On the Record
By NATHAN Z I PRI N
Kampfer. Another of his early
Editor, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate
American connections was with
HAIFA-David Pinski, world the Yiddish weekly Die Ar-
One Man's Opinion .
prominent Yiddish author and beiter Zeitung.
No one can ever accuse this writer of being either emo-
playwright, died late Monday
tionally or intellectually partial to Reform Judaism—a pasture
night at his home on Mt. Car- Argentina Yiddishist -
mel. He was 87. Several friends
that is forever foreclosed to anyone who has ever scented the
of the author, including writer Pinie Katz Was 77
moken kodesh that is the eternal resting ground of the Baal
BUENOS
AIRES
(JTA)
—
Shimshon Meltzer, were at his
Skein Tov. Yet, it is this very Massidic strain in me that is
bedside when Mr. Pinski died. Pinie Katz, the noted Yiddish
writer, died here at the age responsible for my coming to the present defense of my Reform
David Pinski was considered of '77. He was one of the
the last of the generation of the founders of the Yiddish daily brethren, even though there are silver tongues in the Reform
great Yiddish writers of the "Di Presse," and was an editor sanctuaries capable of doing a better job. My charitableness
stature of I. L. Peretz, Sholom of the paper for more than could well derive from my forebear Levi Itzhak Berdichever,
Asch and Sholom Aleichem. 30 years.
whose path was illumined by the radiance he always found in
Born in Mohilev, Russia, in
Born in Russia, he emigrat- human hearts.
1872, he started writing while ed to the Argentine in 1889.
What follows is not a defense of Reform theology, but of
still an adolescent. Soon, he He was the author of "The
joined the stream of young History of Argentine - Jewish the right of Reform Jews to establish their movement in Israel,
Jewish intellectuals Who made Journalism" and also translated to construct temples, houses of worship and schools. The right
their way to Warsaw and work- into Yiddish, Cervantes' "Don to pursue one's religious orientation is so basic—in fact axio-
ed alongside Peretz as pioneers Quixote" and several famous matic—in a democracy, that it seems odd :hat the issue should
even have to be debated. I am mindful that Reform Judaism
in the development of the new Argentine works.
is repugnant to the overwhelming majority of religious-minded
modern vital Yiddish literature.
Mr. Katz has greatly con- Jewry in Israel, but that is no justification for excluding it from
By 1896, when lie was 24 and tributed to the Jewish cultural the inalienable right to public functioning. There is, of course,
already a writer of repute, he development of Argentine a different coloration to the question of giving Reform Judaism
went to Berlin where he at- Jewry, especially in the years official status in Israel. Here there are vast factors that must
tended the university. In 1899, after the First World War. He be considered, including the sensitivity of Orthodoxy, whose share
at the invitation of the Ovend was considered a left-winger, in land and its redemption antedates that of Reform Judaism.
Blatt in New York, he came but in his early years in Ar- Yet, even that will come about in due time.
to the United States, becoming gentina he was a member of
Currently there is some tension between Reform Jews and
that newspaper's literary editor. the Poale Zion.
the ZOA over a reported charge that the ZOA House in Tel
From the time he came to the
Aviv had barred the use of its premises to the newly formed
U.S. _until he moved to Israel
Circle for Renaissance of Religious Life in Israel—a rather
after the state was established,
pretentious title, 4- o say the least. A spokesman for Reform
Mr. Pinski was one of the fore-
Jewry told this writer that responsibility for the exclusion
most literary figures in the
rested with the ZOA, but a lay leader of the ZO.A. House is a
Jewish world, writing Yiddish,
cultural not a religious center. Another Reform spokesman,
but widely translated into He-
speaking bitterly, told this columnist that the denial of, ZOA
brew, English and many other
NEW YORK (JTA)—Burial House facilities to a Reform group in Israel stemmed from
languages.
of Salman Schocken, noted pub- politics. He charged that the General Zionists were fishing for
He was particularly noted as lisher, bibliographer and long- the religious vote on the eve of the national election in Israel
a playwright. His play, "The time Zionist, who died last and that the exclusion was intended to placate the Orthodox
Treasure," was produced in weekend of a heart attack in voters. The retort to this charge from a leading Zionist figure
New York by the Theater Guild Switzerland, will take place in in New York was a vehement "pure fiction."
in 1915. Another of his plays, Israel, it was announced by
From my desk, it is pretty difficult to judge where the
Produced in English, in 1926, members of his family.
truth rests. It would seem, however, that there is no need for
Mr. Schocken, who was
was "The Final Balance." On
quarreling among brethren at a time when linking of Jewish
'the Yiddish stage, his plays, fled from Nazi Germany in 1933 fingers is the demand of the hour.
frOm one-actors to full-length to Palestine. He came to the
dramas : were • extremely popu- United States in 1940 and ac- Personal History . . .
quired citizenship here.
lar.
