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Women's Division Day April 24; Noted
Writers. Flutist on Programs April 27, 28

Two thousand workers in Gen-
eral Solicitation of the Womeri's
Division of': tlie 1949 Allied. Jew-
ish Campaign have received their
kits - and instructions and are
making final pla-ne for Sunday,
April 24, which is The bay: .The
Day arrangements are: Under the
. chairmanship of Mrs: Williani R
Isenberg, with auxiliary planning
being handled by Mrs. Harry L.
. Jones._
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STEFAN HEYIVI

The Day will be the one day
when workers in general solici-
tation will cover over 14;000 slips
of prospective contributors to the
One drive that provides funds
for over 50 local, national and
overseas - causes: "Every JeWish
woman in Detroit should- feel it
her • responsibility to 'either reg-
Ater as a solicitor or remain: at
home to make her pledge to the
worker. who will call on her,"
Mrs. Jones stated.
On Wednesday, April 6, kits
were distributed at, a meeting at
the Jewish Community Center.
At the same meeting, the special
gifts committee announced in a
first report that a total of $47,335
has been collected to date by
their division_
On, The Day each solicitoi- will
try to secure pledges of • at least
10c .a day, or $36.50, since 'even
this amount can provide impbr-
tant necessities for some Jewish
person. It can buy clothing for
a boy or girl on his way to
Israel from a DP camp, buy food
on an agricultural settlement for
some child who is starting a new
life in Israel or food for a refugee
family for two weeks in the
United States. In addition, a gift
may be utilized to provide ad-
justment services for immigrants

to the United States and Israel;
Distribution of kits and a buf-
fet luncheon preceded the pro-
gram on April 6 which was pre-
sided over by Mrs. William B.
Isenberg, chairman of general
solicitation. 'Short talks on the
importance and mechanics of The
Day were 'given by Mesdames
Henry Wineman, John a Hopp, '-
Leonard H. Weiner, and Harry
L. Jones_ who is in charge of
auxiliary planning arrangements
for The Day. Highlighting the
program was an interview of
campaign workers by Fran Har-
ris, popular women's editor of
WWJ and WWJ-TV.
Invitations went out this week
to prospects in general solicita-
tion and special gifts of the Wo
men's Division of the 1949 cam- .
paign for the two luncheons to
be held on April 27 and 28.

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ -

'No Gambling Like Politics ....

Censorship

—

VALERIE STONE .
The two guest speakers will
be Stefan Heym, noted author
of "Hostages" and the - current
best seller, "The Crusaders," and
Valerie Stone, editor, radio com-
mentator and lecturer.
Also featured on the program
will be Hillel Rabinadar, bril-
liant Israeli shepherd flutist and
singer who distinguished himself

More About 'Oliver Twist'

Debate over the -Wisdom of Jewish protests against the showing
of the anti-Semitic film "Oliver Twist" and the comments made by
several writers who criticized the stand taken by American Jews
have elicited the following letter addressed to the Saturday Review
of Literature by Fancille H. Hlavaty of Rochelle; N. Y.
Freedom of speech is a noble thing, and ought to' be used
nobly—not t9 cry "Fire!" in a crowded auditorium, not to libel
or slander one's neighbor, not to foment hatred or war. When
all men have accepted these- self-restrictions, we shall need no
"censorship." Yet now the law forbids the, , first two, and may
some day forbid the third. Of course, we do not believe that
"safety and esteem can be guaranteed by the placing of a ban or
the action of a censor." But it might be a first step. Safety on the
streets is not guaranteed by the presence of the traffic officer
or the signal lights, but they help. Should you wish to dispense
with them, merely because some accidents happen anyway?
... How easy to sit comfortable and safe among the secure
majority and advise the Jews and the Negroes not to be "touchy,"
not to be "humorless." When a Negro Phi Beta Kappa is , denied
a job as stenographer by an office manager whose ideas on
Negro intelligence, honesty, and efficiency have all been formed
by the comics, the movies and the radio, should this college grad-
uate go home and enjoy a good laugh at "Amos 'n' Andy?"
The merits of this writer's claims are self-evident. In Israel, as
we haVe indiCated in 'an earlier column, it is possible for Jews' to
look with indifference upon films whose character§ incite to riots,
against Jews, Negroes and other groups who must continue to fight
the bigots. Elsewhere, it is another matter. It is not as if the same
audience that sees an anti-Semitic Fagin could be reached with a
reply and could be approached with an appeal to reason. The motto,
"eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" remains a guide for those
whe must defend their rights.
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Christian Shrines and Interests in Palestine

