Purely Commenter y
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, July 28,
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
•
Occurrence of General Election on Rosh
Hashanah (Sept. 12). Poses Problem for
Jeivish Voters; Polling Places Affected
Genuine Humor Must Be Devoid of Vulgarity
Republicans: Alfred Kluno- on one petition had been in
The occurrence of the next
general election on the second ver, G. Tobias and W. Magill. "substantial compliance" with
Even before the primary elec- the election laws. Gummed la-
day • of Rosh Hashanah — Sept.
12—will pose serious probleths tion for Con-Con delegate, at- bels bearing his name were
torney Joseph Kadans had a placed on the voting machine
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for Jewish voters.
While the booths will still be fight on his hands. He was de- ballots in the 18th Senate dis-
open for approximately two feated in the election but he trict, which comprises the cities
hours after sunset on the sec- won-the preliminary bout, when of Livonia, Northville and
and day of Rosh Hashanah, it the state Supreme Court ruled Plymouth, and Redford and
will be difficult for all Jewish that although he had failed to Plymouth Townships. Kadans,
voters to go to the polls at sign each of 60 . nominating pe- 48, a Democrat, lives at 20492
that late period in the day, titions which he filed, his name , Cheyenne.
after the Holy Day, and most
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Jewish voters may have to ap-
ply for absentee ballots to be
Boris Smolar's
able to cast them in advance
of the festival.
Also affecting the election
may be the denial to the
Election Commission of the
use of synagogues and He-
From the latest issue of Harry Golden's The Carolina Israelite we
brew school buildings as poll-
(Copyright 1961,
find some apparently helpful information. It seems that recently there
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
ing places on Rosh Hashanah.
was a motel raid in Charlotte "which tumbled some eminently respectable
businessmen out of their beds and some even nicer ladies with them,"
To be voted on at the Sept. The 'Lucky Strike' Case
Golden reports. He goes on to say that while vice-squad raids are not
common, they are nevertheless a constant source of menace. But there 12 election will be the candi-
The case of the Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation
is a way to insure perfect safety.
"When you register at a motel, hotel, or tavern with another woman," dates nominated on party bal- —the American firm which participates in the Arab boycott
Golden explains, "always use a Jewish name, which puts you above lots -Tuesday as delegates to
all suspicion and also thwarts any private detective scouring the area. the Constitutional Convention. against Israel by refusing since 1956 to sell Lucky Strike and
No one makes up a Jewish name, or so people imagine.
Among the winners in Tues- Pall Mall cigarettes to Israel—is again coming to the forefront
"You're always safe at motels or hotels or taverns with such names
as: Tom Ginsburg, Danny A. L. Levy, or Wallace Garfunkle."
day's Primary Election were because somebody has taken the interest to spread rumors that
Only in America.
the case has been solved . . . These rumors are now termed as
the following:
false by responsible American Jewish organizations interested
- This is neither wit nor humor nor satire. And it is not the
As delegates at large, Mar- in combating the Arab boycott against American Jews and Israel
truth. It is simple vulgarity.
kus S. Simon won the Repub-
This commentator regrets saying it. We had a delightful' lican nomination in the . . . Major Jewish organizations still list Brown & Williamson
Tobacco Corp. as • one of the firms which yielded to the Arab
time exchanging views with Golden for several days in Jerusalem
Fourth Senatorial District and boycott . .. The facts, as they stand today, with regard to the
only recently. Some of his stories are worth quoting. But when
Jack Faxon won the Demo- Brown & Williamson firm—which has its headquarters in Louis-
he resorts to vulgar impersonations we are revolted.
cratic nomination in the
ville, Ky.—are as follows .. . Brown & Williamson is a wholly-
What a pity that such rot should be attributed to a peri- Fifth Senatorial District.
owned subsidiary of the British American Tobacco Company
odical that is misinterpreted as being a Jewish newspaper. Caro-
The winners' list includes the
and manufactures and sells in this country Viceroy, Kool,
lina Israelite appears a very few times a year. It is a sheet for the following candidates:
Raleigh
and other brands of cigarettes . . . Brown & Williamson
personal expressions by Golden, but he rejoices in having it
Democrats: Harold Norris,
considered a newspaper, which it is not. It certainly is not a Melvin Nord, Avern Cohn, S. also manufactures Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes under
American Tobacco
part of the English-Jewish press of America.
Ostrow and A. Glovinsky. Doro- license from the British firm, but the British
Golden is capable_ of so much. Why does he misuse his thy M. Jacobs and Allan W. Company owns the right to sell these two brands of cigarettes
abilities?
