As the Editor
Views the News ...
The Structure Grows
Klein's 'The Second Scroll'
Magnificent Literary Gem
Less Talk, More Action
Welfare fund leaders, meeting in annual
assembly in Chicago, made some practical
resolutions. They appealed for unified e&
forts by Jewish movements. They asked
for a reduction in the number of campaigns.
They spoke up in favor of economy in oper-
ating communal affairs.
What next? Will this remain mere talk
or will the resolutions be translated into
action ?
For a number of . years, we have heard
appeals for unity on basic issues. The Mac-
Iver Report shows bluntly how an overlap-
ping of activity on the part of national or-
ganizations has involved American Jewry in
unnecessary expense and toil. His observa-
tions are applicable also to the local scenes.
The Council of Jewish Federations and
Welfare Funds and the National Community
Relations Advisory Council, at their recent
sessions, spoke in favor of economy and in
support of the plan for the abandonment of
the multiplicity of work and organizational
machinery which haunts our communities.
It remains to be seen whether CJFWF and
NCRAC will retain the distinction for fine
speeches or whether they will show the
ability to put practical proposals into action.
A Glorious Work
Imputing Guilt in Arab Issue
Alfred A. Knopf has added glory to his fine
reputation as a publisher by producing the very
profound book by the noted Canadian poet and
.barrister, Abraham M. Klein, whose moving story,
"The Second Scroll," is so stirring that it prom-
ises to retain a place on bookshelves Jong after
most of our cUrrent novels will have perished
in the waste paper houses.
"The Second Scroll" is the story of a search
by the author for his Uncle Melech Davidson
who, under the Tsar, suffered untold indigni-
ties, but escaped death; who, under the Nazis,
was subjected to misery which, again, he man-
aged to survive. The author, on
his tour of. Europe, follows the
footsteps of Uncle Melech. He
reaches out for him in Rome, in
Casablanca, follows him into Is-
rael, there to learn that Uncle
Melech died as a martyr in
Safed.
It is not the simple story but
the way it is told, the idealism.
that complements fiction, the
stirring fashion in which the A.
Klein
highest Jewish aspirations are
interpreted by a noted scholar, an able poet, a
true adherent to the highest ideas in Judaism.
Mr. Klein went to Europe, North Africa and
Israel on a mission for the Canadian Jewish. •
Congress. The result was this great novel. It is
a small book, but on every page burns the ideal-
ism of the author—reflecting the ideas of his
people through the generations.
It is as if all of Jewish life is mirrored in this
story. Uncle Melech begins as an outstanding
student of the Talmud. Later he turns Com-
munist, abandoning the dangerous code quickly.
Then begins his tour of Europe, his aid to those
seeking entrance in Israel in the days when they
traveled "underground" contrary to British regu-
lations. Finally, Uncle Melech finds fullfillment
of his dreams in Israel, only to die a martyr.
But the way A. M. Klein tells it! In the glosses
at the 'end of the book, in chapters labeled with
Hebrew letters, he poetically incorporated the
glorious ideals of Israel. The undying spirit of
our people lives in these poems and in the words:
"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy
cometh in the morning."
"The Second Scroll" is a glorious book. it
atones for the trash which has been heaped
upon us by publishers in recent months. We have
read it with gratitude and recommend it in all
sincerity.
Mr. Klein, a practicing lawyer, born in Mon-
treal in 1909, taught poetry at McGill university.
He is a Joyce scholar, a leader in the Jewish
community of Montreal, and one of Canadian
Jewry's outstanding figures.
It is as impossible as it is impractical to overlook the
The problems we refer to are not limited
to civic protective work and to the raising implications that are inherent in the spreading anti-Israel
of welfare funds. We are affected in nearly movement which is being built on charges that the Jewish
all of our American Jewish communities by state is unjust and inhuman to the Arab refugees. News-
other issues to which the Maclver plan must papers throughout the land continue to publish letters to the
editors containing the vilest type of charges. The best
be applied.
