THE JEWISH NEWS

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

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspape rs, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co, 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 8-9364
SUbscription $4 a year, Foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher

VOL. XXVI. No. 13

FRANK SIMONS
City Editor

SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager

December 3, 1954

Page Four

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath., the ninth day of Kislev, 5715, the following Scriptural selections will be read in
eur synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 28:10-32:3. PrOphetical portion, Hos. 12:13-14:10 or 11:7-12:12 or
11:7-14:10.

Licht Benshen, Friday, Dec. 3, 4.40 p.m.

Joint Distribution Committee's 40th Year

An historic event will be marked on Dec.
9. On that day, at a founders' dinner, the
American Jewish Joint Distribution Commit-
tee will celebrate its fortieth anniversary.
Those who have watched JDC's activities
from its very beginnings will recall how, in
the dark years of the First World War, this
movement of mercy often stood alone be-
tween hope and despair for the millions of
Jews in Eastern Europe.
When Polish, Russian, Romanian, and
Hungarian Jews needed help, they called for
"the Joint." The very term "Joint" wrought
miracles. The Christians in lands of oppres-
sion revered it as much as Jews prayed for
its arrival.
Between the two World Wars, during the
years that were marked by pogroms, the
JDC came to the aid of the downtrodden. In
World War II it set new high standards for
philanthropic activities and came to the res-
cue of Jews in and around Nazi Germany,
provided boats for the escape of many who
would otherwise have been doomed to death
and became a tower of strength for the build-
ers of Israel by giving aid to the immigrants,
by providing boats for their migrations, by
serving as a healer of wounds.
On the occasion of JDC's 40th anniver-
sary, a number of interesting historical facts
have been compiled to illustrate this move-
ment's historic role in Jewish and world his-
tory. Here are some of the highlights in
JDC's truly exciting history:

from 1945 and is also general chairman of the
United Jewish Appeal, from which the JDC
receives its principal support. Edward M. M.
Warburg also served as chairman for a short
period in 1941 before he enlisted M. the Army.
Eighty-three percent of the Jewish work-
men in Warsaw were out of work during the
economic crises of 1925 and 1926. Their sur-
vival and that of other Eastern Jewish com-
munities in the famine and depression of
those years was made possible by the JDC's
organization of free loan societies, emergency
feeding programs, anad health and merical
services.
JDC was preparing for an orderly liquida-
tion of its activities when the advent of Hitler ,
in 1933 brought the agency its greatest re-
sponsibilities. In 1937, the JDC gave assistance
to one-third of the Jews in Germany.
Virtually the only life-line of direct aid to
the ghetto populations in Nazi Europe came
from the JDC during the Hitler regime.
When the JDC observed its 25th anniver-
sary in 1939, it was operating in 50 countries
of the world. A dramatic example of its aid!
to stranded refugees prior to World War II is
illustrated in its rescue of the 907 refugees
who had sailed from Hamburg to Cuba aboard
the St. Louis in May 1939 only to be refused
admission there. The JDC found havens for
them in England, France, Holland and Bel- I
gium by underwriting guarantees totaling
$500,000. Wherever refugees from Nazi Ger-
many had gone—Bolivia, Shanghai, the Phil-
ippines, Denmark, the JDC followed, bringing
aid. Today it is still operating in 22 countries
overseas.
From 1945 to 1954, JDC aided more than
623,000 men, women and children to emigrate,
504,250 to Israel alone.
Approximately one-half of the Joint Dis-
tribution Committee's 1954 budget was spent
on MALBEN, the program established in 1949
for the care of the aged, ill and handicapped
immigrants in Israel.
Today, forty years after its founding, JDC
is aiding 165,000 Jews in 22 overseas countries
of the world, including Israel, Europe and Mos-
lem lands. The largest number-100,000—is in
North Africa and other Moslem areas.

