Purely Commentary
Even during the most tragic hours of
the Nazi terror, there were men who re-
corded the facts and preserved them so
that posterity should not be kept in dark
ness about the brutalities of perverted
minds. Some wrote diaries and buried them
for a subsequent generation'to locate them
and to be reminded of the events that
marked a Holocaust unprecedented in hu-
man history. Children drew pictures which
will forever serve as rebukes to beastliness.
Others painted what they had seen and ex-
perienced. Alfred Kantor, who belongs to
the latter. group, was believed dead. His
name appears in the list of 77,297 victims
of Nazism that are listed on the wall of
the synagogue in Prague. He was believed
dead But he survived. He never published
his impressions or his pictures. Except for
a few friends, the drawings and paintings
he produced were unknown. Now they are
available in a volume that must be rated
among the greatest products of the sur-
vivors from Hitlerism and the strongest
John Wykert, who, as a youngster, saw
Hitler in action- in Vienna, pays deserved
honor to Alfred Kantor in a preface to this
magnificent work, and adds considerably
to an appreciation of the modest artist who
has depicted the concentration camps so
effectively.
To Wykert, this book is "a call to
arms." "It seems to me," he writes, "that
within the holocaust depicted by this book
lurks an even greater horror. Death was
not the sting, the preamble of suffer-
ing was—the simple systematic process
whereby so many human beings were
divested of their humanity. This tearful
process is amply documented here. It
lends the book its chilling historic im-
pact and its contemporary relevance.
For the warning is clear: This process
is so simple, so easily duplicated, that
it can happen again ... Unwittingly, this
book is a call to arms. By all means
available to us, we must fight dehuman-
ization of any kind anywhere."
Survivor's Art Depicts the Tragedy of the
Nazi Era . . . 'The Book of Alfred Kantor'
Serves Anew as Admonition to End Holocausts
He began to work. He married. The Kan-
tors have a son who is studying philosophy,
a teen-age daughter "who has inherited her
father's considerable musical talent." The
artist-author works as an artist for an
advertising firm. "Now," Wykert states,
"because of this book, many more will
know and will understand the meaning ,of
his experiences. And that is really all
that matters."
Kantor's introduction is a vastly more
extensive biographical story. Being auto-
biographical, it emerges as an historic
review of the concentration camps in which
he had suffered with so many, and in which
he had gained access to the material de-
picted in his book. It is the story of Tere-
zin, Auschwitz and Schwarzheide.
- In the 127 notes appended to the book
as definitions of the 127 art works, we
have addenda to the deep feelings that
motivated the skills of Alfred Kantor and
inspired him to put down in pictorial art
the agonies that stemmed from the con-
centration camps, the sites that were
transformed into brutal centers for men
turned into beasts.
•
,
By Philip
Slomovitz
•
It is a matter of fact when he depicts
an 18-year-old ho' has turned into an 80;
year-cad; .yet it as a philosophic
tract on the unbelievable—that people could
possibly have become 'so heartleis as to
force such terror upon innocent and help-
less people. •
- His mother died at the. hands of the
Nazis. Then- the. girl he loved was sent to
Auschwitz: ,'She, had been sick too long
a time, and I tried not to accept the truth
when I heard the news that-she did not
• pass the brief medical examinationand had
been classified. with- those Who were unfit
for work. I was toldafter the war that Eva
Was gassed :10 days latei."7 •
-
Then comes his stork.-of having been
marched back to. Tereiin, of Nazis , aban-
doning their posts—theY had fled! And at
the displaced persons' camp at •Deggen-
dorf, Germany, he began to work on his
paintings.. He found a bookbinder,. in a
book of blank pages he begin tb - fill in
his reminiscences, his impressions of what
Wykert's detailed account relates Fredy
reminders cf the tragic era of the 19405.
had happened to victims' of terror to hu-
antor's life, his love of art, how he pur-
"The Book of Alfred Kantor" is both sued it in the concentration camp, then
manity. Now after these many years-26
biography and art. This most impressive gathered his paintings and drawings and
of them since the liberation—he shares his
Alfred Kantor's story is, a tragedy that impressions with the -World,
and deeply moving book, published by Mc- kept them all these years within the covers
-Alfred- Kan-
Graw Hill, is a work of art and at the of a book, with only a few aware' of their once again serves to indict the mass mur- tor is to he blessed for making - available
same time is a biography of a strong man existence. He came to this country and derers. The pictures are simple yet ter- art works that say -"do not forget,"• that
rifying in some instances, they depict real- serve as an admonition' that what he had
who was able to withstand the oppres- ironically served in the U.S.
