Purely
Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
BASHI AND THE GOLDEN BOOK
A recent issue of the London Zionist
Review 'quotes the following very in-
teresting paragraphs from the Memoirs of
Dr. Sammy Gronemann, who for 20 years
has presided over the World Zionist
Congress Court:
"In,. an early Congress one delegate
desired .very much to speak. His name
was taken down, but he was never
given the opportunity to speak. The
delegate complained bitterly to Presi-
dent Wolffsohn who tried to convince
him that nothing could be done against
fate. But the delegate had an excel-
lent idea. One morning he appeared—
beaming all over — in the hotel Drei
Koenig and said: Now I have found
out Mr. President, how you can give
me permission to speak. I shall pro-
pose* to inscribe Rashi into the Golden
Book of the J.N.F. to commemorate
his 800th birthday.' And so it hap-
pened. The name of the gentleman
went down into the Congress minutes '
and Rashi had the honor of being
inscribed into the Golden Book."
- This is reminiscent of an incident that
eccurred in the United States Senate in
l933. The Senators were excited over the
Woi Id Series games that were in pro-
g,ess between the Washington Senators
and the New York Giants, and one
et the esteemed legislators, who had
Just come in from the cloakroom full of
anxiety to tell his colleagues how the
game was progressing, addressed the pre-
siding officer with the query (which your
Commentator quotes from memory):
"Mr. President. is it in order for me
to inform the gentlemen of the United
States Senate that the Senators are lead-
ing the Giants by a score of 3 to 2?"
The reply naturally was in the nega-
tive. but the Senator won his point and
h is colleagues were kept informed on
the progress of the World Series game.
• • •'
ACTION AGAINST EXTREMISTS
i
Friday, January 31, 1947
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Two
Our very able confrere, Robert S.
Camzey, editor of the Intermountain .
Jewish News of Denver, recently pro-
posed in his Mile High View column that
the Joint Def , .nse Appeal (the combined
ganization of the Bnai Brith Anti-De-
famation League and the American Jew-
ish Committee) should mobilize the
support and resources of Bnai Brith. the
Zienist Organization, the Anti-Defama-
Lon League, 1.1).,e.1krnerican Jewish Corn-
puttee. the American Jewish Congress,
the American Jewish Conference and
ether mass organization, and give serious
;mention to barring the activities of the
"Revisionists and Bergsonites (who) . . .
make crude, hysterical appeals to finance
ganized murder in the Holy Land."
Mr. GZIIT1ZCN; contends that the activ-
ities of the Bergsonsites offer "a conven-
ient target for anti-Semitic troublemak-
crs." We are inclined to believe that he
is wrong in linking the Revisionists to
the troublemakers, in view of a new ten-
dency among Revisionists to cooperate
in the program of the World Zionist Or-
ganization. But we are prepared to en-
dorse his proposals with regard to those
•xirernists who are encouraging the Pal-
4 stine terrorists—the time having come
to remove the quotation marks from the
ugly word. The sooner Jews everywhere .
' , and together in a program of sanity—
in opposition to the extremists—the bet-
lf r for Jewry and for Zionism.
• • •
Strictly
Confidential
The United Jewish Appeal
.1
New York Times Editorial
A campaign whose goal suggests by its size something of the magnitude of the
human problems left in war's aftermath is now getting under way.. The United
Jewish Appeal seeks $170,000,000 in 1947, under the general chairmanship of Henry
Morgenthau Jr., in what is described as the largest voluntary relief campaign in the
nation's history. This seems a tremendous sum to raise,. but we must measure it
against the urgency of the need felt by the pitiable remnant surviving Hitler's
bestiality in Europe. The generosity shown in previous years by Americans who
were willing to give of their plenty to relieve suffering suggests that it is an attain-
able -goal. Last year's mark was also set high; $100,000,000 was asked, and $102,-
000,000 was given. In 1944 the goal was $32,000,000, and in 1945 $75,000,000. So have
the needs increased year by year. Now, with jJNRRA's end, the personal gift largely
replaces the official agency in relieving the victim of oppression and helping him
to regain his footing.
