Purely Commentary

Dr. Salk `VeryReliableMan,'

By EDWIN A. BELLER

tCc.pyright 1955, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)

Daniel and Dora Salk live in a announcement; Everywhere, the Salk is a member of the alumni
five-room apartment in upper Salk serum was being likened to group — he interned at Mount
Manhattan. Ordinarily , it's a the Schick test for its impor- Sinai Hospital.
israet's Seventh Anniversary
Mount Sinai and Dr. Schick
quiet place. But as the Salks tance to the health of children.
Many of .Israel's achievements attest to the significance o f
It seemed very appropriate, for came together in the life of the
her seventh anniversary, to be observed throughout the comin g basked in the kind of "nachas' that reason, that Dr. Salk will young physician once before the
week by communities in many parts of the world, in addition t 0 all parents dream about, it re- be the first recipient of the Dr. award of medals, when he work-
the Yom Atzmaut celebrations in Israel next Wednesday. Th e sembled a five-alarm fire. News- Bela Schick award for an out- ed under Dr. Schick as a young
young state has grown industrially, it has made progress i n paper reporters, television tech- standing contribution to pedi- resident physician. Schick was
pursuing the democratic processes of government and ha nicians and newsreel camera- atrics. The award is sponsored then head of the hospital's pedi-
men swarmed around with their by the Dr. Albert Einstein Col- _atric department. Dr. Schick,
increased its national income.
The major points in Israel's successes may be said to be th e lights and questions were hurled lege of Medicine of Yeshiva Uni- being a scientist and not given
growth of the country's population—the 740,000 newcomers sinc e in all directions. The telephone versity.
to overly emotional judgements
the establishment of the state being responsible for the presen t never stopped ringing.
Another award went to the replied, when asked how he re-
population of 1,750,000; and the fact that 62 countries hay e
The Salks were the object of conqueror of polio this week, the membered young Dr. Salk, "A
recognized the young state.
the curiosity aroused about Jacoby Medallion, presented- an- very reliable man. Very reliable."
In Detroit, Israel's Independence Day will be marked by the their son, Dr. Jonas Salk, who nually by the associated alumni
It is the judgement that will
annual gathering set for April 30. It will be a signal for a developed the successful polio of New York's Mount Sinai Hos- be echoed by millions of grateful
city-wide salute to state-builders who have defied many obstacles vaccine which monopolized the pital for meritious service. Dr. parents everywhere.
and have held on to independence in spite of war threats; and -U. front pages of all the papers.
reaffirmation of our determined will to help protect the young Mrs. Salk tried to hide her tre-
state.
mendous pride, smiling through
Laughing Our Way Out of Strains
the tears that had welled up in
Abraham Lincoln once explained his constant urge' to laugh her eyes as soon as word came
himself out of sad situations, thus: "With the fearful strain that through that the _ vaccine had
is on me nigl ht and day, if I did not laugh I shoUld die."
By IRVING I. KATZ
been pronounced a success at
We have had such strenuous situations in Jewish life in recent Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mr. Salk
Editor's Note: This Chronology commences "The History of
months that it is time for a few good laughs, instead of the remained poised and helpful.
constant fear and worry over the future.
Mrs. Salk said that she had al- the Jews of Detroit." It is another American Jewish Tercen-
Here is a bit of local humor:
ways known that her son was a tenary feature and is based on Mr. Katz's forthcoming book,
In one of the classes of a congregational nursery school, just "good student." She said she was to be published by _Wayne University Press.
before Passover, the children were provided with flour and water sure that the vaccine was al-
1850: Feb. 8—St. Vincent's Hospital, a Catholic Institution op-
to make matzohs. They were told about the lack of leaven and right 18 months ago when her
when their product was finished the teacher asked: Now, what son innoculated his children— erated by The Sisters of Charity, appealed to the Jews of New
do you have?" And one of the little bakers replied: Pizza!' Peter, 11, Darrel, 7, and Jona- York for financial assistance. $150 was contributed. This was an
Which gave the teacher an idea: perhaps she should establish a than, 5. She knew it then, she early example, if not the very first of a public Jewish effort in
behalf of a Christian sectarian charity. The hospital was known
"matzoh-riah."
said, because "my son would
A story sure to call for a laugh is told by Dav,id Zeitani, never do anything he was not for many years as St. Mary's Hospital and. is now operated as_ De-
trait Memorial Hospital.
who was here from Israel in the interests of the Israel Pecan sure of."
Sept. 22—At the initiative of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Cozens, 12
Corp. Zeitani tells about a marital match arranged for a young
Mr. Salk, a retired blouse
German Jews organized the Beth El Society, as an orthodox syna
boy in Meah Shearim in Jerusalem by his ultra-orthodox parents.
manufacturer,
told
one
re-
gogue, Michigan's first Jewish Congregation. It was the parent
The boy was told that his parents have a bride for him and that
