Page Four
Friday. January JO, 1947
THE JEWISH NEWS
As the Editor
Views the News
Giving Comfort to Nazis
Jews
Tragic Deaths
Three eminent Jews have been called by
death, and their passing is mourned by le-
gions of friends, co-workers and followers
xvho appreciated their great contributions to
Jewish life.
The death of Jacob Fishman in Basle dur-
ing the World Zionist Congress which he at-
tended as an American delegate, removed
from the journalistic scene one of the ablest
editor& and columnists. He was a brilliant
writer, an eminent historian and a most de-
voted leader not only in Zionism but also in
all other movements which called for action
in relief and rehabilitation efforts for Jews.
Dr. Alexander H. Pekelis, who died in the
TWA Constellation crash in Ireland, also was
an American delegate to the World Zionist
Congress. He was 44, but for a number of
years already was recognized as one of the
ablest Jewish leaders in the world. In Italy
he had directed important activities in behalf
of Jewish causes, and in this country he had
the distinction of being the first foreign-born
person to be named editor of the Columbia
University Law Review.
Pierre Dreyfus, who also died in the TWA
accident, was the son of Capt. Alfred Drey-
fus, the man whose unjust conviction in
France 50 years ago stirred the entire world
and affected the political scene in many coun-
tries. M. Dreyfus was very active in the ORT
and was returning from a mission in France
in behalf of the OSE, Jewish health society.
He was active in Alliance Israelite Univer-
selle and was vice-chairman of the American
Friends of Alliance.
Jewry mourns the death of these three men
who had rendered great services to our peo-
ple and who were destined to remain power-
ful factors in humanitarian movements.
More 'Guts,' Less Brains
A large segment of American Jews appears
to be "enchanted" with the activities of a
small group of Palestinians who have taken
the law in their own hands and have exacted
"whipping" for "whipping." To many people,
"flogging" for "flogging" had an aura of "ro-
mance." But for many more the awaken-
ing must have been bitter.
The fact that the flogged British major was
a friend of our people should have set people
to thinking and to realizing that the principle
of "an eye for an eye," when put into literal
practice, -ran- react very favorably upon
those exacting vengence.
It is as if a group of vengence seekers had,
during the pre-war years, exacted retribu-
tion from a man like Orde Wingate.
We are against this type of activitity, and
we sincerely hope that we shall gain a follow-
ing in condemning it.
Your Editor believes in a consistent and
determined fight for justice, but he is against
this type of retribution, he opposes terrorism
and he pleads for sanity in relation to the
Palestinian or any other issue that is facing
our people today.
We believe that Bergsonite and Irgun-
ist groups are detrimental in their activities to
Jewish life generally. We advise our readers
to be on guard against groups whose pro-
grams merely create internecine strife and
cause harm to all Israel by an overabundance
of "guts" and "cleverness" but a lack of good
common sense.
Palestine can not be built through destruc-
tive measures, and admiration for the "hero-
ism" of a handful of disillusioned youths
must not mislead us into politics that will be
harmful to the entire Jewish people, in Zion
and the Diaspora.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Independent Jewish
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate. Religious
News Service, Palcor Agency World News Services.
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., RA. 7956.
Subscription. $3 a year; foreign, 54. Club subscription.
every fourth Friday of the month. to all subscribers to
Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federation of
Detroit. 40 cents pei year.
Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Of-
fice. Detroit. Mich.. under Act of March 3. 1879.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maurice Aronsson
Philip Slomovitz
Fred M. Butzel
Isidore Sobelort
Judis, Theodore Levin Abraham Srere
Maurice H. Schwartz Henry Wineman
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ. Editor
JANUARY 10, 1947
VOL. 10—NO, 17
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the nineteenth day of Tebet, 5707,
the following Scriptural selections will be read in
our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Ex 111-6:1.
Prophetical portion—Is. 27:6-28:13; 29:2.2-29.
Art
By MAXINE R. LEVIN
I
T seems good to start the New Year with a de-
parture from War paintings. Harry Daniels
paints the prewar Polish scene, which is well to
preserve if only from an historical standpoint. One
of the important purposes of art is to record
people, their customs and their times.
This important feature of painting often goes
unrecognized, but historically art is one of our
most important reporters. Poland, its people, its
customes, and small villages are the memories
which Harry'Daniels has chosen to paint and pre-
serve.
Responsibilities of U. S. Zionists
American Zionists are charged with serious responsibil-
ities as a result of the decisions of the 22nd World Zionist
Congress. The establishment of an American section, under
the chairmanship of Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, to deal with
political matters, is a direct challenge to the Jews of America
to strive for the continuation of our Government's friendly
attitude toward Zionism and to mobilize all available forces
in support of our position in Palestine.
While the position of President Truman and of both
Houses of Congress has been established firmly, the vacillat-
ing British policy calls for continued activities to assure that
American influences should not dwindle in the months to
come. We have good reason to feel confident that under the
dynamic direction of Dr. Silver there will be no slumbering
in Washington.
There remain, however, the issues created by the neces-
sity for dealing with the British government. Even if the
London conference is to be conducted without Jewish repre-
sentation, in accordance with the decisions of the Congress,
negotiations with Great Britain can come to an end only if
and when the British are shorn of mandatory powers—and
it is hardly to be expected that Great Britain either will
withdraw from Palestine or that the United Nations will
take the mandate away from the British. It is well, therefore,
that we should recognize reality and that we should face
the issues in their naked truth.
