As the Editor
I'iiews the News
Parents' Tragedies
One- of the major tragedies created by
the Nazis during the last war involved the
separation of children from their Jewish
parents. In many instances, children either
were adopted by non-Jews and could not be
regained, or they were taken possession of
by churches and were lost to their families.
An echo of the war tragedy is heard
from Zurich. According to a JTA report,
transmitted through Switzerland, Romanian
and Hungarian Jewish parents are tattooing
symbols and names on their children's bodies
in order to facilitate their recognition later
in life in the event of their separation.
Zurich press reports state that in in-
stances of children's separation from their
parents, authorities in Romania and Hun-
gary are exerting pressure to prevent con-
tact between them. The reports state that
when a child is taken from a family the
parents receive "a certificate" thanking
hem for putting the child at the disposal of
the state "in order to build a better society."
It is a medieval way of saying that
children are to be raised in those lands
only for the benefit of the state.
The JTA report from Zurich also states
that information about the separation of
Jewish children from their parents in Ro-
mania and Hungary also comes from Vienna.
The latter reports emphasize that the Com-
munist-controlled Jewish press in the two
;:atellite countries are conducting an incessant
propaganda campaign against all elements
of the Jewish population who are not en-
gaged in manual labor. Such propaganda is
also being conducted in the Jewish schools
where teachers avail themselYes of every
possible opportunity to discredit parents in
the eyes of .their children.
Thus, the Communist - inspired Jewish
periodicals are following the line laid down
for them by their Communist masters and
are parties to outrageous crimes. They are
guilty of the cruellest of all brutalities: the
separation-of-children from their parents.
It is an additional signal fOr civilized people
to he on guard against the spread of such
medieval ideas.
Heartache in Pomp
With negotiations between German
and Jewish delegations at The
Ilague approaching conclusion, a new prob-
lem has been brought forward by the Ger-
mans who ask for the signing of agreements
at impressive ceremonies to be presided over
by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
Jewish leaders quite properly have indi-
cated a desire that there should be no cere-
monies at all at the signing. They know that
no matter what the outcome of the negotia-
tions, they are marked by heartache and
tragedy, by recollections of the horrible
crimes that were imposed upon the Jewish
people, resulting in the murder of six million
of our kinsmen by the Nazis.
Ceremony only will accentuate heart-
nches and it should be omitted. That which
is justly due those who have been robbed,
whose relatives were murdered, whose homes
were plundered, should be collected. But it
must not be done with pompous ceremony.
A public show May do nothing more than
whitewash the scene of the wholesale mur-
ders. It will in no sense ease the sufferings of
the survivors.
Shakespeare had an explanation for this
type of ceremony when he wrote:
"Ceremony was devised at first, to set
a gloss on faint deeds, hollow welcomes. and
recanting goodness; but where there is true
friendship, there needs none."
Spokesmen
"TIE JEWISH NEWS
Why Theodore Roosevelt Refused
Czar's Invitation to Go to Russia
The late President Theodore Roosevelt had
rejected an invitation to visit Russia. In a letter
to Sir George Trevelyan, dated Oct. 1, 1911, des-
cribing his trip around the world, he wrote:
"Only the other day I re- -
ceived a warm invitation from
the Czar to come to Russia
this summer, together with a
complaint about my not hav-
ing visited it already. I did
not deem it necessary to ex-
plain in full. as no good would
come of it; but I would hate
to go to Russia in any way as
guest of the ruling authorities,
and feel that I was thereby
stopped from speaking on be- T. Roosevelt
half of Finland, of the Jews, of the persecuted
Russian liberals, and of all the many other people
upon whom the iron despotism of bureaucracy
bears with such crushing weight."
Voices in Election Issues
Studied in Schechtman's
Considerably in advance of the most heated discussions
involving the two major political parties, the issue which
involves the mooted question of "a Jewish vote" is being
clarified sufficiently to eliminate it from consideration.
There have been numerous references to other types of
Joseph B. Schechtman, an authority on popu-
votes—the German, the Irish, the Polish, etc. In reality,
transfers, in his new book, The Arab
groups of all nationality origins are divided on political is- lation
Refugee Problem." +Philosophical Library, 15 E.
sues and from their ranks stem supporters for both the Re- 40th, NY16), warns the Western powers against
publican and Democratic parties. There was a time, in the pouring vast sums into Arab lands without se-
days of Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft, when curing Arab cooperation in the implementation
the impression prevailed that Jews were, in the main. Repub- of a program of reintegration of refugees and
licans. Perhaps that was due to the large votes these candi- their resettlement in Arab lands.
"The Western powers," he asserts, "cannot
dates drew in New York. What was overlooked. however.
was the fact that such large votes for the Republicans, in avoid bearing responsibility for the painful and
the days of Republican victories, were equally heavy among growingly expensive stalemate which has been
reached with respect to the Arab refugee prob-
all elements. Jews and Christians alike.
lem." He advocates adoption of the plan pre-
During the Democratic national convention, however, a sented by John B. Blandford, Jr., former head of
new issue arose- revolving around the battle for a strong the UN Relief and Works Agency for 'Palestine
civil rights plan. The issue is presented so succinctly in a Refugees in the Near East, who proposed whole-
letter from former N. Y. Supreme Court,Justice Meier Stein- sale redistribution of refugees in Syria. Iraq and
brink. of Brooklyn, national chairman of the Anti-Defama- Egypt. This plan, however, has failed to receive
Arab support.
tion League of Bnai Brith, that we present it here:
'Arab Refugee Problem'
In The New York Times of July 17. C. P. Trussell. your
correspondent at the Democratic National Convention covering
the meetings of the Platform Committee, reported that three of
the possible nominees—Senator Richard Russell of Georgia,
Senator Robert S. Kerr of Oklahoma and Representative Sam
Rayburn of Texas—were "not acceptable" as Presidential candi-
dates to the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. The confer-
ence represents fifty-one national organizations which support
the principles of fair employment practices. a Senate cloture
rule to halt filibustering, and similar civil rights measures.
In elaborating, Mr. Trussell reported that the "not accept-
able" statement was voiced at a press conference held jointly
by James B. Carey of the C.1.0.. Walter White of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Stanley
Gewirtz of Americans for Democratic Action. and Philip M.
Klutznick, a vice chairman of the Anti-Defamation League.
The obvious implication is that the Anti-Defamation League
of Bnai Brith, through its representative, Mr. Elutznick, bad
joined in a positive declaration objecting ha the possible candi-
dacy of either Senators Russell and Kerr or Speaker Rayburn.
This unfortunate implication is inaccurate and completely
out of character with the functions and responsibilities of the
Anti-Defamation League.
When the four organizational representatives agreed to a
joint press conference it was decided that nothing would be
said regarding the candidacy of any individual. However, during
the give-and-take of the press conference Mr. Carey and Mr.
White declared that Senators Russell and Kerr and Speaker
Rayburnvere "not acceptable" candidates.
Both these gentlemen made it clear that they were speak-
ing oplY for C.I.O. and N-4.A.C.P., respectively, and their state-
menis in no way were binding on the Leadership Conference.
Also not reported was the immediate repudiation of the "not
acceptable" statement by Mr. Klutznick, who promptly told the
press conference that he could not and would not take any
position on any individual candidate and that his singular inter-
est in being present as representative for Jewish groups was to
'urge the adoption of a strong civil-rights plank.
The Anti-Defamation League, as the educational arm of the
Bnai Brith, is necessarily and unequivocally non-political in
make-up. ADL welcomed the opportunities to present its views
on civil-rights matters to the proper committees of both the
Democratic and Republican conventions. Its task ended there.
The mere fact that Justice Steinbrink found it necessary
to clarify this issue is an indication of the dangers that lurk
back of every expression by Jewish leaders on political ques-
tions. The Steinbrink letter had to be written, in order that
• Member: American Association of English-Jev.ish News-
papers, Michigan Press Association.
there should be no misunderstandings, and so that the false
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
cry of "a Jewish vote" should not be disinterred from the
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg.. Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1155.
Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5.
dead timber of misrepresentations.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6. 1942 at Post Office,
Detroit. Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
The fact is that Jews, like their fellow citizens of all re-
ligious and nationality backgrounds, are to be found in the
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
ranks of all parties. But all elements in our population must
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor
recognize as of far greater importance the right of all Ameri-
August 8, 1952 cans to feel free to approach candidates for office on issues
Page 4
Vol. XXI—No. 22
which vitally concern them.
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
There is only one vote: the American vote. The major
obligation is to vote. Then there is the duty to become fully
r This Sabbath, the eighteenth day of Ab, 5712,
the following Scriptural selections will be read
acquainted with the issues of the campaign. No less obliga-
in our synagogues:
tory is the citizen's responsibility to express himself on the
issues of the campaign. Any other interpretation of the
Pentateuchal portion—Dent. 7:12-11:25.
voices in election campaigns must be viewed as dragging a
Prophetical portion-1s. 49:14-51:3.
red herring across our nation's sacred path.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Aug. 8, 7:23 P.m
'It incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Reintegration of Arabs
Mr. Schechtman reviews the entire refugee
situation and analyzes the position of the state
of Israel. of the Arabs. the U. S. and the UN. He
offers proof to show that the number of Arab
refugees has been exaggerated and that the en-
tire political approach of the Arabs is aimed
not at aiding the sufferers but at destroying
Israel.
Even anti-Zionist. pro-Arab Dorothy Thomp-
son is quoted, in a statement culled from an
Arab newspaper. as having said that the return
of the refugees to their original homeland wou'd
not benefit them. or be in their best interest,
since in Israel they would be a minority among
the Jews." There is general agreement—except
among Arab politicians—that it is folly to speak
of returning the Arabs to Israel, unless propaga-
tors of such thoughts mean to create a fifth col-
umn for the destruction of the Jewish state.
Mr. Schechtman has written a most illumin-
ating book in which he exposes all the false ar-
guments against Israel, all the padded figures
about refugees, all the attempts at destroying
Israel.
He presents facts to show that the Arab
states, with vast territories, are underpopulated
and can well afford to take in the refugees for
their own.
His new book. should go a long way to set
people's minds straight on this important issue.
'Facts You Should Know:
Why is it customary to bring in objects like
bread, salt, honey and candles before moving
into a new home?
A number of interesting reasons are offered
for this custom. It is sometimes based upon a
comparison to the way the Lord created the uni-
verse. First he created food, light and the sweet-
ness of life, then he created man and brought
him into the world. The same happened in
Noah's ark when Noah loaded all the supplies
before he went in. In this sense it may be a
symbol of praying for food, for pleasantness and
sustenance.
Some consider this custom a means of im-
pressing upon the family that moves into their
new home the fact that their home must re-
semble the Temple. The bread we eat may be
compared to a sacrifice. The Temple had a
candelabra and thus candles were brought na..
The honey is a symbol of sweetness. In this sense
moving into a new home was like the ceremony
of the Jews moving into a new Temple.
s
Why is there a special blessing made over
wine, distinguishing it from all other liquids?
This is done, explains the Talmud (Tractate
Berochot 35b) because wine is a more luxurious
liquid than any other. Also, according to some,
because it "gladdens the heart of man." (Psalms
104:15). Likewise, bread is the most basic food.
It therefore deserves a special benediction of its
own.