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Justice?

Notable Einstein Essays
Sound Pleas for Justice

Shevuoth

On Sunday evening, when the festival of
Shevuoth—the Feast of Weeks—will be
ushered in by Jewish communities through-
out the world, our people will rejoice again
over the spiritual values which are enhanc-
ing our heritage.
Commemorating the giving to Israel of
the Ten Commandments on Mount • Sinai,
Shevuoth symbolizes the treasures of our
faith, the great moral and ethical teachings
which have been accepted by all mankind and
the lesson it holds forth for all peoples for
peace and amity.
On Shevuoth, the community concerns
itself with the educational needs of our
youth. The confirmations, consecrations and
graduations that take place during this sea-
son of the year naturally direct our attention
to our schools, to the future of our children,
to the need for emphasis on training our
youth to become informed and understand-
ing members of our people. If Shevuoth is
to be observed in accordance with its his-
toric traditions, our communities must re-
solve to strengthen our school systems and
to improve their standards.
Shevuoth is known as the Feast of Weeks
because it marks the completion of the seven-
week period of the taking of the new barley
to the Temple in Jerusalem. Thus, in ancient
days, it was the wheat festival. This agri-
The situation in Germany has become so tragic for the
cultural aspect links Jewry again with an- remaining Jews that it has become necessary again for
cient Israel and in our own time draws re- democratically-minded people to register 'their protests
newed attention to the revival of Jewish against the revival of Nazi tactics. Attacks on Jews, destruc-
statehood and the new era of the return of tion of property, desecration of synagogues are among the
many of our people to farming.
new evidences of the revival of Hitlerism in the land which
The spiritual and agricultural aspects of had supposedly suffered a great defeat but which is again
Shevuoth should inspire us to strengthen showing an arrogance that must be viewed as a menace to
our cultural values and to uphold the hands world peace.
of those who are building strong farm com-
While there are differences of opinion regarding the ex-
munities in Israel. Our schools and Israel tent of the new Nazi menace, with a handful of complacent
are among our major responsibilities, and leaders belittling the seriousness of the new outburst of
Shevuoth reminds us of them with a power- violence, it is generally conceded that the danger is far
ful emphasis.
greater than most people believe. The World Jewish Con-
In wishing a Happy Shevuoth to the en- gress has just released this story which throws light on the
tire community, we especially address our- situation :
selves to the graduates of our schools and
How does a German Jew who returned to Germany after
the confirmands and consecrants of our con-
the war feel about Germany today? There is a man named
gregations. We urge them to continue their
Peter Halm who was able to save his life by fleeing from
studies and to remember the sacred duties
Germany when Hitler came to power. After the war he returned
they owe to their Jewish heritage.
to Germany. Why? Because it was his personal conviction that

Germany:'No Sign of Democracy'

The Hospital Fund

Detroit's typical generosity is being dis-
played in the current drive of the Greater
Detroit Hospital Fund to provide the neces-
sary means of support far a more adequate
hospital system in our community.
The enthusiasm that is being displayed
by the workers in the campaign and the ini-
tial gifts towards the $19,720,000 goal vir-
tually assure success for the drive that is
scheduled to conclude next Friday.
Inclusion of the Jewish Hospital in the
campaign goal should implement the avail-
able funds sufficiently to enable the sponsors
of the hospital to start long-delayed con-
struction of the much-needed structure.
The present drive is expected to provide
an additional $2,500,000 for the Jewish Hos-
pital. By implementing the original sum of
nearly $2,500,000 which was raised in com-
munity drives, the Jewish Hospital should
have the necessary $5,000,000 for the erec-
tion of the type of hospital the Jewish com-
munity has hoped for for more than 40
years.
Non-sectarian and all-inclusive, the Cam-
paign for the Greater Detroit Hospital Fund
serves to unite the entire community for one
of its most important needs. The fund
should receive most liberal support from all
Detroiters.

