Youngsters at Play in Tamarack

ri
ell

Bernard Baruch at 87: His Jewish Heritage,
Conflicting Attitudes, Myths About His Life Building Dedicated Wednesday

Bernard Mannes Baruch, the ,
Elder Statesman, friend and
counselor
to several of our
cn
Presidents, famous financier,
one of America's most colorful
1 "--
figures, was justifiably in the
limelight this week. Marking
his 87th birthday, he was inter-
viewed, feted and his life was
reviewed in hundreds of news-
papers. The latter was occa-
sioned by the appearance of
two books, Baruch's autobiog-
raphy published by Henry Holt
& Co., and "Mr. Baruch: The
Man, The Myth, The Eighty
Years," by Margaret L. Colt,
published by Houghton Mifflin
Co., 2 Park St.. Boston.
Miss Coit proves in her "Mr.
Baruch" that she had earned
the Pulitzer Prize for an ear-
lier work, on John C. Calhoun.
She is a brilliant writer, an
able researcher—she had gone
to scores of works for data on
—International Radiophoto
her interesting subject—arid a !
BERNARD MANNES -BA-
thorough student of world and
, RUCH peered quizzically over
American affairs.
his glasses as he was inter-
Regrettably, a number of
viewed in a Saratoga Springs,
prejudices have crept into her
N.Y., park, on his 87th birth-
book, and we wish that Baruch
day last Monday.
himself had discounted them
before' they saw the light of actions, Bernard Baruch repre-
day. Now it becomes necessary sented a thoroughly assimilated
once again to dispute and dis- reaction that seemed to negate
credit some misunderstandings this sentiment.
about American Jewry's loyal-
When the family settled in
ties and to set onto a straight
New Yiork, he heard the op-
path those who confuse loyalty
probrium "sheeny" hurled at
to America with concern cer-
him. When he reached Wall
taro Americans show in the
Street: "To Baruch it seemed
welfare of their coreligionists
that to work for Morgan
would be a wonderful oppor-
and kinsmen.

the German people for their
crime."

For the refugees, Baruch
dreamed of a "United States
of Africa." He felt that Israel
"was only a halfway solution
. . . He objected violently to
founding a state upon a reli-
gion, and if the Zionists de-
nied that this was their intent,
then Baruch doubted the very
existence of such a thing as
Jewish nationality. If Israel
was not being set up on a basis
of either religion or nationality,
At work in the Mina and Theodore Bargman Arts and
then what was to be its basis?
Crafts Building, one of five new units of Camp Tamarack
No one quite seemed to know.
dedicated Wednesday, are, left to right, JAN BERRIS, RUTH
One thing that Baruch knew
BAUM, EVA HAASE, ROBERTA WOHLMAN, LINDA
was that a war between the
EPSTEIN and LOUISE ANTELL. DIANE SHAPIRO, the class
new Israel and the millions of
the Moslem world would bene- ! instructor, has her back toward the camera.
fit no , one." Miss Coit thus
evaluates Baruch's religious
sentiments:

Baruch's Jewish heritage ' tunity; yet already, he knew
that he was barred from the
' is referred to frequently. At
Big Chief's citadel, if not his
the very outset we are told
notice, because he was a
about his mother, who came
Jew." But he attained his
to Camden, S.C., as "Miss
financial success in spite of
Belle" Wolfe in 1867 when
it, especially when he emu-
she married Bernard's father,
lated the gambles of Baron
Dr. Simon Baruch.
Rothschild at the fall of
"Miss Belle," who was 11
Napoleon to capitalize on the
when the guns fired on Sum-
defeat of the Spanish fleet
ter, "was a child of the Old
in 1898.
South. Back in Charleston, her

"So far as his relious con-
victions went, Baruch held
them to be entirely his own
affair. Although he was not
a great synagogue attendant,
he has nevertheless been an
enrolled member of the West
End Synagogue all his life,
and he became hot witlf fury
over a charge that he did not
keep the Holy Days. He has
probably been one of those
people who speaks little of
what means most."

This reviewer believes that
Miss Coit has been misled in
her analysis of the Jewishness
of Baruch and the American-
ism of the Jews of this coun-
try. Factually, there is no dif-
ference between Jews and Jews
as Americans. A Zionist is an
equally good American, and
the American people are his
people. But the Zionist believes
in a definite solution — which
happened to be statehood for
the homeless. We believe that
Baruch, in the days of the
United Nations' recognition of
Israel, was helpful in Israel's
creation and in her admission
to the family of nations. Miss
Coit may have failed to secure
the true facts regarding this
brief chapter in Baruch's life.

