'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.