Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Gloomy Sacerdotalism in Dreyfus Affair

2—THE JEWISH NEWS

Group Discussions, Addresses by
Community Leaders, to Feature
Jacobs Resigns as JSSB's 25th Anniversary, Sunday

Friday, January 5, 1951

Centers' Director

Honor will be paid to staff Goldstein. Pr e s i d i n g at the
The unfortunate role played by the Catholic clergy in the
Morris Garvett, president of members who have been with meeting on problems of family
fight against the entire Jewish people during the Dreyfus Affair
the Jewish Social Service Bu-
in France is revealed in gloomy fashion in "Anti-Semitism in the Jewish Community Center, reau for 25 years and to the fas- living will be Mrs. Theodore
Modern France: Volume 1: The Prologue to the Dreyfus Affair," this week made known the re- t e r mothers who have . given Bargman, JSSB treasurer, and
Rachel Manela will present the
by Robert F. Byrnes, published by Rutgers University Press.
longest service to the com- case study. At the session on
Labor's part in the famous case already was alluded to in
munity, when the agency cele- DPs, Mrs. Julian H. K roli k,
this column last week. The Catholic church's . position was much
brates its 25th anniversary, at chairman of the case commit-
more depressing. Prof. Byrnes declares: "The evidence of the
1:30 p.m., Sunday, at the Wood-. tee of Resettlement Service, will
ward Jewish Center.
participation of the Catholic clergy in the anti-Semitic movement
preside and case presentation
is overwhelming. Drumont (France's most notorious anti-Semite)
Henry Feinberg, staff psychol-
declared in 1886 that he had been most pleased by the alacrity
ogist, and Doris Sperling Markel,
with which the country priests had responded to 'La France juive'
secretary to the director, are
the staff members whose long
(his first anti-Semitic work). He confessed later in his life that
and loyal tenure has earned
it was they who had always encouraged and supported him most.
them citations of merit. The
Priests from all over France wrote him letter of congratulation
presentation will be made by
and visited his office when they were in Paris. Whenever Drumont
Dr. Lawrence H. Seltzer, presi-
was ill or in prison, gifts flowed to him from the simple country
dent of the Jewish Social Ser-
priests. Some of the 'Libre Parole's' (Drumont's anti-Semitic news-
vice Bureau.
paper) most able circulation agents were Catholic clerics. Several
Mrs. John Farkus has been
priests persuaded Drumont in 1886 to propagate anti-Semitism by
a foster mother since 1928, while Henry Feinberg Doris Markel
lecture as well as by pen, overcoming his reluctance to speak by
Mrs. Jennie Masserman has
convincing him that the spirit of the Holy Ghost would endow
been giving foster children a will be made by Anna Rose
him with great facility in addressing crowds."
home since 1931. Both Mrs. Far- Hersh of Jewish Vocational Ser-
kus and Mrs. Masserman, in ad- vice, Mrs. Helen B. Lewis of Re-
We learn additionally from Dr.. Byrnes that "Catholic priests
Were not only great admirers' of Drumont, but they also became
dition to raising two children of settlement Service, Frank Loe-
leading contributors to the stream of anti-Semitic literature which
their own, throughout the years wenberg of Jewish Community
flowed through France during these years. Almost a third of all
HERMAN JACOBS
warmly accepted more than 20 Center, and Eva Ravnitzky of
North End Clinic.
the anti-Semitic books published in France from 1870 through
foster children who needed a
Bachman to Speak
1894 were written by Catholic priests. In the 'Libre Parole' con- signation of Herman Jacobs as home and worked with the
Following these discussions,
test of 1896 for the book presenting the best solution to 'the Jew- the Center's executive director.
Mr. Jacobs ' resignation, effec- agency in helping these chil- the guests will reassemble for a
ish problem,' the first prize was shared by two priests, another tive June 30 , will be preceded by dren develop toward mature general session where greetings
priest shared second prize with a layman, and two
other priests
Rabbi
Adler,
an educational
leave adulthood.
f absence chairman
of Morris
the Children's
Case will be brought by Richard S.
won honorable mention."
beginning Feb. 1 during which Committee will present them Bachman, managing director of
The "betrayal of their Christian mission by so many of the he will be available for consul- wi
• • s or eri or- the Council of Social Agencies,
French Catholic clergy," Dr. Byrnes explains, "lies in the general tation for Center administra- ions th Service.
and Isidore Sobeloff, executive
Catholic reaction to anti-clericalism," in the education of the tion. He will devote the next
director of Federation. Harold
Four Group Discussions
priesthood, in the inadequate instruction in the seminaries. These 15 months to. completing work
Silver, director of the Jewish
Those
attending
the
celebra-
inadequacies were in evidence also in an anti-American move- for his Doctor of Education de- tion will have an opportunity to Social Service Bureau, will
ment, in French , Catholic antagonism to American Catholics whom gree at Wayne University.
speak on "The JSSB and the
attend one of four simultaneous
they considered "wayward." To quote Prof. Byrnes: "As Monsignor