The story of the healing of the rift between two giants—
The owner of a chain of de- Dr. Chaim Weizmann and Dr. Judah L. Magnes—was magni-
A member of the Poale Zion
since his youth, Mr. Pinski was, partment stores in Germany be- ficently told some ten month ago by Dr.• Nelson Glueck on the
for years, president of the Jew- fore . Hitler came to power, he occasion of the observance by the American Friends of the
ish National Workers Alliance, also founded the Berlin Schoc- Hebrew University of the tenth anniversary of the death of Dr.
the fraternal organization now ken publishing house in 1931, Magnes, first Chancellor and President of the University. It is
known as the Farband Labor devoted to the publication of now retold in a pamphlet just issued by the American Friends.
books of Jewish knowledge.-
Zionist Order.
The story of the reconciliation goes back to a day in 1944
After he left Germany, he
He had been editor of Die
during World War II. Dr. Glueck had receiVed a telephone call
founded,
in
1936,
the
Schocken
Zeit, a daily newspaper, and of
from Weizmann in Rehovot asking him to come down for a
the Poale Zion organ, Der Publishing House in Tel Aviv, visit the following day. The two men spent several fascinating
Which is now operated by mem-
hours together and the elder sia'esman "opened his heart" to
bers of his family, including
the younger man. When it was time for Dr. Glueck to leave, Dr.
his
son
Gustav,
publisher
of
DID YOU KNOW?
Weizmann remarked that he knew how close his visitor was to
the Haaretz, one of the leading Dr. Magnes and that he wanted him to convey a very personal
Forbidden
newspapers in Israel.
foods are called
message to Dr. Magnes. "Tell him," Dr. Weizmann said, "that
Terefah, a He-
In New York, he founded I regret the circumstances that have kept us apart for some
brew word that
Schocken Books, Inc., in 1945, years now, and that I want to shake his hand in friendship
originall y
meant an ani-
which published books by Jew- again." Dr. Glueck was naturally pleased to act as gO-between
mal that had
ish authors and on Jewish sub- in a proposed reconciliation between the two, and he immediately
wild beasts.
jects. More than 70 books have contacted Dr. Magnes in Jerusalem, who was quick to respond
been published by the Schocken to the suggestion of a meeting some days later.
enterprise in New York.
Meanwhile Dr. Glueck visited Henrietta Szold, who lay. ill
His private library of over
60,000 volumes of Jewish and at the Hadassah Hospital. When Miss Szold heard of the pro-
world literature is housed in posed reconciliation, she adjured Dr. Glueck to bring the two of
Jerusalem. It includes a large them together in her room. When the two arrived. Dr. Glueck
collection of rare manuscripts, recalls, Miss Szold "extended a hand to each of them on opposite
incunabula and early prints. sides of her bed, and over it the two men, moved, I believe,
COMMUNITY MARKET Mr. Schocken held honorary almost to tears, shook hands with each other like long lost
doctorate degrees from the He- brothers brought together for the first time in many years."
brew Union College-Jewish In-
On reading this story, this writer's mind went back to the
stitute of Religion and the Psalmist's verity about the sitting together of the brethren. .To
Jewish Theological Seminary in Dr. Glueck it .suggested the blessedness that was Jewry's on
New York.
having had in the same generation three greats like Weizmann,
When the Nazi party rose to Magnes and Szold.
