Purdy Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

'Thou. Art No .Different to Other People'
• In his very interesting and enlightening two-volume work,
"Memoirs of American Jews, 1775-1865," published by the Jewish
Publication Society of America, Prof. Jacob Rader Marcus has a
chapter on "Joseph Jonas: The Jews Come to Ohio." In it he tells
-
this about the only known Jew in Ohio at the time: •

The first known Jew in Ohio was quite a curiosity. When
the twenty-five-year-old settler arrived, an old Quakeress came
to see him. She asked: "Art thou 'a Jew: Thou. art one of God's
chosen people:Wilt thou let . me examine thee?" She turned him
around and finally said, probably with a tinge of disappointment
in her voice: "Welt, thou art no different to other people."
That Jew was Joseph Jonas, a native of Exeter, England,
who had come to Cincinnati in 1817, Though warned by co-relig-
ionists in Philadelphia to avoid the frontier, he came west be-
cause of the .glowing accounts he had read of the Ohio Valley.
- Jonas was completely devoted to his Jewish faith. Even
though :he was the only known JeW in the city-4n all Ohio, for
that • matter—he was determined to remain a Jew, and, if pos-
sible, to create, some day, a center of religious life in his town.
, After a few years he . succeeded: he held Services,• organized a
congregation, and built a synagogue. Most of the worshipers
came from England; a nuniber were kinsmen; one of them was
his brother Abraham Jonas, the friend Of Abraham Lincoln.

There are interesting lessons as well as charm in this story.
The old Quakeress in Ohio undoubtedly was not: the first non-Jewess
to be amazed to learn that there is nothing different about Jews.
And even today there, are many, like her, who had never seen Jews
and who probably would be as curious about them as she was. This
is -lesson Number One.
Lesson Number Two: the built-up curiosity is the result of a
perpetuated ignorance. We hope is being • dispelled today. The
memoirs of the interesting American Jewish personalities, brought
to light by Prof. Marcus, go a long way in dispelling nonsense and
misinformation.,
Lesson. Number Three: In spite of obstacles, Jews have risen
to the front and many of them acquired :greater respect from their
neighbors by the very fact that they remained staunchly Jewish.
- You'll find more to fascinate you in the Memoirs collected by
Dr. Marcus. -You'll enjoy reading them—and you'll do yourself even
more good if you acquire them through membership in the Jewish
Publication Society, which makes available the most important
Jewish literary creations.
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Book Fair Gains Community-Wide Interest
Noted Speakers Scheduled for 3-Day Event

Author Irving Howe, associate
professor of English at Brandeis
University, will be the featured
speaker, Saturday, Dec: 3, 8:30
p.m., when the fourth annual
Jewish Book Fair opens at the
Davison Jewish Center.
Mr. Howe, a frequent contrib-
utor to liberal weeklies and lit-
erary quarterlies, is co-editor of
"A Treasury of Yiddish Stor-
ies." In addition, he is the
author of "The UAW and Wal-
ter Reuther," and "Sherwood
Anderson."
A native of New York City,
Mr. Howe was graduated from`
City College. He was • the re-
cipient of the first Kenyon Fel-
lowship in Literary Criticism, as
well as the Christian Gauss Fel-
lowship in Literary Criticism at
Princeton University.- On the
staff of Brandeis University
since 1953 ; he has alSo taught at
the University of Indiana and
the University of Washington.

,

On Sunday evening, Dec. 4,
the guest speaker will be Dr.
Solomon GrayZel, editor of
the Jewish. Publication Society
of America and noted author.
His topic will be "Is There an
American Jewish - Literature?"

At the bruncheon arranged
by the Detroit Friends of the
Jewish Publication Society for
Sunday morning, the guest
speaker -will be Edwin Wolf II,
president of the SoCiety. Guests
at the bruncheon with him will
be. Dr. Grayzel. and. Lesser' Zuss-
man, executive secretary of the
Society.
Community7 -wide interest is
being shown in the Book Fair,
David A. Brown's Colorful Career
David A. Brown's recently-celebrated 80th birthday brought at which exhibitions of books
back many memories. The colorful and very dynamic fund raiser will be featured.
All entries . for the poster
of 20 years ago has left his mark in many areas. -
and literary contests of the
, He was chairman- of the Michigan American Jewish Relief cam-
fourth annual. Jewish Book
paigns for four years — 1914-17. Under the leadership of the late
Jacob H. Schiff, he directed the New York $5,000,000 war relief- Fair were judged -on Nov. 22.
Louis LaMed and Mrs. Clara
campaign which netted the largest sum on record up to that time.
Blumenstock served as judges
As national 'Chairman of the American Jewish Relief, in 1921-22,
he undertook the task of raising an unprecedented sum of $14,000,- for the literary entries and
artists. Ben Glicker and Lillian
000: he secured $18,500,000. Again, as chairman of the United Jewish
. Cohen judged, the POs-
Campaign: for $15,060, 600;--he raised -$26,000,000„4.,w,f wataiekegiau
ters. AWardi w i ll be Made- at::,
ping of large-scale campaigning for the relief of the persecuted and
the Book\ Fair on "Family Day,"
oppressed. It gave a great' push to the efforts of the American
,
Sunday, Dec. 4f•
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and even his very distin-
r-
guished associates—Jacob Schiff, Felix Warburg, Adolph Ochs,, . _Representatives: 'froth 1
Julius ROsenwaid, David M. Bressler, Jacob Billikopf, and many
others—wefe inspired by Dave Brown's powerful campaigning.
At the end of last - year, however, when the JDC pioneers were
honored at. JDC's 40th anniversary dinner, in New York, Dave
Brown was not there and he was not mentioned. A national leader
explained it like this to your Commentator:

•

"So far as I know David Brown was not a member of the
JDC in the first years of its history. There can be no question
of the helpfulness of .David Brown. in the fund raising history
of the JDC and there is no doubt that when the history of the
JDC will written, David Brown's contribution will be suitably.
iremembered."

We checked, and found that Brown was Michigan's war relief
campaign chairman. That made him a leading JDC worker,
It isn't too late to correct an error---and we are inclined to
consider the omission of Dave Brown's name from the roster of
people chosen for JDC's honors as an error.
On, Feb. 28 of this year, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sholem As ,ch was
presented with a citation as one of the founders of JDC. Those
who , recall the events of World War not forget the role played
in JDC activities in that sad era by Dave Brown. His 80th birthday
should be made the occasion for belated recognition of his great
contributions to the work of 'America's most .important relief or-
ganization, the JDC—by the JDC'.
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Rabbi Lookstein
To Address Pinner
Of Yeshiy4 Friends

Celebrating the recent opening
and dedication of :the - Albert:Ein-
stein College of Medlcirie • of
Yeshiva University, the Detroit
Friends of Yeshiva University
will hold ' a community, Wide din-
ner at 6:30 p.m.,. Dec. 7, in the
Veterans Memorial Bldg..
Dr'. Joseph H.
Lookstein, pro-
fessor of sociolo-
gy -at. the insti-
tution, the first
American ::uni-
versity. ttn d e
Jewish auspices,
Will be the guest;
speaker. - -
Stollman
Max
_
and David , L
Berris are co-.
chairmen --of the
Rabbi Lookstein dinner .w hi c h
Will benefit . Yeshiva University's
$500,000 scholarship fund. The
fund provides tuition; dormitory
and maintenance- aid fors More
than 1,600 students each year.-
Rabbi Lookstein, author, edu-
cator and spiritual leader Of. NeW
York's Cong. Kehilath • Jeshurun,
is president of the Rabbinic
Alumni of Yeshiva_ University
and chairman of the. division of
religious activities of. the Jewish
Welfare Board.

Book Exhibits

There will be a gift shop and
special booths will feature the
following:

JEWS AROUND THE WORLD—,In-
eludes books in two major areas, Is-
rael and America, as well as biog-
raphies and books on Jews in other
countries around the world.
HEBREW BOOKS
YIDDISH BOOKS
JUDAISM THROUGH THE AGES —
Books on religion, philosophy, history
and Jewish Problems:. -
JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY—
All bookS published by the JPS.
BOOKS FORTEENAGERS
ADULT FICTION
.
.
THE , JEWISH : HOME—Books for par-
ents, Books on more effective participa-
tion in the community and featuring a
selection of books which will enrich
every Jewish. Home; e. g. Jewish
Cookbooks, Music books, Story books
for children"- Books on the Holidays, -
-etc. •
NEW -BOOKS--A selection of the best
and most popular recently publiShed
Jewish books.
JEWISH MUSIC=- - Includes. records as
well as .books on Jewish Music and
Musicians and. Jewish Dance.
ART—Includes prints as well as books
on Jewish Art and ArtistS. -
CHILDREN'S BOOKS—A) ages 3 to 6
B) ages 7 to 9
C) ages 10 to 12

.

A number of book- exhibits
are planned for the Book Fair.

Major displays will be pro-
vided by the Jewish Publica-
tion Society, United Hebrew
Schools, Temple Beth El,

The display will consist of
three separate booths within
the one' area.

Your Book Fair Dates: Dec. 3-6

Hear Noted Speakers at Center

Dec. 3 to 6, at the Davison Jewish Center, the an-
nual Jewish Book Fair will feature impressive book
exhibits and noted authors. Mark the dates on your
calendar and attend these events:
Hear Irving Howe, Brandeis University professor
and co-author of "A Treasury of Yiddish Stories,"
Saturday night, Dec. 3.
Sunday evening, Dec. 4, the guest speaker will be
Dr. Solomon Grayzel, editor of the ,Jewish Publication
Society of America, author \of "A History of the Jews"
and other important books.
"Family Day," Sunday, Dec. 4, 2-5 p.m. Special
children'S programs.
- Monday afternoon, Dec. 5, "Ladies' Day," hook -re-
views, buffet luncheOn, featured spealrer.
Monday evening, round-table book. iscuiSidiiby
-
- -
local - leaders. ,
Tuesday afternoOn, Dec. 6, book exhibitS.
Tuesday evening, Dec. 6, "Youth, Night," teen-agers'
program, "Coketail Party."

etween

By BORIS SMOLAR

'

'The More Vexing Dilemma of Yiddish'
Perusing his file on Sir Ronald Storrs, first Governor of Jeru-
salem under the British Mandate, who, died on Nov. 1, your Com-
mentator came across an interesting item in one of his columns that
was syndicated on Oct. 22, 1937. Discussing Storrs' avowed love for
Hebrew, the Commentary of that date, under the heading "The
More Vexing Dilemma of 'iddish," carried this paragraph: •
"The dilemma of Yiddish is by far more vexing than that of
HebreW. At least, there is a sense of exclusive possession attached
to Hebrew. That which is created in Hebrew has a better chance of
surviving than has the Yiddish language, which is at best a dialect
borrowed from the German. We recall the story that is told about
the two Yiddishists who were faced with the problem of writing
pure. Yiddish. Asked the first: 'How am I to record in a pure and
unadulterated Yiddish that I have just been married. If I say
chasseneh gehat it will be a mixture with Hebrew, and if I say
geheirat it is pure German.' Whereupon his comrade suggested that
he should write simply: `Ich bin areingefallen.' To Yiddishists this
story will be banality, but in reality it is true that if Jews desire
U. of Judaism Buys Site
to perpetuate a tongue that is strictly their own, they must resort
For New Academic Center
to Hebrew."
LOS ANGELES (JTA) — The
We could not resist the temptation to reprint it.
University of Judaism has bought
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two acres of land, and a 12-room
Foxy Sir Ronald Storrs
mansion here as a site for the
To return to Sir Ronald Storrs: he was a foxy old devil. We construction of facilities for its
have already recalled the - story of his admonition to the late Jacob 800 students and 75 classes. First
Miller of Detroit: "Atah b'Eretz Israel, Daber Ivrit." It may have formed as the West Coast branch
(been his shrewdness; or he may have loved a joke. He always of the Jewish Theological Semi-
punned.
nary of America, the acedemic
In September of 1950, this foxy British Colonial official—he was center plans to use the mansion
already retired at the time—inserted the following paid New Year as an administration building and
greeting:
to build a classroom building
"STORRS.—Sir Ronald Storrs, K.C.M.G. To • all my Jewish
with library, student lounge, mu-
friends a hearty Mazeltov on the occasion of the Yom Kippur."
seum and auditorium.
Who ever heard of a "Mazeltov" on Yoin Kippur? But—how
can one be angry with a fox who, , by the time he inserted this New 2—D ETRO I T JEWISH NEWS
Friday, November 25, 1955
Year greeting, already had lost his case against Zionism?

Shaarey Zedek Library,. and
• the collection of rare manu-
scripts -and books from the
library , of Dr. Isaac Rabino-
witz, LaMed Professor of Jew-
ish Studies at Wayne Univer-
sity.

ganizations met with Sidney J.
Winer, of the Jewish Commun-
ity Center operating committee,
and Jack Barof, teen super-
visor, to make plans for Youth
Night at the Jewish Book Fair.
Seventeen young people' were
appointed to the Youth Night
committee as follows: Howard
Atlas, Allan Wisotsky, Sharon
Mossman, Peter Werbe, Lydia
Osoff, Madelon Must, Nadine
Plavnick, Steve Mellman, Rose
Ehrinpreis, Bernard Swartz,
Lenny. Taub, Lois Newman,
Steven Wolf, Leo Bernard, Liz
Stein, Olin Rosenblatt.
, Three sub-committees, a vol-
u n t e e r s committee, "Coketail
Party" committee and entertain-
ment c,o mmittee also were
formed.
Among the Youth Night fea-
tures discussed at the meeting
was the- "Coketail Party," to be
open only to young people vol-
unteering to work at the Fair
on Youth Night.

(CopYright, 1955,' Jewiih Telegraphic . A- gerici,Inc)

Washington
Moods
. .
The number of American officials who are.convinced that Egypt
Will go to war with-Israel as soon as she feelsherself strong enough
And there - is- talk of keeping.the
is :growing in Washington .
United States Mediterranean'forcei on the alert - for quick action if
any serious shooting begins between Egypt and Israel . . . The U.S.
Mediterranean air and naval: units, based in Greece and . Turkey,
-nava blockade. - .on. Egypt
are-in a position to impose an
and Israel at' any given:inoMent . . • And all _indications in Wash-
&one if the :Situation be-
ington Point to the :fact that this
eomeS really grave . In the mean tinie, the idea :of prQ-Ading Israel
with American "defensive " arm is' gradually, gaining ground in
agreernent with
Washington . . Washington is not entirely
British Prime Minister Sir Anthony_ Eden that he is the ,:best _man
to mediate between Israel - and the Arab •states . .•The record of
Sir Anthony has too many pro-Arab"-spots which are : not easily
erased In fact; his record shows that he - was actually the person
notoriously anti-Isr
who organized the Arab Leaguewhich.is notoriously
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:

:

_

Communal issues;
The question whether joint thristmas-:Hanukah celebrations
should be .observed in the public schools• has always, been a con-
troversial matter within the Jewish community . This year the '
controversy is reaching unprecedented heights. . ..Some organiza-
tions, such as the Anti-,Defamation League Of. trial .Brith,f are in-
clined to think that Christmas-Hanukah observanceS have proved
to be wholesome intercultural experiences for _School children . . .
HoWever; the majority of the important' Jewish organizations are
totally oppoSed to the observance of Christmas and Hanukah in
They argue that
public schools either j jointly or separately .•
any such observance violates the American principle of separation
of -church and state . . The American Jewish COmmittee takes the
attitude that while. joint religious holiday programs are not recom-
mended, it should nevertheless be recognized that they enjoy a
measure of support in some communities. ,
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The Cultural Front:
The first issue of "Midstream," a new quarterly Jewishjrnaga-
zine, has just made its appearance in this country . . . As an editor,
I can say from experience that the first issue of any publication is
either the best Or the worst ... It all depends on how much planning
and preparatory work is done for it . . .With regard to the first issue
of "Midstream" I can only express the hope that the forthcoming
issues 'will be as good as this one . The material is excellently
chosen—especially the articles and the fiction . . . Published by the
Theodor Herzl. Foundation, the magazine: has. a. naturally distinct
Zionist orientation . . . But any American Jew, Zionist or non-
ionist, will find "Midstream" very interesting.

