2 Friday, June 8, 1919 , THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS Purely Commentary Meyer Levin's Anne Frank Drama: Seeking Justice fo Abused Author Anne Frank would have been 50 on June 12. This anniversary date will be the occasion for reconstructing the drama of her life. Much will be said and written about the young girl who so brilliantly described the experience of being in hiding from the Nazis in an Amsterdam attic for two years. The hiding place is being visited by many tens of thousands and more will be attracted to the historic place of the Frank family's hiding in Amsterdam. "The Anne Frank Diary" will undoubtedly be re- enacted in scores of cities and attention will be leveled on the play drawn from the diary that was found in the attic after the liberation of Holland from the Nazis. Now new attention will be given to the case of charged plagiarism in the production of the Anne Frank drama. The original play was written by the eminent author and novelist, Meyer Levin, whose documentary films and his- torical analyses of the resettlement of Jewish DPs in Israel after World War II have added immensely to the records regarding the Jewish state's role in the effort of rescuing and rebuilding the lives of survivors from Nazism. Meyer Levin's text was rejected by Otto Frank, An- ne's father and only surviv- ing member of the family, and the task was turned over to Lillian Hellman. Levin charged plagiarism. He accused, and still does, the perpetrators of fostering prejudices, of having played down the Jewish aspect of the Anne Frank Diary. Lillian Hellman is espe- cially blamed. So are those who worked with her. So is Otto Frank, to whom Levin now appeals to correct the MEYER LEVIN injustice that was perpet- rated against him. He had started a law suit and won a $25,000 verdict when the case reached the New York State Supreme Court. On the occasion of Anne Frank's 50th birthday and the revival of interest in the drama, Meyer Levin re-opens the case. A number of the most eminent authors backed him up in his case against the producers of the drama which, as he claimed, distorted his own text. He prepared a memo on the case in which he asserts anew: While admiring Miss Hellman's brave stand against McCarthyism, Levin seeks the same free- dom from ideological blacklisting for himself. As to the charge that his play was "unstageworthy," it took 14 years before an "unauthorized" produc- tion could give the work a hearing, whereupon it was pronounced by Tel Aviv critics to be superior in every way, theatrically, as well as for depth of characterization, quality, and faithfulness, to the an's Broadway work, written under Miss Hellm tutelage by her Hollywood friends, Albert and Frances Hackett. • In the meantime, since the Broadway version duplicated the stage methods of his supposedly unstageworthy work, Levin had won a lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court for "appro- priation of ideas," a form of plagiarism. This was the only time in history, he points out, that a Pulitzer Prize work, the Broadway play, was con- victed by a jury of being substantially taken from the work of another writer. During the trial, Levin discloses, he was subjected to a campaign of tele- phoned death threats that drove his wife to hys- teria and a suicide attempt. The amazing plagiarism verdict was hushed up and is forgotten. "Rather naively," says the author, "despite the combined influence of a major film company, a dominant Broadway pro- ducer and a most powerful law firm, I was as- tonished at the total hushup of what, elsewhere, would have constituted a tremendous literary scandal." One may imagine the impact of such a verdict against a Prix Goncourt winner in France! Conceding that the Broadway play, "even as it is," moves people because of the situation itself, Levin points out that he ha's never tried to inter- fere- with its production, asking only that those who wish to see his own version should have that right. Petitions to that effect have been signed by hundreds of authors, libertarians and by noted concentration camp survivors — by Nobel Prize laureates Albert Camus and I.B. Singer, by Nor- man Mailer, I.F. Stone, Elie Wiesel, Bruno Bet- telheim, Simon Wiesenthal. The Anniversary of the Birth of Anne Frank and Meyer Levin's Justified Grievance ... Allen Warsen's Pioneering in Creating Historical Society ... Klutznick Visit for JNF All were ignored, Levin says. And meanwhile the enemy literary clique has vengefully denig- rated his entire writing career, spread character assassination tales and stigmatized him as "paranoic" — off to an insane asylum with that Jewish dissident! But the issues are clear: The right of a deceased author to be faithfully interpreted. The right of a people to use the cultural material born of its history. Isn't it too late? The Diary is a work of perma- nent nature, he points out, and widely performed in schools. The ban on his work can easily be lifted, by the consent of a few individuals and corporations who have earned fortunes, in con- siderable measure due to that work. "I am told I should be satisfied with having pro- ved my case in court and on the stage. But I am also told that what I wrote is a work of permanent worth in the theater and cannot be allowed to remain suppressed." As to being the last romantic, the last one-man fighter, Levin says, "Many writers have suffered in dimensions far beyond my experience, in the fight for freedom of expression. To turn from this cause would be to turn away from them, and from society itself." And from the truth of Anne Frank. What he asks now is that his play receive the recogni- tion he maintains it merited at the outset. It was produced his way only in Israel. He wants a rejection of Lillian Hellman's contentions, an atoning by Otto Frank, recogni- tion in the theater with an acceptance of his text as the more representative of the Dairy. His case is well stated and the proof he provides for his contentions was already affirmed in the high court of the state of New York. Let there be justice for Meyer Levin. It will mean justice also for Anne Frank. Historical Society Anniversary: Allen Warsen's Leadership Anniversaries assume significance when the per- sonalities involved register accomplishments. Greater Detroit's Jewish community marks