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THE SOUTHERN
S R A E L I T E
Friday, December 6, 194$
The Southern Israelite
PublMhed weekly by Southern Newspaper Enterprise*. Tne. Suite X
501-205 Olenn Bulldlne, Atlanta 3. Georgia WAInut 0791-0792. M.
Stephen Bchlffer, publisher; Adolph Rosenberg, editor; Willy Pel*.
business manager. Entered as second class matter at the post office. <•
Atlanta, Georgia, under the Act of March 3. 1879. Yearly subscriplon. ❖
three dollars. The Southern Israelite Invites literary contributions and y
correspondence but is not to be considered as sharing the views ex- .*
pressed by writers. All material should be received by Wednesday noon .•
to Insure publication in issue of that week. £
About Jewish Book Week
Books today, as always, arc the purveyors of cultures and
•fvTIizations. The Jewish way of life is deeply recorded in
tbe pages of books. In the custom of kissing a Hebrew hook
{which has accidentally dropped to the floor is indicated the
•espect in which Jewish books are held. A Jew purchases a
tiook not for the decorative value of its binding hut to make
ffrc author his honored guest with whom he might converse
itm a subject of mutual interest.
The bookshelf in the Jewish home today has assumed
added significance, American Jewry today must not only
Imbibe itself of the treasures of Jewish lore to develop a
Jewish culture here to replace that of the lost Jewry of Europe,
but must encourage literary productivity of authors whose
talents may be directed to other fields unless their creative
efforts are appreciated in the form of actual purchases. A
Jewish bookshelf therefore is becoming not only an index of
the Jewish foundations of the home, but also proof of co
operation in the task of building a significant American Israel.
The week of December 8-15 is being recognized nationally
as Jewish Ilook Week. In Atlanta, Jewish Book Week Ts
being observed by exhibits in the Carnegie Public Library and
at the educational centers, by special assemblies in the Jewish
schoois, by sermons on books in the congregational pulpits,
by a special radio broadcast, and by a program of Jewish books
in many of the monthly meetings of the various Jewish or
ganizations.
It is lumped that Jewish Book Week inay awaken American
Jewrv to the fact that the very survival of Jewish lifejnay
depend on a reassumptiop of the past Jewish role of “The
People of the Bobk."
Limelight on Juvenile Delinquency
In the reshifting of values being attempted to face today’s
realities is the initiative taken in Washington recently at a
National Conferenie for the Prevention and Control of Juvenile
Dcliqucncy.
Henry Monsky, president of B’nai B’ritli, was a guiding
spirit at the conference, serving as its executive chairman and
later accepting the chairmanship of a continuing committee
to'promotc the group’s purpose. Mr. Monsky's talk, well worth
considering here, was highlighted by these excerpts:
We have just emerged from the chaos and confusion of
war join the struggle for the preservation of our democratic
tradition, we must now repair some of the damage which has
resulted from neglect of certain essential obligations of our
society to its youth.
"We must now turn to the duty of revitalizing the spirit
of man, the spirit so tragically demoralized by the ravages of
war. We must dissipate the cynicism and pessimism with
which too many in our society are afflicted. \\ e must restore
the concept in all men and particularly in our youth, that life
is purposeful. We must substitute hope for frustration. \\ e
must establish a sense of security and self reliance in the
place of uncertainty and insecurity. This is our chalenge and
we feel sure that this conference will accept the challenge
and discharge it well."
Supreme Court Justice Harold C. Burton, who was one
of the principal speakers at the opening session, stated that
"better than the arrest, prosecution, punishment or even cure
of such delinquents would be the prevention of their de
linquency."
There is food for thought in the convention’s proceedings.
Home Value in The Modem World
He was a man of vast experience in the field of religious
education, conducting one of the Seminar sessions for Sabbath
School teachers in Atlanta.
"How can we counteract the cynicism instilled at home in
the religious school pupil?" was the question put to him.
“Don't try,” he countered. “Your next chance at the pupil
is to marry him or her to a religious person.”
Which was a clever way of restating the importance of
home influences on today’s children and tomorrow’s adults.
It is a reasoning that is associated traditionally with Jewish
philosophy, but which of late has missed its mark. Though
the speaker was non-Jewish, his words epitomized the signifi
cance of parental thoughtfulness and preparedness in the
proper rearing of their young.
While the church, the school and other forces in the com
munity can be marshalled to back up the home, they are not
substitutes. Yet, how often in this modern world are those
Secondary lines of approach called to substitute for calloused
.and shifty parents.
Religious schools can go far in training, properly, younger
.members of our community but they cannot serve as adequate
substitutes, however much they try or are summoned to do
the impossible, for the home.
