THE JEWISH
Page Four
As the Editor
Views the News ...
The Last Word?
111()VCrnent.
Teachers' Dilemma -
The threatened teachers' strike has become
a problem for all elements in our population.
Acknowledged as the most under-paid pro-
fessional group in the country, the teachers
have decided to take drastic steps to force
the issue and to compel public interest in
behalf of their needs.
If we are sincerely concerned that our
school system, the backbone of our democ-
racy, should function properly and efficiently
and that our children should get the greatest
benefits from the educational facilities pro-
vided for them by the community, then those
who do the teaching should be made secure
economically.
It is our community's obligation to give the
best possible deal to the teachers. Strikes
must he averted and the educational system
should not be demoralized.
The community has it within its power
either to strengthen our school system or to
demoralize it. To avoid demoralization, we
must avoid strikes. To avoid strikes, we must
provide the teachers with a living wage.
Education For FEPC
Ruled off the April 7 election ballot, the
Fair Employment Practice proposal never-
theless remains a major issue for consider-
ation by the people of Michigan.
Proponents__ of the measure, composed of
Catholics, Protestants and Jews, spokesmen
for labor and management, now are faced
with the responsibility of educating the
public to the need for such humanitarian
legislation.
Thus, major responsibility in support of
such an act now is shifted to the field of edu-
•ation, and all who are deeply interested in
the spead of the hi.,,hest principles of democ-
racy should unite in sponsoring such a cam-
paign • to the end that a Michigan FEPC may
be adopted as speedily as possible.
Britain's Muddlina
Five Jews and an Arab woman, definitely
known to have been innocent passers-by,
died as a result of "defensive" shooting by
British soldiers in Jerusalem, last Saturday.
A British soldier was killed Wednesday
morning as a result of a new Irgunist of-
fensive. Another refugee boat arrived Tues-
day night in Palestine with hundreds of Jews.
Thus, conditions in the Holy Land remain
unstable—thanks to Britain's policy of mud-
dling. A just policy, pursued with firmness
can restore peace in Zion.
THE JEWISH NEWS
MCIllh,
Iclegraphic Agency. Independent Jewish
S4,en Arts Feature Syndicate. Religious
Nev.'s Scr,ice Palcor Agency. World News Services.
Mernbei Ani•i wan Association 01 English-Jewisn News-
papers and NlIonigan I'vess Association.
Publisned every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
ing Co.. 2114 Penotis,lt Bid g . Detroit 26. Mich., RA. 7936
Subscription. 53 a Near. foreign. - 1St. Club subscription.
ecety fourth Fliday ,d the month. to all subscribers to
Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federation of
Detroit. 30 ct fits poi
I.:ntertd as second cia.s flatter Aug. 6. 1942. at Post Of-
Detroit. Mick.. under Act of Match 3. 1879.
.1C, 1,11
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maurice Aronsson
Philip Slomovitz
Fred M. Butzel
Isidore Sobeloff
Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere
Maurice H. Schwartz
Henry Wineman
PHILIP SLrrIOVITZ. Editor
VOL. 10—NO. 26
'MARCH 14, 1947
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-third day of Adar,
5707, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions—Ex. 35:1-40:38; Num. 19.
Prophetical portion—Ezek. 36:16-38.
Facts You Should Know
Answers to Readers
Questions -About Jews
Zionist Membership
In the present crisis affecting Palestine,
unity in Jewish ranks and mobilization of
all our forces in support of the program for
unlimited Jewish imMigration to Eretz Israel
is of the utmost importance.
Today, more than ever before, enrollment
of large numbers of Jews in the ranks of the
Zionist movement is desirable for the sake
of such unification of all our forces.
The current membership drive of the Zion-
ist Organization of Detroit therefore assumes
greater importance than was attracted to any
other similar drive in the past. At the same
t ime, those who prefer the Mizrachi or labor
parties should join the groups of preference.
Detroit Jews owe it to the collective will of
our people to respond enthusiastically to the
call for large enrollment in the Zionist
Friday, March' 14, 1947
NEWS
What do the letters of the organization ORT
actually stand for? Is there in Detroit a branch ,
of OSE, how active is it and does it have
branches in other. Michigan cities?
