Page Four
As the Editor - -
Views the News
Friday, July 5, 1946
THE JEWISH NEWS
The Paris-ite
The War on the Jews
The mighty British Empire has declared
war on the Jewish people.
The invasion of the headquarters of the
Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, the whole-
sale arrest of Jewish leaders and thousands
of people who are suspected of collaboration
with the Haganah resistance movement, were
accomplished by massed British troops pro-
tected overhead by British planes.
Thus, war tactics were used to sup-
press the determined will of the Jewish
people everywhere to bring into Palestine
those tens of thousands of homeless and
dispossessed Jews whose only hope left in
life is Palestine.
England's Palestinian war maneuvers
represent the worst mistake in the empire's
history since she used the Black and Tan
troops to suppress the Irish rebellion.
If prophecy is permitted at this time,
we may expect that Great Britain will suffer
an even more disastrous defeat in Palestine
Great Britain's Foreign Secretary, Ernest Bevin, already
than she did in Ireland—the situation being
much more tragic in the instance of the Jew- has been exposed as crude, vulgar and insulting. He
stands condemned before the bar of mankind as heartless
ish struggle for freedom.
Great Britain's injustice in Palestine is and wanton in his attitude towards the 100,000 unfortunate
more despicable than it was in Ireland. The Jewish survivors in Europe who are being considered for
Irish, on their home soil, were asked to wait settlement in Palestine, and towards another million sur-
and wait and wait for independence. In the vivors who are not even counted in such considerations.
instance of the Jews, the British are doom-
British' authorities in Palestine, however, have not yet
ing to death homeless people, who could been fully exposed to the light for all their unfair dealings
have counted hundreds of thousands more with our people. Furthermore, the British Empire's inten-
survivors except for Britain's sinister policy tions in the Middle East must be revealed fully in order that
of closing Palestine's doors to Jewish set- the world at large may know what horrible things are
tlers.
transpiring in Palestine.
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Cruel men are in the saddle in England,
and in the territories she rules, but their dev-
We have already indicated in our column, by quoting
ilish schemes are doomed to disaster. The de- authoritative sources, that Palestine has been transformed
testable acts on the last Sabbath day weak- into a police state. Britain's need for military bases has
ened the hope of saving the honor of motivated the empire's policy of transferring her troops
England. Now it is up to the people of from Egypt into Palestine, with the result that Men in uni-
England to denounce the bestialities of her form are more in evidence than Jewish settlers.
evil rulers. The sooner justice is given the
Picture for yourself such an extremely uncomfortable
Jewish people, the better for the peace of situation! Great Britain keeps the doors to Palestine shut
the Middle East and of the entire world.
tight while making claims that there are not enough troops
in the land to avert Arab-Jewish conflicts. At the same time
Arabs and Jews, with the exception of those who are domi-
nated by the dozen offending feudal families, are pleading
In welcoming to Detroit the delegates who for a chance to cement friendships and to live together in
will come here for the annual convention amity!
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of District Grand Lodge No. 6 of Bnai Brith,
Since there always are the skeptical, among Jews as
scheduled to be held at the Book Cadillac
Hotel July 7 to 11, we are pleased to note well as among non-Jews, who claim to be "from Missouri"
that the Jewish community of Detroit will and desire proof of contentions just made, we call as our
have the opportunity of hearing authorita- next witness an eminent journalist, Miss Freda Kirchwey,
tive statements regarding the Jewish posi- editor of The Nation.
tion in Europe and the efforts now being
Miss Kirchwey, in her article cabled from Cairo and
exerted to secure the immediate admission published under the heading "Palestine and Bevin," makes
of 100,000 survivors in Palestine.
this important statement:
The appearance at the convention banquet
"I could multiply the instances of bias against Jews dis-
of Earl G. Harrison, whose report on condi-
played by British officials. One which came to a climax while
I was in Jerusalem will serve as an illustration. On May 1 a
tions in Europe, as the President's represent-
government communique reported that a kit-bag packed with
ative on a special mission to investigate the
explosives had been found over the magazine of H. M. S. Chev-
status of European Jewry, aroused world-
ron in Haifa harbor, with detonators fitted, and that 'thirteen
wide interest, will provide an excellent op-
Palestinian naval ratings' had been arrested, explosives being
found on several of them. The story was dressed up with color-
portunity to get the facts straight and to
ful details: one of the arrested men was described as 'a well-
put an end to falsification of issues.
