Friday, September 20, 1946

THE JEWISH NEWS

Page Fourteen -

ROBERT GARY, Berlin cor-
respondent for The Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency writes:

GERMANY'S free new
press on the whole tries to steer clear of
discussing controversial Jewish problems
as much as possible. German editors are
aware of the anti-Semitic prejudice still
smouldering in many Nordic breasts. They
also realize the importance of bread and
butter. The delicate "Jewish issues," there-
fore, are seldom touched and when they
are handled, are given cold, brief and
factual treatment.
Berlin's 11 newspapers offer good illus-
trations of this point. But it must be re-
membered that Berlin's newspapers are
not typical of Germany as a whole. As
long as four distinct zones exist no one
city's publications (or anything else for
that matter) can be representative of the
whole.
Also. in Berlin. where four powers rule,
all of the papers which are licensed by one
or other of the powers, most are spokes-
men for the various political parties, and
one. the Tagliche Rundschau, is the overt

German Press Avoids
True 'Jewish Issues'

USSR. paper. It also should be remembered
that all newspapers in every zone are sub-
ject either to pre- or post-publication cen-
soring.
Glancing through any of these papers
on a day following one in which Jews
figured in some news items (violence in
Palestine, for instance), the reader will
find generally the same brief article writ-
ten by either American, Russian, British,
French, or controlled German news agen-
cies in every one of the papers, depending
upon the news agency to which the news-
paper subscribes.
Polish pogroms or other news involving
Jews in something closer to Germany get
a bit more space, as does some official
London or Washington pronouncement
concerning the fate of the remaining Jews
in Germany.
The most prominence is given to those

backing the Communist Party and Social-
ist nnheits (Unity), Party, which is a
consolidation of the Socialist and Com-
munist Parties in the Russian zone and
sector of Berlin — only these genuinely
back the Jews and other Nazi victims.
Some newspapers employ straight edu-
Jewish stories originating inside Germany, cational methods in their columns to
teach
the fallacies of racism or to spread
such as a DP riot, and the more violent,
the more space it gets. Thus, regarding literature by Jewish authors or general
"straight" news of Jewish interest, the news involving Jews, perhaps the Life of
German press is not unlike its American . George Gershwin or Irving Berlin or what
counterpart and reprints news items as has happened to Albert Einstein. The
American-published Neue Zeitung, issued
supplied it by the aforementioned news from
Munich but distributed zonewide.
agencies.
plus again' the more radical papers, are
But it is in their editorial columns and outstanding along these lines.
commentaries that German editors show
But taken as a whole, it can be said that
their desire to shun, the Jewish issues. German editors have failed in the vital job
These columns would be the logical place of at least trying to bring home to the
to present the touchy Jewish problems. German people the terrible crime corn-
such as property restitution, financial mitted against the Jews.
compensation, and other problems, and
Much of the blame must be placed on
would also be the best spot to educate the the various Allied military governments
German people and attempt to rid them of for not impressing German editors with
some of their anti-Semitism. Here is where the importance of featuring more honest
the German editors fall down in their job. and forthright discussion of past and pres-
Only the more radical papers, such as ent Jewish problems.
the Frankfurter Rundschau and those
(Copyright, 1946. JTA, Inc.)

Brooklyn's

Garson Kanin

By PAU- GOULD

EVER SINCE the days of David

Belasco, Broadway — and the

world of legitimate entertainment

—has been thrilled by the notable
plays and performances of Jewish
artists.
This past season again has been
marked by brilliant accomplish-
ments, some by old and familiar
faces. others by new talent mak-
ing an abiding impression the
first time out. Both in musical
comedy and in the serious drama,
A modicum of privacy and a few comforts for these women who a . Jewish personalities have pro-
suffered for years in an Austrian concentration camp has at last
duced rich and abiding works.
been provided with funds from the United Jewish Appeal. Through
One need glance only at the list
the cooperation of the Army, the JDC representative was able to
of the annual Donaldson Awards,
secure apartment houses built for workers of the Goering steel works.
made in July, to perceive the
measure of achievement. These
awards, unlike the aloof Pulitzer
and Critics Circle encomiums. are
made by theater people them-
selves.
o

A Year of Combatting
Anti-Semitism in U. S.

