Frilay, June 27. 1947
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Four
As the Editor
Views the News ...
Democracy Without 'Reservations'
Refugees in
Study by Prof. Davie
Views Their Merits
'Who Is a Jew?'
Prot Maurice R. Davie's "Refugees in America:
Report of. the Committee for the Study. of Recent
Immigration from Europe," (Harper), may well
be called the most significant studyrof the status
of new immigrants to the U. S.
This sociological study was sponsored by a group,
of national organizations, . including National
Refugee Service which has been merged in the
United Service for New Americans. The Detroit
Council of Social AgenciCs, of which Miss Florence
G. Cassidy is the director, and Resettlement Serv-
ice, of which Harold Silver is the director, are the
Detroit cooperating agencies which assisted in this
study. Other Michigan ,cooperating agencies and
their representatiVe_s are: Flint, Bnai Brith, B. M.
Pelawin, International Institute, Miss Anna
In his cabled report on the hearings in
Jerusalem before the United Nations Spe-
cial Committee on Palestine, John G. Rogers,
correspondent of the New York Herald Tri-
bune, referred to several interesting ques-
tions that were addressed to Moshe Shertok,
head of the political department of the Jew-
ish Agency, among them the following:
The Netherlands' N. S. Blom asked:
"Who is a Jew?" Mr. Shertok replied
that a Jew is a person practicing the
Jewish religion, or, if not doing so, at
least not converted to another religion.
This was interesting, since it defined a
Jew by religion, yet Zionists speak often
of the Jewish race."
One question drew a bitter reply from
Mr. Shertok. Asked whether a non :Jew
could be converted to Judaism, he ans-
wered in the affirmative, but said, "We
always warn him against it."
These questions reveal the extent of the
interest that exists in various Jewish mat-
ters, whether or not they are related to Zion-
ism, in the discussion of the problem of Pal-
estine. Mr. Shertok's answers reaffirm the
basic principles of Judaism: that Jews are
a faith and that non-Jews seeking admission
to the Jewish fold must be fully apprised of
the difficulties that go with embracing Juda-
ism before they assume the responsibility of
conversion.
The Herald Tribune correspondent exag-
gerates, of course, when he refers to Zion-
ists speaking often of "the Jewish race."
Ratzesberger; Kalamazoo, Resettlement Commit-
tee, Mrs. Eric Snyder; Saginaw, Christian Refugee
A Challenge to American Jews
Jewish Telegraphic Agency's London-correspondent, Paul
S. Green, has cabled to this country a most disturbing analy-
sis of the revived anti-Semitic movement in England, result-
ing in the main from charges, symbolized by a headline in
the London Evening Standard proclaiming: "How New York's
Jews Run Their 'War' With Britain."
Mr. Green believes that English newspaper readers
should be forgiven for believing that New York has become
There are many Jews—non-Zionists as well the "rebel capital" of the Jewish state-to-be, the impression
as Zionists who speak of "The Jewish race." having been encouraged by the numerous statements of For-
Many more refer to "Jewish nationality," eign Secretary Ernest pevin, who has frequently referred
havinL; in view the indisputable fact that to the role of "New York Jews" in promoting war with Britain
Jews constitute a national as well as a reli- and preventing His Majesty's peace-loving government from
gious unit. In "Jewish Theology," the late settling the vexing Palestine problem.
Dr. Kaufman Kohler made the statement
We are informed that the English readers are told that
that "Judaism comprises all phases and char- New York Jews stuff their pockets with money made by buy-
acteristic, of both a national and world reli- ing unseaworthy ships on which unwilling refugees are sent
gion. -
to Palestine only to be rescued by the heroic British Navy.
Eliminating the "fine points" in the dis- Mr. Green points to the carelessness of English writers who
cussion, the fact remains that the Jews basic- go so far as to state that New York City's Jews number 56
ally are a religion and that Mr. Shertok was per cent of the population, whereas the true figure is 28 per
correct in his answers to the members of the cent, and who have built up a case against Jewry by main-
UN committee. While Palestine's problem taining that "semi-military" Jewish publications have mobil-
was muddled on occasions. by the introduc- ized strong sentiments for terrorism and for "illegal immi-
tion - dr—issues relative to the dangers of a gration" and in support of the Irgun, and the Ben Hecht
"theocracy" in Eretz Israel, the achievements League for a Free Palestine.
