2 Friday, May 9, 1975 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Purely Commentary David Berris: 'Tribute to Distinguished Orthodox Leader . . . Timely Advice for Egypt . . . Notewor- thy Role of Ira Sonnenblick in Services for the Aged By Philip Slomovitz A Campaign of Merit . . . A Triumph for Dedicated Leadership Detroit Jewry's accomplishments in philanthropy may again be ranked among the highest in the land. The Allied Jewish Campaign this year does not match last year's, yet the attainment is so impressive that it must be viewed realistically as an achievement of great merit. Economic conditions augured a decline in the top gifts, but the overall response matched the preceding years, and the end result is heartening. True, there are always shortcomings. Yet the total recorded must be viewed as a gen- uine triumph for dedication to the needs of the communal agencies and the responsibili- ties to the overseas causes and to.Israel. It was a campaign that was vital for the local movements, for the educational needs, for David Berris: Supremely Devout David Berris was a distinguished Orthodox leader. He was a mainstay in Mizrachi and Young Israel ranks. He was much more: he was a leader and a worker in the great cause of Israel's redemption. He was a Zionist in every sense of the word. Of course, he was supremely devout. He passed his de- votions on to his progeny, leaving family legacies that are to be envied. Able professionally, rising high in the practice of law, dedicated to his community's educational needs, he was a good Jew and a good American. The Day School movement will miss him, and his la- hots for the Akiva Day School will be among his most note- worthy achievements. All who have known him will miss him greatly. About him it may truthfully be said: sekher tzadik livrakha! Blow to the 6th Fleet Even though it was done by agreement, the abandon- ment of facilities for the U. S. 6th Fleet in Greek water must be viewed as a setback for this country. The negation of American rights by, Portugal and the loss of port facilities in Greek possessions emphasize the downgrading of American rights in foreign territories. The concern thus created becomes more aggravating by the knowledge that Russia makes gains while the United States is losing in crucial areas. All the more reason for strengthening the role of Israel in American friendships. Lesson from Johannesburg A discharged Israeli soldier had been declared "emo- tionally unstable." Yet he managed to secure a responsible position as a security officer with the Israeli consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa. The result was a shocking tragedy, the death of four and injuries to more than 30 people. That deplorable incident should serve as a lesson for many, including the American communities. All too often crimes become permissible, here and else- where, because demented who were dangerous as youths or had been convicted and imprisoned, are permitted many freedoms in a society that is too quick to restore them to status of sanity: care for newcomers from Russia, for the protection of the health and welfare of those who need aid from the agencies supported by the Jewish Welfare Federation. The effectiveness of the current fund-raising experience is attributable to the devotion of the citizens of the community and to leadership. This community has been fortunate in its campaign leadership, and this year'411111_ chairmanship of Richard Sloan and Arthur Howard deserves appreciation. Both IA hard. They were assisted by a dedicated campaign organization. The successful Allied Jewish Campaigners and the staff of the Jewish Welfare Federation, under whose direc- tion the drives are conducted, have earned the heartfelt thanks to the community and the causes it supports. The record of crimes by the emotionally unstable is too large for the facts marking their undependability to be ignored. The tragedy of Johannesburg must serve as a lesson for communities everywhere to be on guard lest demented should become so permissive that there will be no security for any one in their vicinity. helped create a good and wholesome atmosphere in the Home. The encouragement given those who possess voca- tional skills has been especially impressive. Good wishes to the Sonnenblicks and congratulations to the Women's Auxiliary of the Jewish Home for the Aged are therefore especially in order at this time. Ira Sonnenblick's Services Fritchey Admonition Must Be Heeded Clayton Fritchey, in a syndicated column analyzing Ira Sonnenblick is retiring from directorship of the Egypt's economic conditions, made some points that could Jewish Home for the Aged after nearly 30 years of devoted serve well in swaying the Egyptians towards a peace accord services. Under his direction the home had grown to its with Israel, the responsible Egyptians could be gotten to present eminence. It ranks among the most efficiently oper- listen to his if advice. ated institutions of its kind and the credit for that achieve-. In the course of his article, Fritchey stated: ment goes to him and to his wife who worked with him in "It is a sad and depressing perversion of the socialist supervising the home's activities. dreams that distinguished the Nasser revolution more than Sonnenblick's retirement merits special attention be- decades ago but which were sidetracked when Nasser cause of the character, background and ability of the man two became obsessed with personal dreams of glory as leader of as well as the impact he is leaving on the community. the Arab world • and of the crusade against Israel. The people he has dealt with are not all his friends. He "Nasser always promised guns and butter, but de- also has critics and antagonists, and that is perhaps also to livered only guns. With his death in 1970, and the advent his credit. Many who have been unable to secure placement of Sadat, fresh hopes were raised, for the new president, for close relatives in the home looked upon him as a mean less vainglorious and more politically supple than his guy. On his retirement it is well to clarify such a situation. predecessor, looked for a while like a leader who was A Michigan college has openings for 40 tutorial jobs clever enough to produce the butter without losing the and more than 1,000 have applied for them. Does