THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
Member American Association of English--Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association ;
Editorial Association.
National
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35,
Mich.. VE 8-9364. 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
Editor and Publisher
SIDNEY SHMARAK CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ HARVEY ZUCKERBERG
Advertising Manager
Circulation Manager
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the fourteenth day of Kislev, 5721, the following Scriptural sele -ctions will be read
in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Vayishlah, Gen. 32:4-36:43. Prophetical portion, Obadiah 1:1-21.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Dec. 2, 4:44 p.m.
VOL. XXXVIII. No. 14
Page Four
December 2, 1960
Israel Histadrut's 40th Anniversary
'World Jewry will take note during
the coming weeks of an important occa-
sion on the Jewish calendar — the ob-
servance of the 40th anniversary of His-
tadrut, the Israel Labor Federation.
Histadrut has left its mark not only
upon Israel, with its pioneering .efforts
in Israel's establishment, but also upon
the Jewish communities of the Diaspora
upon which the movement left an indel-
ible imprint with its programs in behalf
of the Jewish labor movement and its
interpretive activities during the strug-
gles for a Jewish National Home.
It is to be remembered that during
the years when recognition of the justice
of Jewish claims to statehood, when -the
need for the settlement of Jews in a free
environment, away from the tortures to
which they were subjected in their native
lands, were accompanied by serious olo.
stacles, Histadrut was among the most
dynamic movements in the defense of the
Zionist idea.
While it functioned as 'a labor move-
ment, appealing to the Jewish laboring
masses in behalf of the Palestinian -work-
ing class, it had„a wider influence. It was
able to go also to the capitalists 'among
the Jews and to enlist their aid . for the
causes represented by Histadrut becauSe
it also was a defensive movement, it
sponsored – constructive industrial proj-
ects, it encouraged investments and it
aided the pre-Israel settlements in their
cultural activities.
Histadrut became one of the symbols
of the developing statehood. It represent-
ed an impressive force in Jewish life —
the manpower that defended the fron-
tiers, the group that was in the forefront
of pioneering, the modern frontiersmen
who fearlessly faced the enemies — no
matter who they were — whether they
were the antagonistic neighbors or the
threatening elements of nature or the un-
foreseen economic 'competitors.
There have been criticisms of His-
tadrut that it sought to dominate the
economic and political conditions in Is-
rael. The attacks upon Histadrut were
often_ invalid, because the critics failed
to take into account the Labor Federa-
tion's protection of the rights of its mem-
bers and the industrial projects they had
built on a cooperative basis. But in re-
cent years the causes for criticism have
mainly disappeared, while Histadrut re-
tained its vitality as a major factor in
Not since the Jewish Publication,Jgociety issued the col-
-Israel's life.
lected works of Israel Zangwill have,'any of the great Anglo-
Forty years of activities have - elevated Jewish writer's works appeared in ,<print again.
Histadrut to a position of great signifi-
The first republishing attempt has just been made by
cance. Its status is respected in many Thomas Yoseloff, whose publishink house, located at 11 E. 36th,
lands, among non-Jews as well as Jews, N.Y. 16, has produced a most at-
within Israel and in many other govern- tractive edition of "The King of Use
Schnorrers," which rates as one GI
mental circles.
Zangwill's most entertaining, yet mast
We heartily join in greeting Histadrut enlightening and most philosophic, :
on its 40th anniversary, in encouraging works.
its supporters who again will be called
This is where schnorrerei, beg- - .
upon to aid the movement when the gary, is depicted in all its pathos
annual campaign will be in force here and humor. It is a delightful account
about Manesseh Bueno Barzillai Aze-
soon, and its strongholds in Israel, which vedo
da Costa. He is a Sephardi who
have been established with the sweat and knows
the art of begging, who can
blood of Histadrut's pioneers. May the deal with millionaires as easily as
hands of the sons and daughters of these he can with any ordinary merchant
pioneers be strengthened as they com- whom he approaches for a gift.
"Schnorring," said Manasseh, "is
mence a fifth decade in their existence.
They have earned our congratulations the only occupation that is regular
the year round. Everything else
and our heartfelt good wishes for con- all
may fail—the greatest commercial
tinued success.
houses may totter to the ground;
New Edition of Zangwiirs--
`The King of Schnorrfees'
The Hanukah Appeal to Our Children
A writer in the Bnai Brith magazine
has made an appeal that "Hanukah should
be celebrated for Hanukah's sake and not
as a ,sop for the absence of Christmas from
the Jewish home," and he declares that
"it is unwise to surround our children
with an ocean of gifts." Rabbi Philip S.
