THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Four
As the Editor
Views the News
Facts You Should Know
Answers to Readers
Questions About Jews
Only the Beginning
Initial gifts received for the current Emer-
gency $2,000,000 Allied Jewish Campaign to-
tal $1,400,000.
This is an excellent beginning.
• It is an indication that Detroit Jews are
responding liberally to the drive and that it
is the intention of our community to live up
to our obligations by contributing our full
share to the national $100,000,000 United Jew- :
ish Appeal.
But this is only the beginning.
Thousands of prospects must be reached.
Nearly 200 organizations must be contact-
ed to give generously from their treasuries.
•
The most serious task lies ahead.
The campaign must not slack. We MUST
continue to put into it all available efforts
and capital to maintain the good name of De-
troit Jewry.
What is the origin of the term "Semite?"
One of Noah's sons is called "Shem" in the
Biblical passages of Genesis. His descendants were
called "Shemites" later on. This term was passed
on to us as "Semites." The "Semites," or the
"Semitic Nations" are thus so called because they
are the ancestral descendants of "Shem,' the son of
Noah. According to Biblical classification the fa-
lowing peoplet are known as "Semites": Arabs,
Babylonians, Assyrians, Arameans and Hebrews.
Modern studies include the following under the
heading of Semitic nations: North Arabians, South
Arabians, Abyssinians, Babylonians, Assyrians,
Arameans, Phoenecians, Canaanites, Hebrews,
Moabites and Edomites.
* • *
When was the first Yiddish newspaper
published?
Menahem Boraisha, in a pamphlet "The Story
of Yiddish" published by the Office of Jewish
Information of the American Jewish Congress,
states that the first Yiddish newspaper appeared
as early as 1686 in Amsterdam, Holland.
Crisis Among DPs
Last week's rioting at the Landsberg dis-
placed persons center in Germany calls for
correction of conditions which threaten the
friendly relations between the European sur-
vivors and the American military govern-
ment.
A report from Landsberg quotes Dr. Leo
Srole, UNRRA welfare director, who warns
of "emotional outbreaks" which threaten to
spread to other centers. Dr. Srole stated that
DPs working outside the camp were accom-
panied or followed by U. S. military police in
jeeps armed with machine guns, and that
Germans laughed at them. Another reason
for bad feeling among the DPs, he said, was
that they saw Germans living in better homes
than were provided for them.
Some American correspondents have ad-
mitted that anti-Semitism among U. S. troops
is contributing to the trouble, and it is im-
perative that the AMG act firmly to prevent
future trouble.
* * *
It is not out of place, in this connection, to
quote from the statement made to a congre-
gation of 3,000 in Nuremberg by Pastor Mar-
tin Niemoeller, who was imprisoned by the
Nazis for seven years, that the German peo-
ple must share guilt for the murder of 6,000,-
000 Jews. Said Niemoeller:
"Perhaps at some distant date, when our
grandchildren, or our children's children's
grandchildren, offer a beggar in France or Hol-
land a crust of bread, that beggar will refuse it,
saying: 'I take no bread from the hand that is
stained with the blood of 6,000,000 Jews.'
"When we read the memorial plaque com-
memorating the burning in the crematorium
there of 238,756 fellow human beings between
1933 and 1945, my wife shuddered, and my guilt
for those deaths was brought home to me. Of
course, I could argue that I had an alibi. I, my- •
self, was in a concentration camp after 1937.
But what did I do when I was a free man and
still a preacher in the Berlin suburb of Dahlem?
I did nothing, except go on preaching as if nothing
was happening that should have moved every
pastor to protest."
* * *
In the face of such devastating indictment
of the German people, how can we expect the
survivors, all of whom have seen some or all
members of their fa4lies murdered by the
Nazis, to tolerate slur7by Germans, or sneers
from those who share guilt for the extermin-
ation of their families?
The DPs should be treated with tolerance.
They must be given a chance to reconstruct
their lives honorably and with dignity. Acts
of injustice should be repudiated, even when
they come from American troops.
