Ann Arbor Paper
About Anti-Zionists and the Attitude Honors Zwerdling
An editorial in The Ann Arbor
OF the American Jewish Committee

Confusion Worse Confounded

A Chapter from His Book "Nor by Power"

By MORRIS D. WALDMAN

ring 17r) I2V t11 1;4t

News recently paid tribute to
Osias Zwerdling, civic and com-
munal leader in that city, on the
occasion of his 75th birthday.
Stating that the Jewish com-
munity cannot - claim the exclu-
sive on Zwerdling, the editorial
pointed out that his work in
making "Ann Arbor the place
that thousands of us, want for
our families and businesses and
professions" is deeply appreciat-
ed by the entire city.
The article also stated that
as a businessman, "Ann Arbor
never had a truer, finer, more
generous and upright represen-
tative." It was Zwerdling's "same
sense of honest, skillful business
dealing which he carried over
into his wider field of civic en-
terprise.

environment, and for the rehab-
ilitation of the land."
This action on the part of
This book devotes a large sec-
American Jewish Committee
MADE EASY
tion to the subject of Palestine the
whose members — certainly
and the American Jewish Com- whose leaders — were not Zion-
Hebrew As It Is Spoken in Israel Today
Mittee vis-a-vis Palestine because ists added to the
ambiguities
By SHUSHANNAH SPECTOR and Rabbi JOSEPH ZEITLIN
the full story has never been that in recent years confused
told nor has the story been ac-
Editor's Note: This special American Jewsh Press Feature is another in the
issues affecting Palestine.
curately told. In view of the the
series of easy lessons for self-study of Hebrew. The complete book, "Hebrew
I had not yet become Secre-
Made
Easy," is available from Miss Shushannah Spector, 904 S. Miami Ave'(
profound emotions aroused over tary of the Committee, was liv-
Fla.; $1.50 a copy,
what was widely and mistakenly ing in Boston and had only oc-
Everything is 0.K..•.
Ken. 'ado-ni, ha-kol be-se-
believed to have
casional contact with the leaders
der
been a hostile
of the Committee in New York.
Mr. Levine, what is the pos- Mar Le-vin, mah ta'-a-rif
attitude of the
tage
rate?
I was therefore not informed as
ha-mich-ta-vim?
"Committee" to-
Five mils is the domestic
Ha-mi-shah mi-lirn ba'-a-rez
to the c o n s i d e r a tions that
ward Zionism—
rate
prompted the Committee's en-
involved in the
Fifteen mils is the foreign kla-mi-shah 'as-ar mil le-huz
dorsement of the Declaration.
rate
laza-re?
vital issue in
Fortunately, among the sal-
When is mail delivered?
Ma-tai mevi'-im et ha-do'-ar?
Jewish life of
agreed
to
serve
as
one
of
its
vaged records there are two
"Jewish nation-
communications which give a vice-presidents. I said that I
The letter carrier delivers Had-da-var me-vi 'et ha-do-
alism" versus
in the morning, at noon
fairly clear reflection of the at- disagreed thoroughly with the
ar ba-bo-ker, balo-ho-ra-
"Jewish e m a n-
and in the evening
yim u-va-'e-rev
titude of the men who domi- disparaging construction La-
cipation" — it is
Mosheh, here is the letter
Mo-sheh, hin-neh to-vat
nated the American Jewish zaron had placed on Weiz-
box
imperative that
ha-mich-ta-vim.
Committee. One of these is a mann's intentions in coming
Thanks a lot, Mr. Levine
To-dah rab-bah Mar Le-vin
the story be told
cable addressed to Louis Mar- here.
fully and in
This did not, however, dis-
shall from Chaim Weizmann,
And now where are you go- Ve'ach-shav Mo-sheh, le'an
considerable de-
ing?
dated May 31st, 1929, from which courage the indefatigable Rabbi.
hol-ech 'at-tah?
tail.
Waldman
Shortly thereafter, Greenbaum
I quote the following:
called
at
my
home
with
respect
I
am
going
to
the
hotel
Half a century ago the domi-
'A-ni
ho-lech 'el ham-ma-lon
"Your telegram 29th whereas
.PV-1 z7 k
nating leaders in Jewish life in fully understand your anxiety to some matter concerning the
Survey
Committee
and
left
with
Western European countries and enlist other nonzionists respect-
the United States denounced the fully submit that omission words me a pamphlet written by Laz-
Zionist movement as a repudia- "national home" which has be- aron attacking Zionism.
After reading the pamphlet
tion of the political emancipa- come household term with vast
tion of Jews, gained within the numbers Jews and Governments I wrote Greenbaum:
"Lazaron confuses and identi-
past century, which they proudly of world would seriously depress
cherished, as a reflection upon Zionist morale which important fies Zionism with Nationalism.
Not all Nationalists are Zionists,
the loyalty of Jews in the coun- asset our present work."
tries of which they were citizens,
In a letter, dated February 2, nor are all Zionists Nationalists.
as a danger to their civil status, 1929 ; four months earlier, ad- Israel Zangwill was a National-
as a threat to their friendly re- dressed to Dr. Heinrich Stern, ist but he broke away from
lations with non-Jews and as a Berlin, Germany, who had writ- Zionism about 1905, when he
distortion of the true meaning ten to Dr. Lee K. Frankel, a created the Jewish Territorial
of Jewish life. At the turn of member of the American non- Organization after the Zionists
the century there emanated Zionist group angaged in negoti- rejected the offer of Uganda, by