It is small consolation to maintain that English news-
in Palestine, which prove the values of Jew-
ish experiences in self-government in the paper writers are misrepresenting the issue. The fact to re-
Jewish Homeland, should allay any fears on member is that a very damaging propaganda campaign is
this score. On the contrary, the great values being conducted against Jewry, with the result that it spreads
of Jewry's ethical teachings, which gave rise anti-Semitism in England, has brought Mosley's British Union
to the other leading world religions, should Of Fascists to Palestine and may effect Jewish-Christian re-
—
prove factors in encouraging the speedy es-
tablishment of the Jewish Commonwealth.
Col. John H. Patterson
Col. John Henry Patterson, engineer and
big game hunter who was best known as
commander of the Jewish Legion which
fought with the British armies in Palestine
in World War I, was one of the most interest-
ing personalities of our time.
He not only was a staunch supporter of the
Jewish National Home in Palestine, but he
opposed his own government's policies main-
taining that Britain had betrayed her trust in
Zion. lie advocated establishment of a Jew-
ish army to fight the Nazis and was firm in
his pro-Zionist attitudes. His death in Los
Angeles last week is a serious loss in the
ranks of Christian Zionists.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Independent Jewish
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Member American Association of English-Jewish News-
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Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6. 1942. at Post Of-
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Philip Slomovitz
Maurice Aronsson
Isidore Sobeloff
Fred M. Butzel
Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere
Maurice H. Schwartz Henry Wineman
SLOMOVITZ. Editor
VOL. XI—NO. 15
JUNE 27, 1947
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the tenth day of Tammuz, 5707,
following
Scriptural selections will be read in
the
our synagogues:
Pentauechal portion—Num. 19:1-22:1.
Prophetical portion—Judges- 11:1-33s - —
America
lationships elsewhere.
A way must be found by the Jews of America to deal
with this situation. If the English press needs correcting, let
there be an organized campaign on this score. Whatever is
done, the challenge must be met in the interest of the truth—
making it clear that American Jews are being maligned and
that our interest is not in terrorism but in securing justice
Committee, Rev. Garfield HafermehL
The wide variety of occupational backgrounds of
the newcomers to this country in the present era,
the economic spheres of these-new Americans, the
problems of their readjustment, the agencies assist-
ing their resettlement and a score of other aspects
of the refugee problems are fully covered in this
study.
It is evident from this study that a very
great contribution to American life, in the
fields of science, industry, art, literature, etc.,
is being made by the refugees. The revelations
in Prof. Davie's book encourage a wide open
door for those fleeing from persecution, judg-
ing by the great gifts they make to America
and by the potential gifts of those seeking
entrance here.
The study shows that the number of refugees
who settled in Detroit grew from 8,227 in 1940
to 11,435 in 1945, the number settling in 1945
being approximately 2,000. These represent 0.1,
per cent of the total Detroit population of 1,623;
452.
Most of the refugees take advantage of the op-
portunity to become naturalized. In Detroit this
process is delayed due to shortage of naturalization
examiners and it takes new citizens six to seven
years to secure their final papers, instead of the
required five years.
Detroit is one of the cities in which the study
reports refugees to have engaged in real estate
activities.
Prof. Davie comments on the possibility of
an increase in anti-Semitic feelings growing
out of large-scale refugee immigration. He
writes: "Even with the small number of Jewish .
refugees already admitted there has been an
increase of anti-Semitic feelings in. some com-
munities, especially where, like Milwaukee
and New York, there is a large German pop-
ulation receptive to Nazi propaganda, and
where, like these cities plus Detroit and Chi-
cago, there is a large Polish element still in-
fluenced by Old World attitudes."
His conclusion is that in this country there is no
specifically refugee problem. only "a problem
which has existed throughout our entire history
and which has been solved in each generation
with good judgment and justice, to the develop-
ment and enrichment of American society."
