'The Printed Word'

TM JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20. 1952

Member American Association of English-Jewish News-Papers. Michigan Press Association.
Publishett every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich.,
s'ubseription $4. a year, foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. (3, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879

SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher

VE. 8-9364

FRANK SIMONS
City Editor

Sabbath Shuvah Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath — Sabbath Shuvah — the filth day of Tishri, 5715, the following Scriptural
selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Deut. 31. Prophetical portions, Hos. 14:2-10, Joel 2:15-27.

Licht Benshen, Friday, Oct. 1, 5:29 p.m.

Yom Kippur Scriptural Selections, Thursday
Pentateuchal portions: Morning, Lev. 6, Num. 29:7-11; afternoon, Lev. 18. Prophetical portions:
Morning, Is. 57:14-58:14; afternoon, Joel., 2:15-27.

VOL. XXVI, No. 4

Page Four

October 1, 1954

Jewish Press and National Newspaper Week

In the Tercentenary Year of American .
Jewry, the annual observance of National
Newspaper Week assumes special impor-
tance.
"Your Newspaper—Freedom's Forum,"
the slogan adopted for this year's observ-
ance, is especially appropriate at this time.
Accepted as the symbol by all American
newspapers, in an era when Americans who
are concerned that their liberties should not
be trampled upon, this motto is another as-
surance that lovers of freedom and justice
will battle to the end for the perpetuation
of our basic principles.
Picturing a newspaper in the form of a
shield, standing before a copy of the Bill
of Rights, the 1954 slogan -proclaims anew
the famous utterance of Voltaire: "I dis-
approve of what you say, but I will defend
to the death your right to say it." -
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An additional fact: the newspaperboy,
the Anierican reader's closest contact with
his newspaper, standing beside the emblem,
is symbolic of the truth we expound during
Newspaper Week: that your newspaper is
freedom's forum.
*
*
As part of National Newspaper Week,
Sunday has been proclaimed as "Religion
and Press Day," and on this occasion Dr.
Norman Salit, president of the Synagogue
Council of America, has issued this message:

"There is a wide difference 'between the
two freedoms of press and religion. The for-
mer is directed to the community, for_ no one
publishes a newspaper for his own informa-
ation alone. The latter is directed to the in-
dividual, for a man's relation to his Maker
falls within the .final jurisdiction of his own
soul.
"Yet these two freedoms, so different in
orientation, are basically alike. They are each
bound up with freedom of conscience, and
they both deal directly with the welfare of
society.
"The publisher not allowed to print all the
news, and the editor not permitted to write
freely thereon, are prevented from doing their
vital work in the way called for by their hearts
and minds. Such pressure is as much a con-
striction on conscience as that which would
bar a man from his father's House of God,
or prevent him from any form of worship.
"And these two freedoms are . alike essen-
tial_to the good of the community, for a peo-
ple deprived of all the facts, or of interpreta-

Yom Kippur

A typicaT passage from the Yom Kippur
prayers, emphasizing the appeal of Atone-
ment Day, is not merely for individUals but
more importantly for group morality. It
reads:

"0 Lord, hasten the day when all evil
shall be destroyed and wickedness shall be
no more. Quicken us to work with the right-
eous of all nations and creeds, to bring about
Thy kingdom upon earth, so that hatred
among men shall cease, that the walls of
prejudice and pride, separating peoples, shall
crumble and fall; and war be destroyed for-
ever."

Thus, we pray for peace for all mankind,
for justice for all peoples, for the abandon-
ment of hatreds, for the perpetuation of
righteousness. May this day's appeal result
in realization of. Jewry's and mankind's most
fervent prayers.
LeShanah Tovah Tikosevu veSehatemu-
may you all 1:)e inscribed . fora gopct. year,

tion of events, is robbed of the data by which
they can work toward their. national and in-
dividual goals.
"Liberty is indivisible, and both these free-
doms, together with the freedoms of speech
and assembly. ore inseparable. They are each
a different facet of the one truth that the
good society is the free society and will tolerate
no chains.
"America's Constitution was wise in de-
creeing these liberties. If we wish to survive
as a goad society, we will be equally wise in
safeguarding them." ,

