Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOV1TZ
The Maccabaean Valor—Alive among Our Youth
With all the competition that comes from good music, lively
displays and the predominance of the spirit of gift-giving among
our neighbors, our community is evidencing a remarkable sense Jf
aliveness during Hanukah. Our youth respond well to the spirit
of the Maccabaean festival. Our homes are brightened by our
klenorahs.
Most heartening of all, in the Hanukahs of our time, is the
feeling that Maccabaean valor dominates the thinking and the
attitudes of our people everywhere. The era of cringing has come
to an end. Israel's rebirth undoubtedly has contributed the great-
est measure of security in the new feeling of courage. But Ameri-
can Jewry has a right to lay claim to a share in the re-creation of
the feeling of pride in Jewish.living. American Jews refuse to bend
their knees to oppressors and to those who would spread venom
And bigotry. .
It is true that we have a major task ahead of us: to increase
knowledge among our people, to advance our cultural values, to
train a well-informed Jewry. We are making some progress in
these efforts and we have reason to believe that we shall not fail
in these efforts. The dignity with which our people are facing
their responsibilities, the courage. with which they face all issues
'affecting them as Jews and as Americans, add to our confidence
In a better future.
Hanukah enhances these feelings. It is a pleasant festival on
which to regain faith that the descendants of the Maccabees will
pot compromise with honor and justice.
What Is 'Indifferentism?'—Catholics and Brotherhood
The London Catholic newspaper "Universe" is quoted by the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency as having reported that Catholics in
Great Britain-have been forbidden to join the Council of Christians
and Jews. The. order against such cooperation, according to the
report, was given by Bernard Cardinal Griffin, head of the Roman
Catholic hierarchy in England. "Universe" stated that instructions
had been issued by the Cardinal "because of, the danger of "indif-
ferentism." The Cardinal is believed to have resigned the presi-
dency of the Council of Christians and Jews which was formed
in England in 1942 with the participation of the heads of all
major faiths. -
What is "indifferentism?" Doesn't it apply to indifference that
may be shown by one faith or another in the very effort that could
remove conflicts? The Council of Christians and Jews, a move-
ment akin to our National Conference of Christians and Jews, can
go a long way in cementing the best relations among all faiths
But that can be accomplished not by resignations and by forbid-
ding attitudes, but by cooperation. "Indifferentism" can be inter-
preted as a lack of cooperation. Perhaps the British Catholics can
learn methods of working together from their American coreli-
gionists.
•
•
•
2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, December 17, 1954
Hanukah Nuggets
Bond Officials Elated Over
Results of BIG Day, BIG Show
By A. LETZ
The Hanukah story is the
theme of one of the greatest of
oratorios, Judas Maccabeus, com-
posed by George Frederick Han-
del in 1746. Following its first
performance at Covent Garden
in that year, it was repeated
half a dozen times 'during the
same year and Handel conducted
it 38 times himself. The libretto
is based on the story as given
in the first book of the Macca-
bees and the works of Josephus.
*
*
The famous Jewish composer,
Anton Rubinstein, was thrill - d
by the Hanukah story and he
utilized it for his opera, the
Maccabees.
* * *
The great American • poet,
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow,
wrote a play about the Macca-
bean story.
Emma Lazarus' poem, "Kindle
the Hanukah Tapers," has been
set to music by Dr. Jacob Singer.
*
Shown at the "BIG Day" brief-
ing for Israel Bond salesmen
are, at the 1 e f t, PHILLIP
STOLLMAN, city chairman for
the Bond drive, and NORMAN
ALLAN, "BIG Day" marshal.
4:
*
New - Look Through the Ages,"
and drew a large audience of
bond purchasers and salesmen
to the Masonic Temple.
At brunch preceding the "BIG
Show," Detroit Chen, sponsors
and trustees met Miss Sayao,
Nathan and Avis Shulman, auth-
or of "The New Look Through
the Ages."
Norman Allan was "BIG Day"
marshal and Elias Goldberg. Irv-
ing Schlussel and Harry Schu-
'tier, vice-marshals. "BIG Day"
direction was also given by Phil-
lip Stollman, chairman of the
Detroit Israel Bond Committee,
and David Safran, chairman of
the steering committee.
The Women's Division "BIG
Day" and "BIG Show" efforts
were directed by Mesdames Jo-
seph Katchke and Harry Kay,
women's division co-chairmen;
Joseph Newman, Chen chair-
man; Philip Hellman, national
sponsors; Albert Potike•, cash
collection; Samuel Aaron and
Philip Cutler, "BIG Day" co-
chairmen; Robert Drews. pub-
licity; George Korman, recep-
tion committee.
Mrs. Eli Gross directed the
fashion pageant, "The New
Look Through the Ages," and
the following were models:
Miss Arlene Heiman and Mes-
dames Peter Chodoroff. Victor
Bloomfield, Harry B. Aranow,
Gerald Goldberg, Dan Shapiro,
Louis Kasle, Harry Spoon. Morse
R. Saulson and Saul Rose.
Mrs. Norman Allan was ac-
companist. The choral group of
the Music Study Club performed
the choral selections. Mrs. Wil-
ham P. Greenberg was narrator.