Army. After ity transformed into an expose of an era of
sions.
experienced shall never be permitted
his discharge he returned to art school. degradation.
again.
'
Cyrus the Great and Iran's Snub to Israel
Pais! Zuckerman's Role
Anti-Israel pressure, so evident in the United Nations, is not as New
limited to the international organization. While some states express R:7-7-
their friendship and work harmoniously with Israel for social better-
ment. there are those who are so much under Arab pressure that
they would net dare to show cordiality to the Jewish state even in the
slightest measure.
This is the case with Iran — the new name for ancient Persia
•
The current 2,500th anniversary of the Persian state that was
established by Cyrus the Great is very closely linked with Jewish
history. Jews were driven into exile by Babylon in 586 BCE. It was by
edict of Cyrus the Great, who established the Persian empire and
—
UJA Leader
Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, JTA
(Copyright 1971, JTA Inc.)
conquered Babylon. that Jews were permitted to return home, to
INSIDE UJA: A wonderful thing happened to the United-Jewish
Appeal on the way to preparing its 1972 fund-raising campaign, which
greatness in great
is to be launched in December. Without knowing what economic condi-
measures because of that noble act. Yet, only a New York rabbi
tions may prevail in 1972, some 160 donors have announced in advance
was invited to the many events that marked the Persian anniversary.
$20,000,000 as their contributions to the UJA for 1972. This total
Israel was snubbed. As a power in the Middle East, Iran, with
PAUL
ZUCKERMAN
represents a 40 per cent increase in gifts received from the same
Turk ey as the only other state in that area, has
peop l e
limited diplomatic
Paul Zuckerman has earned his
and perhaps unlimited economic relations with Israel. But because
This pre-campaign develdpment gives the UJA leadership ground to
the Arabs are co-religionists in the area and are overwhelming epurs .by his labors. He has risen anticipate that the results of the 1972 drive will
exceed even the
numerically, and because so many cf their pcitentates were at the to the highest po.'tion in Amer - results of the current year which were the highest in UJA history.
2,5COth anniversary Iranian celebrations, Israel was totally ignored. ican Jewry's phiin.ithropic efforts
In 1967 — the year of the historic "Six-Day War," when American Jews
It was a mark of weakness more than animosity.
from the ranks. He was an ordi- went out of their way to give unprecedented financial: aid to Israel—
This commentator had likened President Truman to Cyrus, and nary volunteer and he gained rec- the UJA raised $319,000,000. In the current year, the UJA raised
the former President commented to him that Cyrus was "my favorite ognition for his leadership quali- $370,000,000.
character in ancient history." Cyrus has been and remains a ties.
Encouraged by the advanced generous giving for the 1972 cam-
When he becomes national chair- paign — which has not even been proclaimed as yet — UJA leaders
favorite in our history. And it is so heartening to be able to point
to progressive Jewish activities in Iran. Most of Iranian Jews man of the United Jewish Appeal consider the potentials for the 1972 drive greater than the magnificent
prcbab'y would prefer settling in Israel, as so many did. Yet there in December—he has already been h eight reached in 1971. They believe that the 1972 campaign will
still are some 75,000 or more Jews in Iran. The Joint Distribution selected in May by unanimous yield $450,000,000. And they' don't intend to use dramatics to raise this
Committee conducts a vast educational system for the Persian Jewish action of American Jewry's na- huge sum. It is their conviction that American Jews, in their giving
children. There is a measure of freedom there. Some United Jewish tional leaders—he will be con- to UJA, have reached the point now when they don't ne'd any dramatic
Appeal missions go to Iran to be witnesses to what American Jewry tinuing his dedicated labors which stimulation. Making contributions to the UJA has become a normal
have distinguished him—first in habit with Jewish donors, and so did the habit of increasing the
accomplishes with aid to the needy there.
The Jew:sh-Iranian friendship continues. But the Arab enmities Detroit in the Allied Jewish Cam- contributions with every year.
paigns
and then nationally.
OPERATION FREEDOM: Because American Jewry has reached
stand in the way of amity.
Active in the Jewish Welfare a point of understanding the importance of
Speaking at the opening of the 2,500th Iranian anniversary, the
giving for Israel, the UJA
Federation, having served as pres- drive will be conducted in 1972 without "big names" as speakers.
