Under the Rug But Still Nazism
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English—Jcwish 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 8-9384. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6.
Entered as second class matter Aug: 6, 1942 at Post Office, Detroit, Mich. under act of Congress of March
8. 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
Advertising Manager
' Circulation Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fifteenth day of Shvat—Hamisha Asar b'Shvat-5720. the following
Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion. Beshalah, Er. 13:17-17:16. Prophetical portion. Judges 4:4-5:31.
Licht Benshen. Friday, Feb. 12, 5:43 p.m.
VOL. XXXVI. No. 24
February 12, 1960
Page Four
Applying the Law to Offenders
In a special article written for the
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, - Dr. Erich
011enhauer, chairman of the Social Demo-
cratic Party of the Federal Republic of
Germany, West Germany's leading opposi-
tion party. went on record opposing the
proposed new legislation against anti-
Semitism as being "a mere alibi for
international public opinion."
It is Dr. 011enhauer's view that: "The
legal code of the Federal Republic of
Germany provides sufficient clauses to
punish any offenders. The task is to apply
them and not to pride one's self with the
existence of new laws when there is a
lack of willingness to use present legisla-
tion. Any offenders against the present
democratic order will find punishment
only by judges willing to apply the law
firmly and quickly. There should be no
great interval between the arrest of de-
linquents and the verdict."
Apparently, Dr. 011enhauer is in agree-
ment with those who hold to the view
that "education for democracy must be
strengthened," as he states in his article.
It is encouraging to read his declaration
that "our children must be acquainted
with the crimes committed in the name of
the German people." His major point,
however, is that "double morality must
be overcome." He declares:
"As long as small offenders infected
by the Nazi creed or merely because of
juvenile ignorance, who were given
hard punishments, can point to persons
who have served the Nazi regime in
leading positions, no solution to our
problems can be found. This discrep-
ancy must be overcome. Our criterion
A Sabbath with
must be that, whoever played a leading
part in the maintenance of the Nazi
Reich, even though he has not com-
mitted any acts punishable under pres-
ent legislation, cannot now hold posi-
tions of influence in our young de-
mocracy.
"The feeling of abhorrence about
the resurgence of fascist sentiments
should not make us lose our sense of
proportions. There is at the moment no
immediate threat either to our demo-
cratic order or to any section of our
population. It is even correct to say that
the publicity accorded to the recent
events had the positive result of rous-
ing individuals, institutions, parties and
governments out of apathy, and forcing
them to a greater alertness vis-a-vis the
problems involved. A great part of the
population gave a spontaneous and
active expression to their determina-
tion to tolerate such excesses no
longer. The political and moral attitude
of large sections of the people and of
the press contrast favorably to the
times before 1933."
We are not as optimistic as he is, that
the moral attitude of the German people
has improved. But we welcome the Ger-
man leader's endorsement of demands
that former Nazis should be removed
from offices of importance in Germany.
The retention of Nazis in key German
positions represents a grave danger to
the world, and all other promises for
action by German officials will be inter-
preted as mere lip service unless they rid
themselves of the companionship of men
whose hands still bear the bloodstains of
the Hitler era.
'Jews in the Renaissance'
English-speaking communities are indebted to Dr. Cecil Roth
for many notable historical works_ The indebtedness is especially
for his numerous works on the history of the Marranos and
on the history of the Jews in Italy.
His latest work, **The Jews in
the Renaissance," just published by
the Jewish Publication Society of
America. emphasizes anew the
, eminent historian's scholarship, his
thorough knowledge of Italian Jew-
lish history, his acquaintance with
the folklore of the 15th and 16th
centuries.
Because the events of the renais-
sance and the literary, scientific and
artistic developments of that time
marked the turning point in history
leading up to modern times, a study
of the activities of the Jewish com-
munity of that time is of major
significance.
Dr. Cecil Roth
While the eminent author calls
his work "an experimental study of the interaction of two
societies and two cultures at one of the seminal periods of the
world's history," its ultimate result is the fashioning of delight-
ful descriptions of Jewish activities that will no doubt form an
important part in accumulated Jewish historical facts.
As Dr. Roth indicates, Italian Jews played important roles in
stagecraft, music, literature, and also in medicine.
As printers and grammarians, as philosophers and drama-
tists, Jews in Italy gained high esteem.
The scores of facts revealed by Dr. Roth cause him again
t oa set . m be ur g ea Ins o t a s o nal aa b s ae n wort!, t es tr a nads i nt e r
i nf t ao goodJ e
epossessorr o
sense
of humor, as one who is able to dig out the unique incidents
that have occurred in Jewish life.