Mrs. A. Adinoff, 2818 Electric Ave., Port Huron.
ORT,
a contraction
of the Russian words
Obtschestwo rasprostranenija truda, means organ-
ization for Rehabilitation-and Training. It was
formed in Russia in 1880 under the leadership of
Baron Horace Gunzburg, Samuel Polakoff, Prof.
Nicholas Bakst, Dr. L. Katzenelson and N. Rabin-
Owitsch. Today it functions for vocational train-
"ipg.for European Jews.
OSE, also known as OZE, from the initials of the
Russian •• words Obtschestwo Zdravoochranyenia
Evreyev - (Jewish Health Society), is the World
Union for the Protection of the Health of Jews.
It has no chapters in Michigan. Its New York
office is at 24 W. 40th St.
Why is it customary to empty all -vessels of
water in the room or place where a person
died?-
Three main reasons are given for this custom.
First, it is claimed that the angel of death drops
, an invisible drop of "death-blood" in any stag-
nant water that is found near a corpse at death,
and that he rinses his "death-knife" therein. Sec-
ond, since in early times there was no such thing
as faucets which would release running water
and households kept their water in basins, pouring
out the water was a symbol by which the neigh-
bors were notified that a death had occurred in
the house. Another interesting reason for this
custom has to do with the death of Miriam in the
Bible (Numbers 20:1), where it is written that
"there was no water for the people," implying
the fact that the water stopped flowing in her
honor. It. is thus claimed that pouring out the
of standing water implies a sign of respect
Announcement of the withdrawal of the Mizrachi Ortho- vessels
for the dead person, signifying that he is worthy
dox Zionist Organization from the - Vaad Hatzalah Relief of the same tribute paid to Miriam.
Mizrachi and Vaad Hatzalah
Committee because the Vaad "discriminated against Euro-
pean Mizrachi members in meting out relief measures" com-
pels renewal of the question why it should be necessary to
conduct separate relief drives for orthodox Jews.
If the charge is true, that Vaad Hatzalah aims "to force
DPs into the ranks of the Agudas Israel movement," then
there is good_ reason for serious complaint against those
crthodox leaders who seek to make political capital for their
own p9.sties out of relief efforts. Such tactics deserve wide-
spread condemnation.
But the internal conflict that has arisen" brings to public
attention anew the problem of multiplicity of fund-raising
drives. Mizrachi's withdrawal from Vaad Hatzalah is ac-
companiediby the inauguration of an orthodox Zionist $500,-
000 rescue -drive--$100,000 being ear-marked for Passover
relief—thus . forcing upon American Jewry another relief
campaign. In addition to the very great, world-wide relief
activities of the Joint Distribution Committee, whose funds
now are being raised through the United Jewish Appeal,•we
thus have two additional orthodox solicitations.
Mizrachi, of course, has an excellent case in its request
for funds to suppOrt its kibbutzim, orphan homes and settle-
ments in Europe. It may even be completely justified in its
charges against the Agudah. As a participarit in the UJA,
as one of the partners in the United Palestine Appeal, and
as a responsible movement whose leaders surely recognize the
widespread activities of JDC which does provide funds for
crthodox relief purposes, its right to launch another relief
drive is to be questioned. JDC places strong emphasis upon
Passover relief among all European survivors. It has supplied
Sifre Torah, prayer books and other religious necessities to
our orthodox kinsmen overseas. Its religious program can be
expanded wherever needed. The launching of extra-curricu-
lar fund-raising projects therefore appears unnecessary and
is certain to be harmful to internal unity in American Jewish
efforts for relief efforts overseas. Orthodox leaders owe an
explanation to the Jews of America for sponsoring new unity-
splitting campaigns.
Please state what are the Talmud, Zohar;
Cabbala, "Der Judenstatt?"
There are two Talmudic works—Babylonian and
Palestinian, recording rabbinic discussions on mat-
ters of Jewish law and ethics: the Zohar is the
book containing the basic principles of the Cab-
bala, which is the mystical Jewish Philosophy
created by a sect in the middle ages; "Der Juden-
statt- is "The Jewish State, - the volume written by
Dr. Theodore Herzl as his first thesis outlining t1
Zionist ideal and the need for the restoration of
the Jewish State in Palestine.
FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE
Palestine and the Jews
• By ALICE JEAN HARRIS
Miss Harris. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Harris. is
a member of the Student Council of Central High School
and of the Conservation Class of Shaarey Zedek.
A subject of controversy today is whether or not
Palestine be the homeland of the Jews. I, for one,
definitely believe that this country be given to
those whom the Bible says rightfully own it.
After World War I, Great Britain was granted
a mandate to Palestine. Finding this land to profit
her in commerce, she has since kept it under her
yoke.
•
Now there are approximately one million dis-
placed Jews in Europe. No country is willing to
accept them as citizens or will permit them to
settle. They have no place to go: their only hope
is Palestine. In Palestine, a very hot, dry country,
the Jews have irrigated the desert soil, planted
forests where before a tree had never grown, built
pipelines to the mountains so that pure drinking
water could be obtained, built modern cities as
Haifa and Tel Aviv. and built up land where there
had been swamps infested with disease. Certainly
when a people have done so much for a country
they ought to have the right to live there.
The Arabs and the Jews for the most part get
along together. On the whole, it is the officials
that disagree and now as they see what a beautiful
agriculture country these ten thousand square
miles are turning into, they do not want to give
it up.
The Balfour Declaration stated that Palestine be
Jewish participation in the Annual Flower Show of the given to the Jews.
Only by careful planning can the Jews hope to
Michigan Horticultural Society through a special Palestine
the land with God designated as their
Garden offers a splendid opportunity to present the happy regain
regain the land which God designated as their
and the constructive side of Jewry's efforts to create a Na- home.
Jewish Day-at Flower Show
tional Home in the Holy Land. -
In spite of the saddening events transpiring in Palestine,
it is heartening to know that our community has not lost its
normal perspective and that it places emphasis not on the
negative but on the positive aspects of one of the greatest
colonization experiments in all history.
JeWish achievements in Palestine extend to all fields of
activities. They are, however, especially pronounced agri-
culturally and in the creation of flourishing colonies. Deserts
have been transformed into blossoming gardens and it is
appropriate that the Michigan Flower Show, which will take
place here March 15-23 at Convention Hall, should have a
Palestine Garden.
Designation of Monday, March 17, as Jewish Day at the
Flower Show should serve to make a veritable holiday of the
occasion for all Detroit Jews. The showing of Palestine
movies and the concert music by the eminent organist of
Temple Beth El, Jason Tickton, should enhance the program
on Jewish Day.
The Jewish National Fund Council of Detroit deserves
the community's thanks for having undertaken the project
of sponsoring the Palestine Garden and Jewish Day at the
Flower Show.
The Story of 'The Quiz Kids'
A Splendid Book by an Informed Writer
Eliza Merrill Hickok's "The Quiz Kids," pub-
lished by Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. lists a
chronological list of the smart youngsters. We find
the name of Charles Schwartz, Emily Israel, Jack
Beckman, Davida Wolffson, Muriel Deutsch, Lois
Karpf, Corinne Shapira, Joann Cohen, Larry Fried-
man, Maxine Klein. Harriet Kupperman, Jerry
Hamovit, Louis Sissman and Gellert Seel of De-
troit, Harriet Leavitt, Philip Marcus, Joanne Berg,
Lee Abrams, Judith •Benjamin, Harold Weintrob,
and a score of other very familiar names.
And, ,9f course, there is Joel Huppertnan". Sev-
eral of the most interesting portions of the book
are devoted to Joel. He is as fascinating a char-
acte'r in the description of him by the author of
"The Quiz Kids," as he is on the radio. And Miss
Hickok, as an associate of Joe Kelly, director of
the Quiz Kid class, ought to know.
Miss Hickok has produced a very splendid and
informative book. She traces the history of -the
Quiz Kids, describes how they are chosen for the
programs, tells how they live, what their interests
are, their miSchieVouS tricks on their tours and in
hotels, the public's reactions to them, etc.
The book is informative, entertaining, 'good
reading.