Shah cf Persia spoke thus in tribute to Cyrus:
ident of the United Jewish Chari- Instead, ordinary immigrants who reached Israel during the last
"0, Cyrus, great king, king of kings, Achaemenian king, king
ties, having won the Fred M. years from lands of oppression 'will be sent to
of the land of Iran. I, the Shahanshah of Iran, offer three
the communities
Butzel Award in 1969—Paul Zuck-
salutations from myself and from my nation. We all hail thee as
throughout the U.S. to tell' thei awn stories in their own ways. Each
erman
is the tireless devotee, the of them will relate his own experiences.
the immortal hero of Iran, as the founder of the oldest empire in
proud spokesman for the causes
the world, as the great emancipator of history, and as the noble
This 'innovation, UJA leaders believe, will have a stronger impact
which link him, with Israel and
son of humanity.
on givers in the communities than speeches by prominent Israelis.
with the philanthropic ideas inher- The contributors in the community will come fare to face with some
"Cyrus, we have today gathered at thy eternal resting place
ent in the UJA.
of the people whom he helped to rescue. He will unquestionably be
to say to thee: 'Rest in peace, for we are awake, and will forever
It is no wonder that he should impressed by the simple facts he will
stay awake to guard thy proud heritage.'
hear told in a simple way.
also have been chosen for honors
The only prominent Israeli who may appear as a speaker at a
"We vow to .ever safeguard the traditions of humanism and
by
the
Jewish
National
Fund
and
UJA function will probably be General Moshe Dawn. Important in
benevolence on which thou founded the Persian empire and to
that a forest was planted in his
the UJA program will be a dinner-meeting of donors who contribute
remain for the people of the world the bearers of the message of
honor in the Judean Hills near
no
less than $50,000 each, It is at this dinner that Edward Ginsberg,
world brotherhood and truth."
Jerusalem.
general chairman of the UJA will be honored as one under whose
This fits in so well with a traditional Jewish administration for
He has given generously for
leadership
the UJA raised the largest sums. His term as general
Cyrus and an appreciation for his acts of liberalism. But the enemies many causes — with special in-
chairman expires this year, and he will be succeeded by Paul
cf equality and justice yield to pressure more than they accede terests in Sinai Hospital. He has
Zuckerman of Detroit, who is known in this country - and in Israel
to justice. That's why the battle for decency goes on endlessly. been honored by many groups,
0
for his active devotion to the - UJA.
Jewish and civic.
With Irving Bernsttin, now the executive head of the UJA in
Cyrus and the Aspirations for Redemption
He is admired in Israel for his
Cyrus' triumph had been interpreted as fulfillment of prophecy. zeal and if one were to ask Simha New York, accent on youth is planned for 1972 not only by bringing
As soon as Cyrus, as the king of Persia—he is described as the last of Dinitz, Golda Meir's right-hand as- in more young people into the ranks of UJA leadership, but-- also
the great conquerors—subdued Babylon, in 538 BCE, he proclaimed the sociate, what he thinks of Paul, by recruiting young people . for staff. Bernstein claims that there
liberation of the exiled Jewish. Many began the trek toward Judea. he'd say "That Detroiter is tops is no basis to the prevailing opinion that young„ people with energy
There also were the "assimilated" who would not. budge, who' had on our list of noted world Jewish- and drive hes:tate to accept positions in Jewish' organizations. - Already
the UJA has now the youngest staff -in its histary::At 50; lilern.stein
become somewhat established in Babylonia.
leaders."
Those who returned found devastation in Jerusalem and in those . Paul is fortunate that his wife jokingly asserts that he is one of the organization's oldest staff
members.
• •
ancient days, too, there was need for reconstruction.
Helen is such a good life partner.
A UJA Study Mission, composed of about OW Jewiituoinmunity
While there is no comparison between - the age of Cyrus and the The building of a home in Caesa- -
present time, there is nevertheless the , factor of "the return," of the rea,- in Israel, was the joint deci- leaders from all .over the country, is.ziow in IsraeketudYing conditions
faith in prophecy which was considered.realized in the emergence of s ion- of both Paul and Helen Zuck- there, under Zuckerman's leadership.: When:it , returns to the' United
States - at the end ' of this month, the ground willbelaid for.glie - annual
Cyrus. The historic chapters are, linked fascinatingly in the record of e rman. It was part of a glorious
National UJA Conference which will open in New York on Dec. 10 and
Jewish hopes for redemption which are unending,
role both play in Israel, in th e -
at which the UJA goal for 1972 will be announced. Needless to say,. each
UJA
ranks, and many ether Jewish of the 400-members of the mission pays the costsof his trip and is
2—Friday, October 22, 1971
resume statehood.
Perhaps the name of Cyrus was linked to
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
among tite higher contributors to the UJA.