Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
'This Way to the Gas Chambers'

An article by Betty and Leonard Slater under the heading,
"This Way to the Gas Chambers," written from Munich and pub-
lished in a recent issue of the Christian Science Monitor, brings
back the goose-pimples of Nazi days. We already had hoped that
the Hitler terror would be relegated to a remote background. But
once in a while, as in the experience of the Slaters, we are brought
face to face again with the calamitous elements who brazenly
endorse the horrors of the gas chambers.
The Slaters learned on their tour that Dachau—"the awful
word," to use their description—is now an army post, as common-
place as Fort Dix, now a tourist attraction. A. sign on the road
reads: "Drive Carefully. Death Is So Permanent." Their own
story, horrifying as it is, throws a light on existing dangers and
should serve as a warning against the rearming of Germany or
the revival of strength which would merely bring back the Nazi
scourge, to the detriment of the entire world. The Slaters report
in their Monitor article:
We were a little embarrassed about taking our German
driver, a mild-mannered pleasant chap, to the crematory but he
seemed unbothered by the situation. We Lost our way and stopped
a German worker to ask directions. Again we didn't want to be
indelicate so we inquired about the way to "the museum." He
looked blank as we repeated our query. Finally we said: "Das
Krematorium, wo ist das Krematorium?" A pleased look of
understanding spread over his face and he nodded, "Ja, ja, das
Krematorium." He smiled and pointed out the way.
At the museum we walked quickly through the one-story
tiled roof building where the Nazis had burned 250,000 people.
The ovens are still intact and there are neat explanatory signs
throughout. We half expected someone to appear selling sou-
venirs.
We drove away musing about the enigma of the German
mentality. Ever since we'd arrived in Germany, we'd looked in
vain at every German face trying to discover some hint, some
clue to what made the Germans tick, what streak had made so
many of them do what they had done. But they all looked so

usual.

We had gotten quite friendly with our driver after several
days of sightseeing with him so we decided -;;o talk to him. He
was intelligent and well-informed about the towns and industrial
plants we passed.
"Why do you think Germany lost the war?" we asked.
"Because," he said matter-of-factly, "we were forced to
fight on two fronts. We could have beaten Russia alone. But
America had too many men and too much equipment." He
paused a few seconds, then added, "I am beginning to think the
whole war was a mistake. Hitler had the wrong idea in starting
a war."
"Why do you say that?"
"Everything was good in Germany in 1937. We had every-
thing. Why did we have to start a war?"
"Do you really think everything was good in Germany in
1937? IIOw about all the slave laborers? Was it good for them?"
"There were no slave laborers," he answered. "True, many
forign people came here to work. They were lured to Germany
by the high wages here: They came to take money . from us."
We replied that we knew some people had come to Germany
voluntarily to earn - money. "But how about the concentration
camps? How about Dachau? People didn't go there voluntar-
ily. Yet they were used for slave labor."
Our driver smiled patiently. "Yes," he said, "there were con-
centration camps. But only people who were criminals or who
were very dangerous politically were sent to them. You have
prisons in the United States, haven't you?" It was clear he con-
sidered us naive and a little dense.
"What about all the people who were killed?" we demanded.
"You saw the sign at Dachau, 250,000 people killed there alone."
"You must be talking about the Jews," he said imperturb-
ably. "Many Jews were killed but it was their own fault. We
gave them the chance back in 1934 to form their own colony in
Africa. If they didn't take that chance, well ... It was war time.
Thousands of Germans were killed, too."
"But the Germans were killed fighting," we protested. "The
Jews were systematically slaughtered. You saw the crematory."
"Why," he said, "in Germany we have alwaysused cremation.
It is more hygienic than burial."
"But usually people are -cremated after they have died of
some illness or accident or other natural cause. In the con-
centration camps people were gassed in order to be cremated."
Our driver shrugged with a "What-are-you-quibbling-about?"
air. "I wouldn't know, anything about that," he said and started
whistling as he drove on.
Never before, in human relations experiences, have we heard
of such cold-blooded endorsement of crime and wholesale murder.
Unfortunately, indications are that this endorser of brutality is
not a sole agent for Nazism. He represents a cross-section of
opinion in Germany which, in the opinion of Dr. Zalman Grinberg,
(first president of the Central Committee for Liberated Jews in
Germany, who arrived in this country last month in his capacity
as director of the Beilinson Hospital in Israel to assist in the
Histadrut Campaign), regrets World War II only because the
Germans lost the war and not because Germany committed whole-
sale crime.
Mould that the Slaters' experiences could be impressed -upon
the minds and hearts of world leaders, especially our State De-
partment, as a guide against permitting the criminals to regain
power and commit more crimes! Unfortunately, the criminal is
forging ahead! What tragedies this augurs for our future genera-
tions who may grow up unaware of the barbaric menace!