he is to be married soon. When, in the course of time, he was porter who was curious about organization of today's reform Temple Beth El which numbers
brought face to face with a very big girl—tall. round, weighty. his son's education, -a couple close to 1700 families. Jacob Silberman elected first president.
of things about the important Rabbi Samuel Marcus of New York elected first spiritual leader.
The boy looked at her, and turning to his mother exclaimed:
"Oy, Mame, dos iz in gantzen far mir?" ("Mother, is it all for subject. The father hadn't had _Hebrew-German-English Day School opened ior secular and re-
the son's kind of educational ligious studies for children. Detroit's population of 21,019 gave
me? „ ).
opportunity—"not the Jewish it the rank of 21st in size among United States cities. Detroit had
Chilik Weizmann's Stories
Dr. Yechiel Weizmann, brother of the late President of Israel, education, and not the public about 90 streets. Most of the population lived near the river be-
education"—and he had seen
who accompanied Zeitani on a recent visit to Detroit, told about
cause of water supply. Lighting was by means of tallow candles
a dialogue between two Jews, one of whom commented that the to it that his children got it. or lamps which burn-ed lard or whale oil. Estimated Jewish popu-
The reporter's curiosity was lation was 60 in a total of 50,000 in the United States.
world would completely come to an end in three million years.
The other, who at first expressed horror, suddenly sighed with really aroused now. "Jewish
1851: Jan. 1—Beth El purchased a cemetery on Champlain
relief. Asked about his recovery-with contentment over the future, education?" Yes, Mr. Salk
(now .Lafayette) Street for $150. Still in existence.
answered, Jonas had been a
his friend explained: "At first I thought you said the world
April 21—Beth El became legally incorporated. Hebrah Bikur
student at the Bronx Center. Chollin (Sick Visiting Society) organized.
would come end in a million years.”
His Bar Mitzvah was cele-
Chilik Weizmann described the differing reactions of a non-
1854—Rabbi Samuel Marcus died during the fourth and last
Jewish and a Jewish nurse to their respective seriously-ill
brated at the Center, too. But cholera
epidemic in Detroit.. Interred in Champlain Street Ceme-
•
*patients. The non-Jewish nurse said, on the morning after: "The Mr. Salk said that it didn't tery.
patient was quite ill. He kept me constantly on the go, with his stop there either. His educa-
1856—Dr. Isaac M. Wise of Cincinnati, founder and master
aches and pains. It - was a hard night." The Jewish nurse made tion at the Center did not end,
this comment on her experiences _:"Oy, hob ich gehat a nacht!" as it often does, with Bar builder of Reform Judaism in the United States, visited Detroit
for the first time.
("Oh, did I have a night"!)
Mitzvah.
'All Caine Nekavveh Lecho"
1857: Feb. 5—New city charter adopted. Official name changed
Mr. Salk had something to say
Hamazkir, writing in the Jewish Observer and Middle East about all of that; too. Jonas to "City of Detroit."
May—Beth El members organized Pisgah Lodge No. 34 of In-
Review (London), recalls the wit of Israel Zangwill. He relates didn't get his Jewish education
that the Maccabaeans, one of British Jewry's most prominent because of inertia on his par- dependent Order B'nai B'rith. Still in existence.
organizations, waited impatiently on one occasion for the arrival ents' part. "I think," his father
July—Rabbi Isaad Leeser of Philadelphia, the leader of Ortho-
tit a dinner of the novelist Hall Caine. When he, at last, made told the reporter, "that a Jew- dox Judaism in the United States, visited Detroit for the first time.
his appearance. Zangwell exclaimed: "All Caine nekavveh lecho t" ish education is very, very im-
1859: Jan. 16—Detroit Jewish Community joined World Jewry
Chronicler, of the London Jewish Chronicle, records this portant. I think it is more im- in protesting against the Mortara Case in Italy.
"Black Mark": Teacher: "Well, Moshe, what is the first book of portant when the child grows up
1860—Detroit numbered 200 Jews in a population of 45,619.
the Chumash?" Moshe: "Guinesses."
1861: Aug. 30—Beth El dedicated the Rivard Street Synagogue,
to
become-
a
man,
as
background
From Behind the Iron Curtain
first Jewish house of worship in Michigan (formerly a church).
Humor behind the Iron Curtain reported by the U. S. Infor- for his grown-up years."
Sept. 27—Beth El introduced organ music and a mixed choir at
Dr.
Salk
came
in
for
a
lot
of
mation Agency includes the following:
Sabbath 'worship. Seventeen members withdrew and organized the
A joke currently circulating in Budapest, concerns the Hun- comparisons, in the wake of the Schaarey Zedeck Society, Detroit's second orthodox Congregation,
garian Secret police who arrested two citizens but shortly after
the parent organization of today's Conservative Congregation
released one of them. Before the freed man left the station he
Shaarey Zedek with a membership of 1400 families. Hiram Kral),
Most
States
Lukewarm
managed to ask the one detained: "What did you confess to?"
shaar elected first president.
1862 Shaarey Zedek legally incorporated. Smith Street ceme-
"I confessed that I bought sugar on the black market."
to Calendar Changes
"Why did you confess it, for heaven's sake?"
tery purchased for $450. Still in existence.
"I couldn't help it; the man who interrogated me had sold
1863—Rabbi Abraham Laser of Temple Beth El organized
UNITED NATIONS, N. Y.,
e the sugar."
(JTA)—All but one of the coun- Ladies' Society for the Support of Hebrew Widows and Orphans in
Another joke making the rounds concerns the professor of tries from which United Nations the state of Michigan, popularly known as "Frauen Verein." Society
literature in Czechoslovakia who asked a student in his class:
Secretary General Dag Ham- existed until 1927 when it was known as "Jewish Widows Aid
"Who wrote War and Peace'?"
marskjold has had replies re- Society."
The frightened student could only stammar: • "I don't know, garding a proposed world calen-
1964—Rabbi Isidor Kalisch -of Temple Beth El dedicated
but I didn't."
dar ref6rm are either opposed to Shaarey Zedek's first synagogue on Congress and St. Antoine,
Later the professor told a friend about the student's reply
idea or lukewarm. The only originally a church.
when he had been asked who had written the great Tolstoy novel. the
Montefiore Lodge No. 12 of Order Free Sons of Israel organized.
voice favoring the idea came
The friend, however, was not particularly surprised, and said, from the principality of Monaco. Still in existence.
"Well, I didn't do it, either."
Pisgah Lodge Bnai Brith was host to Annual Convention of
Both the United States and District Grand Lodge No. 2 of which it was then a part.
The professor repeated the story to a friend in the secret
Britain
oppose
world
calendar
police who listened attentively, made no comment, but jotted
1865—Michigan supplied 210 Jewish soldiers for Union Army
reform. Israel has sent a letter from 1861-1865, a remarkable military record for the small Jewish
down the names of the student and the professor's friend.
Two days later the professor received a telephone call from disagreeing very sharply with the population in the State at that time.
he police official who told him not to worry—the case was closed. idea. Several Latin American
Rabbi Isidor Kalisch conducted a Memorial Service for Presi-
The professor was puzzled. The policeman explained, "You know, states favor discussing the idea, dent Lincoln in the Rivard Street Synagogue on April 19. Congre-
but
only
if
the
Vatican
has
a
he student and your friend. We arrested them yesterday, and
gation Beth Israel organized (now defunct).
voice in any suggestions aimed
they both confessed."
1866—Among the various social and literary clubs which the
at changing the Gregorian cal- German Jews of Detroit began to organize was the Polemia
Other Iron Curtain jokes broadcast by the Voice.
Club,
"Peoples Democracy: Definition—A state where many must endar, which is observed by Ro- organized by Rabbi Elias Eppstein of Temple Beth El. The club
man Catholics throughout the was devoted to literature and chess playing.
s tand in line for everything and sit in jail for nothing.
"In Warsaw, Poles are telling each other that the Communist world.
1867: Aug. 50—The new synagogue of Beth El on Washington
T egime consists partly of incapable people and partly of people
In Montreal, the Canadian and Clifford, originally a church. dedicated.
capable of anything.
Jewish Congress called on the
Members of Shaarey Zedek organized Hebrah Kadischah and
"A teacher in Podebrady, Czechoslovakia, was trying to carry Dominion government to oppose Bikur Cholym (Burial of the Dead and Sick Visiting Society).
out Communist Party instructions to explain the so-called evils calendar reform through the Michigan Lodge No. 1 of Order Kesher Shel Barlel (Iron Knot)
of Capitalism. She asked a pupil: - "blank day device," which would organized.
"'What is the name of someone who owns an automobile?'
un-fix the position of the sab-
1868—Rabbi Eppstein's "Confirmand's Guide to the Mosaic
"'An Automobilist,' one pupil answered.
bath in the week.
Religion," issued, first book of Jewish interest published in Michi-
"The teacher tried again. 'What do you call someone who
In a letter to Minister of Ex- gan.
o wns a house?'
1869—Temple Beth El discontinued its day school and opened
ternal Affairs Lester B. Pearson,
" 'A house owned',' the pupil answered.
a religious school which met aftter public school hours. Rabbi
CJC
president
Samuei
Bronfman
Angry, the teacher tried a third time. 'Well, what do we call declared that the interruption of Kaufmann Kohler, great scholar and theologian, was brought to
.8 omeone who own both a house and a car?'
Detroit from Germany to serve as Beth El's Rabbi. He served in
"The student's answer was immediate: "The Regional Party the traditional continuity of the later years as president of the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.
week would bring "confusion into
ecretary, Comrade Varecka'."
Beth El and Shaarey Zedek organized Gentlemen's Hebrew
"One Hungarian asked his friend the difference between a the religious and social life of Relief Society (later Beth El Hebrew Relief Society), Detroit'
C apitalist, and a Communist. The friend replied: 'The Capitalists Jews" and would negate "ancient first centralized Jewish philanthropic
agency. Beth El Lodge 01
love money above all, while the Party says, the Communists love cultural and historical values."
Order Kesher Shel Barzel formed.
he people.'
1870—Detroit numbered 540 Jews in a population of 79,577..
," 'I see,' said the Hungarian. "That's why the Communists lock 2 — DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
)tp people, while the Capitalists kieli-U15 their money"." -
Friday; April-22, 1955
- T hr nologieal Bistotk.144_:Be
. Continued)

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Detroit Jewry's History

-