As an example of multiplied efforts we periodicals in the country have fallen prey to the charges.
are compelled to point to the over-organized The Christian Science Monitor not only has published edi-
status of nearly every Jewish community in torials on the subject but also has printed letters containing
the land. Detroit is a typical example. Func- these charges. A reply to one of these letters from a man
tioning in our midst are scores of organiza- who has lived in Israel for many years is, therefore, of value
tions with similar platforms. Combine many at this time.
Replying to charges on the score of the Arab refugees,
of them and the community will benefit.
Elimination of overlapping organizations and in a message from Haifa, Israel, David B. Hattis, who lists
movements would not entail a loss but would, himself as coming from Swarthmore CoVege, Swarthmore,
Pa., expresses the desire to lend his voice to the plea for aid
instead, save energies.
to the Arab refugees, but adds that he would "place more
Another example is our educational set- of the responsibility for their plight on the Arab govern-
up. Surely, we should be able to combine ments concerned, especially since Israel has its own serious
some schools in order to strengthen our and pressing refugee problem." He especially disputes the
cultural aspirations in areas serving the charge that terrorists are responsible for what had trans-
youths as' well as the adults. We have had pired in Israel and makes these points :
many studies and surveys in this regard,
In the first elections, on Jan. 25, 1949, the Fighters Party
but none has brought the desired results. got one seat out of 120 in the Knesset (Legislature) ; the Herut
Will the Maclver Report have a similar fate? Party were somewhat stronger, getting 14. Neither party was
*
*
*
in the cabinet formed by Ben-Gurion. By the 1951 elections, The Word-Finder:
The limited examples we have mentioned the Fighters had disintegrated, and Herut dropped to 7 or 8
could be multiplied many times to indicate seats. The latter party does not participate in the new cabinet.
how unnecessary labors could be avoided in Clearly, Herut does represent a certain portion of the population
and therefore cannot be excluded from the Knesset.
Here is a literary invention: a compilation of
order that all of us may devote ourselves to in Israel,
Jewish terrorism was not primarily responsible for the
more practical activities and for the sake of present plight of the Arabs. Basically, terrorist action was wordsthat helps in the building of literary sen-
substituting cultural activities for unwise directed against the British, not the Arabs. The terrible mas- tences:
I. Rodale, the compiler of "The Word Find-
fund-raising drives.
sacre at Deir Yassin, which is referred to, was one of the few
er," arranged his 1350-page book with the col-
It is not out of order to mention also acts of terror against the Arabs, and was harshly condemned laboration
of Kingsbury M. Badger, Theodore E.
the disturbing fashion in which many. or- by the Jewish community.
On Nov. 30, 1948, the day after the United Nations decision Ehrsam, Mabel E. Mulock and Dr.- Edward J.
ganizations resort to campaigns of printing on partition,
Fluck, each a master in the field of arranging
the Arabs, not accepting it, started hostilities. In
programs in order to secure advertising for many cases local Arabs were active in the hostilities. In Haifa, nouns, verbs and adjectives.
booklets which they find necessary as sup- for example, the local Arabs supported Iraqi regulars who had
The words are arranged alphabetically in this
plements for "donor events" which do not infiltrated. These Arabs naturally fled after Israeli victories. book. Nouns are modified by choice adjectives
bring the desired income. Many organiza- Other Arabs, possibly more peaceful, followed their lead, and to describe their qualities. Verbs and adjectives
tions have entered into fallacious policies of left the country. This element, if allowed to return to Israel, are coupled with selected lists of adverbs.
These listings enable the user of the book to
sponsoring high priced entertainment the would constitute a paramount danger to it. Here I should like
frame powerful sentences, to enrich their
cost of which absorbs the income from to mention that the Arabs who stayed in the country had the thoughts,
to improve the quality of their ex-
"donors." To make up for entertainment right to vote in the last elections (four Arab parties ran, and pressions. Suggested sentences, which can be
they
received
six
seats),
and
they
get
the
same
food
rations
as
costs, workers in organizational affairs, in- all other citizens.
molded by use of "The Word Finder," include:
stead of laboring for sacred causes, have
"Memories surged, weary a n d comfortless,
These
arguments
have
repeated
time
and
again,
but
turned into advertising solicitors. Merchants
through her darkened heart"; "the murmurous
they
seem
to
have
fallen
on
deaf
ears.