'Five Roots in Israel's Tree'

Dr. Parkes' End of an Exile'

-
Dr. James • Parkes
is one of the most distinguished Christian
interpreters of the Jewish position. He may well be called the
most realistic viewer of Christian-Jewish relationS. He is one of
the best informed men on the history of Palestine and the rise
of the state of Israel.
His newest book, "End of an Exile: Israel, the Jews and the
Gentile World," just produced by Library Publishers (8 W. 40th
St., N. Y. 18) is a magnificent tribute to Israel and a Christian's
paean of joy that the unsavory exile
should have ended with the creation of
the Jewish state.,
Dr. Parkes does not hesitate to cri-
ticize where criticism is earned. But
he is fair and in his fairness he pays
honor to Israel.
Dr. Parkes mentions five roots in the
tree of Israel's experience:
The tree of Israel springs from
five roots deeply embedded in the ex-
The JDC has spent $525,000,000 in its 40
perience of the Jewish people. The
years of relief, resettlement and reconstruction
first and deepest is Judaism, as the
activities on behalf of Jews overseas.
religion of a community. The second
A cable from the then United States Am-
is the Messianic hope, intimately con-
bassador to Turkey, the late Henry Morgen-
nected ever since the destruction of
thau, to Louis Marshall and Jacob H. Schiff,
the Jewish state with the expectation
Dr. Parkes
leading members of the American Jewish com-
of a return to the Promised Land. The
third is the Jewish history, and the long experience of dispersion
munity, pleading for $50,000 to save from
and insecurity. The fourth is the continuity of Jewish life in
actual starvation the 60,000 Jews in Palestine
Palestine. The fifth is the unique relationship between the Jewry
(then under Turkish jurisdiction) started the
of Palestine and the whole Jewish people."
relief activities of the Joint Distribution Com-
Each of these points is developed masterfully by this author.
mittee in October 1914.
He speaks of the consequences of restoration which fill the pro-
The JDC was born of the fund-raising ef-
Many
of
these
historical
facts
may
have
phecies as "a summons to courage as well as a call to humility."
forts of three committees for sufferers of
been forgotten. But they should be remem-
It is interesting to note his attitude in the Deir Yassin in-
World War I: the Central Committee for the
bered for all time, and the 40th anniversary cident, which is applicable to the more recent Kibya tragedy, and
Relief of Jews, organized •by the Union of
Orthodox Congregations; the American Jew- of the great movement, which will be ob- his view on the Arabs' flight from Israel. Dr. Parkes offers this
served at JDC's annual meeting on Dec. 9 interpretation:
ish Relief Committee, made up of organiza-
"The terrorists who destroyed Deir Yassin acted on the belief
tions called together by the American Jewish
provides an opportunity for review of its his-
Committee; and the People's Relief Commit-
tory and for renewal of tribute to its accom- —a belief genuinely shocking to the immense majority of the Jews
-the country—that the Arabs should be treated in the way in
tee, made up of labor groups.
plishments. The initials JDC have been a in
which they had always boasted that they would treat the Jews.
In 40 years the Joint Distribution Commit-
blessing for millions who have been aided by They believed that the Arabs should be taught that two could
tee has had but three chairmen: the late Felix
it, many of whom would have perished with- play at the game'; and it has to be accepted unhappily as true
Warburg, who served from 1914 to 1932; Paul
out that assistance. JDC will be remembered not only that Arabs made such boasts, but that there had been
Baerwald, now honorary chairman, who served
as one of the greatest blessings in our entire a number of cases where Arabs had caught small Jewish groups
from 1932 to 1941 and again from 1942 to 1945;
and had treated them even worse than that; fOr I have never
history.
and Edward M. M. Warburg, who has served
heard it said that the women of Deir Yassin were raped before
they were murdered, or that the naked bodies of men and women
were sexually mutilated and then photograph.xl for public sale.
Arabs had been guilty of both these atrocities. It was not the
massacre,
but the use of the massacre in propaganda broadcasts
principles
laid
down
by
Maimonides,
Annual Book Fair, sponsored by the Jew- the great
the Arab. military command which caused a panic flight of
ish Community Center, has become one of who nearly 900 years ago thus described the of
other villagers, and the broadcasts were framed to achieve that
the most noteworthy events on the calendar obligation for study among Jews:
purpose. They were not framed in order to strengthen Arab
"Every man of Israel is obliged to study resistance, but to persuade those who had not already done so to
of Jewish activities in Detroit.
the Torah, be he poor Or rich, well or af- leave their homes—always, of course, 'in expectation of a rapid
Aiming to repeat last year's successes
flicted, young or very old and feeble; even and triumphant return. Only towards the end of the fighting did
that were registered by the several important
a poor man living on charity and going Arabs flee because they feared that the Arab armies would not
Book Fair programs, each of which attracted
about seeking alms, or one who has the defeat the Jews and that the Jews would exact vengeance for
they had committed."
an overflow audience, the committee in
care of a wife and children, must set apart the atrocities
On this score, and in other areas which constantly require
charge of this year's events, arranged in
periods, day and night, for the study of the clarification,
Dr. Parkes renders great service in presenting the
observance of Jewish Book Month, has en-
*Torah: And thus he must do until the day true facts and in exposing the untruths, such as in the false propa-
listed the aid of hundreds of organizations
of his death. For, whenever he fails to ganda, that distorts the realities in the Arab mass flight from Is-
from whose ranks volunteer workers will
devote himself to study, he is sure to for- rael. It was a flight instigated by Arabs and not caused by Jews.
assist in the task of popularizing Jewish
The sooner that is known, the sooner will the world realize that
get."
books.
By popularizing the Jewish book we hOpe the Arab refugee problem is Arab-made and that Jews merely are
the paying a price for an unfortunate historical occurence.
The distinguished authors who will appear to recapture this spirit. That is why
Thus, Dr. Parkes helps establish truth, while paying tribute
annual
Book
Fair
is
so
important
a
function
to those who have acquired liberty and have ended the exile.
on the local programs, the displays of