THE JEWISH NEWS

Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers. Michigan 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 Mara: 8. 1879.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ. Editdr
SIDNEY SHMARAK Advertising Manager
RUTH L. CASSEL, City Editor

Vol. XVII—No. 10

•

Page 4

May /9, 1950

Sabbath Scriptural SeleCtions

This Sabbath, the fourth day of Sivan, 5710,
the following Scriptural selections. will be read
in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Nuin:
Prophetical portion—Hos. 2:1-22.

.

Shevuoth Scriptural selections:

Pentateuchal portions: Monday, Ex. 19:1-
20:23, Num. 28:26-3; Tuesday, Deut. 15:19-16:17,
Num. 28:26-31.
Prophetical portions: Monday, Ezek. 1:1-28;
3:12; Tuesday, Hab. 3:1-19.

A Powerful Book

to stay away would confirm Hitler's boast that no Jew could
return. Today, after living in Germany for several years since
the war's end, Peter Hahn is considering leaving again, this
time forever. The situation in Germany, he feels, is hopeless so
far as democracy is concerned. After the First World War, he
says, there were at least the beginnings of a democratic govern-
ment and sincere efforts at social reform. But today, after
World War II, there are no signs of democracy in Germany. So
Peter Halm is going to emigrate again. And before doing so, he
is telling his reasons for leaving to the German people, in a
series of articles in a Frankfurt newspaper.

Only the blind and the halt are indifferent to what is
happenino- in the former Hitler domains. The realistic—
Jews and 6 non-Jews alike—are anxious for an assurance that
the inhuman totalitarian ideologies of pre-war days will not
be permitted to regain a foothold in Germany, as a protec-
tion not only of the Jews and other liberals living there but
also of the peace of the world.
Our own government can do much to prevent the re-
surgence of Nazism, If the authorities in charge are not
aware of the danger, those who recognize the impending
dangers should exert all their influence to assure either a
change in existing policies or in the administration of the
government of occupation.

Allied Campaign Inventory

On Tuesday evening, Allied Jewish Campaign workers
will take stock of the drive's status and will formulate plans
to secure the necessary funds to assure required incomes
for the numerous local educational and social service causes,
for the national agencies provided for in the campaign goal
and for the overseas activities of the United Jewish Appeal.
At the present time, the campaign is far from last year's
goal. With less than $4,000,000 reported subscribed thus
far, a lot of hard work is required to reach the inadequate
total of $5,323,116 secured in the 1949 campaign.
Local allocations of necessity had to be increased and
the community's responsibilities have multiplied. Meanwhile,
Israel's critical position demands that much more money
should be provided for the settlement of tens of thousands
of new settlers than was raised last year. If the UJA does
not receive larger sums for Israel's upbuilding, the entire
structure of the Jewish state will be endangered.
American Jewry alone is in position to give Israel the
encouragement the builders of a new state are waiting for.
If this help is not provided, we will be guilty of one of the
gravest errors in history. -
At Tuesday's meeting, a • message of great importance
will be brought to our community by one of the ablest for-
eign correspondents, Dr. Ruth Gruber, whose knowledge of
conditions in Israel and among the survivors from Nazism
is rooted in personal observations in the Jewish state, in DP
camps and among the Yemenites on their travels by plane
from Aden to Lydda. Her address should be heard by an
overflow audience. Since the meeting also will serve to pay
tribute to the memory of Fred M. Butzel, it should be util-
ized to uphold this community's tradition for liberal giving
in honor of the builders of Zion and in memory of a great
leader whose gifts have left an indelible mark on all of us.

.

