( Page Four
THE JEWISH NEWS
As the Editor
Views the News -
The Feast of Shevuoth
One of the great festivals on our calen-
dar, Shevuoth has special significance for
mankind in these critical days in world his-
tory.
Shevuoth is primarily the Festival of
the Giving of the Law to Israel.
The Law, which has become the guide
for all spiritual forces in the world, incor-
porates all the sacred principles for the re-
lationships between men and men. It is
the basis for human freedom and for honor-
ing the rights of individuals. It forbids op-
pression, inspires loyalty to Divine rule, de-
mands adherence to the ideals incorporated -
in the Decalogue.
Most of these ideals were broken by
powers which propagated tyranny and bru-
tality. The defenders of the Moral Laws are
at work to guarantee that inhumanity to
man by man no longer shall be tolerated.
*
*
*
No wonder, therefore, that the Jewish
people, having passed on the Moral Law to
mankind, now prays that the icleals of
Shevuoth no longer shall be abused, that
the Decalogue, the basis of all Freedoms,
shall be strictly adhered to, that decency
and righteousness and justice shall be the
ruling elements for humanity.
These prayers are especially being ut-
tered in behalf of the children and the young
people who are growing up to manhood and
womanhood. They are prayers that those
who are maturing to adulthood, who now
are being consecrated to service to Israel—
as Confirmands and as graduates of our re-
ligious schools—shall find the world result-
ing from the New Order being set up by
the United Nations a better place to live in.
*
*
*
Shevuoth of 5705 is a crucial period for
the world. It emphasizes the hopes of Jews
and non-Jews alike that the United Nations
shall emerge victorious not only on the bat-
tlefields but also in moral spheres.
May this Shevuoth be the beginning of
a better era for all peoples. May it' justify
our faith that the end of the war will lead
to the realization of the dream of the coming
of the day when nations no longer shall
make wars and that human beings shall
neither push each other around nor shall
they take advantage one of another.
I Am an American Day
Shortly before his death, President
Roosevelt designated May 20 for observance
as annual "I Am An American Day."
This observance has become traditional
in this country, and the setting aside of a
special day in recognition of those who
have obtained U. S. citizenship during the
preceding year—either through naturaliza-
tion or by attaining the age of 21—is already
a tradition of great significance.
"I Am An American Day" provides an
opportunity for re-evaluating the high prin
ciples of Americanism, for declaring anew
- our pride in being Americans, for re-dedi-
cating ourselves once again toward the de-
fense of the sacre' principles of American
democracy.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent
gewish Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate,
Religious News Service. Palcor News Agency, Wide World
Photo Service, Acme Newsphoto Service.
Member American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers and Michigan Press Association. ,
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Entered as second-class matter August 6, 1942. at the
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ HENRY WINEMAN
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
A. R. BRASCII, Advertising Counsel
""
VOL. 7—NO. 9
MAY 18, 1945
The Week's Scriptural Selections
Today ,the first day of Shevuoth, the following
Scriptural selections will be read in our
synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions—Ex. 19:1-20:26; Num.
28:16-31.
Prophetical portion—Ezek. 1:1-28; 3:12.
On Saturday, second day of Shevuoth, the fol-
lowing Scriptural selections will be read:
Pentateuchal portions—Deut. 14:22-16:17; Nurm.
28:16-31.
Prophetical portion—Hab. 3:1-19.
Friday,
Buy More Bonds and Steep Well
Facts You
holey TS, 1945
Should Know
Answers to Readers'
uestions About Jews
I
What is the first day of the Jewish month
—G. G. G.
called?
Rosh Hodesh, or "head of the month." It is
observed as a semi-festival on which special
prayers are recited. In Biblical days, it was an
occasion for family gatherings and reunions.
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DEPOSIT
y/Norpor,
How does the American Jewish Joint
Distribution Committee operate in areas like
Shanghai?
—B. U.
The JDC conducts its relief activities overseas
through existing local organizations. Special ar-
rangements have been made to provide funds
required for the relief of 12,000 destitute Jews in
Shanghai through Switzerland. With the coop-
eration of the International Red Cross, we have
been able to ship packages of food and medicines
into concentration camps. Local borrowings have
constituted an additional source of income for
JDC's relief activities in the occupied lands.
Closely allied to this program of relief within
the occupied countries is our rescue program
which attempts to help those in occupied lands
to emigrate to freedom.
* * *
SLEEP WELL
COUNT BONDS
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Justice: A Possession for Ever
For weeks and for months to come, possibly for many,
many years—if we and the coming generation at all appre-
ciate the solemnity of the hour of the war's end in Europe—
we shall be thinking in terms of dedication to the cause of
peace and the establishment of a humane order for the
world.
V-E Day was an occasion for .gratitude that men like
Leon Blum, the Rev. Martin Niemoller, Edouard Dalladier,
Paul Reynaud, Gen. Tadeusz Komorowski (General Bor who
led the Warsaw insurrection) and other great world figures
had been rescued.
It was an occasion for mourning over the actions of
Europe's maniacs and madmen who were responsible for the
annihilation of millions of people, for the destruction of the
Jewish communities of Europe, - for the barbarism which
caused unending suffering for mankind.
The slogan for the world today, now that the "cease
fire" order has been enforced in Europe and is certain before
Jong to be enforced in the Pacific, should be: NEVER FOR-
GET.