known terrorist' and the ship as having been engaged in inter-
The convention will take place in Detroit
cepting illegal immigrants. In London the Daily Telegraph
headed the story 'Attempt to Blow up Destroyer' and converted
at a most crucial time—when it is urgently
the thirteen Palestinians into thirteen Jewish ratings. It ap-
important for all liberty-loving people to
peared on the day the inquiry recommendations were published.
fight to the finish until justice is assured for
By the time I reached Palestine the accused had faced court-
the Jewish survivors. We are confident that
martial and one Jewish sailor had been found guilty of illegal
possession of explosives. What was interesting was the collapse
the eminent non-Jewish leaders and the im-
of the story put out by the Palestine Information Office. The
portant national heads of Bnai Brith will be
detonators were not fitted; the position of the kitbag was found
instrumental in creating a better understand-
to have been accidental; the 'Palestinian ratings' were Cypriot,
ing of the problem at hand of making many.
Arab, Armenian, and Jewish; the 'several' with explosives
became one; no attempt to blow up the warship was found.
friends here for the Jewish cause.
The offender is in prison. But the P. I. 0. official who doctored
By setting aside a special session for the
the story is presumably still carrying on as usual. Such tactics,
discussion of the needs for the rescue of
applied day after day and in every relationship, insure the
European Jewry, the convention assumes
continuance of tension and bitterness in Palestine and make
nonsense of Bevin's demand that the Jews and Arabs disarm
importance that will transcend local interest.
'I
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Facts You Should Know
Answers to Readers
Questions About Jews
Are Jewish congregations independent in gov-
ernment?
Yes. Jewish congregations are characterized by
the independence each enjoys. There is no synod,
conference, assembly, hierarchy, or other organi-
zation which directly controls the ritual and syna-
gogal customs of the congregation or its organi-
zation. Jewish congregations do not feel the need
of any such control, for all congregations teach
the doctrines of the faith, accept the inspiration
of the Law, and hold to the unity of Israel.
•
Our Next Witness: Freda Ty ivirchwey
Welcome, Bnai Brith
Those who are informed feel outraged over what is
happening in Palestine.
2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich.
Fortunately, the molders of public opinion are not lim-
Member of Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent
ited to the uninformed, such as a Washington correspondent
Jewish Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate.
Religious News Service, Palcor News Agency, King Fea-
for ,a Detroit newspaper whose attitude always has been as
tures Syndicate, Central Press Service, International
Soundphotos.
heartless as Bevin's; but there are, on the spot, in Jerusalem
Member American Association of English-Jewish News-
and in Cairo, men like Richard Mowrer and women like Miss
papers and Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
Kirchwey, who are prepared to help in the battle for justice.
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich. Telephone
Let us make up our minds now:
RAndolph 7956. Subscription rate $3 a year; foreign
$9 a year. Club subscription of one issue a month,
The situation in Palestine IS a challenge to the sense
published every fourth Friday of the month, to all
subscribers to Allied Jewish Campaign of the Jewish
of justice of all peoples. If Jews can be oppressed in Pal-
Welfare Federation of Detroit at 40 cents a club sub-
estine, as the Irish were years ago in Ireland, then it will
scription per year.
Entered as second-class matter August 6. 1942 at the
be possible for a Colonial system • to oppress others, wherever
Post Office at Detroit. Michigan, under the Act of
March 3, 1S79.
they may be.
But if British authorities are prevented from carrying
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAURICE ARONSSON
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
out
a cruel colonial policy of oppression in Palestine, then
FRED M. BUTZEL
ISIDORE SOBELOFF
THEODORE LEVIN
ABRAHAM SRERE
we shall speed the coming of the day when there will be
MAURICE H. SCHWARTZ HENRY WINEMAN
freedom in India and in Ethiopia and in the Dutch Indies
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
and in Africa.
