THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
BY HENRY LEONARD
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 $7 a year. Foreign $8.
Second Class Postage Paid at Detroit, Michigan
PKILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
CARMI M. SLOMOVITZ
Business Manager
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
CHARLOTTE DUBIN
City Editor
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the eighth day of Nisan, 5728, the following scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Levit. 6:1-8:36. Prophetical portion, Malachi 3:4-24.
Candle lighting Friday, April 5, 6:43 p.m.
VOL. LIII. No. 3
April 5, 1968
Page Four
,
25th Anniversary of Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Because of its historic significance, and was repelled for a longer period than any-
as a symbol of resistance to tyranny, the an- where else in the countries that were cap-
niversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising — tured by the Germans. The Nazis met their
the 27th day of Nisan, which this year occurs match, but the struggle was a hopeless one
on April 25 — has become an occasion for for the Jews. What had happened was a
universal interest and for observance by Jew- great and symbolic act of affirming Jewish
ish communities everywhere. dignity, of letting the anti-Semitic world
This year's anniversary observance of the know that there is a limit to humiliation.
heroism of the beleaguered Jews who dared When, therefore, we mark the 25th an
to put up battle against the Nazi Juggernaut niversary of that heroic uprising, we will
is especially significant because it is the 25th reaffirm that the spirit of Israel is not sub-
andbecause of renewed interest in the Hitler- ject to degradation, that the eternity of Is-
ist era of horrors within Poland where the rael is in Israel's hands and not in the hands
major crimes were committed. And because of its enemies and that the eternal spirit will
the. Communist tendencies have been to mark continue to inspire the unified efforts of
the Jewish sufferings under the Nazis as mere Jews everywhere whose ancestors have suf-
incidents on a larger canvas of vast crimes fered from oppressions and humiliations but
it becomes especially urgent that the role of whose descendants have revolted against re-
Jews who refused to bow to the inhumanities peated indignities. Our ancestors, even while
of the Germans should be especially noted. s u f f e r i n u oppressions. and humiliations,
The 25th anniversary of the Warsaw proudly held fast to their heritage. Their
Ghetto uprising also assumes importance be- ancestors reaffirm that pride while paying
cause during April the Auschwitz Jewish honor to the Warsaw Ghetto heroes and af-
Memorial Pavilion is to be dedicated, and it
firm anew that anything akin to Nazism,
is vital that the heroic stand of the Jews whether it stems from the Iron Curtain or
should not be relegated to insignificance in the turbaned and fez-wearing saber-rattlers,
the course of the rising tide of renewed anti- shall never rise again.
Semitism in Poland.
*
*
*
When Germany first invaded Poland in
New trnqedies inveigh IMOTI unfortunate
1939, there were 380.000 Jews in Warsaw. It remnants of the surviving Polish community,
was a great Jewish cultural center, dotted and the history of Polish Jewry, already
with many schools, containing libraries, mu- marked by torment, is in the course of acquir-
seums, theaters, emphasizing Hebraic as well ink alionipy chanter, soaked in misery.
as Yiddish educational projects. Then the
In had
spite
of its been
being
a handful,
Polish
Nazi terror herded Jews into a ghetto, created Jewry
already
marked
for humilia-
in 1940,
erected Jews
a wall
around
the area
in tions
even rule.
in the It post-war
era, under
Corn-
which
360.000
were
crowded
in a space
munist
was not unusual
to hear
a
of 1,000 acres. Soon the Nazis began to ship
Jews from other areas in Poland and from busload of people, upon seeing a Jew alight,
other lands into the place of horror, and some leer and give assent to comments that Hitler
500.000 now occupied the sphere that was had not comnleted his job. Even the few who
soon to become the source of forced labor remain in Poland have been begrudged their
for the healthiest and of the gas chambers very existence!
When there was talk about Auschwitz
for the elderly, the children, the sick.
The evacuation of the ghetto into the there was an effort, as the Russians exerted
gas chambers commenced in 1942. The fol- similar attitudes vis-a-vis Babi Yar, to ignore
lowing year, 86,000 died of starvation and as the Jewish losses and to speak only of Polish
a result of spreading epidemics within the heroism that had "saved Jews." And all of
ghetto. The deportations exceeded 300,000. that was enacted in spite of Polish Jewry's
With 65.000 Jews left, the ghetto having loyalty to their country, in defiance of all
been reduced to a mere fraction of the evidences of heroism that had been displayed
original area, the uprising began April 17, by Jews in the war against Nazism. and con-
1943. It lasted three weeks. The - Jewish re- trary to the truth that Polish underground
sisting force battled with a few grenades, forces—with only few exceptions—failed to
with old weapons, with whatever means was come to the rescue of their Jewish compa-
procurable to repel the murderous, well or- triots.
It is under such new conditions that
ganized Nazi army. The resisting Jewish force
found it impossible to secure assistance from world Jewry now will mark the anniversary
the Polish underground. The battle was in of the Polish Ghetto uprising. Because of
many respects a suicidal act.
just such realities, this anniversary assumes
History records, however, that Nazism new significance at this time.