This is a proper evaluation of "Religion
and Press Day" and should serve as a guide
in defending freedom's forum.
We look upon National Newspaper Week
as an ideal - ti-me for review of the Jewish
position in the newspaper field in the Ter-
centenary Year. The historic occasion of the
observance of the 300th anniversary of the
settlement of Jews in America calls for
study of Jewish needs and aspirations.- The
Tercentenary will be a valueless event unless
American Jewry rededicates itself to the
ideals of our Prophets, to the continuation
of our philanthropic activities,. to the great.
role of the synagogue, to the advancement of
our educational institutions and the strength-
ening of the'. Jewish press. -
In more than one- sense, the Jewish news-
paper is the most important Jewish instru-
ment for the unification of all Jewish groups
in behalf of Jewish needs as well as the
principles of our Americanism. The news-
paper reaches all elements and therefore
serves the best interests, regardless of party
connotations.
Only a well-informed Jewish community
is in position to serve all the ideas inherent'
in Jewish life. Only the newspaper is in posi-
tion to keep our communities fully informed
on Jewish happenings everywhere.
On the occasion of National Newspaper
Week, we pay honor• to the Jewish Tele-
- graphic Agency as the medium for the
spread of information that is so vitally
needed to keep Jewry informed on happen-
hugs in this country and throughout the
world. The initials JTA are recognized as
symbols that stand for a great instrument
that is serving our people with devotion.
JTA's services, however, are as impor-
tant as the manner in which they are put to.
use. Many of our communities are utilizing
these services properly. In some communi-
ties, the minimal use of JTA's cables is
ascribable not so much to the inadequacy
of the newspapers 'as to the failure of the
communties themselves to provide - adequate
support to their newspapers. .
There are other shortcomings: in the
two major Jewish communities in the coun-
try, only skeletonized news reports are avail-
able to a limited number of Jewish readers.
It is tragic to report that the largest Jewish
community in the world does not have a
well-functioning English-Jewish newspaper.
Only the Yiddish readers, whose numbers
are dwindling, are • kept well informed on
what is happening to our kinsmen every-
where. Would that Yiddish still were • a
power! In the days when most Jews read
Yiddish, the daily Jewish newspaper was a
force to be reckoned with. Today, however,
only a fraction of our people in our two
largest communities possess even a smatter-
ing knowledge about Jewish evetns.
Unless this sad condition is remedied, our
people's future will be harmfully affected.
In the Tercentenary Year it is important
that we think of this factor and if our
people will think seriously about it, they can
affect a remedy. -
National Newspaper Week is an occasion
to rejoice over the position of the press of
America as freedom's forum It is occasion
for concern over the impoverished status of
the Jewish press whose strength is visible in
a limited number *of American centers. Let
this be the occasion to strive for remedying
an instrument that is temporarily weak but
whose strength is a vital needier, all Jewry.

-

7r

Angel to Children

Remarkable Dr. Bela Schick

Dr. Bela , Schick is famous for the discovery of the method
—by means of a scratch on the arm—of detecting susceptibility -
to' diphtheria. Because of it he has become one of the greatest
benefactors to children. The story of his
life, as depicted in "Bela Schick and the
World of Children," by Antoni 'Gronowicz,
published by Abelard-Schuman (404 4th,
NY16), assumes great importance as a
human document. As an authorized biog-
raphy, it emerges as a very fine addition
to the medical library as well as to the
biographies of the world's greatest men.
He is one of the very few doctors who,
since 1907, were given the right to practice
medicine in this country without taking
the medical examinations. It was in recog-
nition of the great contributions he • had
already made to medicine in Vienna.
His brief description of the Shick Test,.
which has made his name world-famous,
Dr. Schick
as given to the author, is:
"By this injection of a minute quantity of diphtheria toxin
into the skin, it can be determined whether or not an individual
is susceptible to diphtheria. No reaction at the place of injection
means immunity against the disease. This is called a negative
reaction and proves the presence of those substances in the
organism which neutralize the diphtheria toxin. In cases where
there is a lack of such substahces a distinct redness appears at
the place where the test was made, and this is called a positive
reaction. The latter means susceptibility to diphtheria."
This eminent physician also made great contributions by his
clinical observations of allergic diseases.
He is a remarkably good observer, as is evidenced by the
incidents recorded by his biographer. And he possesses a fine
sense of humor. Also: he has made important note of Israel's
contribtuions to child welfare.
Mr. Gronowicz reports in his biography that Dr. Schick, when
he visited Palestine, acquainted himself with the life of Arabs and
Jews and "was astonished to find that the Jews had been able
to lower the infant mortality rate to 5 per cent." On the subject
of the Jews in their homeland, Dr. Schick is quoted as follows:
"I am sure that even the Arabs would admit that the bless-
ings of medical science were brought to them only through the
immigration of Jewish physicians, scientists and workers. Ma-
laria, trachoma, dysentery, skin ailments as well as other dis-
eases would have continued their fateful courses as they did
before the advent of the Jews, and thousands of Arabs who are
now alive and healthy would have suffered and died."
In this spirit, Dr. Schick faced all human issues. He is
depicted as a great scientist with a marked sense of justice.
Mr. Gronowicz caught the spirit of the man in his excellent
biography of the great scientist.
•

The Best Cartoons of 1954

There is a combination of entertainment, relaxation, humor
and deep understanding of human nature that goes with ability to
make people laugh in "Best Cartoons of the Year 1954," edited by
Lawrence Lariar, published by Crown 1419 4th, NY16). The best
laughs, compiled- from the works of the country:s leading cartoon-
ists, are incorporated in this good book. There are 300 cartoons
and the leading newspapers and magazines are represented.
The book's value is not alone in the puns, in the humor of the
drawings, but also in the selections, which have been made with
skill by the able compiler and editor. The artists themselves-50
of them acted as a board of experts—joined in selecting the best
works. The editor himself makes interesting comments in his
foreword.
"The sages of the entertainment world have been jerking their
hair out in clumps trying to discover what makes people laugh,"
writes Lariar. He proceeds to point out that he "buys carefully
and studiously, selecting only those gags most likely to tickle a
broad audience."
We are advised: "If the editor failed to evoke a few chuckles,
address your complaints to Senator Hiram Q. Squidge, chairman,
The Committee to Investigate Low Grumbles, Internal Heaves and
Disappointed Book Purchasers, Senate Washroom 5647, Washing-
ton, D. C., Try it: it may- reach the right party; and if it gets a
few extra purchasers for Lariar's book,• the subtle pun will have

bee:,4. worth. the utterance. , , . ,

