▪ Gerhard Riegner Worthy of 'Order of Jewish Honor' BY JOSEF FRAENKEL (Jewish News London Correspondent) Theodor Herzl had in mind the bestowal of a decoration upon the best Jews. This order was meant to emulate the pattern of the Le- gion d'Honneur, and to be called "Judenehre" (Jewish Honor). "It will be worn on a yellow ribbon and thus we shall transform our old shame into our new honor," wrote Herzl. Gerhard M. Riegner would have been eligible for the "Order of Jewish Honor" because of the services rendered by him in Geneva during the war years. Gerhard Riegner, born in 1911, comes from a distinguished Ger- man-Jewish family. His father, a lawyer, engaged in politics, had been a friend, since the days of their youth, of Hugo Preuss who as minister of the interior had taken a share in the drafting of the Weimar Constitution in 1919. He was a relative of Louis Lewandow- ski, the well-known author of the liturgical songs "Kol rinah ute- phila" and reformer of the syna- gogical service in Germany, and of Prof. Hermann Cohen, the Jewish philosopher of religion and prota- gonist of neo-Kantianism. As a child Riegner used to spend. every Sunday in Cohen's house where he could meet scholars from all over the world visiting the great don. Riegner read law and political science at the universities of Ber- lin, Heidelberg, Freiburg, and Paris, as well as international law at Geneva and The Hague. He com- pleted his studies with extraordi- nary success. When he was about to start on his career as a philoso- pher of legal science his life took a new turn. Nahum Goldmann look- ed in 1936 for a young legal ad- viser who could serve as secretary of the Geneva office of the World Jewish Congress. The secretary's work would mainly be concerned with the protection of the Jewish minorities within the frame of the League of Nations' corresponding department. Goldmann asked three profes- sors, William Rappart, Hans Kel- MORTGAGES APPLICATIONS FOR VA or FHA ARE NOW BEING TAKEN On New or Existing Homes QUICK SERVICE Phone Us Today FRANKLIN I sen and Paul Guggenheim, for their suggestion and all three of them recommended Gerhard Rieg- ner. In August 1936, he arrived at the assembly convened for the foundation of the World Jewish Congress and was appointed secre- tary of the bureau in Geneva. His office brought him in contact with Jewish leaders in nearly every country. Geneva became the headquar- ters of the legal department un- der Goldmann who had at his side Paul Guggenheim as coun- sel and Riegner as secretary. Nearly 30 years later at the ses- sion of the members of the execu- tive of the World Jewish Congress at Strasbourg Riegner began his address with a moving obituary of Kaete Knopfmacher who had re- cently passed away. Kaete Knopf- macher had been the first official of the World Jewish Congress. She had actually stood by the cradle of the World Jewish Congress and was deeply imbued with the will to serve its cause. When Riegner spoke the image of this wonderful woman arose in the mind of those who had been with her in Geneva in 1936. It was she who had help- ed many distressed Jews living in Nazi Germany or in the occupied territories to get away. In the middle of 1942 Riegner was informed from a reliable source that in the presence of Hit- ler a plan of extermination of all Jews at the hands of the Nazis had been discussed. Riegner moved heaven and earth to warn the World Book Lore Americans who -trace their ancestry back to the Mayflower almost had a competitor. When the Pilgrims first left England in 1620, they sailed in two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell. They had to return to England twice, however, because the Speedwell proved un- seaworthy, and the Mayflower finally sailed alone. world of the Nazis' secret decision to murder millions of Jews in the occupied territories. In August 1942, he put himself in contact with the American and English consuls in order to have this information conveyed to Lon- don and New York. When Sydney S. Silvermann in London and Ste- phen S. Wise in New York even- tually had received the news the world too could hear of the dread- ful plan. The dramatic story of how Riegner came into possession of the information and how the World Jewish Congress raised the alarm in England and America has been told in the Diaries of Henry Morgenthau, in the autobio- graphy of Stephen S. Wise, and in some other books. Riegner's next reports (19'a3) later, after many difficulties and much tragic delay, caused President Roosevelt to found the War Refugee Board in Washington as an instrument for the rescue of thousands of Jews during the last nine months of the war. Riegner conducted the nego- tiations with the International Red Cross and acted in many other ways to provide help for Jews, above all for Jewish children. From 1936 to 1965 Goldmann as- signed more and more responsibili- ties to Riegner. He was a member of the delegation of the World Jewish Congress at the Peace Con- ference in Paris in August, 1946, he took part in the work of the sub- committee of the Commission of Human Rights, in UNESCO, IRO (International Refugees Organiza- tion), ECOSOC (Economic and So- cial Council) etc, and held honor- ary positions in international and Jewish organizations. He has visit- ed nearly every country and has become acquainted with the anxie- ties of the Jewish communities. In co-operation with others he is still hard at work to solve the problems of these communities. Riegner en- joys the confidence of the organi- zations and communities affiliated to the World Jewish Congress. At the session in Strasbourg he was unanimously elected secretary general of the World Jewish Con- gress. Johnson Names Professor to State Dept. Office WASHINGTON ( J T A )—Presi- dent Johnson has nominated Dr. Charles Frankel, Columbia Univer- sity philosophy professor, as assis- tant secretary of state for educa- tional and cultural affairs. The 47- year-old Jewish scholar and writer will replace Harry McPherson, who was named a full time special as- sistant to the President. Harry Thomas FINE CLOTHES FOR OVER 30 YRS. Approved FHA Mortgages 915 First National Bldg., Det. 26 WO 3-4890 r 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 24061 Coolidge Highway, Oak Park Wigh Woliclay Servieces 15200 W. Seven Mile 3 Blks. East of Greenfield Corner Sussex INIIIIIMIIIIIII•1•11111111111•=1111111•11111•11•111MONNIIIIIIIIIIMINIIMI NIr CONGREGATION B'NAI ISRAEL 143 ONEIDA RD. I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 PONTIAC, MICHIGAN Israel Goodman, Rabbi Unaffiliated residents of Pontiac and the suburbs are welcome to worship with us and to join our membership. Our Sunday School classes start with the Kindergarten class: (Age 5) through Confirmation. Week day Hebrew School, Bar and Bas Mitzvah, and Junior Congregation. Youth and Adult Activities for all age groups. For Synagogue particulars contact Rabbi Israel Goodman, FEd. 4-4149 I Membership Chairman, Irving Prizant, FE 4-7031 or FE 4-4602 High Holiday Tickets, Melvin Goldman, FE 5-2431 Y• • • 1.1 • — • • ma No alo — • 1.1 • ow NE CONGREGATION B'NAI MOSHE B'NAI MOSHE RELIGIOUS SCHOOL ANNOUNCES REGISTRATION FOR 1965-66 ACADEMIC YEAR THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 12—Friday, August 27, 1965 YOUNG ISRAEL CENTER OF OAK-WOODS Open Sunday 11 to 4 When the righteous die, they live; for their example lives. . SOURCE: WORLD BOOK ENCYCLOPEDIA MORTGAGE CORP. SALE! Nationally Advertised Clothes At Half the Price You'd Expect to Pay Ten Mile at Kenosha — Oak Park (Children ages 4-16 Pre-Kdg. through 10th) Classes Are Held on Sunday Mornings You May Join Any One of These Sessions 9 - 10:30 10:30 - 12 12 - 1 :30 Air-Conditioned Synagogue Tickets available for members August 29-Sept. 3 Non-Members from Sept. 5 Sundays 9:00 - 1 1 :00 a.m. Evennigs 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Talmud Torah Registration • Primary School—Kindergarten and First Grade • Post-Graduate Classes—thru High School • Talmud Torah — Second through Eighth Grade Classes Begin Sunday September 19 We Suggest You Register Your Child TODAY As a Service to the Community Students of Non-Members Are Accepted Membership Applications Accepted Affiliated with United Hebrew Schools Phone the synagogue office for school registration and membership information. Transportation Provided LI 8-9000 Enroll Now — Call 546-6662 Limited Number of Seats Available for High Holy Day Services We Conduct A Complete Youth . Program For All Age Groups With A Full Time Professional Youth Director.