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They Put Their Trusts in Princes

32—THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, September 8, 1950

THE COURT 31::W. By Selma Stern. Philadelphia, Pa., The Jewish Publication
Society of Ameri•a. 1950. 330 pages. $4,

.AMC President Honored in Israel

S e rvice3 in

A Review by Dr. BERTRAM W. KORN

O

The Court Jews, about whom so thoroughly devoted to their
ur Syn avocpteo
Dr. Selma Stern has written, people that they became patrons
were a unique phenomenon in of Jewish learning, founding
Sabbath services in our syna-
Jewish and European history. talmudical academies and sub- gogues Saturday, Sept. 9, will be
Never prior to their time, nor scribing the publication of new held at 8:45 a.m. at Cong. Jos-
since, has there been a com- editions of the Talmud and of eph W. Allen Home for Aged;
parable group of Jews who rose other works of Jewish tradi- at 9 a.m. at Cong. Bnai Moshe.
from such humble beginnings to tional lore.
Cong. Shaa.rey Zion, and Cong.
such powerful positions of in-
Life in Two Worlds
Ezras Achim; and at 9:15 a.m.
fluence. Within the few years
These Court J e w s, as Dr. at Cong. Adas Yeshurun.
of their own lives they stepped Stern quite properly points out,
over the walls of the medieval were living in two worlds—an
German ghetto, with all its dis- utter impossibility. They moved WiC Attacks Claim
abilities a n d disenfranchise- in the Court circles, but had no
ments, and became personal ad- actual stake in those circles. That Nazism Is Dead
visers and agents of the rulers Their hearts remained in the
of the German States: the Em- ghetto, and yet their everyday
Statements by top aides of
perors, Kings, Dukes, Electors experiences took them too far John J. McCloy, High Commis-
and Cardinals who were the beyond the ghetto for there to sioner for Germany, that Naz-
royalty of the period 1650-1750. be any possibility of return to ism "has been destroyed, never
How this came about, how it. All through Dr. Stern's per- to rise again," are strongly con-
these men came to be chosen ceptive and ably organized book tradicted by actions of German
for distinction while the rank on their experiences, one has a political parties and statements
and file of their brethren con- feeling of futile unreality: the by political leaders in the West
tinued to languish within the untenable position they occupied, German parliament, according
confines of the ghetto— or even their vulnerability and indefen- to an analysis of the German
worse, still suffered expulsion sibility. But these men were press and statements by Bonn
or banishment from some of men
of high courage, relying on officials made public by the
those very same States—consti-
tutes a fascinating episode in their wits and their understand- World Jewish Congress.
ing • of the problems of com-
"Information on Germany," a
Jewish history.
merce, industrial production and monthly bulletin publiShed by
Period of Change
high finance, somewhat con- the World Jewish Congress,
This was the period of the scious of the amazing role they points out that all German po-
break-down of feudalism. Every- were playing in the overthrow litical parties except the small
where in Europe the old poli- of the old feudal system, they Center Party (Zentrum Partei),
tical and economic order was attacked their work with all the are encouraging the passage of
giving way to the new concept enthusiasm, egotism and clever- federal laws to end denazifica-
of the State as a unified po- ness of soldiers of fortune.
tion and to provide wide am-
litical and economic organism.
nesty for Nazis convicted under
Remarkable Men
The Princes who stood to profit
We can be grateful to Dr. denazification procedures. The
most from change a n d Stern
for this absorbing book. Free Democratic Party (Freie
who were, therefore, among its Although
it is ironic that it Demokratische Partei) has sub-
prime Movers, could look for no should now be published after mitted a motion to the Bundes-
help from their nobility, mer- the destruction of • the modern tag to end denazification.
chants or guilds, none of whom German Jewry of which these
Of the 11 German states, five
relished surrendering the power men were the forerunners, it is have already promulgated laws
and influence which they had - ()pod that American Jews need ending denazification locally.
previously wielded over State not
wait any longer to make the
affairs. To whom- could t h e
of as remarkable
rulers' entrust the myriad de- acquaintance
a
group
of
Jews
as ever lived
tails of economic transition? on the face of the
• Curtains • Drapes
earth.
The Jews were the-only persons
"The
Court
Jew"
may
be
se-
• Lamp Shades
