A Mighty Push Needed

As the Editor
Views the News ...

Interesting Facts in
Composer's Biography

`Gross Libels'

The excoriating statement- issued last
week by the National Community Relations
Advisory Council and 27 local Jewish com-
munity councils, including Detroit's, con-
demning the Council for Judaism "for its
unfounded charges and innuendos," which
are declared "gross libels upon American
Jewry," will, it is to be hoped, put an end to
a situation which has caused so much bit-
terness in Jewish ranks.
The condemned group has raised issues
involving the loyalty of the Jews in America.
"Dual allegiance" was made a subject for
debate by a Jewish group, with the re-
sult that a handful of non-Jews joined the
"Jewish chorus" with charges of a most
unfortunate nature.
That the loyalty of American Jews—
even if such a group is limited to "nation-
alist Zionists"—should be impugned, is in
itself is a matter for grave concern. The Jews
of America have, collectively, and continue
individually and collectively, to share in
their responsibilities as Americans regard-
less of the outcome of events in Israel. No
one in authority, from the President of the
United States down the line to the least im-
portant constable in the smallest precinct
of this great land, ever has questioned the
right of American Jews to help in the re-
habilitation of their oppressed kinsmen. The
unfounded charges and innuendos of "the
small but highly vocal group of Jewish in-
dividuals known as the American Council
for Judaism has been responsible for the
publication in the nation's press of reiter-
ated statements casting doubts on the loyal-
ty of American Jews who have demonstrat-
ed their sympathies with Israel," to quote
the Councils' and the NCRAC statement.
The condemnation of those who create
doubts about our loyalty is timely and prop-
er. The debate must end and the injection
of bitterness and strife in Jewish ranks must
halt. Else, the guilty must accept responsi-
bility for inviting harm for U. S. Jewry.

Accelerated JNF Tempo

Mrs. Golda Myerson, Israel Minister of
Labor and Public Works, speaking at the
48th. anniversary celebration of the Jewish
National Fund in Tel Aviv's Habimah The-
ater, stated that "perhaps the greatest de-
cision of the Zionist Congress was the es-
tablishment in 1901 of the Jewish National
Fund to nationalize land-holding in Israel.
Through this institution exiled Jewry had
its first real ties with the soil. It was im-
possible to settle new immigrants as quick-
ly as they would like, solely because world
Jewry is not providing sufficient funds. Re-
ports that immigrants are not willing to
become farmers are not true. Whether they
emanate from Bulgaria, Yemen, Poland, or
North Africa, they are all willing to work
and settle on the land."
Abraham Granott, world president of the
JNF, pointing out that the fund's ultimate
objective has not changed, declared that
its tempo must be accelerated; that "delay
is impossible, as this is the sole means of
developing the state as a vital reality capable
of meeting any emergency."
These appeals strengthen the value of
the current donor event of the JNF Ladies'
Auxiliary whose traditional projects have
supplemented income for the land-redemp-
tion fund in Israel. While JNF receives its
major support from the United Jewish Ap-
peal, the additional funds raised by the
Women have helped in the afforestation pro-
gram and in establishing a Detroit Nachlah
near Jerusalem. The gathering on Sunday,
at which Bartley C. Crum is to be the princi-
pal speaker, should serve additionally to en-
courage interest in Israel's upbuilding
among Detroit Jewry.

THE JEWISH NEWS

Chopin's Jewish Friends

.

Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
prpers. Michigan Press Association.
Services: Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate, King Features, Central Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
Co. 708-10 David Stott 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
RUTH L. CASSEL, City Editor

VOL. XVI—No. 20 Page 4 January 27, 1950

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the tenth day of Shevat, 5710,
the followi7i Scriptural selections will be read
in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 10:1-13:16.
Prophetical portion—Jer. 46:13-28.

Hamisha Asar b'Shevat—the New Year of the
Trees—occurs on Thursday.