A chapter of special interest in his book. entitled "In the
Steps of Dante," tells about writers who followed in Dante's
footsteps. Among them was Immanuel of Rome, some of whose
verses are included in this chapter. Other "imitators of Dante"
mentioned here include Moses Zacut of Zacuto, a Jewish poet
named Solomon (Salamone). Judah Abrabanel and others.
,
Christian Hebraists of that era played an interesting role
' in the Renaissance and are delineated informatively by Dr.
Added Spirituality p
This Sabbath — Sabbath Shirah — the
Sabbath of Song — has a double signifi-
cance.
It ushers in the observance of Annual
Music Month, during which there will be
a re-evaluation of Jewish contributions to
music, and serious efforts will be made
not only to re-interpret Jewish musical
creations, but further to advance interest
in our ranks in music.
The current Sabbath also has another
significant assignment. having been
chosen for tribute to the founder of the
political Zionist movement. Dr. Theodor
Herzl.
On Herzl Centennial Sabbath. sermons
will be delivered in our synagogues in
honor of the Herzlian gifts to Jewish his-
tory, and in recognition of the Zionist
movement's contributions to efforts for
the rescue of Jews from lands of oppres-
sion and for the survival of Jewish values.
This Sabbath also is associated with
another significant and historical cele
bration. It occurs just before Hamisha
Asar b'Shvat
Tu b'Shvat
the New
Year of the Trees that has been ob
served in ancient Israel and is an im
portant festival for Jews throughout
the world and in modern Israel. On
Tu b'Shvat, we are asked to plant trees
in Israel, through the Jewish National i Roth.
Fund, to strengthen the Israeli affores :
Music and the dance, art and artists. the printed book, the
humanists—these and scores of other subjects are among the
tation work and thereby to give addi
data
provided in this book. The accompanying photographs add
tional encouragement to the builders
of Zion.
' considerably to its interest.
While the Sabbath itself takes prece-
•
Bence over other spiritual and cultural
values in Jewish life, there is added im-
•
•
portance in the two celebrations spon-
by American Jews— Music Month
This is an especially appropriate time to emphasize that
and the Herzl Centennial — and their coin -
tiding with Hamisha Asar b'Shvat. In its there are differences in the world that must be tolerated and
totality, the current Sabbath emerges that while not all people, or things, are alike, all have qualities
them.
with added values as a symbolic day for to commend
Hans Guggenheim has written an interesting book, which
Jewry.
he also illustrated himself, under the title "The World of Wonder-
-
—
—
-
-
-
-
-
Guggenheim Book for Children
Repudiates All Type of Bigotry
Bormans' Gift for New Hebrew School
Al and Tom Borman have shown their
generosity on numerous occasions in the
past few years. They have joined the
"big givers" list in the ranks of the Allied
Jewish Campaign, they have contributed
to Yeshiva University, they have aided
many Zionist causes.
By undertaking the financing of the
Near Eastern Lecture Series at Wayne
State University, they have shown their
'interest in educational efforts.
Their latest and most impressive gift
is the one they have made for the estab-
Dr. Roth's Informative Book
lishment of the newest branch of the
United Hebrew Schools in our northwest
area.
Hundreds of children will be afforded
the opportunity of acquiring Jewish
knowledge in the new eight - classroom
building, ground for which has been
broken on Seven Mile Road and Bentler.
Their good gift is making it possible to
fill the needs of the northwest area for
adequate school facilities, and the Bor-
mans are to be congratulated for their
vision and their philanthropic spirit.
ful Differences." The resurgence of Nazism and the approach
of Brotherhood Week make this volume especially timely. Pub-
lished by Friendly House Publishers (65 Suffolk, N. Y. 2), this
book presents the differences in nature, among different people,
in different climes, in health and in people's thinking.
Then he comes to the question of "hatred, envy and ignor-
ance," and he admonishes his readers that discrimination is
altogether no good!
Written for children, illustrated to catch their imagination,
Guggenheim's book provides practical examples of the injustice
of discrimination. It is a narrative of a child's temporary bias
that is turned into cooperation with other children and into an
end to his discrimination.
Publication of the book was made possible by the encourage-
ment and assistance of the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai
Brith, about whom Guggenheim says in an acknowledgment:
"It is the work of organizations such as the Anti-Defamation
League which helps make the differences among people a source
of enrichment for all mankind."