That's a Destroying Hand, Sir!
As the Editor
Views the News . • .
Hillel at U. of M.
Cornerstone-laying ceremonies for the
new Bnai Brith Hillel Foundation Building at
the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, to
• take place on Sunday afternoon, marks the
fulfillment of . a great need and *a worthy
ambition of eminent leaders throughout the
state.
Hillel has been handicapped by the dis-
tance of its headquarters from the campus.
The new location will make it possible for
the hundreds of Jewish students to become
more actively integrated in the Hillel activi-
ties.
Detroit leaders have played an important
role in the gathering of funds, in the selection
of the site and in the completion of plans for
the new building. They and their associate
representatives from many Michigan cities
are to be congratulated on the realization of
this inspiration,
Menace of Mapam
Mapam's extreme platform, adopted at
last week's session in Tel Aviv, is an indica-
tion of a growing menace to Israel's position.
The Jewish state's effort to stay neutral in
the face of unchanging world conditions is
imperiled by the rash acts of attempting to
pledge the Jewish workers to a pro-Russian
attitude. While Mapam is a minority in Israel,
and can not possibly attain a position of
dominance, the information regarding the
resolutions adopted by its conference may
serve to prejudice the minds of Americans.
Jews throughout the world must, there-
fore, understand the true facts. The extrem-
ist pro-Soviet group is a small minority in
Israel. It is not united within its ranks on
all economic and political issues and its
strength lies only in a sector of the country
—in a portion of the collective settlements.
It is the democracy of Israel that makes pos-
sible the existence of such extremism in her
midst.
Honor to a Hero
On Aug. 22, 1942, Jules Cardinal Saliege
of the Cathedral of St. Etienne, Toulouse,
France, issued a manifesto which was read
on a Sunday morning by all priests in his
diocese and has since become famous. In it
he stated:
"Jews are men and women, foreigners are
men and women . . . They are part of the
human species, they are our brothers like so
many others. A Christian cannot forget it.
France, our beloved country, France which
carries in the conscience of all its childi'en the
tradition of respect for the human person,
chivalrous and generbus France, I have no
doubt that you are not responsible for these
errors."
For his particiPation in • the . French re-
sistance movement, for hiS heroic efforts
which resulted in the. rescuing of the lives
of countless numbers of Jews', he was per-
secuted by the Vichy regime. In his defense
of Jews during the Nazi occupation, he at-
tacked totalitarianism, proclaimed that
"might does not create right" and asserted
that "one cannot. violate without conse-
quences the. natural law of the. Ten . Com-
mandments of Moses;"_
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary
of his consecration in office, Cardinal Saliege
was acclaimed by the American Jewish Com-
mittee whose president, Jacob Blaustein, in
a cabled message, recalled-with gratitude his
"heroic resistance to inhurnanity" and paid
homage to tlis work. Jews everywhere will
concur in these sentiments of admiration for
a man -who defied dangers to assert the
principles of justice.
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.
The Rabbi's Daughter Who Fought
A World Battle for Women's Rights
By SHIN FEY SAMACH
(An American Jewish Press Feature)
A courageous Jewess, who was a delegate to
all women's equal rights conventions for 42 years
—from 1850 until her death in Brighton, Eng-
land, in 1892—was among the leading factors
in the suffrage movement in this country and
was a lone associate of Susan B. Anthony. She
was Ernestine L. Rose, born the daughter of the
Orthodox Rabbi Potoski in 1810, in Piotrkow,
Poland. She left home at the age of 17 in pro-
test against strict observances she could not
tolerate. In 1832 she met Robert Owen, became
his disciple, was banished from Austria and left
for England, where she married an army officer.
In London she commenced her activities, in be-
half of women's suffrage, by circulating a plea
for property rights for married women. She
began lecture tours throughout the United
States, where she spent most of her time there-
after, and Europe. In 1869 she was a delegate,
in Berlin, from. the U. S. National Women's
Suffrage Association to the Women's Industrial
Congress. Ernestine Rose pioneered in behalf of
the women suffrage idea in the Western states
and was chiefly responsible for the adoption. of
Only a few days remain before the closing of the 1951 equal rights for women in Wyoming in 1869. ,
Final Push for Big Job
Allied Jewish Campaign. With the devoted efforts of a good
campaign organization, the total now is about the same as
the amount raised last year. But the drive's aim at the out-
set was to surpass the 1950 total. With several thousand
potential contributors yet to be contacted, it is possible to
set a higher mark for this year.
The urgent needs call for increased participation by
American Jewry in the task of solving Israel's trying im-
migration and economic problems. The funds that have been
available until now to the United Jewish Appeal—major
beneficiary of the Allied Jewish Campaign—are insufficient.
It is of the utmost importance that the last push in behalf
of our drive should mark complete coverage of all outstand-
ing prospects' cards to supplement the pressing needs of the
hour.
It still is possible for participants in the Allied Jewish
Campaign to emerge victorious at next Tuesday's meet-
ing. Those who have not yet attained their goals can and
should be helpful in boosting the goal to the top. A great
deal depends on the last minute efforts—and hundreds of
thousands place great hope on the success of our efforts for
their future security.
