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, Mich. 48235
VE 8-9364. Subscription 56 a year. Foreign S7.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
SIDNEY SHMARAK
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Advertising Manager
Business Manager
Editor and Publisher
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the 14th day of Kislev, 5728, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 37:1-40:23. Prophetical portion, Amos 2:6-3:8.
Candle lighting, Friday, Dec. 15, 4:42 p.m.
Page
VOL. LII. No. 12
Four
December 8, 1967
Open Housing: Fair Play, the U.S. Way
Adoption by the Detroit Common Council
of the open housing resolution, the struggle
for similar legislation in many other commu-
nities, the sharp dividing lines on the subject
and the serious difficulties that are being en-
countered by sponsors of fair housing bills in
the State Legislature—these and the continu-
ous demonstrations in some communities,
especially the prolonged one in Milwaukee,
place the limelight on this issue.
It is vital that whatever fears have been en-
gendered by the proposed bills for fair hous-
ing practices should be eliminated. The Michi-
gan State Constitution already provides that:
'No person shall be denied the equal protection
of the laws; nor shall any person be denied the en-
joyment of his civil or political rights or be discrimi-
nated against in the exercise thereof because of re-
ligion, race or national origin . . . ."
Yet fears persist. In answer to the question
whether the proposed fair housing law would
damage property rights, the Michigan State
Chamber of Commerce, in a legislative report,
provided this answer:
Property rights. like all oilier rights, are subject
to private and public regulations, in addition to the
restrictions in the deed. Property owners are subject
to zoning laws housing code regulations, health regu-
lations, noise regulations, pollution regulations, laws
regulating size and type of buildings for specific
areas, laws concerning use of buildings, laws concern-
ing number of occupants and purpose for which
property may be used. These forms of regulation
control the use of the property. Property owners do
not have absolute license to do as they please with
property, with or without fair housing laws.
Opponents of a fair housing law claim that it en-
croaches on their right to sell or rent property as
they desire. The proposed law does not encroach on
tile owner's fundamental power to exercise his right
to sell or not to sell to any person for any reason
he chooses except that the refusal to negotiate or to
sell_ property offered to the public cannot be based
on race, color, religion or national origin as guar-
anteed by the Constitution.
The owner remains free to establish the conditions
of sale or rental and can refuse to deal with any
applicant for any reason other than race, color, re-
ligion or national origin. Proponents of fair housing
laws claim the right to buy property and the right to
free access to the entire housing market, offered to
the public, are important aspects of property rights.
Fair housing laws are intended to secure this aspect
of property rights to individuals now denied such
rights because of race, color, religion or national
origin. Proponents ask for the equal rights and treat-
ment for all people, not special privileges.
Other laws exist that forbid discrimination on the
basis of race, color, religion or national origin in
prvate contracts in the areas of employment, public
accommodations, insurance and public utilities. Fair
housing laws seek to apply the same principle to
contracts for sale or rental of property.
A writer for the Michigan Catholic likened
the state of affairs relating to the debate over
the proposed fair housing bill in the Michigan
Legislature to the conditions that existed in
1939 when proposed amendments to -the U.S.
immigration laws for admission to refugee
children were withdrawn for lack of support.
Calling attention to the expose in Look maga-
zine by Arthur D. Morse whose forthcoming
book to be published by Random House will
show how the Roosevelt administration failed
to aid the Nazi victims, the Michigan Catholic
writer stated:
America's reaction to this imminent Jewish
peril under Hitler's heel is revealing and, hope-
fully, shocking.
p-anscripts of the hearings on the Child Refugee
Bill; particularly the scattered words of some who
opposed saving the doomed Jews of Europe, show
bow regrettably little we have changed.
In 1939 we preferred having little Jewish lungs
filled with gas to admitting "thousands of mother-
less, embittered, persecuted children of undesir-
able foreigners" who might well become "potential
leaders of revolt against our American form of
government."
Besides we had "10,000,000 of our own peo-
ple out of employment."
A sweet, little Michigan lady testified, "I say
if we're going to keep this country as it is and not
At,
lose our liberty in the future, we have got to
keep not only these children out of it, but the whole
damned Europe."
Public opinion ran predictably.
One poll noted that 94 per cent of the American
people disapproved of the German treatment of the
Jews. Three months later another national poll
asked. "If you were a member of Congress would
you vote yes or no on a bill to open the doors of
the United States to a larger number of European
refugees than are now admitted under our immi-
gration quotas?"
Eighty-three per cent said no, 8.3 per cent were
uncertain and only 8.7 per cent answered yes.
Responsible Americans in 1939 measurably
helped send Six Million Jews to death.
This situation was equated by the Michigan
Catholic writer with the opposition to the
open housing bill, and he stated bluntly:
•
4 wP
JTA
Gluckel of Hameln Excellently
Dramatized as Story for Youth•
What we did in 1939 and what we're doing now
in civil rights, particularly in open housing, show
that progress is not our most important product.
Now snatches of testimony run along these
lines: The question: "Why can't they live among
their own?" The generalization:"They always ruin
property values." The lie: "They can move any-
where they want already." The challenge: "Let
them prove themselves." The clincher: "Nobody's
going to take from me my right to private prop-
erty."
The polls are no different.
Almost everyone hopes Negroes somehow will
improve their lot. Almost no one is willing per-
sonally to sacrifice for his submerged brother.
Evidently the politician willing to risk popular
unpopularity is rare. Our legislature prefers a
three-week vacation to passing moral legislation.
