Page Four

THE JEWISH.NSWS

As the Editor
Views the News

In Humanity' sName,Uncle, LiftThat Anchor

Friday, 'March '26,1f9411

Diagnosis of Anti Semitism

-

McWilliams' 'Ai Mask for
Privilege' Widely Hailed

Our Greatest Drive

Detroit will be privileged to have as its
guest next Tuesday the eminent chairman of
the political department of the Jewish
Carey McWilliams' "A Mask for Privilege"
Agency for Palestine—Moshe Shertok—on
(Little, Brown & Co., 34 Beacon St., Boston 6) is
without doubt the finest diagnosis of anti-Semi-
the occasion of the official opening of the 1948
tism that has ever been published.
Allied Jewish Campaign.
If only the multitudes who are misled by false
The appearance here of one of the lead-
ideas about Jews could be induced to read this
book! Perhaps there would then be a total end to
ing spokesmen for the Jewish cause in Pal-
bigotry.
estine, the challenging situations at Lake
Mr. McWilliams has evidenced great ability in
Success, Washington, London and Jerusalem,
placing his finger on numerous ill-conceived ideas
the battle for existence of the great Jewish
on the subject. He indicates how a healthy society
community of Palestine combine to take the
can move from bias to fair play and honest think-
ing and acting.
' current drive out of the category even of the
Selected as a Book Find Club volume, "A Mask
greatest fund-raising efforts of all time.
for Privilege" shows that anti-Semitism is rooted
in
economic
thinking, in the attempt of the com-
Our campaign now assumes the role of a
munity's privileged classes to bar contenders for
combined social, human and political respon-
equal opportunities. The eminent author believes
sibility. Upon its success depends the safety
that legislation will accomplish results where
of the entire Jewish community of Palestine.
speeches and appeals to reason fail.
Mr. McWilliams expresses the view that in ac-
Unless it succeeds, Haganah will be left with-
tuality there was no rabid anti-Semitism in
out funds, the boats which we shall have to
America before the Civil War days and that the
equip in the coming weeks to take many tens
first known incident occurred in 1877 when "Jo-
seph Seligman, the New York banker, was blunt-
of thousands of displaced persons out of the
ly
and noisily refused accommodations for him-
European inferno for settlement in Palestine
self and his family at the Grand Union Rotel at
will be without - power and the entire Jewish
Saratoga Springs." With the average citizen still
community structure will be weakened. The
believing in the Bill of Rights, the case became
an affair for national discussion. -
latest betrayals should strengthen our resolu-
But—resort after resort thereafter began to fol-
tions to assure our solidarity with the Jews
low the policy of the Grand Union Hotel until no
in Eretz Israel.
one marveled any longer that there was anti-Sem-
itism in hotels and summer resorts.
Our responsibility to the Yishuv, to _the
One of the Seligman brothers—Jesse—was a
DPs, to our own local needs, is so great that
founder and treasurer of Union League Club of
(Continued from Page 1)
it no longer is possible to outline it in simple
New York. When his own son later was black-
words. A loud cry: HELP, resounds through. the Declaration of Independence, we reassert that when, "in balled for membership because he was a Jew,
out the world, wherever there are Jews. In the course of human events," any person or persons shall Seligman resigned.
These were among the. early steps in the rise of
some spots of the globe there is need for re- undertake to enslave us or our fellow men, we reserve the anti-Jewish
bigotry in this country. Now, it is
lief, in others for defense. All the frontiers right to rebel against such a decision.
much more the rule than the exception. Mr. Mc-
need protection.
This is not a rebellion against America or- Americanism Williams asks for intelligent thinking and action
On the home front we are called upon but for America and the highest principles of our democracy. on the basis that if anti-Semitism should spread
make matters harder for Jews, -America will
to keep faith with the established educational It is a rebellion against betrayals which are not and must and
become unsafe for all peoples.
and social agencies, to hold high the banners never become tradition in this great republic whose land-
Bartley C. Crum has hailed the book for ex-
of our people, in order that there should be marks have been hallowed by the blood of fighters for liberty posing "the nightmare of anti-Semitism for what
it is—an ugly, disgusting myth, a threat to the
no lessening in the courage of Jewry in the and justice.
democratic process. '
present trying times.
Our first reply to the politicians who have undertaken
Dr. Daniel A. Poling commends the book to
We shall be called upon this year to raise to undermine Jewish hopes is:
Christians as follows: "Here is the documented
indictment
not only of anti-Semitism but of man's
a sum of money at least 60 per cent larger
We reject any attempt to impose slavery upora fear of fear. Also it is the historical annotation of
than was obtained in last year's Allied Jew-
the rise of anti-Semitism in America . . . Don't
ish Campaign to meet Detroit's obligation to the Jews of Palestine.
read this book unless you are willing to be dis-
the United Jewish 'Appeal agencies — the
Our immediate other reaction to the scandalous occur- turbed, terribly disturbed, and greatly ashamed.
United Palestine Appeal, the Joint Distribu- rence of March 19 is to reaffirm our faith in the wisdom of But there is hope in it, too, and an answer."
There is hope that this great work will become
tion Committee and United Service for New the decision to grant Jewry in Palestine the right to free- a best
seller and that it will reach many tens of
Americans,
dom and to declare to the survivors from Nazism,- who are thousands of people. If it does, as it should—then
it
will
Accomplish
its aim: of helping reduce to a
This means that many people, those in the languishing in camps. in Europe, that we shall never submit
highest brackets, may have to give more than to the perpetuation of their degradation. The reversal of the minimum the ugly specter of Jew-baiting.
twice their last year's amount, in order to Nov. 29 decision would, in effect, permanently degrade these The Romance of Figures
keep the entire campaign structure on a high people to helplessness, homelessness and degradation. For
level of giving.
three years they have been promised relief from their suf-
It means that not a single person will be ferings. It would have been closer to honesty if those who,
immunized from contributing most liberally speaking from Washington, had asked at one for the comple-
to the drive.
tion of Ilitler's job and the extermination of the survivors.
The time for action and decision has ar- Instead, we heard month in and month out assurances that
rived, Let us resolve to go forth to victory on 100,000 would be admitted to Palestine, that the DPs would
The average population density in Palestine at
the least challenging home front, where our be welcomed to this country. What has happened to such the end of 1941 was 60.3 per sq. km ., and if the
Beersheba sub-district is omitted the average was
major obligation is fund-raising, in order that lip service?
117.1 persons per sq. km .
the most difficult defense positions may be
We consider it the first principle in self-respect that we
The highest mountain peak in Palestine is the
able to carry on their battles for existence should say to the Yishuv in Palestine: "Stand fast! We are Atzmon (Jarmaq), 1,208 in. (3,693 ft.) above sea
level.
with greater ease and with the assurance that with you! We won't let you down! We will fight with you
Palestine's population is densest in the Jeru-
the entire Jewish people stands back of the to the end that the former Mufti, Hitler's pal, shall not suc-
salem district, with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa area second
Jewish fighters for freedom everywhere.
highest.
ceed in his attempt to end your days and your hopes!"
The selection of Maurice Aronsson as gen-
Infant mortality per 1,000 in Palestine in 1922
We appeal to the Arabs in Palestine to join with us in
eral chairman of the Detroit campaign and rejecting betrayals. If it is possible to betray Jews in March was 144 Jews, 163 Moslems, 129 Christians; in 1945
figures dropped to 35 Jews, 93 Moslems and 70
the agreement that the minimum goal this of 1948, it is possible to betray Arabs in April or May of the the
Christians.
year should be $6,200,000 are signals for all of same year. Arabs are as much the victims of oil and political
In 1937, Palestine produced 2 .5million litres of
us to get down to business and to start out on chicanery as are the Jews.
milk; in 1945 the figure rose to 5.4 million litres.
1937, the country produced 3 million eggs;
the road of fulfilling our duties as human
Naturally, we are grateful to our many friends who were in In
1945 the number rose to 7.4 million.
beings.
quick to denounce the betraying reversal before the Unit-
These are just a few of the interesting facts and
Mr. Aronsson's dynamic leadership should ed Nations. The members of Congress who have condemned figures included in "Statistical Handbook of JeWish
serve as assurance that this will be a live and the frightful outrage—including our own Senator Homer Palestine," published by the Department of Sta-
interesting campaign, that not a single oppor- Ferguson— are upholding the basic ideals of Americanism. tistics, Jewish Agency for Palestine, Jerusalem,
tunity will be permitted to slip by to secure It always takes a small minority to fight through for free- Palestine.
It is a most fascinating book and its contents
