THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
2 Friday, April 3, 1481
Purely Commentary
Ben Siegel's Pioneering and
the Family's Roots in Many
Jewish Communal Functions
B. Siegel is an important name in the Detroit commu-
nity. It is appended to one of the oldest mercantile com-
panies in the state of Michigan.
The 100th anniversary of the B. Siegel Co., now being
observed here, emphasizes the role of the founder of the
company, Ben Siegel, who came to Detroit in March 1881.
He was 20 years old and not only ambitious but wise as a
merchandiser.
The firm gained status even
during the early years as an ad-
vertiser, and its founder's wis-
dom was imbedded in the
humane factors — in the inter-
est that first began to be aroused
when the founder began to pre-
sent a pair of shoes to every
newborn child in the city.
Ben Siegel, who was born in
Germany in 1861, was educated
at Mannheim Baden. He came to
the United States in 1876,
BEN SIEGEL
started his merchandising
career at Selma, Alabama a year later, and opened Siegel's
Cloaks, Suits and Furs, in the old Hayn's Bazaar, in 1881.
The B. Siegel Co. developed from it.
Benjamin Siegel was active in his business until 1931.
He died Nov. 11, 1936.
Leo Siegel succeeded his uncle as head of the business,
guiding it for 11 years. Leo Siegel died Oct. 18, 1947.
Leo's brother, Eugene, succeeded him in the business
in 1947. He died in 1948. He was succeeded by Clarence A.
Karmer who directed the business until 1961. Presently,
Bernard F. Walker is chairman of the board of the B. Siegel
Co.
This record merits recording in order to indicate the
early affiliations of the Siegels.
The records that were compiled by the late Irving I.
Katz show that Benjamin Siegel joined Temple Beth El in
1899. The Katz historical records, which deal with the
founding of the United Jewish Charities in 1899, indicate
that the Ben Siegel contribution was in the amount of $25.
Notable are other accumulated records which show the
following:
Ben Siegel joined the Pisgah Lodge of Bnai Brith in
1920. The Phoenix Club membership list shows him as an
affiliate in 1923. In 1923 he was also listed as a member of
the United Hebrew Schools. In that year, his wife was listed
as a member of the Jewish Woman's Club.
There is much more to the Ben Siegel story. The im-
migrant from Germany kept his store closed on Saturdays
in observance of the Jewish Sabbath. His successors for a
time kept the Woodward Avenue store closed to business on
Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. That was the practice also
at the time by the Himelhoch Co. and other merchants. The
practice of religious observances was abandoned more than
half-a-century ago
There is another aspect to the Siegel story that needs
recording. When the late Dr. Leo Birkhead commenced his
campaign as a Christian leader opposing anti-Semitism,
the late Leo Siegel became deeply interested in the Friends
of Democracy movement that was organized by the Rev.
Birkhead. He supported Birkhead financially, encouraged
him in the battle against the anti-Semitism of Henry Ford,
Father Charles Coughlin and the many others who formed
hate movements in the 1930s.
These are facts never to be forgotten in the role of a
family that emerged as a great mercantile group and at the
same time showed a deep interest in humane and justice-
seeking movements that affected their Jewish co-
religionists and American fellow citizens.
.
The Guilt of Legitimizing the
Palestine Liberation Organization
There is no end to the guilt, shared by governments,
religious movements, trade organizations, who lend credi-
bility to the gang that threatens Israel's life. British offi-
cials are meeting with the PLO. Vatican officials have
given legitimacy to the organization whose main excuse for
existing is the aim to destroy Israel.
Saudi Arabia and her cohorts apparently have no fears
about securing adherence to their demands for military and
other assistance, else there might have been a cessation of
threats against Israel and the emphasis on their
endorsements of the PLO. Even the International Mone-
tary Fund is being dragged into the pro-PLO campaigns. In
a recent article in the business section of the New York
Times, Clyde H. Farnsworth wrote:
Saudi Arabia may agree shortly to contribute
more than $3 billion a year to a new lending
facility for poor countries, a facility managed by
the International Monetary Fund, Finance Minis-
ter Rene Monory of France said March 3.
Monory, who is the new chairman of the mone-
Ben Siegel's Pioneering Story and His Jewish
Communal Interests ... Dramatization of Masada
Story and a Challenge to Veracity of Josephus
The National Tragedy
The Prayers of the Nation
for Its Public Servants
A national tragedy has been averted. The
President is recovering from the wounds of a
would-be assassin.
The entire nation joins in prayer for his well-
being, for an end to insanity that turns human
beings into beasts.
The nation prays for the health of the men
serving with the President in important duties.
They, too, were victims of a deranged mind.
May the occurrence of the tragic Monday be a
lesson for unity in reducing the dangers that
confront public officials and innocent citizens.
Let there be a control of guns that may to some
degree reduce the dangers that cause tragedies
like those that shook the nation on Mon-
day. The prayers of all citizens are for the wel-
fare of President Ronald Reagan, his family, his
associates in the government service.
May there be an end to barbarism and a reduc-
tion in insanities.
tary fund's interim committee, the top policy-
steering body for the 141-nation lending institu-
tion, told a gathering of reporters that the prob-
lems were now technical rather than political.
He said he was "relatively optimistic" that de-
tails could be worked out 'before meeting May 21
in Libreville, Gabon, of the top financial officials
and central bank governors from Third World
and industrialized countries that sit on the
interim committee.
It was the strongest official indication so far
that a negotiated settlement could emerge from a
dispute last year over representation by the
Palestine Liberation Organization at the joint an-
nual meeting of the monetary fund and its sister
lending institution, the World Bank.
Saudi Arabia and other oil-producing Arab
countries threatened to withhold financial sup-
port for the two institutions unless the PLO was
given observer status. But the United States and
some Western allies objected to PLO representa-
fion.
