As the Editor Views the News Boyle Heights Novel Another Meeting — More Problems 'Joei-Very Human Story Education Month David Lord's new novel, "Joey," (published by E. P. Dutton Co., 300 Fourth Ave., New York 10) deals with a Jewish boy in the Boyle Heights (Jewish) section in his native city of Los An- geles. It is an engrossing novel about an Ameri- can lad who is disturbed by the injustices that strike mankind, his family, the girl of his choice and her drunken father. This is a novel about Jews who make their way in life the hard way. It is a novel about immigrants who struggle to save extra dollars to bring their relatives to this country from Poland, who meet with tragedy when Hitler conquers Europe, who build a new life in Amer- ica. Whatever they achieve is accompanied by struggle, but their approach is honest, indus- trious, marked by strong loyalties for America. Lord's "Joey" has all the elements of good writing. It is far superior to the numerous other "Jewish" (sic) novels written recently by Jews and non-Jews in which the 'sex element domi- nates all aspects of their themes. In Lord's "Joey" character study is a dominant factor. The novel's wholesomeness distinguishes it superbly. Sex is in no sense sacrificed, but it is not em- phasized to such a degree as to make the story reek with passion to the exclusion of everything else. Joey's grandmother's desire to learn English so that she could acquire citizenship and sign her name to the application, the friendly neigh- borly spirit that exists in Boyle Heights, the hope entertained by Joey's father that he would go to college—these are among the specially touching elements in this fine story which has been built around very human and very inter- esting characters. They are natural human be- ings who invite the reader's interest. The entire novel holds yo U. glued to its pages until the story is finished. David Lord has, indeed, per- formed a godd job. Detroit took the lead, 23 years ago, in inaugurating observance of Education Month, during the Hebrew month of Tishri. The example set at that time by the United Hebrew Schools of Detroit now is being followed by communities throughout the land. Under the leadership of the American Association for Jewish Education, 17 na- tional Jewish organizations have endorsed observance of Education Month and have issued the following Call to American Jewry: To provide fully for your child's well-being and mental health; "To share with your child in mutual joys, memories and associations; To equip your child for a balanced, well- adjusted place - in the world we live_in; to make him a valued neighbor and citizen; "To enrich your child's life with a 4,000 year old precious heritage as a Jew; Jewish history, Bible, Hebrew language and literature, the Jew- ish religion and culture; "To give him a sense of belonging to his own people. "To help make this world a better place for your child to live in, "You Must Provide. Him with a Sound Jew- tsh Education. "There is no substitute for a parent's devo- tion that you alone can bring to him—in the values of a sense of self-identification with you and your origin, of an enriched cultural inter- est, of the .psychological fulfillment . of his spir- itual needs. "This year Jewish Education Month and Week is designated for the perird of Septem- ber 11 to October 16. "You along with other American Jews can make this a period of dedication to the men-. tal and spiritual security of your child., to -the welfare of America and of the Jewish people everywhere. "If he or she has been attending a Jewish religious school, make sure that they continue their attendance. If not, secure enrollment noW. If he or she or you participate .in Jewish studies, in synagogue or Jewish center activity ; make sure to renew that participation..If not, provide it now. This is an indispensible service you owe to yourself, your child, your people, your re- ligion, your'country. To have happy,' adjusted, informed, in- spired Anzerican Jewish children and youth there nzust be • cooperation, between parents and . schools; community and schools; schools for gen- eral education and schools for Jewish education. "A Jewish school is waiting in your com- munity or neighborhood to serve you and your family. "Seek it out now." For Detroiters, who have been hearing similar . Calls.*for - 23 years, the needs out- lined in this statement should be clear. "To have happy, adjusted, informed, inspired American- Jewish children," it is essential that they should. be given a thorough Jew- ish education. - This is the time to enroll the children in Our 'Hebrew , schools. This is the year in which to . make the Education Month ob- serVance• more effective than ever. We Urge all parents to enroll their chil- dren in- -otir. - schools immediately, and we sincerely ,h6pe that the necessary means will be_ provided by our community to give the Hebrew schoolS the strength they need to carry into action an effective Jewish educa- tional pr'ogram. 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, Palcor News Agency. Published every Friday by , The Jewish News Publishing , Co.. 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 6-1155. 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. 