As the Editor
Views the News .

Needed: A New Plank

New Sholem Asch Stories

`Tales of My Peopie'Aiso
Includes His First Novel

111.,

An Historic Date

- On the approaching first anniversary of the
historic United Nations' partition decision on
Sholem Ascii, the great novelist who remains
a cause for major controversy in Jewish religioui
Palestine, Jews and non-Jews will review the
and communal circles because of his works on
significant events that have transpired during
Jesus- and Paul, offers his latest book of short
the blood-soaked 12 months which should have
stories ("Tales of My Pen- '
ple," published by G. P.
been utilized for creative efforts . but which
Putnam's Sons, 2 W. 45tki ,
were transformed into conflict by the inde-
St., New York) in com-
cision and indifference of a calloused world.
memoration of the Jews
who were exterminated by
Remaining under pressure from Great Bri-
Hitler.
tain, whose present (leaders apparently are
There are 10 short Stories
bent upon destroying Israel, many of the lead-
in this book, and a longer
ers in the UN adopted a passive attitude com-
novelette, "The Little::
Town," which won for Asch
pletely lacking in courage during the trying
his first recognition. This
period when the Jewish State was attacked by
11th story appears in this
seven Arab nations. Instead of striving to im-
book for the first time in
an English translation.
plement the great decision of Nov. 29, some
"The Little Town" is a
governments not only were non-cooperative,
story of the Polish village
but they adopted policies which, had they suc-
which finds nostalgic res-
ceeded, would have served as death-blows to
ponse in the author. It is a
record of all that happens
the infant state.
in a Jewish environment
Israel survived all the blows from the
under the old Polish aegis.
Sholem Asch
outside because of the determination of
It is rather crude in its composition—being Asch's
first great work. Nevertheless, those who enjoy
the people in the Jewish State never again
the literature dealing with the old country will
to submit to serfdom. The heroism of the
relish this story. It is questionable whether it
People Israel is a matter of record. It de-
will find equally as hearty a response from the
fied invaders and the states which aided
average non-Jewish reader who already has be-
come an admirer of the author of "The Nazarene'?
the aggressors. It called into action again
and "The Apostle."
that Maccabean spirit which remains the
The other 10 stories, being of recent creation,
greatest symbol of a people's self-respect.
and dealing wit7i themes closer to happenings in
our
own day, are certain to be accepted more
It created another great date—May 14—
In conjunction with the annual meeting of the United readily as great narrative works.
which will be honored by world history,
Jewish Appeal, to be held in Atlantic City during •th4 week-
, To this reviewer, perhaps the finest story in
by all mankind and by Israel in far great-
the book is "Yisgadal v'Yiskadash," the tale
end
of
Dec.
10,
two
newly-formed
groups
will
hold
simultan-
er measure. than Nov. 29 because it rep-
about the man who, while submitting in every-'
eous meetings. They are: Committee for Progressive Zion-
thing ti the Nazis in their slave camp, refused
resents not liberation but self-liberation,
ism Within the Zionist Organization of America and Com-
to work for them on the Sabbath. He dies with
not redemption at the hands -of others but
the Shema on his lips, having succeeded - in in-
mittee of Contributors and Workers. While these two new
auto-emancipation.
ducing the Nazi murderers to put him on the;
Scaffold , after the. Sabbath had ended. And
Nevertheless, Nov. 29 must be considered as groups function under different names, their memberships
overlap.
While
the
first
group
functions
as
an
opposition
to
thereafter, even those of his enslaved fellow-
a very important date on the world calendar.
Jews who were frightened by his prayers, and : ,
the present ZOA leadership, the fact that the same men are,
On that day, the nations of the world gave
his "Yisgadal v'Yiskadash" recited the prayer
endorsement to the desire of the Jewish peo- in the main, at the helm of both movements compels a study
with greater courage. and dignity.
Most of the stories will frighten the readers
ple to put an end to exile, to terminate home- of the objectives of the forthcoming meetings.
with
their morbidity, with their expose of the
lessness, to start a life of independence and
We assume that the United Jewish Appeal, charged with cruelty of the Nazis. For instance, "Jewish Eyes,"
dignity in defiance of shameful attempts by the great responsibility of proViding the large funds that are the story of a Nazi murderess who used the eyes
tyrants either to exterminate Israel or to necessary for the great creative effort in Israel, will be con- of a little Jewish child for earrings, will cause
and will remind the reader of the pend-