The United Jewish Appeal combines the fund-raising activities of the Joint
-Distribution Committee, United Palestine Appeal and United Service for New
Americans. The national chairmen representing these agencies, Rabbi Jonah B. Wise,
Charles J. Rosenbloom and William Rosenwald, see a task of "heroic proportions"
lying ahead, in behalf of a friendless people who are "symbols of the peace and
dignity for which the world fought a great war." We are, in aiding these still suffer-
ing victims of -the bigoted leaders of fallen Germany. fighting a new war, in a
sense, against fear and want. Hundreds of thousands of these victims, many of them
in that hapless condition of "displaced" persons, are still in desperate need of sup-
port before they will be able to do what they most want to do, to make their own
way in starting life anew. Mr. Morgenthau, before accepting the general chairman-
ship, satisfied himself "completely" that the needs were "valid and urgent." Secre-
tary of War Patterson. with his intimate knowledge of these needs through Army
channels, has endorsed the work of the United Appeal. This is a philanthropic
enterprise that has, in the past, not drawn its support from those of the Jewish
faith alone. Last fall Cardinal Spellman as president of the Alfred E. Smith Founda-
tion sent a check for $10,000. Earlier in the year John D. Rockefeller Jr. "counted it
a privilege" to respond, with $100,000, to an "appeal that needs no argument."
While war's suffering remains we are still at war.
Heard in
The Lobbies
-
By ARNOLD LEVIN
(Copyright. 1947, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Inc.)
AFL
Calling the AFL, Washington, D. C.:
what will you gentlemen do about the
Atlanta, Ga. AFL which has repeatedly
been catering to the KKK and Colum-
bians by accommodating them at the
Steamfitters end Plumbers Union Hall?
And about ths AFL editor who threw his
si.'pport to Herman Talmadge? We know,
of course, that such behavior by Atlanta
colleagues cannot and will not disturb
Dan Tobin or John L. Lewis, but should
disturb a sincere humanitarian like Wil- .
liam Green.
•
•
•
HOLLYWOOD
Oscar Levant may win the Academy
Award for his perfomance in Humoresque
. . . Invited to the White House dinner
for members of the U. S. Supreme Court,
Levant mused: "Will the Supreme Court
like me, 4-5?"
•
•
BEVIN'S ENGLISH
•
Addressing the 4.000,000 Medical School
Campaign of the Hebrew University and
lladassah, Bartley Crum told the follow-
ing :*true story - anecigote:
"When Mr. Bevin addressed a luncheon
of the Anglo-American Committee of In-
quiry on Palestine, while ,we were in
London he told us that if our - recommen-
dations were unanimous, the British gov-
ernment would take action • on them at
By PHINEAS J. MON
(Copyright, 1947. Seven Arts)
RESPECTABLE IHTLERITES
John Rogge spent three months in Ger.
many, interviewing Nazi, big shots . . .
In his 400 page. report to Attorney Gen-
eral Tom C. Clark he enumerated the
-names of important GerMan sympathisers
. . . In that list you will find the names
of S. Behn, president of the International
Telegraph and Telephone Company;
James Mooney of General Motors; Messrs.
De Witt Wallace, Paul Palmer and George
T. Eggleston of Reader's Digest; not to
forget John L. Lewis and ex-Senator Bur-
ton K. Wheeler . . . Don't be surprised if
Wheeler is appointed United States Attor-
ney-General one of these days.
• -----
•
•
CLARIFICATION
The battle about dialect comedians is in
full swing . . . Walter Winchell is thun-
dering daily against the bad boys, and has
full backing of the Anti-Defamation
League forces ... Ed Sullivan, whose col-
umn "Little Old New York" has gained
many readers in the last few years, is
battling Winchell . . . Eddie enjoys the
support of Dr. Stephen S. Wise . . In
all this melee the real issue is being dis-
torted . . . Dialect in itself does nobody
any harm . . . TTie kind of dialect humor
that ridicules racial characteristics ma-
By BORIS SMOLAR
liciously—that's the kind that must be
is Telegraphic
(Copyright,
stopped . . . Anti-Jewish or anti-Italian
Agency. Inc.)
jokes delivered with p perfect Harvard
THE PALESTINE ISSUE
accent are just as—if 'not more—nus-
Although the United States has no eating than the dialect racist material..
observer at the London conference on "Clean your Humor" should be the slo-
Palestine, American diplomats are gen- gan instead of "Correct your Dialect."