JULY 5, 1946
VOL. 3—NO. 16
Great Britain can end this war by removing her troops
from Palestine and by calling in impartial people to establish
This Week's Scriptural Readings
This Sabbath, the seventh day of Tammuz, the justice there. If she does not, then it will become the obliga-
following Scriptural selections will be read in
tion of all freedom-loving people to fight with us until there
our synagogues:
is an end. to paternalistic feudalism and tyranny, even if it
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 19:1-22:1.
masquerades under the guise of British uniforms.
Prophetical portion-11:1-33.
THE JEWISH NEWS
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) 4.
THE VALUE OF CHEERFULNESS
An Aris, a tenant farmer, being in need of
funds to tide him over until his crop was har-
vested and sold, decided to ask the owner of
the farm for a loan.
Accordingly, he bathed, combed his hair neat-
ly, dressed himself in his best clothing and, in
his pleasantest manner, called upon him.
His neat appearance and gentlemanly demeanor
appealed to the owner and he greeted him
cordially:
"How farest thou?" he asked.
"I fare. well indeed," replied the Aris cheer-
fully. •
"And my land, how fares it?" he asked.
"The crop will be bounteous this year," he
replied in his pleasantest manner.
In the same cheerful, optimistic tone he an-
swered all of his questions and at the proper
time he broached the subject of a loan until the
crop was harvested, naming the sum of 10
denarii.
"Certainly," promptly offered the land owner.
"Thou mayest have even 20 denarii, if thou
needest it."
However, the same land owner, also had an-
other Aris on one of his farms who, a short time
later, decided that he wanted a loan.
Unkempt, uncombed, unwashed and in his
soiled work clothes, he called upon the land-
owner with a melancholy, disconsolate look on
his face.
Inquiring as to his welfare the landowner re-
ceived a very discouraging reply:
"And what are the prospects for a crop this
year?" he asked.
"I only hope that it yields as much as the seed
I have planted," replied the gloomy Aris.
"And my oxen how fare they?"
"They are feeble," he replied, "and unable to
work like in past years."
In the same manner each of his replies was
equally pessimistic and finally he broached the
subject of a loan of 10 dinarii.
"If thou are so pessimistic how knowest I that
thou wilt have enough from thy share of the
crop to pay me even when thou harvests it? I
am sorry but by thine own manner, thou hast
discouraged me from loaning thee this money."
Says the Talmud further:
"A cheerful disposition is a valuable possession."
"Be in the habit of receiving every man with a
pleasant countenance."
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Dear Boys and Girls:
At the United Nations Day Ceremony at the
White House on June 15, 1942, the late President
Roosevelt read a great prayer. It was written
by the eminent poet, Stephen Vincent Benet, who
also no longer is among. the living. The Prayer
reads:
God of the free, we pledge our hearts and
lives today to the cause of all mankind.
Grant us victory over the tyrants who
would enslave all free men and nations. Grant
us faith and understanding to cherish all
those who fight for freedom as if they were
our brothers. Grant us brotherhood in hope
and union, not only for the space of this bit-
ter war, but for the days to come which shall
and must unite all the children of earth.
Our earth is but a small star in the great
universe. Yet of it we can make, if we
choose, a planet unvexed by war, untroubled
by hunger or fear, undivided by,,senseless dis-
tinctions of race, color, or theory. Grant us
that courage and foreseeing to begin this task
today that our children and our children's
children may be proud of the name of man.
Yet most of all grant us brotherhood, not
only for this day but for all our years--a
brotherhood not of words but of acts and
deeds. We are all of us children of earth—
grant us that simple knowledge. If our broth-
ers are oppressed, then we are oppressed.
If they hunger, we hunger. If their freedom
is taken away, our freedom is not secure.
Grant us a common faith that man shall
know bread and peace, that we shall know
justice and righteousness, freedom and secur-
ity, an equal chance to do his best, not only
in our own lands, but throughout the world.
And in the faith let us march toward the
clean world our hands can make. Amen.
I am printing it here for your benefit because
it is such a fine expression of human thinking and
feeling. If only we could get the peoples of the
world to live by its principles! This world would
then be a very fine place to live in.
I hope you are having a pleasant vacation.
A Happy Sabbath to all.
UNCLE DANIEL.