Page Four

As the Editor
Views the News

THE JEWISH NEWS

Another Enemy to Overcome

Fight Infantile Paralysis

Another week remains before the con-
clusion of the annual March of Dimes which
features the nationwide effort to fight infan-
tile paralysis. -
Sponsored by the National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis, the March of Dimes en-
lists the cooperation of all Americans in the
serious effort of reducing
OF
the deadly disease which
annually takes hundreds
of young lives. Following
a four-to-six-year cycle,
polio's dangers have been
among the most 'difficult
INFANTILE
to overcome and only the PARALYSIS
preparedness of our com-
munities, through the ac-.-
tions of civic-minded citi-
zens, can be counted upon
as insurance against the
dreaded plague.
JANUARY 15-3
A statement issued by the National Founda-
tion for Infantile Paralysis points out that
infantile paralysis is not only one of the most
dreaded diseases but is the most costly known
to medical science. Is has been indicated that
a respirator case may require 24-hour nurs-
ing care and cost as much as $10,000 a year,
the average cost of a polio case being estimat-
ed at $2,000.
Thus, every dime counts and every contri-
bution assists in fighting a serious menace
to the health and lives of our children.
Contributions to the March of Dimes cam-
paign should be as liberal as possible. With a
concerted effort we can hope to reduce polio's
dangers and eventually completely to wipe
out the horrible disease.

FIGHT

THE JEWISH NEWS

Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, independent Jewish
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate. Religious
News Service, Palcor Agency, King Features, Central
Press Association.
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, $4. Club subscription,
every fourth Friday of the month, to all subscribers to
Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federation of
Detroit. 40 cents pei year.
Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Of-
fice, Detroit. Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Maurice Aronsson
Philip Slomovitz
Fred M. Butzel
Isidore Sobeloff
Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere
Maurice H. Schwartz Henry Wineman

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor

VOL. XII—NO. 19

JANUARY 23, 1948

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the thirteenth day of Shevat,
5708, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 10:1-13:16.
Prophetical portion—Jer. 46:13-28.
Hamisha Asar b'Shevat (Rosh Hashanah Leila-
noth—Jewish New Year of the Trees) occurs on
Monday, Jan. 26.

3 Splendid Children's Books

UAHC Publishes New
Volumes on Holidays

Welcome to Rokachs

Detroit Jewry will greet the Hon. and Mrs.
Israel Rokach, of Tel Aviv, on their visit to
Detroit next Tuesday, in a spirit of gratitude
for the heroism and devotion of the Jewish
pioneers in Palestine and of re-dedication to
the historic objective of creating a secure
home for dispossessed Jews in Eretz Israel.
Mayor Rokach comes to us as the symbol
of the redemption of Israel: He will speak to
an audience, which is .expected to be the
largest ever to assemble in the Masonic Tem-
ple under the auspices of the Jewish National
Fund, at a time when the great decision for
the restoration of the Jewish state is about to
become reality.
A native of Tel Aviv, Mayor Rokach has
been in the service of his city for more than
25 years and participated in the planning
which saw the growth of the all-Jewish com-
munity from a population of 10,000 in 1922 to
its present 250,000.
What is of even greater importance is
the fact that he has been a factor in see-
ing Eretz Israel grow from a small com-
munity of 60,000 at the time of the issuance
of the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the pres-
ent 700,000 most of whom soon will attain
status as citizens of the Jewish state.
- Mayor Rokach has the good wishes of De-
troit Jewry on his mission to our city. The ar-
rangements for his visit, which include the
large rally and a luncheon of community
leaders, embrace an over-all welcome repre-
senting all elements of Detroit -Jewry. We
join in welcoming Mayor and Mrs. Rokach to
Detroit and in wishing them success in their
mission in this country and in their future
activities in Judea.

