Passing of a Friend 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, National Editorial Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 48235 Mich., VE 8.9364. Subscription $6 a year. Foreign $7. Second Class Postanr Palirat Detroit, Michigan PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ Business Manager . PASSIK OF A FFVEND ,,,,. . CHARLOTTE IIYAMS ' SIDNEY SHMARAK City Editor ' Advertising Manager .1.; Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath. the fourth clay of Adar I. 5725. the following scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion: E.rod. 25:1-27:19: prophetical portion: 1 Kings 5:26-6:13. ' • Licht benshen. Friday, Feb. 5, 5:34 p.m. VOL. XLVI, No. 24 irek4- • 75 — February 5, 1965 Page 4 • The Current Allied Jewish Campaign Pre-campaign activities in behalf of the Allied Jewish Campaign serve as a test of the community's interest in the many causes rep- resented in the drive. Though the campaign won't open officially for tome weeks, the advance„,solicitations are urgent. The major event that sets the pace for the drive already was held here last week, and the responses at that annual function are indications of a continuing interest in the overseas needs, in the local and national educational and social service media that are aided with our cam- paign dollars. Jewish lore is replete with admonitions that men should not be niggardly, that they should share with the less affluent and with the needy. And there is constant prodding of man to know that those who do good deeds will be blessed for their acts. In "The Wisdom of Israel," a Random House Modern Library classic edited by Lewis Browne, appears a• long section of wisdom from the Gemara which includes the follow- ing story from the Book of Sanhedrin on "The Giving of Charity": -. Two disciples of Rabbi Hanina, who, like their Master, disbelieved in the power of sorcerers. went into the forest to chop some firewood. They met an astrologer, who read their horoscope and predicted that they would not return alive. This, how- ever. did not deter them from going on their way. They met an old man who accosted them and asked for food. They had only a single loaf of bread, but they divided it with him. When they returned, people who had heard the prediction asked the astrologer, "Is then your astrology false?" He invited the two disciples to unwrap the bundles of wood which they carried. In each of them half a snake was found. "What did you do," asked the astrol- oger, to merit escape from sure death?" "We know of nothing," they answered, "except that we gave half a loaf of bread to an old man." Whereupon the astrologer cried: "What can I do if the aod of the Jews is placated with half a loaf of bread?" • - 7/e, ce-vemta, Awe 4-e/e- - JOAyeefe: "wanhv cam= There is a traditional attitude in Jewish life that every good deed brings its dividen d s in blessings. We are an affluent community, Aransibst-rx, -1 •411i324. and we may well believe that by having taken into account the needs of our fellow men we have blessed ourselves. There is much to be said 'about the good American Historical Data life that is allotted us when we are partners in so great an undertaking as the one in — which we are presently engaged. The Allied Morgenthau Diaries Throw Jewish Campaign provides for many who come to Israel out of veritable infernos. But Light on Refugee Problem it also has the creative merits of being not American history in the early years of the last war is enriched only a philanthropic fund but a treasury wherewith to enrich Jewish life by encourag- by the publication of another set of excerpts from the diaries of ing cultural work, by financing educational endeavors. by aiding the needy in our own midst and by assuring proper health facili- ties and care for the aged. Indeed, the Allied Jewish Campaieh 6bjec tives should be well known by this time. Yet there still are thousands w o are hard to reach. If this campaign can touch the hearts - Henry Morgenthau, who was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Secre- tary of the Treasury. John Morton Blum, Yale professor of history. who edited the first volume of the Morgenthau Diaries, is the author of "Years 1938 1 941," containing the historical data from the of Urgency I Morgenthau diaries for that crucial three-year period. It is published by Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. — - This new volume throws light on events that led to the entrance of this country in the war. It reveals many facts regard- FDR, the ing America's attitude, the position that was taken by Morgenthau-FDR relationship. It deals with the domestic crises, with the actions of the dictators, with the watchfulness of ear government over developments abroad and the refugee problem. of he few thousand more contributors than the vil decree, the placating of God with half a I f of bread as told in the legend we have jut quoted, will indeed become reality for all. There is an especially interesting note on FDR and his associ- ates and their opinions on events of that time and the President and the Presidency. There was the problem of loans for public functions. put it to Tom the remarkably instructive volume issued by The President was becoming sour. As Morgenthau Corcoran on May 22, 1939, "If business got worse. the President would the Hebrew Publishing Co., in its evalua- become more and more sour." There is this quotation. that Corcoran *tion of Benevolence of Gemiluth Hassodim went "on a long rampage on what complete disorganization there is in quoted the following: I the office of the White House and why the President frittered his time "In his Mishneh Torah, Maimonides writes: 'The uality of mercy is 'char - everybody wanted to do . . . . and how Pa Watson