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Olsvanger's "L'Cliayintl"

Yiddish Wit and Humor
In Roman Characters

Bigotry in Infancy

A number of women . were among those
who were initiated into the Ku Klux Klan
at Stone Mountain, near Atlanta, Ga. One
of the women brought her little daughter
with her. All, including the youngster in her
mother's arms, were among the white-
gowned and hooded KKKs. While Grand
Dragon Samuel Green 'predicted an attend-
ance of 1,000, only 125 were counted in at-
tendance at this ceremony. Apparently the
hooded klan is groWing less popular in the
South. The tragedy is that children are be-
ing introduced to bigotry before they even
learn the alphabet. While this is an exception
to the rule, even such manifestations call for
strict guardedness and caution by libertar-
ians against the rise in prejudice.

When Schocken Books, about two years ago,
published Immanuel Olsvanger's "Royte POmer-
antsen," a volume of wit and humor, there was
a sensation in American Jewish communities and
Olsvanger's volume sold more copies than the
better-than-average Jewish book.
Schocken has rendered another good serv-
ice by publishing, last week, Olsvanger's com-
panion book of Jewish humor, under the title
"L'Chayim."
Like its predecessor, "L'Chayim!" is a collec-
tion of Yiddish stories printed in Roman charac-
ters in order to enable those who know Yiddisli
but can't read it to get the full benefit of en-
tertainment from the ablest narrator of wit,
Immanuel Olsvanger.
The reason for publishing these stories in
Yiddish is that most of them are untranslatable
in any other language. As in the case of "Royte
Pomerantsen," stories from "L'Chayim!'' are
certain to be read to family groups and at
public meetings as entertainment.
"L'Chayim!" has several advantages. There
is a section of notes which explains a number
of stories. Then there is a splendid glossary
which enables those whose Yiddish vocabulary
is limited to get the full meaning of the stories.
There are many translations under all stories.
Besides, the volume reprints the introduction to
"Royte Pomerantsen,"---an essay of great value
as an evaluation of Jewish humor.
"L'Chayim!" can best be introduced by the
reprinting of one of its best stories. For in-
stance: here's the first story in the book: i4

A Year of Action

r

An impressive record of an entire year's
activities is recorded in the report sub-
mitted at the annual meeting of the Jewish
Community Council, by its executive direc-
tor, Boris M. Joffe. Embracing nearly every
aspect of Jewish communal work—the no-
table exception being fund-raising — this
statement, illustrated by a number of charts,
shows how the Council has expanded its ef-
forts under the leadership of Aaron Droock,
who served as president for the past four
years, and the Council's trained staff of di-
rectors and research men.
The report shows the Council's influence
in many fields as a result of a sincere at-
tempt to solve community problems and to
fulfill its obligations in many spheres of ac-
tion. In the field of community relations, in
internal Jewish matters—such as the ques-
tion of ethical business practices, kashruth,
etc. ; in cultural work, in the fight against
bigotry and in its support of the cause of a
rebuilt Israel, the Council has rendered yeo-
man service.
Making itself felt in the American com-
munity through positive approaches to dem-
ocratic thinking, the Jewish Community
Council has been in the forefront in the
fight for a fair employment practice law. It
has cooperated in every effort to encourage
liberalization of existing laws affecting the
admission of displaced persons to this coun-
try. Always on guard against possible abuses
of established democratic traditions in our
schools and public offices, its representatives
have succeeded in securing changes in edu-
cational institutions which previously had
practiced discrimination, caused the Post Of-
fice to abide by merit ratings and were in-
fluential in inducing abandonment of bias
in housing transactions.
Cooperating to the fullest degree with
the Zionist Council of Detroit, the Jewish
Community Council has played an important
role in several significant pro-Israel activi-
ties. It has assisted in sponsoring inter-faith
meetings in behalf of the Zionist cause as
well as in the best interests of good will on
all fronts in the community at-large.
The Council has made progress in ad-
vancing the democratic idea in Jewish life—
by distributing responsibility for its numer-
ous projects among several important com-
mittees.
Dr. Shmarya Kleinman assumes the of-
fice of Council president under most favor-
able conditions. The Community Council has
come of age. It has made progress and con-
tinues to prosper. It has gained respect for
its efforts. It has a wide field for even great-
er achievements. In such aspirations, Dr.
Kleinman and the new Council administra-
tion have the good wishes of the entire com-
munity whose blessings go forth to Mr.
Droock and his co-workers for their good
record in their work in behalf of democratic
ideals and the Jewish people.