Let parents review their responsibilities seriously. Let
them realize—and shoulder the task which is theirs. Let
them prepare for parenthood with a full understanding df the
meaning religion plays in life, of its basic necessity in the
human make-up fo a well-rounded person.' Religion cannot
be doffed at the fireside and donned at the synagogue.
QUIZ BOX
By SAMUEL FOX
en for this by the Midrasht. When
hearing testimony upon a mar's
life in the Jewish Biblical court,
the witnesses were to be present
at all proceedings, after they had
1 finished their testimony and the
QUESTION: What is the World console the mourners” is the pur- J defendant to be judged, a goblet
Zionist Congress? ' pose C f w ine beverages according j of wine was raised and the wlt-
ANSWER: The World Zionist one wa y 0 f thinking, (Erubin, nesses were told, “Hear ye sires*
Congress 1s the supreme legisla- in,.. « „ 1IC whereupon they would answer if
tive body of the Jewish people the 85) - Hence lt has remained a cus- , for „ fe , for , ife sha „ ^ ^ *
world over who are concerned with tom, when drinking wine, or al- j drink" and if for death, “for death
the rebuilding of Palestine. It is coliolic beverages, that the Jew | shall be this drink.” Whereupon
a democratically elected body con- offers the salutation, "Lechayim
vened periodically on the basis of as a symbol of the fact that he
represensentative constituencies drinks hls snow's life, health
from the various countries where
Jew’s live.
and happiness and not to his de
ll spair. The receiver of this toast
QUESTION: When was the first in gentlemanly etiquette, replies,
Congress held and what was ac
complished?^!
as a rule, “Lechayim Tovim O’-
Olescholom” which is “for a hap-
ANSWER: The first Congress py and peaceful life.” Of great in-
was held in Basle, Switzerland, in
August, 1897, on the call of the
famous Theodor Herzl. Its main
accomplishment was the establish
ing of an all-time definition for
Zionism in the following crystal
lized terms: “The object of Zion
ism is to establish for the Jewish
terest, however, is the reason giv- chayim.
the convicted prisoner would drink
the liquid to drown his troubles
and take his due punishment
bravely. To signify the fact that the
toast we raise to a friend is to
be a token of good wishes for life
and happiness, and not the ill-
wished for contrary, it has be
come customary to exclaim, "Le-
A Globe Hopping Publisher
By PAUL GREEN
Three slim volumes appeared in-book stores throughout
people a publicly and legally as- ’ .United states this month bearing the imprint of a pub-
sured home in Palestine.” lishing name new to the American scene—Schocken Books.
QUESTION: How many Con- The y are the forerunners of what is planned to be regular
grrsses have since been convened? production of books by Jews, about Jews and for Jews. They
ANSWER: Since that time the are the work of a Jewish P ub »s h er
World Zionist Congress has con- who issued hundreds of books in
vened twenty-one times. This No- Hitler Germany prior to the out-
W1 ” break of the war. and who issued
vember
second World Zionist Congress.
QUESTION: How are the dele
gates to the Congress chosen..
ANSWER: Each geographic | the war
section < usually in the form of
countries) sends a certain number
of representatives. The voters reg
ister themseves by purchasing what
we call a "Shekel” and then vote
on the date set for election in their
respective communities. In the
United States for example, there
is a United States Shekel and Elec-
liundreds of books in Hitler Ger
many prior to the outbreak of
and who then trans
ferred the activities to Palestine,
where he built a firm reputation
in the same field for the second
time. The entry of Salman
Schocken into American publish
ing is a certain indication that
lovers of Jewish literature in the
United States will be presented
tion Board, composed of represen- witl1 new and exciting works,
tatives of all of the political parties ! The first three books issued
interested in Zionism, which su- by the new firm illustrated its
pervises Uie elections on a national! varied scope. Franz Kafkas “The
scale. Every community has a lo- ! Great Wall of China” paves the
cal Shekel and election board sim- ! way for books by Jewish authors,
ilarly composed and with similar j In Time and Eternity: A Jewish
functions. The voting Is done for Reader,” and anthology of Jewish
an entire party or slate of dele
gates who will represent U. S.
Jewry rather than for individaul
names.
QUESTION: Why does a Jew
exclaim the word "Lechayim” (for
life) when drinking alcoholic bev
erages with someone?
ANSWER: Numerous quota
tions in the Talmud have defined
the function and purpose of wine
on the earth. There are those
w’ho say that wine was created
for man to drown his sorrows. ‘To
life and thought through the cen
turies, is an example of its in-
Jewish intellectual activity. "Burn
ing Lights,’ the story of Bella
Chagall’s Russian-Jejvish child
hood illustrated by her famed
painter-husband Marc Chagall,
shows its preoccupation with daily
Jewish life and art.