2

—

THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, November 3, 1950

ASC Women Adopt
Iron Mountain Vets

A group of women affiliated
with the Armed Services Com-
mittee of the Jewish Community
Center has adopted a project to
serve patients of all denomina-
tions at the Iron Mountain,
Michigan VA hospital with gifts
and necessities. Mrs. Samuel B.
Danto, chairman of the "Serv-
A-Project" committee, announc-
es that the first gifts and cloth-
ing was sent to Iron Mountain,
Nov. 1.
Articles in the shipment were
collected by the Sisterhood of
Temple Beth El, under Mrs. M.
George Wayburn, president. Mrs.
Samuel Gale headed the pack-
ing committee.
The League of Jewish Worn-
en's Organizations, under Mrs.
David Kliger, president, has ac-
cepted responsibility for the gift
shipments for the rest of 1950.
Mrs. Maurice Landau, chair-
man of the Armed Services
Committee, announces that
Rabbi Morris Adler - has been
named to the steering commit-
tee of the local body to serve
Jewish soldiers and sailors.

Council, Center Jewish
Book Month Program
Features Bialostotzky

B. J. Bialostotzky, Yiddish
poet and lecturer, will be guest
speaker for the Jewish Book
Month Program, sponsored by
the Joint Yiddish Culture Com-
mittee of the Jewish Community
Council and the Jewish Com-
munity Center at 8:30 p.m. Nov.
5 at the Jewish Community
Center on Woodward.
Bialostotzky's many volumes
have been recognized for their
keen understanding , of Jewish
life and traditions. His talk will
be "JeWish Literature Through-
out the Centuries."
He will be introduced by the
chairman of the evening, Rabbi

Benjamin Gorrelick, of Cong.
Beth
A.aton..
The
in
musical.
pro-

gra Will feature selectiOns by
Joseph Becker, cellist, and Zi-
novi Bistritzky, violinist.
Both Becker and Bistritzky
are members of the Detroit
Symphony Orchestra. They will
be joined by Julius Chajes, in
the Second and Third move-
ments of Chajes' "Trio."
Benjamin Laikin and Jay
Rosenshine are co-chairmen of
the JOint Yiddish Culture Com-
mittee arranging this program.

Landsmanshaften Heads
Meet to Plan Joint
Conference with. JWF

Peysock's Art at Center

"Rebirth of the Hebrew Na-
tion," life-sized section of a
mural, included in the exhibit
of paintings of Israel by Ar-
yeh Peysack, at the Jewish
Center's Dexter Davison audi-
torium.
Areh Leo Peysack is a colorist,
and a colorist in Israel is a pio-
neer in color. No set of rules, no
academic measure of outdoor
painting, helps the artist who
bravely sets up his easel and
gazes across the plains where
red mountains rise to confront
him.
His eye can see farther (be-
cause of the celar atmosphere)
and the sun pours down elec-
trifying the landscape. .This is
the story I hear continually
from artists who have painted
in Israel. Mr. Peysacks enthu-
siastic and technical description
of the problems of painting the
light in the Holy Land are only
matched by his landscape paint-
ings, which clearly describe the
land, glowing under the hot sun.
Subject matter seems unlimit-
ed. Israel, under the bright
brush of Areh Pesac!c, presents
a wide variety of themes. There
are the nocturnes such as "The
Watchman", a man on horse-
back beneath a starlit sky, over-
looking distant mountains. The
nights are so bright that an art-
ist can paint from the light of
the stars and moons.
There are two night paintings
in the exhibition, with stars
poetically painted into the sky.
Every season is faithfully repro-
duced, spring and plowed fur-
rows, harvest time, sunny and
stormy winter scenes, views of
the Mediterranean, of the cities
and villages, all landscapes that
take in the maximum view.
Mr. Pesack has painted the
view of old Jerusalem from
nearly the same position as the
Kokoschka painting reviewed
last month. Here the walls are
painted a glowing yellow green,

giving an entirely different ap-

proach to this scene.

