sea Page Friday, November 15, 1946 THE JEWISH NEWS Four As the Editor - - - Views the News Property Restitution Concern over the plight of the survivors from Nazism in Europe is not limited to the displaced persons in Germany. The pitiful status of Jews in Czechoslovakia and else- where is equally as disturbing and adds to the responsibilities of Jewish communities which are called upon to provide necessary relief. One of the major problems that has arisen from the war is that resulting from the loss of property by Jews. Czechoslovakia pro- vides the best example of the difficulties that are encountered by Jews in regaining their economic rights. While the Czech govern- ment has adopted a Restitution Law, we are informed that the basic situation remains Unchanged insofar as the dispossessed Jews are concerned. A correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor, writing from Bratislava, declaring that "the Restitution Law itself appears to be of no great help," writes that he "has fre- quently come across cases where Slovak Jews did not dare press their claims. They were plainly afraid lest a court sentence in their favor would result in mob attempts on them." The correspondent, in a lengthy analysis of the situation, points out further: "In a number of other instances, Slovak Jews are barred from access to their former property by local authorities classifying them as either Germans or Hungarians. By that simple ex- pedient restitution is virtually rendered im- possible. Discrimination is evident in all spheres of public life in Slovakia. Many articles of anti-Semitic tendency are being published in the Slovak press." Here we have a clear explanation of the sad position of our people who continue to suffer from the after effects of six years of fascist education and propaganda. As the Monitor's correspondent points out, "the very on fi nitude of the crime committed ope's Jews proves to be an obstacle for 1,..,cmnification." How is this problem to be solved? Who will step in to rectify the great crimes committed against Jewry? Will it be the United Nations, or will firm steps be taken by individual governments? The tragedy is that we must again resort to an old escape: that only time will tell the tale and will provide an answer to the tragedy of Israel. Palestine as a Football Palestine is being used as a football by Soviet Russia in her grievances against Great Britain, and the homeless Jews, meanwhile, remain the sufferers. The Russian demands for "independence" for Palestine apparently represent the latest trick of stirring up trouble in the Middle East and of holding out "an Arab threat" to the British. The "holier than thou" attitude suddenly adopted by the Russians certainly will not help any one. "Independence" for Pales- tine would mean freezing the Jewish posi- tion in the land and would for all time shut the country's doors to Jewish immigration. It also would freeze the Arab position and would prevent introduction of progressive methods of developing the country through Arab-Jewish cooperation. Unless Palestine's doors are opened for large-scale Jewish immigration, both Jews and Arabs will suffer from stagnation as well as despair. The Russian demand is a po- litical trick. Only a change in Britain's de- structive policies and the establishment of a strong Arab-Jewish cooperative bloc will solve the problem. THE JEWISH NEWS Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish Fiess Sel.ice, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious News Service. Paicor News Agency, King Features Syndi- 'ent r al Press Service. International Soundphotos. Member American Association of English-Jewish News- rape. s and Micnigan Press Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish- Ing Co.. 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., RA. 7956. Subscription. $3 a year; foreign, $4. Club subscription, every fourth Friday of the month, to all subscribers to Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federation of Detoit. 40 cents pet year. Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6. 1942. at Post Of- *ire, Detroit, Mich.. under Act of March 3, 1879. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Maurice Aronsson Philip Slomovitz Fred M. Mittel Isidore Sobeleff Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere Maurice H. Schwartz Henry Wineman PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor VOL. 10—NO. 9 NOVEMBER 15, 1946 Sabbath Scriptural Selections • This Sabbath, the twenty-first day of Heshvan. 