26 Page 4 September 9, 1949 Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the sixteenth day of Elul, 5709, the following Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion—Deut, 26:1-29:8. Prophetical portion—Is. 60. Jews in Germany--At Own Risk Joseph Rosenzaft, leader of the displaced Jews in the British zone in Germany, made an impassioned appeal at the sessions of the World Jewish Congress in Paris that a warning be issued to Jews who choose to remain in Germany that,they will do so at their own risk. Herz' By DR. NOAH E. ARONSTAM It was a blunt way of stating that anti-Semitism is as rampant in Germany today as it was in the worst days of Hitler's rule and that bigotry continues on the rise in the land of the Nazis. Harry Greenstein, adviser on Jewish affairs to the American Military Government in Germany, substantiated the worst fears with regards to existing conditions in Ger- many when he indicated that "no one can work in Germany for even a brief period without being conscious of the deep underlying hatred and hostility against the Jews which exists -on all levels of life." He estimated that 25,000 Jews will remain in Germany and declared that it will take gener- ations for the "virulent form of Nazi anti-Semitism to spend itself." It is no wonder that Jews in Europe are disillusioned, that the World Jewish Congress executive should have adopted a resolution regretting that a West German state has been established before the completion of the denazifi- cation of Germany. With 25,000 Jews remaining in the land of the Nazis, Germany will remain a problem for world Jewry. But even if all Jews are evacuated from Hitlerla,nd, the ideology of the Germans 'remains a threat to the world at large. The Germans are pampered by the same people who were isola- tionists in the last war and whose blind outlook on the world situation was responsible for the lives of millions of people, including six million Jews. The battle against Nazism con- tinues, and the Jew remains the scapegoat in the land of horrors that is being rebuilt as Germany. "He was gathered to his fathers and they buried: him. . . ." (Quotation frequently met in the Bible.) Herzl—the four types of the Maccabaeans Were personified in 'thee: Judas the magnificent, Jonathan the masterful, Johannan the Counselor, And the silent dreamer Simon. Does history repeat itself? For a verity it does!. The pattern remains unchanged, Though the forms differ. The four were ,gathered to their fathers, And so wert thou, Herzl Maccabaeus. Upon the highest peak of Jerusalem, Facing westwards the Great Sea And descrying eastwards the shores of the Sea of Salt, There lies thy. burial place. Yet unlike Moses, to whom it was not vouchsafed To see his dreams fulfilled in life— Destiny has otherwise decreed That in death thy ashes shall be consecrated to the soil, The soil for which thou hast lived and died. And verily the prophet's words came true again:• "The beloved and the pleasant in their 'lives In their death shall never be divided." Rest in peace, Herzl Maccabaeus. - HOW Shall We Return? By ABRAHAM CAPLAN The World Jewish Congress is on the right track in • The notes of the shofar plead, 'Return ye.' planning to open an office in Germany to obtain reliable in- HOW shall we return? formation for the benefit of the world public opinion," be- How shall we confront the Divine Tribunal cause, as Dr. Nahum Goldman told the Congress, there is In judgment, our • deeds being strictly weighed still danger in Germany "even if not a singleJeW remained Dark doubts tug hungrily at our hearts there." As the old year plods the highway of .eternity. . Co-ordination: Community Need Judging by advance announcements made by numerous community agencies and organizations, a busy year can be anticipated. Lecturers are being booked, dances and lunch- eons are planned, there is evidence of a repetition of multiple fund-raising campaigns. In many instances, there is evidence of a repetition - of errors of the past in the overlapping of activities. The com- munity can be spared overlapping of _ effort, provided that some of the allied groups would plan their affairs jointly. Larger audiences- can be assured for, visiting lecturers by a merger of meetings by sponsoring - organizations. Bnai Brith, Zionist, Jewish War Veterans: and congregational groups should be able to plan joint affairs, thereby assuring larger attendance, the elimination of expense and an in- crease in interest in discussion of community problems. Perhaps the Jewish Community- Council can step in and help solve the problem of overlapping. - One of the Council's functions is to guide the community through an available calendar of planned events which is intended to prevent con- fusion and to avoid interference in dates by organizations.. The Council can go a step farther----by encouraging organiza- tions to combine in sponsoring inter-related affairs. By doing so, much energy can be released in support of the major overseas, national and local causes which have suffered by decline in income for the Allied Jewish:Campaign during the past year. It would be an interesting experiment to test the corn- munity's willingness to coordinate hitherto overlapping functions. Self-pity, fruit of the mind's planting, possesses our frame As we invoke bounties too vast for us Whose vision comprehends such slight nobility. Soon the shadowy forms of men will emerge From countless burrows dug for self-provisioning And join the throngs flowing like swollen rivers Unto God's infinite ocean of forbearance. How shall we return To the beckoning peace of Him who is King And also our Father inquiring for our good? We must not come into God's hallowed precincts Dragging within our hearts consciousness power, • Puffed .up with fleeting earthly fortune, Our heads jutting high with self-esteem. Let us enter the ancient prayer chamber Our hearts emptied of lordly pride, Our eyes dim with penitential tears For those v∎re have wronged with our forgetting And fOr the sorely forgotten who verily are we. . Facts You Should Know .. Why is it customary to chant songs about Elijah the Prophet on Saturday night in the synagogue and home? It is a cardinal belief of the Jewish religion that Elijah the prophet will come forth one day to announce the coining of the Messianic Era. The Talmud states that Elijah will not come on the day before the Sabbath so as not to disturb the peace of the day. He is likely to come at the conclusion of the Sabbath. Jews believe that observance of the Sabbath will be a cause for his coming. Therefore, the exit of each Sabbath causes speculation as to whether this is the Sabbath which Elijah will follow.