In 1939 an unpassed law symptomized our na-
tion's immoral pulse rate. It may be true again in
1967.
And if open housing laws are not passed—in-
deed, if concerted, consecutive efforts to rescue
the impoverished are not made—bloody riots may
well happen again.
If they do, few whites will suffer directly, few-
er still will die. Many Negroes will die because
they stand to lose nearly nothing. But who cares
about them? Apparently not many more than
those few who cared about the German-Jews.
A studied guess says that most of the opposi-
tion to open housing comes from people who
decry the absence of our old hell-fire and brim-
stone sermons of yore. Well, ladies and gentle-
men, let us lay it on the line.
Actually, the only thing wrong with Michigan's
proposed open housing law is that it is rather
weak.
A prospective buyer, under the suggested law,
who charges discrimination in a home owner's
refusal to sell to him, bears the burden of proof.
The home owner easily can allege many rea-
sons he refused sale besides the buyer's color,
creed, religion or national origin. Obviously it
would be difficult to prove the owner guilty of
rank discrimination even if it were true.
Since the state must prosecute if it accepts the
case and since, if the case is lost, the State must
pay damages to the owner for any loss suffered
through the litigation, It is hard to imagine any
but lead pipe cinch cases being prosecuted.
So, peculiarly, we find ourselves fighting a
discouraging battle for only a small corner of
* justice.
What disgusting hypocrites we are, in any
case, that we mock the freedom, justice and op-
portunity for which our country was established.
And what poor students of history. .
Her husband Chayim plays an important role in this story as
an able and an honest trader. One of the men with whom, as he was
to learn, he did business, was Suss Oppenheimer, the famous court
Jew who was finance adviser at the court of Wurttemberg. The busi-
ness connections as related by Gluckel are in themselves revelatory of
the Jewish trading activities which they were compelled to conduct
in the Middle Ages.
At one point Gluckel offers an explanation why Jews, under
compulsion, were moneylenders.
The family life as related in this story is filled with charm and
is part of the joy emphasized in the well-knit Jewish adherence to
traditional lore.
Mrs. Stadtler relates an excellent narrative in a well utilized text
from an historic experience.
We concur with the Catholic writer. His
argument is relevant. The point he makes is
well taken. There is a basic principle in-
Folklore in 'Tora Thoughts'
The memoirs of Gluckel of Hameln have earned the status of a
classic in Jewish literature and have been accepted as part of history
marked by the experiences of a brilliant woman who was able to
describe the happenings in her lifetime.
Crucial events of the 17th Century are described in her memoirs
which she commenced recording in her mid-40s. Gluckel, who was,
born in 1642 and died in 1725, told of the anti-Semitic tendencies,
the struggle of Jews to earn a livelihood and to survive, and related
such events as the emergence of the Shabatai Zevi false messianic
movement.
The Gluckel story, based on her memoirs, has been utilized for
a marvelous narrative for young readers by Bea Stadtler of Cleveland,
whose "The Adventures of Gluckel of Hameln," published by United
Synagogue Book Service (218 E. 70th, NY21), makes delightful reading.
Mrs. Stadtler has utilized the memoirs to relate Use most
interesting details in the life of the Jews In the German provinces
in the 17th Century, recording, at the same time, the personal
experiences in the life of Gluckel and her family. In these stories
are reflected the ways of life of that period, the early marriages,
the trading, the restrictions from which the Jewish communities
suffered.
There is genuine charm in the manner in which Mrs. Stadtler
commences her tale, introducing Gluckel as a youngster of 7 who went
to the Burgomaster of Hamburg to plead in behalf of Mordecai Cantor
of Altona who did not have a pass to enter the city of trading. She
secured a concession and upon her return to Altona commenced a
personal effort to raise 10 Reichsthalers to assure the incarcerated
Jew's release.
Gluckel's marriage at 12 to Chayim of Hameln, their happy life,
the manner in which she raised a family; her role as matchmaker for
her sister Reize; her relationship to Deborah whom she adopted as
a sister when she came to her parents' home as an escapee from
pogroms conducted by Chmielnitzki and his bandits in Poland and the
Ukraine—these are among the experiences that mark an interesting
life so well dramatized in the new narrative.
The Gluckel story relates how Jews were stirred by the appear-
ance of Shabatai Zevi, their disappointment when it was revealed
that he was a false Messiah.
volved. Either we administer justice on an
Leo Gartenberg is a teacher, a columnist, a businessman—and a
over-all scale, to all peoples of all faiths, re- dedicated
student of Jewish classics. He has written the fourth In a
gardless of the color of their skins, or we are series
of books on the subject "Tora Thoughts," and in the latest
arch hypocrites.
work, published by Jonathan David (131 E. 23rd, NY 10), he includes
If the state's constitutional protective Midrashic selections, Hasidic stories, the wisdom of the learned Melt
clause for just rights is valid, then a reaf- in ancient Israel.
firmed clause relating to open housing is
Many of the quotations are brief, and there are some starlet
valid. It is unfortunate that fears have begun of some length — three or more pages.
to affect the attitudes of people. We must
An example of the longer tales is "The Sword in the Tomb" by
abandon fears and cure conditions which lead Tuvia Isaacs, a tale about old Bretz IsraeL
to them.
There are folk sayings, stories from the Dubno Magid's famed
Meanwhile, the American approach calls sermons, Rashi commentaries.
for the adoption of the fairest conceivable
Students of folklore and lovers of ancient legendary themes will
find this an unusually enchanting book,
open housing laws.