PAGE TWO THE JEWISH TRANSCRIPT, SEATTLE
JUNE 3, 19ijU
Thought Of The Week
sl Fr(
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"The world Jewish scene is not without its ironic touch. Here in America, where the Jewish community is the most free, the most
happy, comparatively the most wealthy, there is indifference toward Judaism and things Jewish. In Europe, where millions of our people
are persecuted because of their Jewishness, they cling to their faith and their people all the more tenaciously. It is very true that the
best way to destroy the Jew is to give him perfect freedom. Hitler is merely strengthening Jewish consciousness and morale. The Jewish
scene is not without its irony."--THE JEWISH ADVOCATE, Boston.
by h. r father's hand v.
Combined with THE JEWISH CHRONICLE , p
A Weekly Newspaper for the Jewish People of the Pacific Northwest t
1616 8th Avenue, Seattle €
Phone MAin 2715
HERMAN A. HOROWITZ ........................ Editor and Publisher
NATItAN KREMS ....................................... Associate Editor
SIDNEY W. WEBBER .................................. Business Manager
OFFICIAL PaOTOaR^PUEa ......... Walters Studio, 4th and Pike Building
A weekly paper devoted to the interests of the Jewish people of
Washington, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia and Alaska. Entered
as second class matter September 5, 1924, at the Post Office at Seattle,
Washington, under the Act of March 3, 1879.
Single Copies, 5 Cents. $2.00 per Year
38
VOL. XV. Friday, June 3, 1938 No. 14
GLARING WEAKNESS
HE JEWISH FORUM, Anglo-Jewish monthly catering to the
Orthodox Jews of America, has for several months been en-
gaging in agitation "to solve the problem of the 8,000,000
Jews in Europe." The plan which it has been proposing, inde-
pendently of organizations which concern themselves with this
problem, is to settle these Jews in Lower California, which is
part of Mexico.
As this territory is six times the size of Palestine, and is well
situated, with an ideal climate, the Jewish Forum proposes to
have this region given over to wholesale colonization by the
oppressed Jews of Europe.
The Transcript has no intention of passing judgment on the
wisdom or practicability of the plan suggested by the Jewish
Forum.
We do, however, wish to point to one aspect of this plan
which deserves comment, and which, we trust, will serve as a
caveat for other organizations who take it upon themselves to
cure the sorry plight of the Jews with one stroke of the pen.
There can be no objection to a periodical publishing articles
on whatever subject it deems of interest. It should not, however,
attempt to engage in activities for which organizations have al-
ready been established.
Such world-wide bodies as the Joint Distribution Commit-
tee, the Jewish Colonization Association, or the Refugee Econ-
omm Corporation are especially equipped to carry on programs
of reconstruction in lands of oppression, to explore every possible
outlet for colonization in other countries, and to assist in the
execution of plans for emigration and colonization which, as a
result of expert investigation, they have found to be practicable.
This action of the Jewish Forum is only another instance of
a weakness which is all too common in Jewish communal life.
One hears much talk of Jewish unity these days.
One thing is fundamental, and must be universally recognized
before any kind of unity can be possible of realization.
It should become a part of the accepted code of ethics of the
Jewish community for an organization to deal only with prob-
lems which are within its domain of action and which it can
properly execute.
Until this fundamental fact is regarded as axiomatic, one
cannot begin to approach even the semblance of unity.
It is obvious that the Jewish Forum, or any other publica-
tion, is not equipped to act upon this plan and that a new organi-
zation would have to be created to carry it out, if the Jewish
Forum embarks on the project.
Such an organization will merely be duplicating the work
done by existing agencies and will add still further to the dupli-
cation of effort, confusion and disunity already existing in Jewish
life.
Strictly speaking, there are no Jews, only Israelites or He-
brews. The term "Jew" is but a hangover from the period which
stretched from the Second Commonwealth to the destruction of
the Second Temple, when Eretz Yisroel was spoken of as Judea.