In view of the repeated charges appearing in some Catholic and
Protestant periodicals concerning Christian shrines in Israel, the
folloWing statement, made by Msgr.• Thomas J. McMahon, national
secretary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, of which
Francis Cardinal Spellman is president, in a memorandum to the
Hon. Trygve Lie, Secretary General of the United Nationas, dated
March 21, 1949, i is of great significance:
"On Aug. 20, 1948, we asked you to make a,n inquiry re- '
garding criminal acts against Christian persOns and places dur-
ing the progress of the Palestinian warfare. The undersigned •
is happy to report that he personally, after an extended journey
in the area, can testify to the genuine desire of the government of
Israel to repair the damage done and to maintain proper re-
ligious institutes 'within its boundaries."
• Some American periodicals continue to malign . Israel on the
question of Christian shrines. Several men-there of CongreSs have
even seen fit to insert attacks on Jews on this subject in the Con-
gressional Record. It is encouraging, therefore, that Msgr. :McMahon
has issued this statement which so, emphatically refutes the abuses

we have heard until ,now. -

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The Zionist Council of Detroit is making elaborate
preparations for the celebration of 4,he first anniversary
of the establishment of Jewish State, on Sunday after-
noon, May 15, at file State Fair Coliseum.
Conflicts in dates necessitate the holding 'of Detroit's
celebration on the civic calendar date instead of the fifth
of lyar—May 4—the date set for- celebrations by the-
State of Israel.
- At the• local celebration, in which the Jewish. Com-
munity Council is cooperating, there will be prominent
national speakers,- participation by children from all
Jewish schools and 'Israeli veterans. The school com-
mittee consists of M. Goldoftas, Albert Elazar and Rabbi
Sidney Akselrad. Herbert Hordes heads the veterans'
committee. William Hordes is chairman of the finance
conirnittee.
Sidney Shevitz, president of the Zionist Council;
announces that preparations are being made for par-•
ticipation in the Detroit celebration by .members of the
Consular COrps.

ittman Presents FreidOe Oysher
In The Cantor's Daughter April 24

The first Yiddish stage per-
fOrmance - in an entire year will
be sponsored here on Sunday eve-
ning, April 24, at the Scottish
Rite Cathedral of the MaSonic
Temple, under the management
of Abraham Littman, who for 30
years sUperliised the Yiddish the-
,
ater in Detroit.
Featuring Freidele Oysher,
noted singgr who is known as
'Die Chazente"—the Woman Can-
tor—Mr. Littman will present
"The Cantor's Daughter" ("Dem
Chazen's Tochter").
Assisting Miss Oysher will, be

Purely Commentary

Disraeli once said that "There is no gambling like politics."
- In Zionist ranks, a new type of political campaign is in progress.
Daniel Frisch has toured the country in a drive for the national
presidency. From Brooklyn comes the word—over the signature
cf the Brooklyn ZOA region, Benjamin G. Browdy, who was a leader
in the Silver-Neumann forces in opposition to the return to leader-
ship of the UJA of .Morgenthau and Montor—that his, "the largest
region in the country, representing :a membership of 25,000," voted
to back Mr. Frisch, by a 59 to 4 vote of its executive committee.
What happened to the other 24,937 Brooklyn registered Zionists,
- Mr. Browdy?
The same question can be addressed to the handful of men who,
at a meeting in Grand Rapids, decided to give the support of
igan's 6,000 enrolled Zionists to Mr. - Frisch. What happened. to :the
other 5,975—especially in view of an established tradition in our oWn
community to trust the judgment of delegates who have a right . to
go to conventions uninstructed?
We have another opinion. It is our belief that the Zionist Or-
ganization. of America, like other Zionist groups, must undergo a
transformation, from political to educational movements, and that
principles- must be evaluated before personalities are projected on
the political arena. Furthermore, the malor responsibilities of all
Jews today are to the United Jewish Appeal—in the best interests
of Israel—and not to institute new political practices on communities
that are burdened with serious duties to the Jewish State. A poli-
tical campaign inevitably taxes the energies of people who should
instead be working for the UJA.
Some Zionist districts are rebelling against
against- the. new standards
adhere to a
in Zionism. Will the Zionist Organization of
long-established policy of trusting the judgment of its spokesmen
at conventions?
But we can't blame Mr. Frisch for seeking to fulfill an ambition
to become the ZOA president. After all, "there is no gambling like
politics."

Zionist Council Preparing
State Day Festivity May 15

HILLEL RABINADAR
as a Haganah hero during the
Isareli battle for independence.
The special gifts luncheon on
Wednesday, April 27, at 12:30
p.m., at the Franklin - Hills Coun-
try Club will honor women dis-
tributors -of $100 , and over.
Contributors of $36.50 and over
will be honored . by the general
solicitation luncheon Thursday,.
April 28, at 12:30 p.m., at Fantasia
(formerly the Latin Quarter). •

Louis Berry Takes
Reservations for
Weizmann Dinner

Louis Berry, Detroit member.
of the "Salute to the President
of Israel Committee," is• ac-
cepting reservations for the
dinner in honor of Dr. Chaim
Weizmann, to be held , Satur-
day evening, April 23' at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
In addition to the address by
Dr. Weizmann, this dinner will
be featured by a program by
the NBC Symphony Orchestra
conducted by Leonard Bern-
stein, with Jascha Heifetz, world
famous violinist, as soloist.
Detroiters are urged to make
their reservations at the Detroit
table at the clinrter by calling
Mr..Berry, CA:43369.