THE JEWISH NEWS

Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers, Michigan Press Association.
Services: Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate, King Features, Central Press Association, Paicor
News Agency.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
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 Office,
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager

VOL. XV—No. 15
Page 4
June 24, 1949
Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the twenty-eighth day of Sivan,
5709, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 13:1-15:41.
Prophetical portion—Josh. 2.
On Monday and Tuesday, Rosh Hodesh Tam-
muz, NUM.. 28:1-15 will be read during morning
services.

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Jewish Veterans' Memorial Home

In tribute to the memory of the nearly 400 Michigan
Jewish boys who were killed in World War II, the Jewish
War Veterans Memorial Home will be erected soon on Davi-
son Avenue, in conjunction with the branch of the Jewish
Community Center.
•
There are 22 Jewish War Veterans Posts and Auxiliaries
in Detroit. The memorial building is intended to provide
clubrooms for the veterans and to serve as headquarters for
the movement. The collective efforts of those who served
in the armed forces of our country will be stimulated by the
possession of a home, and the new building will be a re-
minder to the entire community of the important role Ameri-
can Jews have played in the fight for. democracy.

'14
DER RICHTIGER SIMEN
A yung vaybi, a hayntike, mit frantsoyz un mit pYane.
iz gelegn in kimpet. Take geven dos ershte kind. Iz geveyntlach
di mame fun de vaybl geven shtark tsutrogn.
Hot men
gebracht dem dokter, er zol zayn darbay.
Iz der dokter
mit di shtubike mentshn zanen gezessn in eyn tsimer, un
di kimpetoren is gelegn in an andern. Plutsim heft men fun
yenem tsimer a sifts: "Ach, mein Got!" Zogt di mame tsurn
dokter: •'Geyt arayn, panye dotter, hert nor vi zi shrayt."'
Macht der dokter: "Kern Beyz nit, s'iz noch tsayt!" In a
vaylinke arum shrayt di kimpetoren vayter: "0 bozhe moy!"
Di mame zogt vayter: "Dokter geshvint, heft vi zi shrayt
nebach!" Ober der dokter halt each by dos zaynike: "Keirt
beyz nit, s'iz noch tsayt!" • A por minuten arum heft men
vayter: "Oh, mon Dieu, mon Dieu!" Die mame tsushpringt
Ober der dokter taynet als; "S'iz noch tsayt!" Un mit amol
hert men a vilden geshrey: Oy, maminkes!" T'itster is der
dokter ufgeshtanen un hot gezogt: "01 as zi shrayt shoyn ai
idesh, iz shoyn di richtige tsayt!"

It is a story about an anxious mother who
called the doctor dusting her daughter's preg-
nancy. The daughter is modern, knows lan-
guages, plays the piano. When her first scream
for help was in German, the doctor was calm,
but the mother was excited and anxious.
Then came cries in Polish and French. But
when she cried out for her mother in Yiddish
the doctor rose and said: "0, if she calls in
Yiddish, now it is time to act."
Those who heard the address in Detroit two
weeks ago by Robert St. John will recall that
he quoted two words which he liked best in
Israel: "Shalom", and "L'Chaim.'' He pronounced
it "'Kayim." The word, meaning "to your
health, and __used in offering toasts becomes
even more lively in Olsvanger's unusually good
book.

In the last war alone, more than 10,000 Detroit Jews
wore the uniforms of America's armed forces. Several thou-
sand Detroiters enlisted in the U. S. armed forces in the
first world war. There also are veterans of the Spanish and
Mexican wars. These men and women will better be able to
render positive services when they will act as a unit—in their
own building.

There is much that the veterans are prepared, to do—
in defense of -the highest American ideals, in the battle
against bigotry—as well as in support of the basic needs of
the Jewish community.

The campaign goal of $105,000 is not a large one. Sure-
ly, Detroit Jewry will respond well to the call for the erec-
tion of the Jewish War Veterans Memorial Home.