On the triumphal arch which
Emperor Titus erected in Rome 1 With results of Israel Bond
to commemorate the conquest of sales for Thursday's "BIG Show"
Judaea, there is a representa- Still to be announced, Detroit's
tion of the Menorah. According bond drive is certain to pass the
to the Talmud, the big Menorah $1,000;000 mark for 1954. Bond
in the Temple was six feet high officials said 1953 sales may be
and made of gold. By it stood a exceeded by over 10 percent.
golden ladder three feet high,
Workers in Sunday's - BIG
which the priests ascended every Day" reported $91,000 in bond
day to light the tapers for pray- sales, with an unusually high
er. Taken to Rome, it is believed proportion of sales of $1,000 de-
later that the Vandals invading nominations, indicating an in-
Rome took it with them to , terest in becoming Guardians of
Africa. There are many theories i Israel.
as to what happened to it after-
Hundreds of volunteer sales-
wards. Anyway, no one has seen men turned out at 9:30 a.m. to
it.
jam Carmel Hebrew School, "BIG
* * *
Day" headquarters. Though the
Composers' Competition
Legend explains the origin of results were encouraging, "BIG
TEL AVIV, (JTA)—A compe-
the Hanukah game as follows. Day" was Only a preliminary to tition for three compositions for
In
the
days
before
the
Talmud
Jan Peerce's Judgment — or Lack of It
Thursday's "BIG ShoW," spon- a folk choir on three subjects
Jan Peerce, here for a concert last week, at the Masonic Tem- was set down in writing, the sored by the Women's • Division pertaining to Israel but open to
ple, had a good audience, a large portion of which was Jewish. He oral law was studied in groups. I Starring opera star Bidu composers from all parts of the
would have pleased so many with a Yiddish or Hebrew selec- Antiochus decreed against the Sayao and economist Robert world was announced by Haza-
tion. He has a large number of truly entertaining Jewish songs assemblage of Jews in groups Nathan, the show featured the rnir, society for promotion of
in his repertory which always please non-Jews as well as Jews. for such purpose. The Jewish unique fashion pageant "The music in Israel. The text of the
But Jan Peerce, the religiously observing Jew, who never fails to students had • recourse to the
cover his head with his yarmulke when he selects a liturgical dreidel which they had with
number for his programs, remained bare-headed—even the non- them. When discovered by the
Jews would have enjoyed a song rendered by this master with a soldiers of Antiochus, they
covered -head—and his program left a void. Judgment is a deli- would pretend they were just
cate matter. (Or—did this require a bit of Maccabaean valor?). playing Dreidel.
By BORIS SMOLAR
* *
(Copyright, 1954, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
The Furtwaengler Enigma
I Milk products, especially latkes
There is something enigmatic about the conflicting elements , with cheese are a favorite Hanu-
in the life of Dr. Wilhelm Furtwaengler. In 1948, when the German kah dish. According to one le- Propaganda Front
Arab propaganda in the United States is beginning to attract
conductor was to have come to this country to direct the Chicago gend, the reason for this is that
Symphony Orchestra, he was stopped in his tracks by charges that Judith fed one of the enemies attention not only of the American Zionists, but also of Jewish
he was a Nazi sympathizer. Yet, he was cleared during the Nazi of Israel of those days a great groups in this country which have no Zionist inclinations .. This
denazification proceedings by evidence that he had saved the lives deal of salty cheese in order to is because the Arabs are expanding their propaganda in the di-
of several Jewish musicians and that he defended Jewish members make him thirsty. To appease rection of attacking all American Jewry . . . And in this propa-
of the Berlin Philharmonic against Nazi onslaughts.
his thirst, he drank so much ganda they are giving a. helping hand to professional American
A Jewish violinist, Mark Hindricks Leuschner, testied that wine he got drunk, then Judith Jew-baiters . . . The aim of Arab propagandists in this country is
Furtwaengler had saved his life, yet Furtwaengler was quoted as took the opportunity to decapi- not only to create an anti-Israel atmosphere among the American
people, but also to present 'American Jewry as an element which
having written to Hermann Goering that in some respects he tate the foe of Israel.
uses political power to "coerce" the U. S. Government into a pro-
agreed with him "about Jews."
I Historians, however, question
Furtwaengler's obituary in the N. Y. Times contained this the legend. Some of them say Israel policy ... For this purpose, the Arabs are now making visi-
ble efforts in many directions ... Their intensified propaganda is
paragraph:
that the reason latkes or pan-
"Typical of the confusion surrounding him were two widely cakes are eaten on Hanukah is finding expression in _statements by Arab diplomats in Washing-
separated and opposite de alings with the violinist Yehudi Menu- that it marks the fact that the ton and at the United .Nations,_ as well as in lectures and dis-
hin. In the mid-Thirties, the youthful virtuoso declined an invi- Maccabeans knoCked Antiochus cussions before university groups, rotary clubs, church groups
tation to play in Germany, presented to him by Dr. Furtwaengler "flat as a pancake." This does and on other public platforms ... To strengthen this propaganda,
on behalf of the Nazi government. Yet it was the American alone seem the more logical explana- the opening of two new Arab —information" offices are being con-
templated: one by the Arab League, and the other on behalf _of the
who defended the conductor as an artist of integrity when the tion.
