Recalled by Artist Rosenberg When Felix Warburg Presided By JAMES N. ROSENBERG Honorary Chairman, JDC * * * EDITOR'S NOTE: The Joint Distribution Committee. a major beneficiary of the United Jewish Appeal. will observe its 50th an- niversary Dec. 10-12. James N. Rosenberg, noted artist. attorney, and writer. here recalls the agency's early days and his con- tacts with a noted f i g u r e in American Jewish history. * * - Soon after World War I broke out. the need of help to our over- seas Jewish brethren became plain. Jewish leaders in the field of labor, of capital. of religion — Zionists, non-Zionists, anti-Zionists—all got to work to help. Competing money- raising efforts made it plain to Felix M. Warburg that there must be united efforts;Through his pa- tience and skill. he brought to- gether the contending' groups. The Joint Distribution C o m in i t t e e emerged. Felix Warburg served as chairman to the day of his death in 1937. , My close contacts with Felix Warburg,and .JDC began on a .July Fritz M. Warburg, Last of Famous Brothers, Is Dead day in 1921. The story of. my meet- ing with him appears in my book, "Painter's Self-Portrait." I quote from it: "Luncheon with Felix M. War- burg at the Midday Club on Broad Street in July 1921 heralded an abrupt and vast change in my life. I surmised. or course, that an invitation from so busy and distinguished a man, who knew me only slightly. must have a purpose. I did not guess that I was about to be whisked into an- another world. I had served as a director of the New York United Hebrew Chari- ties under the leadership of Cyrus Sulzberger (father of Arthur) and Mortimer Schiff (Warburg's bro- ther - in - law). I had been one of the founders of its successor. the Jew- ish Federation, and had also helped to raise funds for the overseas work of the Joint Distribution Committee, headed by Mr. War- burg. But I knew nothing about JDC's widespread activities. which began in 1914 when World War I laid a special toll on Jewish life in m id-Europe. "As I sipped my coffee wonder- ing what Mr. Warburg had in mind. he remarked almost as casually as if talking abOut the weather—to this day I can quote him almost verbatim—'I am glad that you are willing to go abroad for a year as European head of JDC." "The war was over: the time had come. Mr. Warburg ex- I On the Record I By NATHAN ZIPRIN His Day Is Never Done An unusual honor was paid in Tel Aviv two weeks ago to Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, vice president of the Israel Bond Organization, when he was presented with an Illegal Immigration Medallion by former members of a group that smuggled Jews from Europe into the haven that was later to become Israel. Dr. Schwartz. as director at the time of the European rescue opera- tions of the Joint Distribution ComMittee, played a leading role in the program that brought more than 115,000 Jewish survivors of the concentration camps to Israel prior to statehood. Those surviv- ors, as the world now knows, were later to play a decisive role in helping Israel win its independ- ence. Many of those whom the illegal operation saved were in the audi- ence' when Dr. Schwartz was hon- ored—and this surely must have been one of the most satisfactory moments in his life. As for the rescuers. their prime thought at the moment must have been that it was good to know that the man they were honoring was continuing his work for Israel, perhaps less dramatically but very significant- ly in the economic field. * * * The Jewish Vote . . . Is there a Jewish vote or isn't there? The American Council for Strained Israel-Bonn Relations BY JOSHUA H. JUSTMAN Copyright, 1964, JTA JERUSALEM—Relations between Israel and Western Germany seem to be heading for a period of heavy strain. The recent statement by Bonn's Chancellor Erhard. that he saw no way for legislative action to bar West German scientists from working in Egypt,. evoked deep resentment here which, so far. has found only limited expres- sion in the reaction of a Foreign Office spokesman. What Israel de- manded he said—was that Bonn take effective steps to put an end to the activities of the scientists aiding Nasser in the development of aggressive arms which. as Nas- ser openly declares. are intended for Israel's destruction. The idea of legislative action did not emanate from Israel. It was the Bonn Government and Bunde- stag—he said—that felt that this could best be achieved by means of legislative measures and now, 20 months after they had. been initi- ated, Chancellor Erhard finds it is "impracticable"—without pointing to any other alternative. Observers here wonder what prompted the Chancellor to come out with this public statement—in- cluding a reiteration of Bonn's stand regarding the applicability of the statute of limitation to Nazi war criminals—which, besides all other considerations. was bound to bring about heavy internal pres- sure on the Israel government, as indeed it did. Several opposition parties have already requested a full dress debate in the Knesset when it opens its winter session next week and in anticipation of which the Government intends to come out with an official statement — the Study of the Demography of : Besides her daughter. Mrs. always the true word regardless of ing to Erhard's statement on the European Jews decided to establish I Emanuel (Jennie) Lenter, sur- consequences." Well, what is the German scientists. It