Gershon states in his criticism: "We can-
not teach spirituality all year long and
hope to be effective if we succumb -to this
materialistic demonstration in an effort to
buy the child's religious allegiance once
a year. The attractiveness of the Christ-
mas celebration can be overcome through
the simple expedient of saying 'No.' "
The rabbi's thesis is predicated on the
following introductory paragraph to his
article:
"If Judah Maccabee were to come back to
earth and see our modern method of observing,
the festival of Hanukah he would not recog-
nize it. The streamers, the crepe paper , decora-
tions, the banners, and especially the high
point of our celebration — the exchange of
Hanukah gifts—would be quite foreign to him.
On the" other hand, were we to be visited by
Esther and Mordecai during this year's celebra-
tion of Hanukah -(Dec. 14-21) they would be
certain they were participating in the joyous
Purim festival, with all its color and gaiety,,its
mirth and exchanging of gifts. For we have
very quietly but effectively taken the mood of
Purim and transplanted it to Hanukah. Purim
was traditionally the time when , people ex-
changed small gifts. Now Hanukah has become
the holiday without peer for the giving of gifts.
From a holiday which was observed rather
quietly, it has suddenly burgeoned into one of
the main focal points of modern Jewish religious
observance."
We would be blind to reality and• we
would be ignoring basic needs in Jewish
life if we failed to recognize some validity
it
as
is written, 'He humbleth the
proud.' But the Schnorrer is always
Israel Zangwill
secure. -Whoever falls, there are always enough left to look after
him."
So skillful was da Costa that he emerged as the King of
the Schnorrers. He knew how to deal with the community, and
with the synagogue elders.
in the rabbi's argu-ment. Yet, we cannot
accept his argument as totally applicable.
If Hanukah had been limited to gift-giving
—and it must be admitted that even if
only through the Hanukah gelt tradition
there has always been a gift-giving prece-
dent for Hanukah—we would be in a bad
way. But the child who gets gifts also, in
most instances, learns about Hanukah.
The boys and girls who celebrate the
event as a substitute for Christmas also
receive instruction in the festival's heroic
lessons.
There is much to contend with when we
are compelled to compete with the over-
whelming attractions in an environment
that celebrates Christmas, and a mere
"No" to the attractiveness of the Christian
festival—which has been commercialized
as much as if not _more than Hanukah—
is not a simple enough expedient. We
should be grateful that we can make the
Maccabean festival attractive to children
and that we have found ways of making
them proud of the heroism of their kins-
men.
Of course, we must ever keep in view
our responsibility to raise the standards
of Jewish programming and to make as
few concessions as possible. Yet, we can
ill afford to be so overly strict as to re-
fuse to adopt some of the commonplace
trivialities
that have become elementary
• the life of
in
the people around us.
Miss Tor's book is readable, understandable, informative.
Indeed, she goes back to Biblical times, traces the history of
the Holy Land, and then reaches into the current situation.
Her explantion of the kibbutzim and the life there, of the
children and their activities, of the various sects and faiths
who make up the country, are presented skillfully, in fine lit-
erary style.
Let us strengthen the spirituality of the
eight days of the approaching festival,
but let us not abandon any of the means
that have become so vitally necessary for
the cementing of our children's loyalties
to Judaism.
The varying geographical conditions, the wholesomeness of
the children's activities, the way in which the holidays, are ob-
served, the differing population elements all combine to make
"Discovering Israel" a most interesting account.
The splendid book is supplemented -by a valuable History
Index that traces Jewish history to the oldest times.
Zangwill's delightful story depicts life in London, the syna-
gogue's functions, the personalities—characters—who make up
a community:
- "The King of the Schnorrers" first was published in 1894.
It is as delightful and entertaining today as it was then. By
republishing it, with charming illustrations' by Henk Krijger,
Thomas Yoseloff has brought to life an old classic.
'Discovering Israel' Excellent
Guide to State for Children
.
"Discovering Israel," by Regina Tor, a children's book that
will delight and instruct parents as well as the children for
Whom it is intended, published by Random House, is a very
delightful account of an able observer's visit in and study of
Israel and its people.
It is no wonder that Abba Eban, Israel's Minister of Educa-
tion. in an introduction to this book, states that it "will help you
`rediscover' the country in its new stage of upbuilding."
"The best way to discover Israel is, of course, to take a
trip there and tour the country, using the Bible as guidebook
and text book," Eban wrote. "But a trip overseas is not easy
for children, and so Regina Tor's 'Discovering Israel' is the
next best thing."