VW
Page Four
THE JEWISH NEWS
As the Editor
Views the News
Quick,
Uncle,
the Swatter!
Jewish Pocket Books
Important Classics Made
Available In New Series
Christian UJA Committee
In his letter to Henry Morgenthau, Jr.,
accepting the chairmanship of the National
Christian Committee for the United Jewish
Appeal, Thomas J. Watson, president of Inter-
national Business Machines. Corporation, ex-
pressed the view that "resettlement of the
homeless Jews of Europe is a paramount
problem that is closely related to the well-
being of all men."
Mr. Watson stated in his letter of accept-
ance:
I feel it is an obligation we owe to civiliza-
tion to re-establish the 250,000 Jews who are
still in DP camps and the 750,000 others, who
are in need of help, on a basis of self-respect,
comfort, security and an opportunity to take
their rightful places with the rest of us. I feel
that proper adjustments should be made in
our immigrant quotas in keeping with Ameri-
ea's unique record of hospitality to the down-
trodden and persecuted of other lands.
These sentiments should prove helpful not
only in enlisting countrywide Christian sup-
port for the UJA but also in renewing Jewish
interest in the national drive for $170,000,000.
Hitherto, Jewish communities have re-
frained from going outside our own ranks in
seeking support for Jewish causes. There have
always been, however, voluntary non-Jewish
contributors to important Jewish causes, and
On the eve of his return to the United States from a
their number undoubtedly will increase as a
result of the stimulus that will come from prolonged tour of displaced persons camps in Europe, Moses
the formation of the National UJA Christian A. Leavitt, executive vice-president of the Joint Distribution
Committee, stated at a press conference in Paris that thou-
Committee.
sands of European Jews are on the move and that an un-
organized movement out of the DP vamps may be started by
Jews in Germany, • Austria and Italy.
Among the facts presented by Mr. Leavitt as a warning
Adjournment of the United Nations Com- of the need for speedy action to strengthen the morale of the
mittee on International Law without acting DPs are:
on a proposed convention to outlaw genocide
The movement of Jews especially is evident in
was a grave disappointment.
Austria, France and Italy.
Thousands of Romanian Jews are fleeing from star-
The most frightful aspect of Nazism was
vation and are moving into Austria.
the introduction into the world of the new
Approximately 1,500 Jews enter France each month,
scourge of mass destruction of racial, na-
tional, linguistic and political groups.
the French government being especially sympathetic to
Jewish children.
The original draft defined three types
Mr. Leavitt pointed out that 1,500 Jews enter Italy every
of genocide: Physical — killings, imprison-
ment, starvation and medical experiments on month and that JDC has become the sole source of relief for
human beings; biological — sterilization, them as a result of liquidation of UNRRA.
breaking up families, obstruction of mar-
Thus, while JDC, as Mr. Leavitt pointed out, is not a
riages; cultural—destruction and obliteration government agency and the International Refugee Organi-
of a people's spiritual life and culture.
zation will have to assume a major portion of responsibility
In the latter category, the UN proposal for the relief of the survivors, JDC will remain the chief
included the outlawing of the stealing of relief-dispenser. Great responsibility therefore rests upon
children...for the purpose of imposing .upon American Jewry to protect JDC's postion with the large sums
them racial characteristics of another group; that will be needed for the relief and- rehabilitation program.
An important supplementary statement comes from I
forceful removal of persons of differing cul-
tural groups; destruction of libraries, George Backer, who also was in Paris, in behalf of the ORT.
museums, churches and historical documents. Mr. Backer stated that if not for the presence of American
A 90-minute debate took place on the troops pogroms would be common occurrences in Germany,
subject, and the 17 participating UN mem- and he warned that unless the UN Palestine committee
bers admitted the urgency of the issue. It arrives at a concrete solution the situation in DP camps will
does not speak well for the world's statesmen be most explosive.