It
becomes
necessary,
room quivered with laughter"; etc.
are unable to express their resentment and therefore, to repeat them.
The word "prayer," for instance, is qualified
the practice continues. In the long run, the
A telling argument in proof of indifference of Arab gov- by such adjectives as fervent, audible, soft, sob-
community's benefits from such procedures
ernments that are concerned in this issue is their refusal to bing, sublime, hallowing, pleading, etc.; verbs,
are too meager to justify the effort.
cooperate financially in the United Nations' appeal for finan- console by—, utter—, offer up—, supplicates, etc.
It won't hurt to study the problems, with cial aid to the refugees. Israel has responded promptly but
This rich work was published by Rodale PresS,
the view of solving them. But they won't most of the Arab states have refused to cooperate. Their Emmaus, Pa.
be solved with speeches and resolutions. A governments are concerned only with the political issue, with
firm stand is needed. Will CJFWF and the aspiration to destroy Israel, with the effort to spread Laura Hobson's 'The Celebrity'
NCRAC show determination ? That poor vicious propaganda against the young state. The true facts,
Laura Zametkin Hobson, whose fame as
devil time is the scapegoat. when we press the indifference of the Arab states, should be made known. author
of "Gentleman's Agreement," reached
for an answer.
Perhaps the falsehoods then will emerge in their true colors worldwide proportions, has written a total of
and the culprits will be exposed in all their nakedness—as four novels. Her newest, "The Celebrity," pub-
the creators of the refugee problem and as the contributors lished by Simon and Schuster does not measure
THE JEWISH NEWS
up to her best seller, but is, nevertheless, a good
to causes which perpetuate the refugees' plight.
A Literary Invention
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
commencing with issue of July 20,1951
•
novel, written in her very fine style, telling a
story that holds the reader's interest and is re-
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
plete with action.
papers, Michigan Press Association.
"The Celebrity" is the story of a writer whose
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
Co. '108-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26; Mich., W0.5-1155.
Hanukah, observance of which will commence on Dec. novel is accepted by Best Selling Books, making
Subscription $4 a year foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office, 23, should present a comparatively easy problem for those him famous and financially comfortable over-
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
seeking ways of making gifts, in thanksgiving for our glori- night. The story is about the complications that
with fame—but not the complications of
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
ous position as American Jews, in honor of the Modern come
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
Author Gregory Johns; rather, those of his
Maccabees in Israel.
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor
family, especially his brother Thornton, who as-
Those who still owe money to the Allied Jewish Cam- sumes the role of his brother's manager. Holly-
Vol. XX--No. 14
Page 4
December 14, 1951
paign should utilize the approach of the festival for immediate wood is dragged in by Thornton who sets out to
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
payment of their pledges.
meet actors and producers in the course of his
This Sabbath, the sixteenth clay of Kislev,
In addition, we are called upon to observe Hanukah as brother's novel for filming. While Gregory rejects
5712, the following Scriptural selections . will be a gift-giving festival through the purchase of Israel bonds. bids for lectures, Thornton accepts them. The
read in our synagogues:
By purchasing bonds as gifts we enrich those receiving them author is humiliated, rebels, calls a halt to his
schemes. Gregory longed for the old Thornton
Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 32:4-36:43.
and thereby support the great investment effort in Israel.
did not capitalize on fame.
Prophetical portion—Hos. 12:13-14:10 or 11:7-
Remember the Modern Maccabees in Israel this Hanukah who
Thus;
fame's encumbrances came home to
12 :12 or Obad. 1:1-21.
by paying yOur pledge to the United Jewish Appeal through roost in Laura Hobson's "The Celebrity"---a good
Licht Benshen, Friday., Dec. 14, 4:45 p.m.
the Allied Jewish Campaign and .by buying Israel bonds.
• novel that will delight the reader.
Gifts for Modern Maccabees