• Friday, February 7, 1947 THE'JEWISH NEWS Page Four As the Editor Views the News The Tragic Showdown Answers to Readers Questions About Jews . A showdown is imminent on Palestine. Great Britain's decision to impose a partition solution appears to be tantamount either to enforcing a program similar to the Morrison federalization plan, or the immediate estab- lishment of an Arab-Jewish state, neither of which is acceptable to Jewry. • Spokesmen for the Zionist movement, in the course of negotiations and conferences with the British, are making a strong case against this plan and are exerting their in- fluence to secure concessions which will bring an acceptable solution to the problem. Whatever the solution, it is evident at this time that it will be a tragic one, that it will reduce Jewish opportunities for the develop- ment of the Jewish National Home to a mini- mum. Having taken from the recognized area for a Jewish Homeland the rich territory across the Jordan, the British now are making fur- ther cuts in Jewish areas in Eretz Israel, and the future status of Palestine is threatened by unrealistic approaches to the problem. It is most unfortunate that the existing con- ditions in Palestine should have aggravated the problem so seriously as to make the situation intolerable. If we get a very bad deal, part of the blame will be traceable to the group whom the Jewish Agency has branded "demented desperadoes." • ' While our leaders have been deliberating with the British, the undisciplined element has been resorting to destructive activities which have greatly harmed the Jewish cause. Also-if the decisions of conferences in London militate against us, part of the blame will be on the shoulders of the antagonistic elements in Jewish life who have failed to cooperate in constructive efforts in time of need. Most damaging of all, of course, are the British tactics of creating doubts and fears in the minds of Palestinians and the world at large. The silly "evacua- tion" order is part of a scheme to arouse suspicions and to place the Jewish com- munity in Palestine in a bad light in the eyes of the world. British threats to the Jewish Agency and the demand that Jews act as "informers" against fellow-Jews are other examples of outrageous attempts to humiliate our lead- ers and to force them into an intolerable position, thus_ ignoring the truth that ad- herence to pledges to the Jews would Mo- mentarily end trouble in Palestine. . The worst that can happen in this tragic period is that Jews should despair and lose faith. If decisions against us should prove very drastic, it may mean that we shall have to begin from scratch in building confidence in the Jewish cause, in creating new friends- among Arabs, British, Americans and others -and in strengthening the foundation of the settlement in Palestine. To this day, we have created in Palestine 'a strong center. We have built blossoming colonies. have established flourishing cities, have to our credit a great university and splendid school and hospital systems. Facts You Should Know Double Standard of Morality What were the Bridgewater Treatises? * Eight treatises "on the -power, wisdom, and goodness of God, as manifested in the Creation," published in the years 1833-36 with funds pro- vided by the will of the eighth Earl of Bridge- water. • • • What is the Haftarah? The haftarah (from the Hebrew "conclusion") is the prophetic selection concluding the Scrip- ture lesson which is read in the synagogue at each Sabbath and festival service. Lincoln Quiz Test Your Knowledge AboUt Emancipator By BERNARD POSTAL Director of Public Information National Jewish Welfare Board 1. 2. 3. Ritual Libel: Resurgence of Bigotry Ritual murder libels originated in accusations that were leveled by Romans against the early Christians. Later, the charge was transferred to the Jews, resulting in some of the worst tragedies recorded in Jewish history. ThroughoUt the centuries, in the main, the Catholic Church has strongly repudiated the spreaders of evil libels. These repudiations, however, have proven inadequate in stemming the circulation of falsehoods. Anti-Semitic news- papers, Christian churches in Russia, Poland, Romania and Hungary, encouraged the spread -of ritual murder libels. These frightful charges have been handed down to our own time. The latest culprits are those responsible for the distribution of Arnold Leese's pamphlet "Jewish Ritual Murders." A revealing article in the New York Post charges