an all-star cast including Fanya
Rubine, Tillie Rabinowitz, Sam-
uel Schechter, Leon Charash,
Itzchok Lipinsky, and others.
"The Cantor's Daughter," which
was written for Miss' Oysher, has
5 musical numbers. This musi-
cal comedy was bne of the out-
standing New York successes this
season.
Tickets for the performance are
available at Bornstein's Book
Store, Metro Music House and
Detroit Hebrew Book Store, and
at the box office on the night of
the performance.

Off the Record

By NATHAN ZIPRIN .

Faltering Gentlemen of the Press

The. English-Jewish weekly press in the United States recently
celebrated its 100th anniversary. Our Yiddish contemporaries seem-
ingly failed to look at the calendar or else they could not have over-
looked what even, the critics of that press must consider an ill)•
portant landmark in American Jewish life. However, some gentle-
men who seem to be of the clan that loves to mar festive occasions•
had their say.
Zivyon of the Forward, who has been advocating cohesion in
'Jewish life in many of his recent articles, was one of them. He made
a vicious and unwarranted attack on the English-Jewish press. No
objective judge can honestly say that the Anglo-jewiSh weekly press
has achieved perfection. But neither can that be said about the gen-
eral press, The fact that there are more Anglo-Jewish weeklies to-
day than ever before and that their circulation is constantly in-
creasing would logically seem to point that they fill a definite com-
munity need and that their existence is the concern of the communi-
ties in which they circulate. If their literary standards are not always
of the highest it • is not because of lack of will but because of limited
circulation and support.
People in the large cities seem to forget that in the remote cor-
ners where the English-Jewish publication§ circulate the general
press does not giVe too generously any space to items of Jewish in-
terest. The editor of a small Jewish publication in Pennsylvania re-
cently told- this writer that a delegation of the Jewish community
had actually submitted a protest to the publisher and editor of the
local daily paper for ignoring Jewish news. The delegation secured a
promise but nothing ever happened. The same story probably repeats
itself in many other small towns. The radio these days brings • news
about ,Israel into every home. But that is not sufficient for a Jew
who feels the drama intensely. It is surface stuff.
Two successive summer trips through part of the country con-
vinced this writer that there is grtater response to Jewish issues
in communities having English-Jewish papers than in those in which
there are none. When a man in a small community gets his Anglo-
Jewish paper on Friday he and his .family read it avidly. His local
newspaper may have carried a Jewish story or two during the week.
But in his weekly Anglo-Jewish paper he finds the story in detail
and its appropriate perspective and against the proper background,
In it he finds out what is going in Jewish life throughout the United
States and tile world. If hey is a discriminating reader he can deter-
mine Jewisb. trends. The English-Jewish paper brings Jewish life
to his doorstep, But that is not all. Most Anglo-Jewish papers carry
at least one feature every week in addition to columns and other
material syndicated by responsible agencies. Through those fea •
tures he gets more than a mere glimpse into the vast arena of JON-
ish life. On holidays his paper supplies him with special material
aimed at catching the mood of the given occasion. Without that there
would be even greater barrenness in some of the .Jewish communi-
ties.
If the gentleman who took a stab at the English-Jewish press
had paused to think for a moment he would not have been so bitter.
In fact he tried to soften his punch in a subsequent article.
Another gentleman, 'who incidentally made a living from the
English-Jewish press for many years, went even further. In an
article which evidently .escaped the attention of the editor of the
Day, Yiddish daily, he wrote that the Anglo-Jewish weeklies wield
no influence in any of the communities in which they appear. Fall-
ing into a 'mood of bigotry, he wrote that practically all of the
Anglo-Jewish weeklies are inferior to the "Negro sheets". The
difference, he stammered, is that the Negro sheets were being read
while the English-Jewish weeklies are not even read by the • small
.number of subscribers they have. The transition from bigotry' to mis-
statement appears to be an easy one.
A third gentleman, who took up the cudgels on behalf Of, the
English-Jewish weeklies, used the
ancient device of elevating
through belittlement. In a - syndicated article : in the Anglo Jewish
Press he went to the extreme of saying that the Yiddish press was
absolutely inferior< to the Anglo-Jewish press• in every respect. Re-
specters of value, of course, did not take him seriously. It was eels.
tainly unbecoming for a man who makes a living from the Yiddish
press to have• said such a thing. _ _ . -
It will "indeed be as rich day in AmeriCan Jewish life when the
English-Jewish press reaches 'the stature attained. by.:the • Yiddish
xress.
sometlaing the English4ew-jsk_:press s still striving
W3t•ti
gksiigaick ess•
f45r, a IV*,

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