As the Editor
'Views the NCIIVS .
My Credentials--May I Come In?
Feast of Lights Guide
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As part of its program of service to Jewish
Community Centers and. YM-YWHAs and other.
community agencies, the National Jewish Welfare
Board has published a 102-page book, "The Jewish
Holidays-A Guide to Their Origin, Significance
and Observance," by Dr. Mordecai Soltes. Froth'
this volume and a supplementary series of JWB
manuals on the observance of the major Jewish
festivals and holidays, one of which deals with
Hanukah, there has been developed a series of
Jewish holiday quizzes, including this one, on
Hanukah.
Good Will to All
Christianity's great festival advocates
Good Will to Men on the broadest plane. The
Christmas period is an occasion for exchange
of greetings and gifts, for the advancement of
the cause of true brotherhood.
The Jewish citizens of this community
extend their heartfelt greetings to their
Christian neighbors.
May the preachings of all faiths bear fruit.
Good will must become reality rather
than mere lip service-in the best interests
of world peace.
With good will and good faith, humanity
must carry on the aspiration for justice, so
that the ideals of all creeds may speedily
be realized.
QUESTIONS
Croll's Israeli Story
- Colonel David Croll, Member of the Cana-
dian Parliament, former Mayor of. Windsor,
has . returned from Israel with an excellent
story about the warriors for freedom-the
men of all nations and all faiths who have
participated in the battle for liberation.
Col. Croll described the spirit of the Israeli
Air Force whose pay is perhaps the lowest in
the world. Visiting with the modern Macca-
bees during mess, the Canadian Jewish lead-.
er was given the reasons why some of the
Jewish boys had left their homes in free
countries like Canada and the United States
to enlist with the Israeli armed forces. They
explained their desire to see the re-establish-
ment of the Jewish State, with full protection
for the Israeli population. Then one of the
JewiSh fighters turned to a young Irishman
and asked:
"Paddy, why did you join the Israeli Air
Force?" To which he replied: "Me? Oh, I'm
a mercenary-I'm after that 1£2 a month!"
(You can buy two Israeli pounds for $7.)
(The following is offered in this connection
by way of comparison: An Overseas News
Agency report from Rome recently charged
that an "underground railway" in Italy is
shipping Nazi army officers from the U. S.
zones in Germany and Austria to Arab states
to help them mobilize their forces in the
fight against Israel, and that these Nazis are
receiving about 120 pounds sterling-$480-a
month, as pay from the Arabs.)
This story comes a bit too late. We should
have had it on time to refute the arguments
of the stupid boys who, returning from Israel
with a grudge, told fantastic stories to a local
newspaper about "Russian influence," "mer-
cenaries," the crime-horror upon horrors!-
of Jews securing weapons for self-defense!
Col. Croll's story, we believe, does the trick
in refuting the silly arguments of would-be
"informers."
Col. Croll tells another good yarn. Upon
his return from Israel he wrote this note to
Sam Zacks, president of the Canadian Zionist
Organization: "Dear Sam: All the lies you
used to tell me about Eretz Israel are true!"
A more powerful version of the latter com-
ment will be found in a great book when Dr.
Chaim Weizmann's Autobiography-"Trial
and Error"-will be published on Jan. 19,
1949, by Harper 8z. Bros. M. Parodi of France
had pleaded with Israel's First President in
support of a trusteeship plan. But Dr. Weiz-
mann insisted on exploding the myth of Arab
military might. Later, when Israel tri-
umphed, M. Parodi said to a Jewish repre-
sentative at Lake Success: "What I thought
was Dr. Weizmann's propaganda appears to
be the truth."
Indeed, the verity of Israel has taken root
and is making history.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate. Palcor
Agency, King Features. Central Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26. Mich.. WO. 5-1155
Subscription. $3 a year: foreign. $4.
Entered as second-class matter Aug 6, 1942. at Post Of-
flee. Detroit, Mich.. under Act of March 3 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
VOL. XIV-No. 15 Page 4 December 24, 1948
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
. This Sabbath, the twenty-third day of Kislev,
5709, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion-Gen. 37:1-40-23.
