Page Four

As the Editor•
Views the News

The Purim.-Festival

The Book of Esther, which will be read
on Purim, this Saturday night and Sunday
morning, contains a statement which strikes
at the very root of requirements for Jewish
loyalty. it reads:
"Think not that thou shalt escape more
. than all the Jews; for if thou holdest thy
peace at this time, then will relief and de-
- liverance arise to the Jews from another
place, but thou and thy father's house
shall perish."
These words of warning, uttered by
Mordecai as an admonition to Esther, are
sentiments which may well be repeated by
all of us to those whose indifference proves
harmful to Israel's cause, in our search . for
justice.
Too many of us are hesitant, and there
is a handful of recalcitrants who are deL
luded into believing that they will escape.
But, not one escapes from justice! And
those who fail to fight for the right often
fall victims to intolerance.
The festival of Purim marks a triumph
over anti-Semites and anti-Semitism. It
carries with it an historic lesson that the
vigilant and the. militant, those who will
not compromise with decency and justice,
are the victors in the end.
This should be our lesson. Adherence
to the principles laid down in the Book. of
Esther should be our guide for action
against intolerance. •' If we recognize the.
truths of the lines we have quoted we shall
be rendering service not only to ourselves
but also to all mankind.

Overlapping Projects

Friday, March I S, 1946

THE JEWISH NEWS

'Whence Comith My Help. . ?'
J•_ Sinciair's Novel
PO EVER-VThiN0 P069DLE
wLL
' TO SAVE YOV1Z Lin
_ Wins .$ 1_ 0,00 . 0 Prize

,tr.

Igor

1-$E 77/Ar .7(/r m y
17- ALSO 4 rsrAk.E-

yvok

NNkr
V41-'
•kt
cFP
,,ye

Briefly told, "Waste-
land" is a *story of a

#e-
c

self-hating Jewish in-
dividual V who is a-
shamed of his family,
Who hates his father,
who does not own up
to his origin as a Jew.
The docto r's ques-
tions draw from John
many admissions V and
in the course of V time
cause him to see the
light of day. He re-
turns to his family,
JO SINCLAIR
owns up to his back-
ground, begins to honor and respect his family,
and incidentally himself.
What is "Wasteland"? The novel describes
it as "a desert." "Nothing grows there. It's all
dry. It's all dead."
That's how - John starts out. But soon he is
willing to be called VJake again, to introduce his
family to the staff of the newspaper which he
serves as a cameraman. An entire family is re-
constructed.
"Wasteland" is. a great book. But it won't
satisfy the informed Jewish community. There
is to much emphasis on the evil in the life of
an immigrant family—and we must accept it as
fact that the evils she describes, evils which un-
doubtedly exist, are the exceptions to the rule,
and not THE rule.
Some expressions like "choleh," or "gellt iss
duh welt", indicate that the author's background
in Jewish life is not ' correct.
Also, she apparently missed the point -in her
description of the V "self-hatred" existing among
some Jews which can make a very excellent
topic for a great Jewish novel. Jo Sinclair might
V
have produced the _great Jewish novel of our
time. But apparently she lacks the information,
although possessing the genius for writing.
"Wasteland" is interesting and very good
reading. But it is faulty from the viewpoint of
thorough Jewish background. , •

•

Cig4t,s-

/.

