Newspaper Page Text
Page Eight
The Southern Israelite
December 10, 1937
The
Southern Israelite
Published weekly by the Soutbera Newspaper “schiff'e'r *Pu*:
Miller, Editor; Orln Borsten, Associate Editor, M. Stephen Schiner. Fu
Usher; Nathan Linton, Business Manager. Executive O ff ic e * •} 0 • “^w^ork
RniidiBF suite .M3-14 Atlanta, Georgia, phonea. WAlnut •7*1-2. New yora
SffresenUtlV? 5! ML Goldber'g. 1270 Sixth Ave., B. K. O. Building. Boom
•M, New York City.
ADDRRHS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO MAIN OfflCB IN ATLANTA. GA-
Entered a* second class matter at the Post Office at Atlanta. Ga.. under the Act
of March 3. 1870. Yearly subscription one dollar and fifty cents. Single copies,
five cents. Canada and foreign subscriptions, one dollar and fifty cents per year.
The Southern Israelite Invites correspondence on subjects of interest to the Jswish
people B nd literary contributions, but the editor is not to be considered as sharing the
views expressed by the writers, sxcept those enunciated In the editorial columns.
SALVATION AT HOME
The first step toward reclaiming a large section of Ameri
can Jewry will be undertaken this Sunday in Cape Girardeau,
Mo. by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. It
is significant because the problem of keeping small-town
Jewry within the mainstream of Judaism is one difficult of
solution, and because the Union’s plan is one which is prac
tical and which, if properly developed, has vast possibilities.
More than one hundred Jewish townspeople from small
communities in the vicinity of Cape Girardeau have been in
vited to the neighborhood meeting. Rabbi Alexander Fein-
silver, of Paducah, Ky., will address the audience, many
members of which will hear the voice of a rabbi for the first
time in years, and open forum discussion of the religious
problems of Jews in small towns will follow.
The Union of American Hebrew Congregations is to be
commended upon this simple yet inspiring plan to meet the
religious needs of Jews in communities too small to sup
port rabbis and congregations. It will be a new achievement
for the Union if these neighborhood meetings are launched
on a national scale.
While events far more dramatic face Jewry at the mo
ment, few are more important than the urgent need of sav
ing hundreds of our brothers, living in scattered outposts of
the country, from a complete loss of faith and Jewish know
ledge. That can easily be the fate of small-town American
Jewry. The plan of the Union of American Hebrew Con
gregations is a gratifying movement to save small-town
Jewry for Judaism.
FORGOTTEN ACTORS
The theatrical profession has once again demonstrated
its sympathy for overseas Jewry by giving generously of
its talent in the “Night of Stars” Benefit Show for Palestine.
Outstanding figures of stage, screen, radio and concert joined
hands to raise a huge sum for the work of the United Pales
tine Appeal.
Atlantans who attended the “Night of Stars” show in
New York report that even more impressive than the array
of talent was the spirit of enthusiasm which the actors dis
played—a spirit which united audience and entertainers in
the humanitarian act of contributing to a great cause.
Knowing how frequently the theatrical profession is
called upon to raise funds for New York’s numerous drives,
and how seldom recognition is accorded, we suggest that the
United Palestine Appeal voice the gratitude of world Jewry
by creating in Palestine a forest or a settlement dedicated to
the “Night of Stars” artists.
It is fitting that in Palestine there should be a living
monument to the noble work which has been done in behalf
of the Jewish Homeland by American actors.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
November 30, 1937
Temple of Israel
Wilmington, N. C.
Gentlemen:
In the November 5th issue of
"The Southern Israelite," there
appeared an editorial entitled
"Goodwill In The South" which I
read with much interest.
I think it might be of some in
terest to you to know what hap
pened in Wilmington during our
recent United Jewish Appeal. I
told Mr. Armand Wyle, my very
good friend of Atlanta, what had
taken place and he suggested that
I send it on to you so that the Jew
ish people of the south might learn
of the fine fellowship between Jew
and non-Jew that exists in Wil
mington.