A formula was found to keep the issue from
distupting the meeting in Washington last fall.
Pending a broader settlement, however, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates
have still, refused to inject their petrodollars into
either the monetary fund or the International
Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as the
World Bank is formally known . . .
Arab monetary sources said that they had pro-
posed leaving the question of who sits as an ob-
server either to the chairman of the meeting or to
individual countries. In either case it would be an
individual decision, as opposed to an institutional
decision.
There is no limit to the areas which PLO is invading
and it often gets a measure of credibility in this country.
Exceedingly threatening is the declaration by the Sy-
rian president that the PLO will have freedom of movement
in his country. He has given total endorsement to the PLO's
movements and his declaration, accompanied by a warning
to Jordan whence the PLO has been expelled marks an
added menacing addendum to the villainy perpetrated
from -the Middle East on a global basis.
That is why the provision of added military assistance
to Saudi Arabia, an official backer of the PLO, the
legitimizing of the enemies of Israel by British, French and
Vatican officials; the encouragement for the chief enemy of
Israel in this country as well, represent growing threats to
human rights and to the peace of the Middle East. It is to be
hoped that there will be total rejection in this nation's
capital of whatever encouragement may be offered to the
growing movement of enmity for Israel.
Repudiation of Extremism:
Realism of Congressman-to-Be
State Representative Mark Siljander, winner of the
Republican nomination for Congress in the Fourth Michi-
gan District, is conceded election to the U.S. House of
Representatives from his overwhelmingly Republican dis-
trict. His triumph marks an interesting addendum to the
disputes over the so-called Moral Majority.
Spokesmen for the latter maintained that they helped
him in his political campaign. Siljander, himself a Chris-
tian religious leader, refutes such claims. He stated after
his successful campaign in the primary on March 24:
By Philip
Slomovitz
Certainly, Christians were involved, but it's
ridiculous to suggest that we're all Baptists . . . or
we're focused on one narrow-minded theology.
Our Berrien County coordinator was a Jew,
and that's far from the Moral Majority. My voting
record was supported by the Farm Bureau and
the Chamber of Commerce, too. What I'm saying
is, there's great diversity here.
The point at issue is the successful candidate's per-
sonal religious devotions. He is an observing Christian who
cherishes devotionl-But he adheres to the basic American
principle of religious freedom which cautiously avoids im-
posing restrictions on anyone.
With such a recommendation, the Congressman-to-Be
should prove to be a great asset to American idealism, to
this nation's emphasis on fair play, to justice for all in the
strengthening of beliefs in religious freedom. It will be
interesting to watch him in his new official role, especially
since the Separation ideal is frequently under challenge.
Masada Story's Dramatization
and the Digging Into Historic
Roots About Traitor Josephus
In her youth, Trude Weiss-Rosmarin was already
acclaimed as the most knowledgeable woman. Talmudist.
Her editorship of the monthly Jewish Spectator gave her a
high rank as a critic and as a devoted student of Jewish
history.
Her frequent criticisms of the United Jewish Appeal
and of some Zionist endeavors are subject to scrutiny. One
wonders what is to be achieved by contribution towards
weakening of some of the major forces in Jewish life. Criti-
cism should, must! be encouraged. But it must be construc-
tive criticism.
Dr. Weiss-Rosmarin currently earns the gratitude of
her readers for her important statement regArding Flavius
Josephus whose records were utilized to show that the
heroes on Masada committed suicide rather than submit to
slavery of the Romans. She continues to maintain that this
was a Josephus fabrication.
Trude Weiss-Rosmarin certainly qualified as a digger
into the roots of Jewish history. She doesn't tell anything
new when she brands Josephus as a traitor. But she does it,
and that merits appreciation.
Nevertheless, the Masada story, as it will be
dramatized for four successive nights this coming week,
exites interest and fascination. A great deal of effort has
been expended in the preparation of the televised story.
Massive material has been prepared as a basis for the
eight-hour, four-night show. The dramatists have pub-
lished extensive reading material on the subject, including
this chronology:
63 BCE Pompey captures Jerusalem. Judea is
under Roman control.
36 - 30 Herod fortifies Masada.
Herod proclaimed King of Judea by
35
Roman Senate.
4
Herod dies.
Judea is placed under rule of Roman
6 CE
procurator.
Pontius Pilate is procurator of Judea.
26-36
John the Baptist is executed.
28
Jesus of Nazareth is crucified.
30
The Emperor Caligula attempts to place
40
a statue in the Jerusalem Temple.
Nero reigns in Rome. Christians are
54-68
persecuted.
66 •
Jewish rebellion against Roman rule
breaks out in Judea. Flavius Josephus is
Governor of Galilee.
Josephus surrenders to Romans.
67
Vespasian is proclaimed Emperor of
69
Rome and leaves Judea. His son, Titus,
becomes commander of the Roman
Legions in Judea.
70
Titus begins siege of Jerusalem. The
wall, city, and Temple are destroyed.
600,000 civilians are massacred.
Flavius Silva, governor-general of
72
Judea and commander of the Roman
10th Legion, marches against Masada,
where Judean resistance forces have
been concentrated since the destruction
of Jerusalem.
Masada falls.
73
Josephus completes his histories of the
78
Jewish War.
The deep appreciation for the show is understandable.
Masada televized will surely inspire further study and dis-
cussion. If other criticisms also emerge, in addition to those
already provided by Trude Weiss-Rosmarin, they will serve
as emphasis that factual studies are vital for historical
records. There have been entirely too many distortions —
the contributions of claimants to scholarly standards that
have not been earned. The truth must always be the final-
ity to all studies, even if they settle into a TV program.