1 Page Four As the Editor Views the News THE JEWISH NEWS Friday, May I I , 1945 Freedom. Rings Answers to Readers Questions About Jews NI MI NM, Mother's Day To what extent does the Joint Distribution Committee cooperate with the Red Cross and why is it necessary?—Z. Z. Mother's Day, the annual observance of which occurs this Sunday, has much greater significance today than at any other time since its inauguration as a national holiday. Millions of Mothers are among the world's greatest sufferers of the war. Many of them have lost their sons in battle. Millions anxiously await their return. All are sus- tained by the hope that the end to misery will be speeded and that peace should be restored to mankind. It is true that Mother is not the only .suf- ferer, but she is certainly the greatest sufferer. On Mother's Day, it is important that Mother should be given the happiness that is due her, that she should be encouraged in her hopes and aspirations, that she should be given the love which she deserves. Mother's Day will be an occasion to assist worthy causes—in honor of Mother. And Mother surely will know how to appreciate all the sentiments that accompany the love that is accorded her. •The International Red C/.oss has been a vital factor in making possible JDC's relief activities in the occupied lands. Tinder the Trading with the Enemy Act, American organizations could have no contact with enemy-occupied 'countries. The International Red CroSs, however, was free to work. Therefore, JDC funds were :emitted to the IRC, which operated in behalf of persecuted Jewry. The IRC's work in Europe may be divided into four categories: shipment of relief (food, clothing and medicines) from Geneva to occu- pied countries or camps in GerMany; shipment of relief from other areas to camps in Germany; transmission of funds for the -purchase of food and clothing in the enemy-occupied countries, and the creation of children's homes, hospitals and soup kitchens. In addition to these tangible measures, the IRC used its influence with various governments in attempting to alleviate the persecution of the Jews. IRC representatives have also visited in- ternment camps to inspect conditions, and an IRC delegate is currently make a survey of con- ditions in Northern Italy preparatory to arranging assistance from the JDC. * * * The Death of Hitler Hebrew "Meshames" which is literally translated as "servant." It is the colloquial term applied to the synagogue sexton. Adolf Hitler's death—assuming that the report is not a bit of Nazi propaganda—, serves to recall one of the most popular jokes which came into being when the world's worst gangster first assumed control of Germany. The joke hinged on the ex- pectation of the creation of a new dish— similar to the Hamantaschen of Purim—in celebration of the death of the unspeakable Nazi tyrant. Another joke spoke of the rise of a new Jewish holiday—on the day of Hitler's death. • But this announcement of Hitler's death did not find the world and Jewry in the mood for exuberant exultation because the need for uprooting all the evils that were created by Nazism is considered as still being an important job to be accomplished in order to end Hitlerism. With. the victory of the United Nations a certainty, Hitler's death was expected at al- most any time. But the rise of new holiday in celebration of his demise depends upon the assurance that all the evil he had created and all his cohorts will die with him. May the coming of that day be speeded! A Principle at Stake What does the word "Shammes" mean? —A. D. "Shammes" is probably the short term for the Humanity's Triumph , Unconditional surrender by Germany spells a triumph for the great ideals of humanity which reject tyranny, which call for justice for all peoples, regard- less of race or creed, which repudiate persecution and reject the type of sadism which has made the very name German a stigma in the eyes and ears of civil- ized peoples. The defeat of Germany is a gi:eat victory for decency. It is a triumph for the admonition of our sages that "justice shalt thou pursue . . ." It is a warning to the backward and uncivilized peoples that those who fail to pursue justice are doomed to destruction. Germany has been foredoomed to destruction, and because of the sins of the tyrants and the sadists millions of innocent peoples have suffered. These innocents are now avenged. The Jewish people is avenged. The spirit of decency and justice is avenged. But the vengeance must be made complete by the assurance of enforcement of a just peace. May the peoples of the world learn the lesson of Germany. Nations, like individuals, must learn that crime does not pay, that history retaliates for in- justice. Germany is a byword and humanity's shame and her defeat will live as lasting proof of the disgrace she has brought upon the world by permitting maniacs to be her leaders. Time Magazine, presenting a resume of the responsibilities facing the Security Con- ference in San Francisco, points out that the Dumbarton Oaks "proposals say that the Council cannot take up any dispute 'arising out of matters which by international law are solely within the domestic jurisdiction of the state concerned.' In other words, should some future Hitler contend that his mis- treatment of the Jews is a 'domestic' ques- tion, the Council cannot act—if this provi- sion is interpreted literally." German Jews all Jews — will read this explanation with a sense of horror. The question of "domesticity" was used by Czar- ist Russia. It was resorted to by the Nazis One major Jewish issue emerges from the entire United before the present war and was accepted as Nations Conference on International Organization: a good argument by appeasing elements in - All efforts must be exerted to assure that our position Washington. in Palestine will not be prejudiced and that the way will re- Is it possible that this major problem af- main open, under the new set-up of international trustee- fecting future human relations may not be ships, to press for recognition of just rights for Jews in what solved