—By Staff Cartoonist of South African Zionist Record

The Christian Palestine Institute

•

Outstanding Christian educators and political leaders
will lead in the discussions at. the Christian Institute on
Palestine in Detroit, next Wednesday and Thursday, under
the sponsorship of the American Christian Palestine Com-
mittee, and there is every indication that the attendance of
Christian leaders from many communities in Michigan will
reflect the sympathetic interest that is being shown by our
non-Jewish friends in the cause of assuring the establish-
ment of the Jewish National Home.
The presence 'here of two United States Senators—James
Mead and Alben Barkley; of Profs. Carl Friedrich and -
Francis McMahon, Dr. and Mrs. Walter Clay Lowdermilk,
Mrs. Edgar Ansell Mowrer, Dr. Henry Eliot, Countess Marie
Tolstoy and Dean Howard M. LeSourd'; and the active par-
ticipation of prominent local leaders serves to emphasize
anew the strong support whiCh the Zionist cause is receiv-
ing from the Christians of America.
The keen interest being shown in Jewish needs by
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Michigan leaders is due to the guidance that has been - given
the activities of the American Christian Palestine Commit-
tee's Michigan Chapter by its chairman,. Judge Frank A.
Boys and Girls:
Picard, and his associates—Dr. :David Henry, Mrs. 'Howell Dear
Sunday should be made a day of joy'. Even
Van Auken, Judge Lila Neuenfeld, George F. - Pierrot and a in the displaced persons camps in V Europe, the
Survivors from Nazism will celebrate Purim day
score of other eminent men and women.;
joy as a symbol of the ultimate defeat of
The activities of this influential group in behalf of the with
V
all tyrants and V their own eventual redemption
battle for Jewish rights is highly encOUraging. The Christian in Palestine—the only place they desire to go to.
Institute on Palestine bids fair to become one of the very
Last week I devoted this column to the Purim
important media .for the creation of true brotherhood in thi s: festival. V This column is again being used ex-
for Purim material.
state. We greet this Institute VwiVth a sense of deep ap- clusively
Because Purim is a day for fun and punning,
preciation for the courageous stand 'taken by our Christian perhaps V would like to hear the story about
friends in defense of the Jewish position in Palestine.
a Purim Chicken. Here it is

We must accept as fact the view that
our people generally are fully informed
about the program of the JDC and its cov-
erage of overseas relief field. Three corn-
munities—Detroit, Pontiac and Windsor—
enjoy the benefits of total periodic cover-
age of all Jewish homes as a result of the
unusual community set-ups on a circulation
basis established by The Jewish News. The
Yiddish reader receives these facts from the
Yiddish newspapers.
There is excellent reason, therefore, for
the assumption that very few remain un-
aware of the JDC activities which are not
limited to rescue and relief projects: JDC
has been collecting and distributing Sifre
Torah, prayerbooks and other religious
articles. It has served and continues to
serve educational institutions and has pro-
vided for the needs of rabbis and orthodox
religious students.
It is well to ask, therefore, why in .a
tragic hour like the present, when a million
and a half Jews must be rescued, it should
Mumph
become necessary to split our forces into
many fragments.
Thousands of Detroiters have indicated by their con-
Jews must ask why it is necessary, simul- tributions their deep interest in the cause of a Jewish Pal-
taneously with the inauguration of the $100,- estine and have registered their support for the. Histadrut,
000,000 United Jewish Appeal campaign, to the Jewish Federation of Labor in Palestine, through their
have another $5,000 ; 000 drive which has just contributions to the 1946 Gewerkshaften campaign.
been announced by yaad Hatzala.
In the 17 years of the Gewerkshaften's activities, De-
Recognizing 'that there can not be total troit's support of the Palestine labor movement and its num-
unity of ideologically differing forces, we erous activities has risen from the first total gifts of $3,000
must nevertheless insist that these -.forces to the expected $125,000 which served as this year's goal.
should pool their manpower in the raising.
The conclusion of the drive at the feStival to take place
of funds for the needs which do not involve on Sunday evening will mark another deserved triumph for
controversial issues.
the Gewerkshaften. V The success Of this year's campaign
is proof of the efficiency and devotion of the labor Zionist
leaders and their many workers. Throughout the years,
THE .JEWISH NEWS
'these community workers have devoted themselves to all
2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich.
•
-Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent
important causes and the closing of the Gewerkshaften drive
Jewish Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate,
will release another strong force to labOr for the success
Religious News Service, Palcor News Agency, Wide Wdrld
Photo Scivice, Acme Newsphoto Service. King Features
of the approaching Allied Jewish Campaign.
Syndicate, Central Press Service.
Member American Association of English-Jewish News-
The Gewerkshaften campaign workers and the many
papers and Michigan Press Association.
organizatiOns which assisted: them in the triumphant 1946
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich. Telephone
drive have earned the community's hearty congratulations
RAndolph 7956. Subscription rate $3 a year; foreign
$4 a year. Club subscription of one issue a month,
on their latest success.
published every fourth Friday of the month, to all
subscribers to Allied Jewish Campaign of the

The Gewerkshaften

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.

