Defense Dept. Asked
for Report on Jew Fired
by German Supervisor

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Rep.
Leonard Farbstein, New York
Democrat, made known that he has
asked Secretary of Defense Robert
McNamara for a detailed explana-
tion of the firing of a Jewish chem-
ist from a U.S. Navy civilian job
by a German national accused of
prejudice in a pending court suit.
The Congressman said he has
-asked McNamara for a report on
the case in which Bernard Perl-
stein, of Washington, was fired
after 23 years of service by Dr.
Martin Zimmer, who came here
from Germany to take federal em-
ployment three years ago.
Dr. Zimmer, who is not yet an
American citizen, was accused by
Perlstein, in a suit filed in the U.S.
Court of Claims, with displaying
"bias, malice and prejudice."
Perlstein held that Dr. Zimmer
singled him out for "marked an-
tagonism."
Navy spokesmen declined to
comment on the case. Rep. Farb-
stein said it was "highly peculiar
that a civil servant who has serv-
ed faithfully for 23 years should
suddenly be dismissed by an alien
who grew up in Nazi Germany."

"Give the news, all the news, in
concise and attractive form, in lan-
guage that is permissible in good
society, and give it early . . . im-
partially, without fear or favor, re-
gardless of party, sect, or interest
involved."—Adolph S. Ochs on ac-
quiring the New York Times.

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
24—Friday, April 16, 1965

By Ernest Rhys
The ancient psalm still keeps its
music, and this is but the outer
sign of its spiritual power, which
remains as near and intimate to
our needs, human and divine, as in
David's day. So, indeed, it seems
to have remained through all the
centuries—the one body of poetry
which has gone on, apart from the
change of races and languages,
speaking with a voice of power to
the hearts of men.

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HOLIDAY GREETINGS Doi' •

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: EDMOND- OLDS •• •
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Hyman Safran (center), received a special award for his outstanding contributions to scouting and
for securing adult memberships for boy scouts. Rus sell S. Davis (right), chairman of University District
of Boy Scouts, presented the award as John P. Parks, public relations chairman of the Boy Scouts Uni-
versity District and editor-publisher of Highland Parker Publications, looked on. Safran is president of
the Jewish Welfare Federation.

Tales • of Wise Men of Helm Certain Intermarriage Rise
to Enchant Readers of Simon's Book Noted by Rabbis;
Solomon Simon has mastered a , In "More Wise Men of Helm and
noteworthy art: he has compiled Their Merry Tales," edited by Appeal for Action

the stories of the Helmer—known
in Jewish folklore as the Helmer
Naronim — the Helmer fools — and
has created a literature that once
again provides English readers
with the tales that sound sense-
less but result in an excellent
humor literature.

Shipwrecked Play
Altered by Bellow
Into Good Reading

"The Last Analysis," a play by
Saul Bellow, had a short run - at
the Belasco Theater in New York
in September of 1965. It had a
noted cast headed by Sam Levine.
Now it is available for reading only
in a volume published by Viking
Press.
Bellow, whose "Herzog" heads
the best seller list among the cur-
rent outstanding novels, may attain
another best-selling status with this
new work which, as the novelist-
playwright explains, "makes use of
some of the timbers of that ship-
wreck, but much of it is entirely
new." So—the flop on the stage
may become a sensation as reading
matter for pleasure.
Dropping several characters, cre-
ating a new part, attempting "to
simplify the cluttered and inconse-
quent plot, which puzzled the audi-
ence (and even the playwright)
and . . . eliminate the pointlesS
noises and distracting bits of busi-
ness," Bellow now is being put to
the test in bookstalls, as he was on
the Belasco stage with his "Last
Analysis."
It is the query by Philip Bum-
midge to his analyst—"Why can't
I live without hope, like every-
body else?"—that becomes the
center of this Freudian theme.
As Bellow points out in a note
preceding the play's text: "The
Last Analysis" is not simply a
spoof of F r e u d i an psychology,
though certain analysts have touch-
ingly interpreted it as such. Its
real subject is the mind's comical
struggle for survival in an environ-
ment of ideas—its fascination with
metaphors, and the peculiarly lit-
eral and solemn manner in which
Americans dedicate themselves to
programs, fancies or brainstorms."
Those interested in psychiatry
and in the American ways of de-
veloping life will find food for
thought and good entertainment in
Bellow's "The Last Analysis."