While we were announcing in
the papers our plans for the United
Jewish Appeal an outstanding
non-Jewish attorney, Mr. David
Sinclair, approached me on the
street one day and said; "Rabbi, I
notice in the papers that you will
launch a drive for the relief of
persecuted Jews in some parts of
Europe, and also for the rehabili
tation and settlement of Jewish
people in Palestine Have you
considered soliciting from the non-
Jewish people of Wilmington? I
feel confident that if they were
approached they would be only too
happy to aid you in your humani
tarian work. We Christians know
that there is not a cause to which
Jews do not contribute, whether in
Wilmington or anywhere else, and
•we want to share some of your re
sponsibilities with you.”
I told Mr. Sinclair that I would
talk the matter over with the Ap
peal committee. We decided that
if Mr. Sinclair would organize a
non-Jewish committee to solicit
funds from our Christian friends
and neighbors it would be satis
factory to us. Mr. Sinclair im
mediately organized a Non-Jew
ish Committee for the United Jew
ish Appeal, with himself as chair
man, and I am happy to write you
that a very fine contribution was
made by this committee to our
fund. At the mass meeting which
opened our drive, speeches were
made by three non-Jews in ad
dition to Mr. Sinclair; the Mayor
(Thomas E. Cooper), Father J. A
Manley, and Rev. Mortimer Glov
er.
I do not know whether definitely
organized n o n-Jewish soliciting
committees have been set up in
other communities or in other parts
of the country, but we are very
proud of this manifestation of
goodwill and fine fellowship. The
important thing is that it was al
together voluntary on the part of
our non-Jewish friends. This is,
indeed, brotherhood on the march.
With every good wish, and with
Hanukah greetings, I am
Sincerely yours,
Rabbi Mordecai M. Thurman
JEWISH CALENDAR
5698-1937-38
Fast of Tebet Dec. 14
Fast of Esther March 16
Purim March 17
Lag B’Omer March 19
Passover April 16
Holidays begin in the evening
preceding dates designated.
SOUTHERN OBSERVATIONS
OVER
THE TOP
Contributing one hun
dred per cent to the
1937 campaign of the
American Jewish Joint Distribu
tion Committee, the Jewish popu
lation of Schlater, Mississippi finds
itself in the public eye this week.
O. Henry twist to the story is
that the entire Jewish population
consists of three people, Louis
Brody, Alex Rosenbloom and Sam
B a 1 k i n, responded immediately
nnri 0V to the J. D. C. 3D-
peal.
To Schlater’s Sam Balkin, upon
receipt of the contributions, wrote
grave, emphatic Rabbi Jonah B.
Wise:
“This 100 per cent response from
the Jewish residents of Schlater is
tremendously encouraging. It is
only with the whole-hearted sup
port of every single Jew in Ameri
ca that the Joint Distribution
Committee can hope to carry on
the necessary work of relief and
reconstructive aid in behalf of our
sorely tried brethren overseas.”
• * *
OUT OF
THE PAST
On the “must” list
of visitors to New York
this winter will be the
exhibition to be seen for the next
three months at the Historical So
ciety of Jewish Theological Semi
nary. Based upon the 150th Consti
tution anniversary, the collection
will contain historical documents,
newspaper clippings, commenta
ries and other items relating to re
ligious freedom in America.
From the pages of Southern
Jewry’s colorful history will be
displayed the o-iginal letter sent
to George Washington by the Jew
ish Congregation of Charleston, S.
C. upon his first inauguration, also
a facsimile of Washington’s reply.
A timely document is the latter,
serves to illustrate America’s con
tinuous tolerance, reads:
"The liberality of sentiment to
ward each other, which marks
every political and religious de
nomination of men in this country,
stands unparalleled in the history
of nations. The affection of such
people is a treasure beyond the
reach of calculation, and the re
peated proof which my fellow citi
zens have given of their attach
ment to me and approbation of my
doings, form the purest source of
my temporal felic ; ty. The affec
tionate expressions of your address
again excite my gratitude and re
ceive my warmest acknowledge
ments. The power and goodness
of the Almighty, so strongly mani
fested in the events of our late glo
rious revolution, and his kind in
terposition in our behalf, have
been no less visible in the estab
lishment of our present govern
ment. In war He directed the
sword, and in peace He has ruled
in our councils. My agency in
both has been guided by the best
intentions and a sense of duty I
owe to my country. And as my
exertions have hitherto been am
ply rewarded by approbation of
my fellow citizens, I shall endea
vor to deserve a continuance of it
by my future conduct. May the
same temporal and eternal bless
ings which you implore for me,
rest upon your congregation.