proper increases in gifts, to enlist new cimtri- dom. History will applaud their actions, and if they are firm disprove the allegation that dry figures are usually
butors and to make the great need widely in their stand we need not chalk up the latest events as a de- uninteresting. In this instance, the factual data is
known. It is the community's duty to give Mr. feat. We have a chance to win the struggle for justice, and so inspiring that-Jews will thrill at the marvelous
of our people the volume reveals.
Aronsson all our support to assure success for we plead with our friends and the true defenders of American achievements
Compiled under the supervision of Dr. D. Gure-
this great and unprecedented drive.
democracy to fight with us for justice and not to give up vich and edited by A. Gertz, with the assistace of
A. Zanker, the book offers information the Jewish
until there is a triumph for decency.
community of Palestine—its population, settle-•
The N. Y. Herald Tribune is right when it declares that ments, growth of urban and rural population, its
Member Jewish Telegranhic Agency. Independent Jewish the UN will "merely inherit Great Britain's 'squalid war' in social structure, the size of Jewish settlements,
Press Service. Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Palcor the Holy Land." The entire bloodbath is British-made, but naturalization of Jews, division of populations by
Agency, King Features, Central Press Association.
ages and sexes, etc., etc. interesting diagrams help
Member American Association of English-Jewish News- it could have been prevented if our own Government had add to the interest of the figures.
papers and Michigan Press Association.
not
given
it
endorsement.
The
Herald
Tribune
justly
states
There are sections dealing with occupational
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1155. that "the United States must bear the obloquy of seeking structures, vital statistics, immigration, the set-ups
Subscription. 83 a year: foreign, $4. Club subscription.
in agricultural settlements, production and market-
every fourth Friday of the month. to all subscribers to covert ends at the expense of justice;" that "this country can- ing of farm products, the citrus industry, national
Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federation of not so tarnish its ; leadership."
land settlements on JNF owned land, activities of
Detroit, 40 cents per year.
Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942. at Post Of-
The N. Y. Times certainly is not a Zionist newspaper. the JNF and the Keren Hayesod.
fice. Detroit. Mich.. under Act of March 3, 1879.
Sections dealing with industry and commerce,
Nevertheless it has seen fit to declare that: "Inept, uncertain
and urban development, will prove of
and confused, the prestige of American foreign policy has suf- building
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
great value to the student of economics, to Jews
Maurice Aronsson •
fered a severe blow in the handling of this issue;" that: "we who are concerned with Palestine's development,
Philip Slomovitz
Fred M. Butzel
Isidore Sobeloff
have played a shabby trick on the Jewish community in Pal- and to all who are concerned with the rapid growth
Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere
of the embryo Jewish State.
estine, which put its faith in our promises."
Maurice H. Schwartz Henry Wineman
Labor statistics—membership, wages, employ-
Our
immediate
obligation
is
to
defy
the
"shabby
trick,"
ment,
strikes, etc.—are fully outlined. The stan-
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ. Editor
to declare to the Jews of Palestine and Europe that we shall dard of living and prices are subjects for discus-
VOL.
2
MARCH 26, 1948
stand by them, to reaffirm our faith in justice, to rededicate sion in highly interesting chapters. Culture and
ourselves to the service of our people and to go on with the education similarly are fully reviewed. There are
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
sections on finance, health, banking,
This Sabbath, the sixteenth day of Adar II, 5708, job of building the Jewish State—by first making a success significant
and other subjects.
the following Scriptural selections will be read in of the United Jewish Appeal. Only by triumphing over de-
In its totality, this statistical book is a marvelous
our synagogues:
spair can we possibly win the battle. Only by refusing to sur- contribution to the various studies made by the
Pentateuchal portions—Lev. 1:1-5:26; Deut.
Agency statistics department. It is. perhaps
25:17-19.
render to panic can we be the agents of decency, fair play Jewish
the most valuable book of its kind on this re-
Prophetical portion—I Sam. 15:2-34.
and true Americanism.
viewer's bookshelf.

No Surrender!

i

Fasc nating Statistics in
Palestine's Handbook

THE JEWISH NEWS

e24:1,011,“.