Palestine Arab refugees ... It is no secret that the Secretary Gen-
Chicago incident occurred s ome 14 years later."
eral of the Arab League, on his recent visit to Washington, even
One is left in a quand ary in judging the noted German con- 4 Arabs Sentenced in
asked for diplomatic immunity for the staff of his projected office.
ductor. Perhaps his position can be best explained by an old
... He advanced the argument. at the State Department that such
Russian story. It is told that' a Russian who was fulminating Israel for Espionage
immunity is necessary in order to protect his staff from libel suits
against Jews was asked ho l,v he liked Reb Yankel. "Oh, he is the
TEL AVIV, (JTA)—Four Arab which American Jews might bring against them . . . However, the
most wonderful man," was his reply. The moral: there are men
of prejudice who dislike Am Israel (the people Israel) but love youths from the Egyptian-held State Department refused to grant his representatives immunity
Reb Israel (Mister Israel). Perhaps this is applicable to Furt- Gazastrip have been sentenced on the ground that the Arab League is not a government ... He
to five-year terms as spies. The was told that diplomatic immunity is granted only to accredited
waengler. •
Furtwaengler was to have come to this country in February four, each about 17 years of age, diplomatic representatives of nations recognized by the United
for a concert tour with the Berlin Philharmonic. His death cre- were convicted by an Israel mil- States . . . However,. the U. S. Government did not indicate any
ated an uncertain status for the planned orchestral tour. 'perhaps itary court sitting in Rehovoth. opposition to the establishment of such an office here.
The Arabs, who were appre- Weak Spots
it solves a problem for many who already have expressed sadness
In the light of the increased Arab activities, which are well
at the return of Germans to the public halls of this country so hended inside Israel territory on
their first day of spying, had financed in this country, it is regrettable that such a veteran
soon after the Nazi murders of millions of people.
been recruited from a high Zionist as Louis Lipsky had to resign the chairmanship of the
school in Gaza by an Egyptian ' American Zionist Commite for Public Affairs •. . . This body has
Birkhead's Estimate of - Enemies Right and Left
The flood of anti-Semitic literature that was in evidence in intelligence agent who trained been doing a fine job in checking Arab propaganda by conduct-
Washington during the Senatorial discussions of the McCarthy them for six days and then on ing effective counter-,propa.ganda . . . It is no secret that Mr,
censure resolutions serves as a reminder of an estimate that was Friday, their day off, sent them Lipsky's resignation was due chiefly to the fact that his commit-
given a number of years ago by the eminent fighter for democracy, across the border to act as tee was continually short of funds ... One cannot do a job proper-
the late Dr. Leon Mil.,on Birkhead, of the division of Americans schoolboys who had mistakenly ly when he has no funds—especially when the opponent has plen-
I entered. Israel territory. They ty of means and is expanding his activities . . . Mr. Lipsky chose
among the friends and enemies of democracy.
Dr. Birkhead, to whom we paid tribute in an earlier issue, be- carried Egyptian and English to give up leadership rather than have to beg constantly for con-
lieved that there were 100,000,000 friends of democracy in this textbooks when they were ap- ' tributions . Mr. Lipsky's committee was not receiving any fi-
nancial aid from Zionist bodies and all contributions for his work
country and that there were 25,000,000 enemies on the Right and prehended.
. When questioned by the mili- came from individuals . , These contributions are not deductible
5,000,000 enemies on the Left. That's a lot of enemies.
Dr. Birkhead defined: a "friend of democracy" as being "one tary' authorities, the four told from income tax, hence it was all the more difficult to obtain
conflicting stories. Finally, they , them . . . Compared with the Arab propaganda in this country,
who is genuinely devoted to the principles of the Bill of Rights .
Any one 'Who attacks minorities or wants to discriminate against broke down and confessed their which is financed by all the Arab countries, Zionist propaganda is
them in any way is not a friend of democracy ... We have to espionage missioh—to ferret out conducted on a shoe string basis, since the organized Zionist move-
keep the door to change open, and not let the extreme Right or the defense lay-outs of Israel menu does not finance it . Nor has the government of Israel
villages and Israel Army camps the financial means to spend on combatting Arab propaganda in
the extreme Left slam it shut."
He was a man who understood the high principles of demo- near the Gaza strip. They said this country . . . Hence Arab propaganda is making noticeable in-
cratic Americanism and knew how to fight the enemies of decency that they were to have been paid roads, especially in provincial cities where the Jewish population.
and fair play. His death removed from our midst a very good and six Egyptian pounds monthly for is not numerous enough to 'be able to expose it for what. it it
worth.
their work.
very able man.
Between You and Me