As the Editor
Views the News ...
Zweig and MacLeish Masterpieces
His Historic Mission
`The Right to Heresy' and
'Freedom to Choose'
Brotherhood
In his acceptance of the honorary chair-
manship of the annual Brotherhood NATeek
observance, Feb. 17-24, President Truman
wrote to the chairman, Eric Johnson:
"For the third time within three decades
we are called upon to make certain that tyran-
ny, under whatever name it chooses to func-
tion, will not be permitted to overrun the
world.
"To do this, we are building great military
forces. We are spending vast sums to bolster
the economy of our friends overseas. We are
engaged in a ceaseless struggle to maintain
and improve our own economy. We are re-
solved to do everything within our power to
show our potential enemies that it would be
ithzwise to engage in a protracted struggle
against a free world.
"Men, money, munitions—all are inzport-
ant. But unless free people work together as
a team—and that takes teaching and practice
—there will be no lasting peace. Until the
world accepts the principle of the Brotherhood
of Man under the Fatherhood of God, it will
be compelled to live under a day-in day-out
alert with the dread of deadly explosions
always imminent.
"Because I believe, as you do, that the Na-
tional Conference of Christians and Jews and
World Brotherhood are doing a magnificent
job in working for justice, amity and under-
standing among men of good will, I am glad
to accept the honorary chairmanship of the
coining World Brotherhood Week."
There is an especially •important point in
the - President's message—his emphasis on
the need that free people should work to-
gether as -a team to the-end that there should
be a lasting peace.
Naturally, we must first have peace with-
in our own ranks. Brotherhood Week places
emphasis upon good will among all elements
in the American population. It thus forms a
team that will' create a strong American
partner in the effort for peace and amity.
We pray that Brotherhood Week in 1952
will go a long way towards the fulfillment of
the objectives outlined by President Truman.
* * *
The validity of the efforts of the National
Conference of Christians and Jews and its
Detroit arm, the local Round Table, was
proven here last week at the two days' ses-
sions—"An Institute on Brotherhood at
Home and Abroad." Exploring every avenue.
of human activity, these sessions frankly re-
viewed the problems relating to inter-faith
approaches to good will and to the elimina- •
tion of intolerance from the American scene.
At these sessions, prominent local and
national leaders, representing Catholics,
Jews and Protestants, exchanged views on
the mass communications media, on the re-
ligious forces and on the labor and manage-
ment angles in the effort to acquire better
understanding and mutual respect among
all elements in our population. Public discus-
sions of this type should lead to a path
cleared of bias.
Participation of young people in these
discussions was among the encouraging fac-
tors of the entire Institute. Robert M.
Frehse, executive director, and L. A. Rade-
let, education director of the Detroit Round
Table deserve high commendations for their
efforts in inspiring the stimulating discus-
sions at these sessions whose ultimate
achievement undoubtedly will be for the good
of our entire community.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publisning
Co 198-10 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
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor
Vol. XX—No. 11 Page 4
November 23, 1951
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-fifth day of Hesh-
van, 5712, the following Scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 23:1-25:18.
Prophetical portion—I Kings 1:1-31.
On Thursday and Friday, Rosh Hodesh Kis-
lev, Num. 28:1-15 will be read during morning
services.
Licht Be-Ashen, Friday, Nov. 23, 4:45 p.m,
'Cr
The Jewish Art Exhibit
Participation of the Detroit Art Commission as a co-
partner with Congregation Shaarey Zedek in sponsorship of.
the Jewish Art Exhibition at the Art Institute is an inter-
esting demonstration of non-sectarian interest in an out-
standing community event which has been arranged primari-
ly to honor the synagogue's 90th anniversary.
By bringing to Detroit numerous ceremonial objects for
display during this exhibition, its sponsors are rendering a
great service to the entire community. They are thereby
calling attention to a significant share by Jewish artists in
skilled craftsmanship. The display teaches its observers the
existence of objects, used in Jewish worship and tradition,
about which many were uninformed hitherto.
The idea of an art exhibition in connection with a syna-
gogue's anniversary is in itself commendable. It is an idyllic
way of inspiring interest in Jewish creativeness and, at the
same time, in the traditions observed by use of the various
objects.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek has earned the entire com-
munity's gratitude in making this exhibit possible. It is sin-
cerely to be hoped that all Detroit Jews will make it a point
to witness the exhibit, which will be retained here until Dec.
30, and especially to encourage their children to view the
display. Our schools will advance the objectives of their
courses by arranging for group visits of the Art Institute to
view the exhibit.
Annual Jewish Book Month
The Jewish community has fallen prey to a common
practice of setting aside a special day, or week, or month,
for the stimulation of interest in a specific objective. We ob-
serve with the country at large Mothers and Fathers days.
We take an interest in Children's Book Week and in Book
Week. Therefore it is not so extraordinary that we should
have begun, several years ago, to make the month that con-
cludes with Hanukah as Jewish Book Month. As the Am
Ha-Sefer—the People of the Book—one would imagine that
it would be a natural urge for Jews to honor books—and
especially The Book—every day in the year, obviating the
need for a Book Month. BUt we would be unrealistically too
sanguine if we were to expect such an aspiration to material-
ize in a materialistic world. There have been too many con-
cessions to other - deviating forces in Jewish life for such a
high ideal to become predominant in Jewish Activities.
It is a fact that people are not buying books in large
quantities and that Jews are not an exception to the rule. By
the same token, because of the temptations that attract many
of us to the radio, the television set, the movies, less books
are read today than a decade or two back. Here, too, Jews
fall into a common groove. Therefore, it becomes a natural
reaction for us to sponsor special celebrations which . tend
to attract interest to books and their authors, thereby en-
couraging the purchase and the reading of more and better
books.