of ability who had no vested in-
terest in the old order, who cured as one of the books which
• Furniture Covers
could therefore be trusted to members of the Jewish Publica-
render loyal service in return for tion Society of America receive
• Cornice Boards
freedoms, rights and privileges on membership.
Full details of the member-
which they had never before en-
DRY CLEANED OR LAUNDERED
joyed. Thus these men of ship plan, catalogues, and other
OFF FOR
interesting
literature
on
t
h
e
ability and insight, In o s t of
CASH Cr CARRY
whose names are utterly strange work of The Jewish Publication
ON ALL HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES
to us today, with a few excep- Society of America, the world's
tions like Jud Suess, were called largest pdblishers of Jewish
NOW! Free Mothproofing
out of the ghetto to occupy books in the English language,
Plus Quality Work on All
may
be
secured
by
writing
to
poSitions of high responsibility
Garments Dry Cleaned
in epanding economy of the the executive secretary, Lesser
By Us
once moribund States. As army Zussman, 222 N. Fifteenth St.,
commissaries charged with the Philadelphia 2, Pa.
procurement of munitions and
supplies; as contractors, finan- Eight Out of Every 10 Readers
cial agents and cabinet factors Consult the Classified Ads.
Curtain Laundry and
appointed expressly for the ex-
Dry Cleaners
tension of trade, the adminis-
IRVING EIERMELIN INSURANCE
tration of State finances, and
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UN. 3-8304-5
We Own and Operate Our
the world of commerce and fin-
(To Be Sure, Insure)
Own Plant
ance—these Court Jews fulfilled
an indispensible role in the
transition from the feudal eco-
nomy to modern capitalism.
A Dangerous Game
It was a dangerous game
they played; though they had
a world to gain and nothing
but their lives to lose. The
Princes were utterly merciless
ALL STEEL 14"Wx18"Lx25"14
Net" t
with their Court Jews whom
they "used" as they saw fit.
suiPinen
But when their usefulness
came to an end, the rulers did
not hesitate to throw them
into bankruptcy by refusing to
acknowledge their just debts,
or turn them over to the re-
venge of their reactionary op-
ponents. Few of the Court
Regularly $6 Each
Jews came out of their adven-
tures unscathed.
But in the process they be-
came the first • modern Euro-
2 for $6.50
pean Jews—wearing the gar-
ments of nobility; residing in
Limited Supply !
lavishly appointed baroque pal-
aces; employing retinues of ser-
Less Than Wholesale!
vants and riding in regal coach-
We bought an entire car
load so. we could make
es; entertaining royalty and
these tables available to
nobility at splendid balls and
you at this never-so-low
price ! They're sturdiy1
receptions; participating to the
built and
•
finished in
fullest extent in the extrava-
grey or green enamel.
Perfect for the office,
gant culture of the age. A few
artist, workshop, etc.
were indifferent to their Jew-
For Use As
Use It For A
Ideal For A
A Taboret
Typewriter
Tool Stand
Set of 4 Casters, 50c
ish background, but none turned
from it in total assimilation.
Hurry Folks! Don't Delay! Write or Come in today!
Most were able to effect some
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improvement in the treatment
Daily 'Ti! 5:30, Saturday 'Til 4:30
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of their fellow Jews, if only to
obtain residence permits in
towns which were hitherto JU-
DENREIN. Moreover, as Jewish
458 W. JEFFERSON • DETROIT 26,MICH.
"artistocrats" and as men of
"JUST 5 SHORT BLOCKS WEST OF WOODWARD AVENUE"
wealth and influence, some were

JACOB BLAUSTEIN, president of the Ameriaii JeWish Commit-
tee, speaking at the luncheon given in his honor by Prime 'Min-
ister David Ben-Gurion and other Israeli Cabinet officials in
Jerusalem. Seated at the table (I. to r.) are Mr. Ben-Gurion, Mrs,
Golda Myerson, Minister of Labor, and Foreign Minister Moshe
Sharett. Mr. Blaustein is replying to Mr. Ben Gurion's speech in
which the Israeli Prime Minister declared that while Israel de-
pends upon the strength of "the great Jewish community of the
United States," American Jews owe no political loyalty to Israel
which "fully respects the right of integrity of Jewish communities
in other countries."

-

Iraq OK's Red Cross
Messages for Jews

Baghdad, has agreed with .the.
Red Cross to permit messages to
pass between Iraqi Jews and
TEL AVIV, (WJA)—The Iraqi their relatives in Israel through
Premier, according to an Agence the Red Crescent and the Inter-
France - Press message from national Red Cross.

Sincere Best Wishes

For A Happy New Year

To The

Communities of Detroit

JAMES N.

McNALLY

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