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THE JEWISH NEWS
As the Editor -
Views the News
Friday, June- 28, 1946
Hi Neighbor
The Jewish Way of Life '
A Review of Dr. Isidore Epstein's Latest Work,
'
Published in . London by Edward Goldston
From the publishing House of Edward
Goldston, 18 Grape St., London W. C. 2, England,
comes a most important work by Dr. Isidore
Epstein, under the title "The Jewish Way of Life."
It is a study of Judaism as an ethical civiliza-
tion.
Written by a renowned scholar and teacher
in Israel, it sums up brilliantly the doctrinal
and ceremonial aspects in Judaism.
The late Chief Rabbi of England, Dr. J. H.
Hertz, in a prefatory note to this book, de-
clared that "it is a book for every Jew, and every
non-Jew;. written by a 'disciple of the sages',
whose distinction it is 'to labor for the increase
of peace among the children of men'."
The author outlines the task of the Jew as
follows: "It is to continue, without faltering and
without wavering, his centuries-long march on
the way of life which has been mapped out for
him by God—indeed the only way in which he
finds his self-realization and through which alone
he- can lead mankind towards the fulfilment
of its destiny."
In this spirit we read the fascinating ex-
planations of Jewish attitudes on justice, human
progress, righteousness, love, etc.; as well as
resumes of the values of Jewish holidays, the
Sabbath, our customs, etc.
This valuable book is one of the most im-
pressive recent additions to the Jewish bookshelf.
An End to Terrorism .
Responsible Jewish leaders never have
approved of terrorism in Palestine or any-
.where else.
The demands by those in authority made
upon the Irgun Zvai Leumi, whose mem-
bers held British officers as hostages to
force commutation of death sentences im-
posed upon two youths for carrying arms,
are proof of this.
Haganah, the Jewish Agency, the Chief
Rabbinate and Dr. Chaim Weizmann in-
sisted that the hostages be released because
such tactics do not represent the true at-
titude in Jewish life.
There is one point, however, thlt must
be understood clearly. The solution of the
issue depends basically upon whether Great
Britain will be cooperative.
The situation in Palestine, of course,
cannot be divorced from the position of Jews
in the Diaspora. The speedy settlement of
tens of thousands of Jewish survivors in
Europe is one of the • most ; urgent needs of
our time. Igf these people are not admitted
on regularly issued - certificates, they must
find their way into the land in a manner
which the British - unjustly call "illegal."
While Haganah and other Jewish groups
in Palestine, in the interests of strict dis- .
cipline, will avoid kidnapings and seek to
maintaine peace in the land, it stands to
reason that they will do everything possible
to facilitate the settlement of those whom
Great Britain aims to keep out of Palestine.
Peace in Palestine, therefore, is depend-
ent upon Great Britain's change of heart.
So long as the British authorities act in-
humanly about the entire issue, there is little
opportunity of guaranteeing amity in the
land. As Haganh leaders have indicated,
the immediate admission of the 100,000, as
recommended in the report of the Anglo-
American Committee, will assure the aban-
donment of resistance efforts.
The challenge to Great Britain is clear.
She must admit the 100,000 survivors; it is
imperative that she prevent the Mufti and
his group from fomenting trouble, and she
must strive to eliminate anti-Jewish ele-
ments from the ruling force in Palestine.
Otherwise, it may be impossible to restore
complete order in the land.
3,000,000 Pounds of Food
Aiming to obtain 20,000,000 pounds of
supplies for the relief of Jewish survivors
overseas, the Joint Distribution Committee's
SOS (Supplies for Overseas Survivors) col-
lection already has reached the 3,000,000-
pound mark.
This campaign, in the interests of which
Jewish women throughout the land have
rendered significant service, should be made
as successful as the larger United Jewish
Appeal drive. The two efforts are com-
plementary. The SOS collection helps to
supplement the relief, migration and re-
settlement efforts of our major reconstruc-
tion agencies.
The volunteers in many communities,
including the working committees in De-
troit, deserve highest commendation for
their efforts in behalf of the SOS drive.
•
THE JEWISH NEWS
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Entered as second-class matter August 6. 1942 at the
Post Office at Detroit. Michigan. under the Act of
March 3. 1879.
Facts You Should Know
Gun Pits in Tel Aviv Sidewalks
.
Answers to Readers'
Questions About Jews
In one of the cabled stories about the troubles in Pales-
tine, the New York Times correspondent, Julian Louis Melt-
zer, stated:
"Troops today dug themselves in along Allenby street,
Tel Aviv's main thoroughfare, as though expecting a siege.
They hacked huge holes in the sidewalks to make gun pits."
This is part of the great tragedy now being enacted in
Palestine.
But the situation is not without solution.
Men of good will everywhere agree that by being just
a bit of human, Great Britain's officials COULD solve the
issue.
* * *
P. W. Wilson, eminent journalist, in a letter to the
editor of the New York Times, suggested the following plan
to meet the emergency facing democracy:
"English-speaking democracy is faced by an emergency.
It requires immediate and cooperative action, and if that
action is further frustrated, the fault will not lie with the
problem to be.solved, which is entirely manageable, but in
our own selves. None of us in any part of the English-
speaking world will be hurt in any way if the necessary
measures are taken at once and as a post-war urgency.
"The situation will be greatly relieved if:
"1. 100,000 Jews are admitted at, once into Palestine.
