ai Josef Rosensaft's Unforgotten Role in Retaining Memories of Holocaust to Prevent Repetition Josef Rosensaft was the first of the survivors to come to this country with appeals to protect the status of dis- placed persons and to bring his personal message of the sufferings that were entailed in concentration camps. He had been to Detroit in the early years after the Holo- caust. He presented the case for those who, like him, had survived Auschwitz and other terror camps. In the years that ensued, he was among the organizers of the Bergen-Belsen Association. He has inspired those who are determined that the Holocaust should not be forgotten — so that the horrors of Nazism should not be repeated. He has succeeded in business in this country and has emerged among the notable personali- ties who are striving for jus- tice to assure retention of the Rosensaft memory and the victims of the Nazi brutalities. The Bergen-Belsen Association , now performs credi- tably in perpetuating the record of what had occurred. Without such tasks, mankind remains in danger of repe- tition of inhumanities. A study of attitudes among Americans just made indicated that if there were a repetition of what had happened during the Hitler years, if concentration camps were to be established in this country, there would be no difficulty in mobilizing personnel in operating them. The study concerned itself with the tragic aspect of "taking and following orders." How does one resist? Is it possible to educate people that when such orders are to murder innocents one must resist even his own government? How else is justice to survive in a human society? What Josef Rosensaft is striving for is prevention from crimes that stem from "order taking" by inhumans for inhuman purposes. Unless this is attained the Eich- manns could come to power again. Therefore, Josef Rosensaft, his previous efforts, his sufferings, his current tasks, are respected and honored by those who are aware of them. The Rosensafts' son, Menahem, follows in his father's footsteps and devotes himself to programs not to forget the Holocaust. A recent wedding announcement in the columns of this newspaper reported Menahem Rosensaft's marriage to Jean Bloch, daughter of another survivor from Nazism and a co-organizer of the Bergen-Belsen Association. It was among the marriage announcements of a non-Detroiter that merited attention in this news- paper because it indicated family continuity in a just cause. Those who remember their own experiences are helping others to understand the tragedy and to help perpetuate tasks that prevent them. All honor to such dedicated men. * Mogen David Adom's Place in the World Community and American Red Cross Role Magen David Adorn, Israel's equivalent of the Red Cross, has thus far been•deprived of membership in the international Red Cross movement. Israel's application for membership will undoubtedly be acted upon again at the forthcoming meeting of the League of Red Cross Societies and the International Corn- mittee of the Red Cross may then correct an injustice. During the frequent discussions regarding Israel's role in the international Red Cross movement, there have been regrettable misrepresentations of the position taken on the question by the American Red Cross. This has been cor- rected in an important statement by Dr. Moshe Many, chairman of the executive committee of Magen David Adorn in Israel. In a letter to President Elsey of the American Red Cross, Prof. Many expressed regret over the "unfortunate state of affairs" which inspired criticism of the American Red Cross, and he stated inter alia: "The decision on acceptance of the Star of David as a protective symbol under the Geneva Conventions is one which governments must make—not the Red Cross. We are most appreciative of the position con- sistently taken by the American Red Cross, reaffirmed both by your predecessor and yourself, that you will support our application for membership in the League of Red Cross Societies. It is a source of great comfort to us to know that when we do apply for League mem- bership we will be assured of your full support. "The American Red' Cross has for many years of- fered and given MDA active support, assistance and cooperation which was and still is needed and greatly appreciated. This cooperation has had great meaning for us particularly since your society has repeatedly pro- vided blood free of charge to Israeli children flown to the United States for open-heart surgery and to other Israelis who have come to your country for special sur- gery. The attitude of the American Red Cross has never been affected by the formal status of Magen David Adom within the greater family of Red Cross Societies and for that please accept our deepfelt appreciation." A battle for justice demands truthful approaches and distortions of facts must never be tolerated. It is therefore obligatory to state the facts and to correct an error that could harm a great movement in this country. The American Red Cross is exonerated of blame for elimination of Magen David Adorn from membership in the International Red Cross Committee. The Arab crescent has been recognized as legitimate in similar Red Cross services in Moslem countries and there is no excuse for banning the Magen David in Israeli humanitarian services. Perhaps the •grave injustice will be corrected when the League of Red Cross Societies meets soon. * * * Another Landmark: Ratner's Another relic has been added to New York's obliterated institutions. Ratner's Dairy Restaurant was a landmark. Family visits in New York by this commentator seldom excluded at least one meal at Ratner's on Second Avenue. For vegetarians this restaurant was a veritable paradise. Scores upon scores of dishes made dairy food there a factor providing unusual