▪
By Philip Adenauer Hears
Siomovitz Grievances of
Nazi Victims
authority and responsibility in the Nazi times could only mean
" Purely Commentary
Are Nazis Being
Whitewashed? . . .
False Philanthropy
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—Ger-
co-responsibility in the most atrocious national crimes."
man Chancellor Adenauer has
In this column, on Feb. 18, Your Commentator questioned
Unfortunately, Hans Globke is not the only Nazi offender promised to intercede to ensure
..V., Dr. Cecil Roth's contention, in his new book, "The Jews in in Adenauer's Government. Gerhard Schroeder, Minister of justice for Jews who suffered
#1 Renaissance Society," the newest volume issued by the Jewish Interior, was a member of Hitler's brown-shirted Storm Troops, physical injuries in Nazi con-
Publication Society, that the popular saying, "wie es christelt
having joined the Nazi party in 1933. Theodor Oberlaender,
•
centration camps, according to
- s ch,
so juedelt sich," ("as the Christian acts, so does the Jew")
Cabinet Minister for Refugee Affairs, likewise became a party a Jewish delegation which met
i
A was of Yiddish origin. Dr. Roth, who is one of Jewry's most dis-
os
member in 1933, receiving an honorary rank equivalent to
here with the Chancellor.
%.,
,7 2. tinguished scholars and authors, used the proverb, in his book,
Moses I. Socachevsky, chair-
that of captain in the SA.
l in this form: "Vi es kristelt sich azoi yidlt sich."
On Feb. 15 of this year, a friend in a position of some man of the Committee of Nazi
It was — and remains — this Commentator's contention that
importance in the German administration wrote me: "As to Victims Deprived of Justice and
vi*
the
saying
is of German origin. We used as substantiating the relation of our Government to the Jewish question, and
Compensation -by the - German
•
authority Dr. Joseph' L. Baron's "A Treasury of Jewish Quota-
to the recent outbreaks of anti-Semitism, the Ministers speak Medical Service, reported that
. We still believe that it traces to Heinrich Heine. But
out against what is happening, not because they are really Dr. Adenauer promised - to do
when our view was published, the able editor of Seven Arts
"everything in his power for
concerned by the realization that such thinking still exists
Feature Syndicate, Nathan Ziprin, wrote:
in the minds of some sections of the German people, but solely justice in disability cases."
The group protested against
"In your column this week you go into discussion about
because of our foreign relations. If there was any conviction
within the Government on this matter, everyone knows that the "inhuman attitude" taken
the origin of `wie es christelt sich,' but I am afraid your
by German medical officials
Oberlaender and Globke would never be retained."
conclusion is an erroneous one. The better, and only Yiddish
These unofficial voices I have quoted—and they are cer- and indemnification agencies in
usage, is `wie es christelt sich azoi yidlt sich,' the word `so'
tainly not solitary voices—have not cleared Globke as the of- the processing of claims of Nazi
is not Yiddish, or at least not part of modern Yiddish. I am
victims for injury to health in-
not unaware of Rabbi Baron's usage (his 'Treasury of Jewish
ficial depositions and affidavits presume to do.
Quotations' is an excellent book), but the Wisconsin rabbi is
No one doubts the sincerity of either Senator Dodd or Dr. curred in concentration camps.
The group sought review of
probably of German-Jewish origin or got his information from Schuster. But we believe that the benefit of the doubt, on the
claims by an objective board
hav
just
spoken
to
Aleph
Katz,
basis
of
quotable
facts,
goes
to
Kay
Boyle
and
to
those
who
have
e
I
.
.
.
German-Jewish sources.
E-1 of the JTA Yiddish' department, and he tells me azoi is right. offered evidence against the Nazi cohorts. It is to be hoped that rather than by "the long dis-
Aleph, apart from being a fine poet, is quite a Yiddish philolo- the Nazi criminals will not be permitted to escape justice. tance diagnosis" of "hostile
Dodd, it is true, is acquainted with the history of the medical bureaucrats" including
gist. I have also spoken to other of my Yiddish speaking friends,
and without exception the 'azoi' won out. Yes, Philip, Dr. Cecil _ Nazi
azi crimes — having served as Executive Trial Counsel at the ex-Nazis.
Adenauer told the National
Roth is right. I'm not able to prove it, but whether 'azoi' Nuremberg War Crime Trials — but the new facts that are now
or 'so,' it makes no historic difference. I have not yet read being gathered are revealing new evidences that expose the i Press Club that in his meeting
Roth's book mentioned in your column. It is on my desk, crimes in graver detail than ever before. Until proven corn- ' with Israeli Prime Minister
Ben-Gurion they did not touch
' but have not been able to find the time. It is my impression pletely innocent, we choose to hold Dr. Globke and his associates
on the question of establish-
that the saying — you can't call it a proverb — is a phrase guilty of the most atrocious crimes in history.
ing diplomatic relations.
*
*
*
that was penned by Heine and crept into folk usage by- Jews —
Dr. Adenauer said he and
Council for Judaism's Philanthropic Farce
though I could be wrong."
