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THE JEWISH NEWS I

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Tenenbaum's 1000-Year
History of Jews in Poland

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor

VOL. XIV-No. 26

Page 4

March 11, 1949

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the eleventh day of Adar, 5709,
the following Scriptural selections will be readin
our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions-Ex. 27:20-30:10; Deut.
25:17-19.
Prophetical portion-I Sam. 15:2-34.
Selections for Fast of Esther, Monday
Pentateuchal portion-Ex. 32:11-14; 34:1-10.
Prophetical portion-Is. 55:6-56:8.
On Purim, Tuesday, Ex. 17:8-16 will be read
.during morning services.

The ZOA Presidency

Dr. 'Abba Hillel Silver was right when he
stated, in his message to Dr. Chaim Weiz-
mann, during the UPA controversy, that
issues affectina the leadership of the Zionist
Organization b of America were dragged into
the unfortunate issue.
While peace has been restored in the ranks
of the United Palestine Appeal, with the re-
sult that the United Jewish Appeal campaigns
are being put into full force, ZOA difficulties
will have to be ironed out during the annual
convention, to be held in July. Dr. Emanuel
Neumann is ineligible for re-election under
the., existing ZOA constitution and the selec-
Now that the controversy within the United Palestine
tion of his successor is faced by another dis-
Appeal
has ended, every Jew in America owes a duty to him-
pute.
-
self,
to
his
conscience, to his people, to Israel and to the sur-
The ZOA, numerically as well as idealogic-
vivors from the Nazi plagues to get down to business and to.
ally strong, will function for years to come
as an important factor in guiding the think- help assure the success of the 1949 United Jewish Appeal.
ing of American Jews in relation to Israel.
Much bad blood wa spilt in the course of the arguments
Without the - support of the Jews of this
of the past few months. There have been serious rebukes as a
country the Jewish State will be in a pre-
result of the decisions of -the Jewish Agency to reconstitute
carious position, and it is becoming clearer
the UJA under leadership of Henry Morgenthau Jr. and
daily that the educational programs of the
Henry
Montor: It is, of course, unfortunate that it became
ZOA will have to be extended. For this pur-
pose it is essential that the head of the Gen- anecessary for the supreme authority in the Zionist movement
eral Zionist Movement in America slid-1.11d be to reject the attitudes of the ,leaders of the Zionist Organiza-
tion of America and, actually, to remove from office ZOA
a person chosen by the rank and file in a
selectees. Dr. Nahum Goldmann replaces Dr. Abba Hillel
spirit of amity and without rancor. -
Silver as temporary chairman of the American Section of the -
In the best interests of Israel and the Zion-
Jewish Agency. Dr. Emanuel Neumann, like Dr. Silver,
ist movement, ZOA districts throughout the
appayently has chosen no to withdraw his resignation from
country should review the existing situation
the
Agency. Judge Morris Rothenberg becomes the chairman
dispassionately. This is a time for planning
of the UPA. Baruch Zuckerman heads the Agency's organiza-
and for preparing American Jewry for action
tion department and together with Zvi Lurie will supervise
in behalf of the Jewish State. Public discus-
the youth halutz department. Dr. Joseph Schechtman heads
sions should be held before the convention
the
research department, Maurice M. Boukstein becomes gen-
for frank discussion of existing needs and
eral counsel to the executive committee and Gottlieb Hammer
issues. By avoiding unnecessary wrangling
has been appointed executive director. Dr. Hayim Greenberg
it will be possible to cement the friendliest
heads the Latin American department and Mrs. Rose Halprin
of feelings am-Ong all elements in American
will administer the economic department.
Jewry. To avoid such disputes, the ZOA must
find a person whose candidacy for the na-
Those who are acquainted with alignments in Zionist
tional presidency will be acceptable to all
ranks will recognize revolution in personnel in this set-up.
factions.