Naturally, we hope that Jewish Book Month, now being
inaugurated in all American Jewish communities, will lay
stress on the classics, on the Bible, on immortal works of
great authors. It is our natural hope that Jewish Book
Month will inspire a desire on the part of American Jews
to lend encouragement to great scholars who devote their
lives, in the preparation of their books, to research rather
than to profit. We have in mind men like Dr. Robert Gordis
and his monumental "Koheleth—the Man and His World";
the important Yale University Series of translations of and
commentaries on Maimonides which includes a volume by
Dr. A. M. Hershman, and scores of similar creative works
which are the results of devotion and labors of love and are
not motivated by an urge for profit.
The Jewish Community Center of Detroit has under-
taken the important task of sponsoring Jewish Book Month
celebrations and exhibits. The Jewish Community Council
similarly is encouraging the Book Month observance with
special , pr'ograms, like the one scheduled for the coming
Sunday, in tribute to the memory of Judah Leib Peretz.
We would be happier if we could think of every day as a
day dedicated' to books and to The Book,—the Scriptures
which distinguish our creative religious ideals. BLit since this
is too much to hope for, we urge wide cooperation in ob-
servance of Book Month, with the hearty prayer that such
celebration will be marked by rededication to reading and
purchasing books.
*A.
*. NIA OW ...J.'. r. 11. 01111
7. ftlr Ise
PR:•••■
A double-barreled accolade to Beacon Press
for its latest titles--L-Stefan Zweig's "The Right
to Heresy" and Archibald MacLeish's "Freedom
Is the Right to. Choose." Both speak out for
freedom and tolerance.
This reviewer especially feels grateful to
Beacon Press for having secured the right to
reprint the late Mr.
Zweig's magnificent
book "The Righ
to Heresy," the sub-title
to which, "Castellio
Against Calvin," reveals
the volume's contents,
the review of the battle
against Calvinist totali-
tarianism. In its totali-
ty, the book is a plea
for freedom of thought,
for the right of people
to speak their minds. It
is a timely message in
defense of liberty and in Stefan Zweig
opposition to oppression. One would imagine
Mr. Zweig had spoken not only against Calvin-
ist ruthlessness but also against gazi brutality
and Soviet tyranny.
It is an incredible story of Jeh -an Calvin's
desire to rule with an iron hand and to enforce
his own opinion upon all his subjects in Geneva. -
But it also is the story of courage, on the part of
the martyr Miguel Servetus and the champion
of right and justice Sebastian Castellio.
Zweig's volume indicates that truth can not
be suppressed for all time, that it is certain to
emerge, as long as generations will fight for it.
It emerged in this case and, as he indicates in
the final chapter, "Extremes Meet," "Calvin's
intolerant discipline was modified . . . sooner
than expected" and: "Within two centuries
from the deaths of Castellio and Calvin, the de-
mands of the' former and the demands of the
latter, brotherly tolerance on the one hand, and
religion on the other, were to dwell peaceably
side by side, in Holland, in England, and in
America."
The interpretation of the term "Heresy" as
evalulated by Castellio forms one of the most
important portions of Zweig's book. After lengthy
discussion Castellio offered the then-dangerous
but for all time courageous assertion:
"When .1 reflect on what a heretic really is,
I can find no other criterion than that we are
all heretics in- the eyes of those who do not
share our views."
Zweig made this personal comment which
adds weight to the discussion: "This seems ex-
tremely simple, almost commonplace, so ob-
viouS is it. But to say as much frankly, demand-
ed immense moral courage in those days."
This is only a portion of the very great ideol-
ogical gems contained in this book which will
remain for all time one of the great volumes
produced as a weapon in the battle for free
thought.
Former Librarian of Congress MacLeish, too,
adds weight to the struggle for freedom with
his book. He wages a battle for the soul of
America, for a country unafraid, for a people
fighting not merely against totalitarianism but
primarly for the American way of life, with self-
reliance, dignity, courage. He points out con-
vincingly that "timidity is not an American
characteristic," that the defensiveness of our
foreign policy is due to the present mentality of
our people and it states:
"If the people of the United States should
again fix their minds upon the realization of a
new and richer life for themselves and for the
world, their foreign policy would inevitably be-
come positive, and vigorous as the policies of
creative and purposeful countries always are.*
Book Exposes Tragedy of POWs
In Russia ; Jewish Doctors and
Nurses Praised as Humanitarians
Charges that hundreds of thousands of pris-
oners of war still are languishing in Russian
prisons are made in "One Great Prison: The
Story Behind Russia's Unreleased POW's," by
Helmuth M. Fehling (Beacon Press). Translated
from the German, by Charles R. Joy, there is
a foreword to the book by German Chancellor
Konrad Adenauer and Josef Cardinal Frings.
Documented with official announcements
concerning German and Japanese war prisoners
in Russia, the book accuses the USSR of having
failed to live up to pledges at Potsdam to release
the POWs.
Being an eye-witness account, by a man who
was released by Russia after serious illness,
Fehling's book is certain to stir considerable in-
terest and to arouse action in international quar-
ters. In the course of his narrative of existing
conditions, Fehling stated:
"There is a group of Jews in Krasnogorsk, who
are exactly like all prisoners, but have, however,
privileged positions in the camp, and for the
most part behave very much better in responsi-
ble camp positions than the Germans. Very
often the Soviet doctors and nurses are men and
women of the Jewish persuasion.' They perform
their medical duties in outstanding fashion, and
in the memory of many prisoners of war remain
as people who saved their lives, worthy and com-
mendable."
fir *I M.
41,