that "this fantastic concoction is now being distributed by the thousands, by We, the Mothers Mobilize for America, a rabid nationalist organization." The fact that this group of women, whose name properly should be "Women Who Mobilize for Bigotry" (the word "mother" should not be abused by linking it with bigots),- to quote again from the N. Y. Post-"is headed by Mrs. Lyrl. Van Hyning, an ardent disciple of Elizabeth Dining, and during the war the group conducted a campaign to demoralize the wives and mothers of front-line soldiers"-explains much that might otherwise be misunderstood. Arnold Leese, author of the hate-provoking pamphlet, served a year's sentence for an article on "ritual murder" in the Fascist, organ of Great Britain's Imperial Fascist League. The charge he makes in his pamphlet that Jews killed the Lindbergh baby just before Purim in order to use its blood for ritual purposes libels American courts more than it does the Jews, the accusation being that the courts are "controlled" by Jews. Only demented minds could possibly concoct such stupidities, yet they are circulated widely by American women who hide under the title "mothers!" Taking into consideration the claim made by John , Roy I Carlson in "The Plotters" that these "We, the Mothers" have 40,000 members, their vicious activities must be recognized as extremely serious, calling for vigilant action by those who are concerned that -decency should prevail in this land. Meanwhile, the spread of "ritual murder" libels is not limited to bigots in this country. A JTA cable from Warsaw this week revealed the following: Anti-Jewish demonstrations have been taking place every evening in a Polish theater in Cracow during the performance of the play "Wielgonoc" which is devoted to the promotion of good will between Poles and Jews by depicting the role of Jews during the revolt against the Nazis in the Warsaw ghetto. Demonstrations are carried out by groups of Polish students who attend the - performance for the purpose of creating a dis- turbance. The first demonstration took place during the pre- miere, when the anti-Semites interrupted with booing. The author of the drama is a young and gifted Polish play- wright, Stefan Otwinowsky. When the play was presented in Lodz, the Polish population there received it coldly. Many Poles left the theater before the end of the performance and on sub- sequent evenings the show played to a nearly empty theater. These foundations are certain to• flourish and to bring credit to Jewry and the entire Middle East. The problem of the future will be to create opportunities for the settlement of hundreds of thousands of Jews who have no other place to look to but Palestine. By retaining faith, by nourishing that spirit of courage which has made possible the gains we have achieved heretofore, we shall triumph in the end. These are symptoms of a resurgence of reactionary forces throughout the world. Apparently we shall have to begin from scratch in fighting the battle for justice and decency among all peoples. THE JEWISH NEWS Women's Allied Campaign Chairmen 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 pet year. Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Of- fice. Detroit. Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Philip Slomovitz Maurice Aronsson Isidore SobelolT Fred M. Bntzel Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere Maurice R. Schwartz Henry Wineman PHILIP VOL. 10-NO. 21 SLOMOVITZ. Editor FEBRUARY 7, 1947 Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the eighteen day of Shevat, 5707 the following Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion-Ex. 18:1-20-26. Phophetical portion-Is. 6:1-7:6; 9 - 5,6. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 1. 2. Why were the first pulpit utterances in con- nection with Lincoln's death heard in the synagogues? Where was the last photograph of Lincoln taken? Who designed the Lincoln penny? What is the only American flag bearing Hebrew letters? Who made the public denial that Lincoln was a member of the Know Nothings? Who was responsible for the appointment of the first Jewish Army chaplain? When was the Hashkaban, Sephardic funeral rite, first recited for a non-Jew in a Jewish house of worship? How did Lincoln's widow get her pension? What Jewish physician was at Lincoln's deathbed? Who were first contributors to fund for Lincoln monuthent in Springfield, Ill.? Who transmitted to the world Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation? Who first suggested Lincoln for the Presi- dency? When did Lincoln scotch an attempt at anti-Semitism? Who was Lincoln's pinochle partner? What president first appointed a Jew a full- fledged minister to a foreign power? ANSWERS Because Lincoln died on a Saturday. On the Sunday before his assassination in the Washington studio of Adolphus Solo- mons, one of the founders of the American Red Cross. It shows Lincoln sharpening a pencil for his son. The Lincoln penny, issued in Aug. 2, 1909, was designed by a Jewish artist, Victor D. Brenner, whose initials, VDB, appeared on the first 28,000,000 of these coins. 