an in- teresting event in the observance of the 20th anniversary of the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. Its members have participated in celebrating historic events. Many have their roles in conducting research into important occurrences and many have written about them. It is notable that the for- mation of the Jewish His- torical Society of Michigan was first suggested in a let- ter published in these col- umns. Allen Warsen, who five years later became the first president of the society, urged the formation of such a group and movement in his letter of 1954. It is important to register, in the ranks of the creators of the movement, a dedi- cated group that included Irving Katz, Rabbi Emanuel Applebaum, Prof. Leonard Moss and the late ALLEN WARSEN Frank Barcus. The latter was an especially creative person. An artist, an illustrator who often excelled as a caricaturist, he had great devotion in his desire to advance educational activities,•and he did much of that through the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. Leonard N. Simons was helpful in many ways. The more recent presidents of the society would form an addendum to a Who's Who of the society. Many identified Detroiters have shown a concerned interest in historical matters by enrolling in the society, and the identification of people like U.S. Senator Carl Le- vin, who will address the anniversary celebration, em- phasizes the progress the group has made in two decades of activities. The role of Allen Warsen is unique. He is untiring and the many achievements to his credit will fascinate all who are interested in retaining historical records. It is thanks to his personal endeavors that the following have been at- tained: • Jewish Historical Society of Michigan founded in 1959. • The periodical "Michigan Jewish History" founded in 1960. • Ezekiel Solomon monument constructed at Fort Michimilimackinac in 1964. • Jewish archives at Detroit Public Library's Burton Historical Collection founded. • Discovered in 1969 the existence of a 40- member Jewish community in Detroit in 1850. • Roadside marker placed in 1971 on Lafayette By Philip Slomovitz commemorating Michigan's oldest Jewish cemet- ery, Beth El. • Memorial to Michigan's first Jewish histo- rian, David Emil Heineman, established at the De- troit Historical Museum in 1972. • Historic tablet placed at Bonstelle Theater on Woodward in 1975 commemorating the building as the former Temple Beth El designed by ar- chitect Albert Kahn. • Plaque placed in the library of the Jewish – Community Center in West Bloomfield com- memorating the first known Jewish resident of - Detroit, Chapman Abraham. Allen Warsen has a good record as a scholar and it keeps showing its effects in his book reviews in these col- umns. In honoring the Detroit Historical Society, the Jewish community honors the movement's pioneers, and Allen Warsen has a pioneering role in their ranks. Klutznick in a World Role, Coming for JNF Evening, Noting Jackier Family Identifications Philip M. Klutznick genuinely earns_the title of top leader in world Jewish ranks. That designation surely ac- companies the presidency of the World Jewish Congress. Whoever would succeed Dr. Nahum Goldmann, whO, in turn, succeeded Dr. Stephen S. Wise, to leadership in the World Jewish Congress, at once inherits the mantle of global Jewish leadership. This is now the role of the man who had his initiation into Jewish leadership ii the Bnai Brith youth movement, who headed the international Bnai Brith, was active in the administrations of several Presidents and was a U.S. delegate to the United Nations. He wore many hats, all with great dignity. He has not bowed to predominant views and is to this day unquestionably among those who differ with lead- when they have - views of their own. In this respect he is a true fol- lower of Nahum Goldmann. He challenges and offers opinions even if they are not popular. His visit here for the annual dinner of the Jewish National Fund, therefore, provides an PHILIP KLUTZNICK opportunity for this com- munity to become re-acquainted with the man who had exerted his influence upon many Detroiters when he was the head of the Bnai Brith. Many remember the inspiration he provided at that time. The uniqueness of his participation in the JNF event is the popularity of the family to be honored. The honorees, Edythe and Joseph Jackier, are activists in many respects — he presently is head of the United Jewish Charities, she is the former head of the Jewish Social Service Bureau and the Women's Division of the Allied Jewish Campaign and the Jewish Welfare Federation. Their selection for JNF honors really can be shared by their children. The son, Lawrence, leads United Jewish Appeal missions to Israel and is a volunteer of high rank since he lectures for UJA in many communities. Lawr- ence's wife, Shelly, makes a notable contribution to Greater Detroit's involvements in services for Israel as the or- ganizer of the Israel Information and Resource Ce which functions at the Jewish Community Center. The Klutznick visit, the people to be honored by J combine to provide pride in an important communal func- tion. I.F. Stone: Rooted in Misrepresentation I.F. Stone at one time was an advoacte of Zionism and was a lecturer for the cause. Now he is the darling of the PLO whose aim is the destruction of the fruits of Zionism. That his new glory is attained on a road of misrepresenta- tion becomes evident as he remains a tool of those who seek Israel's demise. Else, how could he fail to take into account, while mouthing cliches about Palestinians, that Jews also were Palestinians as citizens of pre-Israel Palestine? Why does he fail to credit Israel's leaders with a determination to negotiate for autonomy with the Arabs on the West Bank in Samaria and Judea? How dare he equate Menahem Begin with the PLO, failing to concede that Begin was a freedom fighter because his battles were only with the British while the PLO's heroism is against children and women? Was there ever an instance of a Jewish freedom fighter throwing a bomb into a supermarket to kill women shop- pers? Such murderers are now the darlings of I.S. Stonr. Rabbi Irwin Groner of Cong. Shaarey Zedek was right in excoriating those who gave him a platform. You don't dig- nify and abomination.