The world must not forget the misery caused by sadistic
madmen. The United Nations must strive to lay such founda-
tions for enduring peace which should never again be shaken
by the will of maniacs. Mandkind's spokesmen must make
real the words of Field Marshal Jan C. Smuts, uttered on
V-E Day: "The evil will remain but as a warning memory,
the good as a possession for ever."
As Jews, we hope that this "possession for ever" shall
also include just rights for our people everywhere, a chance
for Jews who seek and must have a homeland to redeem
and rebuild their cradleland as a National Home, the eradi-
cation of those evil forces which were responsible, through
the dastardly instrumentality of anti-Semitism, for the sow-
ing of seeds of hatred even in free lands like our own.
These are days of prayer and of hope.
May humanity's aspirations be fully realized and may
Israel be numbered among the liberated peoples of the world.
The Highest and Purest Democracy
Writing in The Living Church, Clifford P. Morehouse, its
editor now on leave with the Marines, reports that when the
5th Marine Division Cemetery was dedicated on bloody,
windswept Iwo Jima, Rabbi Ronald B. GittelSohn, the di-
vision's Jewish Chaplain, delivered the sermon in which he
said:
"Somewhere in this plot of ground there may lie the man
who could have discovered the cure for cancer. Under one of
the Christian crosses, or beneath a Jewish Star of David, there
may rest now a prophet- . . . Now they lie here silently in this
sacred soil, and we gather to consecrate this earth to their
memory.
"Here lie officers and men, Negrces and Whites, rich men
and poor. . . . Here are Protestants, Catholics and Jews. . . .
Here no man prefers another because of his faith or despises
him because of his color. Here there are no quotas of how many
from each group are admitted or allowed. Theirs is the highest
and purest democracy.
"Any man among us the living - who . . lifts his hand in
hate against a brother, or thinks himself superior to those who
happen to be in the minority, makes of this ceremony and of
the bloody sacrifice it commemorates, an empty, hollow
mockery.. . ."
This is more than a touching tribute to the dead. It is a
tribute to America. It is an interpretation of the highest
idealism of this great land, of the pure democracy which
causes us to fight to prevent mockeries when dealing with
human values.
May we never see our democracy made a mockery and
may all men always be on guard against the whittling down
of democratic principles. This must be the aspiration of all
men—if the blood of Iwo Jima and other battlefronts is not
to be a vain sacrifice.
Who was Hillel?—V.W.P.
Hillel, one of the greatest Jewish teach-
ers, was born in Babylon about 110 B. C. He is
best known as the advocate of the Golden Rule
as an exposition of Judaism. He is reputed to
have said in this connection, "What is hateful
to thee, do not unto thy fellow man; this is the
law; the rest is commentary; study it."
Children's Corner
Dear Boys and Girls:
Today is Shevuoth, and I wish you all a very
pleasant holiday.
Those of you who are being confirmed during
this period should resolve to continue your Jewish
studies and should dedicate yourselves to service
to your people:
All of us, however, should make such a re-
solve, because without knowledge we can not be
prepared to render the services that we should to
our people.
I already have mentioned, in last week's
column, the fact that Sunday, May 20, will be
observed as "I Am An American Day"—by
proclamation issued by President Roosevelt before
his death. Let us all honor our great fortune of
being Americans by observing this day in proper
fashion.
In observance of Shevuoth, I am inserting
some legends in connection with this great festival
in today's column.
A pleasant Shevuoth to all.
UNCLE DANIEL.
* * *
LEGENDS ABOUT SHEVUOTH
Said Rabbi Isaac: "The Torah was to have
been given to - the Children of Israel at the time of
the exodus from Egypt. God, however, said, "My
children have not fully recovered as yet. Only
recently they were freed from the slavery and the
hard work with mortar and bricks, and so they
cannot receive the Torah rightaway!'
"This case resembles that of a king, whose,
son was sick and whose teacher wanted him to re-
sume his studies as soon as he got up from his
sick bed. The king, however, said: 'My son is not
looking well, and you want him to attend school!
No, let him enjoy eating and drinking for two or
three months and get back his strength—then he
may study.'
"Similarly said the Holy One, blessed be He:
`My children are still weak from the slavery, how,
then, can I give theni the Torah? Let them enjoy
themselves for two or three months eating Manna
and quails—then I shall give them the Torah'."
Said Rabbi Joshua the son of Levi: "When
Israel went out from Egypt there were many
cripples among them, as a result of the slavery.
While building they would get hurt by falling
stones, and thus some had broken hands and
crushed feet. Said the Holy One, blessed be He:
`Surely it is not meet that the Torah should be
given to cripples.' He therefore dispatched the
Ministering Angels to heal them first. '
Said Resh Lakish: "At the time of the crea-
tion of the universe the Holy One, blessed be He,
addressed the works of His creation: 'If Israel will
accept the Torah you will endure- otherwise you
will be returned to the state of being unformed
and void."
When God first thought of giving the Torah
to mankind, he offered it to the children of Esau.
saying: "Do you want to accept the Torah?"
Talmudic Tales-
By DAVID MORANTZ
(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).
PEARLS OF WISDOM
"The humblest man," says the Talmud, "is
ruler in his own house."
"Do not place a blemish on thine own flesh."
"If a word, spoken in its time, is worth one
piece of money, silence, in its time, is worth two."
"Drain not the waters of thy well while. other
people may desire them."
"Without law, civilization perishes."
"Into the well which supplies thee with water
cast no stones."
(Copyright by David 111°111'1ft)
F
- or 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.