4. A flag, hand-made of silk on which was in- scribed in Hebrew the first chapter from Joshua, was presented to Lincoln by Abra- ham Kohn of Chicago, in 1860. Before Lincoln left to be inaugurated as President. 5. Abraham Jonas, close friend of Lincoln, was asked by the Emancipator to publicly deny that he was affiliated with the Know Nothing Party, an early Ku Klux Klan. 6. Lincoln prevailed upon Congress to pass legislation that resulted in the appointment of Rabbi Arnold Fischl of New York in 1862. 7. At the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, New York, during a Lincoln memorial serv- ice in April, 1865. 8. Joseph Seligman, New York banker, who declined Lincoln's offer to make him Sec- retary of the Treasury, persuaded Congress to award Mrs. Lincoln a pension when he dis- covered her in want. 9_ Dr. C. H. Lieberman of Washington was one of the nine medical men at Lincoln's death- bed. His portrait is among the 47 persons in the famous painting, "The Last Hours of - Lincoln." 10. The Jewish community of Alton, Ill. later founder and editor 11. Edward Rosewater , a War Department teleg- of the Omaha Bee, rapher, tapped out from the War Depart- ment telegraph office in Washington the text of the Emancipation Proclamation. 12. Abraham Jonas of Quincy, Ill. 13. He countermanded a military order which would have expelled Jews from the De- partment of Tennessee during . the Civil War. 14. Dr. Isachar Zacharie, a Jewish chiropodist with whom Lincoln played pinochle in the White House. Kaufman of 15. Lincoln nominated Sigisinund New York as minister to Italy. Kaufman declined the post. 3. `Singing W ay-Poems for Children' Sadie Rose Weilerstein has to her credit several books which rank among the most valuable for use by and for Jewish children. "The Adventures of K'tonton," "What Danny Did," "What the Moon Brought" and "Little New Angel" so splen• didly evaluate Jewish traditions and holidays that they are indispensable in teaching the Jewish children the ways of their people. Her latest work, "The Singing Way," adds to the glorious record Of this able author. This volume of poems for Jewish children, ably il- lustrated by Jessie B. Robinson, was published by the National Women's League of the United Syne.. gogue, 3080 Broadway, New York 27. It contains poems about all the holidays, the Sabbath and Jewish ceremonials. A section on "Of Names and Birthdays-Mostly Hebrew Ones" could be applied to any Jewish household, just as the other. poems could be intimately linked with general Jewish faftilly life. The introduction of Hebrew words (explained in a glossary) enables the reader to become acquaint- forth with the heartiest response whenever there is need for ed with the more important Hebrew words re- rescue, rehabilitation and reconstruction work and the con- quired for an introductory vocabulary to the It has become a tradition in our community for the Women's Division of the Jewish Welfare Federation to in- augurate activities for the Allied Jewish Campaign. The selection of Mrs. H. C. Broder and Mrs. Henry Wine- man as chairmen of this year's women's campaign and the setting of a quota of $500,000 as the women's share in the great $5,335,000 Allied Jewish Campaign for 1947 mark the beginnings of the tremendous drive during which we shall have to raise a sum twice as large as any we have contributed in the past. Previous standards set by our women auger well for the current drive. „They have been setting the pace in so many activities that it is reasonable to believe they again will emerge with complete fulfillment of their obligations in 1947. The leadership of Mesdames Broder and Wineman is ad- ditional assurance that the women, under able direction, will help keep our community on the right path of always coming tinuation of services we are assisting locally and nationally. language.