.

The Annual Book Fair: A Noteworthy Project

hundreds of titles of books of Jewish interest, for all of us. The Jewish Centers' staff de-
the attention given to this annual project by serves highest commendations for doing this
Detroit Jewry—these and many other re- job so well.
"Johannesburg Friday," a novel by Albert Segal, published by
sponses to the Book Fair give cause for great
McGraw Hill Book Co. (330 W. 42nd, NY36), covers a lot of ground.
satisfaction over a worthy undertaking that
It is a good and interesting story, it throws light on Christian
is so well managed for the benefit of the en-
The generous gift 'of 500000 made by the Jewish relations in South Africa, it evaluates an important race
tir' Jewish community.
Cunningham and Nate . Shapero Foundations issue.
The story is about a Jewish scholar, his Meticulous wife, their
will serve an important community need. By
It has been said that there is only one
who
establishing a school for nurses at Sinai Hos- Kaffir servant. There are characters who have ambitions,
aristocracy among Jews—"the aristocracy
pital, this gift will fill requirements at De-. flirt with possible intermarriage, who struggle with the conflicts
of learning." And it' also has been deplored
troit's newest hospital and will assist in train- that confronted all Jewish communities in free landS—especially
those created by assimilation, emancipation, etc:
that learning has been reduced as a quality
ing nurses for other Detroit hospitals.
; There are interesting decisions by the Lovers personnel, im-
among our people, that we have so declined
Expansion of Sirili'S facilfties 'thereby in-
creases the advantages of the hospital to the portant commentaries on Jewish-Christian relationships, inform-
that low type entertainment dominates our
The story. was
entire Detroit community Mr. and Mitt. ation about the South African turbulent situation.
communal affairs more than does learning,
written by a native of Johannesburg, who kpows, the city and un-
.2origmtulations-for
heartiek
deserve
to
_
Shapero
or cultural_programs.. Book Fair serves-
derstands its people. . ,
their vision in setting up this fund.
offer us the courage that our people recognize

ohannesbur g Friday,' S. African Novel

The Shapero

Gaff

.