By SAMUEL SPIEGLER

P.e t ef
4%.,
to be published in the forthcoming ,(lurne
et the Arne, lean .1e, ish Year Book. Released by the Jewish
l'•;•graphi• Agene ■
ith the permission of the J, ish Pub-
I.•io
: ■ ociet ■

THE DEVELOPMENT of a more
healthy public opinion makes open anti-Semitism a liability, rather
than an asset, to any movement seeking broad support. Although
anti-Semitii-Nrerances were made on the floor of Congress and of
some state Legislatures, the voters in most parts of the country
turned against the agitators who sought public office. In Chicago,
10 known anti-Semites were rejected in primary elections by over-
!miming majorities. Some of the outstanding agitators came into
the toils of the law.
In October. an attempt to revive open-air anti-Semitic meetings
In N,•w Yolk resulted in the arrest, trial, and conviction of three
leaders in the movement: .Homer Maertz • Ernest F. Elmhurst. and
Kurt Mi•rtig. Several months later, the triumvirate of Gerald L. K.
f meth. Deco Lohbeck. his public relations man. and the suspended
Priest Terminiello • all were convicted by Chicago courts. Out on
appeals. smith and Terminiello are continuing their vicious work.
The most significant anti-Semitic development of the year was
the i•-einergence of the Ku Klux Klan. Facts about the Klan were
in',de available through appropriate channels to governmental
1, , ••,cit-s and lay organizations, to the radio and the press. These
far' c made it possible for state governments in California. Georgia,
and New York to take prompt and vigorous steps to outlaw the Klan
a nd destroy it s effectiveness.
Efforts to attract newly returned veterans of World War II into
nationalistic or pro-fascist organizations were denounced by the
American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled
American Veterans. and the AMVETS at their national conventions.
Gerald L. K. Smith was branded "Democracy's Public Enemy No. 1"
and the Christian Veterans of World War II were condemned by
the Disabled American Veterans; and the American Legion pointed-
ly warned against organizations "promoting racial and religious
prejudice."
Laws for fair employment practice, of varying degrees of effec-
tiv•ness. became operative during the year in the States of Indiana,
Massachusetts, New Jersey. Nqw York, and Wisconsin; and local
ordinances of similar sort were enacted in Chicago and Milwaukkee.
Bills to create a permanent FEPC, introduced the previous year in
Congress. have thus far met with no success. The Senate bill was
shelved as a result of a filibuster by southern Senators in January
and February. 1946. while in the House the bill never left the com-
mittee. Jewish organizations are actively co-operating in strength-
ening the National Council for a Permanent FEPC which spearheads
the battle for a national law.
Discrimination in educational institutions continued to be a
troubling problem, with increasingly serious effects upon Jewish
youth as returning veterans competed for the limited facilities of
overcrowded colleges and universities. The Mayor's Committee on
Unity in N. Y. prepared a report on discrimination in higher educa-
tional institutions which received considerable publicity in 1946.
In N. Y. State a movement for the creation of a State university
gathered considerable strength. A bill was introduced in the Legisla-
ture to appropriate $50.000.000 for this purpose. It failed of passage,
but the governor was authorized to create a commission to examine
the whole question.
At about the same time. a bill was introduced in the N. Y.
State Legislature, which would deny tax exemption to discriminatory
educational institutions. This failed to be reported out of committee.
A taxpayer's suit was filed in New York City to remove Columbia
University from tax exempt rolls on grounds of discrimination.
Reaction against social discrimination, such as exclusion of
Jews from hotels, resorts, and other establishments, was effec-
tive during the year. In one outstanding instance. the state at-
torne•-general of Michigan gave assurances that certain ob-
jectionable advert; , ing would be eliminated from literature of
hotels. and re-
in the state, which benefit from a state-

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Independent Jewish Press Service, Inc.)

Chosen as the best "first" play
was "Born Yesterday." written by
Brooklyn's Garson Kanin, who
previously had made a name for
himself in Hollywood as a direc-
tor. The play starred another
newcomer to Broadway, Judy Hol-
liday, formerly Judy Tuvim of the
"Borscht Circuit."
Kanin's career is one of the fab-
ulous rags-to-riches type. As a boy
he worked as a Western Union
messenger, a salesman, a vaude-
ville performer and a saxophonist.
He played bit parts n several hits
and in 1937, at 25. ent to Holly-
wood. He directed `A Man to Re-
member" soon after and ever
since has been called the "boy
wonder."
Laurents were
and
Kanin
named co-winners of the Sidney
Howard Memorial Award of $1,-
500, presented annually to •'a new
American playwright.

In the musical division. the out-
standing show voted was "Show
Boat," based on Fdna Ferber's
novel, with the music by the late
Jerome Kern, book and lyrics by
Oscar Hammerstein 2d, and Carol
Bruce in the star role—all Jewish
—and all acclaimed by being
singled out for prizes:
o
The runner-up in this division
was "Call Me Mister," written by
Harold Rome, produced by Melvyn
Douglas and Herman Levin, with
sketches by Arnold Auerbach and
starring Betty Garrett — another
100 per cent Jewish collaboration.
In the field of the drama, three
plays were selected as runners-up
to the universally acclaimed
"State of the Union." Of the three,
two are the work of Jewish au-
thors—"Dream Girl," written by
the veteran Elmer Rice, and
"Home of the Brave," a notable
challenge issued by a first-play
author, Arthur Laurents. It is a
drama about anti-Semitism and
the effects it has in the Army up-
on both Jew and Gentile.
During the latter period of the
theatrical year, still another new-
comer was destined to make an
important bow. She was Maxine
Wood (Maxine Finsterwald of De-
troit) , who wrote "On Whitman
Ave." It is a study of racial condi-
tions in New York.