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Hannah Goodman and illustrated
by Stephen Kraft, Solomon Simon
extends the Helm literature he had
begun with his earlier work, "The
Wise Men of Helm."
Published by Behrman House
(1261 Broadway, N. Y.), Simon's
work provides great delight. Typi-
cal of the Helm stories that have
become so well known in Jewish
folklore, the author has drawn on
many of the Helm themes. He
draws upon the sages, philoso-
phers, mathematicians. He even
has a story about a dead man who
talks.
Some of the tales may sound
senseless: they acquire sense in
Helm. And Solomon Sinion's nar-
rative skill gives -realty to the
themes he deals with.
There are 14 tales in the new
collection of Helm stories and in
each there is a bit of wisdom.
Whether it is the blintz, or "the
enchanted goat," or the "alert po-
liceman," each provides a clue to
Helm ingenuity. Simon has master-
ed his way into this literary field
of dealing with the Helmer.
They are an inquiring lot, the
Helmer, and the tales About them
reveal an entire philosophy, an era
uniquely its own, people with dis-
tinct characteristics.
Simon's introductory notes throw
light on the approach to the Helm
theme. He states:
"The people of Shedlits and
Warsaw will tell you, 'How does
it happen that the city of Helm
is full of fools? Because it is
written in the Holy Scriptures:
"God watches over the simple."
Now, if ' the simpletons were
scattered all over the world, even
He would find it difficult to keep
an eye on them, for no one can
forsee what a simpleton will do.
So, He in His wisdom gathered
all the fools in one city, where
it is easy for Him to watch over
them.'
"The Helmites retort, 'Who-
ever says that the people outside
of Helm have sense proves he is
a fool. It is expressly stated in
the Talmud: "The world was de-
livered into the hands of the
fools."
"Well, I could never decide
who is right, Helm or the rest of
the world. Let the reader decide."
Such is the logic the reader has
to contend with. But it is not logic
he gets in Wise Men of Helm: it
is entertainment, humor, the fun
that exudes from Helmer's life.
Having provided that, Solomon
Simon has performed his task well.

NEWARK (JTA) — A. warning
that mixed marriage "threatens the
continuity of the Jewish people
as a creative force in the American
civilization," coupled with an ap-
peal for mobilization of "the total
resources of the American Jewish
community" to deal with the prob-
lem, has been issued by the Board
of Rabbis of Essex County.
The board, representing Ortho-
dox, Conservative and Reform
rabbis, warned that the problem
was an "ever increasing" one, re-
lating to American freedom which
"intensifies the problem of main-
taining ourselves as a people and
a unique faith."
It blamed the increase in such
marriages on "indifference, ignor-
ance and lack of Jewish commit-
ment." It called "survival the cen-
tral concern of American Jewry."
Asserting that "the vast ma-
jority of American rabbis refuse
to officiate at mixed marriages,"
the rabbinical group said the
problem could not be solved "by
proclamations nor by sermons
alone" and that "no solution was
possible without the awareness
of every Jew that he has a per-
sonal responsibility in this mat:
ter."
The board urged efforts to in-
crease understanding and deepen
appreciation of Jewish values. "In
homes where children experience
sincere religious living, consistent
ritual practice, and family partici-
pation in the activities of the Jew-
sh community, the likelihood of
mixed marriage is reduced," the
rabbis stressed. Jewish loyalty,
they said, "matures in a'n environ-
ment of faith and healthy inter-
personal relationship within the
family."

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•011 11 'NOOD

The very long list of novels and
short stories written by Jerome
Weidman is enhanced by a new
collection of short stories.
Random House has just issued
Weidman's "The Death of Dickie
Draper • and Nine Other Stories."
The publishers may well boast of
the new work and there is justifi-
cation for claiming this to be
among Weidman's best narrations.
There is a variety of themes in
this good set of short stories. The
title story contains the human ele-
ments that keep the reader's atten-
tion glued to the narrative.
A convict returns home. He
wishes to redeem himself, to build
life anew. He finds conditions so
drastically changed, • the atmos-
phere so strange — he leaves as
quickly as he arrived.
It is a . well-motivated tale,
and the title story as well as the
other narratives are excellent
examples of perfect story-telling.
There is "The Love Philtre of Vit-
torio Adamello" that may arouse
puzzlement: is it possible for a
brother to call upon his brother to
assist him in impregnating his wife
so that they may have the child
they wished for, and then resume
their life with affection? And the
brother who had hoped to marry
his sister-in-law: what a quandary
he was placed in to be shipped off
to Italy, after he had served his
purpose for his kin? But the
author has created motivation that
makes his tale an unusually good
one and very readable.
Then there is "Wait for Me!"
_Imagine a wife, whose criminal
husband has squandered her for-
tune, stalling him with a refusal
to assist in his release when she
realizes that he was banking on
additional funds she was to inherit.
But she had one thing to live for:
to have some one to wait for, and
to keep him waiting!
The entire set of 10 stories in
the new Weidman book is a veri-
table treasure. They are excellent
narrations. They will provide just
what the reader wants: good writ-
ing, fine entertainment.

David's Psalms

Hyman Safran Honored for Aid to Scoutin

C OO N. BROS.

Jerome Weidman's
Latest -Stories-
Fine Narrations

