II
Page. Four
THE JEWISH NEWS
.
As the Editor
Views the News - -
The Educational Survey
Through the Golden Gate
'
A session called for the coming Sunday
afternoon, at the Jewish Community Center,
to discuss the results of the Detroit Self-
Study on our educational needs, as conduct-
ed here during the past few months under
the direction of the Citizens Committee, is
certain to be an historic event for our com-
munity.
The entire project was initiated by the
Jewish. Welfare Federation with the view
of clarifying the .various conflicting ideol-
ogies affecting our educational agencies and
the programs conducted by our community
agencies in behalf of adult as well as youth
educational projects.
Sunday's session will pass judgment on
the recommendations to be made to the
Citizens Committee by the several sub-corn-
mitties which functioned during the period
of the Self-Study.
It is important that there should be ob - -
jective thinking and acting; that the final
decisions should lead to the sponsorship of
educational media which •aim to train a well-
informed Jewish community.
If the efforts of the Self-Study Commit-
tee will lead toward amicable and coopera-
tive efforts in behalf of all factional educa-
tional agencies, then the work of the past
few months will not have been in vain.
He was a great American and a great
newspaperman.
His death, however, is a loss not to
America alone but to all humanity.
Ernie Pyle's genius lay in the fact that
he wrote for the great mass of the American
people about the average GI.
He never played up to any one.
When the hero he selected for mention
in his cables was an Italian or a Jew or a
Pole, he treated his characters alike—like
human beings, like equal cogs in a great
machine created for victory for human
principles.
Ernie Pyle belonged to that small group
of heroes—the war correspondents—many of
whom have already lost their lives in this
war in an effort to bring the story of human
values from the war fronts to the peaceful
hearths of the tens of millions at home. He
and his confreres who have died or who are
carrying on the great work where Ernie
has left off will be revered for all time
among the real heroes of our generation.
Our Jewish Farmers
In his annual report as managing direct-
or of the Jewish Agricultural Society,
Gabriel Davidson emphasizes the point that
in recent years an effort was made to re-
habilitate refugees who sought salvation in
farming, many refugee families having been
settled on farms in 12 states. The report also
states that since the outbreak of the war the
society's activities have been mobilized to-
...* ward the end of helping Jewish farmers
achieve maximum food production.
This society has made an important
place for itself in American Jewish life,
and the settlement of more than 100,000
Jews on farms may be credited in great
measure to this society's activities.
Cultural activities among farmers, the
sponsoring of special courses, the guidance
offered by experts have been among the im-
portant planks in the program of the Jewish
Agricultural Society, and its over-all ac-
tivities deserve to be acclaimed by all Amer-
ican Jews.
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 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.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. EUTZEL
- ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ HENRY WINEMAN
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
A. R. BRASCH, Advertising Counsel
VOL. 7—NO. 6
IIP
APRIL 27, 1945
The Week's Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fifteenth day of Iyar, 5707,
the following 'Scriptural selections will be read
in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal .portion—Lev. 21:1-24:23.
Prophetical portion—Ezek. 44:15-31.
.Facts You Should Know
Answers to Readers
Questions About Jews
-
Ernie Pyle
Friday, April 27, 1945
The San Francisco Conference
Jewish hopes are not necessarily pinned on the sessions
of the United Nations Security Conference which have just
commenced in San Francisco. It has been stated clearly that
this conference will merely set up the machinery for the
peace conference; that the fate of small people will not be
discussed but will be deferred for future consideration; that
the question of mandates will not be settled at this time.
But it is equally as clear that the preliminary work will
be of a nature that is certain to affect the future status of
our peOple. Homes will have to be found for the survivors
from Nazism. The question of reparations will be one of the
serious issues with which the democratic powers will be con-
fronted. The Palestinian problem will have to be solved if
there is to be some semblance of order in the Middle and
Near East and if there is to be peace of a lasting nature in
the world.
The responsible powers, therefore will have to consider
the Jewish case—even if the consideration that is to be
given the problem of millions of stateless Jews is not to be
a subject for public discussion or public hearings.
It is natural, therefore, that our people should look with
deep anxiety to the San Francisco sessions. The great
statesmen of the world who have assembled in San Francisco
should consider seriously the many tragedies which have af-
fected Jewry and should seek, for all time to come, to put
an end to conditions which make it possible for a bigot like
Hitler to attempt to exterminate an entire people.
The question of Jewish homelessness is one of the major
issues involved in the consideration of the Jewish case. After
reparations and repatriations will have been provided for,
there will remain the grave problem of providing homes for
hundreds of thousands of Jews. Most of them insist upon
Palestine as their first choice for a homeland. Few, if any,
other territories are extending a welcome to homeless Jews.
Unless the pledge for the creation of the Jewish National
Home in Eretz Israel is adhered to, it is "questionable wheth-
er there will be much honor to an established peace.
The American delegation at San Francisco includes
spokesmen who, like U. S. Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg
and Rep. Sol Bloom, have been warm supporters of the Zion-
ist movement. Many others, in the U. S. and other delega-
tions, are concerned that justice should be meted out to our
people.
We plead with them to consider the plight of Israel, to
be firm in their consideration of an issue which has been the
crux of the human problems which the democratic powers
are fighting to remedy.
May the hands of the delegations at San Francisco be
strengthened! May they be guided to wise consideration of
the issues facing mankind and may they be given the vision
to see that acquisition of freedom calls for the removal of
all fears—including that of homelessness.
President Truman and the Bible
All our Presidents have been lovers . of the Bible, and
President Harry S. Truman is not an exception to the rule.