THE JEWISH NEWS
-
2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich.
Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent
Jewish Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate.
Religious News Service, Palcor News Agency, Wide World
Photo Service, Acme Newsphoto Service, King Features
Syndicate, Central Press 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 of 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
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
MAURICE ARONSSON
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
• THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ HENRY WINEMAN
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
A. R. BRASCH, Advertising Counsel
VOL. 9—No. 8
Friday, May 10, 1946
MAY 10, 1946
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURAL SELECTIONS
This Sabbath, the tenth day of Iyar, 5706, the
following Scriptural selections will be read in
our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 21:1-24:23.
Prophetical portion—Ezek. 44:15-31.
Candle-lighting time this Friday is at 7:38 p.m.
Talmudic Tales
By DAVID MORANTZ
Britain's Non-Cooperative Attit:ude
(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)
MONEY
"Money," says the Talmud, "is the servant of
Great Britain has adopted a non-cooperative attitude on
men, and the master of others."
the report of the Anglo-American Inquiry Committee on some
"Money, like manure, does no -good 'till it is
Palestine.
well spread."
"Many who possess much, enjoy. but little."
From the Jewish point of view, the report is, at best, very
"Wealth without a judicious application is food
unjust.
salt."
, Two important points in the report are acceptable: the-- without
"Many who worship money like an idol buy
recommendation for the immediate admission of 100,000 Eu- nothing with it but repentance."
"Much coin, much care; much meat, much ma-
ropean displaced persons and the rejection of the White
lady."
Paper's stipulations affecting immigration and land sales.
But even on the question of admitting the minimum
number of 100,000, with at least another million surviving
FOR ,OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Jews being frozen in a state of hopelessness and homeless-
less, Prime Minister Attlee refuses to commit his government
to a policy of immediate implementation of the report.
Thus, insult is added to injury, and what was expected
to be a great humanitarian document threatens to become
another worthless statement:
By LAVINA I. CLARK
* * *
Mr. Attlee demands unreasonable conditions. He wants
"Why don't you eat your lunch, son?" Abe's
an American army to assist in disarming the Jews of Pales- mother saw that he had not even touched his
tine. He is not satisfied with the report's complete denial of favorite dish, that she had so carefully prepared.
not hungry, and I have a funny feeling
Jewry's historic rights to Palestine. He wants the impossible: in "I'm
my stomach." Abbe looked like he wanted to
that Americans should go to Palestine to join in invading cry. Mother was not deceived. She knew some-
Jewish colonies and making searches for what he considers thing was wrong and she guessed his playmates
had again made him an object of derision.
"illegal" self-defense and "illegal" immigration.
"Come Abe, eat your lunch and- tell Mother
Apparently it is necessary to remind the British govern- what
it is that troubles you."
ment that British forces have failed to protect the Jews of
Abe started reluctantly, and then he blurted
Palestine; that Jews, as a result of the horrible massacres in out; "The boys call me a 'dirty Jew,' and yester-
Hebro and Safed in 1929, and the Arab attacks in 1936, were day one of the big boys called me `Shylock,'
whatever he meant by that." He paused for
compelled to organize their own self-defense units; that in breath.
"They won't let me play ball, and Jack
1936 the British recognized our peoples' right to self-defense Turner nearly ruined my new cap that Grandpa
gave me for my birthday." His voice broke and
against unwarranted attacks.
The labor government in England has forgotten that men he kept back the tears only with a great effort.
"My son, this is nothing new, Jews are a
like Brigadier Orde Wingate. invited Jewish participation in persecuted
'people. We have learned to expect
the defense of their lives and property.
this unkind treatment from some people. Your
Now, Mr. Attlee would undertake a policy of disarming father was a fine surgeon. He saved many lives
the Haganah. He would leave the Jewish colonies totally de- by his wisdom and skill. I'm expected big things
of you, son. Go back to school. Study hard. Rise
fenseless. Not a word is said about the. Arab daggers!
above these discouragements, and some day you
Abe Won Out
* *
The fear that the British government would find an ex-
cuse for refusing to admit 100,000 Jews to Palestine has now
become brutal reality.
