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Purely Commentary
We Salute -N./6 Eminent By Philip
oittZpuoinzaelitaiens
HDeetnrry
d a a Less S101110VitZ
Hurwitz Heads
Social Workers
C. Simons
Greetings f r o m President
Kennedy and Secretary Abra-..
ham A. Ribicoff opened the
63rd annual convention of the .
National Conference of. Jewish.
Communal Service at the SW-
ler-Hilton Hotel, Boston. Ken-,
nedy's message to the 1,000
social workers who had gather-
ed from all parts of the United .
brought to the • court a sound legal scholarship, a breadth of States and Canada, said in part:
Justice Butzel, 90; Judge Simons, 85
human sympathy and understanding, an intimate knowledge of "Dedication to the interests of
Michigan Jewry's two most distinguished citizens will ob- the problems -that beset business and industry . . . He has been others is mankind's noblest ob-
w , serve important birthdays next Week..
a great influence- on that court . . . in clearing the way to progress jective. Your efforts benefit
Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Henry M. Butzel by departure from obsolete doctrine."
the individual, the community
Z
An entire community is blessed by, the things he has done, and the nation. They contribute
on May 24.
,
to was_
ui •U. S. Circuit Court Judge Charles C. Simons marked his by his mature judgment, by his friendship and sincerity. His toward both a stronger . and
better America."
birthday is a blessed day for the entire state.
-
85th birthday on May 21.
Dr. Judah J. Shapiro, presi-
;4
We wish Justice Butzel many happy returns of. the day.
They
are
most
important
dates
for
all
of
us
to
make
note
"
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*
dent of the National Conference •
:
of.
In
extending
hearty
birthday
greetings
to
the
two
leaders,
E..:
of Jewish Communal Service,
•
O - we are enabled to look back into the scores of years of our city .'s: Judge Charles C. Simons
Those of us who enjoyed the friendship of David W. Simons, was presented with an award,
14 - and state's history, into the annals of our Jewish community, in
E
one of Detroit's most distinguished Jewish leaders in the first for having delivered the best
all of which. both men played important roles.
4.1
first conference paper at the 1960
A
Justice Butzel and Judge Simons represent a generation of three decades of this- century and a member of Detroit's
a similar convention.
.
Nine-Man
Council,
and
who
are
privileged
to
continue
rzl• leaders who pioneered in community building, who set forth
Donald B.
I:4
EA principles and ideals that continue to serve as guides in humani- friendship with his eminent son, Charles C. Simons, must take Hurwitz, exec-
congratulate
him
on
his
85th
tarian services for all races and creeds. They are splendid men, special pride in being able to
utive direetor
and it is thrilling to be able to count an octogenarian and a non- birthday.
of the Federa-
Charles
Simons
was
born
in
Detroit,_
May
21,
1876..
He
was
agenarian among ow eminent contemporaries.
educated in Detroit schools and received his B. A. and LL. B tion of Jewish
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*
decrees from the University of Michigan in 1898 and 1900. He Agencies of
Justice Henry M. Butzel
is one of the youngest men to be elected — in 1903 — to Greater Phila-
delphia, w a s
Justice Henry M. Butzel, the oldest of four sons of Detroit the, Michigan State Senate and
elected presi-
pioneers, the Magnus Butzels, was born in our community on gained national fame for his
dent of the
May 24, 1871. One of his brothers, Fred M. Butzel, became one sponsorship of the first Direct
conference.
of America's most distinguished Jewish leaders. Justice Butzel'S State Primary Law, a step that
Following on
birthday is marred by a sad memory: it is the eighth anniversary was revolutionary at that time.
the central
of the death of his brother Fred.::•: -: -
He was Wayne County Cir-
theme, "Rela-
Referring to the family
cuit Commissioner from 1905 to
tionship Be-
background of the Butzels, in
1906. He was a member of the
tween Genera-
an article he wrote for us 15
Constitutional
Michigan State
tions—Society
years ago, Judge Simons re-:.
Convention in 1908. In 1916 he
in Change,"
called: "Justice Butzel's mother --
was a Republican Presidential
Dr. Kenneth
was Henrietta Hess, known to
Elector-at-Large. He was a di-
Keniston, pro-
her intimates as 'Tante Yeta;
- rector of the Detroit Board of
Hurwitz
fessor of psy-
She was always looking for
Commerce in 1918.
chology
at
Harvard
University,
Maids, until one morning she
President Warren G. Hard-
• the principal speaker, said that
undertook to take a buxom lass
ing appointed him to the U.S.