Friday, january 23, 1948

Three new children's books, just released, add
to the prestige for Jewish publishing built up in

recent years by the Commission on Jewish Educa-
tion of the Union of American Hebrew Congre-
gations, 34 W. 6th St., Cincinnati 2, Ohio.
The three new publications, in spiral bindings,
are:
Edith S. Covich's "The Jewish Child Every
Day."
Jane Bearman's "Shovuos Time" and "Purim
Parade."
Mrs. Covich's book is a fascinating review of all
holidays. Beautifully illustrated by Mary Ida
Jones, this book is replete with stories splendidly
told for children. Every holiday has its song and
musical score.
Dr. Emanuel Gamoran, educational director of
the Union of American Hebrew Congregations,
states in the foreword to this book, intended for
children 3 to 5, that: "It has been tried out and
been found successful with little children. The
simplicity of the stories, the illustrations and the
music will meet the needs of the pre-school child."
A glance at this splendid book will reveal that
Dr. Gamoran does not exaggerate; if anything,
he understates the value of Mrs. Covich's work.
Miss Bearman's books are excellent evaluations,
X-e4 X4, 41(ix4-4
• 441111'96intod.... mow
for very young children, of the Shovuos and
Purim holidays. The able author has excelled not
only in her story-telling but also with her illus-
trations.
The three volumes should, as they undoubtedly
If it is true—as we believe it is—that adversity leads to will,
have a very large circulation because they
greater progress and creativity, the Jewish-state-in-the-mak- fulfill important needs.

- Progress Out of Adversity

ing, which is experiencing so many hardships, will emerge
Facts You Should Know
strong and impregnable.
, While we remain in a state of uncertainty as to future
action in Palestine by the United Nations Security Council
and Palestine Implementation Commission, there is ground
for encouragement in the position of firmness that has been
taken by the five members of the commission whom its chair-
man, Dr. Karel Lisicky of Czechoslovagia earlier had named
What is "Hamisha Asar b'Shevat," occur-
"the five lonely pilgrims." The five men are reported to be
ring this year on Monday, Jan. 26?
determined not to permit obstacles to stand in their way of
"Hamisha Asar b'Shevat" means the 15th day
carrying out their Palestine implementation mission, and the of the Hebrew month Shevat, annually observed
fact that all of them are men of action adds an optimistic as one of our minor festivals. No restrictions pro-
hibiting work or any other activity are recorded
note to the current tragedies in Palestine.
for that day. It is prescribed as a day of merriment
It is unfortunate that the UN, recognizing Great Britain's in which all fasting is prohibited, and penitential
unwillingness to assume responsibility for peace in Palestine, prayers called "Tachnun" are omitted from the
did not act promptly in establishing a police force which daily synagogue -service on that day. The Talmud
(Tractate Rosh Hashanah) describes this day as
could have guaranteed the peace of Palestine. An alternative "New
Year's Day for Trees" (Rosh Hashanah Ley-
to such an action, still within the realm of possibilities in ilonos.) It is traditionally said that on that day
Palestine, is the recognition of existing Jewish military forces I God judges the trees, deciding which should be
in Palestine as the proper organization for the protection of renewed with blossoms and with fruit, and which
should wither and die. It was customary in an-
lives and property in Palestine. By supplying Haganah with , cient
Palestine to plant trees from the 15th day
the necessary arms, thus obviating the need of clandestine in Shevat to the 15th day in Adar (a period of one
traficking in ammunition, the problem can be solved without month.) On the eve of this holiday Oriental Jews
assembled in the synagogue and read the passages
involving outside powers.
from the Bible and Rabbinic literature that had
British recalcitrence prevents the easy way of peace en- references to trees and fruits and productivity
forcement. But the UN is yet to act, and it is sincerely to be of the fields. It must also be recalled that in this
hoped that the firmness of the commission's members will be season the greater part of the rain had already
fallen. It was thus a relief from the anxiety that
evident in strong action in the coming weeks.
pervaded the previous season during which the
Meanwhile the Jews outside of Palestine must remain agriculturalists hoped and prayed daily for suf-
ficient
rain. The appearance of this day and the
on the alert. We must be prepared to provide all the help
of the budding season indicated the
that is necessary to Haganah and to the new settlers in Zion. beginning
successful culmination of the winter season, hold-
We must strive for the fulfillment of the major responsibility ing promise for fruit crops in the spring and sum-
to the survivors from Nazism and to the builders of Palestine mer months. This festival is observed in Palestine
through the 1948 United Jewish Appeal for $250,000,000. by the planting of trees. In other lands this festival
serves as a day of reminder for the Jews in other
Preparedness is essential, and complete fulfillment of our lands
of their national homeland in Palestine.
financial obligations is part of our preparedness.
Hebrew school children arrange parties in which

Answers to Readers
Questions ...