Regret over Mr. Jacob's resign- group discussions on v a r i o us Community."
Highlight
of the
Ireland noted, 'Their hatred of America was only an expression ation was expressed by Mr. Gar- phases of the Jewish Social Ser- will
be a reception
in afternoon
honor. of
of their hatred of democracy'." Anti-Americanism and anti-Sem- vett who praised his earnest ef- vice Bureau's program — -child past presidents of JSSB—Mel-
itism were interlinked to such a degree that Father Henri Delassus, forts in behalf of the Center placement, problems of adoles- ville S. Welt, Abraham Srere,
who opposed the liberal program of Pope Leo XIII, "charged Car- since he became the director in cence, problems of family living Judge Theodore Levin,. Profes-
dinal Gibbons and Monsignor Ireland with 'being-in collusion with 1 936. and from DPs to New Ameri- sor Samuel Levin, George M.
the Jews and Freemasons to hasten the overthrow of the Catholic
cans.
Dr. Irving Posner, vice-presi- Stutz, Mrs. Melville S. Welt,
Church and the triumph of Antichrist,' surely an indictment which
Community
Council
reflects seriously upon Delassus and everyone associated _with him."
dent of JSSB, will lead the ses- Charles
Benjamin
E. Jaffe
and
Lakoff,
listed
in Mrs.
. the
sion on child placement and
While French Catholics became the leaders in the anti-Semitic Slates Speakers
presi-
Mary
Gerstein
will
make
the
order
of
their
election
as
movement, primarily because they, were- pro-monarchist, - and For Jan. Programs
ddent.
case presentation illustratin g
anti-democratic, it did not correspond with the Papal policY: To
the work of JSSB in this field.
Election in Turkey
-quote Dr. Byrnes:
As part of the program ac- The discussion on problems of ISTANBUL, (JTA) — JewiSh.
"Pius and many Popes have pointed out, 'We are . all spirit-
of the Jewish Community adolescence wil be led by Hul- communal elections• will be' held
ual descendants of Abraham. It is not possible for Christians tivity
Council, several speaking en- dah Fine, principal
t() have any part in anti-Semitism. We are spiritually Semites.'
of Hampton next month in Galata, the cen-
gagements have been arranged School, while the case presenta- ter of this city where two-thirds
• Leo XIII, surely one of the greatest of all Popes, was as emphatic
by the
Council office on -a var- tion will be made by Goldie of the city's 37,000 Jews reside.
in his' denunciation of Drumont's anti-Semitism as any modern iety
of subjects.
• democrat has been of racial or - religious hatred anywhere . . .
.B. M. Joffe, the Council's ex-
Moreover. although it has never been generally recognized, -ecutive director, will speak to
many of_ the most early and ardent Dreyfusards were French the D et r o i t Federation • of
Catholics, and Many of those who fought most valiantly Teachers on Jan. 29 on'"Democ-
throughout the entire Dreyfus Affair for the defense of the racy's Self Defense."
Third Republic, democracy, and the rights of the individual
On Jan. 11, he will address the
By BOR IS SMOCAR
were Catholics . . . Nevertheless, the evidence from all sides is Pontiac J e wish Community
(Copyright, 1951, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
overwhelming that Catholics were the strength of French anti-
Council and Federation on the
Semitism during these years . . ."
"Working of a Jewish Corn- The American Scene
While the restrictions on sending food packages as gifts to
As ih the case of Karl Marx, the Jew who preached anti- munity Council," and on Jan.
Israel have been lifted by the Israel government for individut
Semitism, Catholic anti-Semitic ranks also leaned. on a rene
gade
20, he will
appear
before
the gift senders, the American CARE organization has been requested
Jew. Father Joseph Lemann, a convert from Judaism, "naturally
Nacirema
Club,
a group
of. Negro
- expressed the hope that the Jews themselves would solve the business leaders, talking on "Bal- to cease activities designed to obtain contributions for "undesig-
noted individuals" in the Jewish state , .. The Israel government
dilemma by joining the Catholic Church. He assailed them for their once Sheet of Civil Rights."
the believes that the CARE campaign for undesignated food packages
Rabbi Julius
wealth and anti-clericalism, but the heart of his book lay in -a
bt
rela, tionts i- is harmful to fund-raising for Israel conducted in the United
• direct assault upon the Rights of Man . . . The pendant of this Council's lerna
rioae Gentle- States by the United Jewish Appeal and other organizations
the e ,aii,n
volume was a study of the manner in which the Jews had obtained rector, wi.
- In plain, it diverts contributions. from these organizations . . A
on
their emancipation in 1791 . . . The conclusion one must draw men
esZ. ancr uthe .oJew" tonight at communication to . this effect has been received by the CARE
from Lemann is that if the Jews failed to join the Catholic Church
Young Israel. On Jan. 9, Wal- organization from Israel's Finance Minister Eliezer Kaplan '• . At
they should lose all political rights."
ter Klein, assistant director of the same time .it was made clear that the Israel government will
*
*
the Council, will speak to the continue to welcome CARE activities in providing food parcels
A Point in Defense of France
Charles and Aaron Kogan Post from relatives and friends in America to "designated" residents in
