An Interview with Bernard G. Rickards
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-35
Jewish Information Man
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
For a number of years we
were office neighbors and we
would meet almost daily either
in the corridor of the building
or over a cup of coffee. On
those occasions when our talks
did not center around grave is-
sues of the day, Bernard G.
Richards' most recurrent theme
Passover Greetings to
Our Friends and Customers
KOW KOW INN
Fornous for All Chinese Native Food
Specializing in Americon Food
Reol Cotonese Fomily Dinners
Corry Out Service
322 W. McNICHOLS
TO. 8-7551
Best Holiday Wishes to Our
Friends and Patrons
PARK TOWER SALON
Our Specialty
HAIR STYLING — HAIR TINTING
Arthur
C. Howard
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Belva Mobin Wilson
310 DAVID BRODERICK TOWER
WO. 2-8238
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WO. 1-2320
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Season's Greetings
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IRobert M. Hill Company, Inc.
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INSURANCE ADJUSTERS
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Holiday Best Wishes
Friday, April 16, 1954
5
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HOTEL MA DI SON-LENOX
seemed to be the plethora of
experiences that were daily
being brought to his door as
director of the Jewish Informa-
tion Bureau. We who were with
him could always tell when he
was to embark on an interest-
ing tale even before he began
fingering his moustache and di-
viding his ever - neatly - kempt
beard. The lamps in his eyes
would suddenly light up, and
we realized at once we were
about to be treated to a de-
lightful morsel.
When talking about the Jew-
ish Information Bureau, B.G.R:
was at his best when he pic-
turesquely described what he
calls the unerring intuition of
the post office people in singling
him out as the wanted subject
of curiously addressed m a i 1.
There is for instance the letter
he received from a man in Har-
bin. It was addressed to the
''Jewish Community of the
United States." Instead of re-
turning the letter to the sender,
the postal authorities forwarded
it to the Jewish Information
Bureau, for which it was in fact
intended.
B.G.R. is proud of the col-
lection of 10,000 items of cur-
rent and historical value now
in the files of the Jewish In-
formation Bureau and he is
enamoured of his work since
it is a fulfillment of a dream
he cherished for many years.
"The Best. Downtown Location*°
Madison Avenue, Opposite D.A.C.
Thomas Murray, General Manager
Season's Greetings
JERSEY CREAMERY COMPANY
Wholesale Milk and Cream
Home of YOGOURT HEALTH MILK
6431 E. Palmer
Sincere Holiday Greetings
Mitchell Syrup & Preserving Co.
Manufacturers of Ruby Bee Pure Preserves
1951 E. FERRY
Holiday Greetings
FITZPATRICK. HOLDING CO.
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Business and Industrial Sites
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18115 Plymouth
VE. 5-3637
...4•4444+04, ........*****************4.4.441„
Greetings on Passover
MEREDITH MORTGAGE CORP.
VINCENT R. NEE REALTOR
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18151 Joy Rood
TI. 6-0200
Season's Greetings
J. WILLIAM KLEM, Realtor
A. T. JONES & SON
"The firm to call for fast, accurate service"
24 Years Experience in Northwest Detroit
10607 W. Seven Mile Rd.
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Passover Greetings •
6250 SECOND BLVD.
WA. 1-0800
DETROIT 11, MICHIGAN
The inquiries reaching the
bureau are as varied and com-
plicated as human life itself.
E. B. BYSTROM
ROBERT M. HILL
But whatever the information
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sought, the inquirer can be
1356 Penobscot Bldg.
WO. 5-0050 • , sure
Mr. Richards, as director
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DETROIT 26, MICHIGAN
• • Supply from his files or else
refer the writer to sources
that will.
Predominating among the in-
quiries are questions about the
1 Jewishness of prominent per-
Sincerest Holiday Greetings
sonalities. Also among the pop-
ular queries are questions on the
I attitude toward Jews of some
of the great among the goyim.
On this score t h e spotlight
seems to center on Shaw and
Dumas and Tolstoy. Among the
letters B.G.R. h a s answered
582 PENOBSCOT BLDG.
WO. 1-9592
were inquiries about magicians
and false messiahs.
The idea of a Jewish infor-
mation center came to Rich-
ards' mind as far back as 1908,
and understandably, for B.G.R.
Passover Greetings
is a community-minded indivi-
dual who has never permitted
his view of the wider pano-
rama to dim his local purpose.
But that is another story.
I have never asked Mr. Rich-
ards what he considers the out-
standing project of his rich life,
140 Cadillac Square
WO. 5-1455-56
but there isn't t h e slightest
doubt that he considers his pre-
occupation with the Jewish In-
formation Bureau as his most
pleasant and most pleasurable
public experience.
McPherson. Broach &
Machine Co., Inc.
WA. 1-2015
UN. 4-4600
Greetings on Passover
M & N SPEEDY SERVICE
Israeli Fashions Are
A. Model Industry
Speedway 79 Service and Products
Accessories-Tires-Batteries-Motor Tune-Up
Minor Repairs and Adjustments
TR. 3-2295
Quick,
Detroit 2, Michigan
Courteous Service by Trained Attendonts
3700 Cass Ave.
Season's Best Wishes
Season's Best Wishes
Oak Tool & Thread Chasing Co.
Monarch Governor Company
Tools - Dies - Fixtures - Thread Chasing
1832 W. Bethune
.e
18600 Mt. El iott
TW. 1-3326
Greetings On the Holiday
Industrial City Boring Company
and Associates
11474 East Nine Mile in Van Dyke, Mich.
J Efferson 6-1980-81-82
TE. 2-9061
DETROIT 6, MICHIGAN
TEL AVIV, (IIP)—Fast at-
taining the rank of key hard-
currency-earner for Israel in her
battle for economic solvency is
the rapidl y-expanding textile
industry, which aided by State
of Israel Bond investments, has
reached a new peak with the ex-
port of men's and women's
clothing to a dozen European
markets. Here, a pretty Israeli
model shows off one of the chief
export items—sweaters—to good
advantage. Other specialty items
include socks, ties, overcoats and
sportswear.,
TR. 1-0200
Warm Wishes on Passover
JONES IRON & METAL CO.
41 41 Wyoming, in Dearborn
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TI. 6-3000
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