from the Central Conference of ating with the World Zionist or- the British Government for a
American Rabbis a vehement ganization, evidently criticizing Jewish State. On the other
By Uncle David
pronouncement that "America is or at least questioning the .wis- hand, there are among our own Dear Boys and Girls:
finally rn e t . their match. In
our Zion and Washington our dom of non-Zionists joining in inner group men like Dr. Adler
w
Modin
there were
Jews who were
Once
again
the
joyous
holiday,
and
myself,
who
entertain
no
Jerusalem!"
the Jewish Agency for Palestine,
not
only
willing
to
die for their
Hantikah,
is
with
us.
It
is
a
time
It never occurred to these Mr. Marshall defends the pro- objections to the establishment-
of candle lighting, singing, play- religion, as Jews throughout the
Jewish Americans that some posed union and urges the Jews of a State in Palestine, who see ing
with the Hanukah Trendel, land had been willing to, but
in the creation of such a State
day anti-Semites might quote of Germany to do likewise.
also called Dreidel, eating tasty were willing to assume the al-
little
danger
of
impairing
or
em-
the pronouncement distort-
Mr. Marshall's love of his peo-
delicacies, and exchanging gifts. most impossible task of fighting
ing it to mean that it was a ple and devotion to Judaism barrassing the status of Jews in On
Tuesday night, Dec. 1, we the strong Syrian armies in or-
boastful admission that Jewry caused him to subordinate his any country outside of Palestine.
der to preserve their religion.
controlled the country a n d life-long emancipationist atti- We do reject Jewish National- light the first Hanukah candle.
Hanukah is known both as the
In Modin lived Mattathias
had its headquarters in Wash- tude to the pressing needs of ism, which means the organiza-
tion of the scattered Jewry of Feast of the Maccabees and as Hasmonean, an old priest, and
ington.
East European Jews.
the Feast of Lights. When I tell his five sons, Johanan, Simon,
The Balfour Declaration in
Early in 1940, the press re- the world into an international
1917 and the Mandate of the ported that Dr. Chaim Weiz- political unit or entity, and we you the story of Hanukah, which Judah, Jonathan, and Eliezer.
League of Nations in 1922 trans- .mann was on his way to the object to the existence of the you probably already know at The Syrians sent for Mattathi-
formed what had generally been United States. Rabbi Morris World Jewish Congress as the least something about, you will as and offered him all sorts of
why the holiday is call- bribes to get him to kneel before
regarded with disdain, irritation Lazaron made a vehement at- Parliament of such an inter- discover
ed by these two names.
an idol but the grand old patri-
and apprehension into an im- tack on the reported prospec- i national political Jewry. This
Hanukah, like all Jewish holi- arch said, "If all the nations of
portant, dignified and practical tive visit. For some time prior does not mean that Jews may
enterprise worthy of interna- thereto, the Rabbi had been not, as Jews, be politically ac- days, is to be observed by young the earth should bow down to
and old alike and to beautify the the king's idols, my sons and I
tional sponsorship and meriting
feverishly besieging the Ameri- tive. T h e American Jewish
the support of all Jews through- can Jewish Committee to come Committee, the Board of Depu- Hanukah observance Vor the will remain true to the One God."
ties, the Alliance Israelite, and young people the game with the
out the world.
Mattathias' brave act gave
out militantly against Zion-
was invented. courage to many Jews in the
The failure of the Evian Con- ism. This pressure I resisted other organizations interested Hanukah trendel The
Hanukah area and at his cry, "Everyone
ference to open up wider oppor- firmly. He circulated around in protecting the civil and reli-
trendel is a who wants to remain true to -
tunities for the settlement of among the most active mem- gious rights of Jews have taken
spinning t o p his God and fight for his re-
the victims of Nazi persecution bers of the Committee and and must continue to take an
made in square ligion follow me," some followed
climaxed their disillusionment finally obtained the consent of active interest in political situa-
fashion, bearing him and his sons and their
tions. We have done so both
with emancipationism and
the younger group who consti-
the four Hebrew families into the hills where they
separately
and
in
cooperation
turned their eyes toward Pales- tuted our Survey Committee, a
letters, Nun, organized resistance to the Syr-
tine.
semiautonomous group dealing with one another in attempting
Gimmel, H e h, ian invaders.
Hailed, in the words of Leon- with the problems of domestic to protect the rights of Jews in
and Shin, which
certain
European
c
o
u
n
t
r
i
e
s.
Judah, an unbelievaly brave
ard Stein, with a "jubilant and public relations headed up by
stand for the man was called the "Maccabee"
almost frenzied enthusiasm" by Edward S. Greenbaum (later, Such interest as we have taken
sentence, "N e s because he carried a banner on
Zionists the Balfour Declara- during t he war, Brigadier cannot properly be construed as