In his collected essays and public statements,
Dr. Albert Einstein emerges as much the man
with a deep understanding of public problems as
the scientist. The 59 articles by the great physi-
cist, included in "Out of My Later Years," (pub-
lished by Philosophical Library, 15 E. 40th St.,
New York 16), are presented his views on science
and religion, public affairs, personalities of note,
Jews, Zionism and the state of Israel.
Eight chapters—in 82 of the book's 258 pages
—are devoted to science and to discussions of the
theory of relativity which, the
publishers point out, is explained
"in such simple terms as to be
understood by every intelligent
person." Even such an exagger-
ation is excusable, since so much
of great value is offered the
reader even if he confines him-
self to the unscientific portions
of the book.
The section of 14 essays which
are grouped under the title
"My People" reveals Prof. Ein- Dr. Einstein
stein's deep-rooted devotion to the Zionist cause
and his 'strong ties to Jewry. Very early in the
book, in the article dealing with "Moral Decay,*
he emphasizes his moral preference which stems
from his Jewish heritage with the question;
"Who can doubt that Moses was a better lead-
er of humanity than Machiavelli?"
Several of his most powerful statements
are devoted to endorsements of Israel and Zion-
ism. While at one point he is quoted as having
said—at a Histadrut Third -Seder in 1938—that
he prefers peace with the Arabs to a Jewish
state since "we are no longer the Jews of the
Maccabee period," his book carries an attack on
the Council for Judaism. He says of the Ameri-
can anti-Zionist element that it is "a fairly
exact copy" of the "central Association of Ger-
man citizens of Jewish faith, of unhappy mem-
ory, which in the days of our crucial need
showed itself utterly impotent and corroded the
Jewish group by undermining that inner
certitude by which alone our Jewish - people
could have overcome the trials of this difficult
age."

Readers of this fine book will find special -,
value in Dr. Einstein's discussion of religion
in relation to science. Declaring that "the
highest principles for our aspirations and
judgments are given to. us in the Jewish-
Christian religious traditions," he adds that
"true religion has 'been ennobled and made
more profound by scientific knowledge."

He has many interesting views on the problem
of education and his ideas on socialism and the
world order are of special value in viewing the
present controversies that are rocking our na-
tion's capital. His liberal ideas on the Negro
question are summed up with the assertion that
the traditional bias is "unworthy and even fatal."
His major appeal is for a world government
as a means of achieving lasting peace. He states:
"The UN now and world government eventually
must serve as one single goal—the guarantee of
the security, tranquility, and the welfare of all
mankind."
The book quotes in full the attack upon him
of Russian scientists, and his masterful reply.
Of great value are his discussions of the atomic
bomb and his reactions to debates relative to
its dangers and • the need for outlawing the
horrible weapon.
One of the most effective essays in the entire
book is his message to the Nobel Anniversary
Dinner in 1945, condemning the world's inhuman
attitude towards the Jews.
In its totality, Prof. Einstein's "Out of My
Later Years," is a powerful book. It is enlight-
ening and informative and serves as a weapon
for good with its passionate appeals for justice.

Facts You Should

Know

What is "Shatnez"?

A garment or cloth that contains a mixture
of wool and linen is classed as "Shatnez" and
is forbidden by Orthodox law for use as wear-
ing apparel.
Even though the Bible expressly forbids
Shatnez, no clear-cut reason is mentioned in
Biblical literature. The restriction is generally
grouped with prohibitions against eating crossed
vegetative growths or using different types of
animals together under the same harness.
Maimonides looks at all such forbidden mix-
tures as a symbol of the practices of idol wor-
shippers who indulged in such practices, and in
abominable side practices mentioned in his
"Guide to the Perplexed." Nachmanadies, other.;
wise known as the Ramban, finds that this pro..
hibition was instituted for the promotion of- a
"deep conviction in the perfection of the crea.
tion." Mixing the species, which were created
in separate detail, would constitute doubting the
efficiency of the creation.
Linen and wool, or flax and wool, are contra-
dictory in nature. While wool absorbs, flax - de.
fleets. It was considered bad taste to wear the
results of a conflict in one's apparel.
*
What. is the origin of the term "Gehinom?"
"Gehinom," generally taken to denote
is believed originally to have been the "The
Valley of Hinom," a valley in Jerusalem, where
the sect known as "Moloch" offered their chil-
dren as burnt offerings to God during the
reign of King Mennaseh of Judah. The word
"Ge-honem' is thus a combination of two wordit
"go." meaning "valley," and Hinom," referring
to the "sons of Hinom."