"2. 100,000 Jews are admitted at once into the United
States, this above the quota, to be absorbed—a small mat-
ter—into a population of 130,000,000.
"3. 50,000 Jews are admitted into the British Common-
wealth of Nations, that is, Great Britain, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand, and South Africa, again a small matter con-
sidering the areas and populations affected.
"4. During the emergency the United States supports
the British forces responsible for maintaining internal order
and external security in the Near East.
"5. The English-spApaking world insists that all Palestin-
ian citizens enjoy equality before the law, equal electoral
rights and equal cooperation in the government of the
country.
"English-speaking democracy has now a chance to show
that it is effective. With our long experience of workable
liberty, our education, our unrestricted access to the facts
of the case and our constant outflow of ceremonial oratory
which is either a sincerity or a sham, surely we can handle
a matter like this with some approach to common sense."
* * *
Unfortunately, all proposals for a speedy solution of
the problem by settlement in Zion of the dispossessed
Jewish survivors of Europe have been ignored. Heartless
politicians have turned deaf ears to the cries for help that
come to them from DP camps. It seems to matter little
to them that „only a million Jews remain in continental
Europe and that these survivors must be taken as far away
from the graveyards of their kinsmen as possible.
Great Britain, as she "hacks huge holes in the side-
walks to make gun pits" in her war against the population
of Tel Aviv and other Palestine Jewish communities, is on
trial before the bar of history.
It is not too late for England to make peace with Israel
and with her own conscience.
How many Biblical sites in Palestine have
been accurately located?
Over 1,300 such places have been identified.
* *
What are the essential elements of the Jew- .
ish faith?
Its insistence on the unity, the incorporeality,
the timelessness and immanence of God; on the
authority of the Law, as interpreted in Talmudic
writings, and later Rabbinic works; the belief in
the dignity and immortality Hof the individual
human personality; and the belief in the ultimate
redemption of mankind in the Messianic Age.
• • •
What is an "Aliyah?"
On the days when the Torah is read in the
synagogue it is customary to call a number of
individuals up to the platform by name and
have them recite the blessing while standing
before the Torah. Since the act so described
constitutes an ascension to a higher platform,
both in the material and in the spiritual sense,
one is regarded as having an "Aliyah." The word
Aliyah is from a Hebrew derivative meaning to
rise, to come up, etc.
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
"He who marries for money," says the Talmud,
"his children will be no blessing to him."
"Cold water, morning and evening, is better
than all the cosmetics."
"He that forges arrows, may one day be killed
by one of his own arrows."
"While thy foot is shod smash the thorn."
"These three complain, but none sympathizes
with them: He who lends money without wit-
nesses; he who buys to himself a master, and he
who is lorded over by his wife." •
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Dear Boys and Girls:
You no doubt hear your parents discussing
Jewish news and being disturbed over the sad
plight of so many of our kinsmen in Europe.
A million of the surviving Jews in Europe are
in misery. Although the war ended more than a
year ago, their problems have not been solved.
Many of our people are upset over the existing
conditions. And they have reason to be.
But an entire people cannot afford to become
panicky and frightened. We must gather courage
from our historic experiences.
I assume that you read the reports of Jewish
happenings everywhere.
-. I hope you also read our history and that you
are thus acquiring the armor that is needed to
make our people strong=in the knowledge that
those who have an ideal in life cannot be subdued.
Please read the poem that was written 800
years ago by the great Hebrew poet, Yehuda
Halevi. It appears in this column today. It
is one of those great pieces in our literature which
should help give us strength. even if we must
recognize that Jewish suffe4ng recurs through
the ages.
A pleasant Sabbath to all.
UNCLE DANIEL.
Georgia Acts Against the Klan
Under the dynamic leadership of Gov. Ellis Arnall, the
state of Georgia now occupies a place of pre-erhinence in
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
the battle against intolerance in this country.
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
Filing quo warranto proceedings to revoke the hooded
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ HENRY WINEMAN
organization's charter, the State of Georgia accuses the Ku
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
Klux Klan of a conspiracy to seize key governmental agen-
cies and of employing "secret propaganda in an effort to
VOL. 3—No. 15
JUNE 28, 1946
enforce its doctrines upon the State by violence, terrorism
Scriptural Selections for Sabbath
and hate."
Rosh Hodesh Tammuz
Thus, firm action is being taken to uproot indecency in
This Sabbath, the thirtieth day of Sivan, 5706, this country.
first day of Rosh Hodesh Tammuz ; the following
The State of Georgia and its courageous governor, Ellis
Scriptural selections will be read in our
synagogues:
Arnall, have earned the commendations and thanks of the
Pentateuchal portions—Num. 16:1-18:32; 28:9-15. entire country for leading the battle against un-American
Prophetical portion—Isaiah 66.
On Sunday, second day of Rosh Hodesh Tam- activities by the Klan. That which is happening in Georgia
is a good omen that honest governmerrkand democratic ideals
muz, Num. 28:1-15 will be read.
Vandle-lighting time this Friday is at 7:53 p. m. will prevail in this land.'
Israel Immortal
By YEHUDA HALEVI (1150)
The sun and moon for ever shine—by day
At night they are the Eternal's high design.
Changeless and tireless, speeding on their way,
The sun and moon for ever shine.
'
Symbols are they of Israel's chosen line,
A nation still, though countless foes combine;
Smitten by God and healed by God are they.
They shall not fear, safe 'neath the Rock divine,
Nor cease to be, until men cease to say,
The sun and moon for ever shine.