Godol Hoyo which the- four Hebrew letters
tion was received with subdued General, an aide to Secretary being in the slightest degree in-
Shorn" ("A great which
consistent
with
our
loyalties
to
spell "Maccabee" were
satisfaction by many other Jews, of War Patterson) to meet him
miracle was
written. Maccabee forms first
notably the American Jewish at luncheon. It was held at our respective countries. So far
performed").
Committee, who represented the the Vanderbilt Hotel. I was as political work of the Agen-
Whichever letter letters of four Hebrew words
mean: "Who is like Thee
older Jewish elements, mainly of asked to preside at this meet- cy, or of the Zionist organiza-
the top falls on which
among the mighty, 0 Lord!"
German origin. They were ing. Lazaron pressed elo- tion with respect to Palestine is
after
it
has
been
largely identified with Reform . quently for opposition on the concerned, it is obvious that
spun indicates Maccabee is also Hebrew for the
Judaism whose spokesmen had part of the Committee to their interest must in a great
the amount of "ilammerer." Soon the five
strenuously opposed Zionism up Weizmann's visit and for de- measure be political. The Man- nuts or candy lost or won by the brothers were called the Mac-
cabees.
to that time.
clination on the part of our date is a political document and person who spun it.
The mad king Antiochus sent
The fact that the two great officers to serve on a reception the whole enterprise is a part of
In
most
instances
Nun
means
Powers, England and the United committee to him. His elo- the international political situa- "nichts", or nothing, and none four armies against the Mac-
cabees and their followers, each
States, had indicated sympathy quence had an effect on the tion."
I regret to say that I believe of the candy or. nuts in the pot army, larger than the one before.
with Zionist aspirations raised majority of those present. I
is
won
or
lost,
Gimmel
means
that Lazaron's position and
On the twenty-fifth day of the -
the movement to a dignified took issue with Lazaron. First
"ganz" or all, and the entire pot
that of like minded extremists
Hebrew month Kislev, Judah
status undreamed of before the I pointed out 'that the meet-
is
won,
Heh
is
"halb",
half,
and
is primarily and chiefly mo-
Maccabee and his followers en-
war, even by the Zionists. These ing was not an official group
tivated by self-interest — by half the pot is won, and Shin tered Jerusalem, took the idols
considerations prompted the of the American Jewish Com-
calls for the spinner to donate
fear
of
the
effect
of
these
American Jewish Committee to mittee, that we were present
out of the Temple, and the wor-
things on their own position. to the pot the amount which is ship of the true God started
publish the following statement in our private, individual ca-
already
in
the
pot.
This fear, I am beginning to
on April 28, 1918:
pacity. Morever, several of our
Now for the Hanukah story: again. In their honor Hanukah
believe, is getting to be the
The opportunity will be wel- , officers were members of the
Syria, a strong nation, had a is often called the Feast -of the
leitmotif
in
all
our
decisions;
corned by this Committee to aid I Council of the Jewish Agency
Maccabess. The lights of t h e
, but fear as a dominating fierce and cruel king, Antiochus Temple that had been put out by
in the realization of the British for Palestine of which Dr.
Ephiphanes,
often
called
t
h
e
impulse neither wins us friends
Declaration, under such protec- Weizmann was President. The
madman. The king, who wor- the Syrians were lit and a very
nor defeats our enemies.
torate or suzerainty as the Peace I American Jewish Committee
shiped idols, resented the fact small amount of oil which .was
With
respect
to
Palestine
I
Congress may determine. and, surely would not do anything
that the Jews didn't worship the only oil. available for use in
have found few, if any, Chris- idols but the one true
to that end, to cooperate with to hamper Weizmann's aims;
-Gbd. the holy lamps of the Temple
tian fellow-citizens who ques-
those who, attracted by religious rather it would want to help
lasted for eight days.
Antiochus
came
to
Jerusalem
tion our loyalty to America
or historic associations shall seek him; that, as a member of the
We burn one light on the first
with
an
army
and
captured
it.
because of our interest in, and
to establish in Palestine a cen- Agency, I intended to accept
He then put an idol into the night of Hanukah and an addi-
support
of,
a
Jewish
Palestine.
ter of Judaism, for the stimula.- the invitation to be on the
Temple and ordered all Jews to tional one each of the seven re-
tion of our faith, for the pur- reception committee like Dr.
maining nights until we have lit
come and kneel down to it.
suit and development of litera- Cyrus. Adler, the president of 24—DETROIT- JEWISH NEWS
In a little town called Modin eight lights. •
ture, 'science and- art- in a -Jewish the- Committee, wh o, • h
Friday, November 27, 1953
A -HAPPY-HANUKAH
the Syrians - and their cruel . king

An American Jewish Press Feature

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01.■.

OUR KIDDIES'

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