As the Editor
Views the News ...

Facing 1952 Issues

One Apparent Clue

Mendoza—tight of Ismer

Life Story of England's
Skillful Jewish Boxer

NE-Ws rrEm : — POLICE SEARCH FOR CLUE

"lb SomBiNG Or A SYNAGOGUE AND
A NEGRO APARTMENT UNIT IN MIAMI—.

There will be more issues than solutions
Daniel Mendoza (1763-1836) was quite a hero
in 1952. Our problems are multiplying, and
in his clay. He fought in England as "Mendoza
the Jew." Jews called him, "Light of Israel." Paul
the community's needs will raise many ques-
Magriel, who edited "The Memoirs of the Life
tions that will demand answers from all of
of Daniel Mendoza," published by the British
us, from individuals as well as from groups.
Book Center, Inc. (122 E. 55th, NY22), states that
Let us face the problems squarely, and let us
"to the Jews he personified 'the aspiration that
provide solutions wherever it is obtainable.
the Jew could stand upright against whoever."
Major cause of confusion is the multipli-
The memoirs are the remarkable story of an
city of campaigns. This is an old problem that
interesting fellow who got into more scrapes
aggravates situations. But it must be con-
than any dozen men in an equal number of
sidered seriously. Appeals for funds continue
novels. Yet, the story he tells is historically
to be issued from numerous sources in behalf
factual. Out of it emerges a man who fought
of the same causes. Somehow, in spite of the
bravely, won most of the battles, was in many
occupations, and at the same time displayed
unified campaign efforts on the national
literary talent.
scene, we have failed to get together.
r)
Magriel's introduction is a splendid summary,
with additional facts, of Mendoza's life.• The
It has been mentioned before, and it
fighter "was as handy with his pen as with his
should be repeated, that many of our organi-
fists." He was 24 when he wrote his "The Art
zations, in their zeal for their causes, appear
of Boxing" in 1787, He received a good elemen-
to be overlooking a basic fact: that it is with-
tary Jewish education, married a Jewish girl,
in their power to reduce costs of operating
raised a family of 11 children and lived to be 73.
their movements. Many of our groups are
He had a jail career, for non-payment of debts,
managed to get out of scares as he got into them.
assuming responsibility for expensive pro-
- grams and for overlapping undertakings. By
His fame spread far and wide. "The Prince of
Wales, later to become George the Fourth, be-
pooling our resources we can do much to
stowed marked attention on Mendoza." George
save large sums of money which would then
the Third also befriended him and chatted with
be assigned to the causes we intend to assist.
him at length.
*
Only John Jackson —"Gentleman John"
Consideration of means of 'introducing
beat him without ever being beaten by Mendoza
economy in our community efforts includes
in a return match. Humphreys, on the other
also our educational set-up. Already, our
hand, suffered two defeats at Mendoza's hands
educators are thinking in terms of establish-
after licking him in the first match by a fluke.
Maj. Gen. Howard Kennedy, former director of the Magriel states:
ing community schools, of combining efforts
in thickly-populated Jewish areas. This think- United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refu-
"Mendoza's contribution to fighting was to
ing and planning can and should be extend- gees, told the Military Engineers' Association in Montreal transform it. Until his emergence as a champion
ed in other directions. Our organizations last week that the Western world has the "frightening" the prize ring had been a spotlight for brutes.
would then be able to advance their activities choice between Jews and Arabs and that it was a waste of The biggest fellow, the hardest hitter, became
time to try to support and satisfy both sides. He describes the inevitably the champion. Mendoza . . made
through combined programming.
Unified efforts are also applicable available choice as between continuing to encourage the new boxing a sport where previously it had been
to adult education activities. It is difficult state of Israel or alienating the friendship of. Arabs who con- merely a battle."
Mendoza's "Observations on the Art of Pugil-
enough to make such programs effective, trol more than half of the world's known oil resources and
enjoy the sympathy of 300,000,000 Moslems. He made the ism," appearing as an Appendix to this interes-
without splintering them.
additional comment that it is impossible to view the problem ing book, will be found valuable to fighters to
without
considering the 865,000 Arab refugees who are camp- this very day.
There will be a Zionist problem. The is-
Magriel, describing Mendoza's visit with King
sues affecting Israel have caused confusion ed on Israel's borders.
George III, comments:
This
statement
compels
serious
consideration.
A
care-
and consternation in the ranks of those who
"No Jew had ever spoken with the kiny before. Men-
doza was delighted with the experience, though somewhat
are serving the cause of aiding in Israel's ful study of the views advanced by the former UN official disappointed
that no largess was transmitted from the kingly
coffers. In the sense of acquisition, he always was ex-
reconstruction. It is an issue to be corrected will show at once that he does not offer a "Choice." On the pectant."
before a great deal of damage is done to a contrary, his statement sounds like a warning to the world
This might be interpreted as a gratuitous
great movement and to the cause it repre- at large to abandon Israel, to cease fostering the little state remark, except that Mendoza himself, in his
sents.
in weighing the advantages offered by oil-possessing Arabs. memoirs, describing unjust acts by creditors, his
It is sheer folly to act, in anger over state- He waves the threat of "sympathetic" Moslems-who, it would incarceration, his release in October, 1805, "when
ments by .Louis Lipsky and David Ben- appear, are ready to embark upon a war against the entire I was discharged by means of the act of parlia-
ment then passed for relief of insolvent debtors,"
Gurion. Mr. Lipsky pleads for emphasis on world in opposition to Israel's existence.
Perhaps all our troubles stem from the fact that men wrote as follows:
cause and ideal. He does not deliberately seek
"Most of my readers have probably been
to disrupt. On the contrary, he desires to in responsible UN and other international positions, instead present
at the representation of Shakespeare's
of
striving
to
cement
friendship
between
Jews
and
Arabs,
emphasize the purpose rather than to en-
'Merchant of Venice': have execrated the hard-
courage fanfare. Strive for the ideal and are themselves confused by magnified threats and by a hearted Shylock, and commiserated the unfor-
lack of vision.
there will be no cause for argument. •
tunate Antonio: but here the scene was re-
The United Nations was formed for the specific pur- versed; the Christian was the unfeeling persecu-
There are not many defenders of Ben-
Gurion. Yet, in his case, too, there is less pose of making it impossible for the strong to make prey tor—the Jew the unfortunate debtor."
of the weak. The major purpose of the UN would be de-
Mendoza's Memoirs reprint the song that was
cause for aggravation than appears in print.
Israel is in trouble and her Prime Minister feated if the world were to be faced with "choices" such made the subject of his victory over Richard
including these two lines:
desires to draw to his country's aid all who as are offered by Maj. Gen. Kennedy—choices that leaves Humphreys,
"While the Jew's humble bow seemed to please,
are in position to be helpful. He asks that no alternative but to foster the strong because they have
my Dickey's eye flashed vivid fire;
He contemptuously viewed his opponent, as
Americans should assist technologically. It wealth and to abandon the weak to their hapless fate.
David was viewed by Goliath." •
But this is not mankind's objective. The world aspires
can be done. We have shared in appeals to
Of course, there are suggestions of the exist-
our own government to provide financial aid to see small nations prosper and live. Humanity's goal is to ence of anti-Semitism—not mentioned as such
to Israel. We share in appeals to those in make it possible for oppressed peoples to perpetuate their in the book—but Mendoza overcame all ob-
positions to assist with their know-how, in- ideals and to live in harmony with their neighbors. Israel's stacles. He was a remarkable fellow and his
vestments and contributions to continue to hand is stretched out in friendship to the Arabs. No one in Memoirs make most interesting reading.
do so.
authority has a right to speak in terms of "power" only. We 'What the Liberty Bell Proclaimed'
Zionists must stop , bickering to avoid must strive to create harmony and unity among nations. We
catastrophe. They can not afford, as they are confident that peace is possible between Arabs and Israel
did in the instance of the furore caused by —provided the nations of the world, acting through the UN,
the Ben-Gurion statement, to be on the same sincerely exert their efforts to that end without proferring
platform with the American Council for impractical choices that would lead only to war.
Judaism. All of us must get together and act
realistically in defense and support of Israel.
Rabbi Leon Spitz may well be listed as one of
=x
the most distinguished American Jewish histori-
These are just a few of our problems. We
Detroit Jewry has reasons to rejoice over the acquisition ans. His tales of incidents in the lives of early
will be called upon to deal with many others of a permanent home by the Jewish Welfare Federation for American Jews have made fascinating reading.
as they arise in 1952. In the meantime, let its own use and to house as well a number of its agencies and In narrative form, he has perpetuated the best
available tales in the history of U.S. Jewry.
us be practical and avoid the few mistakes the Allied Jewish Campaign.
A number of his stories now are made avail,
we have listed.
While honoring the memory of Detroit Jewry's most dis- able
in a single volume under the title "What the
tinguished citizen, Fred M. Butzel, the new building will serve Liberty
Bell Proclaimed." Illustrated by Ruth
purposes which have, at times, been hampered by lack of Levin, published by National Women's League of
proper facilities. The Allied Jewish Campaign fulfills the the United Synagogue of America (3080 B'way,
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
major functioning of acquiring the funds for Israel's up- NY 27), this volume contains 26 charming stor-
.commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
building, for the rescue of oppressed in many lands and for ies, in addition to a preface and a glossary of
Member. American Association of English-Jewish News-
the settlement of refugees in this country, as well as scores Hebrew words that will be helpful to the reader.
papers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by the Jewish News Publishing
"What the Liberty Bell Proclaimed," the sev-
of local and national causes. In its own home, unhampered by
Co :08-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., W0.5-1155.
Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5.
space limitations and rental problems, the Federation's func- enth story in the book, tells how the Biblical
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
inscription was placed on the Liberty Bell, how
tions undoubtedly will be greatly facilitated.
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
its use was acclaimed, the role that was played
When the new building is dedicated, during the week in
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
early American Jewish history by the Gratz
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
of Jan. 13, all of us will have an opportunity, while encourag- brothers, Haym Salomon and others.
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor
ing the Federation in its community efforts, to pay homage
Other stories deal with the following: Derivation of the
of the Hebrew words "Urim veTuniim" in the Yale
Vol. XX—No. 16
Page 4
December 28, 1951 to the memory of a great man. The late Fred M. Butzel was use
University seal; Purim incidents in early New -York; Emma
Lazarus' poem of the Statue of Liberty; when Theodore
more than a, leader. He was a creative genius who played a Roosevelt,
as New York's Police Comissioner, assigned a
role in the formation of practically every important Jewish Jew as bodyguard to an anti-Semite, as a rebuke to bigotry;
Sabbath Hanukah Scriptural Selections
story about Asser Levy in the days of Peter Stuyvesant;
This Sabbath—Sabbath. , Hanukah—the thir- community movement not only in Detroit but in communities a Treasure
Hunting"—a fascinating Solomon Schechter story;
tieth day of Kislev, 5712,' . the following Scrip- throughout Michigan.
also:
Stories
about Huyman Levy's dealing with the Indians;
tural selections will be read in our synagogues:
In his lifetime, our community knew how to value his a Sukkot story
in the days of Judah Touro; George Washing-

Frightful 'Choice': Lack of. Vision

Rabbi Spitz's Fascinating

U.S. Jewish History Tales

The New Federation Home

THE JEWISH NEWS

-

Pentateuchal portions—Gen. 41:1-44:17; Num.
28:9-15, 7-42-47.
Prophetical portion—Zech. 2:14-4:7.
Rosh Hodesh Tebet and seventh day Hanu-
kah Scriptural selections. Sunday, Num, 28:1-15,
7:48-53.
Eighth day of Hanukah Scriptural selection,
Monday, NUM. 7:54-8:4.

Licht Benshen, Friday, Dec. 28, 4:47 p.m.

efforts. A Forest in. Israel, bearing his name, attests to the

ton and his friendship with Rabbi Seixas; Judah Lopez and
his fishing fleet; how Ben Franklin aided a Philadelphia

esteem in which he was held by all of us. Individuals and synagogue; Ivanhoe's Rebecca—Rebecca Gratz; stories about
Salomon, Franks, and many other early Ameri-
groups sought opportunities to show him - the love they felt Haym
can Jews; the -kosher meal that was served George Washing-
ton;
tales
about Mordecai Manuel Noah, Commodore Uriah P.
for him. Nov, through the efforts of the Fred M. Butzel
Judah P. Benjamin, the pass issued by Abraham Lin;
Memorial Association, his name is being perpetuated for a coin to Charles A. Jonas to see his dying father, and other
local effort. It is a deserving tribute, at the same time ful- tale s. It is a fascinating book and each of its stories
filling an important community need; therefore we call the will add to the knowledge of American Jewish
acquisition of. the building an occasion for rejoicing.
history. Its value can not be overemphasized.