Communal Services Evaluated at
Tamarack's Dedication Program

Camping experience is an es- founded the Fresh Air ociety
h 50 ears ago to pro-
sential part of education, sup- more t an y
plementing book learning with vide summer vacations for
education in social living and needy Jewish children, he said,
direct contact with nature, de- were also active in organizing
clared Isidore Sobeloff. execu- other community services for
aid to immigrants, social serv-
tive vice president for the Jew-
ish Welfare Federation, who ice, health, recreation and edu-
spoke Wednesday at the dedica- cation.
Nathan Silverman, chair-
tion of five new units of Camp
man of Tamarack Authority,
Tamarack.
was commended by speakers
The Julius Berman Lodge, the
at the program, for his de-
Mina and Theodore Bargman
voted efforts which made
and Crafts Building, the
possible Tamarack's successes.
Maurice H. Sobell Waterfront
Nathan L. Milstein presided
and Shelters, the Montefiore
Lodge Cabin and the Kadimah at the dedication, which was
Club Tennis Courts were dedi- preceded by a tour of Camp
Tamarack and by the annual
cated.
meeting of Fresh Air Society.

Presentations of plaques
for these new additions were
made • at the program by
Sidney Allen, Dr. R. Soko-
lov, Barney Smith, Mrs.
Hoke Levin and Harry Jones.
They were accepted by Jul-
ius Berman and his son Man-
dell; Theodor* Bargman, Mrs.
Maurice Sobll and her son
Henry, M. Schembeck and
Mrs. Tobie Levine. -

At the 55th anniversary
meeting of Fresh Air Camp,
at which new directors were
elected, Sam Marcus, exectk-
tive director, reported thaA
the 1,301 children served b ►
the Fresh Air Society this
year marked an increase
120 over last year.