that make support of his general and the backing of his Arab allies. the heads of the college villains ? "Nobody, it now appears, is that clever. Sadat of When there were one or two or three vacancies for course, would „like to enjoy arms from Russia, cash from admission to the home, there may have been more than 100 Saudi Arabia, military co-ordination from Syria, real estate applicants for the rooms or beds. Were the Sonnenblicks from Israel, goodwill grants from the United States and de- sinners because they could not provide for all who needed ference from the Palestine Liberation Organization. the special care and the housing? "It's a balancing act that is probably beyond the skill of The fact is that Mr. Sonnenblick was scrupulous and even a virtuoso tightrope walker like Sadat. He's still danc- aimed to serve. Objectively viewed, his efforts were both ing around on the high wire, but the net had better be kept fruitful and practical and many families judge him with handy." gratitude. It should be said in this connection that Mr. Sonnen- There are admonitions in these factual presentations blick brought to the Home for the Aged a background that have a serious bearing on the Middle East conflict. steeped in Jewish knowledge. He is a linguist, knows Yid- Egypt suffers from economic ills. They can be repaired by dish and Hebrew as well as his mastery of English. He is economic cooperation with Israel. An end to saber-rattling steeped in knowledge of Jewish literature. That enabled could also mean a beginning of trade relations of great ben- him to encourage the best cultural programs for the Home. efit to both Israel and Egypt. The Home for the Aged now merits special attention First, however, Egypt must think in terms of peace because the Women's Auxiliary is marking its 50th anniver- rather than war, of raising the standard of living of her own sary. That's another occasion calling for congratulations. people instead of war mobilization. Then there could The women have sponsored many functions that have emerge a blessing for the entire area. Tribute to the Ridders: Commentary Remembers the Nazi Spanknoebel The Ridders' names must never be forgotten. They have .earned an inerasable place among the very great American libertarians. As publishers of the leading German newspa- pers they were the chief targets of the Nazis in the early 1930s. Hitler's representatives in this country attempted to. pressure them into anti-Semitism. They not only rejected bigotry but consistently defended the Jewish victims of Nazism and urged rejection of the Hitler codes. One of the brothers, Bernard H. Ridder, died in West Palm Beach, Fla., Monday, at the age of 92. In the account of the Ridders' courage and their strong stand against Hit- lerism, in the New York Times obituary, published on Tues- day, appears the following: In 1933, a few months after the Nazi regime came to power in Germany, one Heinz Spanknoebel appeared in The Staats-Herold office here and showed Victor Ridder letters from the German La- bor Front and the chief of the foreign division of the Nazi party, which, he told Mr. Ridder, gave the newcomer "authority to assume power over the Ger- man-language press in the United States." His first order, Mr. Ridder testified in a 1943 proceeding to void the citizenship of Nazis in this country, was to stop publishing "your pro-Jewish articles." As Mr. Ridder was explaining he would do no such thing, his brother Bernard walked in, was shown the letters and immediately said, "All I can tell you, Spanknoebel, is to get the hell out and stay out." The Nazi representative caused turmoil among Americans of German descent and continued to at- tack the Ridders until he left the country a few months later. ing to Jewry that the Nazis were mobilizing their dastardly activities. This Commentator's warning left its mark on the com- munity. A few days after its publication, walking on Monte- rey near Dexter, I saw a couple of youngsters arguing, get- The Spanknoebel item is of special interest to Detroit ting into a fight, and, seeking an opprobrium for his ant - - -- and is a special reminiscence for this Commentator. Span- nist, one of the boys shouted to the other: "You Span', knoebel began his career as a Nazi agent in Detroit. Your bel!" Commentator interviewed him in a small photographic The incident is worth recording, and if your Commen- shop on the East Side. It was his front and headquarters. tator may offer a personal apologetic, in relation to the charges frequently made that American Jews had failed in My interview was published on the front page of the activism against Nazism, that I was not silent. I did publish Detroit Jewish Chronicle which I then edited. I exposed a frequent BEWARE, certainly before, during and after the Nazi and the story was published as a BEWARE warn- the Spanknoebel experience. Memorial Started for the Jews of Mauthausen Concentration Camp NEW YORK, (JTA) — The 30th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthau- sen concentration camp in Austria, was marked Mon- day by the laying of a cor- nerstone for a monument to the thousands of Jews who died there, it was an- nounced here by the Mau- thausen Monument Com- mittee. Mauthausen, located 100 miles northwest of Vienna, was one of the largest Nazi extermination centers. The monument, in the form of a seven-armed men- ora, is the project of a spe- cial committee of Jews still living in Vienna, including Dr. Anton Pick, president of the JewishCommunity of Vienna, who serves as chair- man of the committee; Si- mon Wiesenthal, tracer of ex-Nazis; Chief Rabbi Akiba Eisenberg; and Dr. Anton Winter, president of the Keren Hayesod of Vienna. Former Israeli Ambas- sador to Austria, Yitzhak Patish, is a patron of the project, which also has the cooperation of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. The monument, designed by Israeli sculptor Dov Hoff, will stand five meters tall, and will be made of stain- less steel. The Hebrew word "z'chor" (remember), also in stainless steel, will stand a few feet away from the main sculpture. "Six arms of the menora will symbolize the six mil- lion Jews cruelly murdered in the Holocaust," Dr. Zel- man said. "The seventh arm, standing out from the rest, will symbolize the indes- tructible soul of the Jewish people."