The warnings by the two American Jewish leaders are
that they should have seen fit to delay action
on the anti-genocide convention in order to inter-related. Unless there is sufficient relief and azi oppor-
await further instructions from their gov- tunity for the settlement of Jews in Palestine, the crisis will
ernments. It appears so logical that the become more serious. American Jews have the serious duty
basic Nazi ideologies must be outlawed. But of providing relief funds and of fighting on the political front
the existing confusion serves an evil pur- to secure an open door in Palestine for our kinsmen.
pose. A member of the UN secretariat ex-
pressed doubt, in a statement to JTA, that
sufficient replies on the genocide issue would
Rep. John D. Lesinski of Michigan, former chairman of
be received from the 55 UN member nations
to have it placed on the agenda of the Econ- the Immigration Committee of the U. S. House of Represen-
omic and Social Council for next month. All tatives, while supporting the Stratton Bill to admit 400,000
of which spells delay in enforcement of jus- displaced persons over a four-year period, "with qualifica
tice and prevention of recurrence of Nazi tions," made a curious observation. Mr. Lesinski charged that
of the 82,000 visas issued during one year, 43,000 were allo-
brutality.
cated to DPs of the Jewish faith.
The Michigan Congressman said that he had written to
the White House on Dec. 5, 1946, complaining about the situa-
Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish
tion, and that he had received a reply stating that he had
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Religious
News Service, Palcor Agency.
been "misinformed" about the quota numbers being given
Member American Association of English-Jewish News-
largely to Jewish DPs, and that the policy was to give all
papers and Michigan Press Association.
PublIsned every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
faiths an equal share of quota numbers. Lesinski said he wrote
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., RA-7956.
again to the President on Dec. 12, and on Dec. 18 and received
Subscription, $3 a year; foreign, *4. Club subscription,
every fourth Friday of the month. to all subscribers to
the reply that there was "no need for further conversation
Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federation of
Detroit, 40 cents pet year.
on the subject." But, Lesinski shouted, "I was right and Mr.
Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Of-
President was wrong."
fice, Detroit. Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
Rep. Lesinski's observations are contrary not only to the
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
denials made to him by the White House, but also are in con
Maurice Aronsson
Philip Slomovits
tradiction with factual statements made by authorities who
Fred M. Butzel
Isidore Sobeloff
Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere
pointed out that only a small percentage of Jews will benefit
Maurice H. Schwartz Henry Wineman
from the bill.
planar SLOMOVITZ. Editor
It is regrettable that it becomes necessary to offer apolo-
gies on this score and that the issue is not dealt with on
VOL. XI—NO. 16
JULY 4, 1947
humanitarian grounds, in accordance with established Ameri-
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
can principles. But when we recognize the sharp delineations
This Sabbath, the seventeenth day of Tammuz, witnessed in the course of hearings on the Stratton Bill, with
5707, the following Scriptural selections will be men like Merwin K. Hart, president of the National Economic
read in our synagogues:
Council, testifying against the measure, we begin to realize
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 22:2-25:9.
that the division is between liberals and reactionaries.
Prophetical portion—Micah 5:6-6:8.
Perhaps a great deal of good yet will come out of the
On Sunday, the Fast of Tammuz, the following
Scriptural selections will be read in our syn- discussions. One must never give up hope that our Congress
will return to established American traditions and again will
agogues:
provide an open door for the oppressed and homeless sur-
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 32:11-14; 34:1-10.
vivors from Nazism.
Prophetical portion—Is. 55:6-56:8.
The Crisis in Europe
UN and Genocide
,
Lesinski and the Stratton Bill
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, July 4, 1947
Pocketsize books have become as indispensable
a feature of American life as drugstores, sky..
scrapers, and chewing gum.
Up to now the average Jewish book of merit
was a big, dry, and expensive volume. Our classics
have largely been inaccessible to the English-
reading Jewish public. Hence, the importance of
"Jewish Pocket Books," a non-profit enterprise of
the Agudath Israel Youth Council of America,
made possible by a grant from the Spero Founda-
tion of Cleveland. The editors promise to provide
"readable and attractive books that will bring to
American Jewry important, interesting, and useful
contributions on all aspects of Jewish life and
thought"
Of thb first series of 12 titles, the following four,
which have appeared so far, fully live up to the
promise made.