Grossman, both Democrats, only outside the United States . . . The American Tobacco Com-
pany, which owns these brands in the United States, has no
were unopposed.
connection with either Brown & Williamson or British American
Physical Americanism and Muscular Judaism
Tobacco and is in no way involved in the Arab boycott program
In what has been described as "an unusual postscript" to his
. . . British American Tobacco admits that it is refusing to sell
press conference on July 18, President Kennedy made an appeal
Lucky Strike and Pall Mall brands to Israel, and Brown &
to "each school" in the land to introduce basic programs of
Williamson publicly stated that the boycott was imposed because
"physical development, exercise and achievement." He asked that
of pressure's from Arab countries . .. Jewish organizations take
the schools should "work with him" to improve the physical
(Direct JTA Teletype Wire to
the stand that Brown & Williamson, as wholly owned by British
capacity of every under-developed pupil by providing, for "boys
The Jewish News)
American Tobacco, is inextricably associated with the decisions
and girls alike," "a minimum of 15 minutes of vigorous activity
PARIS.—Eighty North African of its parent company and therefore shares responsibility for
every day."
Jewish children attending sum- the boycott . . . Especially since it refuses to accept orders for
The President believes that boys and girls in other lands mer camps in Bizerte were eva- Lucky Strike and Pall Mall cigarettes from Israeli importers,
have moved ahead of ours "in their ability to endure long physical cuated before the outbreak of thus knowlingly cooperating with the Arabs in their boycott
hardships, in their physical fitness and in their strength."
French-Tunisian fighting and are against Israel.
His statement on physical fitness declares:
safe and unharmed, it was re-
The strength of our democracy and our country is really no greater ported here 'Wednesday..
in the final analysis than the well-being of our citizens. The vigor of
Threats & Counter Threats
The children, coming mainly
our country, its physiCal vigor and energy, is going to be no more
The president of Brown & Williamson, S. W. Cutchins, tries
advanced, no more substantial, than the vitality and will of our from Algeria, had been at two
to justify the yielding to Arab boycott pressure by arguing that
countrymen. • •
I think in recent years we have seen many evidences in the most camps organized by the Has- a large company with thousands of stockholders looking to it
advanced tests, comparative tests, that have been made that many of homer Hatzair and the Dror
for earnings has hardly any right "to defy a threat which in-
the boys and girls who live in other countries have moved ahead of
younger people in this country in their ability to endure long physical youth movement. On the eve of evitably would" hurt every one of the stockholders". . . He also
hardship, in their physical fitness and in their strength.
the fighting, the children were asserts that Brown & Williamson is not anti-Jewish or in any
This country is going to move through difficult days, difficult
years. The responsibilities upon us are heavy. As the leader of the transfered first to Tunis and way motivated by anti-Jewish feelings . . . The Jewish organiza-
free world we tarry world-wide commitments. People look to us with then back to their homes.
tions, however, have never charged the firm with anti-Jewish
hope and if we fail they look to those who are our adversaries.
I think during this period we should make every effort to see that
feelings . . . The sole issue is the participation of the Brown
the • intellectual talents of every boy and girl are developed to the
maximum. And that also their physical fitness, their willingness to muscular Judaism, akin to mus- & Williamson and its parent company in the Arab boycott .. .
participate in physical exercise, their willingness to participate in cular Americanism, is honor- No one doubts the sincerity of the Brown & Williamson Tobacco
physical contests and athletic contests—all these I think will do a good
Corporation officers when they say they are not anti-Jewish
deal to strengthen this country and also to contribute to a greater able.
enjoyment of life in the years to come . . .
Our concern is in another re- since they do have Jewish employees and salesmen ... We are
And also of course it is a matter of vital interest to our national
gard. Our young people are de- even inclined to believe that their involvement in the boycott
Government.
To members of school boards, school administrators, teachers, the votedly interested in literary is distressing and disgusting to their decent instincts . . . How-
pupils themselves and their parents, I am directing this urgent call
to strengthen all programs which contribute to the physical fitness of activities and many are enter- ever, since they admit that their parent company has given in
our youth.
ing the scientific fields. But to threats of boycott because they have large business interests
I strongly urge each school: in the United States to adopt the three
there are fewer Jews in sports in the Arab world they do not want to lose, they obviously need
specific - recommendations of our National Council on Youth Fitness.
First, to identify the physiCally under-developed pupil and work with today than ever before in Amer- some counterbalancing pressure to justify ignoring the Arab
him to improve his physical capacity. And if he will work and the
ican Jewish history. There are for business reasons . . . Thus, like good stewards, they will
school will work together, a great deal can be done.
Second, provide a minimum of fifteen minutes of vigorous activity too few Jewish baseball stars, be able to explain to their stockholders that they are forced
every day for all of our school students, boys and girls alike.