is good as a acteristic of the Jewish people. They are doorkeeper but that was all. That Sam Rosenman had said the Presi- New like brothers . . . and if a brother shows dent still runs the United States as though it was the State of the York and he wants to do it on a personal contact basis .and no mercy toward a brother, who" will? On then. should the poor of Israel President has never really learned how to run his own office . . . Hebrew Free° Loan s 70th Anniversary I An anniversary of traditional significance %vill be observed at the annual meeting of the .Jewish Welfare Federation next Wednes- day. The completion of 70 years of services by the Hebrew Free Loan Association merits the interest of the entire community. In the concept of tzedakah, erroneously interpreted as charity but actually denoting justice and benevolence. is expressed the philosophy of Judaism aiming at the preven- tion of poverty. The basic idea of Gemiluth Hassodim- of benevolent action to those who must be uplifted—is to -keep man from falling low. to assist him in reconstructing his life when he is in economic need. In the current American war on poverty, the Gemiluth Hassodim principle of granting free loans to needy in our midst assumes an important role. We are taught in the Talmud that the highest principle of charity is to help a man to help himself. thereby abandoning the negativism of charity and granting it the role of humane dealing with our fellow men. Dr. Philip Birnbaum's "Jewish Concepts," — — whom, depend? . . . Alas, their help must come only from their brethren . . . The highest degree of righteousness (tzedakah) is to aid a man in want by offering him a gift or a loan. by entering into partnership with him. or by providing work for him, so that he may become self-supporting." It is too early, as of 1941, to get the facts on Morgenthan's role in the problems that affected the refugee problem. But there is, in this volume, a reference to Cordell Hull's views on German trade, on "political interpretations," which as Hull stated in a message to Morgenthau on Nov. 19, 1938, "might possibly affect the prospective attempt of the Intergovernmental Committee on Political Refugees to secure German cooperation looking towards the facilitation of refugees from Germany — though I may say that the prospects of such facilitation at the present time are This is applicable to our Hebrew Free Loan Association which is perpetuating the principle of Gemiluth Hassodim. It is by aiding man to help himself, to improve his own economic status without resort to alms, that we adhere to the highest degree of righteousness. By pursuing this goal the Hebrew Free Loan has earned the entire distinctly uncertain." There is no doubt that Morgenthau was concerned. Prof. Blum states: "Morgenthau dissented on every point. He had no hope for German cooperation in a program to help Jews emigrate to democratic states. He considered the State Department's preoccupation with trade ludicrous in a world racing toward war. - He warned Roosevelt on what was occurring, on the Hitler trends. There was an evident sharp Hull community's appreciation for seven decades difference of opinion on trade with Germany between him and liberty But Morgenthau's duties were determined and he was "not at of humanitarian services. to disregard them . . . . " There were talks between Morgenthau and Sumner Welles on the issue of the refugees. While the State Department was "still exploring the refugee problem," Welles is quoted telling Morgenthsat cotton resentment against the abusers will eventual that "for us to take this step now (on the question of dumping the German market) may throw a complete skid under the ly lead to better understanding between the into wheels on what England and France are trying to work out." benefactor and the beneficiaries Uncle Sam , "I cannot, "I must carry out the law," Morgenthau interrupted, and those he aids—then Nasser's invectives I or bad for the Jews?' I have as a Jew, stop and think 'is this good may eventually prove a blessing in disguise. told you this before . . . and the minute I find myself doing • Obstacles to Foreign Aid Program Egypt's dictator-president. Gamal Abdel Nasser, having ordered the United States to "jump in the lake," stirred up a hornet's nest which may, in the long run, serve to clarify the dilemmas relating to the com- plicated foreign aid program. While the anti-Nasser resolution adopted by the House of Representatives inevitably but unjustly involves Israel, the issue re- volves around the antagonistic anti-American attitude often in evidence in many lands. We provide aid and get abuse. We have given Nasser major portions from our foreign aid appropriations and have received in return the bulk of insults,from Cairo. This is what irks our Congressmen. If the - — A number of Senators have shown dis- pleasure with Secretary of State Rusk's re- quests for the elimination of the amendment adopted by the House of Representatives. Apparently members of the lower House of Congress are not alone in showing their dis- pleasure over Nasser's arrogance. It is an attitude not to be ignored and it is doubt- ful whether Congress will continue to tolerate arrogance from those who get aid from us. — it, I will resign." I And so it is evident that the refugees issue, the Jewish question, was weighed in the balance. As of 1941, we do not have all the facts regarding Morgenthaes difficulties and his struggles to aid the refugees. But the early debates throw much light on the attitudes of the State Department which had • o was hesitant and overly cautious, in spite of the signs been happening in Germany. The next set of diary excerpts, in a forthcoming volume, will reveal undoubtedly the true story of our governments role.