5707, the following Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 23:1-25:18. Prophetical portion—I Kings 1:1-31. Still on His First Lesson Oils and Etchings Worth Seeing Artistic Maturity Shown In Marco Zim Exhibit By MAXINE R. LEVIN Courtesy Appreciate Axperica. lac. Road to Amity in Palestine Release of the Jewish Agency *leaders in Palestine has served to ease existing tension and is believed to be leading to the restoration of amicable relations between the Jews and the British. It is regrettable that the British authorities should have waited more than three months, since the leaders' arrest on June 29, to effect their release, and that they should have indicated at this late hour, after ignoring all established principles under habeas corpus rights, that the move came as a result of the determined stand taken by the Jewish community to curb terrorism. Statements made in Jerusalem and in London by Rich- ard Subbs, public information officer, and Arthur Creech- Jones, Colonial Secretary, that the freeing of the Jewish leaders was a gesture in return for declarations by the Inner Oils and Etchings, by Marco Zim, at the Jewish Center this week, are the work of a competent artist, whose main theme is the quiet enjoyment of things beautiful. Here are paintings to be lived with as good decoration and pleasant sub- ject matter, the work of a mature artist, painting with unmuddied color and well balanced design. Outstanding is his oil, "Woodpile," with a skill- fully handled sky and woods in the late after- noon; there is real majesty of atmosphere to this canvas. "Backwoods Man" is excellent portraiture, with the values of light handled in a direct and fresh. manner, with easy and satisfying color. The still life section of this oil contributes much to the story of the portrait and is well integrated into the composition. A portrait of his wife. en- titled "Orla has the fresh and restrained quality of an Eakins. Zim's etchings, which have won many awards, are, to my mind, his best contribution. New England in the summer time, with tall trees, dis- tant hills, - and quiet rivers, compose one group. It would be hard to select any one etching for particular review. All have excellent values. space relationship, and within the well-knit composi- tion, is the quiet poetry of the artist who loves and reports the reality and beauty of the summer time. "Auction Bidding" is particularly well done. with its moving figures and solid drawing of men and horses in front of a barn. Included in this group of etchings are able portraits of old Jewish men and women, done with simplicity and good study of character. Zim was born in Russia in 1882 and came to this country in 1891. At- a young man he was a student at the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and later studied with George Barnard and Augustus Rodin. While Zim reaches no great emotional height, and is in no way sensational, his able observa- tion and the strength of his black and whites, prove his natural good taste and his honest con- tribution to good American art. The exhibit will continue until Nov. 29 at the Jewish Center in the adult Lounge and Confer- ence Room, and should attract much favorable attention. Facts You Should Know • Answers to Readers Questions Zionist Council and the Jewish Agency Executive condemn- ing the terrorists, sound like bitter irony, in view of the fact that not only responsible Jewish leaders but also the • • • Haganah consistently condemned terrorism. Are any special midnight services ever Nevertheless, the removal of tension, the steps taken observed by Jews? to assure continuation of negotiations between Jews and There are three midnight services in the the British leading towards the . restoration of amity and Orthodox Jewish ritual: the night of Sheruoth and of Hoshanah Rabba, which do not take place the settlement of the Palestine problem, and the gestures in the synagogue; and the night of the Atone- for greater cooperation are most encouraging signs. when the pious remain all night at prayer From this point on, we may hope that we shall soon ment, in the synagogue. • • • see an end to despair and the resumption of gigantic efforts Is the benediction beginning "The Lord for the settlement of large numbers of Jews in Palestine bless thee and keep thee" taken from the on peaceful terms both with the British and the Arabs. Bible? Yes. The threefold benediction or blessing Restoration of peaceful negotiations must lead to the is found in its entirety in Numbers 6:24-26. abandonment of shameful practices of unlawful searches of Jewish colonies, deportations to Cyprus and various other abuses of Jewish rights. The Jewish Agency must gain the right to regulate immigration and there should be an end to curbs imposed upon Jewish industrial expansion. When these things are accomplished we surely shall see the begin- ning of a new era of progress in the Middle East for the good not only of Jewry but of the Arabs as well. Realization of these objectives which are so necessary to peace depend in great measure upon the approach the British authorities plan to make to the entire problem. In his cabled report to his newspaper of the release of the Jewish leaders, George L. Cassidy, foreign correspondent of the New York Post, writing