GIVE THE PERFECT GIFT power
in 1933, he realized that
FOR EVERY OCCASION the very existence of German Israel Sells Two Aqaba
Submit Captain Hirsch's
Jewry was doomed and, from
Name for Rear Admiral
then until the beginning of Defense Ships to Ceylon
TEL AVIV (JTA) — Israel
World War II, he made use of
SAN DIEGO, Cal. (JTA) —
all the resources at his disposal has sold to Ceylon the two Capt. Morris A. Hirsch, serving
to provide both physical and frigates, the Miznak and the on the staff of the commander
spiritual help to German Jewry. Mivtach, vessels it acquired of the Pacific fleet, was one of
A Zionist since his early from the Canadian Navy in 34 line captains listed for pro-
youth, he was a *member of the 1953, and which have been sta- motion to rear admiral. The
ST
board of dir Ictors of the Jewish tioned in the Gulf of Aqaba, promotions must be approved
CALL U
National Fund. It was due to protecting Eilat. The frigates by the Senate.
406.4z 4N0
DELIVERY
Of RI. a-iv/De
his efforts that the territory of are no longer considered the
Capt. Hirsch is stationed at
Budget Priced from $7.50
the Haifa Bay area, so essential most practical defense measures the Naval Air Station here.
8910 Puritan Off Wyoming
to the development of modern and are being replaced by fast,
Israel, was acquired.
maneuverable torpedo boats.
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Direct JTA Teletype Wire
To The Jewish ;News
Salman. Schocken
Dies in Europe;
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ra Kaufman Chape Inc.
DIRECTORS OF FUNERALS
9419 Dexter
•
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'Child Across River':
An Account of Human
Struggle Under Nazis
The tragedies of the war, the
horrors of Nazism and the trials
and tribulations that marked a
mother's efforts to rejoin her
child in war-afflicted Italy are
related by the mother in the
story, Giuelietta d'Alessandro,
in her deeply moving _book,
"The Child Across the River,"
published by McDowell, Obo-
lensky (219 E. 61st, N. Y. 21).
Signora d'Alessandro was in
occupied Rome when she was
separated from her daughter.
The struggles she endured, the
cruelties she witnessed, the
threats that faced her, the Nazi
brutalities, are told in diary
form.
There were some manifesta-
tions of humane considerations
and numerous spiritual evi-
dences to compensate for many
of the brutal acts.
Apparently, Signora d'Ales-
sandro was not fully aware of
certain elements in the struggle
against Nazism that was not re-
lated to herself as a Catholic
and to her fellow-Catholics. She
makes two references to Jews.
One Jew from Rome told "a long
story of his misadventures," and
she turned down his invitation
to go along with him and his
wife, their mission appearing
vague. In the other reference,
she writes about "rich Neopoli-
tan Jews, living with other fugi-
tives and with a few soldiers
and sailors in a state of sordid
promiscuity." It reads like an
ungracious comment, in view of
the horrors that were visited
upon Jews more than on any
others, even if there were a few
rich ones who lived in promis-
cuity and their only thought was
of "how to survive, how to pro-
long by a few years this futile
vegetating." There were such
exceptions to the rule of - suf-
fering among all faiths, but it
is a bit cruel . to tack it on to
Jews.
Otherwise, "The Child Across
the River" is an important addi-
tion to the available literature
that gives an accounting of the
struggles against Nazism.
The father of the Warner
Brothers ran a shoe repair shop
in Youngstown, 0.
WE REMEMBER
71-1:1IN 71 17N
During the coming
week Yeshiva Beth
Yehuda will observe
the Yahrzeit of the
following departed
friends, with the
traditional M e mo --
Hal Prayers, recita-
tion of Kaddish and
studying of Mish-
nayes.
Hebrew Civil
Joseph M. Seigle
Gershon Gelber
Anna. Sturman
AV August
12
16
12 •
16
12
16
Jennie Abrams
Mania Wein
Max Ettinger
13
13
13
17
17
17
Max Reisman
Albert S. Thav
14
14
18
18
Minnie Harnick
Ben Pupko
15
15
19
19
Samuel Maltzman
16
20
Annie Kelmanovitz 17
Zivel Milinsky
17
21
21
Yeshiva Beth Yehuda
12305. Dexter
WE 1-0203
If death should occur away
from home, just phone us and
we will make all arrangements
or transfer to Detroit.
31 -THE D ETROIT JE WISH NEWS—Frida y, August 14, 1959
Last of Yiddish Literary Giants,
David Pinski, Dies in Israel