may well in- volve the need for a reappraisal of a long-range research program. vivors of Mrs. Lipsitz are three function of the rabbi as rabbi? with results to be evaluated at a , sons. Samuel Lipson, Simon Lipson Evidently the question h a s no conference in October 1966. of Los Angeles and William Lip- answer. for if it did it would have 1915. Social service. wrote Mr. The committee was established ' son; one brother, two sisters, eight been answered in the 50 years Richard then. "is not religion and at a conference at the National grandchildren, and three great- since it was asked by Bernard G. the carrying on of settlement work Center for Higher Jewish Studies . grandchildren. Richards in the American Hebrew is not the function of a rabbi held here on "Jewish Life in Com- Mrs. Leah Lenter leaves' three and Jewish Messenger. though in the course of his min- temporary Europe." Participants sons, Emanuel, Herbert I. and Evidently problems besetting istrations the rabbi may take some included demographic experts from Louis S. of Yonkers; one brother, Jewish intellectuals over the years part in various phases of social Belgium, Holl a n d, Switzerland, and five grandchildren. haven't changed much. Much is reform" and "if you are attempting Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia a n d being said these days about rabbis to make a club out of the syna- France. Michigan mines nearly 20 per - playing the role of social workers gogue, it proves that you are most cent of the nation's salt. It has and the synagogues as social clubs. in need of a club." So timely is THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS enough salt to supply the entire Yet we find this very plaintive this piece that it has equal rele- 54 Friday, October 23, 1964 nation "forever." note in Mr. Richard's article of vance to our days. — Belgian Jewish Paper Charges Govt. `Serving' Arab Boycott. Group (Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News) BRUSSELS — The Belgische Is- rdelitisch Weekblad. the Antwerp Jewish weekly, charged Tuesday that the Belgian government's de- partment for external trade had placed itself "in the service of the Arab Boycott Committee." The weekly asserted that four Belgian firms, which a few months ago received written demands from the Arab Committee to halt all re lations with Israel in three months, each received a communication which is expected to be couched in from the government' department rather sharp terms. - on the matter. Chancellor Erhard's statement The weekly said that the depart- came on the heels of another ment called to the attention of the Bonn reaction 'to a press report companies a statement in a letter here which quoted Premier Esh- from the Belgian ambassador in kol as saying that he might meet Libya that the firms would be Chancellor Erhard sometime placed on the Arab blacklist if they next year. A Bonn spokesman failed to give written guarantes said that "nothing was known" they would end trade with Israel. of such a planned meeting — The department is responsible to while in fact it is scheduled to the ministry for foreign affairs and external trade. take place. _ Quite obviously one does not The weekly asked whether the have to look hard for an explana- Belgian minister for foreign trade, tion of Bonn's behavior. It is all M. Wasseur, was aware of the ac part and parcel of Bonn's "Drang tion Of the department and whether nach Osten," West Germany's drive he approved it. Editors sent a copy to penetrate the Middle East and of the issue to the minister. Africa and secure for itself there The first Downtown Detroit show- a wide economic and political base. Surely it is no accident that Chan- ing • of a "Fabulous Tour of cellor Erhard's statement coincides Eurclpe" tops the new program at with an impending visit by Presi- the Telenews Theater. Two college girls , experience a thrilling ad- dent Nasser of Egypt to Bonn. through Western Europe To be sure there is nothing new venture as they attempt to hit the high- to it. It is a policy that has been of 13 countries during their going on for many years and it has spots short vacation. Judaism says there isn't and there NEW YORK — Dr. Fritz Moritz should be none if there in fact. is Warburg. youngest and last of the plained. to close soup kitchens. one. My good friend Dr. Samuel • five brothers of the famous Ger- 'There must be economic reha- Margoshes says there is a Jewish man Jewish banking family died bilitation. The Jews must not be Saturday at Kibbutz Netzer Sereni. vote and that if there isn't there p uperized. You have had wide Israel. at age 85. experience in reorganization. We should be one. Political scientists The firm hearing the family and sociologists say there is a dis- want you to organize our Euro• name. M. Warburg & Co. of Ham- tinct pattern of voting among pean work, root and branch, and burg was founded in the 18th Cen- minorities in the country. Jews in- bring it into constructive chan- tury. and the W a r b u r g s were cluded. I am lacking in the wis- nels.' " ' prominent in German financial On my return in 1922 from my dom to make a definite determina- circles. The father. the late Moritz year in Europe as European head tion on so specialized a problem. Warburg. was head of the . com- of JDC. my life was considerably But this I know—ever since I have pany. enmeshed in many JDC problems. been voting I have