reduce the people.to slaves.
tinued and will be given the mandate to seek increased recoiling
ing case of use Koch who made lampshades and
The United States will be given a plug-
amounts of money during 1949. But the Committee of Con- . bookmarks of tattooed Jewish skin.
of great honor in the efforts to re-create
"The Duty to Live" tells how one older child,
tributors and Workers, which first met in Pittsburgh about
Jewish nationhood, thanks especially to
a month ago and then had the blessings of the men from the admonished by her mother to rescue herself and
her brother, manages to escape from the Nazis
President Truman who stood firmly in
Committee for Progressive Zionism, at the same time is and finds refuge in a convent where both are cared
support of the partition plan and who was
calling "a national conference of fund-raising leaders of Jew ? for. It is a story based on an historical fact—the
the first to give de facto recognition to
ish communities throughout the United States to consider rescue of many children by Catholics.
Then there is the story about the 93 girls,
Israel. There are men in this government,
the most effective program of giving aid to Israel in 1949."
martyrs to the cause of purity and cha -Aity,
officials in the State Department, who
The program of this committee was outlined as follows:
who refused to submit to mass ra- e and ended
sought to destroy the libertarian idealism
their lives by poison. "A Child Leads the Way",.:
"Our Committee, which includes in its membership the men
records the famous historical' fact about the.
of our President They failed. These men
and women who made possible the raising of close to $400,000,000
93 girls in whose memory schools have been
still are at large. Their efforts must fail
for the United Jewish Appeal in the last three years, has three
established throughout the " world (including
major objectives:
again—so low:, as Israel's will is unbroken,
Detroit, at YeshivateSeth Yehudah).
"(1) All American Jews shall share in the responsibility for
so long as the President follows a policy
In his preface, Asch does not refrain from
raising funds for Israel in 1949.
referring to a theme that has taken hold of his
of honor in dealing with Israel.
soul. Mentioning the dedication of this book in
"(2) All funds raised in the United States for Israel shall be
Many lives were sacrificed on the altar of
memory of Hitler's victims, he declares that
remitted directly to Israel.
freedom during the past 12 months. They were
America has become Jewry's "physical and spiri-
"(3) Final authority for allocations and disbursements of funds
tual home"; that here "we may witness the reali-
unnecessary sacrifices, both on Arab and Jew-
remitted to Israel from the Jews of America shall rest with
zation of a 'miracle in the merging of the two
the Executive of the Jewish Agency in Israel."
ish sides. But those who made the supreme
streams, the Christian and the Jevish, that flow
offers to liberty have gained for Israel a great
Simultaneously with the announcement of this program from a single source—from God's word as it was
measure of security. They built a strong army, this new committee reveals that it "has advised the Jewish given through Moses and the prophets." Will this
a sizable navy, the best air force in the Middle Agency in Jerusalem that a national conference will be held arouse another controversy? Perhaps not—if the
will concern himself not with Asch's the•.
East. Naturally, they needed weapons, and it here and that prompt action will be taken to provide imme- reader
°logy but with his narratives—except that his
is fortunate that Israel was able to secure these diate funds for the expanded immigration, resettlement, up- critics may tell - him, too, to stick to story-telling
weapons, in spite of attempts that are being building and reconstruction programs contemplated for 1949." in which he is a master.
Asch has a new translator fro— the Yiddish—.
made in Washington and in New York and in
Meyer Levin who did "Tales of My People" into
Detroit to label such acquisitions as "crim-
There is something treacherously inconsistent in 'this English. Lev:n, in this reviewer's opinion, falls
inal." If it is criminal for Jews to secure wea- effort. The gentlemen who have organized the new com- short of the genius of Maurice Samuel as a trans....
pons for self-defense, then the American Revo- mittee represents some of the largest contributors to the UJA. lator.
.lution, the fight for Irish freedoin, the battles
What, suddenly, has happened to UJA? Why a new com-
for the liberation of Poland and Czechoslovakia
mittee?
If it is necessary to remit all funds directly to Israel,
were criminal.
Nov. 29 introduced an historic year. Jewish leaving final authority„for allocations and disbursements with
anti-Zionism is among the negative ideologies the Jewish Agency Executive, does that mean the scrapping
which gradually is disappearing. Only last of the United Palestine Appeal, the dissolution of unity, the