Nathan Birnbaum's "Confession"
"Confession," by Nathan Birnbaum, is the ac-
count of how one of the great Jewish minds of
our age found his way back to Judaism. Birnbaum,
a modern Odysseus on the search for truth, at one
time or another played a decisive role in most of
the major Jewish movements of the age; and he
gave to all of them his profound humanity and
understanding of life. But in the end he came to
recognize the innermost essence of Jewish being is
the God-consciousness of the Jew, expressing itself
in the sanctification of life.
Judah Halevi's "The Kuzari"
"The Kuzari," the classic gem of Jewish thought,
is offered in an abridged edition. The author, Rabbi
Judah Halevi, arranged his exposition of the basic
ideas of Judaism in the form of a dialogue between
a Rabbi and the King of the Tartar tribe of the
Khazars, who adopted Judaism in the seventh cen-
tury. They discuss questions which today boost
many a thinking Jew.
Jewish View of the Social Order
"Social Order—The Jewish View," by Rabbi
Joseph Elias, editor of the series, surveys the social
conflicts endangering the modern world and the
solutions suggested by Judaism. Special attention
is given to economic issues, business and labor
relations.
The Book of Passover
"The Book of PassoVer" (Passover in life and
literature) is an illustrated collection of essays,
articles, and tales, on the meaning of Passover and
its celebration through the ages. The contributions
are drawn from Bible and . Talmud, mediaeval and
modern literature.
Books in Print
Forthcoming titles include Isaac Breuer's "Prob..
lem of the Jew"; Marcus Lehman's "Tales of Yore";
a symposium on "Science and Judaism; The Faith
of a Jew" (selections from Maimonides); a collec-
tion of Jewish portraits, "Movements in Contem-
porary Judaism"; "The Spirit of Jewish History'
by Rabbi Joseph Elais; and "The Pursuit of Happi-
ness," "a grammar of Judaism." The price of each
book is 25 cents and of the entire set of 12. $2.50.
They can be obtained directly from Jewish Pocket
Books, 113 W. 42nd St., New York 18.
Chanson of the Yishuv
The flashes thereof are flashes of Are,
A very flame of the Lord.
—Song of Songs 11:11
By DR. NOAH E. ARONSTAM
I.
When the twilight blends abruptly with the night,
Light on light
Glimmers on the meadows, as the shadows
Slowly creep,
As in sleep
On the romance and enchantment of the night
IL
On this spot, we are taught, once a Kingdom stood
Chariots passed,
Legions massed
'Midst the clangor of the weapons as they clashed
Throw to throw,
Foe to foe
Betwixt the passion of the living and the corpses
of the slain.
IIL
Now a youth deep in thought waits the coming
Of the maiden of his heart;
Whilst through his lips
Softly slips
Judah's shepherd's song of yore:
"Return my Shulamite
Return, that I might clasp thee."
IV.
Gentle hands touch his shoulders in embrace
As she whispers: "Here I am,
Am I still your heart's desire?"
"More fiery than the flame
Of the Lord is my love for you,
My sister, my dove, my undefiled,—"
Is his impassioned reply.
V.
And as they rest hand in hand,
While the clouds come sailing by
On the star emblazoned sky:
The Past once more comes mirrored by—
With its glories and its triumphs,
With it horsemen and its legions,
With its victors and its vanquished
And the holocaust of lives,
And the blood that cries to heaven.
VL
But soon the Past is blotted out
"My Shulamite" and his words distil like dulcet
solace,
My Shulamite, what care we for their intrigues
and cabals?
With us a new life shall rise,
A new Nation shall be born;
They shall never vanquish us!
Let them have their empty glories!
To us the dawning Future
Vouchsafes newer, sweeter hopes.
Let them take the rest!
OUR LOVE IN JUDAH IS THE BEST.
-r;f--",