The Answered Prayer
By MAEANNA CHESERTON-MANGLE
An American Jewish Press Feature
HAYM SALOMON
It was September, 1781, and
the ragged armies of the Revo-
lution were encamped through
Pennsylvania and the New Jer-
sey flatlands. In New York City,
General Clinton's British troops
were living on the fat of the
land. The American forces were
badly in need of food, rifles and
ammunition. Soldiers were de-
serting their posts to hunt for
game, and discontent was
spreading rapidly through the
ranks. Now at summer's end,
there was no prospect ahead but
another terrible winter of priva-
tion.
George Washington, tall and
gaunt, stroked his strong jaw
thoughtfully. Standing outside
his tent head-
quarter s, he
watched camp --
fires blinking
through the
trees and heard
the murmur of
soldiers who sat
around them.
Finally the gen-
eral turned to
his visitor — a
heavy-set towns-
man: Washington
"You see our condition here,
Morris. The men are unwilling
to remain in camp longer with-
out pay and food. Mutiny is in
the air! I can't blame them; but
the hard fact is that unless
something is done to relieve the
situation, I will soon find myself
a general without troops."
The visitor, Robert Morris, su-
perintendent of finance of the
Continental Congress, shrugged
his broad shoulders. His eyes
mirrored a discouraged helpless-
ness.
"I've done all in my power,
General. We have no income,
our currency is in a chaotic
state, and foreign bills of ex-
change are dropping every day."
Washington clenched his fists.
"Our people must be given con-
fidence! If we Can only weather
this winter, there'll be a chance
to keep Clinton in New York,
while we march to the south to
attack Cornwallis; but mean-
while we need food, blankets,
guns, medicine. We need money!
Is there no one to whom we can
turn?"
Robert Morris was silent, but
finally he spoke: 'There IS a
man in Philadelphia, sir, a
broker. Men say he is honest
and to be trusted."
"What is his name?" the
General asked.
"Haym Salomon", Morris re-
plied. "He is a Jew",
George Washington turned to-
ward the other man and gripped
his shoulder in a grasp of iron.
"A Jew? He is an American!
I've heard of this Salonion. He
was a member of the Sons of
Liberty in New York, and he
was imprisoned twice by the
British for aiding our cause.
If he CAN help us, he WILL.
Go to him at once >"
When Morris had mounted
and ridden away, George Wash-
ington passed a tired hand over
his forehead. Entering his tent,
hidden in the night shadows, he
dropped to his knees. His head
inclined forward, and the deep-
set eyes closed, the General's
strong hands folded in fervent
and humble prayer.
A day later, a courier galloped
along the cobblestone streets of
Philadelphia. Approaching a
small brick building, he vaulted
from his mount and sprang up
the steps. The building was the
synagogue where the Jews of
Philadelphia had .just gathered
for their most important holy
day of the year. It was Yom
Kippur, the Day of Atonement,
a day to fast and pray. Here it
was that the messenger would
find Haym Salomon.
The messenger extended a
white envelope toward the old
sexton who greeted him at the
door. "I have a letter from the
superintendent of finance, Rob-
ert Morris, for Haym Salomon."
"For me?" A slender brown-
haired man stepped forward
from the : prayer benches. His
brows were drawn together as
he _swiftly read the enclosed let-
ter. Meanwhile the other wor-
shippers, many in the ragged
regimentals of Washington's
army, gathered around in curi-
osity. What did Robert Morris
want with Haym Salomon—on
Yom Kippur !
Salomon looked up—his face
grave.
"This note says that General
Washington is in serious distress.
He needs money to prevent a
mutiny among his men—at once!
Secretary Morris has sent us two
bills of exchange for $20,000. He
hopes that we will be able to let
him have that sum, without de-
lay."
-
A murmur of protest arose.
"But Haym, on the Holy Day?
We cannot take part in bus-
mess today. It would be a sin
against God."
Haym Salomon's brown eyes
shot fire as he sprang to the
pulpit holding up his hands for
silence.
"Friends! He waited for a
moment. "This is part of the
battle that all of us are fight-
ing—whether in uniform or
out of it. We must raise $20,-
000 for the crisis—at once."
The crowd hushed. Then a
hesitant voice was heard from
the rear. "We have three hun-
dred dollars in the bank, Haym,
if that will help ..." A burly far-
mer in homespun said, "We've
been planning to buy a new plow
and tram of oxen—but they can
wait." One by one the members
of the congregation volunteered
their pledges, large and small.
Not ten minutes had passed be-
fore the entire sum was raised
and men went back to their
prayers. Haym Salomon turned
to the messenger and said, "Go.
Tell General Washington that he
shall have the money he neds."
In the years that followed,
Haym Salomon again and again
aided the cause of the American
Revolution. Unstintingly he gave,
impovershing his business and
family so that he might contri-
bute huge sums to the Con-
tinental Congress. These stuns
were never paid back and when
he died, Haym Salomon was
penniless. But he left his chil-
dren a far greater heritage" than
money.
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"Yom Kippur Day" is one of 24 songs appearing in "Songs to Share" by Rose B. Goldstein,
piano settings by Reuven Kosakoff, and illustrations by E. Schloss. Published by United
Synagogue of America, the songs are being syndicated by American Jewish Press, the fea-
ture service of the American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, by special arrange-
ment with the United Synagogue.
Orthodox CourtOil
Issues Statenieni . -
Of Year's Policy
A message to Detroit Jewry
was issued on the occasion of
the New Year 5714 by the Coun-
cil of Orthodox Rabbis, embody-
ing a twelve-point program of
improvement.
The Council's Vaad Hayeshi-
voth will be re-organized to bet-
ter regulate the drives of various
educational institutions which
appeal here for funds.
The Council also promised the
opening of a new ritualarium,
more strict kashruth supervision,
a broader program of adult and
child education, restoration of
the Sabbath, aid to Israel in in-
creased form, rescue work for
people in distress,. religious in-
formation center, a religious
court, bureau of vital statistics
and cooperation with Sinai Hos-
pital authorities for a smooth
running hospital.
Rabbi Joseph Thumim is prds-
ident of the Council of Orthodox
Rabbis. He is assisted by Rabbis
Isaac Stollman, dean and chair-
man; Leizer Levin, chairman,
committee for strengthening
Torah Judaism; Israel T. Notis,
executive secretary. All Detroit
Orthodox rabbis are members of
the .Council.
Red-Labeling of Rabbis Wise and Magnes
Attacked by U. S. Jewish Leaders
NEW YORK, (JTA)—Dr. Is-
rael Golds t e i n, president of
American Jewish Congress, and
Rabbi Maurice N. Eisendrath,
president of Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, in a joint
statement, castigated the House
Committee on Un-American
Activities for having "permitted
the publication of the fantasti
charges of ex-Communist lead-
er (Benjamin) Gitlow" against
the late Rabbi Stephen S. Wise,
world-renowned leader of AJC
and the World Jewish Congress,
and the late Dr. Judah L.
Magnes, president of the Hebrew
University in Jerusalem.
A similar statement was issued
by Dr. Irving Miller, president of
the Zionist Organization o f
America.
Both men had been spiritual
leaders of Reform congregations
in the United States.
Gitlow testified that both men
were among a number of clergy-
7:3'7?,.'7171
,rlirr'?t?
Alt?
men 'who carried out the in-
structions of the Communist
Party or collaborated with it."
The statement pointed out
that the two late Jewish leaders
"were hailed the world over as
among the most independent,
courageous and moral figures of
our generation." It added: "To
charge them with having taken
instruction from the Communist
Party and having collaborated
with it is a contemptible and
vile desecration of two of the
most noble and revered names
in American Jewish history."
The statement also expressed
the "hope that this climatic
revelation of the irresponsible
character of the Committee's
procedures will move the Amer-
ican people to action in defense
of their liberties."
24 DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
—
Friday, September 18, 1953
OUR KIDDIES'
It
N
E
gi
By Uncle David
God is regarded as the righteous
Judge who inscribes each indi-
vidual in the "Book of Life" on
the New Year, and seals the de-
cree upon Yom Kippur. Peni- '
tence, prayer, and charity serve
as man's intermediaries at this
time. Essential to any real
atonement are not only true re-
pentance and prayer for - for-
giveness, but also a change of
heart, ennobling the will and
To Thee we give ourselves today, resulting in an effort to do bet-
Forgetful of the world outside;
ter. Each human being should
We tarry in Thy house, 0 Lord,
stand before his Maker seeking
From eventide to eventide.
in honesty to make his record
clean. .
From Thy all-searching, right-
This necessitates not only re-
eous eye
pentance, and the resolve to
Our deepest heart can nothing
tread the path of righteousness,
hide;
but retribution for whatever
It crieth up to Thee for peace
sinful deeds he may have com-
From eventide to eventide.
mitted toward his fellow man.
Wherever it is possible, Jews
Who could endure, shouldst -
should make amends for any
Thou, 0 'God,
wrongdoing toward their fellow
As we deserve, for ever chide?
men, and bring about reconcilia-
We therefore seek Thy pardon-
tion between those who have
ing grace
been estranged from each other.
From eventide to eventide.
The day has a most whole- '
0 may we lay to heart how swift some, spiritual influence. Its ap-
The years of life do onward glide peal does not rest upon any
So learn to live that we may see historical incident. It is not a
commemoration, but a direct I
Thy life at our life's eventide.
The chanting of Kol Nidre, appeal to the human heart and
the traditional prayer of re- conscience, an emphasis upon
pentance for the Jewish people, the duty of personal communion
will usher in Yom Kippur, the with God, the source of all
Jewish Day of Atonement, righteousness, in the effort to
known also as the "Sabbath make our human life as godlike
of Sabbaths." With the setting as possible. The promise of par-
of the sun tonight, Jews don for genuine penitence is
throughout the world will begin ever present in the ritual of the
a day of prayer, of self-scrutiny day, and divine forgiveness is
and repentance. Worldly assured to those • whose repent-
thoughts will be replaced by a ance is honest, and whose desire
searching analysis of one's con- to return to a good life is gen-
duct by each individual. Through uine.
prayer and repentance for his
I hope those of you who are
sins, will he make peace with old enough to fast will have an ,
God and man, and renew his easy fast and that prayers of
effort for a life of righteousness. young and old will come true.
Once again I wish you a Hap- j
Yom Kippur is the culmina-
tion of a 10-day period of peni- py New Year. May you be in-
tence which begins with the reli- scribed in the Book of Life for
gious New Year. Traditionallyjoy and happiness.
The solemn days 'of Rosh
Hashanah are over, and this
Sabbath we will observe the
most sacred day of our calendar
—the Fast of Yom Kippur, which
we also call Day of Atonement.
The late Dr. G. Gottheil once
wrote a very inspiring poem,
which he called "Day of Atone-
ment" and which I wish to share
with you. It follows: