'A Mother in
The Evil Spirits
As the Editor
Views the N
- ews ...
'More Yesterdays' Enhance
Rebekah Kohut's Life Story
The Mundt Bill
Congress Weekly, speaking for the
American Jewish Congress, points out that
the Mundt Bill "incorporates the highly
dangerous and unconstitutional provision of
`guilt by association' " and declares that
such legislation "could become an effective
means for curbing the advocacy of any
progressive cause and for stifling the ex-
pression of unpopular views."
k4
The editorial in Congress Weekly con-
cludes: "Subversive activity can be penal-
ized by measures now on the statute books,
and if the espionage laws now on the stat-
ute books are inadequate, they should be
strengthened. But the Mundt Bill is aimed
not only at subversive activity but also at
many forms of political expression which
are er titled to constitutional protection. It
menaces basic American freedoms and
American constitutional practice."
This evaatation is mild compared with
the viewpoint expressed editorially in the
Nation under the heading "Rape of the
Constitution." Quoting Senator Mundt as
insisting that his bill "does not outlaw the
Communist Party" but merely compels it
"to come out of the slimy darkness of its
underground cells and either dissolve its
conspiracy, operate in the open, or run into
conflict with the law," the Nation asserts
that while it is in sympathy with the objec-
tive of eliminating conspiracy it considers
Senator Mundt's methods "nothing less than
a rape of Anglo-Saxon law." Senator Lang-
er, who, together with Senators Kefauver,
Kilgore and Magnuson, opposes the bill,
pointed out that guilt by legislative fiat is
abhorrent to American law and a flat viola-
tion of the constitutional requirement of due
process.
The Nation maintains : "If the Mundt
Bill becomes law, we will have substituted
a Congressional bill of attainder for trial
by law. We will have exposed ourselves to
prosecution and harassment solely on the
basis of what a government board may de-
cide is subversive. We will have abandoned
completely the doctrine that guilt is per-
sonal and not the result of association. And
we will have invited a future Administration
to outlaw, by the same device, whatever
party or group it may find inconvenient for
its purposes."
While the Nation expresses the view
that no court "would for a moment sustain
this legislative monstrosity," it indicates
that the bill nevertheless carries with it
grave dangers—even if they should prove
temporary — until the highest court would
be called upon to act on its constitution-
ality. "The shock is," writes the Nation,
"that any Senator should attempt such
violence to the Constitution he is sworn
to uphold." It is to be hoped, therefore, that
those who are now inclined to support the
Mundt Bill will turn against it.
Torah Tour Team
An important step towards advancing
orthodox Judaism in Detroit is being taken
with the visit here next Monday of three
distinguished leaders who are traveling as a
Torah Tour Team.
•
Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman, Dr. Leo Jung
and Rabbi Simon K. Kramer=forming this
Torah team—are coming here to discuss
vital community problems with Detroit rab-
bis and to address orthodox Jews on matters
related to the religious life of our community.
They undoubtedly will be given the hear-
ing they and the cause they represent de-
serve. Much good for the entire community
should result from their efforts.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
impers. Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by Fhe 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. XVII—No. 6
Page 4
April 21, 1950
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fifth day of Iyar, 5710, the
following Scriptural selections will be read:
Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 12:1-15:33.
Prophetical portion—II Icings 7:3-20.
Israel'
ISRAEL APPLICATION 'FOR ARMS
REJECTED BY BRITAIN
JeWa6. ', ELEC./Wei..
MANLY—
The Crisis: A Time for Action
During the critical days when Palestinian Jewry was
fighting for its life, we quoted in these columns a famous
Lincoln story as an admonition against slowdown in aid to
the people who were pressed to the wall by seven hostile
nations and who needed our help.
Since that time, the heroes in Palestine have become
free citizens of an important democratic stronghold in the
Middle East: Israel. But this little state is not secure. It
is struggling for life. And the Lincoln story that we used
for propaganda purposes three years ago is as applicable
today as it was then.
Abraham Lincoln was being molested with complaints.
Some of them came from the west, some from the east,
many from circles close to him. The Great Emancipator
said to a complaining delegation:
"Gentlemen, suppose all the property you were worth was
in gold and you had . put it in the hands of Blondirk, to carry
across the Niagara River on a rope. Would you shake the cable
or keep shouting at him, 'Blondin, stand up a little straighter
—Blondin, stoop a little more—go a little faster—lean a little
more to the north—lean a little more to .the south'? No, you
would hold your breath as well as your tongUe, and keep your
hands off until he was safe over. The Government is carrying
an enormous weight. Untold treasures are in their hands; they
are doing the very best they can. Don't badger them. Keep.
silence, and we will get you safe across."
Israel continues the heroic fight. But it can not carry
its own burdens as well as the responsibilities of financing
the settlement of tens of thousands. of settlers while we
criticize and badger them and give the needed support
grudgingly.
If we mean well by Israel, as all of us surely do, we
should unite for the common cause and send forth word
to the people of Israel—by means of liberal gifts to the
United Jewish Appeal (in Detroit through the Allied Jewish
Campaign)—that we won't be parties to .rocking the boat,
to shaking the cables on which the burdened Israelis are
plodding.
This is our historic opportunity to make good on an
important obligation to ourselves—since the duty to the
survivors fftiri persecutions is all Jewry's, not merely that
of the Israelis who are opening up their doors to unlimited
numbers of Jewish settlers. The coming few weeks will
prove whether or not we fail to recognize the enormity • of
the task facing us.
Happy Birthday, Israel
This Sabbath—the fifth of Iyar—marks the second
anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel.
Jewish communities throughout the world will join with
the infant state in observing this historic date which records
one of the most miraculous events in all history—the re-
birth, against great odds, of the Jewish nation.
Christians as well as Jews will rejoice on this day that
Prophecy has been fulfilled and justice has been won by the
downtrodden people who fought a battle for freedom and
emerged victorious.
While Jews everywhere do not yield to anyone in the
loyalties they practice towards the lands of which they are
citizens, the humanitarian idea that is involved in helping a
struggling nation retain its identity justifies whole hearted
participation by all of us in Israel's festival of freedom—its
day of liberation from many oppressors.
American Jews are especially grateful that they have
an opportunity to send forth messages of good will to the
little state and to assure its people that the help it has re-
ceived from us will not be interrupted.
Detroit Jewry will observe Israel's acquisition of liber-
ty at the mass assembly being arranged for Sunday after-
noon, April 30, at the State Fair Coliseum. Once again, we en-
dorse the call of the Zionist Council and the Jewish Com-
munity Council urging all organizations and individuals to
mobilize forces for a tremendous turnout of our people on
that da.y as a symbol of our support of Israel's aims for free-
dom.
A number of years ago, Rebekah Kohut, one
of the grandest women in Israel, created a sen-
sation in the literary world with her autobio-
graphical work, "My Portion:" Now we are treat-
ed to additional chapters containing her recol-
lections, in a book entitled "More Yesterdays: An
Autobiography (1925-1949) 2 " published by Bloch
Publishing Co.
Fannie Hurst pays glowing tribute to the new
volume in a foreword in which she hails "More.
Yesterdays" as "a history of a broad, compassion-
ate, human soul within a lovely and loved lady."
To Miss Hurst, Rebekah Kohut is: "As modern as
Park Avenue, as ancient as Israel, here is a wom-
an who, as she passed this way, enriched her
era."
Mrs. Kohut is, indeed, a woman "in step with
her time, occasionally a bit ahead of it," even
in her support of the Zionist cause.
Our heroine was married to Rabbi Alexander
Kohut in 1887, in Baltimore. The officiating rabbi
was Dr. Benjamin Szold, father of Henrietta
Szold. Dr. Szold was a classmate of her father,
Albert Siegfried Bettelheim, at a theological
seminary in Hungary.
She mentions these facts, in her interesting
way, to indicate that: "I am a rabbi's daugh-
ter, I married a rabbi, and I acquired a rabbi
for a son. All three were exceptional. Just re-
membering them gives me a glow and a thrill."
And she takes occasion to express deep satis-
faction in having known three great Zionists:
Dr. Theodor Herzl, Whom she met while her
adopted son, George, was studying in Vienna;
Miss Szold and Dr. Stephen S. Wise, to whom
her new book is dedicated.
"More Yesterdays" is history as well as tra-
velogue. There is a wealth of information in this
charming book by this charming lady. It is pack-
ed also with stories which reveal her marvelous
sense of humor.
The great men of our time pass in review in
this book—the Warburgs, the Morgenthaus, the
Schiffs, Mrs. Henry Moskowitz, Senator Lehman,
Prof. Louis Finkelstein, Vienna's Chief Rabbi Dr.
Hirsch Perez Chajes, Prof. Solomon Schecter. But
she did not limit her interest to Jewish things.
She was active in civic life and met the great
Christians of our time—the R.00sevelts. LaGuar-
dia, Senator Wagner, outstanding professors and
divines.
There is a touch of sadness in her book. For
instance, speaking of herself:
"I am a paradox—an American borri in .
Hungary, a Zionist who never went to Pale-
stine, a matriarch who never had any chil-
dren, an educator who was always a pupil.
But in my paradox has been my dream, and I.
think I have become mostly a dream."
She • concludes with "Final Reflections" in
which she utters prayers for American women
and their children, for Israel's mother's and
their children. Her life has enriched American.
Jewry and she speaks proudly of clinging to the
designation given her: "A Mother in Israel."
Her reminiscences emphasize the glory she has
lent to here people. Thus, her new book, "More
Yesterdays," like its predecessor, "My Portion," is
another valuable addition to the history of the
Jews of America.
'So We Sing'
Holiday and Bible Songs
For Young Jewish Children
To the children's book shelf has been added
an exceptionally fine book: "So We Sing: Holi-
day and Bible Songs for Young Jewish Chil-
dren:" lyrics by Sara C. Levy, music by Beatrice
L. Deutsch; illustrations by Anita Rogoff. Bloch
Publishing Co. is the publisher.
This book is 8 by 1012 inches in size. Its for-
mat lends itself well for use by children in
schools and in the home, as well as at public
functions. The four-color illustrations add to
its attractiveness.
The three participants in the production of
this work have proven themselves well qualified
to make this type of volume available for Jew-
ish children. The songs themselves are well
chosen. Opening up with "Shalom, Shalom," the
collection includes Bible songs about Noah, Ab-
raham, Rebecca, Joseph, Moses, Elijah and.
David; and lyrics for the Sabbath and all the
holidays. The concluding selection is "We Thank
Thee," and there is a glossary to explain diffi-
cult terms.
The mood of the entire book is certain to
capture the imagination of the youngsters for
whom it is intended.
Facts You Should Know . . .
Why is,it customary not to take anything out
of the house of mourners during the seven-day
mourning period?"
This restriction is expressly mentioned by the
renowned scholar, Rabbi Akiba, in his commen-
tary on the Shulchan Aruch code. In a sense it
may be a measure to prevent someone from
taking advantage of the mourners during the
days of despondency when they may be prone
to give anything away. it may also be a measure
of inducing the feeling that the seven - day
mourning period is one in which friends are to
contribute to the comfort of the mourners and
not to derive personal gain from being in theiX
home.