Miss Ruth Seid, whose pen name iri Jo Sin-
has written a magnificent novel and has
earned the $10,000 prize which the committee of
judges, acting :for Harper & Bros., has awarded
her for "Wasteland.",
"Wasteland is excellent composition, and the
story of John (Jake) Brown, resulting from the
psychoanalytical treat-
ment, is certain to en-
chant the many read-
ers V who V are making
the prize novel a best

clair,

WESTE $04
C IVI LIzAtioN

Dr. Weivnann's Testimony

.

The Purim dinner was being Vctoked and
savory smells, issued from the kitchen. David's
mother was 'called
Vf away, and in he; rushed,
the chicken and 'ate . it
tore off V a leg
greedily.. On her return, his mother' looted
in the oven; saw the torn fowl, and asked
David if he had eaten it. V He denied it and
said the chicken could only have 'had one
leg. The father later gave the boy a good

the
h
16 , 7 Next. morning, as they went to hear
.reading of: the Megillah, they saw a chicken
standing on one leg, its other hidden under-
. neath:
"See, papa," said David." There k. a
•chicken with only one leg and I had a beating
- for saying. that!"
"Shoo, shoo," said the father and chased
the chicken, which quickly ran away reveal-
' V ing . two perfect legs.
"Well," said David, "if you had chased
our chicken, maybe she also would have
shown the other leg." -
I hope V you wi11 have V a pleasant time on
Purim, the coming Sunday.
A pleasant Sabbath and a happy Purim to all.
UNCLE DANIEL

.

* * *
ESTHER TODAY

ELMA EHRLICH LEVINGER'

V

You have' all heard the story of Esther,„
Who pied for the Jews long ago; . „. .
Who rescued our race from destruction,.
V ...Who . delivered our brethren from woe.
Do ,you:think when you V read of her courage,
-
"‘
So great for a girl to display,
And her simple ; unfaltering devotion,
That an Esther is . needed today?

VV

Dr. Chaim Weizmann, world Jewry's outstanding lead-
er, president of the Jewish Agency for Palestine; rose to new
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
heights with his testimony before the Anglo-Amreican In-
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
quiry Committee in Jerusalem.
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SGIWARTZ HENRY WINEMAII
Dr. Weizmann presented the Jewish case with courage We need vvornen real mothers in Israel
PHrLIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
and with dignity. At the same time, he wa:s moderate in his
Who love their faith dearer than life,
A. R. BRASCH, Advertising Counsel
views. He did not demand a Jewish state, but refused to Who will teach Israel's faith to theirdaughters,
VOL. 8-26 V
MARCH f5, 1946
And arm worthy sons for the strife.
make concessions when he demanded those "state rights"
enem ies, deadly as Haman,_
which would provide unlimited opportunities for the settle- For , Are still eager
This Week's Scriptural Selections
our people to V slay;
ment of hundreds of thousands of Jews in Palestine.
And to battle with falsehood and error
This Sabbath, the thirteenth day of Adar
V
An Esther is needed today.
Of great importance is the emphasis plOced by Dr. Weiz-
Sheni, 5706, the following Scriptural selections
mann on the readiness of our people to cooperate with the Let us then dO our duty s she did, .
will be read in our synagogues:
to live in harmonywith
Pentateuchal portions—Lev. 1:1-5:26; Deut Arabs and
,
Trusting God to the last—unafraid;
V them.
Will V the V committee react to Dr. Weinnann's testimony
25:17-19.
Let us never. be traitors or cowards,
V
When our people VbesehV us' for aid;'
with the same courage in which the spokesman for Jewry
Prophetical portion—I Samuel 15:2-34.
Forget' not that He Knows His people; '
On Purim, Sunday, Ex. 17:8-16 and the Book presented our case? A just report by the:-.committee is not
VV That: He v: \VJI1V protect us ValWaY--,
of Esther Will be read Atifing.Morning *services:' impossibprovided it does not permit itself to,.,bp,•'41flti- ,- Aid :teineintiet.:. to fight for Him. gladly
enced by British Colonial Office politics.
:
Candle-lighting time this Friday is at 5:58 p. m.
- IfVVEStVheriSVflCeded today.
i?? 4 /4 4 IM kl#01-_4:3.04.4
'44 t.fq ift:!!

.

VV

•