It may be only the beginning of another prolonged struggle
We believe that such a candidate is avail-
for leadership within Zionist ranks and it is therefore of the
able in Judge Simon H. Rifkind who, when
greatest importance that the issues should be clarified so that
he was in Europe to act as adviser to the
fund-raising should not be affected in the interim.
S. Military Government on DP issues,
The UJA delegation from this country that is presently
proved that he possesses leadership quali-
visiting
in Israel was told by U. S. Ambassador James G.
ties. Judge Rifkind has the respect of
all who have worked with him. He is held
McDonald, in Tel Aviv, last week, that "the need - for financial
in highest esteem in the Zionist movement.
aid which you and other Americans can bring to Israel is
He should 'be acceptable to the Silver-Neu-
greater than before." Dr. McDonald pointed out that "so much
mann as well as Lipsky-Wise-Goldenberg-
has
already been done in Israel that foreign observers some-
Levinthal-Rothenberg factions. He is the one
times
are tempted to underestimate the gigantic tasks still
man who may be able to rescue the ZOA from
an unfortunate and prolonged quarrel. We
ahead." Similar dangers face the UJA from an attitude on
respectfully suggest that he should be pro- the part of American Jews of taking for granted the triumphs
posed for the ZOA presidency. We believe
of Israel and of being misled into a state of lethargy by the
that by doing that American Zionism will be
conflicts which poisoned our ranks in the last few months.
kept in a position of great dignity and Israel
will be assured proper support from an in
Israel can not afford discord. In the Jewish State, the
spired ZOA constituency.
settlers are making great sacrifices. They are prepared to
double the Israeli population, within a short time, and that
requires the tightening of belts, the control of food and cloth-
Joyous Purim will have a more natural ing supplies, a vast housing program and great industrial de-
observance next Tuesday than at any other velopment. It calls for the elimination of divisive schemes
which would undermine Israel and Jewry.
time in our history. Tens' of thousands of
Jew's have been freed from the shackles of
American Jews must lead the way in wiping out tensions
anti-Semitism and hundreds of thousands are
and controversies. It must unite for Israel and•.for Jewry's
awaiting redemption in Israel and removal honor. It can not afford a prolonged debate over personality
from -contaminated German soil. As a result
issues. Even men who have been in the forefront in the pol-
of the triumphs attained in the Jewish State,
itical struggle for Israel's recognition must learn to abandon
Jews in free countries are able to breathe strife and to yield to the will of the majority. The time has
more freely and to look forward to genuine
come for action-and action today must be interpreted ill
brotherhood and good will in lands whose terms of a successful UJA drive.
air had been poisoned by the anti-Semitic
In our own community, the Allied Jewish Campaign is
movements hitherto inspired by Nazism.
It is too early to state that all semblances well on the road to complete organization. Important prepara-
of prejudice are being wiped out and that tory meetings already have been held, plans for the approach-
ing drive will be announced at Sunday's annual meeting. of
bigotry is being erased from the earth. The
the Jewish Welfare Federation at which Dr. William Haber
warnings contained in the Purim story still
are valid. We must be on guard against the will report on his experiences in Israel and with the DPs in.
Germany and serious efforts are being made to enroll large
recurrences of Nazi-Fascist ideas. But the
numbers of volunteers.
way is clearer for a better fight against in-
justice. Thanks to Israel, even the battle
Let there be an end to friction , and the beginning of
against anti-Semitism is easier to fight. The
harmonious
action-and let us resolve not to permit person-
Jewish State has helped reduce not only
ality
problems
to disrupt the machinery that provides the
Jewish homelessness but also bigotry and
means for Israel's upbuilding and defense.
anti-Semitism.