, Whatever the future may hold for Palestine, th_g Zionist
Organization of America, as the dominant General Zionist
group in the world, possesses not only the balance of power
in . Zionism but also the major responsibility for securing
favorable solutions in the present crisis.
Dr. Silver and his associates should and must be given
the support of all parties in efforts to force a solution speedily.
All barriers must be removed from the path of Jews who
are seeking entrance to Palestine, and there must be an end
to police-state restrictions under British rule. Unless elemen-
tary rights are assured for Jews in Palestine and the conflict
between the British and the Jews is terminated, there is
danger of a spread of anti-Semitism in England and the
United States, as a direct offshoot of the Palestinian situa-
tion. It is in the best interests of all concerned—Jews, the
British and the United States—that the solution be effected
speedily and firmly.
UJA's 1947 General Chairman
Henry Morgenthau Jr., who has accepted the post of
General Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, is exception-
ally well qualified to direct the 1947 campaign for the large
goal of $170,000,000.
UJA's co-chairmen, in their announcement of his selec-
tion for this post, stated that "he brings to this office admin-
istrative skill, social vision and a unique understanding of
the international problems which underlie the emergency
tasks that fall to the agencies financed by the UJA."
This tribute at once earned justification when Mr. Mor-
genthau, upon accepting the UJA's general chairmanship,
stated: "I regard it as the moral obligation 9f every American,
man, woman and child, to save from despair and destruction
the pitiful remnant of Jews who remain alive in Europe."
Mr. Morgenthau, who played a decisive role in the de-
cision reached in setting the high $170,000,000 goal for UJA at
the recent Atlantic City conference, is confident that "Amer-
ica has never failed the unfortunate. It may be counted upon
to show its great, generous heart in 1947." He added: "I can-,
not too emphatically state that humanity and brotherhood
require that the program of raising $170,000,000 for the UJA
must be met."
The national machinery for the great drive has been set
in motion. Now it is up to the 5,000 communities which over-
subscribed the 1946 $100,000,000 goal to mobilize their forces
and to offer all the help Mr. Morgenthau and his associates
will need to make a complete success of the 1947 campaign.
The indelible impressions of Mr. Daniels' youth
are painted in a style akin to that of an ardent
story teller. Every important detail, each precise
memory is faithfully related and the emphasis is
always on the picture of the scene and the people
who are part of it. This group of paintings is easy
to enjoy, as Mr. Daniels is simply describing the
life he lived-in Poland, in terms of good pictorial
art.
Depicts Mannerisms of Polish Jews
The pictures describing the home life of the
Polish Jew depict also the mannerisms of the
people, their daily routine and ceremonies. In one
group, the ceremonial objects are faithfully repro-
duced. In viewing these paintings, you can not help
but join with the artist in taking delight in the
simple . life and pleasures of the people he paints.
Harry Daniels grey and soft color tone is well
suited to his subjects. His technique is exact,
though at times overworked to the detriment of
the reality he seeks to create. Despite the general
opinion of the critics, I do not agree that Daniels
is a primitive. Though every leaf is painted and
every cobblestone is encircled, Mr. Daniels has
created a style particularly his own. He also ex-
hibits a group of etchings which are charming, and
ably executed.
Daniels was born in the small village of Kolo
in Central Poland. He came to America as a young
mtin, studying art at night. He returned to F (rope
for one year and attended the Academy of Fine
Arts in Paris.
Today this artist is able to devote full time to his
paintings and his works have been exhibited at the
Metropolitan Museum, the Brookline Museum and
at the American and British Art Center in New
York.
Daniels Exhibit Opens At Center Jan. 14
The committee in charge of the Art Departruent
of the Jewish Center should be comolemen`?d on
its good judgment in bringing this show to Detroit
and acquainting us with outstanding Jewish
artists.
The exhibit will open Tuesday night, Jan. 14, at
the Jewish Center. It is my understanding the
Center Art Committee is receiving and serving tea
opening night, so here is your chance to see an
interesting show, and meet a lively group of artists
and their friends.
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
•
`Happiness for Sale' a Fine Book
There are 18 stories—each independent of the
rest—in Dorothy Alofsin's "Happiness for Sale,"
just published by Bloch, 31 W. 31st St., New York.
The author, who has seen fit to take the title
of the last story as the name for the complete
book, adds another splendid children's book to
those previously published—her "The Stream of
Jewish Life" and "The Nightingale's Song."
Modern themes predominate in the book. Chil-
dren's activities in schools and camps, the experi-
ences of a young Jewish athlete, a tale having
its setting in the New York World's Fair Palestine
Pavilion, are among the topics covered. In addi-
tion, there are stories about Passover, Hamisha
Asar b'Shevat, Purim, the Sabbath and a theme
deriving its inspiration from the. Decalogue.
The book is well written and the stories are told
exceptionally well.
"Happiness for Sale" thus is an excellent addi-
tion to the children's bookshelf. It is a good
book to have for the home bookshelf as well as
a selection for gifts for young people of 12 and 13.
• • •
What is the Breeches Bible?
The popular name given to the Geneva Bible
because of the fact that in Genesis 3:7 it says that
Adam and Eve "made themselves breeches." Also
known as the Puritan Bible -the Geneva Bible was
the work of a group of English exiles and was
published in 1560.
What is the earliest hymn book in existence?
The Book of Psalms, in continual use for over
3,000 years.