(signed) G. Washington.
* * *
THE CRY
FOR LAND
In the past thirty-
five years only 100,-
000 acres of land have
been acquired in the Jewish Home
land, an area "that in the West in
America can be the possession of
a single man.”
Thus in Detroit, at the four
teenth annual convention of Jun
ior Hadassah, spoke scholarly It-
tamar Ben Avi, repeated his ap
peal for land before members of
the Agudas Achim Synagogue in
San Antonio, Texas last Friday
evening.
Denying that Arabs do not wish
to sell land, the Zionist leader de
clared that there is not a single
Arab leader in Palestine who has
not sold land to the Jews. At the
present moment, Ben Avi stated,
there is available 37,500 acres near
the Jordan, but no money with
which to purchase the land.
Partition? To the question Ben
Avi replied that whether it is im
plemented or not, land still re
mains the crying need, that the
proposed Jewish State of 2,500
square miles would have been
smaller still had not the Jews ac
quired as much land in Palestine
as they now possess.
Tis t
he Children’s h
lour
MR. NATHAN WARSHAW, a
native of Poland, who made good
in Brooklyn, seems greatly troub
led. According to the daily press
one of his own children is support
ing a strike in his own factory. He
suspects still another of radical
leanings.
Mr. Warshaw feels something
ought to be done about this. He
has taken steps. He announces
that he will spend time and money
to fight Communism.
Yes, yes Mr. Warshaw, children
have no respect nowadays. They
are asking too many questions,
sticking their noses into economics,
politics and the facts of life.
* * *
I MYSELF was brought up in
the knowledge that new babies are
fished out of the river. But today
a child says, You can’t tell me that
babies are fished out of the river.
Its physical structure would not
permit a baby to inhabit a river
and live. Go tell it to the marines.
One knew why he was a Jew:
It was to lay t’villum every morn
ing and to pay dues to the synago
gue and to fast on Yom Kippur; to
send the children to religious
school, to keep two sets of dishes,
to observe Jahrezeit.
It was all very simple before
the challenging children began
surging against the old, establish
ed and deep-rooted things of Juda
ism. One was a Jew because one
was born that way and no child
was impious enough ever to ask
questions.
• * *
BUT THE ROD has fallen from
my weaker hands and I do not
know how to handle my children
when they go and attempt to think
for themselves. Even before they
were 13 years old they were ask
ing impudent questions: Why was
it necessary to go to a synagogue
in order to be good? And how
did I know there was a God? And
if there was a God why did he let
wars go on and why didn’t he do
something for Jews?
Oh, I answered (though my fa
ther would have dealt more firmly
with a strong hand), oh, those are
questions that shouldn’t be asked.
Besides, God has done very well
by Jews.
I recalled their being saved in
the nick of time at the Red Sea and
their being rescued in the last hour
almost from the machinations of
Haman (who was hanged instead)
and their victory over Antiochus
who ejected Jehovah from the
temple and put Jupiter in His
stead. And we have lived ever
since, I said.
But why have we lived? they
asked. What for?
* * *
SOME SAY THAT the purpose
of being Jewish is to establish so
cial justice in the world and others
that the only good reason for be
ing a Jew is to reclaim Palestine,
but still others say, No, it’s not a
good Jewish purpose merely to re
claim Palestine; the true Jewish
purpose is to establish a labor
Palestine.
Or, we are Jews for the purpose
of fighting anti-Semites, or for the
purpose of producing Jewish art.
Such is the dreadful confusion
that has superseded the old sim
plicity, all on account of the in
quiring minds of the children
which demand to be satisfied. In
my own youth it was being Jewish
enough if a good boy didn’t skip
more than half the morning’s pray
ers.
