looking back
Camping is exhausting! Campers from the Jewish Community Center nap before boarding a bus to an overnight trip.
August 1958. Bob Benyas, photographer. Courtesy Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives.
From the DJN
Davidson Digital Archive
T
here was plenty of news about the war in Europe in
the July 31, 1942, issue of the JN, but I liked some of the
community news and the poetry. Poetry, you ask? Yes,
poetry.
First, there is the poem on page 14 from our esteemed col-
umnist Danny Raskin. Danny has been writ-
ing for the JN since the first day it was pub-
lished and, every now and then, he added
some poetry to his “Listening Post” column,
which was geared toward Jewish youth.
In his poem in this issue, Danny relates the
sad story of a gunner on the aircraft carrier
Lexington, who fought off a Japanese attack
to the bitter end. The original Lexington was
Mike Smith
lost
in the Battle of the Coral Sea in May
Detroit Jewish News
Foundation Archivist
1942. While this battle was a tactical draw, it
54
July 27 • 2017
jn
was the first strategic victory for the U.S. in WWII. It was also
the first sea battle in history where the ships engaged never
sighted one another. It was a battle fought by gunners and
airplanes. Danny’s poem depicts the grim, personal nature of
modern naval warfare.
But there was also a lighter — but meaningful — poem, a
“Liberty Limerick” on page 10. This was an anti-Hitler limer-
ick from the U.S. Treasury Department that was a promotion
for the sale of War Bonds. This advertisement encouraged
everyone to buy bonds and defeat Hitler.
Along with a story on another page about Air Warden train-
ing in Detroit, the “Liberty Limerick” reminded me of the
nationwide participation in this global conflict. •
Want to learn more? Go to the DJN Foundation archives,
available for free at www.djnfoundation.org.
Historic photos are curated by the
Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.