The recent celebration of the 100th anni-
versary of the death of Frederic Francois Chopin
has aroused interest in the life of the great
Polish composer. The best story of the great
musician is contained in an excellent biography,
"The Life and Death of Chopin," by Casimir
Wierzynski, translated by Norbert Guterman,
published by Simon & Schuster, 1230 6th Ave.,
New York 20.
This is the remarkable story about a remark-
able man, and the able author's tribute is en-
larged upon in an additional eulogy contained in
the introduction to the volume by the eminent
pianist, Arthur Rubinstein.
Many important Jewish names figure in
Chopin's life story. Heinrich Heine was a mem-
ber of his circle. Felix Bartholdy Mendelssohn
was one of his friends. Giacomo Meyerbeer "did
not conceal his great admiration for Frederic,
which especially gratified his father in Warsaw."
He appeared at a soiree at the home of Baron
James de Rothschild and Baroness de Roth-
schild was was one of his pupils. Among those
he befriended was Baron Nathaniel de Roth-
schild.
Wierzynski's biography is a veritable history
of music and it throws light on the lives of
great men of Chopin's time. It is a book
eminently worth while reading.

New War Threats in Isreal

Concentration of Arab forces on the borders of Israel;
the call issued by Lt. Col. Michael Schechter, Jerusalem's
military commander, for enlistment of all male veterans
under 49 in the army reserve ; and U. S. Secretary of State
Dean Acheson's defense of the shipment of British arms to
Arab states combine to arouse concern over the security
of the infant Jewish state.
Meanwhile, the statement of our State Department that
it would "participate constructively" in the implementation
of the UN plan to internationalize Jerusalem created added
anxiety over the attitude of our government toward Israel
and the American Zionist Council found it necessary to pro-
test against Mr. Acheson's statement in defense of arms to
Israel's enemies, as well as the. plan to aid in implementation
of the internationalization scheme that has been rejected
by Israel and Jordan.
Fortunately, the U. S. delegation to the UN has clari-
fied the latter issue by explaining that the U. S. would not
actively engage in obstructionism in the Trusteeship Coun-
cil because our delegation is convinced that whatever action
is taken, the General Assembly decision to internationalize
Jerusalem is impracticable and cannot be implemented.
The fact that is overlooked is that obstacles to peace
have come only from outside sources and from the inef-
fective Arab League. For instance, Mohammed Adif El
Emiry, former head of the Jordan delegation to the Mixed
Armistice Commission, in a program entitled "The Citizen
Wants to Know" over the Ramallah Arabic Radio, stated:

"I am opposed to the internationalization of Jerusalem
because I believe that partition will give both Jews and Arabs
the opportunity to face each other and solve their problems
without foreign interference. Had the Arabs met the Jews face
to face round a table at the beginning, the Palestine question
would long have been solved. The Arabs should stop all outside
mediation. It is high time that they learn this lesson."

Over the Ramallah Arab Radio last week, the charge
was made that Arab League leaders are not content with
the mistakes they made in the Palestine war but are now
proclaiming as a great victory the impossible UN plan to
internationalize Jerusalem.
The Arab radio's assertions contain facts which have
been recognized by U. S. representatives on the armistice
commission, notably General Riley. Responsible Jewish and
Arab leaders have stated again and again that without in-
terference the Palestine problem can be solved. Perhaps the
UN Trusteeship Council and the U. S. State Department
will see the light and will lend their efforts to peace as pro-
posed by the contending parties rather than to the encour-
agement to war through impractical proposals and to the
unfair endorsement of arms sales.
Israel has shown the way to good will. Out of an over-
all budget of 70,000 pounds allocated by the Ministry of
Agriculture, loans totalling 50,000 pounds have been dis-
tributed to 1,200 Arab farmers for the purchase of seed
and for the hiring of tractors. The Ministry's Arab Village
Section is purchasing work animals and agricultural equip-
ment for Arabs and already has sowed 6,000 dunams of
land in the Negev and 1,000 dunams in the Acre area by
machinery. This is part of a vast scheme by Israel to aid
her Arab citizens. It should serve as adequate proof of a
desire to help all citizens and to strive for peace. Without
hindrance, peace can be made a reality in a short time.