delight for the gourmet. Ratner's was not a meeting place for Jewish actors and journalists, like the Royal Cafe. Nor was it like Tip- Toe Inn, where, nightly, when there were not public gatherings or officials meetings, Zionists socialized. To Tip-Toe Inn Zionists flocked to socialize. It was in the years when Louis Lipsky was the main attraction. Many problems were solved at those gatherings—and some were solved at those gatherings—and some were created. In contrast, Ratner's was strictly for food—and that pur- pose was served well. For those insisting on kashrut; Ratner's was a haven to which hordes of out-of-town visitors flocked. Abraham Harmatz masterminded the functions that made Ratner's an institution of merit in New York. That he should have died on the day after he terminated the Ratner restaurant activities added drama to the end of a restaurant that became a landmark in New York's Jewish life. When the New York Jewish stories are written, there will be an inevitable spot there for the Harmatz-owned- and-managed Ratner's Dairy Restaurant. * * Kissinger's View on Israel in the Testimony of History Dr. Kissinger—photographed at initial Geneva Conference On the Sunday before the Israel-Syria disengagement accord was achieved by Secretary of State Henry A. Kis- singer, Israel's retiring Prime Minister Golda Meir gave a luncheon in Jerusalem in the American statesman's honor. The Jewish Telegraphic gency's report of that luncheon.stated: Kissinger said that the four weeks of his current mission were, "with all their difficulties," the "most rewarding and sometimes the most emotional in our lives. One is not often given the opportunity to change the course of events in history and there is no area in this world which needs so much a change in events and there is no people which deserves more than your people to be able to live in peace." He also said: "Is- rael is testimony to the fact that the dreams in history can become reality. To see your country is proof that there is still hope in this world." Premier Meir responded that Kissinger had taught "us that it is not enough to be right and to be convinced that we are right. In order to be able to live with others in this area, we must at least try to understand our neighbors." Whatever doubts had been entertained about the Jew- ish refugee lad who had risen to greatest heights in world diplomacy may have been dispelled by what Dr. Kissinger said at that luncheon. A person of honor does not forget. Henry Abraham Kissinger did not forget. - Mrs. Comay Enriches Biographical Data With New 'Who's Who in Jewish History Joan (Mrs. Mich a e 1) Comay, with two noteworthy encyclopedic works, "Scrip- tural Who's Who," of the great personalties in the Old and New testaments, to her credit has produced another exceptionally note worthy volume devoted to the great figures in history. In "Who's Who in Jewish History," McKay), Mrs. Comay covers a vast field of Jews "after the period of the Old Testa- ment." Her two previous works, published by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, (reviewed in The Jewish News Nov. 19, 1971), Mrs. Comay rendered a great service. Bible stu- 2—Friday, June 7, 1974 dents, theologions, historians, were provided with an en- cyclopedic collection of bio- graphical sketches that cov- ered the ancient era of Juda- ism and those in Christianity. In the present volume, Mrs. Comay deals with the great personalities in all spheres of human endeavor, and the great personalities in all spheres of human endeavor, and the communities in all parts of the globe are fully covered in the array of peo- ple skilfully delinated. than 1,000 Jews and has pre- their roles in Jewish history. sented their biographical To assist the reader in sketches with emphasis on linking the experiences of the periods under review with historic developments, four maps have been included, and the 16 color plates and the 450 black and white illus- trations certainly add to the merits of this very impres- sive biographical anthology. The scholarly approach • by the eminent author is as im- pressive as the thoroughness with which Mrs. Comay has gathered the names of more THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS JOAN COMAY "Chronology," which in a Judiciary, Literature, Mes- sense implements the book sianic Movements, Zionism, as an Index, occupies more Theater, Socialism, Rabbinic than 20 pages, thus adding and Talmudic Scholarship, z to the impressiveness of the Nobel Prize Winners an. - contents of the new "Who's score more topical d Who." It is an affirmation of ments. the worldwide coverage pro- vided in an immense collec- An example of complete- tion of thumbnail sketches ness is the section listing the about so many who have Nobel Prize winners, and played important roles in this is applicable also to all Jewish history. the other sections in the book. A glance at the "Thema- tic Index" provides an added To Mrs. Comay will go the appreciation of the multiplic- gratitude of an appreciative ity of areas covered in this readership. She has provided anthological 450-page book. a Who's Who that informs The areas covered include: researchers in Jewish his- Interesting, this work can be defined as startling with the Hasmoneans-134-37 BCE —and concludes with the election of Prof. Ephraim Katzir as president of Israel in 1974. That's as nearly complete a gathering of facts as one could expect and it Anti - Semitism, globally emphasizes the totality of a serious effort splendidly covered; Arab nationalism, Anthropology, Christianity, accomplished. Business and Industry, Gov- As a matter of fact, the ernment, Films, Journalism, tory as well as the average readers who will be delighted with the material that will enlighten them on the great Jewish personalities in his- tory.