer—was fash-
places where he dared drink milk was in the Jewish
ioned for the American Red Cross leader.
collective and cooperative colonies of Palestine.
. Mr. Kennard had traveled with Dr. Chaim Weiz-
Similarly, he felt safe with his food in the Tel
mann on a • plane from Cairo and had an interesting
Aviv restaurants. Otherwise, it was insecure to risk
conversation with him.
the taste of food which was made unsanitary by im-
proper handling and lack of refrigeration.
The tension created by the Stern Gang was es-
pecially deplored by Mr. Kennard, who stated that
Among his friends ih Palestine were some very
for a time there was fear of possible outbreaks. He
Important people, chief among them having been the
was pleased to learn that terrorism had ended.
late Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah. He
J
Asa.441.1•
aiwarallaar VOW- a a aa.araa-•af..
HOSTS: This is part of a group
that attended , one of the parties
at the home of Dr. and Mrs.-
Samuel Lewin-Epstein in Jeru-
salem. The hosts are shown in
the extreme right, above.
Otherwise, he stated, Jews and Arabs live amicably-
and there is a serious effort to create amity.
t
The GIs' experiences in Palestine form one or
tl le most interesting chapters in modern Palestine ,
11: Mr. Kennard believes.
It is a striking coincidence that at the luncheon,
of the Weizmann Institute committee, held at Hoteb
Statler on Tuesday, a comment by Fred M. ButzeL
chairman of the committee, about the GIs' visit to
Palestine, should have brought this statement from
Dorothy Thompson, who was the guest speaker:
"The GIs are getting their most important edu-
cation in human relations at the hands of the
Jewish community during their visits in Palestine.
It is their historic opportunity."
It took Mr. Kennard 97 days to get to Palestine
from this country two years ago. But he returned
by plane in 50 hours. The boat that took him on
his mission was attacked by torpedoes, but the com-
parative safety of travel today moved him to point
to the great contrast in conditions. His hope is to
return to Palestine with his family for a long visit
in order once again to breathe the air of a creative
`MOM' ON JOB:
At the
YMCA in Jerusalem, Mrs.
Lewin-Epstein (extreme right)
was hostess to this group of
GIs whose Palestinian experi-
ences are making Zionists of
the Americans who are priv-
ileged to see the creativeness
of the Jews, in Zion. This
protograph was taken by Mr.
Kennard Christmas Day, 1943.
atmosphere and to be with friends whom he has
learned to admire and respect.
Before enlisting with the Red Cross in March,
1943, Mr. Kennard was director of athletics of
General Motors Corp., Cadillac Athletic Club, all
in Detroit, and later of the Keystone Athletic Club
In Pittsburgh.
His enlistment marked the settling of a score
dating back 25 years. When he enlisted in the Red
Cross in July, 1918, he had hopes of going over-
seas, but never made it. His ambition was realized
when he found an opportunity to help win World
War II.
Mr. Kennard spent his brief leave with his wife,
Ada, and 12 year old daughter, Joan, at their home,
7730 E. Jefferson, before going to Washington for
yeassignment.
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