American society is changing
home with her from Central
District Court in 1923, and
so rapidly that parents cannot
Market in her electric and was
in 1929 he was elevated by
expect the same basic technolo-
arrested as. a White Slaver.
President Herbert Hoover to
gies, philosophies, institutions, .
The brothers never tire of tha
the U.S. Circuit Court of Ap-
or even the same kind of people
story." • . •
peals, the highest - court in the
to face their children as faced
Henry Butzel received his
land next to the U.S. Supreme
them. Today's younger genera-!
Court. Judge Simons
Ph. B. and LL. B: - degrees from
One of :Michigan's most brilliant orators, Judge Simons tion, he said, "is growing-into
the University of Michigan in
1891 and 1892.. His brother
traces his, speaking ability to his college. days, having won the a future which. is inore ,unknow;:
Fred, who also was graduated
Northern Oratorical League contest as the U. of M. representative able than that confronted by
any previOus generation."
from the U: of M. , joined - him
in 1899.
Gustav Saron, general secre-
as a laW partner in the firm of
Active in many causes, a leader in local, state and Federal
Butzel and Butzel in a modest
Bar Associations, Judge Simons devoted himself for a number tary -of the Board of Jewish
office in the .Union Trust Build-
of years to congregational affairs, as a leader in Temple Beth Deputies, Union of South Africa,
on
ing in 1897. That Office grew
El, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and Hebrew reported to the convention
status
of
the
Jewish
community
Butzel
Justice
into the distinguished law-firm 1915, Union College. In 1941 he was president of the biennial council
of South Africa in the light of
and still functions under of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
of Butzel,Levin and Winston in
country's developing politi-.
In 1946 he was as disturbed as most of us by the actions of that
that name.
situation. He said that "so
Henry encouraged Fred in his social service efforts. He the anti-Zionist (now pro-Arab and anti-Israel) Council for cal
far as government policy is
assumed most of the burdens of the law firm, and Fred acquired Judaism, and he made this statement to us:
concerned, the Nationalist Party ,
•
Much free time for his public services.
"I would have the_ Council for Judaism re-evaluate the has honored its ,undertaking to
aiding
many
-
logic and re-examine the effect of the impact of a purely remove the so-called Jewish :
Henry Butzel was always the generous man,
causes and encouraging humanitarian efforts. He was one of the subjective concept upon a harrassed and homeless people whose question from the life and poli-
very early members of the American Jewish Committee in which tragically realistic experiences deny it. If this be naivete, make tics of the cciuntry.: The govern-
he and Brother Fred were leaders - for many years. He was the most of it."
ment has followed South Af-
president of Temple Beth El and the United Jewish Charities. -
He wrote this in the days when there was no Israel but rica's tradition of displaying- a
He was chairman of a Legal Advisory Board in World War L merely a "harrassed and homeless people" whom a group of. -very • positive and sympathetic
He taught - law at the University of Detroit and guided many frightened Jews were harrassing further, perhaps even more attitude towards the State of
distinguished lawyers in their paths toward leadership in their brutally, than -the anti-Semites. Judge Simons expressed his Israel."
rebuke out of his sense of fair play and his contempt for
Dr: Moses A. Leavitt, execu- . ,
profession.
tive . vice-chairman of the Am- ,
Be was for many years among the most active figures in
injustice.
This is what has motivated his activities—in behalf of Allied erican Jewish Joint Distribution
the Jewish Welfare Federation and the- Allied Jewish Cam-
Jewish Cainpaigns, in support -of religious concepts, as a - leader Committee, stated that by the:
paigns.
close of -1960 more than 2,-
Governor Fred Green appointed him an Associate Justice in and worker for humanitarian causes,
The fact that the Michigan Patent Law Association, the 700,000 Claims were filed under .
of the Michigan State Supreme Court on. July 25, 1929. The
Governor praised him as a man with "the broad and understanding State Bar of Michigan and the Detroit Bar Association are the German- Federal Indemnifi-
combining to honor Judge Simons, with a birthday dinner, on cation Law by Jews who had
outlook on. life and the qualities of good citizenship which are
suffered imprisonthent, injuries
as necessary -as profound legal knowledge to a correct solution May 21, is an indication of the esteem in which he is held to health, loss of - provider,
of the important problems that come before our highest court," .by 'all-
It is as an able jurist, as 'a just man, as a defender of the damage to property and to pro- '
Justice Butzel was re-elected in 1931, 1940 and. 1950 to full
- .
downtrodden,
that we think of Judge Charles C. Simons whom we fesSional or economic advance
terms of office and retired from the Supreme Court last year.