been exposed to Born in Hamburg, Dr. War- From 1922 to 1937, when death pressure by politicians to vote one burg received a doctor of laws took Felix from us. he always ,way or another primarily because. degree from a German univer- presided at the JDC executive they claimed. it would be best for sity but did not practice law. He committee meetings. and I can well Jews. Right now, in my own New became apprentice at a Frank- recall that never at one of its meet- York bailiwick. we find two canli- furt bank and in 1907 joined M. ings presided over by him did we dateS for the U. S. Senate vying M. Warbug and -Co. of Hamburg fail to reach unanimous decisions so arduously for the Jewish vote as a partner. as to how and for what purposes thati one has the feeling, they arc In World War I he was a com- and to what groups of European almOst prepared to enter the tent mercial attache of the German Jewry we should make our distri- through Abrahamic rites. Presum- Government at its legation in butions. ably that es the • point at which Stocholm, later returning to Ham- In _my long life. in which I have they will stop. but they stoop at , burg and remaining a partner in dealt with many people, corpora- nothing else. One candidate, in- the family firm until the Nazis , tions, committees, groups, etc., I stead of kissing babies, kissed • took it over. have never seen anything like this mezuzas and other hastened to Dr. Warburg was seized by the amazing gift of Felix Warburg to eat shirayim from the table of a Nazis in 1938 and held several bring about peace. He was the chassidic rabbi. Is there a Jewish months before his release. He emi- most accomplished catalyst I ever vote? It seems the politicians an- grated to Sweden and became a met. swered the question for me. citizen until emigrating to Israel a * * several years ago. Rabbi as Rabbi . The brothers. besides Dr. War- What is the function of the rab- been the fear of Arab reaction burg. were Felix M. W a r b u r g, bi? He has been described as that also kept Bonn from estab- American philanthropist and sen- "social worker." as "communal lishing diplomatic relations with ior partner in the banking firm Israel. leader." as "after-dinner-speaker," here of Kuhn, Loeb and Co.; Paul It would appear however that, as "funeral orator," as "charity or- M. Warburg, American philanfliro- A local couple suffered a double ganizer." as 'anti - vice crusader" as West Germany grows stronger, pist and board chairman of the it feels less and less the needs of Manhattan Co. and the Interna- loss his week with the deaths of and in most recent days as 'civil "balancing" its policy vis - a - vis the tional, Acceptance Bank of New both their mothers on the same rights champion." After all the Arabs and of considering World York here: Max M. Warburg of day. vain and fatuous attempts either Cecelia Lenter and Leah Lipsitz, to justify the existence or to ex- public opinion. While two years Hamburg and later New York, ago the issue of the German scien- banker and philanthropist: and Dr. mothers of Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel plain the anomalous position of tists was seen as causing West Ger- Aby M. Warburg. art historian. Lenter, 20232 Braile, died Wednes- the modern spiritual leader in many to feel "uncomfortable," now who after the Nazis took over. day. Both women were residents Israel. I hope someone will come moved the Warburg Library of art of the Jewish Home for the Aged. forward with the true definition apparently Bonn feels that there is Mrs. Lipsitz, 88, was born in of its meaning and at last do jus- no more room for any such "sensi- books to London from Hamburg. Russia and came to this country tice to the lofty title of the "rab- tivity" and that the Israeli aspect - and Detroit — 51 years ago. bi " defining him as leader not can now be handled with much less Plan Demography Study Mrs. Lenter, 81, who also ar - only in the accepted term but as "caution" than in the past. Thus, the problem now facing of Jewry in Europe rived in the U.S. 51 years ago, a "leader who leads, as the ex- BRUSSELS (JTA ► — A two-day I was born in Poland. She lived in emplar of intellectual honesty who Prime Minister Eshkol may be a conference of the Committee for I Detroit 28 years. waits not for a sign but speaks far wider one than that of react- Mothers of Couple Die Same Day at Home for the Aged the whole pattern of Israel-Bonn relations. This will, no doubt, prove a most complex and difficult task. On the one hand, there is the high emotion witn which the subject is charged here; on the other hand there are the hard po- litical and economic ficts of life— as well as considerations of Is- rael's security — to be taken into account. It is not a new problem. It has accompanied Israel-Bonn relations throughout the years. That it is now becoming more acute may be due to the departure of former Chancellor Adenauer from Bonn. Some may ask to what extent it may also be attributed to the dif- ference in approach by Premier Eshkol as compared with that of Ben-Gurion. However. one wonders whether also under former Prem- ier Ben-Gurion the test now con- f r o n t i n g Israel-Bonn relations would have been much less acute with the new winds that seem to be blowing from the West German capital. To the hungry every bitter thing tastes sweet. — Proverbs NEW! FREE! 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