Grocers Back Aid-to-Israel Drive

2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 3, 1948

Haber to Remain
In Overseas Post
As DP Advisor

One of the 100 United Grocers Association displays in groceries
throughout the city. Shown here is the one at Sam Betman's store,
10210 Twelfth St. Left to right: MRS. BEATRICE KARP SHEAR;
SAM BETMAN, MRS. WALTER GRAVEDONI, doing their share
towards Aid to Israel. Little PEGGY McDOWELL spent her ice
cream money for a can of pet milk so that she could "put some-
thing in that box, too."

Dr. William Haber of the Uni-
versity of Michigan, now -.serving
as advisor on Jewish affairs to
the military - governor of Ger-
many, will extend his stay in
Europe, he revealed.- in a letter
to Dr. Shmarya Kleinman of. De-
troit.
Excerpts from his letter folloW:
"My best intentions to the con-
trary, I am not coming home
next month. The decision is as
much of a surprise to me as it
must be to you for I wanted to
be home for many reasons. How-
ever, I realized that the time
was approaching, that my leaving
at this present moment, world
be quite unfair to the job and
the introduction of a new per-
son could be unfortunate. Gen-
eral Clay, Dr. Schwartz, and a
good number of others did the
rest, and when the University

Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Charles Dickens' Anti-Semitic 'Oliver Twist'

Albert Deutsch, in a cable from London to the New York Star,
writes with disturbed feelings about J. Arthur Rank's film produc-
tion of Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist." In this film, the repulsive
Jewish (?) character Fagin comes to life in all the obnoxious roles
in which he was delineated by Dickens. According to Deutsch: "He
speaks with a thick guttural accent. He lisps, leers, wheedles and
prances. He seduces others to do his dirty work. He corrupts every-
thing and eve: gone he touches."
The new film evidently puts to shame even the Nazi creations
of the late barbarian Julius Streicher. "The monstrous Fagin who
operates a combined school and stable for juvenile thieves has long
been recognized as an outstanding example of anti-Jewish stereo-
types in English literature," Deutsch reports. "But even the gifted,
if prejudiced, Dickens, with his powerful word-imagery, could not
make Fagin half so horrible as does this movie version."
In view of plans to open this film's American run in New
York this month, it is of the utmost importance that organiza-
tions which are fighting attempts to defame the good name of
Jewry and to corrupt the truth should take steps immediately
to prevent harm to American and world Jewries through the
showing of this anti-Semitic picture. Deutsch comments: "For
the sake of good taste and the public weal I hope this picture
never reaches the American screen."
In his report in the Star, Deutsch says about the film that "its
general appeal make its particular, if unintended; thrust of anti-
Jewish prejudice all the more powerful and dangerous." He points
out that children exposed to this film would be dominated in their
nightmares for a long time by the demonic Fagin; that, while the
British National Board of Review passed the picture for adult audi-
ences only there is no such distinction between adult and juvenile
audiences in the U. S. He states further:
"In the original, Fagin was but one of some score of important
characters whom Oliver met along his rocky road. In the film, Fagin
is highlighted as one of the three main characters. He stands out not
as the corrupt Fagin but as Fagin, the corrupt Jew .. .
Fagin as anything but an evil Jew,
"Few are likely to
with the characteristics of the stereotyped Jew .. .
"A single picture, even one of Grade A magnitude, will not in it-
self create anti-Jewish riots or demonstrations. But it can con-
tribute seriously to the sediment of group hatred and hostility al-
ready overabundant in our jittery world, a sediment that could be
stirred up dangerously to volcanic eruption at a critical moment.
"I can find no excuse for the provocative portrayal of a cari-
catured Jew in a film to be seen by millions at this explosive hour
in history. It is regrettable that it has been already loosed on the
English people, even if confined only to adult audiences. I see no
reason why it should be encouraged or supported in the U.S.A. by
any sober American with an eye to alleviating group tensions."
In this country, therefore, operators of motion picture theat-
ters and civic-protective organizations are put to the test by the
possible showing of the anti-Semitic "Oliver Twist" in Ameri-
can theaters. In the interest of good will and common decency,
the film should die in England.

Auto Dealers Pledge 20 Carloads
Of Machines, Supplies to Israel

Special Committee Formed to Assist Material for Palestine
Campaign of Bnai Brith; Michigan Bnai Brith Cotincil
Joins Drive; Lawyers Pledge 50 Motorcycles