'Murder—and the Mufti'

fruits that grow in Palestine are_eaten. The Jewish
National Fund has arranged a system whereby at
the cost of $1.50 per tree, we can purchase cer-
tificates for which trees will be- planted for us in
Palestine. Thus Jews the world over have in-
vented a means of being a part of the Holy Land
and its ceremonials.
• • •
What is the origin of the custom of 'tying a
string around one's finger- as a reminder?
Tying, as a symbol, is mentioned in the Bible.
References in the Pentateuch regarding the phy-
lacteries mention the act of "binding them for a
sign upon thine hand and a remembrance . .."
(Deuet. 6:8). Those who either wear or observe
the wearing of the phylacteries will note that they
are wound around the arm and "tied" around the
fingers. Tying as means of symbolic rememberance
is also to be found in the early Talmudic litera-
ture of the Mishneh (Tractate Bikkurim, Chapter
3, Mishneh 1) where the method of designating
symbolically the first fruit that ripened consisted
in tying a reed of grass around it. Most interesting
is the direct mention of this custom by the Mid-
rash (Exodus) as a custom practiced by the early
Egyptians. Bible readers will recall that Joseph,
while in prison interpreted the dreams of the two
servants of Pharoah who were with him. In his
predictions he foretold that one of them (the of-
ficer of the wines-Sar Hamashkim) would be re-
instated. Joseph made him promise not to forget
him after he had been released. The Midrash in
commenting upon these incidents relates that the
released officer tried his best to remember Joseph
by tying strings around his fingers. Unfortunately
it was decreed from heaven that he should forget
Joseph and so all the strings mysteriously • came
loose and fell off. It is quite obvious that tying
strings or objects for symbols of rememberance
was an old Semitic custom.

In a series of two articles cabled from Haifa, Richard!
Mowrer, eminent foreign correspondent, charges the former
Mufti of Jerusalem with murdering Arab opponents and with
intimidating the Arabs of Palestine so that they, out of fear
for their lives which are threatened by the Mufti's hechmen,
have been compelled to oppose the implementation of the
UN decision for a Jewish state.
Listing thumbnail histories of Arab leaders who were mur-
dered by the Mufti's men in order to "explain some of the
obscure forces behind the violence which has now flared into
open war in Palestine," Mr. Mowrer, writing for Overseas-
News Agency, states that the Mufti has succeeded, from his
hangout outside of Palestine in creating turmoil in the Holy
Land. He declares: "No Arab dares to oppose him. And why
should they when the Palestine administration does not?" He
adds on this score that the Arabs remember Britain's refusal
to list Haj Amin el Husseini as a war criminal when he was
captured in Germany after the war and they understand how
little the British are doing to curb Mufti-inspired disorders.
His conclusion is most significant. He writes:
"Eventually, when the Palestine Arabs feel more strongly
the effects of the disrupted economy of the country and the
increasing violence of Jewish retaliatory measures, there will
be dissenters—brave men willing to risk the fate of the 17
who have already died by a lurking assassin's bullet."
The hope promised us by Mr. Mowrer and other responsi-
ble correspondents who have studied the situation on the spot
for years is mingled with prospects of increasing tragedy.
There is no doubt that the Jewish cause will triumph and that
the Jewish state will be re-created. But in the process there
• • •
will be continued bloodshed, the two most responsible parties
What is the difference between the Jewish and
being the Mufti and his gangs and the indifferent or vengeful the
general calendar?
British. Not until these two elements are subdued can there
The Jewish year follows the lunar calendar, is
possibly be peace in war-torn Palestine.
tAltradiction to the general solar calendar.