•
uinely hopeful that official talks between
Britain and the Arabi : and the unofficial QUEBEC DESERVES CREDIT
discussions with the Jews will produce a
In the splendid biography of Homer
conclusive and ,strife-ending solution to Loomis, the Columbian fascist leader,
the Palestine problem . . . Washington published a few weeks ago in PM. the
experts believe that a successful plan for author forgot to mention -one interesting
the partition of Palestine may be in the fact . . . that Loomis spent a great deal
making ... It is their impression that de- of time in Canada before the war . . . It
spite vigorous denials, the Arabs will re- is in the province of Quebec that Loomis
luctantly agree to partition if it is placed learned a great deal about anti-Semitie
before them as an accomplished fact . .. journalism . . . which reminds us that
A reassessment of American policy on ,. Le Goglec," Quebec's most violent anti-
Palestine is now believed likely. once Semitic publication, has reappeared . . .
Secretary of State Marshall is acclimated It is edited by one Joseph Meynard.
to _his new office,
In Jewish circles this question is asked: ORCHIDS
Is there currently a Jewish Agency, or
Orchids to the "Council Against Intol-
only an executive of the World Zionist
in America" .. . Its exhibit "Tol-
Organization which speaks for the Jew- erance Can Be Taught," now on view at
ish Agency ... This question. is provoked erance
the Norlyst Gallery in New York, is a
by the fact that the non-Zionist section
achievement ... Posters. pla-
of the adMinistrative committee of the worthwhile
maps, cartoons, films etc. are being
Jewish AgenFy ;ailed to meet simultane- cards,
used ... Close to 100 organizations, labor
ously with The Zionist Congress to elect
unions, newspapers and democratic agen-
members to the Agency's executive . . .
are co-operating ... The teaching of
Actually there is no Agency executive cies
democracy can be made quite exciting
composed of Zionists and non-Zionists,
. . . Bravo!
but merely a World Zionist Executive
Between
You and Me
• •
With partition on the horizon. spetula-
tion is rife as to how the Jewish State,
• •
•
•
•
DID YOU KNOW?
•
That there are Arab trade unions in
once. Being a native American I took i when and if proclaimed, will be named Palestine, affiliated with the World Fed-
that to mean that it would be favorable . . . It will certainly not bear the name eration of Trade Unions . . . That the
action. But recently,- at a party given by Palestine . . . Some propose naming it Arab Trade Union Congress is militant-
Jack Kreindler at 21, I met one of the Eretz Isrbel, others suggest the names ly opposed to the Hussein leadership and
diplomats attached to Mr. Bevin's en- Zion, Judea, Israeland.
is fighting the return to power of the
• • •
tourage and learned that I didn't really
Grand Mufti . . . That the Arab Peoples'
understand English, at least English as THE AMERICAN SCENE
Party is very much opposed to the Arab
spoken with an English Labor Party ac-
The old friendship between the JDC High Committee and might be willing to
young diplomatic aide I and the ORT, which was marred when consider a deal with the leadership of
cent. Mr. Bevin's young
took me aside and said that Mr. Bevil).' ORT started its own fund raising cam- the Zionist moderates.
was quite disturbed at my recent critical paign in the U. S. is about to be resumed
Elias Newman's exhibit of recent water
statements. I asked what else he expected
By the time these lines are read, an colors at the Babcock Galleries, New
that I would say after haying heard Mr. I • arrangement
• •
may be announced under York ... This Palestinian painter has sud-
Bevin himself say that action would be which the ORT will receive $2 000 000 denly emerged as one of America's finest
taken on the report of the Anglo-Ameri- . from JDC funds, with the approval of the landscapists.
can Committee of Inquiry, if it were I United Jewish Appeal, and will abstain
Miriam Brainin, grand-daughter of
unanimous. To this the young diplomat from a separate fund-raising drive this Reuben Brainin, will become Mrs. Alex-
said: You are mistaken. Mr. Bevin did year.
ander Issenman on Vela. 6 . .. He's one
DUTY OF "WHITE AMERICANS"
not say- that favorable action would be
of Montreal's most enterprising young
Jewish
national
and
overseas
agencies
There is so much talk in Mississippi taken. He said that action would be
in the United States have set their goals retail merchants. •
•
•
and in Georgia about the rights and the
taken."
for 1947 as about $222.350,000 compared
•
•
•
powers of "white Americans" that a
NOTE
TO
EDITORS
with $131,300,000 raised by them in the
sense of relief is introduced by the fol-
WASHINGTON LINE
"The World League of Liberal Jews,"
past year .. . In addition, some of them
lowing splendid article which was
Senator Bob Wagner was reassured by
Los Angeles, is a fake outfit using a Jew-
intend
to
raise
more
than
$40,000,000
,s
o f the latter
written for the New York Post by Dr.