While indicating that "in a real sense. the Dreyfus Affair was of the Jewish War Veterans on the Jewish state.
a national scandal," Dr. Byrnes asserts that it "should also be "Anti-Semitism—The Picture in
It seems that Dr. Mordecai Kaplan's recent innovation, of , in-
interpreted as one of the glories of France." He states: "One has Detroit and the Nation."
eluding women in the "Minyan" and calling them up to the Torah
only to recall the desertion by the Liberals in Germany to Bis- Council Plans All-Day Seminar on the same - basis as men, is not new in American Jewish re-
marck, the anti-Semitic outrages in Russia in the 1880s and 1890s, To Study Problems of Israel
ligious life . .. I have a letter from the Anshe Emet Synagogue in
which called forth significant protest only outside of Russia, and
Plans for an all-day Seminar Chicago—Dr. Solomon Goldman's congregation—informing me
the unrivaled power and popularity of the House Un-American on Israel, designed to explore in that they have been admitting women to Minyans and calling
Affairs Committee in the United States in 1948 to recognize that detail some of the problems fac- them up to the Torah for more than a year.
• there are Dreyfus Affairs, Matteotti murders, Petkov trials, and ing the new nation , are being
You can bet with certainty that the forthcoming
Sacco and Vanzetti trials in the history of every nation. The readied for Jam 21 by the joint president of the Hadassah will be Mrs. Siegfried Krama national
rsky . • .
Dreyfus Affair is a glory of France because the French made it committee, of the Jewish Corn- An understanding to this effect has already been reached . between
their affaire. In France, from 1897 through 1900, hundred's and munity Council and the Zionist the majority members of the Hadassah national executive.
thousands of Frenchmen of every religion, profession, and class Council of Detroit, announced
rose to denounce iniquity, to demand the rule of law, to defy the Dr. Shmarya Kleinman, presi-
Iron Curtain
powerful corporate bodies, and to put their positions and even dent of the Community Council, The The
American Ac-ademy of Political and Social Science has
their personal safety in peril before enraged mobs. Not only did and Lawrence Crohn, president
these thousands stand up and fight, but they won. Both struggles of the Zionist Council, who to- made a study of various aspects of life in Russia and other
and victories like that are rare in human history gether serve as Joint Chairmen countries behind the Iron Curtain . . . And a part of the study is
devoted to the treatment of religious groups in the Soviet coun-
, and
is to
the of the liaison committee.
honor and credit of that generation of Frenchmen
that it the
issue
tries . . . With regard to Jews, the study establishes that on
was raised, that it was fought in the open, and that those who
paper, the Soviet Union and the satellite governments have taken
wanted the illegal and unjust punishment of an innocent individ - Bnoi Brith Gets Thanks
a strong stand against any form of anti-Semitism . .. Yet, this
ual were thwarted."
Of Truman for Its Support is only on paper, the analysis says, pointing out that "slowly but
"Anti-Semitism in Modern France" is valuable as history, as
surely Jewish organizations, charitable and others, were suppressed
a collective biography of French anti-Semites, as a study of church
WASHING T 0 N — President on various aspects." .. . In the new Soviet Policy, culture was to
and labor attitudes towards Jews and of political conflicts which Truman described as "hearten- be Communist in essence and national in form, but the Kremlin
reflected world conditions. The first volume will whet the im- ing and most gratifying," the seemed to have come to the conclusion that the national forams
patient appetite of the reader_ for the successive works by the pledge of• support given by of Jewish life were incompatible with the Communist essence ..
Frank Goldman, president of
able Rutgers University professor of history.
Bnai Brith, in behalf of the or- Hence, the charges of "cosmopolitanism"—the newest crime in the
ganization's 350,000 members, to Soviet calendar—against so many Jewish writers . .. Analyzing
.Truman's call for the material how Jews can now be liquidated ate deported as such without be-
and spiritual mobilization of ing able to raise, the charge that there was anti-Semitism in the
America against the challenge Soviet Union, the survey points out that in the satellite countries
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—John W. Gibson, of De-
of world communist aggression. the same process is being followed . . . Clarence A. Manning, as-
troit, was sworn in Dec. 27 as the new chairman of the
He replied to a telegram sent sociate professor at Columbia University, who prepared the survey,
Displaced Persons Commission, succeeding Ugo Carusi,
by Goldman congratulating him foresees the coming destruction of Jewish community life in Po-
on his recent radio address and land . . He establishes that the introduction of Communism in
who resigned recently. An official of the CIO, Mr. Gib-
state of emergency proclama- the satellite countries "has struck at the heart of Jewish life"
son has been an active leader in the labor field.
tion.
there.

.

Oetroiter Heads DP Commission

etween You and Me..