looking back

Happy New Year and Happy Sukkot! Students at the Jewish Community Center prepare the sukkah for visitors, c. 1960. •

Bob Benyas, photographer. Courtesy Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives.

From the DJN

Davidson Digital Archive

I

n the columns I’ve been writing since March, I’ve explored
the big stories from 75 years ago in the JN. There were big
stories in every issue, to be sure, but there are also many
short items that make up the news of the day. So, this week, for
a change, let me provide you with a veritable buffet of topics of
interest.
Here we go. The front page, once again,
emphasized the War Chest, but the difference
in this issue is that leading Jewish Detroiter
Fred Butzel wrote the story. On page 3, the
whole page is devoted to “What’s Happening in
Detroit,” which included items on Congressman
John Dingell Sr.’s assistance to refugee children
from France, war bond drives by Jewish orga-
nizations and Dr. Noah E. Aronstam of Detroit
Mike Smith
asking the question: “Do Jews Read the Bible?”
Detroit Jewish News
Page 7 had a brief item about three lucky
Foundation Archivist
Jewish Detroiters — Aaron Rosenberg, Sam

54

October 19 • 2017

jn

Weisman and Julius Wagman — who were selected to attend a
dinner in New York with Albert Einstein.
On page 4, the Op-Ed page, opinions included “Liberals
and Zionism,” which discussed support or lack of for Jews in
Palestine, and “Saving the Children,” an essay regarding efforts of
Canada, the Dominican Republic and the United States to save
thousands of children from Europe, many of whom were Jewish.
There was also bad news on Page 14: “Panic Grips Jews as Nazis
Strike in Denmark and Norway.”
You might also want to look at the photographs on page 20
that illustrate the good works of the United Jewish Appeal.
But my favorite item is the Danny Raskin poem on page 17:
“When Hitler’s Goose is Cooked.” It foretells the future and ends
with this line: “Then hearts will cheer and birds will sing, when
Hitler’s goose we cook.” Amen! •

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.

