As the Editor
Views the News ...
A Spring Hope
Ausubel's 'Treasury' is
Jewish Literature Classic
Arab Libels
It is most unfortunate that the Arab na-
tions not only should have failed to recognize
the reality of Israel's existence but that they
should be so naive as to resort to the spread
of stupid libels in dealing with issues they
have created against the Jewish state.
Here is a typical example of Arab stu-
pidity. In a radio program, Faris el-Khoury,
chief Syrian delegate to the United Nations,
said that near the door of Israel's Knesset-
Parliament—in Jerusalem there is a map
showing Israel bounded by the Nile and Eu-
phrates Rivers. This is tantamount to a
charge that Israel seeks to capture Egypt
and other Arab territories. A member of
the Israel UN delegation logically pointed
out that if this Were true the map would
have been observed by foreign correspond-
ents to whom the Knesset is open as a pub-
lic building.
The Arabs have as much to gain from
peace with Israel as the Jewish state. Work-
ing together, they can make the Middle East
flourish as an economic and spiritual power
in the world. Instead, the Arabs seek to per-
petuate backwardness. What a pity!
Intermarriage Danger
Mixed marriages are increasing so rapid-
ly that they are becoming a real danger to
Jewish survival. A survey conducted in sev-
eral countries by the Institute of World Af-
fairs of the World Jewish Congress shows
that intermarriages have risen to such a
point that the Rabbinical Council has issued
an order banning them in synagogues, but
its order was rejected by the Reform group.
Incidence of mixed marriages in other
countries is indicated as follows in the World
Jewish Congress report:
In Switzerland, where many non-Jewish
women accept conversion to Judaism upon
marrying Jewish men, it is considered likely
that the number of converted women may
exceed the number born Jewish. In Basle,
Gentile women have accepted conversion in 40
percent of the marriages, whilP in Zurich 36
percent have been converted. The rabbis have
decided not to permit any more conversions,
the report avers, but this has resulted in
heated opposition in the Jewish community on
the grounds that if the women not permit-
ted to become Jews, the men will convert to
Christianity. The report further states that
alarming information has been received on
the scale of mixed marriages in Denmark and
France. In the latter country not only assim-
ilated Jews . but first generation immigrants are
intermarrying. In Canada, one out of every
12 marriages in the Jewish community is
mixed.
This trend has not escaped American
Jewry. While it is difficult to conduct an
accurate survey on intermarriage in this
country, unofficial reports from rabbis show
that mixed marriages are increasing and that
the danger of disintegration of Jewish ranks
from intermarriage is very real.
The time has long passed when Jews sat
Alvah in mourning over disobedience of
children who defied parental sentiments and
married outside the fold. Perhaps this is due
to the fact that intermarriage has become
so common. But it is mainly due to a general
decline in Jewish observance, to the lesser
adherence to kashruth, to minimum syna-
gogue attendance, to marked indifference to
Jewish traditions. This is true not only of the
youth, who are breaking ties with their eld-
ers, but also for the parents themselves.
It is a problem that can not be solved
by philosophizing, by quibbling or by enter-
ing into polemics. It requires real study and
planning. Perhaps we are spending too much
time debating who should control our com-
munity structure and too little time about
the future of American Jewry's youth. The
rabbis especially should concern themselves
seriously with this problem. If this genera-
tion does not set the Jewish house in order,
it will surely be too late for the next one.
. 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., W0.5-1155.
Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5.
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
Vol. XIX—No. 8
Page 4
May 4, 1951
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-ninth day of Nisan,
5711, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 1; 1-18:30.
Prophetical portion—I Sam. 20:18-42.
On Sunday and Monday, Rosh Hodesh Iyar,
Num. 28:1-15 will be read _during morning
services.
Philosophy of Jewish Humor
A reviewer should be very careful about
allocating praise. So many books come off the
presses every year that it is inevitable that only
a handful should continue to circulate on the
basis of merit. And even among the survivors
there are few that deserve to be classified as
classics. The term classic must, therefore, be
used most sparingly.