Based upon the Latin Judaei, the expression was buffeted from
country to country and "Jew", "Jude," "Juif" became con-
venient handles for future history.--RABBI CHARLES BENDER.
--Menorah Jourr
OU can't blame an editor for getting a funny notion once in a while in this topsy-turvy world, which, f0
all the head-shaking and moaning that goes the rounds, is still a thrilling, mile-a-minute sphere th
challenges the very best that's in you. Today's funny notion is to print a fine piece of art--a subli#
bit of creative genius--in the place of the usual article on a timely topic of the moment that weekly fills this spaC
The idea is this: with headlines screaming of persecution and war and death and diplomatic doubl
dealing, with the news telling the gruesome story of poor 12-year-old Peter Levine or the bombing of the littl
French town of Cerberre where Dr. Edwin Weisfield was getting his first good meal a few weeks ago after leavifl
the Spanish battlefields . . . with that kind of thing tearing at your nerve, maybe you'd like to study the braVt
finely-moulded face you see here.
It is a direct carving in natural Maine boulder by William Zorach, famed sculptor, of his daughter. Her
the father has created with the skilled hands that once lovingly held his baby child, a work of art. He has m d
stone live--by creating.
And this is our funny notion: if a man can make a thing of beauty out of a piece of stone, isn't thef
room for a bit of hope that the human of the species may still create something out of the many-faced worl
of today?
Think it over!
PLAIN
(Continued from Page One).
congregation had any connection
with the fact that several of the di-
rectors of this Jewish centers (in
which the congregation worshipl)ed)
were in one way or another con-
nected with the Jersey City govern-
ment.
Nol No! That would be too much
like that which hapl)ens in Zodiac,
Wis., or maybe it was Zodiac, Ill., or
Zodiac, Me. Anyway it was one of
the many Zodiacs in which certain
groups of Jews oceasiomdly are found
mixing Judaism with local politics.
I am told that Jersey City has an
enlightened Jewish community that
never would descend to the ways of
Zodiac. I mention the matter of
Zodiac merely because in many
another Zodiac there are Jewish com-
munities in which Jews (as Jews) and
politicians wash each other's hands.
I get full of rishus when I think of
these Jews in Zodiac.
In the city of Zodiac stands the
Anshe Giborim Synagogue which was
dedicated so auspiciously awhile ago,
what with the mayor being there, ac-
companied by a fleet of motorcycle
l)olice. The day ef Anshe Giborim's
dedication was really one of the proud
days of a section of Israel in Zodiac.
There was a parade in which the
Scrolls of the Law were c'rried in 'in
auto in which the mayor himself sat;
one of the mayor's motorcycle police-
men rode on each side of the Torah
and ten of them in front.
At this spectacle all the Anshe
Giborim felt a great dignity was be-
ing conferred on the Torah, what
with the Law of Zodiac flanking it
on both sides and leading it as well.
So they arrived at last as the new
synagogu where the chazan stood on
the outer stairway chanting a psalm
before the ch)sed bronze doors which
were waiting to be opened by the
hand of none other than Mayor
Michael ("Butch") Kelly himself.
This was the great moment: Mayor
Kelly took the golden key. • • "I
herewith declare this here house of
Israel opened." . . and with that he
turned tile h)ck; the bronze doors
swung ellen and the host of Israel
marched in behind the Torah and
Mayor Kelly.
Everybody in the congregation felt
it was a ]ntppy auspice that Mayor
JEWISH CALENDAR
5698 1988
Ist Day Shavuoth ............ June 5
Rosh Hodesh, Tammuz ...... June 30
Fast of Tammuz .............. July 16
Rosh Hodesh, Ab ............. July 29
Fast of Ab ................. August 6
Rosh Hodesh, Ellul ........ August 28
TALb'V
: : : By Alfred Segal
Kelly himself was the one to throw
the doors of Anshe Giborim open to
the Torah. It suggested the great in-
fluence of Anshe Giborim in high
places . . even up to the City Hall.