Mrs. David M. Levy, chairman of the National Women's Divi-
of the United Jewish Appeal, who recently visited Europe,
makes the word "Mother" come alive for these child survivors of
France, cared for in a JDC shelter supported by the UJA. More
than 65.000 children in Europe are receiving aid from U. S. J€ rY.

sion

30 Years of Hadassah
Activity in Palestine

By MRS. GERSHON AGRONSKY

(Mrs Gershon Agronsky. acting chairman of Hadassah
Council in Palestine. traces the work of the Hadassah in
Palestine from its minute beginning under the stimulus of
Henrietta Siold, to the manifold activities of today.)

IT WAS ON PURIM. 1912, that the
late Henrietta Szold gathered together a handful of women in New
York to form the Hadassah Chapter of a national organization to be
known as the Daughters of Zion. Prof. Israel Friedlander supplied
a motto from Jeremiah, "the healing of the daughter of my people."
This motto described the program adopted then and followed ever
since—the propagation of Zionism in America and the furtherance
of health work in Palestine. -
The first definite project was the sending of two public health
nurses to Jerusalem. Out of this. it was hoped, would grow a nurses'
training school and a maternity hospital. Such- were the modest
beginnings of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of
America, which started in 1912 with one chapter of 38 members and
has now over 162.000 members in 800 chapters in the U. S.. and a
budget of $4.000.000. Since 1922. Hadassah has transmitted to Pales-
tine for all its projects almost 525.000,000.
In June, 1916-30 years ago—in the midst of the war, Hadassah.
with 2,000 members, answered the call of the small Yishuv for medi-
cal aid. Upon the request of the World Zionist Organization. it ac-
cepted the responsibility of organizing, financing and dispatching a
medical unit to Palestine. The American Zionist Medical Unit set out
early in 1918-44 medical men. nurses and administrators, ambu-
lances, trucks. automobiles, as well as $50,000 worth of drugs and
instruments. Transportation and maintenance for one year cost
$25,000. The JDC supplied some of the money but, under the hand
of Miss Szold. Hadassah raised a large part and supplied the direc-
tion and the organization to execute the entire undertaking.
By 1921, the Zionist Medical Unit, headed by Dr. I. M. Rubinow,
was transformed and enlargd into the Hadassah Medical Organiza-
tion. Henrietta Szold, who had come to Palestine in 1920, remarked
of the Unit: "What began as a rather simple undertaking has be-
come a real department of health."
Since 1918, more than 3.000,000 persons have visited Hadassah
clinics; 300.000 patients have been treated in the hospitals estab-
lished by Hadassah; since 1923. 300 000 registrations of mothers and
infants have been recorded in the Hadassah health welfare centers.
Almost from the beginning of Hadassah's medical and health
program in the country, the Yishuv indicated its eagerness to main-
tain and develop the various institutions and services. Organized
local bodies have from time to time arranged to take over a number
of projects and organized others themselves.
In 1936 Hadassah and the Hebrew University entered into an
agreement to develop a program of medical teaching and reSearch, a
project envisaged by Miss Szold almost from the beginning of
Hadassah's work in Palestine. The result was the Hadassah-Univer-
sity Medical Center opened in May, 1939. The next step will be the
building of a 200-bed tuberculosis control unit and then a Medical
school of Hadassah and the Hebrew University.
Hadassah's newest educational venture is the Brandeis Voca-
tional Center. Here are housed the Alice Seligsberg Trade School
for Girls, the Julian Mack School and workshop, a vocational guid-
ance bureau, workshops-for training boys in various crafts, evening
classes for girls, evening classes for boys, training for apprentices.
Youth Aliyah and Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayerneth),
whose work needs no description, are part of Hadassah's program in
America. This year Hadassah is raising $1,250,000 for Youth Aliyah
and $500,000 for the Keren Keyemeth.
Except for the Hadassah office staff in New York, there are no
paid workers. The task of raising almost $5,000,000 a year. of
drawing new members by teaching the tenets of Zionism and the
meaning of Palestine is accomplished by 160,000 volunteers. And
through these Zionist women, many tens of thousands more are
reached—husbands, children, friends and new adherents who join

the ranks.