elJOAMSN T11.1"1.4.714 AVIAN.

Now to Work-For UJA

A Happy 'Purim'

Historic Cycle Completed

FeW. men are as well equipped to review the
history of the Jews of the old and new Poland
as Dr. Joseph Tenenbaum. As an author and as
a leader in Polish-Jewish circles-he is the presi-
dent of the Federation of American Jews-he is
as well known as he is in the medical profession.
His new book, "In Search of a Lost: People: The
Old and the New Poland," published by Beech-
hurst Press, 296 Broadway, New York 7, is the
story of the rise and fall of Polish Jewry, and is
one of the _best histories ever produced on this
subj ect.
Dr. Tenenbaum's book, written in collaboration
with Sheila Tenenbaum, deals with two epochs in
Polish-Jewish history, the era when there were
3,500,000 Jews in that country and the period of
destruction by the Hitlerites. It describes the
battle of-the Warsaw ghetto, tells of the liquida-
tion of communities like Bialystok, Lodz and Lem-
berg and reviews the story of the concentration
camps where millions of Jews perished at the
hands of the Nazis.
It is as history that "In Search of a Lost
People" excels. Dr. Tenenbaum presents thumb-
nail sketches of_ a thousand years of Jewish his-
tory and brings the reader up to date in his de-
scription of the new Poland. The Church does not
fare well at his hands. He exposes the unfriendly
attitude of Cardinal Mond who spoke of "the
Jewish Communists in the government-at the
root of all evil," referring • to the Russian-con-
trolled present Polish administration.
With only about 90,000 Jews remaining in Po-
land, Dr. Tenenbaum credits Russia with having
exerted a strong influence in ending anti-Semitism
and in influencing a new policy of outlawing
bigotry in government circles. However, the evil
of anti-Semitism has not been entirely uprooted
among the masses.
Dr. Tenenbaum describes the "miracle and the
secret of Jewish survival" by stating that while
"the links have been broken . . . the chain still
holds." Here are his concluding words about the
status of Polish Jewry:
"The Jews in Poland built a civilization of
their own . . . This civilization has now been de-
stroyed. A great creative center ... has been lost
to humanity. Yet the chain of existence of the
Jewish people has not been broken completely. A
new Sun is rising. Jewish youth from Poland,
former partisans, concentration camp victims and
ghetto fighters who have survived Nazi slaughter,
are now fighting inand for Israel. The historic
cycle has been completed . ."

The Jewish Answerman

A Purim Quiz

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. From
this volume and a supplementary series, of JWB
manuals on the observance of the major Jewish
festivals and holidays, one of which deals with
Purim. there has been developed a series of Jew-
ish holiday quizzes of which this one, on Purim, is
the fifth.

QVESTriONS

1. On what Hebrew date does the minor historical
festival of Purim fall?
2. What does the name "Purim" mean?
3. Why is Purim known as the Feast of Lots?
4. How is the day immediately preceding Purim
observed?
5. In what section of the Bible is the story of
Purim recorded?
6. To what is the Hebrew name "Megillot" . us-
ually applied?
7. What event does Purim commemorate?
8. During whose reign did the events occur, which
are at the basis of the Purim festival?
9. Why did Haman plot to destroy the Jews?
10. Who was primarily responsible for the frus-
tration of Haman's sinister plan? By what
other name was she known?
11. From what tribe did Mordecai and Esther
descend?
12. Who instituted the observance of Purim?
13. How is the Feast of Lots observed in the syna-
gogue?
14. What is a "gregger" or Haman "dreher"?
15. What does "Mishloah Manot" mean and to
what special Purim custom does it refer?

ANSWERS

1. The fourteenth day of Adar (March 15 this
year).
2. "Lots."
3. Because "Lots" were cast by Haman, the arch
anti-Semite, to decide on what day the Jews
of Persia were to be exterminated.
4. As a fast day. It is called the Fast of Esther
(Taanit Esther).
5. In the Book of Esther.
6. To the five small Biblical Books, which are
usually inscribed on scrolls of parchment.
7. The saving of the Persian Jews from the fiend-
ish plans of Haman, prime minister during the
reign of Ahaserus.
8. AhaSuerus, King of the Persian Empire, whose
reign extended over 127 provinces, from India
to Ethiopia. -
9. Because they •joined with their leader, Mor-
decai, in refusing to pay divine homage to him
by bowing .down to him.
10. Queen Esther, who interceded with the king
in behalf of her people, at her cousin Mor-
decai's.suggestion: Hadassah.
11.. Benjamin.
12. The Great Men of the Synod, of which august
body Mordecai was a member.
13. By reading the Scroll of Esther at the evening
and morning services.
14. It is a rattle made of wood or metal, which
children whirl during the reading of the Me-
gillah, whenever Haman's name is mentioned.
15. Sending of gifts; to the mutual exchange of
presents between relatives and friends. and
the giving of alms to the needy (Matanot
r evyonim).