Zionist Publications

JTA's Thirtieth Anniversary

ZOA issues Yearbook,
Addresses by Dr. Silver

Is?ael Journalists Association on June 21 paid honor to
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency's .30th anniversary, at a
testimonial dinner, in Tel Aviv, for Jacob Landau, JTA's
managing director. Under the chairmanship of Joseph Heft-
man, president of the Association, the Israeli journalists re-
viewed the history of JTA and paid tribute to the great
work of the news-gathering agency which has succeeded in
cementing Jewish communities throughout the world.

THE PALESTINE YEAR BOOK AND ISRAELI ANNUAL
5709: Volume V. Edited by Sophie A. Udin. Published by
Zionist Organization of America and Palestine Foundation
Fund (Keren Hayesod).
VICTORY AND VISION: A collection of addresses by Dr.
Abba Hillel Silver, 1942-1948. Published by Zionist Or..
ganization of America.

The 5709 Palestine Year Book unquestionably

Many attempts have been made to organize Jewish is one of the most valuable reference books of
news-gathering agencies. JTA alone has succeeded in es- its kind published in this country. The section
tablishing a worldwide service which keeps Jews everywhere dealing with the birth of Israel includes the most
informed on happenings throughout the globe, wherever important documents of this era of the rebirth
there are Jews, or where local conditions affect the status of the Jewish State. Other sub-divisions concern .
themselves with Israel's defense, economics, cul-.
of Jews.
ture, the Arabs, as well as Zionist affairs in this
Prior to the formation of the JTA, there was chaos country.
in news-gathering. The non-Jewish news agencies, it is true,
Memorable dates in Israel's history, the Is-
carried the most important information about happenings raeli proclamation of Independence and Con-
affecting our people. In the main, however, the news that stitution,- members of Knesseth, lists of Israeli
offices abroad and foreign representatives in Is-
was picked up by the non-Jewish press associations dealt rael
are among the book's features.
either with .pogroms or with major tragedies in Jewish life.
Israel's defense and economics are discussed
The constructive, the cultural and reconstruction efforts by noted authorities. The portion of the book
were usually ignored and it was left for the Jewish agency dealing with cultural life in Israel contains a list
to emphasize the significant events in Palestine, in Europe, of newspapers and periodicals and discusses art
in Asia and Latin American countries.
and music.
It is an excellent book and its fine qualities
The rebirth of Israel places new responsibilities upon
to the expert editorship of Miss Udin.
the JTA. Jewish communities must rely upon the English- are due
The collection of .Dr. Silver's speeches con-
Jewish press for information regarding the evacuation of
tains the noted Zionist leader's major utter-
DP camps and the upbuilding of the Jewish state. They look
ances in the seven years of his . stewardship.
to JTA for information about American and world Jewries.
Among the addresses published in "Victory
JTA has set up news-gathering offices in all the capitals and Vision" are Dr. Silver's criticisms of the State
of the world. It is prepared to welcome the new era in Jew- Department, his challenges to the UN, his con-
ish life and its trained correspondents are expected to ful- demnation of British obstruction, his appeals to
Jewish masses for support of the Zionist
fill the important task of giving Jews everywhere the infor- the
cause. "Among his reprinted statements is
mation they seek about their kinsmen throughout the world. famous- brief • declaration "The Jewish State his
Is
The Jewish News greets the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Born," made on May 14. .
- Included in this volume . . are three of Dr..'
its managing director, Mr. Landau, and its large staff of
correspondents throughout the world, on the occasion of Silver's addresses - on the American Jewish Corn
JTA's 30th anniversary. We are confident that its work will munity—"The Changing arid' the Changeless,"
continue unhampered and that it will live up to the trust . "American - Jewry. in War and After" and "Lib-
Judaism and Israel."
placed in it. At the same time, we greet our confreres in eral
br. Emanuel Neumann, former ZOA president,'
the Israel Journalists Association whose able coVerage of Wrote the forewords to both these volumes. The
the fascinating scene in the Jewish State is winning the ad- historical notes to the addresses by Dr. Silver
miration of their colleagues everywhere.
were written by 'Harold P. Manson.

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