Page Four

THE JEWISH NEWS

As the Editor
Views the News - - -
Our Disunity

Stone Walls!

The letter from the seven Jewish Chap-
lains stationed in the Philippines, expressing
disappointment over the dissolution of the
United Jewish Appeal, published in last
week's issue of The Jewish News, is an indi-
cation of the sentiment that exists in many
quarters over the break in unity in Amer-
ican Jewish ranks. '
From many quarters come complaints
against disunity in fund-raising.
While it is true that in most instances
funds will be provided for the UPA, JDC
and NRS through the established Federa-
tions and Welfare Funds, it is equally as
true that the needs which will again be cre-
ated for arguments before budget commit-
tees in individual communities will not be
conducive to peace and unity.
I Would that the breach could be healed!
There are many unfortunate breaks in
unity in American Jewish life, including the
divisiveness that has set in among Zionists.
All divisions in our ranks should be avoided
—and if they can be healed before the San
Francisco conference the Jewish cause will

What are the days of "Sefirah?" What is
their significance? Why are marriages and
other joyous occasions prohibited during this
period?
—M. M.

a. The time of the barley havest in Palestine
was the second day of Passover. To commemo-
rate this event as "Omer", i.e., a measure of the
first barley was brought to the temple as an
offering. From that day on the Bible (Leviticus
XXIII, 15; Deuteronomy XIV, 9) decreed the
counting of 49 days, the end of which (the 50th
day) would come out on the Feast of Weeks
(Shevuoth).
b. The reasons for the basis of this ritual are
manifold. Historically, the Jew was to appear
in the holy temple at least three times every
year—on Passover, the Feast of Weeks and
Succoth. As the Passover holiday comes as the
reminiscence of Redemption and Freedom so
does the Feast of Weeks come as the commem-
oration of the Revelation of the Divine Law and
teachings. The intervening weeks were the
temporal link between these two phenomenon.
They were ritually observed to display the
sentiment that these two historic events were
interdependent upon each other and essential to
each other's existence.
c. There are writers who refer this abstinence
to the original environment of the season. It is

be helped immeasurably.

The death of David Lloyd George re-
moves from the scene tone of the most im-
portant witnesses for the Jewish cause on all
friends, and more especially in Palestine.
It was under his leadership that the Bal-
four Declaration was issued. Mr. Lloyd
George was • Prime Minister and Arthur
James Balfour, with whom he was in com-
plete agreement on the Zionist question, was
a member of the War Cabinet.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of
the Balfour Declaration, Mr. Lloyd George
issued a statement in which he pointed out
that the Declaration "received the full as-
sent of all the Allied Powers and America."
He added that he was "proud to have been
associated with the culmination of a policy
representing an act of historic justice to an
ancient people to which the world, owes
much."
It was a remarkable statement in which
the great British leader declared that the
Balfour Declaration "policy has already
borne fruit in a remarkable economic restor-
ation of the Holy Land . . . Britain as the
trustee of the civilized nations of the earth
has set her hand to a great and noble un-
dertaking in Palestine and it is inconceive-
able that she will relinquish her task half
done . • . The work must and will go on."
Mr. Lloyd George had reiterated his stand
in his memoirs and on,numerous other occa-
sions. His attitude is on record and his woi-ds
will live to impress the democratic powers of
our own time that a sacred .pledge has been
made and must be adhered to.
May the words of David Lloyd George be
recognized as a legacy wherever and when-
ever the great powers meet to plan for the
future security of the world. If they are
listened to the Jewish cause will be safe.