Prophetical portion-Amos 2:6-3:8.
Hanukah Scriptural Selections
Monday, Num. 7:1-17; Tuesday, Num. 7:18-29;
Wednesday, Num. 7:24-35; Thursday, Num. 7:30-41;
Friday, Num. 7:36-47.
A Hanukah Quiz
Triumph for Maccabean Spirit
. Hanukah's spirit, marked by the great triumphs of the,
modern Maccabees, is giving new courage to Jews every-
where.
In Israel, the citizens of the Jewish State again are light-
ing their Menorahs publicly, without fear of - giving undue
signals to attacking enemies. There is new hope that direct
negotiations between contending forces will bring lasting
peace to the State of Israel and to the entire Middle East.
Israel's kinsmen everywhere share • in the glory of the
modern Maccabean triumphs. For more than 2,100 years
Jews have suffered the indignities of statelessness and home-
lessness. Now, after untold sacrifices, a new era dawns for
our people. The modern Maccabees have followed in the
footsteps of their heroic ancestors in refusing to bend their
knees to oppressors. The reward is independence.
The rejoicing in Israel and in Jewish ranks throughout
the world is accompanied by our people's determined will to
establish justice in the Holy Land, to strive for the perpetua-
tion . of the Rights of Men, to seek liberty for all peoples.
Israel's constitution reflects these ideals. It is a document
which proclaims to the world that Jewry's ambitions are not
limited to the battle with arms alone but primarily with the
Prophetic ideals which have sustained us through centuries
of persecution.
This is a glorious Hanukah, made possible by our glorious
and heroic brothers.
A Happy Hanukah to all Israel!
Realization of Hospital Dream
Work will begin before long on the construction of the
projected 222-bed Detroit Jewish Hospital. The millions of
dollars that are needed for adequate hospital facilities, to be
provided under Jewish auspices, soon will be made avail-
able, as a result of the augmented fund to be provided by the
'Greater Detroit Hospital Fund, and Detroit Jewry at last will
•be able to play its rightful share with other elements in the
community in providing health facilities for all elements.
The Greater Detroit Hospital Fund includes a sum of
$2,500,000 for the Jewish Hospital. The 1944-45 hospital drive
netted a total of $2,400,000, thus providing a total of $4,900,000
with which to begin construction work. It is estimated that
another million dollars will be needed to complete the amount
necessary for the adequate health institution planned by the
Jewish Hospital Association. At this point, it is safe to assume
that the entire amount soon will be made available.
Thus, nearly 40 years of hospital agitation comes to an
end. At the close of the first decade of this century, a group
of Detroit Jews began a movement for a hospital. Apparently
the time was not ripe for the fulfilment of the dream at that '
time. A sum approximating $10,000 was raised by the pioneers
in the movement, and a good transaction, through the sale of
acquired lots, boosted this sum to a little more than $40,000.
A women's committee has raised another sum of about $20,000.
In view of the tremendous needs for such a project, it is
obvious that the small sums initially raised were inadequate
for the great project.
The last four years have witnessed a change in interest in
behalf of a hospital. Community leaders, having resolved that
the time is ripe for the building of an adequate health in-
stitution, undertook to raise the very large sums that are
needed. They have succeeded, and their efforts are making
the dream a reality.
Nate S. Shapero and Melville S. Welt, as members of the
Greater Detroit Hospital Fund executive committee; Isidore
Sobeloff and Martin Butzel as members of the allocations
committee; Max Osnos, as chairman of the Jewish Hospital
Association; James B. Webber, Jr., president., and William J.
Norton, chairman of admissions and allocations of the Greater
Detroit Hospital Fund, have earned sincere congratulations
for their wise actions.
Now, working together, we can take pride in real achieve-
ments on the local front, in behalf of a Jewish Hospital as
well as in the interest of numerous other local causes, in
addition to the encouragement we have consistently given to
overseas needs and to Israel. Our community structure is
stronger as a result of these cumulative accomplishments.
1. In what Hebrew month does Hanukah fa/1
and how long does it last?
2. What does Hanukah mean and by what two
names is it called in English?
3. What historical event does Hanukah com-
memorate and when did it occur?