This week a book was produced that truly
deserves to be called a classic. "A Treasury of
Jewish Humor" by Nathan Ausubel, published by
Doubleday, is so excellent in all its aspects that
a best seller rating appears to be its destiny even
before most reviewers will have had a chance to
pass judgment upon this painstaking effort.
Nathan Ausubel is not a stranger to American
readers. His first book, "Superman: The Life of
Frederick the Great," brought him to public
notice as an able scholar. His
translation into English of Sho-
lem Asch's "The Mother" at-
tested to his knowledge of Yid-
dish. Then came his "Treasury
of Jewish Folklore," which be-
came a best seller. His newest
work is certain to surpass even
the latter in popularity, in sales,
in use as a reference work in the
study of the subject of humor,
in frequent quotations by lectur-
ers. Ausubel
While Ausubel's "A Treasury of Jewish
Humor" abounds in scores of stories—old and
Within: a few days, a distinguished guest from Israel will new—and very well told jokes, it is not a joke
book. It is, as the title implies, a treasury, it is
hold the limelight in this country.
a study, of a very complicated subject. It is even
Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion of the new state of more than that: it is a philosophic review of
Israel, who is due to arrive in New York for a brief stay, will many complex issues in Jewish life.
Welcome, David Ben-Gurion
be welcomed in Washington, will be received at the rally at
Madison Square Garden, New York, on May 10; on the oc-
casion of the official opening of the Israel bond drive and will
be the guest at the Salute to ,Israel ZOA celebration, also at
Madison Square Garden.
He comes here in behalf of the Israel bond drive, and the
most effective reception that can be given the distinguished
guest is through large sales of Israel bonds. The leaders in
numerous Jewish communities throughout the land have un-
dertaken to sell $50,000,000 worth of bonds during the coming
few days, in order to be in position to present to the great
leader of the Republic of Israel this initial sum for industrial
and agricultural development of the young state.
The Israel Prime Minister has emerged as one of the
most colorful personalities in the world as a result of his
strength of will to carry the youno- democracy through the
crises that threatened her after the b declaration of indepen-
dence three years ago. In the face of obstacles that appeared
insurmountable, this powerful leader, who became a military
genius overnight, ordered the ill-clad, comparatively unarmed
civilians of the newly-formed Jewish state to defy seven op-
posing Arab nations, to defend their birthright, to fight to the
bitter end that Israel should live. He and his people emerged
victorious.
It is true that there was nothing else left for the Israelis
to do but to fight for their existence. They were compelled
to defend their last fortress. They had no other place to turn
to. It was emu brera—there was no other alternative. • The
Arabs ordered them to the sea, and David Ben-Gurion and
his people said they would remain on solid ground. If they
did not fight, they would have been mowed down or, as the
Arabs had aimed, been driven into the sea. If they fought, at
worst they would have died like free men.
Thanks to the genius of Israel, under the leadership
of Ben-Gurion, Israelis live like free men. But they are not
content with that alone. There are other Jews who still in-
habit infernos, who must be rescued, who need homes and
security. Israel sent forth word to Jews everywhere that her
doors are open to them, that all Jews who desire to settle in
the Jewish state are welcome, that Israelis will share all they
possess with their less fortunate kinsmen.
It was a daring thing to do. In three years, Israel's pop-
ulation has doubled. It meant hardships for Israelis who had
to share homes and food and clothing with the newcomers.
The years of sharing are not over. A thousand new settlers
are enterino. Israel daily and will continue to enter the land
as long as Israelis welcome them. .
David Ben-Gurion is not coming to the United States for
personal enjoyment or to bask in the glory of the great re-
ceptions that are planned for him. His mission is to enlist ad-
ditional aid from American Jewry in behalf of the super-
human efforts undertaken by his nation to rehabilitate the
oppressed and the downtrodden, to create homes for the un-
fortunate who have become second-class people, without the
right . of citizenship, in the lands of their birth.