week, the anti-Zionist Jewish Fellowship or- abandonment of a joint Keren Hayesod-Jewish National Fund-
What is the Jewish attitude toward dreams?
ganization was dissolved in England as a result Mizrachi fund-gathering effort? If it does, is it not an internal
From our earliest history, dreams have play-
of the group's recognition that the Jewish matter to be ironed out amicably rather than a task which ed an important part in our, culture. The first
Jew, Abraham, realized the covenant between the
State exists "de facto." Isn't it reasonable to might affect*the very existence of the UJA?
Almighty and his heirs in the course of a "deep
believe that once governments like the United
There are unhealthy implications in this muddle. Al- sleep." Jacob saw the vision of the future in a ,
States give Israel de jure recognition, "Fellow- ready, some of the soiled linen, which may not have been so dream where he saw the angels going up and down
ship" Jews, too, will acknowledge the legality dirty after all, has been washed in public. Instead of striving the ladder. Joseph not only was„ a dreamer, but
became an interpreter of dreams as in the case of
of Israel's existence?
at an amicable solution of this serious issue, responsible Jew- Pharoah and his servants. The Malbim (Corn- .
A new era began with Nov. 29. It was given ish leaders are permitting' an internal conflict to divide the mentary on the Bible) in his comments on Joel
validity by Jewish courage and love for free- Jews of America between the existing Zionist agencies 3:1 distinguishes between a dream, a vision and
dom on May 14. It acquires greatness through within the UJA (UPA, JNF, etc.) and the Committee of Con- a prophecy, claiming that a dream is like much
chaff with little grain, a vision mostly or all grain
Jewry's will to live and -the people's determ- tributors of Workers. The latter represents the large donors and
a prophecy liktio refined grain. There is a Tal;-
ination that freedom shall rule above all else. who have been loyal both to UPA and UJA but who now mudic claim that the outcome of all dreams de-
•
seem to be bent upon establighing an independent fund for pends upon their interpretation, and that a dreai i.
which remains uninterpreted is like a letter that
Israel.
remains unread. Folklore insists that dreams are
Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish
The resignation of five UPA staff members complicates evidence of the contrary.
*
*
*
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Palcor
Agency, King Features. Central Press Association.
matters, but the call for unity—and against independent fund-
What is the "Adon Olam"?
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
The "Adon Olam" is a Hebrew hymn which de-
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26. Mach,. WO 5-1155.
raising action—issued by the New England Region of the
Subscription, $3 a year: foreign. $4.
clares the supreme rulership of God. Its title
Council
of
Federations
indicates
that
our
people
are
not
mis-
Entered as second-class matter Aug ' 6. 1942, at Post of-
means "Ruler of the Universe" and constitutes a
fice, Detroit, Mich.. under Act of March 3 1879.
led by divisive movements. It is sincerely to be hoped that profession of faith in the Almighty. This most
Berl Locker, chairman of the Jewish Agency Executive in popular of Hebrew hymns is recorded without
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
Jerusalem, who arrived in the United States to deal with the definite indication -as to its author. Its popularity .
VOL. XIV-No. 11 Page 4 November 26, 1948 UPA controversy, will be successful in his efforts.
did not begin until about the 15th century. It is -

-

OlEWtSM l'elEGAAPMK AGo - ovf

Internal Conflict Must Be Stopped

Answers to Readers'
Questions .

.

THE JEWISH NEWS

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-fifth day of Heshvan,
5709, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagoguei:
Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 23:1-25:18.
Prophetical portion—I Kings 1:1-31.
Rosh Hodesh Kislev Scriptural selections,
Thursday and Friday—Num. 28:1-15.

N

This is a critical conflict within our ranks. There still is
time to prevent an unnecessary controversy which will play
into the hands of our enemies here and abroad, among the
Little Hitlers and the Mufti-led Arabs, which will lead only
to harm in Israel. We plead with the men in the new move-
ment not to permit a Chilul HaShem.

generally agreed that the poem was originally
composed as a prayer to be said before going to,
bed. Such is the spirit of its ending: "In His keep,
I place my soul when I go to sleep, and I shall not
be afraid. ' In the city of Worms, Germany, - it'
was originally kept for the conclusion of the 'Yon . •
Kippur service. Then it came to be used on every. ,
Sabbath eve. In Morocco it was used at wedding,'
ceremonies.
'
t, 1