4. Why is Hanukah considered a minor festiVal
and who decreed its 'obServance?
5. What special ceremony is observed in the
home during Hanukah and what two hymns are
chanted after the Hanukah candles are lit?
6. How many lights are lit throughout the Festi-
val of Illumination?
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7. By what name is the extra candle called,
which is used to light the others?
8. What special prayers are recited during
Hanukah? -
9. To what unusual event does the custom of
kindling lights during Hanukah trace its origin?
10. Why has it become customary to indulge in
games, riddles and other pastimes, particularly
during the evenings of the Festival of Dedication?
11. Describe the Hanukah "dreidel."
12. What Hebrew letters are inscribed on the
four sides of the trendel and what do they rep-
resent?
13. What does the Hebrew sentence "Nes gadol
hayah sham" mean?
14. Who were the Hellenists?
15. What orders did Antiokhus promulgate
when he took control -of Palestine?
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16. Who was among the first Jewish leaders to
raise the flag of rebellion against Antiokhus and
in what community?
ANSWERS
1. Kislev; eight days.
2. Dedication; Feast of Lights or Illumination
and Feast of Dedication.
3. The successful struggle for religious liberty
carried on by the Israelites under the Maccabees,
against their Syrian oppressors; about 2100 years
ago.
4. Because its observance is not enjoined in the
Pentateuch; Judas Maccabeus and the. Elders of
Israel.
5. The kindling of the Hanukah lamp; Hanerot
Halalu-Maoz Zur. •
6. One on the first night, and an additional one
each succeeding evening until the last, when eight
candles are lit.
7. The Shamas.
8. Al Hanissim and Hallel (Songs of praise from
the Psalms).
9. To a miracle which is said to have occurred
during the rededication of the Holy Temple by.
Judas Maccabeus and his warriors. When the
perpetual lamp was about to be lit there was
found only one cruse containing sufficient under
filed oil for one day, but by a miracle it lasted
eight days. the time required for the preparation
of fresh oil.
10. Because it is not permitted to do, any work
by the light of the Hanukah lamp.
11. It is a ceremonial toy similar to a spinning
top or revolving die with bottom and top pieces
on all 'four sides.
12. Nun, gimmel, heh, shin; they are the initial
letters of four words which, when put together,
make up the sentence "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham."
13. "A great miracle was or happened there."
14. The Jews in the time of the Maccabees who
imitated Greek culture and the Greek ways of
life.
15. He ordered the Jews to abandon their sacred
religious practices and to worship Greek idols,.
erecting altars in every town and village.
16. Mattathias, the High Priest, with his five
sons; Modin.
Credo - Ani Maamin
By SAUL CHERNICHOWSKY
Translated by Dr. Noah E. Aronstam
Translator's Note: With the reassuring and prophetic
words of our great and illustrious bard, Saul Chernichow-
sky, I yield my pen to the inevitable and the past. It
was vouchsafed to me to witness the pledge come true
and the miracle to happen. History has fulfilled its pre-
destined mission and I rest myself on the wings of his
muse, with the conviction that all is well with Israel and
in the hope of its future security, and so-farewell!
Scoff at me and cast derision,
Laugh and scorn and rail at me;
Yet my creed it holds a vision:
Man, I still believe in thee.
In thy soul the breath of freedom,
Free from greed and lust. for gold;
Out of bondage ever rising
Soars thy soul a thousandfold.
Soul, that fathoms deep abysses,
Spirit raised to dizzy heights;
Slaves may cringe 'neath chains and shackles,
But thy soul aspires to light.
Scoff! I still believe in friendship,
I believe in human hearts;
Hearts of hope, the heart of mankind,
As it seeds and buds and starts.
I believe in man's great future,
Tho the hour be far remote;
It will come with peace triumphant,
In its chords a blissful note.
Thus my people's rod will flower,
Fragrant flowers in the night,
Iron chains will fall asunder
As it sees the dawn of light.
It will live and love and labor,
God for shield and time for guard;
And in coming generations
It will find its own reward.
Then the bard will sing its epic,
And sweet melodies will break;
Rarest flowers will then blossom,
When my people will awake.
L .