THE JEWISH NEWS

For Democracy and Permanent Peace

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

-
Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co. 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 89364
Subscription $4 a year, Foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., wider Act of March 3, 1879

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher

SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager

FRANK SIMONS
City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath., the twenty-first, day of Sipan, 5715, the following Scriptural selections will be
read i-u our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num. 8:1-12:16. Prophetical portion. Zech. 2:14-4:7.

Licht ftenshen, Friday, June 10, 7:48 P.M.

VOL. XXVII, No. 14

Page Four

June 10, 1955

A Nazi Is Freed—and the Menace Is Mounting

Libertarians who are concerned that the
freedoms of human beings, wherever they
may live, shotild not be sacrificed on an
altar of international political games, must
not take lightly the acquittal by a Frank-
furt judge of Dr. Gerhard Peters.
Dr. Peters was charged with being an
impenitent Nazi who had supplied at least
5,000 pounds of a special brand of potas-
sium in the full knowledge that it was to be
used to asphyxiate human beings. The 300,-
000 people who perished as a result of his
crime, at the Auschwitz death camp, were
mostly Jews. Now he returns to his post
in a chemical plant near Cologne as a man-
agement executive, in a free "West German
Republic," after having made a final state-
ment to the court that his intention had
only been "to make possible a more humane
method of killing." In this fashion, the
Nazi way of life is in evidence again as a
result Of the annulment by Judge Werner
'Emmerich of six previous verdicts against
the cyanide supplier for the murder of Jews.
This is the type of "judicial" ruling that
creates uneasiness over the new freedoms
that have been granted to Germany by the
democratic nations. The new militarism
that is rising in Germany and the freedom
that is being won anew by neo-Nazis creates
• justified fear over the future events in
Europe. Only ten years have passed since
V-Day, yet the tragedies created by the
Nazis appear to have been forgotten and
those who were responsible for wholesale
murders are raising their heads again.
Hats off, therefore, to the Detroit Free
Press for its editorial "Two Disturbing Notes
on the German Seene" in which it expressed
the following troubled apprehensions:
Restoration of West German sover
eignty and giving it the right to rearm
unquestionably strengthens the free world
in its resistance to Russian Communist
aggression.
- At the same time, there are those who,
remembering German nationalism and its
i potential for -trouble, will be inclined to
watch the future progress of West Ger-
' many with doubts and reservations.
There may be reasons for such an at-
titude. A recent public Opinion poll in
West Germany reveals that about 14 per
cent of the people still favor the type of
leadership they received from Adolf Hitler.
Admittedly, 14 per cent is a small min-
ority of the total population. But even so,
it is still too big. It suggests that far too
many Germans never learned the lesson
from the world disaster brought about by
Nazi-type imperialism.
In addition, the 'translation of a new
German novel, "We Shall March Again,"
has just been published in the United
States. While it is fiction, it still is said to
reflect the persistence of the tradition of
German militarism and the conviction
that' "might is right"-
These two things may have no mean-
ing in present-day West Germany. But a
world that can never forget the mischief
they caused in the old Germany may re-
gard them as dangerous straws in the
wind.
But the situation is worse than pictured
hi the Free Press editorial. While the above
quotes the percentage of those who still
approve Hitlerism as 14, it is much worse
in the attitude of Germans towards Jews.
Dr. Gerhard Jacoby, a research associate
of the World Jewish Congress, has just
made known interesting facts gathered in a
public opinion poll entrusted by an official
Bonn Government agency to EMNID, Insti-
tute for Research of Public Opinion in Biele-
feld, a group of statisticians and psycholog-
ists following the principles of the American
Gallup Institute. The results of this poll, em-
bodied in a 100-page paper, were not distri-
buted to the press and were available
only to a select circle of "interested persons"
as a "confidential document." Here are the
lads as revealed by Dr Jacoby: • -:-
evoluatibe
ia*Ulif 'Of Ufa 4.4

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.

must consider the fact that at the end of
January, 1933, there were about 600,000 Jews
in Hitler Germany while today there are in
West Germany only about 20,000. There cannot
be any economic competition of any kind be-
tween the 48 million Germans and the 20,000
remaining Jews. Moreover, a large part of the
German population does not come in contact
with Jews at all and knows about them only
from Nazi propaganda or mere hearsay.
The first question in the survey was: "What
conies into your mind if you hear the word
`Jew'?" One-sixth of the answers were patent-
ly anti-Semitic; one half of the answers were
indifferent or evasive. Another third of the
answers took an unprejudiced stand and -ap-
peared considerably influenced by feelings of
guilt. It is interesting to note that among
the occupational groups, the public officials,
self-employed people, and those engaged in the
professions expressed their opinion most freely,
for and against the Jews, and that the young
people m a n i f e s t e d the keenest interest in
learning something about the Jews and almost
uniformly rejected anti-Semitism.
The second question was: "If one speaks of
Jews, what famous Jew first comes to your
mind?" 44 per cent of all men and 27 per cent
of all women named Einstein or Rothschild,
but many other famous men who in fact are
not Jews were also named, such as Thomas
Mann, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Stalin.
Another question was: "Have you either
witnessed or heard of hostile acts committed
against Jews?" Twenty-eight per cent of those
questioned answered in the negative; 25 per
cent allegedly had heard of such acts only
from Jewish acquaintances; 46 per cent ac-
knowledged that anti-Semitic actions had
taken place during the Nazi regime. Of those
who professed ignorance, 32 per cent belonged
to the group with a lower education, while 7
per cent belonged to the group with a univer-
sity education.
A further question was: "It has been al-
leged that under the Nazi regime more than
five million Jews perished. Do you consider
this figure (a) too small, (b) correct, (c) slight-
ly exaggerated, (d) greatly exaggerated?" Only
4 per cent of those questioned answered that
the figure of five million was too small, 25
per cent considered it about correct, 26 per
cent slightly - exaggerated, and 37 per cent
greatly exaggerated. Among the occupational
groups, public officials and those receiving
pensions considered the figure of five million
too low, while 40 per cent of those engaged in
the professions or who were self-employed re-
garded the figure as greatly exaggerated. It
should be borne in mind that the correct figure
of six million annihilated Jews has been widely
disseminated in Germany through the de-
cisions of the Nuremberg Military Tribunal and
that in the poll a lower figure, five million, was
deliberately given, in order to see how respond-
ents would react to it.
- In a special inquiry the EMNID Institute
interrogated teachers, students, and younger
pupils on the subject of anti-Semitism. The
responses to this inquiry indicated that these
groups were groping for objectivity and under-
standing. Uninfluenced by direct Nazi indoc-
trination, the younger German generation dis-
plays a desire to form its own opinions and
does not agree with the older generation which
is still under the influence of Nazi doctrines.
Several significant facts emerge from the
poll. First, more than two-thirds of those polled
formed their views on Jews on the basis of
hearsay. Second, although all overtly denied
that they were anti-Semitic, one-sixth of
those polled quite frankly professed anti-Semi-
tic feelings. If this percentage is representa-
tive of the entire older population, one ar-
rives at the figure of six million Germans who
harbor anti-Semitic feelings. Even more sig-
nificant is the fact that 50 per cent of the poll-
ed were evasive or indifferent, which means
that, in addition to the one-sixth, there is a
considerable number of Germans in whom an-
ti-Semitic feelings still exist but who appar-
ently prefer not to reveal them openly. The fact
that more than one half of those polled denied
having witnessed or heard (except from Jews)
about the Nazis' crimes against the Jews, and
that over one-third of them held the figure of
five million Jewish victims of Nazism to be a
great exaggeration, must lead to the conclusion
that there is insufficient realization among
the German people of the terrible crimes com-
mitted against Jews during the Nazi regime.

'Sing for. Fun'

Splendid Book for Children

The Union of American Hebrew Congregations has just pro-
duced another splendid book for children. Mrs. Ray M. Cook's
"Sing for Fun" is_ a delightful collection of songs, and it also
includes a Cantata, "The Story of Creation."
As Samuel Grand, UAHC associate director of education,
explains in his introduction, "the publication of these songs for
the primary grades is an outgrowth of a music demonstration
session at a conference of principals of religious schools" which
was sponsored last year by the UAHC Jewish Education Com-
mission. The songs offered by Mrs. Samuel Cook, the author, so
impressed the gathering "with their simple beauty and 'sing-
ability' that they requested copies for - immediate use in their
schools."
And thuS, there grew out of that experience a book that is
available to all religious, schools and that will prove of value to
teachers and pupils.
There are four selections in this book: "Holiday Songs,"
"The Story of Creation" which includes the Cantata, "In the
Temple," and "Songs of Good Cheer."
As the wife of a rabbi and the mother of two children,
Mrs. Cook was especially well equipped with an understanding
of the needs of homes and schools. Her book will prove of value
to both.
A typical example is the following, "Our Sabbath Table,"
which should inspire the youngsters and their parents on the
Sabbath:
Oh. welcome, welcome, Sabbath princess
Sabbath princess dressed in white.
You fill our homes with neace and gladness,

Peace and gladness, Friday night.

Many of her songs are most delightful, especially the Purim
ditty, her "Gam Zu L'Tovah" and other -songs. The "Songs of
Good Cheer" are truly cheerful. Then there is this "Let's Shake
Hands" song.
Hands can clap and hands can slap,

Hands can hold and things enfold.
Hands can take and hands can shake.
Let's shake hands!

Mrs. Cook's Cantata will prove helpful to many schools, and
her book will fill a gap in many quarters.

•
'Children's Court': Study by Dr. Kahn

"A Court for Children" by Alfred 3. Kahn, associate professor
at the New School for Social Research (Columbia University Press),
has special value for all who are concerned with finding a solution
to the 'problem of juvenile delinquency which has gripped , our
nation.
Dr. Kahn's book is "a study of the New York City Children's
Court," but the lessons derived from his conclusions are applicable
everywhere. -
The author is very critical of the results attained thus far.
The difficult tasks ahead in this sphere are outlined in a chal-
lenging chapter, "A Dream Still Unrealized," in which the author
offers some pertinent proposals for action by the Juvenile Court.

He also urges that "law schools should seek to prepare their
students to function in the spirit of this special court and to be
aware of the context in which it operates."

Prof. Kahn shows how religion can influence the child's
personality and how it can help relieve the serious problem. He
protests, however, against forcing religious thinking upon a child
by lecturing judges, and he advocates that parents should be
consulted in the consideration of the vital problems which cause
children to be brought into Juvenile Courts.
"Probation as Treatment" is another valuable portion of a,

,

highly informative, although equally as highly technical book.

"The Mental Health services of the Court" is another chapter that
assumes great importance in our day.
Valuable references are made in this book to the activities of
the Jewish Board of Guardians in New York.

First U.S. Jewish Sermon

to

The first sermon preached by a rabbi in the Western world
be published was that of Rabbi Samuel Mendes deSolla,

preached at Curacao in 1750 and published in Amsterdam. But
the first sermon to be both preached and published in the United
States dates from 1773. Rabbi Haim Isaac Carigal, who excited
Much attention as he travelled around in that-year, preached at
Thus, many post-war Germans fail to the Newport Synagogue a Pentecost sermon which so impressed his
recognize the corruption that threatens their ,hearers that the great merchant, Aaron Lopez, had it translated

land, Tt is not; a ..M457 13444110'2,-414;d0Cs :from .$patits.13O‘.English and caus ed. it 14 •;44- prirAed:.4, She
)iot
first Jewish sermon published in America.
greatikpes for genuine peaceA,