The 1951 drive owes a great deal of its impetus to the
tireless efforts of the general chairman, Abe Kasle; the de-
voted efforts of his co-workers and the able direction of Isi-
dore Sobeloff and his staff. The response of the community
is heartening. It augurs well for the future and points to in-
creased attainments as times goes on.
,
The Status of Zionism
American Zionists will have an opportunity, at the 54th
annual convention of the ZOA in Atlantic City this week-end,
to review the movement's position and to plan action conso-
nant with the issues which call for uninterrupted activity in
defense of Israel.
At the Jewish Agency dinner in New York, Israel's Pre-
mier DaVid Ben-Gurion, on the eve of his return to Israel,
made some blunt statements. He emphasized that there still
is a need for a strong Zionist movement, but he limited its
activities to the spreading of Hebrew culture to Halutziut,
and to ideological efforts. He strongly urged acceptance of
non-Zionists as partners in the movement for Israel's up-
building, emphasizing that the Jewish people is the supreme
body involved in the cause.
The feeling is that Mr. Ben-Gurion's attitude tends to
weaken the Zionist position, and the convention this week-
end undoubtedly will force this issue to the front. The attack
by the American Council for Judaism upon Mr. Ben-Gurion's
invitation to young American Jews with know-how to go to
Israel again stirs up an issue which should have been con-
sidered dead in view of the admission that only select num-
bers of experts are asked to go to the Jewish state to assist
in its upbuilding. The new issues indicate that there must
be a re-evaluation of Zionist ideology and standards.
aPogues:
Pentatenchal portionNunt.
exophetical portion—Judges 13:2-25.
4
Fein's Quatrains Based
On Maxims from Sages
Harry H. Fein, • who already has won a place
of merit in the authors' field with his several
volumes of poems, has scored another hit with
his "Light Through the Mist," published by
Bruce Humphries, Inc. (30 Winchester, Boston).
His new collection of quatrains is based on
maxims from many Jewish sages. The ideals
Of the learned men and of the traditions of
Judaism are reflected in this brief work.
"Light Through the Mist" attains added im-
portance through the explanatory notes which
give the sources for some of the thoughts ably
expounded by the author. There also is a section
with the biographical sketches of the sages.
The 40 biographical sketches, the notes on
the quatrains, the excerpts from the Aboth will
be found of great value—making this 66-page
book impressive, informative, inspiring.
Here is a selection that will indicate the high
idealism expounded by Mr. Fine:
"And who is honored? Who honors his fellow
man
Without regard to color, creed or clan,
Giving their due to rich and 'poor alike;
To beggar and prince, cobbler and suffragan."
"Light Through the Mist" encourages further
study. The reader will be tempted to go back to
these quatrains again and again for the inspira-
tion they offer.
Facts You Should Ktiow .. .
Why is it customary to wash one's hands
upon returning from a funeral?
The most practical reason offered says that
one washes one's hands whenever there has been
contact between the living and the dead. Not
only was this regarded as a matter of cleanli-
neSs, but was also a matter of ritual purity. One
who came into contact with the dead was de-
clared ritually unclean by the Bible and there-
fore was in need of a purification process. In
Biblical times one was purified after contact with
the dead by the watery solution made from the
ashes of the Red Heifer which was then sprin-
kled upon those who were unclean. The water
is considered a reminder of this ancient ritual.
The entire matter of ritual purification after
contact with the dead is considered by some as
a means of indicating the physical separation oI
the living from the dead. The hands are washed
to symbolize that a period of readjustment is
necessary when returning to the problems of
living and that life must thus go on in spite
Viewing the situation realistically, the Zionist movement the
of what has passed before.
has an important function to perform at this time. It has not
finished the job of enlightening Jews on the needs for coop-
eration with Israel. It must provide manpower in negotiating
with American leaders in support of grants-in-aid and other
gestures of support for the struggling democratic JeWish
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
state. In spite of the rantings of the anti-Zionist "Judaism
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
Council" about Jewish "nationalism" and "political Zionism,"
the fact remains that aid for Israel is part of a program now
XIX—No. 13
Page 4
June 15, 1951
beinc, pursued by our Government, and it is our hope that
Israel will be given due consideration in the implementation
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
of President Truman's Point Four idea.
This Sabbath, the twelfth day of Sivan, 5711,
the following selections will be read in our syn-
'Light Through the Mist'
All branches of. the Zionist movement must play a part
in the fulfillment of the objectives which seek our encourage-
ment and support. The ZOA convention has an 'excellent
opportunity to strengthen its own position on the new firing
lines at the 54th annual convention..
What is "Yom • Atzmaut?" (which this year
was on Friday, May 11).
"Yom Atzmaut" is the Hebrew term for Israel
Independence Day. It is the anniversary of the
proclamation of the State of Israel in modern
times as it occurs on the Hebrew calendar. It
always occurs on the fifth day of the month of
Iyar. The proclamation of that day was set up
as a sort of religious holiday by the Chief Rab-
binate in Israel. Its significance was so great
that rabbis all over the world adtle-d this day to
the few exceptional days between the Passover
and Pentecost holidays when marriages could
be performed. It is worth noting that it was
the first time in a matter of centuries that. any
day was so set aside.