Ben-Gurion had a talk that was
A major farce emerged in its true colors last week when
We found an inconsistency in Confrere Ziprin's statement.
warm. frank and hearty on both
If, as he agrees, the origin of the saying, or proverb, call it what the Council for Judaism's so-called philanthropic fund an-
nounced a gift of $1,000 to aid the victims of the Agadir disaster. sides. He stressed the fact that
you will, can be traced to Heine, then it is German.
The Joint Distribution Committee, whose funds are pro- the talk that took place was of
(Besides, Dr. Baron, a distinguished Milwaukee rabbi, is vided by the United Jewish Appeal—American Jewry's major very great importance to the
a fellow-Litvak. He was born in Vilna in 1894 and carne to the
fund-raising project that is being boycotted by the Council for very excellent relations that -al-
United States in 190'7. He undoubtedly has a knowledge of Judaism—was the first relief group on the job to aid the victims. ready existed between Israel
JDC will probably spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to and West Germany.
Yiddish.) ,
Dr. Adenauer also said that
Dr. Roth needed to be consulted. So, Your Commentator rehabilitate the survivors. It sent $5,000 to the Moselm corn-
communicated with Dr. Solomon Grayzel, editOr, and LeSser. munity alone, for relief of the sufferers, as a gesture of brother- I in spite of anti-Semitic activi-
executive secretary, respectively, of the Jewish Publi- liness and good will. The World Jewish Congress, another move- , ties in West Germany he
ca
Societ of America, to assist in tracing the origin of the ment that finds no favor in the eyes of the Judaism Council, I wanted to assure that West Ger-
ti
phrase, by communicating with Dr. Roth, whose home is in Eng- dispatched $10,000 for Agadir relief work. But the Judaism ' many is a democratic state. He
said each and every citizen of
land. We now have a copy of Dr. Roth's reply to Dr. Grayzel: Council "philanthropists" make a fuss over a $1,00() gift!
the
"I have had from Mr. Zussman correspondence about the Instead of cooperating with their kinsmen, the Judaism the Jewish faith enjoys
same rights and privileges as
Yiddish proverb, and find myself in the truly happy position Council
diehards insist_ on being obstructionists. Apparently
c
unacquainted with the admonition in the Ethics of the other citizens. He emphasized
recent swastika-smear,
of being able to state, quite sincerely and unequivocally, that they are .
My
knowledge
of
Yiddish,
Fathers"
(2:5):
"Al: Ti-froSh min ha-Tzibur"— !"do not keep aloof that the .
I know . n . othing whatsoever about it.
ing outbreak and similar
the
obstructionists,
while
they
not knoW of the phrase at all from the community." But
is less than minimal, • and I did
not mistaken, the actual wording- insist on separating themselves from the community, boast of dents did not amount to the ex-
until a few years ago. If I am
- some believe but they '
used was established in your office: if not, I certainly consulted' niggardly ' gifts in a time of ' emergency The -farce of their lent that
little
time
before
the
"philanthropy"
is
now
in
full
evidence.
`still
happened.
A
expert opinion before setting it down.
War, I fancy, Dr. Abraham Cronbach published — perhaps in
1.0•■■•■■■•■■•••=4,■=1.)■ omm.nAmoro).••■■•••• 1,....M.4.1 1
v , .0■•■,41m1.6••• (,■■■ ■ ■■■ ••■■ ■ , ....• ■•■ ••=
a -U.S. sociological journal: not in a Jewish one — an article Renault Gets Egyptian
on the application (though not origin) of the phrase. The
Boris Smolar's
connection with Heine is new to me, and I am very glad to Bid for Auto Plant
hear it."
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News
While, on the surface, it may appear that we are left
exactly where we started, it is our opinion that the phrase i is of i PARIS — The French auto-
German origin, and while we are unable to place our fingers upon mobile firm of Regie Renault
the original, we have believed for very many years that it has been invited by the Egyp-
I
(Copyright, 1960,
tian government to send experts
stemmed from Heinrich Heine. We still believe it.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
to
Cairo
to
study
projects
for
'
I
*
*
the establishment of an auto-
Notes
Evidence Against Nazi Criminals
mobile assembly plant in the Communal
There have been rumors and false reports on an alleged
A long and impressive address by U.S. Senator Thomas J. i !Egyptian capital and to submit
Dodd, of Connecticut, who had planned to deliver it in the U.S..1 I final offers for setting up the reorganization of the United Jewish Appeal . . . The truth
is that a reorganization is taking place but not of the UJA,
Senate, but which, due to his illness, was instead inserted in the ;plant,
, plant, it was reported here which is composed of the Joint DistribUtion Committee and the
COngressional Record by Senator George A. Smothers of Florida ' Wednesday.
United Israel Appeal . . . It is the United Israel Appeal, and
charged the Communist International with instigating the swas-
The invitation from the Egyp- not the United Jewish Appeal, that. is now in process of reor-
smearings
and
the
spread
of
anti-Semitism.