In his first address to Congress, the President used a
Biblical quotation in his concluding statement in which he
said:
"As I assume my heavy duties, I humbly pray to Al-
mighty God, in the words of Solomon: 'Give therefore thy
servant an understanding heart to judge Thy people that I
may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge
this, Thy so great people?' I ask only to be a good and
faithful servant of my Lord and my people."
This is equally as significant as another statement in
his address in which he declared:
"Our forefathers came to our rugged shores in search of
religious tolerance, political freedom and economic oppor-
tunity. For those fundamental rights they risked their lives.
We well know today that such rights can be preserved only
by constant vigilance, the eternal price of liberty."
These quotations indicate that President Truman has
gotton off to a good start as our Chief Executive. May he
be given the strength to carry our nation to victory and to a
lasting peace.
What are the rules governing the sending
of packages to relatives in Soviet Russia?
—Mrs. S. Adinoff, Port Huron
Chaim Finkelstein of the Division for Displaced
Persons of the World Jewish Congress, 1834
Broadway, New York 23, N. Y., provides us with
the following answer to this question which has
come to us, in addition to Mrs. Adinoff, from
many other readers:
In reference to your inquiry, we wish to inform
you that we accept standard parcels for refugees
in the U.S.S.R. There are the following types. of
parcels:
Parcel B/27—price $56.-1 pair of shoes, 1 cap,
1 overcoat.
Parcel B/28—price $68-1 pair of shoes, 1 cap,
1 suit.
Parcel B/32—price- $26.-1 pair of shoes, 1 lb.
powdered soup, 2 1/5 lbs. powdered milk, 1 1/10
lbs. of sugar, 2 lbs. vegetable oil.
Parcel B/35—price $32.-2 1/5 lbs. soap 1 pair
of shoes, 2 lbs. powdered soup, 1 1/10 lbs. pow-
dered milk.
Please note that the contents of the parcels
are subject to change and it might happen that
when certain types of parcels are used up, other
ones are shipped instead.
Numerous senders of parcels have already re-
ceived direct acknowledgements of receipt by
the addressees. However, due to the war con-
ditions as well as to the fact that refugees in
the U. S. S. R. often change their residence, each
sender of a parcel has to take a chance if he is
eager to help his beloved ones.
Since the parcels are shipped from Iran, the
New York office of the World Jewish Congress
does not accept food or clothing for shipment.
If you wish to send a parcel, it will be neces-
sary for you to furnish us with the exact last
known address of the refugee in the U. S. S. R.,
informing us which parcels are to be sent. The
check or money order should be made payable
to the World Jewish Congress.
Talmudic Tales
(Based upon the ancient legends and philosophy found in
the Talmud and folklore of the Jewish people dating back
as far as 3,000 years).
By DAVID MORANTZ
RABBI AKIBA'S RETURN
To his faithful wife, Rachel, Rabbi Akiba gives
credit for whatever fame he ever attained.
It was she who encouraged him, while still a
poor, uneducated shepherd, to go away to study.
After twelve years of diligent pursuance of his
studies under Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua,
he returned to /his wife accompanied by 12,000
disciples.
Intending to surprise her he did not notify her
of his arrival, hence, she was unaware of his
homecoming. -
Approaching his home he heard voices in ani-
mated conversation and upon listening before
opening the door, he heard a neighbor woman up-
braiding his wife for having permitted him to
leave her virtually a widow for twelve years up-
on the pretense of going to college.
He hesitated before opening the door, because
he wished to hear what his wife would say in
reply to this. Imagine his pleasure and pride in
his self sacrificing wife, when .he heard her say:
"If my husband were here and could hear me,
I should permit, yes urge him to stay another
twelve years if it would benefit him."
Hearing this, Akiba left Jerusalem, without
even greeting her or advising her of his presence
and continued his studies for twelve years more.
When he returned this time, he brought with him
twice 12,000 disciples and all Jerusalem welcom-
ed him back.
The wealthy Kalba Shevua, his wife's father,
who had disowned her when she married him be-
cause of his lowly station as a shepherd, repented
of his hasty- temper, and was among the foremost
to greet this now celebrated scholar and welcome
him and the faithful Rachel back under his roof.
(Copyright 1945 by David Morantz)
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, care of The Jewish News, or
phone PLaza 1048.
Children's Corner
Dear Boys and Girls:
One of our minor festivals—Lag b'Omer-
occurs this year on May 1.
This semi-festival takes place between Pass-
over and Shevuoth.
Lag b'Omer means the 33rd day during the
period of the counting of the Omer. Its signifi-
cance is both agricultural and historical.
The festival recalls the custom that was as-
sociated with the Passover celebration in olden
times when an omer of barley - was brought as an
offering to the Beth Hamikdash, the Holy Tem-
ple. For seven weeks the Omer was counted—
until Shevuoth.
Its historical connection is the folloWing: Dur-
ing the Bar Kochba revolt against Rome in the
years 132-135, Rabbi Akiba and his disciples were
among the participating patriotic heroes. But a
terrible plague broke out and many of Rabbi
Akiba's and 6 Bar Kochba's followers had died.
But on the 33rd day of the Sefira period of the
counting of - the Omer, the pestilence ceased and
Lag b'Omer became a minor festival.
Lag b'Omer, because of the connection with
the students of Rabbi Akiba, is also known as
"The Scholars' Festival."
It has been customary for Jewish schools, es-
pecially in Palestine, to arrange hikes and minia-
ture battles amonc, Jewish children, and to honor
the memory of the Jewish heroes.
Perhaps some of you will remember this day
by arranging special hikes, by reading the story
of Rabbi Akiba and Bar Kochba and dedicating
yourselves to greater devotion to your study of
your history and to activities in behalf of your
less fortunate brethren.
I wish you all a very plea. ant Sabbath and a
very happy Lag b'Omer.
UNCLE DANIEL: