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THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20. 1951

• Member American Association of English-Jewish. Newspapers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., moo West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 3-9364.
Sobscription $4. a year, foreign $5.
•
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942; at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879

PHILtP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher

VOL. XXIV, No. 3

SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager

FRANK SIMONS
City Editor

Page 4

September 25, 1953

Sabbath Hol Hamoed Sukkot Scriptural Selections
Pentateuchal portions, E.. 33:12-34:26, Num. 29:17-25; Prophetical portion, Ezek. 38:18-39-16.

Hol Hamoed ,Sukkot Scriptural Selections

Sunday, Nunn. 29:20-28; • Monday, Num. 29:23-31; Tuesday, Num. 29:26-34; Wednesday, Ho-
$hanah, Rabbah, Nu-rn. 29:26-34 ;

• Selections for Concluding Days of Sukkot
Pentateuchal portions: Shmini Atzeret. Thursday, Deut. 15:19-16:17 N UM. 39:35-30:1.; Simhat
Torah, Deut. 33:4-24:12, Gen. 1:1-2:3. Num.. 39:35-30:1.
Prophetical portions, Thursday., I Kings 8:54-66 or 9:1; Friday. Josh. 1.

Wise and Magnes: Instruments Against Witch-Hunts

Outraged by accusations made before the shreds the outrageous witch-hunting pro-
House Un-American Activities Committee gram which- now, to the disgrace of the basic
by a former Communist, Benjamin Gitlow, American ideals, is receiving the encoUrage-
that the late Dr. Stephen S. Wise and Dr. ment of American legislators.
Judah L. Magnes were among the clergy-
The protest need not be lodged in defense
men who, before the creation of front organ-
of
two
men, now dead, and many more in
izations, had "carried out the instruction of
the Communist party or collaborated with their field, still living. Wise and Magnes and
it," prominent Jewish leaders issued state- many of the living clergymen who have been
ments denouncing the fantastic charges.
attacked by Gitlow need no defense. Their
In a sense even the defense of the two de- records speak for themselves: But the prin-
ceased leaders, who were among the most ciple that is at stake needs to be sheltered. Excellent Israel 'Argosy'
eminent personalities who had won the re- The threat to American freedoms, inherent
spect of peoples of all faiths throughout the in accusations by hearsay, by suspicion, by
world, approaches the ridiculous. Of course, personal prejudices, must be destroyed. If
the two men no longer can speak for them- Wise and Magnes are to be the means of
selves. Would that their powerful voices • ending the witch-hunts, then they will have
An American Jewish Press Feature
could be heard today in defense of justice served their country as well in their death as
and common sense. They would have torn to they did during their rich lives.
Under the editorship of I. Halevy-Levin, the "Israel Argo&

Young and Pioneer Writers
Represented in New Volume

Spring 1953" edition excels the preceding similar books in many
respects.
This Argosy edition, published by the Youth and Hechalute
Department of the World Zionist Organization, in Jerusalem, is a
North America, 127 in Europe, 78 in Cen- combination of the works of younger as well as pioneer writers.
tral and South America, 38 in Africa, 17 in With the exception of three of the essays, the contents are the
Canada, 19 in. Australia and New Zealand translations of the editor.
Simon Dubnow, the noted historian of Polish and Russsia*
and six in Asia outside of Israel.

National Newspaper Week and the Jewish Press

National Newspaper Week, observance of
which will commence next Thursday, chal-
lenges the people of this country to be ever
jealous of the privileges enjoyed by Ameri-
cans who are blessed with a free platform for
The predominance of the English perio-
the discussion of all the problems that taunt dicals is especially to be noted from this
them.
study. While it is essential that Yiddish
" An Informed Press for an Informed should not be discouraged, since it continues
People" is an apt slogan for the 1953 News- to reach an important element in Jewish life
paper Week. It is self-evident that without and still is a vitally creative medium for
proper information we can not have effec- Jewry; and while it is important that the ad-
tive newspapers, and that through truth and vancement of Hebrew should be a major
fact-dispensing publications we can help objective on the agenda of our activities, the
build more vigorous and more intelligent leadership that has been taken over by
communities.
English as the major publications, language
American newspapers have proven that among Jews can not be ignored. It is some-
they are not afraid' to step on the toes of pol- what discouraging to note that Hebrew is
iticians in power, that they are ready to ex- down the list and it is significant that Yid-
pose iniquities, that they are able t6 unearth dish remains second in strength to English.
truths and to sift fact from fable. The news- These are factors to be taken into considep-
paper serves its purpose in the publishing of ation in all studies of Jewish periodicals and
news, in its editorial analyses of issues facing of the language question as it affects Jews.
the people, in its specialized departments for
young and old, men and women, and equally The dominant role of the English-Jewish
as much through its advertising columns. It periodicals should find positive reflection in
has been well said that "advertising keeps Jewish comrrumal planning. The English-
prices down."
Jewish
newspaper plays a role on a _par
fi
*
with the school and the synagogue in bring-
Active participation by the American ing to Jewish homes the high purpose of
Association of English-Jewish Newspapers Jewish existence. Such an instrument must
in the sponsorship of National Newspaper be given ever-increasing strength, in order
Week should inspire study of the position of that through it all—home, synagogue, school,
the English-Jewish press in America as one our social agencies and fund-raising organ-
of the most vital factors in the advancement izations — the English-Jewish Press should
of our people's position in this country. It gain new vigor and increasing strength.
is not merely as the disseminator of news
National Newspaper Week is an impor-
about fund-raising campaigns and about tant occasion during which to renew the
organizational activities that our press plays community's interest in the Jewish press.
a leading role in American Jewish life. It is It is one of the means of reminding our com-
especially valuable as an educational med- munities to cherish that instrument whose
ium.
strength is a barometer of the strength of
New trends are in evidence in the Eng- the people.
Tish-Jewish press. Special columns for chil-
dren, lessons in Hebrew, reviews of historical
occurrences, and numerous other features
Our community will have an opportu-
recently introduced in the Jewish press, com-
bine to show an accumulation of evidence of nity, during the coming three weeks, to pay
the importance of the Jewish newspaper's honor to one of Jewry's most distinguished
position as a most constructive instrument in artists, on his 75th birthday.
Saul Raskin, whose works will be ex-
our communal structure.
'
hibited here starting on Monday, has to his
*
A study conducted by J. Fraenkel of Lon- credit many worthy creations. His illustrated
don for the publications department of the Haggadah and Pirke Aboth are works of art.
World Jewish Congress shows the existence They have inspired interest in the Passover
of the following Jewish publications out- theme and in Jewish ethics, and his paint-
ings and drawings have helped keep alive
side of Israel:
sparks of faith in Jewry's goals and aspir-
ations.
Canguage
Dailies
Weeklies
Periodicals Total
Mr. Raskin's interpretations of Jewish
English ,„........• —
86
173
259
102
ceremonialism, his works that were inspired
Yiddish
12
59
31
—
German _
27
8
19
by Israel and Zionism, his scenes of Jewish
Hebrew "
1
24
25
life and holiday observances, have giVen him
French
3
20
". ---
23
high status as an artist and as a devoted
17
others ..............
33
50
Jew. It is a privilege for Detroit Jewry to
717._.„
have him as guest here, during the exhibi-
Totals 12
146
328
486
tion of his works, and to have an opportu-
Mr. Fraenkel's study also shows that of pity to join in honoring him o his 35th
, ...____ . ,,,,
these 486 publications, 201 are produced in birthday,, ,..--, -
- -
• . •,.
--

Saul Raskin: 75

ttttt c.a

......

Jew-ries, is represented by his noteworthy essay, "Philosophy in
the Bible." An outstanding story by Mendele Mocher Sefarim,
"Slim and Japhet in the Train," adds to the significance of the
new collection of essays and stories.

A native of Hebron, the historic community—now in Arab
hands—whose Jewish settlers were massacred by the Arabs in
1929, Yitzchak Shami (1889-1949) is represented by a short story,
"The Simpleton," which helps in an understanding of Arabs, whom
the author knew and understood.
A younger Israeli, Benjamin Tammuz, now 34, is the author
of another short story, "The Swimming Race."
"The Road to Jerusalem," by Moshe Shamir, 32-year-old He-
brew writer, is based on the life of his brother, Elick, who died
fighting for Israel's independence in 1947.
The concluding essay, "My Way in Israel," was written by
the youngest man represented in this Argosy—Zechariah Nis-
sim, who was born in Yemen in 1935 and came to Israel in 1949
by way of Operation Magic Carpet.
"Deborah" is a short story by Gershon Shofman, one af the
elders among. Israel's writers, now 73.

A most fascinating section of the book is "Jerusalem
. Poems," in Hebrew, with English translations by the editor of
this portion of Argosy, Shalom J. Kahn.

"Jerusalem in Art" is an illustrated article by F. Schiff. "The
School of 'Young Hebrew LiteratUre'" is an article by Dov Vardi.
This Argosy is, in its totality, an outstanding Israeli literary
contribution:

Cooperation in the Community

By PHILIP M. KLUTZNICK
President of Bnai Brith
The most frequently propounded question comes in. one of
many ways, but it is all of the same cloth: - "When will American
Jewry be united?" "When will there be genuine harmony?" "How
about peace within the Jewish community?" Almost each time I
have countered by asking what kind of unity, harmony or peace
my inquirer means. Usually at that point the conversation ends.
On too many occasions I have not been flattered by the confi-
dence of the inquirer that he knew I would find the answer.
For nearly 110 years we of Bnai Brith have voluntarily as
sumed "the mission of uniting persons of the Jewish faith." Each
of us at one time or another has felt a quickened pulse as in our
initiation we heard again the words of our fathers: "Hineh malt
tov oomanoim sheves achim gain yochad"—"Behold how good and
how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity." It may
be for some to raise the question and not answer—it is for us, out
of more than four generations of devotion to the ideal, to seek the
solution.
What American Jews really want, in my judgment, is less bide-
ering less name calling—leSs adolescence. The great strength of
Jewish life historically has been its vigorous independence.
We American Jews inherited the same notion of personal
dignity and independence—which the Bible calls "stiff-necked"—
from our forefathers. It has evidenced itself so often that to
disregard it in our thinking is to render fruitless our search for
an answer. Yet is it not true that American Jews have been
reckless about their responsibility. Maybe we who call ourselves
leaders have just failed to understand the American Jew.
We do not want the kind of American Jewish life which
waters down its program to the least common denominator In
order to maintain peace. Peace without progress is a delusion.
It is in this fashion that we will be able to repeat with fervor
and belief, "Hineh malt toy oomanoim sheves achim gam yoebad."
What I would suggest is that the men who lead our
communal organizations get to know each other, get to talk
together informally and - without the encumbrance of staff and
protocol. I think it would be a good thing for the community if
the Presidents of every national Jewish organization—and only
the Presidents, no substitutes—were to meet with each other likt

bast four ;times a> sear, with Lanced Par off- .ac budget.'