Camp Tamarack now pro-
grandmother had danced with He was married to Annie
vides summer camping for 675
Lafayette on his triumphal Griffen at an Episcopalian
children
during the summer for
The Tama ck camping fa-
American tour in 1824, and her service and his assimilation
cility, Sobeloff pointed out, is periods of three weeks each. An
grandfather, the Rev. Hartwig was complete. But there was
It is the possibility that an example of how the Detroit additional 600 are served at the
Cohen. a Jamaican of 'priestly always the Jewish background
what she wrote may be in- Jewish community has mobil- Fresh Air Camp at Brighton.
descent,' was twice rabbi of the which was not denied yet al-
terpreted as an aspersion on
city's historic Sephardic con- ways apparently accepted with
ized its resouirces not only to Both camps are operated by the
Jews that we take exception
help the most needy in its midst Fresh Air Society ,a beneficiary
gregation of Beth Elohim. In reservations.
to. Many Americans have but to serve a cross section of of both the Allied Jewish Cam-
November 1845, the seventieth , Mention is made by Miss
aided coreligionists and kins-
year of American Idtikipen- Coit of the criticisms of the
its own membership. Those who paign and Torch Drive.
men in securing freedom,
deuce, Belle's mother,'Scarah, Poles by Jews, in the days of
and
there
is
no
reason
for
had become the bride of Saling the Polish pogroms. She quotes
making an exception of Jews
Wolfe, a Fairfield County the char g e by Jews: "The
that they hare no right to
planter, like herself of Jewish Poles were only good for per-
such libertarianism. Baruch
extraction . . ." secuting the Jews." It is a
may have been wronged in
This is the Jewish back- negative way of putting it, and
this interpretation, as the
NEW YORK (JTA) — The mann, director of the Jewish
ground of the man who attracts she comments: "There is no
Jews s u r el y are being Rockefeller Foundation
so much interest, whose opin- record of Baruch's reply." But
a n - National and University Library
at Hebrew University, for vis-
wronged
in
the
apparent
an-
ions on world affairs are sought her quotation of charges against
tagonism we feel in Miss nounced a total of $93,100 in its to American libraries and
by statesmen and the common Jews appears in her book as
grants to Israeli and American library schools.
Colt's evaluations of Ba-
folk alike. , if they were factual. It appears
The sum of $20,600, including
ruch's Jewish attitudes. Sure-
and re-
Baruch worshipped his father, to this reviewer that there is
Jewish educational
ly, Baruch is entitled to keep
search institutions. The largest an outright grant of $5,000 for
the Confederate doctor about an unfair resume in the para-
aloof if he wishes to, but it
whom he and his brothers un- graph which mentions the Pol-
single grant was for $62,000 use as working capital, was
ish attacks, and only when one
should not be linked to at-
covered "a terrible secret":
to the Israel Foundations Trus- given to the YM-YWHA Poetry
tack on those who aspire to
"Dr. Baruch was always a refers to the notes on this
tees in Jerusalem for contin- Center in New York City for
chapter is there realization that
see Biblical Prophecy real-
hero to his sons, and never
ued research in the Virus Labo- support for the next three
it
came
from
a
Polish
source.
ized.
more so than on that sum-
ratory of the Israeli Ministry years. The announcement said
Miss
.Coit
seems
to
have
gone
There
are
a
thousand
thrill-
mer day when, rummaging
of Health on relationships of the poetry center "has made it
to
extremes
to
emphasize
that
ingly
fascinating
occurrences
in
possible for many people to
in an old horsehair trunk in
insect-transmitted viruses.
Baruch,
in
his
own
mind,
Baruch's
life,
as
they
are
re-
Hartwig and Ber- .
The announcement said that hear such poets as W. H. Au-
not
primarily
a
Jew
but
an
counted
in
Miss
Coit's
book,
den,
T. S. Eliot, Robert Frost
nard found not only the fad-
American." She quotes him as that merit review and corn- Dr. Nathan Goldblurn and his and the late Daylan Thomas
ed and beloved uniform of
co-workers
at
the
Virus
Labor-
saying that his people are the ment. For the present, the Jew-
the Confederate gray, but
y read and comment on their own
American people. She speaks ish angle demands our special atory had "contributed greatl
white robes, long and flow-
to understanding of the clini- and others' work."
attention,
in
view
of
the
pos-
of
four
groups
to
whom
he
ing, emblazoned with the
A grant of $5,500 was made
was less of a hero "than to the sible misrepresentations that cal aspects" of West Nile fever
scarlet cross of the Knights
and that the grant would en- to Dr. John P. Roche, chairman
may
be
applied
to
this
volu-
rest
of
Americans:
The
strict-
of the Ku Klux Klan. Their
able the Israeli virus experts of the department of politics
searching hands halted. Si- ly orthodox have found that minous account of the interest- "to expand and intensify their at Brandeis University, to com-
lently, they gazed on each he was not religious enough, ing life of a very interesting research. The sum of $50
, 00 plete a study of the changing
other. To think that their according to their definition; man.
was allocated to Dr. Curt Wor- nature of American liberty.
the political liberals have
father was one of the legend-
ary band, spoken of only in found him too conservative;
and the Zionists have often be-
whispers. The brothers were
come bitter at his failure pub-
rapt, their father exalted in
licly to support their programs.
450,000 food packages,
' their eyes . ..." !
Orders for strictly kosher for $25. These are sent to including
According to Miss Coit, Ber- Intellectuals too have felt that Rosh Hashanah CARE packages schools, kibbutzim or training kits, Braille watches, books and
nard Baruch did not know he Baruch has neglected the great to Israel are now being ac- institutions, and may not be layettes for infants.
Whenever possible, the CARE
was Jewish until he was 11, scholarly aspects of the Jewish cepted, and will be taken up to designated for individuals.
but there is a rich record of heritage."
Any amount of money may announcement said, packages
Sept. 6, it was announced this
Then
she
turns
to
the
days
family participation in Jewish , •
be sent to provide technical and are purchased in Israel for
of Hitler: "For the victims week by the newly-created scientific books; however, with American dollars, and, in recent
affairs. His father is quoted as
office of the Michigan Commit-
of
Hitler's
bestiality,
Baruch
having urged his community:
contributions of $50 or more a years, CARE packages going to
naturally felt the compassion tee for CARE.
"As parents and Jews, it is
specified school or institution other countries have included
Specially
designated
$10
and
of any decent person, and
Israel chocolates.
your most solemn duty to edu-
may be designated.
$18.25
packages
may
be
sent
to
when he came to know of
CARE parcels, which may be
cate your children not only
Another program offered by
individuals,
while
$1
surplus
Dachau and Buchenwald, he
mentally but morally also . . .
CARE is a $1 contribution ordered through CARE Com-
food
packages
for
general
dis-
for a time sympathized with
Thus also will you enable them
which pays for the packing and mittee, c/o Postmaster, Detroit
tribution also are available.
Morgenthau's plan to reduce
Mich., are non-profit, duty-
to become useful citizens . .
In addition, CARE Rosh Ha- shipping of 400 seven-ounce 33,
Germany
to
the
simplest
free, ration-free and delivery
who by their upright lives and
shanah packages also are avail- glasses of milk for needy Israeli
agricultural
society
.
.
.
Yet
guaranteed.
They are certified
moral excellence will afford
elementary school childen.
on soberer thought, he was able containing woodworking
Since 1949, CARE has sent kosher by the Union of Ortho-
examples . . . to other sects
kits,
structural
metal
workers'
wise enough to know that
and shed lustre on Judaism."
kits or auto mechanic kits, each $5,600,000 worth of aid to Israel, dox Jewish Congregations.

$93,000 Rockefeller Grant
Goes to Jewish Institutions

Variety of CARE Holy Day Parcels Readied for Israel

to punish
Nevertheless, in his own re- i there was no way