Anshe Giborim was very proud that
some of its biggest men were up in
Zodiac politics, and these big men
were proud of Anshe Giborim which
represented something like 500 votes.
They were Mr. Ginsberg, Mr. Gold-
berg and Mr. Kornblatt. They were
like that with Mayor Kelly; this is
to say, if you put two of your fingers
close together you can see how close
Messrs. Ginsberg, Goldberg and
Kornblatt were to Kelly.
It was they who first thought of
augmenting the dedication of Anshe
Giborim with Mayor Kelly, and they
were appointed a committee to call
on him.
"Hutch," Mr. Ginsberg began (he
was allowed to call the mayor Butch),
"we've come to invite you to Anshe
Giborim next Sunday."
"Whttt's that?" asked His Honor.
"Anshe Giborim is our schul. We're
dedicating it Sunday and want you
to lead the parade of the Torah (it's
the same as the Bible) and to open
the door with a golden key."
The mayor had a date with the
Third Ward Fishing Club on Sunday,
but Mr. Ginsl)erg had argmnents
why Anshe Giborim shouldn't be
neglected.
"There's 500 votes there, Butch."
The mayor saw at once he ought
to go both to the l)icnic of the Third
Ward Relnd)lican Fishing Club and
to the dedication of Anshe Giborim.
And, indeed, scarcely was lie
through with ol)ening the dora's of
Anshc GilJorim, scarcely had he led
the l)arade of the Torah down the
aisle to the Holy Ark than he was off
to the Repul)lican fishing club with a
great clatter of motorcycle police
leading the way. The mayor was a
fellow who could get around.
All this made Messrs. Ginst)erg,
Goldberg and Kern blurt very big
men even in a congregation so full
of big men as Anshe Giborim (as its
name suggests.) They couhl feel al-
most monolithic ts, side by side, they
marched down the center aisle to the
altar on the day of dedication. They
had done well in two ways.
They had favored Jehovah by
bringing Mayor Kelly so close to him
on this happy day.
Then, they beamed with self-'ts-
surance at the though that they
would not be without reward for this.
Mayor Kelly would certainly ap-
preciate what tlmy did for him in
Imtting him in contact with Anshe
Giborim whi('h had so many votes.
Mr. Ginsl)erg had been captain of
his l)reeinct for about three years and
now it was el)out time he was going
to the legislature, and the mayor
could say the word.
Mr. Goldberg had an annoying
matter of a building permit up with
the administration.
Mr. Kornl,latt was trying to get a
jol) in the waterworks for his brother-
in-law the shlemiel.
They were sure that Jehovah
makes everything right for eveff
who serves him well.
It's bad enough for Jude!#
Zodiac (in fact, Judaism anyW
to play along with the city ad#
tration for the sake of favors
kudos. It would be even more
gusting to see Jews anywhere
ing up the hands of a IIague.
For that reason it must be
unthinkable that anything like
is going on in Jersey City.
(Copyright, 1938).
Did You Know?
The first Jewish cenmtery on the
Nm'th American continent was lo-
cated just north of Wall Street in
what is now Chathanl Square, New
York City.
In 1682 the first synagogue in North
America was established. It was a
one-teem rented house h)catcd on
what is now Beaver Street, between
Broad Street and Bro.tdway.
During the Middle Ages Jews were
restricted as to the type of work
they might engage in. In some
I)laces they were restricted to dcal-
ing in old clothes and when secoud-
hand chthing became s(arce they
would deliberately tear new arl
so as to render them seeond-ha
least technically.
It is recorded that when the
were ordered to leave Paler
1493 the inhabitants of the
stood on the housetops waving
well to their old neighbors wh0
lived in their midst almost fro#
beginning of Sicilian history it#
Among i)ioneers in the es tall
ment of European news-ageneie
and possibly three were Jews, #
Reuter, Wolff and llavas. The'
ish origin of IIavas, however, is
ficult to verify.
NEW YORK
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