Founder Is 69 Vears Old
The founder of the Schoken book '
until he had arranged his busi
ness in such a way as to be able
to devote most of his time to his
varied interests. Salman Schock
en became one of the most prom
inent German Zionists. He be
came known as a bibliophile, gath
ering one of the largest Jewish
libraries, including Hebrew in-
errabula (books published prior to
1500),- and Hebrew manuscripts.
He organized t he Research In
stitute for Hebrew Poetry, which
is still functioning in Jerusalem.
From the mere collection of
books, his fancy naturally turned
to publication. The Schocken Ver-
lag started in Berlin on a modest
scale, simply as a hobby. By 1933,
he had only about a dozen books
in print, those he personally liked.
But with the rise of Hitlerism,
his toy suddenly assumed a new
importance. What had been a
hobby became a means of knitting
together the harassed German
Jews, whose enforced realization
of their own Jewishness produced
in them a terrific demand for
Jewish books. From 1933 to 1939,
Schoken printed some 250 titles,
taking advantage of the limited
cultural activity permitted by the
Nazis.
Five
war came
brok
We Can Do No Less
" i,h bombing of Pearl Harbor.
hrr . ' to th f American people in earnest. Homes were
broken, men and women made lonely by the absence suffer
ing’ and death of loved ones. Yet in all truth ... ' j
A year and a half has passed since victory Much has
850 000°”; ,1° “"'T® ,he P ,j g ht of the war’s victims but
850.0°0 of them still lve behind barbed wire, uprooteT’from
their native soil, unable to return to the scenes nf th ■
men,. They are Balt,. Ukrainian'? Y U 'S?"
garians Austrians—65°,OX) Protestants and Catholics, 200 000
Jews. Most are between the ages of 16 and 40; 70000 are
c uld.en under five. Young, eager and strong, they survived
every onslaught °f Nazi terrorism, only to wonder now what
is to become of them in a “liberated” world
# Their rehabilitation is not the task of one nation alone
It is the responsibility of the whole world. But our count™
bu.lt with immigrant labor and immigrant talents is by iS
very nature best fitted to take the lead and set an example
of rescue Newcomers, to whom we have traditionally offered
opportunity and freedom, have repaid us in untold measure
with their industry and loyalty. Our policy of haven has been
a generous one—but it lias paid rich dividends
1sn(STn mni,grrati °u ,aWS t0 l ay P ° vide for the entry of over
150.000 persons each year. But for the past 15 years and
especiaHy during the war immigration to the United States
has fallen to an all-time low. Half the displaced persons in
Europe could now come in, without exceeding the total number
peHnd C ° merS WC normal, y ha 'e welcomed in that short
Some emergency action should be taken. Men 7 women
and children, with their hearts’ gifts to offer, should not have
to wait in misery for a country to aifcipt them. They ask
no chanty; they ask no special favors. They want to abfde by
every rule and condition we have set down ; they want us to
welcome only our fair share of their number
Pearl Harbor and all that followed, made us realize that
we are all neighbors living ,n one world, subject to evrey
wave of good or evil that breaks across the earth In this
spirit, we won the war. In this fellowship, we can do no less
than offer a helping hand to those who wait at our gates.
„ 1 The activities of the Schoken
whn uac y ^ ar '°. d _p erman Jew i firm in Hitler Germany were con-
make mnnpv° t w SatlSfied ^ USt 10 conduc ted by one of his sons, since
make money. He was not happy j he lef( T for Palestine in the first
years of the Nazi regime
taking
with him his valuable librarv In
Palestine, Salman Schocken im
mediately began to play a prom
inent part in Hebrew life.
Family’s War Record
For several years he was chair
man of the executive committee
of Hebrew University and is still
active in its affairs; he is pub
lisher of the newspaper ’Haar-
etz,” (now run by his son Gustav),
and a publisher of Hebrew books,
bringing out contemporary He
brew translations of the best of
the world’s literature.
His son Theodore, who left Ger
many before the war, and who
served with the American Army in
Europe, heads the firm that is
now housed at 342 Madison Ave
nue, in New York City. A third
son, Gidon, who fought with the
Palestine Jewish Brigade, will
work here with Theodore for a year
while the father, whose perma
nent home is in Palestine, plans
to devote a few months each year
to the activities of the American
house.
Schocken Books is faced with
an ambitious program. Of great
importance to world literature is
its contemplated Kafka series. The
manuscripts of that brilliant Jew
ish author are being prepared for
publication by his literary exe
cutor, Max Brod. Five new vol
umes of Kafka will be issued soon.
JEWISH CALENDAR
CHANUKAH
Tuesday, December 17
PURIM
Thursday, March 6
PASSOVER
Saturday, April 5