Brandeis University's 20th Year
Brandeis University's 20th anniversary a very high level. There are five Brandeis
rightfully becomes an occasion for widest Fellows — Leonard N. Simons, Nate S.
attention throughout the land and for rec- Shapero, Al Taubman, Mrs. Phyllis Allen
ognition of the remarkable achievements and C. Allen Harlan. The latter, one of the
that have been recorded by the school that eminent non-Jews who have taken an in-
emerged from a small institution into one of terest in the university, established the
the largest in the country. Protestant Chapel on the Waltham, Mass.,
The background of the university was campus. Abraham Shiffman's gifts to the
marked by difficulties, by struggles for ex- university total $500,000, Helen DeRoy has
istence, by changes in personnel. With the financed the construction of a building on
assumption of the presidency of the school the campus, the Sidney Allen and the David
by Dr. Abram Leon Sachar, a new era corn- Emerman families have been generous with
menced, and Dr. Sachar, an organizational their gifts, as have the Winkelmans, the
genius, directed the school, at Waltham, Leonards Simons and the Lawrence Michael-
Mass., into many departments, covering a son families. In the 20-year period, Detroit-
vast field of teaching and research. ers' gifts to Brandeis have exceeded the one-
Many communities responded to Dr. million-dollar mark.
Sachar's call for support for the university,
Dr. Sachar's role, the encouraging fact
and in Detroit there always functioned that he is being succeeded in the presidency
groups whose interest has been on a high by so able a man as Morris Berthold Abram,
level, many of whose citizens gave generously the uninterrupted encouragement given the
towards the advancement of the aims of university by its supporting groups — in-
Brandeis University. eluding Detroit's which currently is holding
Detroit's role in the formation and in the 20th anniversary celebrations — augur well
Support of Brandeis University has been on for Brandeis University.
Israeli Scholar !Implements
Classical Biblical Coinage Book
A classic book devoted to a study of ancient Jewish coinage and
money mentioned in biblical works has been reprinted by Ktav
Publishing House (120 Broadway. NY 2) with new matter appended
by the editors of the republished book.
"History of Jewish Coinage and of Money in the Old and New
Testament" by Frederic W. Madden first appeared in 1864. It is
presented in the newly revised edition with an introductory chapter
by Dr. Michael Avi-Yonah, Hebrew University professor of art and
archaeology.
The new volume is part of the Library of Biblical Studies edited
by Dr. Harry M. Orlinsky, professor of Bible at Hebrew Union
College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
The author of the original work, Sir Frederic Madden, was
assistant in the department of coins and medals in the British Museum.
Richly illustrated with reproductions of coins, with their biblical
terms and descriptions, this volume covers a vast field and it
includes thorough studies of coinage in the eras of the Maccabees
and the Idumaean Princess, the Greek and Roman periods and
related commemorative coinages.
In his prolegomenon, Dr. Avi-Yonah gives an account of the
Madde nfamily interest in numismatics, and he lists others who bad
taken a deep interest in the subject of biblical coinage. He brings the
subect up to date, tells of the importance of coinage experiences In
the era of Herod and his successors and takes into account the
symbolism of the coins. He provides interesting data about coins of
the era of Bar Kokhba and takes into account weights and other
matters in coining money in ancient times.
Numerous corrections in descriptions of coinage to certain per-
sonalities are made by Dr. Avi-Yonah in the essay whose significance
as an addendum to the historic original work is immense.
The great value of this book lies also in its research into the
historical occurrences that coincided with the issuance of the money.
Thus, the reader, and the student of numismatics, learns about the
revolts against the Greeks and Romans, the heroes who were involved,
the attitude of the populace, etc.
The Hebraic scholarship of Sir Frederic is evident throughout
his work which becomes apparent as a labor of love and as a subject
to which he devoted his life.
While introducing the subect of numismatics, Sir Frederic also
dealt with biblical and talmudic lore, and his studies of coinage are
also research into biblical and historical probing.
He dealt with talmudic writings on the coinage of the First and
Second Revolts against Rome, and the passages quoted create in-
terest in the subject and in the history of those preiods.
He does not overlook the matter of counterfeiting, and modern
students would do well to look into the past for an understanding of
human values in the present. Skillful and less skillful forgeries are
among the delineations in the scholarly work.
Hebrew writing in relation to the Phoenician and the Egyptian
and ancient heiroglyphic systems are reviewed.
Aramaic origins are indicated, and the contention is renewed that
the Hebrew alphabet was borrowed from the Phoenician.
Because the fad created by numismatists has grown, the currt.
volume acquires added weight. Coupled with the historic merits,
"History of Jewish Coinage and of Money in the Old and New Testa-
ment" regains its previous popularity and assumes a vital place on
historians' and researchers' bookshelves.
New Hebrew Narratives Series
Implements Youths' Literature
A new series of illustrated Hebrew stories for young students,
published as a Lador Junior Hebrew Library Series by the Jewish
Education Committee Press (426 W. 58th, NY 19), emerges as a
valuable addition to Hebrew literary projects for the youth.
The first in the series is Tina Levitan's "In the New World,"
illustrated by Siegmund Forst. The stories in this attractive brochure
deal with Columbus' discovery of America, the first Thanksgiving Day
at Plymouth, the arrival of Jews in New Amsterdam and the diffi-
culties they encountered with Governor Stuyvesant to whom they
pledged always to take care of their own needy, the flight of the
Marranos, Shavuot and Rosh Hashana celebrations.
Glossaries for all of the stories enable the young readers to
acquire a knowledge of Hebrew terms used in these stories and to
understand them. This is a constructive effort contributing to the aids
necessary for the study of Hebrew.