Mr. Attlee has found the excuse!
It is clear that this is another travesty on justice, that
even an unfair report—and we insist that the inquiry com-
mittee's report is most unfair—is not being implemented be-
cause the British government is unwilling to admit even less
than 10 per cent of the 'surviving Jews who must find imme-
diate haven in the land that Britain already has pledged as
the JEWISH National Home!
* * *
Christian leaders in America were quick to see the in-
justice of the report. senator Owen Brewster of Maine con-
demns it as representing "a naive and unholy: alliance of
Machiavelli and Pollyanna," since it provides for the rescue
of only 100,000 and leaves a million Jews in Europe to
starve. To Senator Robert Wagner of New York it is a "griev-
ous disappointment," in view of the undesirable long-range
recommendations as to Palestine's political future. The lead-
ers of the American Christian Palestine Committee take ex-
ception to the issue made in the report of "Christian rights
and interests," in view of the fact that such stipulations have
been "meticulously observed by the Jews of Palestine."
Much can be said about the exaggerated and distorted
position taken with regard to Arab-JeWish relations. Those
who know the facts, know that the Arabs in Palestine live on
friendly terms with the Jews and desire to continue such
friendship; that whatever conflicts have taken place have
involved a small minority and have been instigated by the
Grand Mufti and his fanatics.
The Palestine problem should and can be solved on the
basis of complete Arab-Jewish cooperation. However, the in-
quiry committee's report has thrown another obstacle in the
path of peace. And the attitude of Mr. Attlee is the most
destructive of all.
All the existing trouble is traceable to Downing Street
in London. The continuation of the trouble is British-inspired.
It should be the responsibility of Christian public opinion
everywhere to prevent enforcement and perpetuation of in-
justice.
may be a great man like your father. Seek the
God of your fathers and have faith to believe He
will bless you as He blessed faithful Abraham."
Abe looked into the face of his widowed moth-
er and he felt guilty at having added to her
grief. After all it was his problem. He kissed her
and said, "I'm sorry I bothered you, .Mother. I'll
win out somehow."
He went back to school determined to make
the boys like him or at least respect him. He
ignored the little indignities that had so hurt
his pride. He -made steady progress in his studies.
He made friends with the younger boys and
helper them in their difficulties.
One Saturday afternoon the boys went skating
on the old mill-pond. They-all tired of the sport
early, except Jack Turner and Abe. They stayed
until nearly dusk. Jack had been learning some
fancy steps, he came skating up with a flourish
but lost his balance and fell, his leg doubling
under him. Abe thought at first it was just an act,
but Jack began io moan and Abe went to his
help. He couldn't get up even with Abe's help.
"I think my leg is broken," he wailed and lay
down exhausted and dismayed at the prospect.
"Don't worry," said Abe, "Just lie still, I'll go
for help, and be back in jig time." He stripped
off his coat and pillowed Jack's head on it, and
then took off fleet as a deer. .
Abe's Uncle Isaac had just sat down to his
evening meal when Abe came tearing into the
house and explained Jack's sad plight. Uncle Ike
lost no time in tuning up the old Ford and they
were off to the rescue. Soon Jack was resting
quietly in his own bed. The injury proved to
be a badly sprained ankle, but it confined Jack
to the house for several days. Abe kept him sup-
plied with magazines, gum and candy, played
checkers and chess with him, and kept him in-
formed about the activities of the school. Jack's
family was truly grateful.
One morning a few weeks later on the way to
school Jack caught Abe by the shoulder and said,
"Why don't you join the Boy Scouts, Abe? Mr.
Odell says you would make a grand Scout."
"Yes," chimed in Ted Winters, "we all think
so, too. The bstroup meets tonight in the com-
munity house. Won't you come?"
Abe's face flushed with pleasure and pride, he
pulled his cap close about his ears and said,
"Thanks, boys. I've always wanted to be a Boy
Scout. You bet I'll be there."