Senator
Dodd
tika
• tian government followed the
showed how the campaign against the Jews in Soviet Russia has i cancellation last year by Renault ganization . . . The United Israel Appeal has been functioning
in this country on the authority given it by the Keren Hayesod
assumed official sanction and is one of the worst on record.
! of an assembly contract with which relinquished all functionary activities in the United States
tribute
to
West
German
Chancellor
.i
the
Israeli
Kaiser
Frazer
auto-
Senator ' Dodd, paying
. . . 'Since 1939 the UIA has entered into agreements with the
Konrad Adenauer, took occasion to defend Dr. Hans Globke, ! mobile plant, in deference to
JDC to constitute the UJA . . . These agreements will continue
secretary of Chancellor Adenauer's office. He quoted a number the Arab boycott of Israel.
the reorganized UIA , which will be composed of American
of Jews, among others, to indicate that Dr. Globke is not, as ' The projected Cairo plant will by
citizens . . . The exact composition of the UIA. board is now
cost an estimated 3,000,000
reorganized
has been charged, - a criminal Nazi.
being negotiated . . It is understood that the
Another distinguished man, Dr. George N. Schuster, one of pounds sterling ($8,000,000), UIA will have a representative in Israel—an American citizen—
the leading Catholic laymen, president of Hunter College, also and would ultimately turn out to coordinate the use of funds transmitted to the Jewish Agency
defended Dr. Globke recently in a letter to the New York Times. 12,000 cars a year. Three other
he Cairo gov- . .. The termination of grants by the Jewish Agency to political
But Dr. Schuster's contentions have been disputed. Kay Boyle, firms, asked by
parties in Israel for their constructive projects helping the
.
of Rowayton, Conn., in a letter to the New York Times, chal ernment to submit offers for the settlement of immigrants will be one of the results of the reor-
assembly plant, were not iden-
ganization . . . UJA leaders, as well as the leaders of the Council
lenged Dr. Schuster and wrote:
tified.
It is my firm belief that history will record Globke's story
of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, are being kept in-
quite differently and that posterity will view the "clear facts"
ormed about the UIA reorganization moves . .. A public state-
Expect Jordan Project f ment
to' which Dr. Schuster refers with a more dispassionate eye;
will soon be issued announcing the final results.
for existing German records are somewhat at variance with C ompletion in 1963-64
those which Dr. Schuster cites.
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
Diplomatic Notes
to The Jewish News
These records disclose that Globke worked actively with
American Jewry is losing one of Israel's best diplomats in
the Nazis from 1933, and that he did actually fill out an ap- JERUSA=JEM — The Jordan this country . . . He is Simcha Pratt, Israel Consul General in
which
will New York who also holds the rank of Minister . . . Pratt is
plication fOr membership in the Nazi party, although final irrigation
utilize the project
waters of
the Jordan
action was apparently not taken on his application. Globke
leaving for Jerusalem to assume a high post in the Foreign
River to irrigate Israel's Negev Ministry there, and Jewish leaders in New York regret very
served as Ministerial Councillor in Hitler's Ministry of the
desert
will
be
completed
within
Interior during the period of "the final liquidation of the
much his leaving the United States . . . He was one of the
three or four years, Finance best "goodwill"._ emissaries Israel ever sent to American Jewry
Jewish problem," and was co-author with Stuckhardt of the
Minister Levi Eshkol told a . . . Like Avraham Harman—who is now Israel Ambassador in
official commentaries on Hitler's racial laws.
Whatever may have been his reasons for such participa- group of Canadian Jewish lead- Washington—Pratt gained a place for himself in the hearts 0
Wednesday.
tion—Dr. Schuster offers as explanation "an honest attempt" ers He
told the group which is American Jewish leaders through his deep interest in the life
on Globke's part "to- deprive those laws of as much malignancy visiting Israel. under the aus- of the American Jewish community .. . It is envoys like Pratt
as possible"—the facts remain that Globke was responsible for
and Harman who, with their dignified simplicity, help American
pices of the Israel Bond Or-
the device of having Jewish passports stamped with the letter
ganization that more than 20 ! Jews to understand Israel and her -problems . . . American
"J," so that no escape was possible for their bearers, and that per cent of Israel's Development Jewish leaders were sincerely glad to welcome Harman back
he publicly remarked of the cases with which he dealt that
to the United States in the post of Ambassador to Washington'!
Bond Issue—$10,000,000 worth
"they should have chosen their parents more carefully."
. . . They will similarly welcome Pratt when he will in the
—will
be
redeemed
by
the
Is-
Enlightened German opinion concerning Globke's past is
future
come to the United States on missions on behalf of the
expressed in a sentence from a letter an editor of a right-wing rael Treasury by h end of this Israel government.
Ruhr daily wrote me on this subject recently: - "Positions of year.
kt .s ..
What IS the Origin of 'Wie es christelt sich . . ."?
.•=1
Between You
... and Me'
-
I