New and used car dealers
organized to help the Bnai Brith
Aid-to-the-People-of-Israel Drive
in securing material for export
to the State of Israel, through
Material for Palestine.
A representative committee
of dealers pledged all-out sup-
port in supplying 20 freight
carloads of new automobiles,
jeeps,' ambulances, tires, motor-
cycles, etc., at an approximat-
ed cost of upward of $250,000.-
The southeast corner lot of
Livernois and Pick-for,.. will be
used as the collection depot.
The committee consists of Sid-
ney Savage, chairman; Jack
Goldharr, co-chairman; Yale
Simons, secretary; Sam Atlas,
treasurer; Sam Grant and Jack
Gorov.
The drive ends Sept. 26. Its
goal is a 100-carload Friend-
ship Train.
Jack Goldharr, UN. 4-2800,
may be reached for information
on the Auto Drive.
The warehouse for other ma-
terials such as food, (in case
lots), machinery, bicycles, motor-
cycles, carpenter, plumber, ma-
son and shoemaker's kits, cloth-
ing (new) for both men and
women; is located at 2300 W.
Warren.
The Bnai Brith Michigan
Council, with Marston H.
Busch of Lansing as outstate
Aid-to-Israel chairman, an-.
nounced that they would join
the Greater Detroit Bnai Brith
Council Aid-to-Israel Commit-
tee in the drive for 100 car-
loads of materials, foods, cloth-

ing, etc., for Israel. The Mich-
igan Council's goal is five car-
loads. The Council's communi
ties include Mt. Clemens, Port
Huron, Saginaw, Bay City,
Lansing, Flint, Pontiac, Grand
Rapids and South Haven.
The Friendship Train will
carry five cars especially assign ,.
ed to the Michigan Council and
the respective .delegates from
each town will attend the final
ceremonies which will take place
Sept. 26. Mr. Busch and Sam
Meisel of Jackson, president of
the Michigan Bnai Brith Coun-
cil, have been added to the Aid-
to-the-People-of-Israel adminis-
trative council.
Lawyers, Jews and non-
Jews, in Detroit and vicinity
are doing their share toward
the Bnai Brith Aid-to-Israel
program. They have set them-
selves a goal of 50 motorcycles.
Irving Hyatt, court reporter, is
chairman, with Joseph Moyni-
han Jr., son of Judge Moyni-
han, as co-chairman.
A display of automotive equip-
ment, material and food for the
Bnai Brith Aid-to-Israel program
can be seen at Ben Turick's
Auto Wash, Dexter and Elm-
hurst. The ambulance which was
especially designed and built by
the Smart Engineering Co., is
the first of 10 donated by Cinema
Lodge of Bnai Brith. Mr. Turick
has contributed 10 cases of can-
ned milk and a life raft. He has
placed a container for food sup-
plies in front of his place of busi-
ness and has offered to double
everyone's contribution.

