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."