by the international conferees? If it is eventually to be set up as a Jewish Commonwealth. is not, then we will remain in a bad way and The new plan for international trusteeships must not the future peace of the world may not be be framed in a fashion that would freeze the Jewish position assured. into a permanent minority in Palestine. If we succeed to keep the avenues open for uninterrupted iicriotiations with members of the United Nations and with Mandatory Power, then we still have a chance to secure that measure of Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, justice which was pledged to us after the last war and Religious News Service, Palcor News Agency, Wide World the entire 27-year period since that war. Photo Service, Acme Newsphoto Service. Protection for Palestine's Status THE JEWISH NEWS 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. Welcome, Hebrew Teachers It is indeed an honor to welcome the delegates to the National Conference of the Hebrew Teachers' Federation, which is in session here this week-end. Upon the Hebrew teachers of our country rests the responsibility of educating • our children for the role which American Jewry must play in the future. BOARD OF DIR ECT ORS MAURICE. ARONSSON PHILIP SLOMOVITZ The fortresses of Jewish learning on the European con- FRED M. BUTZEL ISIDORE SOBELOFF THEODORE LEVIN ABRAHAM SRERE tinent have been destroyed and we in America must sup- MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ HENRY WINEMAN plant them. No longer can we depend upon Europe as a PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor well of Jewish culture from which we can draw incessantly. A. R. BRASCH, Advertising Counsel American youth together with Palestinian youth will of VOL. 7—NO. 8 MAY 11, 1945 necessity become the source of our future leaders. The Week's Scriptural Selections Only if that ,youth is fortified with an. adequate back- This Sabbath, the twenty-ninth day of Iyar, ground of our history, tradition, language and aspirations 5705, the following Scriptural selections will be for the future can we hope to perpetuate the ideals of our read in our synagogues: people. Pentateuchal portion—Num. 1:1-4:20. Our Hebrew teachers have, more than any other group, Prophetical portion-L-4 Sam. 20:18-42. given of themselves in order that our culture might live On Sunday, Rosh Hodesh Sivan, Num. and be transmitted . from generation to generation. 28:1-15 will be read during synagogue services. May this conference succeed in its worthy deliberations. 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 SLANDER "He who slanders," says the Talmund, "he who receives slander, and he who bears false witness against his neighbor, deserves to be cast to the dogs." "Open not thy mouth to speak evil." "Avoid a slanderer as you would a scorpion." "An evil tongue does evil to three persons: to the owner, to the listener and to the slandered." "The whole of the calumny is not believed, some part of it will always stick." "Praise not a man over much, lest from praise you pass to fault finding. (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 dervish News, or phone PLaza 1048. Children's Corner Dear Boys and Girls: The great Festival of the Giving of the Law- Shevuoth—will be observed next Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19. It is one of the great festivals on our calendar. Because it is the Festival of the Giving of the Law, our Temples observe Confirmations during Shevuoth. It is also the great festival of the land and is one of our significant agricultural holidays. It is the traditional Hebrew Spring harvest festival. Think of the great combination! Shevuoth- The festival on which we received the Ten Com- mandments and on which we rejoice over the fer- tility of the Land of Israel! Because of the double significance of the fes- tival, synagogues will be bedecked with flowers and green branches—representing the harvest fes- tival character of Shevuoth—and we will rejoice in the receiving of the Law. Another important event to be observed soon is "I Am an American Day," which was pro- claimed by President Roosevelt, before his death, for May 20. Young and old should arrange to par- ticipate in special programs on that day as an expression of joy of our good fortune of being citizens of this great land. But one of 'the most important events of all occurring in May is MOTHER'S DAY, which we will observe this Sunday. I am sure that all of you honor your mothers — some of you by planting trees in Palestine in the Great Lady's honor, others in every other- way that you can, but all of us by honoring Mother in a way that will make her proud of possessing loyal children. A pleasant Sabbath, a happy Mother's Day and a joyous Shevuoth to all. UNCLE DANIEL. * * MOTHERS DAY Since time immemorial, Jews have . treated thefr mothers with loving regard and respect. She has rdways been the mistress of the house and she is invested with many rights and privileges. The Jewish woman, in general, always enjoyed a high sociLl standing. How honored and respected the Jewish woman is, can be seen from the famous chapter of the "Book of Proverbs," glori- fying the "woman of valor," which the husband sings every Friday evening after returning from the Synagogue, in honor of his wife. As among the nations, in ancient Israel, too, the father was the head of the family. Yet, in the ethical relation, involving the love and respect of the children, the Mother has always been the equal of the father. Disrespectful behavior toward the mother entails the same punishment as that toward the father. . Many Biblical passages clearly show that the Jews of old regarded the influence of the mother of equal importance with that of the father. More- over, the Bible stresses the unique tenderness of a mother's love by employing it as the symbol of unselfish devotion. According to the Bible, the teachings of the mother are of equal importance with those of the father, Y. or the Book enjoins: "Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching ,of thy mother." (Prov. 1, 8.).