THE JEWISH NEWS

' Member of JeWish Telegraphic Agency, Independent
newish Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate,
Religious News Service, Palcor News Agency, Bressler
Cartoon Service. Wide World Photo Service, Acme
Newsphoto Service.
Member American AeSociation of English-Jewish News-
papers and Michigan Press Association,
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26. Mich. Telephone
RAndolph 7956. Subscription- rate, ;3 a year; foreign,
;4 a year. Club subscription of one issue a month,
published every fourth Friday in the month, to all
subscribers to Allied Jewish Campaign of the Jewish
Welfare Federation of .Detroit, at 40 cents a club sub-
scription per year.
Entered as second-class matter August 6, 1942. at the
Post Office at Detroit, Michigan, under the Act of
March 3, 1879.

d"The English-Jewish newspapers of America have the
Common objective of rendering a specialized service to
their respective communities, to America and to the
Snider American Jewish community.
"These periodicals have for their common ideal the
further advancement - of Jewish journalism, the attain-
ment of the highest literary and professional standards,
and the maintenance of a militant, fearless approach to
an Jewish problems.
"The fulfillment of these ideals is the fundamental and
Vital task of the Jewish newspaper as a basis for the
growth and enrichment of Jewish life in America."
—Credo of American Association
of English-Jewish Newspapers.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ HENRY WINEMAN

SLOMOVITZ, Editor
A. It. BRASCH, Advertising Counsel

VOL. 7—NO. 3

APRIL 6, 1945

The Week's Scriptural Selections -
This Sabbath, the twenty-fourth day of Nisan,
the following Scriptural selections will be read

in our synagogues:

Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 9:1-11:47.
Prophetical portion—II Sam. 6:1-7:17.

T

•t•••.! TI-,,PIIFFr

• A,

Facts You Should Know

Answers to Readers'
Questions About Jews

r

Lloyd George and the Jews

Friday, April 6, 1945

Beware of Some Arabs' Threats

On the eve of the inevitable solution of the Palestinian

problem, Arab extremists are making statements which
corroborate the fear that the influence of the former Mufti,
who was and remains a Nazi agent, is making itself felt
in Arab quarters.
In an interview with Hal Lehrman, special PM corres-
pondent in Cairo, Sheik Youssef Yussin, adviser to King
Ibn Saud, made some startingly shocking statements.
"Our attitude toward the Jews of Europe is the same
as Europe's attitude," he said. "Ask any European what he
thinks of the Jews. He is against them and so are we. The
Jews do not have a ghadow of a claim to Palestine. For two
milleniums Palestine has been Arab. Palestine is not big
enough for the Jews and the Arabs."
Think of it! At this stage in history, with the Jews
responsible for the doubling of the Arab population in Pal-
estine; and with the 'Jews as the only truly creative force in
the Middle and Near East, an Arab "kinsman" still dares
to use Nazi language in speaking of the Jews.
But this is not all. When the PM correspondent asked
the Sheik what he proposed to do about the Jews already in
Palestine, he replied:
"The Nazis killed 4,000,000 Jews in Poland. If the Jews
of Palestine want room, there is plenty in Poland now. They
must not remain in Palestine. Only a small number who
lived there before Balfour's declaration may stay."
The Mufti spoke in similar vein when he testified be-
fore the Royal Commission in Palestine. His cohorts speak
in terms of "getting rid" of the Jews. That is why we have
discounted the impractical proposals of Dr. J. L. Magnes and
Of British officials who fell hook, line and sinker for Arab
propaganda.
This is why we concur with the declaration made by
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, in an address delivered at the dinner
given in his honor in New York on March 21, that-
- "The Jewish problem is a world problem, not an Arab
ian problem. Its solution must come at the hands of the
great democracies of the world, who have assumed the grave
responsibility for rebuilding our world upon new and lasting
foundations of justice in which all people will share."
It is clear that if the solution of our problem is left to the
Mufti's followers we may face the danger of renewed trouble,
of possible pogroms, of outrages that have the earmarks of
Nazism.
This is why the world powers owe a responsibility to
the Jewish people to assure adherence to pledges made to
us for the establishment of the Jewish National Home—
without limitations upon Jewish progress, upon Jewish self-
determination, upon control of immigration by Jews.
If Nazism is to be defeated completely, the type of Arab
extremism represented in the statements quoted by the PM
Cairo correspondent must be relegated to oblivion.
If Nazism is to be defeated completely, Jews must be
given a voice at the conference at San Francisco, so that our
case should not be shelved and so that we should not re-
main "the forgotten ally."

The Jewish Brigade in Action

Commanding General Mark Clark of the 15th Army
Group, in a statement welcoming the Jewish Brigade to the
Italian front, and wishing the Jewish Brigaders luck, made
this statement:

"I am greatly satisfied that the Jewish people who have
suffered so terribly at the hands of the Nazis should now be
directly represented by this front-line fighting force. They
will be given every opportunity to prove their worth along-
side troops of other nations and of bringing honor to Jewry."

After several years of pleading, the Jewish case in the
present war finally has received recognition, and Jews are
fighting under their own banner against their .arch enemy.
Under the command of Brig. Gen. E. F. Benjamin, the
Jewish Brigade is composed of men who compose former
citizens of 53 nationalities. They are fighting for the cause
of mankind and for the recognition of Jewish rights after
the war.
They went into action on the eve of Passover, and their
fight is symbolic of humanity's as well as Israel's struggle
for lasting freedom and a lasting peace.

one of anxiety and care over the success of the
winter's growth which were then to be harvest-
ed. The Jews, at that time being an agricultural
people, devoted these days to extreme reverence

in anticipation of the heavenly reward of a
profitable harvest. Historians, however, as well
as other Rabbinic writers have attributed this
mourning to the sad events that took place in
Jewish history during this period. It is especially
meant as a reminder of the oppressive treat-
ment that the Jews underwent by the Romans.
Many of Rabbi Akibah's disciples were brought
to death in one of the most gruesome tragedies
that occurred during that period.
*
*

What is the meaning of "Amen?"

B. B.

Amen is a Hebrew word meaning "true" or
"certain." It is derived from AMAN, meaning .
"to strengthen." It is usually uttered at the end
of, a prayer, in the sense of "So be it."

Talmudic Tales

•

• ;

(Based 'upon the ancient legends and philosophy found is
the Talmud and folklore of the Jewish people dating back
as far as 3,000 years).

By DAVID MORANTZ

"He gives little," says the Talmud, "who gives
with a frown. He gives much who gives little
with a smile."
"When you give, give cheerfully. It is the
cheerful giver who receives the fullness of
blessings."
"Blessed is he who gives help to the poor but
twice blessed is he who accompanies his gift with
cheering and comforting words."
"The merit of charitable works is- in proportion
to the cheerfulness with which they are prac-
ticed."
"Charity should begin at home, but not end
there."

For a handsome 195 page, autographed gift volume con-
taining 128 of these tales and 500 Pearls of Wisdom, send .
$1.50 to David Morantz, ca-re of The Jewish News, or
phone YLaza 1048.
(Copyright 1945 by David Morantz)

Children's Corner

Dear Boys and Girls:
These are days of saving and of gathering
all the available scrap paper to help win the war.; ;.
Are you doing 1001-t duty?
Every bit of scrap helps replenish the dwin-
dling
dlincs paper stocks.
scrap is also needed for the manufacture of
ammunition.
If you have joined in the drives to collect
scrap and paper and to turn them over to the
war effort, you are helping win the war..
We may have good news any day now—that -
the Germans have cracked up and that the
European war has ended. But we will still have
to fight the Japanese to a finish.
So—pitch in, all of you, and help win this
terrible struggle so that fathers, sons, brothers,
wives, daughters and sisters may return home
speedily; and so that we may start our peaceful
activities all over again.
A pleasant Sabbath to all.
UNCLE DANIEL

*

*

*

FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE AND ITS INFLUENCE

DO YOU KNOW THAT . . .
The Bible is read more than any other book
in the world?
That more copies of it are sold annually than
any other book?
That it has been translated into 467 languages
and dialects?
That the Bible has been the carrier of re-
ligion and civilization?
That it was through a translation of the Bible
that the Reformation brought about freedom re-
sulting later in the emancipation of the Jews?
That through the King James translation of
the Bible into English a Hebraic quality was
given to the English language?
That the literature of the Bible has been the
inspiration of many of the great poets, artists

and musicians e.g. Milton, "Paradise Lost" and
translations of Psalms, Byron;s "Hebrew Melo-
dies," Dryden's "Inspiration of the Bible"; Mi-
chael Angelo's statue of David and Moses; Men-

delssohn's "Elijah," Bloch's. "Israel"Z

•

-,

1 _ .