-
ment.
85th birthday.
.his
In
his
tribute
to
Justice
Butzel,
Judge
Simons
wrote:
He
greet
on
a
great
day
in
his
life:
•
On May 18, 1956, this Commentator paid deserved honors to two distinguished jurists-
- Michigan Supreme Court Justice Henry M. Butzel and U.S. 'Circuit Court Judge Charles C.
Simons . This column was reprinted in the Congressional Record and became a part of the
-_permanent- chronicles of our Government. The two jurists now are. celebrating their 90th and
85th birth d - ays,.respectively. Believing that the sentiments expressed five years ago remain as
relevant today as they did then, this column is being reprinted in honor of the two eminent
members of our
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Federation, United Jewish Charities Help Liquidate-
,
$65,000,000 WA Debt to Extent of $3,000,000
local Jewish communities for
rescue and resettlement pro-
grams in Israel. Deficit financing
of these programs had repeatedly
become necessary during the
past 13 years to: cover mass irri-
migration and rescue expendi- -
tures above current contributed
philanthropic income. -
Paul Zuckerman, 1961 Allied
Jewish Campaign chairman,:
pointed out that despite the
generosity of American Jewry
and other Jewish communities,
sudden emigration deadlines had
at times made it imperative. "to
save Jews regardless of the fi-
for Israel, Inc., the United Jewish nancial condition of the Jewish
The Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion and the United Jewish
Charities are participating in the
$65,000,000 debt liquidation pro-
gram to the extent of $3,000,000,
Max M. Fisher, Federation presis
dent said. Max J. Zivian is presi-
dent
. of the United Jewish Chari-
ties. The National Bank of
Detroit is the local participating
lending institution.
•The overall loan is. a coordi-
nated effort unprecedented in
philanthropic organizations, It
will -make possible the refunding
and orderly liquidation of debts
'1 \ incurred • by the Jewish Agency
k ppeal of Greater New York and
•
Agency."
He termed the deficit financing
of these programs an act of faith
and moral courage.
Abraham Borman, treasurer of
the Allied Jewish Campaign, and.
George M. Stutz, Detroit Fed-
eration •treasurer, pointed out
that thousands of Israel's immi-
grants still lack proper housing
and that tens of thousands of
new fariners are still waiting for
the basic tools which will enable
them to become economically in-
dependent..
"This new lean program will
enable the Jewish Agency for
Israel, Inc., to proceed on the
basis of sound fiscal and budget-
ing procedures," they said.
;Information Bureau Honors Richards
The twenty-fifth anniversary
the establishment of the
Jewish Information Bureau,
Inc., 250 W. 57th St. 1 New York,
was observed with a testimonial
luncheon tendered to its foun-
der ,and director, Bernard G.
'Richards, at 7-lotel Wellington,
New 'ark. -
The work of the Bureau was
described -iby a' number *of-
speakers .4.hO :enlarged : upOn
the educational. value Of the
service and paid_ tribute to
Richards and his public work
through the years in this and
other fields, and in the sphere
of
of the Jewish Publication So-
ciety of Ainerica, expressed his-
appreciation of the purposes . of
the Bureau.
Louis Lipsky recalled the
early services of the guest in
the beginnings of the Zionist
movement, the American Jew-
ish Congress, and related en-
deavors. He expressed his re-
gret that the community is
strangely indifferent. to educa-
tional activities of the type car-
ried on by the Bureau.
Richirds Said that while the
work of the Bureau involved. a
bitter struggle, there were com-
pensations in the devoted sup-
of journalism.
port given him by a band of
Robert Szold was chairman enthusiastic supporters who, de-
of the anniversary committee. spite all difficulties, stood la*
Dr. Solomon Grayzel, editor from the beginning.