There are some handsome
paintings that include figures
and camels, in particular "Cha-
lutzim Picking Oranges." A
unique composition is employed.
Figures are placed on either side
of the canvas, while cloud
motives carry the design in the
center. Rich greens describe the
compact form of the trees, an
earth red ground makes a
strong contrast.
Another beautiful painting is
"Ek.ko Date Palms" where the
irregular lines of palms throw
waving shadows on the brilliant
yellow sand. Here the sky is
painted darker than the fore-
ground, a phenomenon which
actually exists in Israel.
"Way to Jerusalem" with a
green sky is most successful, the
composition is quite subtle and
simple. Painted in the late
afternoon, the mountains mo-
mentarily retain the warmth of
the sun. "Succoth in the Old
City", a painting of the narrow,
partially roofed streets and ba-
zaars teeming with people, is
another subject of shimmering
sunlight.
Two canvases, one of a boy
and one of a girl planting or-
anges portray a sturdy and
happy Israel youth. "How Beau-
tiful Are Your Tents 0 Israel"
and "Early Dawn over Old Jeru-
salem" are fresh and spontane-
ous.
This is entirely a cheerful and
_pleasant exhibition, and there
is sincerity to every picture. The
exhibition opens at 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 7 at the Davison Jewish
Community Center. There will
be a reception for the artist
that evening.

Author Reviews Book

For Beth El Women

Meyer Levin, author of the
current best seller, "In Search,"
will speak at the Temple Beth El
sisterhood meeting Monday, Nov.
13. Mrs. Milton .Marx is chair-
man of the program and Mrs.
George Wayburn, president, will
preside.
Dessert luncheon will be serv-
ed at 12:30 p.m. followed by the
program modeled on the show
"Author Meets Critic."
Levin, Mrs. Leonard Weiner`
and Mrs. Harry Becker critics,
and Leonard Kasle, moderator,
will participate.
The sisterhood is also sponsor-
ing a series of four lectures on
mental hygiene titled "Making
the Most of What You Are."
Lectures will be held Tuesdays at
11 a.m. at Temple Beth El, be-
ginning Nov. 14 through Dec. 5
The first speaker, Nov. 14, will
be Samuel Kellman, clinical
psychologist at Harper Hospital
on "It Begins with Children."

To complete arrangements for
a conference of landsmanshaften
members regarding Jewish com-
munal problems,- presidents of
Detroit landsmanshaften will
meet at 10:30 a. m., Sunday at
the Dexter-Davison Jewish Cen-
ter.
Alex Belkin and Leori Kay are
chairmen of the comittee.
The projected conference will
provide members of landsman-
sh.aften with an opportunity to
discuss with representatives of
the Jewish Welfare Federation
such communal questions as
By BORIS SMOLAR
construction prospects for the
Jewish Hospital, care of the
aged, services available for new The Washington Conference
More important than the open proceedings at the Washington
Americans settling in Detroit
.and organizated Jewish. corn- Conference for Israel are the behind-the-scene activities in Wash-
ingtOn in connection with aid for Israel . . Non-Zionist leaders
munity support for Israel,'
have been meeting with President Truman trying to get his per-
sonal support on definite proposals . . One of these proposals
involves the possibility of American aid to Israel along the same
LZO Branch 7 Barn
lines as American aid given to Turkey and Greece ... The matter
may soon be put before Congress . Another aspect of the Wash-
Dance November 12
ington Conference that developed behind the scenes is the sudden
Sunday evening, Nov. 12 has possibility for increased contributions to the United Jewish Appeal
been set as the date for Labor ... It seems that the tax law recently passed by Congress makes
Zionist Organization Branch it possible for contributors to re-examine their 1950 gifts to charity
Seven's barn dance, to be held and make substantial additional contributions . . . At the time
at Van's Barn, .31160 Eight Mile that many people made their pledge to the United Jewish Appeal
Rd., complete with authentic or to the local community in the early part of 1950, the economic
picture appeared none too promising . . The nation was then
caller and band.
Mrs. Maxwell Lowe and Dr. expecting a period of low income and unemployment . . . The
Saul G. Stein are co-chairmen situation has changed since and it appears certain now that 1950
of this event, sponsored by the will be a banner year . . . This economic change, plus the new tax
Preparing for the Hanukah wo r kshop sponsored by Northwest Labor Zionist Organization. law, will definitely lead to upward revision of pledges to the UJA
Hebrew Cong. Sisterhood, meeting with consultant Joseph Proceeds of the affair - go to the by many contributors .. . Especially since the Bureau of Internal
SOFFEN of the adult education department of the Jewish Cen- Israel Histadrut campaign. For Revenue has adopted a very generous policy with regard to con-
ter, are, from left to right: Mrs. HERBERT L. HARRIS, program tickets calf Mrs. Lowe, TO. •ribution of securities made to an exempt charitable organization
chairman; Mrs. MAX GOLDSMITH, Mrs. SANFORD ROTHMAN, 8-7196, or the Labor Zionist In- . . . However, the contributions . must be. ,made before the end f
Pilirs. WILLIAM BURK and Mrs. DANIEL l'ilANDELBAUMI,
Stitilte, 13722 LinWood.
the year to take full advantage of the tax deduction.

Season's First Hanukah Workshop
Started at Northwest Hebrew Cong.

een You and Me