Nor are today’s young content
merely to ask questions. They
cast doubts on venerated Jewish
institutions and stick pins (as one
might say) into the most dignified
people in Israel and call them
stuffed shirts. We give them the
newest and hottest news of anti-
Semitism, hoping to get them
warm for Judaism, but imperti
nently they ask, Is this all you can
offer for the nourishment of Jew
ish life?
• * •
WE WANT THEM dutifully to
cry at the old wailing wall, but
they look over the wall at Span
iards dying for liberty and at Chi
nese perishing for the right to
live. . . “Should we stop to cry for
our own smaller pain?”
These are impudent children
(Continued on Page 9)
Phinetu Bimr,
THE LID IS OFF
The Brown Axe Swings
“V F riends Election
Battles—Dove of Peace
—Art Exhibits
—— J a Wall
Street combine that is putting J
heavy dough for a new daily news
paper in New York City which will
advocate Fascism for America ’Ti«
said that a secretary of Nazi pr^
paganda minister Goebbels is here
incognito in the interests of this
scheme. Anti-Nazi circles report
that the real reason for the so-call
ed "personal” visit to these shorei
of Hitler’s adjutant Fritz Wiede
mann is a series of secret pow
wows to be held for the purpose
of injecting new life into the Ger-
man-American Bund, which has
been losing members at a rate that
should warm the cockles of any
good Jewish heart. Fuehrer Fritz
Kuhn will get the axe, at Wiede
mann’s orders, we hear. On the
other hand, some who claim to be
in the know declare that Wiede
mann’s real mission is to make the
Nazi movement here so strong that
it will serve as a model for all
other countries. If Kuhn does get
the gate his successor will proba
bly be not a German but a Hun
garian, by the name of Joseph
Nagy. Note to President Nicholas
Murray Butler of Columbia Uni
versity: The story is going the
rounds that one of your prominent
professors is secretly a big shot
Nazi agent. Concert manager*
wondering why audiences at con
certs by Jose Iturbi, the Spanish
pianist, have suddenly fallen oil
ought to know that he’s been seen
too often in the intimate company
of known Nazi agents on the Pa
cific Coast.
THERE’S GOING to be a grand
scrap for the presidency of the
National Council of Jewish Wo
men at the Pittsburgh convention
next month. The leading candidate
is Mrs. Maurice Goldman of New
York, but she’ll get stiff competi
tion from Mrs. Alexander Kahn of
Washington, D. C. A similar battle
is brewing for presidency of B’nai
B’rith. The Hebrew Free Loan
Society in New York has so much
money lying idle in banks that it
is looking for borrowers. Lead
ers of Shanghai Jewry who have
been criticizing Jewish relief agen
cies in America for their alleged
failure to aid the war-stricken
community seem to have forgotten
that two of the richest families in
the world, the Sassoons and Ka-
d o o r i e s, have headquarters in
Shanghai. Unification of anti-
Nazi boycott activities in this coun
try is in sight. The Anti-Nazi
League, the Joint Boycott Council
and the Jewish War Veterans have
reached an agreement to act to
gether in investigating boycott
violators. And before long we ex
pect further unification.
VO ART EXHIBITS are at-
ting New Yorkers these days .
is being given by the children
oris Schatz, creator of the Be-
1 School at Jerusalem. i» e
Bezalel, continues in the tra-
>n of his father and paints
stinian landscapes and charac-
The daughter, Zahara, has
te water-color brush with
rely French point of view,
blocks away Jacob Kalisch
reland has an exhibition ■
ptures dedicated to the Anne. -
laborer. Conventional stun,
typically American. The wh°
;e of Jewish adaptability
taled in these two exhibits.
?h prove once more that
o such thing as a specifically
ish art. When you read
cs’ raves about the op -
e of Lyla Saioni just remem-
that in Des Moines, her horn
n, they know her as L..._
is. Molly Picon came bacj
a her tour of South Afric
incy vocabulary of ‘t^i-ilect,
South African Dutch
veil as with critics’ nohee
her the O. Henry of th ^
e Jewish contemporar ,
wig Satz, the stage conuc^^
wooden protege, Yoshk . g
; Wood to you), who are ^
ad wav sonhisticates to t