The proposed $50,000,000 fund from the initial sale of
Israel bonds is only a beginning. Israel asks American Jewry
to buy $500,000,000 worth of securities as investments. It is
imperative that every Jew, every man, woman and child in
our midst, should become a bond-purchaser. '
The arrival of Ben-Gurion should serve as a signal for
renewed efforts in behalf of Israel by American Jews. Detroit
Jewry must mobilize all available manpower and resources
to share in the partnership of assuring security for the young
state.
A great task faces us. It is not enough to shout hedad-
hurrah—in welcoming Ben-Gurion. It must be done with con-
crete samples of our understanding of the great needs of the
hour.'
•
In welcoming David.Ben-Gurion, we also join in soundino.
a call to action, so that the cause for which he came—the
$500,000,000 Israel . bona issue—should be fully subscribed
byAhe Jews of Ameri'c
Incorporating into his work some of the
best and most humorous selections from Israel
Zangwill, Sholem Aleichem, S. J. Agnon, Lion
Feuchtwanger, Chaim Nachman Malik, Yehu-
dah Moishe Nadir, Franz Werfel, Max
Nordau, S. J. Perelman, Solomon Maimon,
Abraham Ibn Ezra, Heinrich Heine, Mendele
Macher Seforim and scores of other noted
writers and scholars. Mr. Ausubel has used the
topics suggested by his selections for basic
studies of various aspects of Jewish humor,
He deals, for instance, in the sub-titles of var-
ious chapters of his book, with such subjects -
as "Geniuses and Other Meshugeneh People,"
and in this category he discusses "Art With
Tea and Lemon." He covers fields involving
"Synagogue-Stove sages;" Schlemihls,
Schmendriks and Schmiggeges; Chut- -
zpaniks, Paskudniks and No - Goodniks;
Schacher-Machers and Finaglers; Luftmen-
shen and Pipe Dreamers.
His introduction to each series of tales repre-
sents a scholarly study of each specific aspect of
humor. Interspersed between stories from the
eminent authors are shorter tales and jokes,
famous Jewish saws and sayings, verses and
humorouS quips. Even the stories that have
aged with frequent retelling acquire newness
Mr. Ausubel's fine style. And he tells them with
such ease that the reader is both instructed SS
well as entertained and amused.
The author of this Treasury quotes his
grandfather who, with a twinkle 'in his eye,
commented: "A worm in a jar of horseradish.
thinks its life is the sweetest in all the world."
"Once a confirmed horseradisher myself," Mv.
Ausubel confesses, "I managed to crawl my
way out of the jar rather early in life. And I
found it was quite a world full of surprises."
But he learned enough from grandfather's
world to be able to pass on his collected wis-
dom to a large reading public. He learned
enough in that jar to be able to take things
with a grain of salt. to find wholesome ideas
even in the most tragic experiences of his
people.
He does not limit himself to the routine stories
which have become commonplace in ordinary
Jewish life. He turned to the sages in search
for excellent Talmudic stories, to noted scholars
for parables, to eminent authors for their undy-
ing tales. These he shares with his readers.
Frequently, he turns to famous Jewish writers
for quips and to authors for comments about
noted Jews. Here is one, for instance on "Ein-
stein—A Parody in the Minner of Edwia
Markim" by Louis Untermeyer:
We drew our circle that shut him out,
This man of Science who dared our doubt,
But ah, with a fourth-dimensional grin
He squared a circle that took us in.
On the same page, in the section titled
"Ironic Tales," is this one from Heinrich Heine.:
When some Gentiles talk about a wealthy
man of my people they call him AN ISRAEL-
ITE; but if he is poor they call him A JEW.
Nearly all of the Yiddish stories were trans-
lated into English by Mr. Ausubel. There are
numerous stories translated from the Hebrew,
Russian, Hungarian and other- languages. In its
totality, "A Treasury of Jewish Humor" is one
of the very excellent books published in our
generation. It makes the Jewish story under-
standable even for those who never knew Yid-
dish, who do not understand Hebrew, to whom
certain aspects of Jewish life is strange. The
able compiler and editor has made them a part
of world humor and world literature through his
—P. S.
fine book.