Jewish Center Sponsors Exhibit
During the Michigan State Fair

DR. WILLIAM HABER
took the initiative and advised
me that they would ..extend my
leave, if I were' to request it, I
Paul Broder, member of the ber of the Center art committee,
really had little choice.
Center board of directors, is and Miss Roberta Gellerman,
"I really hope that the prog- chairman of the committee in Center arts and crafts instructor.
ress in the next six or seven charge of arranging the Center
The Center exhibit will depict
months will fully justify my .de- Exhibit at the Michigan State the story of the Jewish Center
cision and that I can go home Fair Grounds.
and its extensions with the aid
in January with a greater sense
Other committee members ap- of pictures and pamphlets. Mem-
of satisfaction than would have pointed by Samuel H. Rubiner, bers of the Center board of di-
been the case were. I tc4return president of the Jewish Center rectors and Center staff will be
in September.
present to interpret to the public
"We made real progress in the are: Mrs. Arthur Bloom, chair- the function of the Center.
past few months—oVer 10,000 man, and Lewis Redstone, mem-
people will have left our camps
for Palestine since May 15. Un-
less the mediator will tighten up,
or large-scale warfare is assumed,
By BORIS SMOLAR
we shall be able to move from
(Copyright. 1948, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
3,000 to. 4,000 persons per month,
Political Trends
from now on.
"The U. S. Immigration Law
The position of the non-Zionists in the Jewish Agency may be-
has had a tremendous influ- _ come stronger than ever because the Jewish Agency, and not the
Israeli Government, will be in control of all funds raised for •pro-
ence upon the attitude toward
Israeli causes in the United States and in other countries ., . This
Palestine among the Jewish
explains why members of the Israeli Cabinet insist on their right.to
displaced persons. I am certain,
remain members of the Jewish Agency executive . . . It seems that
that as a result of it, the pre-
a distinction will be drawn between the executive of the Jewish
ponderant majority of the peo-
Agency and that of the World Zionist Organization which is only a
ple here want to go to Pales-
partner in the Agency . . . This will be done in order to emphasize
tine. This is true not alone
the fact that fund raising for various pro-Israeli projects is being
because the major alternative
conducted in the United States not by a body which is exclusively
country may be elosed to them,
Zionist ... The existence of the Jewish Agency as a mixed body
but also because the mere fact of Zionists and non-Zionists—in charge of funds raised—would serve
as best proof that these funds are not being raised for the purpose
that the U. S. passed such a
Critic
-
a
Jewish
of supporting the state of Israeli, but of certain institutions there.
Dickens' Reply to
law, has made many of them
Charles Dickens' portrayal of Fagin did not pass without criti-
• .. And the continuation of the Jewish agency—instead of only the
realize how shaky the Jewish
cism in the famous English author's lifetime. In 1863, Mrs. Eliza position is, even in the U. S. A." World Zionist Organization—would also give the members of the
Israeli Government a legal basis for participating in its executive,
Davis, who bought Dickens' home on Guildford street, Bloomsbury,
since there is a real difference between the Agency and the World.
wrote to complain against the "great wrong" committed in Dickens'
Zionist Organization . . . The latter is a pursely Zionist body which
portrayal of Fagin. In his reply, Dickens wrote as follows:
"If there be any general feeling on the part of the intelligent
will conduct its activities outside of Israel, since the establishment
of the Jewish state fulfilled the aim of Zionism for the Jews within.
Jewish people that I have done them what you describe as 'a great
Israel ... However, the Jewish Agency is an international Jewish
wrong,' they are a far less sensible, a 'far less just, and a far less
body not limited to Zionism, but interested primarily in aiding cer-
good-tempered people than I have always supposed them to be.
tain projects concerning Israel. . . . In these projects the Jews of
Fagin in 'Oliver Twist' is a Jew, because it unfortunately was true
Samuel
J.
Rhodes,
president
of
Israel are as interested as the Jewish communities the world over
of the time to which that story refers, that that class of criminal al-
the
Jewish
War
/eterans
Mem-
which a,e represented in the Agency. . . There is, therefore, no
most invariably was a Jew. .. I have no feeling towards the Jew-
ish people but a friendly one. I always speak well of them, whether orial Home Association, an- reason for Israeli representatives not to be on the Agency executive,
in public or in private, and bear my testimony (as I ought to do) nounced this week that one room as leaders of one of the major Jewish communities in the world....
to their perfect good faith in such transactions as I have ever had of the proposed JWV structure This is what the majority members of the Israeli Cabinet have in
is to be dedicated to the memories mind when insisting that they can also remain members of the
with them."
Dickens may have had his tongue in cheek when he wrote
of the Jewish men and women Agency executive.
this note. Think of it! A person affirms "friendly" feelings for
of Michigan who fell in World
Jews, yet describes a criminal as one who "invariably was a
Diplomatic Notes
War II.
Jew!" Dickens' attitude must be made known so that his mem-
Jews throughout the world will be glad to learn that Ernest
The
Memorial
Home
Associa-
ory should be perpetuated in disgrace insofar as his innermost
tion proposes to include in this Bevin, British Foreign Minister, is no longer in charge of Britain's
human feelings are concerned.
Mrs. Davis' reply to Dickens, dated July 14, 1863, is a classic room the pictures and brief bi- Middle astern policy.... Supervision of this policy has passed into
ographical sketches of those who the hands of young Secretary of State Hector McNeil. , . < He is in-
worth perpetuating. It states in part:
sisting on moving toward early de facto recognition of the state of
"We dwell in this country very little known; our domestic
made the supreme sacrifice.
Israel.... Also insisting on a better British attitude toward Israel is
customs entirely unknown. I have my3elf been greatly aston-
Inquiries have been mailed to Sir Stafford Cripps. . — The change has been brought about by the
ished at the ignorance of my countrymen in general concerning
the
.
nearest
of
kin
requesting
fact that Field Marshal Montgomery and his advisers in the British
what they appear to think an entirely foreign people. Look at
photographs and the necessary War Office have developed a healthy respect for the well-disciplined
the blood accusations from time to time rising against us—
information for this tribute. Mr. Isareli Army. . . . rc small role in bringing about this switch in
even such a popular paper as 'Chambers' disseminating that
Rhodes has noted that this mail- policy was played by Alex Seath Kirkbride, British. Minister to
calumny. I hazard the opinion that it would well repay an author
ing may not be complete, and Transjordan. . . A scholarly and liberal man, this diplomat, who
of reputation to examine more closely into the manners and
urges the families of these fallen has been active in the area since 1.921, persistently advised King
charac4- er of the British Jews, and to represent them as they
of Transjordan against involvement in a Palestine war.
really are--Nothing extenuate nor aught set down in malice.' "
comrades to contact him at JWV Abdullah
. Kirkbride also had many behind-the-scene clashes with Harold
Unfortunately, few know about the debates relative to the headquarters, 9 14 Charlevoix
libelous character of Fagin in "Oliver Twist" and only a handful Bldg., WO. 5-1753. In the event Keeley, British adviser on Palestine to the UN delegation, who is
noted for his pro-Arab sentiments...: It seems that the winner will
would take the trouble to examine the justice of showing an out-
rageously anti-Semitic film. That is why it is only fair that it be that they are not reached by the soon be the sober-minded Kirkbride and not the anti-Israeli Becky,
mail inquiry.
who is the chief architect of Britain's disastrous Palestine policy.
stopped before it does immeasurable harm.

Between You and Me

To Honor War Heroes
In Building of JWV