Jimmy B yrnes, on
ish trademark to spread anti-Semitie
now during the year for capital funds . . . propaganda . . . You can get more data
Daniel A. Poling, eminent Christian
resignation, that the Nazi scientists
remain
in
This
means
that
American
Jewry
will
be
theologian:
working for the War Dept. will
by writing, to the ADL offices.
For years a Negro American has worked
that department's custody and that the asked to give this year about $264,000,000
for
Jewish
charity
.
.
.
This
includes,
of
in the home of one of my secretaries. The
State Department did not contemplate
maid is courteous, efficient, deeply religious,
course, the $170,000,000 campaign of the
and she is an American. Recently her family
granting them citizenship.
UJA . . . Last year JDC had to borrow
built a comfortable house on the lot where
for 'years they lived in a shack, and now,
-.-
$9,000,000 from the banks In order to
No labor, however humble, is dishon-
though they were not molested before, they
Start, and When they start they should be
meet comm tments which it i incurred in orfng.—Nedarim 49b.
are constantly annoyed.
stopped in Such fashion as to discourage the
lunatic
fringe
from
starting
them
again.
At first windows were broken but during
1946 .. . In addition to such loans, JDC
Artisans are not required to stand up
We white Americans and we Christians
the holidays the basement was entered and
has been granted an $8,000,000 credit, from their labour when a Sage passes by.
are responsible. We constitute the majority.
ransacked. They receive anonymous phone
Mans and all other subversive groups spawn
payable -over a period of three years, by —Kiddushin, 33a.
ir,alls and unsigned letters.
in us. Until we face this brutal fact and act
The least that this particular residential
The Law declares that for stealing an
the Office of Foreign Liquidations and
like Christian Americans, we are traitors to
community can do is give the family pro-
tection and the hoodlums the discipline and
freedom.
the War Assets Administration for the ox one must repay fivefold, but for a
punishment they deserve. The town is dis-
Dr Poling believes that the guilty are purchase of Army surplus goods abroad lamb only fotirfold (Exod. 22:1). Rabbi
graced until the shame is cured. There is no
"traitors to freedom." He has the en- and in this country.
Me'ir said, "See how God. loves a worker!
excuse for failing to solve this problem.
dorsement of men like former Governor
I have a letter that tells of Christmas
Dr. Joseph C. Hyman, retired executive Why must - the thief repay fivefold for an
carolers in another town who. when they
Arnall and a great many others who vice-chairman of the JDC, -is enjoying a ox? Because the ox is a worker, and his
came to a Jewish home, followed their tra-
ditional "Merry Christmas and a Happy New
won't stand for indecency in America.
deserved rest in California ... His fare- work was interrupted. But for the -lamb,
Year" with oaths and epithets directed at
The fact that a majority of our U. S.
the race that gave the World Jesus.
well speech, given at a testimonial din- which is not a worker, the thief nee& to
It may be argued that one drunk was re-
Senators have joined forces to prevent
ner in New York attended by important repay only fourfold." — Tosefta Baba
sponsible and that he had attached himself
the seating of Senator Bilbo is proof that
uninvited to the party. Even so. there is no
Jewish leaders, will long be remembered Kant 7:10.
all hope for perpetuation of American
excuse. The apology to the family should
Hire yourself out to work which is be-
-, reflecting an
have been quick and complete. The drunk
principles is not gone, and that even the ... It was a classic address
neath you rather than become dependent
should have been locked up and hie carolers
of
Jewish
era
of
world
history
and
should have gone to the mourner's bench.
South may 'one day learn the true lesson
on others.—Sanhedrin.
These things are not small and they are
tragedy.
of democracy and humanity.
•
Talmud on Labor
basic.
They should be cured before they