Aiserting that the refugee represents a world
problem. Prof. Davie declares that it would be
strange if the U. S., with its "proud tradition as a
refuge for the oppressed," should refuse to bear
its share of the great human problem by closing
its gates. He expresses hope that the entire world
will share in this great burden.
Prof. Davie is chairman of the department of
sociology at Yale University.
Facts You Should Know
Answers to Readers_
Questions • • .
What is the origin of the practice of circumcision?
for the dispossessed and homeless Jews who have been prom-
Rabbi Samuel J. Fox, writing for the Jewish
ised a free door to Palestine and for whom the promise Telegraphic Agency, replies:
Whether the Jews were the first people to prac-
must be kept.
in view of
tice the ritual is rather questionable
historical data pointing to the practice of cir-
Ein Hashophet's 10th Anniversary
Ein Hashophet, the Palestinian colony that was named in
honor of the late Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis,
will observe its tenth anniversary on July 5.
This is an event of more than ordinary importance in
view of the great part played by EM Hashophet in extending
the "frontiers" of Jewish colonization areas in Palestine.
Established at a time when it was most dangerous for
Jews to go northward, the handful of young settlers who first
undertook to develop this colony risked their lives in estab-
lishing a new center for Jewish colonization.
In the 10 years of its existence, Ein Hashophet has grown
to a population of 450. It now has a number of Jewish neigh-
boring colonies, among them Ramat Hashophet, one of the
country's youngest colonies which was established in tribute
to the memory of the late Judge Julian W. Mack.
Detroit has a special interest in EM Hashophet. One of
the first young Detroiters to settle in Palestine, Ephraim.
Ticktin, was brutally murdered by Arabs while at work
planting new trees on the outskirts of the colony. Ephraim,
in spite of his youth, was among the leaders in the colony's
great colonization efforts. He was personally responsible for
the planting of thousands of trees. He tended the sheep and
participated actively in the cultural life of the small com-
munity which now commands so much strategic importance
in the Jewish Homeland. •
Observance of Ein Hashophet's 10th anniversary would
be incomplete without tribute 'to the memory of Ephraim
Ticktin and his Toronto co-worker who - was another victim
in the ill-fated Arab raid on their colony nine years ago. It
would be well for Detroiters to pay adequate tribute to the
memory of Ticktin, thereby also honoring the efforts of the
splendid pioneering group in Ein Hashophet.
cumcision in many primitive cultures. The Jews
are generally regarded as the first to standardize
the custom into a regulated national procedure.
Our own sources for this custom are the verses
in Geneses (especially XVII, 11) that regard the
matter of circumcision as a sign of the Covenant
between the descendants of Abraham and God.
Kohler has gathered evidence to show that cir-
cumsion in its most primitive form was connected
with marriage and that the primitive societies
generally selected the oge of puberty for the rite.
Through the ages many other reasons have
to the
been added to give meaning and purpose and
the
both the oldest
rite which seems to be surgical
operation
known:
most widely performed
and
Saadia
have
Writers like Philo, Josephus
found in this ritual a hygienic motive. This is
borne out by late medical analysis. The over-
hmiging foreskin is a breeding place for germs
which often lead to infection. Medical investi-
gation has shown that a person who is not cir-
cumcized is subject to a malady termed Phimosis
(inability to withdraw the foreskin whenever nec-
essary). This condition leads to many other
troubles. In extreme cases gangrene and ulcera-
this difficulty.
tion have been traced to in
this custom a preven-
Maimonodies has seen
tion of excessive lust. Some have seen in Circum-
cision a - sacrificial symboL Rosenzweig was so
impressed with the practice that he recommended
in 1878 that the entire Prussian army be circum-
cized. The Bible itself has many a time clad the
ritual with a deep spiritual significance. For ex-
ample the statement in Deuteronomy (X,16) "Cir-
cumcize the foreskin of your heart" displays the
act of circumcision not only as the cleansing of
the body but as a symbol of the cleansing of the
soul.
Who are the Hebrew Patriarchs?
This is the designation given to the great ances-
tors of the Israelites, especially _to Abraham, 'the
son of Jacob, and to David.