from Jerusalem, stated in part: Among these 20 Arabs are at least 10 who spent most of the war in Germany or Vichy France as followers of Haj Amin, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, who began his career as a fomenter of unrest more than 20 years ago and ended during the war as the leading Arab enemy of the United Nations. Many thoughtful Jews and Arabs alike today are regretting this attempt to appease the Arab extremists and to make the release of Jewish leaders appear to be the result of a balanced policy. The fact that one Arab granted amnesty is Haj Yussef Sharafa, wanted in connection with the murder of J. H. Starkey, archeologist, since 1938 has led some of the more fearful and imaginative to discuss the possibility that the Mufti himself may later expect forgiveness. What the result of permission to these Arab extremists to return to Palestine may be nobody will venture a guess. By an unfortunate coincidence, their release came only a day after the first Arab attack in years on a Jewish settlement in which several were killed, and an unpleasant stoning incident. They came also while the Arab military bodies; Futuwa and Najada, were increasing their recruiting campaign so successfully that I saw at least two companies of Najada wearing what appeared to be American summer uniforms and drilling in a field beside the Lydda-Jerusalem road. The situation now is that Jewish leaders are free to resume their representation of the Jewish Agency. But the past four months have stimulated Arab leaders to anti-Jewish activity and the British government has shown no sign of allowing Jewish immigration into Palestine. More than 5,000 Jews from Europe are still behind barbed wire in Cyprus. These observations, which we are impelled to quote in full in the interest of truth, indicate that we are far from utopia; that attempts to placate Arab extremists will not help the cause of peace; that the British MUST adopt a firm policy, else there will be no end of trouble. The fairest and most impartial observers insist that peace can be enforced in Palestine without delay, provided the British show that they are determined to be 'firm in their decisions and that they undertake to follow a line that will be tantamount to justice in accordance with the pledges made in the Palestine Mandate. It is the sincere hope of all right- thinking men and women that the British will see fit to stop vascillating. Then, amity will become a reality. FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE • Jewish Tales for All Children To help children of all faiths understand the meaning of the traditions and customs of Judaism, the National Women's League of the United Syn- agogue of America publishes the third in its series of children's books--"The Singing Way" by Sadie Rose Weilerstein — as an outgrowth of a program inaugurated 15 years ago. It is a collec- tion of poems reflecting the joy of Jewish living as seen through the eyes of a growing child. Surveying literature, particularly for children, available in 1930, the Women's League decided Jewish and Christian youngsters needed books from which to learn abotit Judaism. Mrs. Barnett E. Kopelman, president of the Women's League, says, "Only through interracial understanding can intolerance and bigotry be conquered." • Friday Night Stories The first booki published to fill this need in- cluded "Friday Night Stories"—tales from the Talmud charmingly told for children. This series of small books by Dora Melamed represented the first attempt by the League to put the tales of Judaism in the language of youngsters. It has resulted in the sale of 100,000 copies. Such stories as Noah's Ark, The Fox and the Grapes. and the Beginning of the World are simply told for the primary grader. Five years ago, the League Press introduced into the field of children's books another com- pletely new type of story with the publication of "The Adventures of K'Ton Ton," also by Sadie Rose Weilerstein. K'Ton Ton is a little Jewish boy no bigger than his father's middle finger. The adventures of this Tom Thumb in . learning Jewish lore, in celebrating the Jewish festivals and in growing up into wise under- standing of Judaism have delighted the hearts of the 20,000 children and adults who have bought copies of the book. It is now in its seventh edition. Books for Adults The League Press has in addition published "The Three Pillars" and "The Jewish Home Beau- tiful," for older boys and girls. The first, a handbook of thought, practice and worship, now in its seventh edition, is being translated into Spanish and into Hebrew Braille. "The Jewish Home Beautiful" describes the many Jewish festivals, their background and meaning and ritual Written by Mrs. Morris Sil- verman and Mrs. Simon. Greenberg, it contains photographs of table settings appropriate for the holy days, as well as recipes for traditional dishes served at these times.