March of Dimes Campaign

Nate S. Shapero's appeal to the entire community to
support the current March of Dimes campaign should re-
ceive the wholehearted response of all of us.
As chairman of the Wayne County campaign, Mr. Sha-
pero has made public figures showing that during 1949
there were 850 new cases of infantile paralysis in Wayne
County, as compared with 244 new cases in 1948. --
The past year was, therefore, a very severe epidemic
year. It increases our responsibilities during 1950. By act-
ing promptly now to fight the dreaded disease we may be
able to check its future growth and assist in providing the
machinery for its eventual complete eradication.
It is the duty of all citizens to assist this important
appeal by joining the supporters of the March of Dimes
fund. • - , ' ••-•

Ben-Shemen Rehabilitates
Thirteen-Year-Old David

By MAEANNA CHESERTON-MANGLE
Editor, Religious Press Committee

Martha Sharp, vice chairman of children
to Palestine, Inc., tells a fascinating tale about
David—not the David of Biblical times; but
David, one of the immigrant children who had
just arrived in Israel. Mrs. Sharp was sitting
with the placement committee of Youth Aliyah
when the boy came up for an interview. David
was as wan as he was blond. In answer to the
questions put, he said that his father's name was
Mose and his mother's Hannah.
"Where are they now?"

"My father died in the concentration camp
at Dacha-u."
". . and your mother?"
"She was hit by shrapnel in the ghetto in
Warsaw."
"Where were you born?"
"Warsaw."
"Any brothers or sisters?"
"There were nine. All dead."

Mrs. Sharp and the others mentally bit. their
lips, as one ventured: "How did you escape?"
"It was at Theresienstadt and we all stood

up to be shot. My bullet—" David showed a
huge hole in his ear; "my bullet went through
my ear instead. I fell down with the rest of
them as if I were dead•too. When the Nazis
were gone I escaped."

"Where did you go?"
"I joined the partisans and fought for de-
mocracy during the war. I'm a man."
"How old are you, David?"
"Thirteen." And he WAS a man.
"What would you like to be?"
"A carpenter like my father.
"Then we will send you to Ben Shemen, David.
Then you can go to school. You can learn to
read and write Hebrew; to - do mathematics and
at the same time to work in the carpentry
shop."
Six weeks later Mrs. Sharp visited Ben She-
men, and out in the fields transplanting baby
trees, she saw David. He was plump and his
eyes were no longer sad.

"Shalom, David." She ealle.d.
"Shalom, Mrs. Sharp!" He seemed delighted
to see her again, and wanted to show it. He
offered to take her over to the school and
did. He led her straight to the carpenter
shop. Inside was a shelf Nfilled with articles
for display. David took up a beautifully made,
wooden pen tray. His eyes were shining as
he exhibited the dovetailing. -
'My father would like to know I could do a
piece of work like this," he said.
David was on the road to recovery because
someone had acted in time. Someone found
hiM in Europe and brought him to Israel.
Someone placed him where love and educa-
tion are fitting him to help himself and others.

Christians who understand that the plight of
orphaned Jewish children is not a Jewish prob-
lem but a humanitarian problem are joining
their Jewish friends. Through Children to Pal-
estine they are rescuing the remnants of tht
DP camps and bringing them to a new life in
Israel.

Return, Return, 0 Shulatnite

(Based on Song of Songs 7:1.)

By DR. NOAH E. ARONSTAM

"Return, thou, my Shulamitel"
Thus reads the ancient lay,
The lyric sweet, by love inspired;
A love that will not stray
Midst pastures strange and alien,
But like a fiery blast
Invades the heart, enthralls the soul
With magic coils, and strong as death
Endures beyond all space and time.
No flood can ever drown its flame,
No streams can quench its fire;
If man bequeatheth all his wealth,
He never could aspire
To such a love,

Shvilamits,

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