Third, use valid fitness tests to determine pupil physical ability very few who are distinguish- to ignore the Arabs in order to protect the business interests
ing themselves in football and of the corporation . . . It seems that American Jews, in the best
and to evaluate their progress.
The adoption of these recommendations by our schools will insure
the beginning of a sound basic program of physical development, exercise basketball and none in boxing. of spirit and with goodwill, are . prepared to provide a good
There • was a time when Jews business reason to Brown & Williamson and its parent company
and achievement.
. . . This is a matter of importance and. I'm hopeful that we can played important roles in bas-
to ignore the Arabs, namely, the threat they will lose larger
move ahead in the coming months.
ketball and in boxing. •
and more important markets in the United States by reason of
The President has touched upon a very sensitive issue. For
While we are not so elated
some time, there has been admonishment that Americans are over the fisticuffs, the fact that a Jewish boycott against their brands . . . Since Jews not only
smoke these cigarettes but also sell them, and create good will
getting "too soft." Now we have a direct appeal for a toughening Jews have abandoned the game
and ill will, the tremendous American market well may be at
of our youth.
happens to be symbolic of a stake ... And because the American market is highly competitive,
While this is a national problem—and our President may now new trend. Jews are great in a shift from one brand to another can start an avalanche which
be leading the nation towards a solution of it—this commentator mathematics and in physics and ultimately can hurt the total standing of the cigarette.
is unable to resist the temptation to apply it to Jewish needs.
they make us proud. Neverthe-
*
*
Nearly half a century ago, as part of his appeals in behalf less, we would like to see a
Useful
Lessons
of the Zionist• cause, the late Dr. Max Nordau pleaded for a greater interest among young
No one can say the Jews in this country are unfair or
"muscular Judaism." He felt, as did many who were aware in Jews in sports. That's the kind
what dangers Jews lived at the time, that young Jews should be of "muscular Judaism" 'that prejudiced in advancing this argument . . . Actually, we can
feel that Mr. Cutchins would be delighted to be able to go back
prepared to defend themselves against attacks by non-Jews..
should be encouraged.
In view of what had happened in Eastern and Central Europe
President - Kennedy has come- to his parent company and tell it that its Arab markets are not
during the period of the holocaust, taking into consideration the. forward to assist in such a cam- as important as his American market for the same brands . . .
in
dangers that faced the Jews of Palestine before the eergence-
paign. He has asked for an ex- He could then suggest that the parent company drop the boycott
-• of the- State of Israel, considering Israel's current need for self- panded physical education pro- of Israel and follow the sound business practice of not giving in
'defense and not ignoring the frequent threats to Jews even in gram for our youth. Young Jews to threats . . . This has been done by the American Express
democratic countries, including the United States, the question are now to be expected, to- Company and by the Shell Oil Company which altered their
arises again: shouldn't we encourage muscular Judaism as well as gether with their fellow stu- trade policies and now resist Arab pressures regarding their
the deep interest our youth take in literature and in science? dents of all other faiths, to give trade with Israel . . . A lesson in this respect has also been
Indeed, in view of what happened in Arlington, Va., wouldn't serious consideration to greater learned- by Renault, the French automobile company . . . Under
it be wise to train young people to defend themselves when the physical fitness. Together with Arab pressure Renault gave up its plant in Israel, but what did
"muscular Americanism" we the company gain? . . . It got no business from the Arab coun-
occasion arises?
Of course, a young Jewish lad was helpless against 10 rowdies can also hope for a "muscular tries and lost heavily in the United States to the German and
British and Italian small cars.
in Arlington. But there are occasions when defense is possible, and Judaism."
In spite of our having been engulfed in enthess tragedies,
Jewry has always resorted to the flavor of good humor to brighten
up existence.
In every clime; in all ages, there have been evidences of
punning, of resort to humor, of a sense • of satire to counteract
bitternesS and to offset the dangers that have faced our kinsmen.
At the .moment, there are recapitulations of the most tragic
event in our history. It is hardly to be expected that we would
suddenly start telling jokes in such a situation. '
But on general principles, it may well be asked whether
Jews are losing their sense of humor. If that were so, it would
be a sad day for our generation. There has never been a lapse
in our being able to laugh off dangers, and such a spirit of inner
strength must never vanish.
Humor, however, must, in adherence to our traditions, remain
wholesome, dignified, on a high level.
When, therefore, we read nonsense that passes off for Jewish
•
humor, we experience a sense of revulsion. Such was the case
upon reading this item in the Trade Winds column by Jerome
M. Beatty in the Saturday Review:
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'Between You
... and Me'
Evacuate Jewish
Youth of Bizerte
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