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THE JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Thursday, March 25, 1948
"I SAW THEIR FACES''
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following story is a brief account of the experiences of Mrs. Ernest G. Wadel, National Chairman of the United Jewish Appeal's Women's Division, who recently returned to the U.S. after a five weeks study of conditions among Jewish survivors in Germany, Italy, France, Poland and Czechoslovakia. A few weeks ago I stood in*>
a tiny cell in the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia. It was a cell large enough for four persons at the most, but during the Nazi occupation as many as 37 women were herded into the cell at one time. My guide shut the door and for 60 seconds I thought I had lived a lifetime. "Here," I thought "women who had sons even as I do, who had homes and something to live for, waited day after day for their inevitable death. And they waited because they were Jews."
This experience crystalized for me the impressions gained during a month long tour of Italy, Germany,   Poland, France and
When
Everywhere I went in Europe the survivors asked me one question: "When are we going to get out of here? When are we going to leave Europe?" In Germany, where they are so far from any port of embarkation, the morale is pitifuly low. In Italy, which the Jew considers an island off Palestine, the morale is much higher. These people have regained their fighting spirit. They have something to look forward to.
Many of them want to come to the United States, but that is becaiise they have relatives in this country. The Jews of Europe for tiie most part would rather die fighting for their freedom in Palestine than live as beggars in Europe. No matter what is happing in the Holy Land they are determined to buUd their lives in the Jewish State.
Despite the misery which characterizes Jewish life in Eu-rope,there are many bright spots in the picture. Outside Warsaw I visited three installations for children which are supported ,by funds given by Americans to the United Jewish Appeal.   One was a children's
Czechoslovakia which I made in behalf of the United Jewish Appeal campaign for $250,000,000. Suddenly, in the space of a minute I realized the enormity of the tragedy which had struck the European Jew. Freedom took on new meaning for me. Everywhere I travelled in Europe I realized that the 1,500,000 Jewish survivors of Hitlerism are still in chains.
In Germany, anti-Semitism is still rife. The German has not forgotten the lessons Hitler taught, and the Jewish DP's are prisoners of fear. They are afraid to go out into the streets of Germany. In Italy scores are living in International Refugee
Organization camps, many of which have locks on the gates. To us a locked gate means security. To our D.P's it means insecurity. The Jewish people in Europe are prisoners of memories. The continent is haunted with the gaunt spectres of their murdered loved ones.
Our goverment has termed the IRO program as "austerity" operation and this is tragically correct. It is impossible for we Americans to conceive of a person being housed, fed and clothed on 45 cents a day. Yet, that is the IRO allotment for each DP. Our people under the IRO live on the very margin of human existence,and if it were not for the Joint Distribution Committee, one of the three agencies of the United Jewish Appeal, I am afraid that thousands would be dead or roaming the streets of Europe.
Purim Concert of the Vancouver Talmud Torah
Wb Get Out of Hare?
home where 55 youngsters who had arrived from Russia in 1946 were sheltered. The home was spotlessly clean. All the children attend public school. They maintain a dairy farm and sell much of their produce to a sanatorium across the street. The children were as gay and charmingly impudent as our own self-confident American children who are loved and secure.
The sanatorium was for tubercular children, and as 1 entered a man and his little boy were leaving. I asked them if they were going for a Sunday stroll and the father replied, "No, I am taking him home. After eight months he is cured, thanks to Joint." He kissed my hand, and I think he meant the gesture to be one of simple gratitude for all Americans who have helped him and his little son.
In Poland and Czechoslovakia I saw Jews emerging from the shadows. Through cooperatives, training farms, schools other aide they are learning new trades which will enable them to live self-sufficient lives in the countries to which they migrate.
These working people were proud, dignified and secure in the knowledge that they are able to care for themselves and also contribute to society as a whole.
As I was coming home I reflected on all that I had seen in my five busy weeks, I realized more than ever that the Jews of Europe look to us in America as their mainstay.   The destiny of the Jews of Palestine who aro struggling to build and secure their homeland, the immigration and resettlement of 75,000 Jews (24,000 of them children) in Palestine; the continued relief and rehabilitation of almost one million survivors  in Europe  ,and  the  adjustment of 25,000 newcomers to our own shores hinges upon the generosity of the American Jewish community in 1948.
Before I went to Europe, I thought $350,000,000 was a vast sum. Now, I wonder how the United Palestine Appeal, Joint Distribution Committee and United Service for New Amciri-cans can accomplish their programs with such a small amount of money.
JDC REPORTS QUARTERLY BUDGET OF $19,215,650 FOR OVERSEAS RELIEF
By H. ALTMAN
Sunday, March 21st, a Purim concert was given by the pupils of the Vancouver Talmud Torah in the York Theatre. Mr. Wm. J. Gelmon acted as Master of Ceremonies and Mr. A. Roth-stein, President of the Talmud Torah and Mrs, M. Glucksman, Honorary President of the P.T.A. addressed the audience.
The performance of the program was a notable achievement. The observer could easily discern that although outstanding abilities of individual students were not suppressed, the aim of the teachers was to secure the co-operation of all the children of the learning institution from the little tots of the Kindergarten to the pupils of the sixth grade. All of them paricipated in the varied program of songs, playlets, dances and recitations in Hebrew, Yiddish and English,
The choir sang a well selected group of Purim songs (six in Hebrew and one in Jewish) and was ably accompanied by Miss N. A. Liftman.
The Kindergarten performed the songs, and the playlet "The Little Sheep" in a praiseworthy manner (the costumes were very well designed). The audience was particularly impressed by the two numbers of the rhj^hmic orchestra. It is worthwhile trying to further develop this activity in the Kindergarten.
A playlet in Hebrew named "Purim then (In Germany under the Hitler regime) and now (in Eretz Israel)" was performed by the pupils of the 3rd and 6th grades.
The majority of the audience undoubtedly understood very little of the dialogue; but almost all the performers acted so naturally that it was easy to follow the events.
Not detracting from the merits of all the characters, I would like to mention Ethel Shuster, who played the part of the mother so realistically that at moments it seemed that the role was played by a professional actress.
A Purim play in Yiddish v.^as performed by the pupils of the 4th and Special classes and part of the 2nd class.
As most of the listeners understood Yiddish better than Hebrew, it was easier for them to understand and enjoy the dialogue. All the children played their parts well. It is, however, proper to mention the leading part of the Jester played by Lauretta Youngson exceptionally well.
The dance "Dunam Po V'dunam Shom" performed by pupils of the 1st and second class accompanied by singing and the piano was a real treat for the eyes and ears of all the audience.
The theatre was full to capacity and the public showed its appreciation by the hearty applause.
It was most gratifying to witness the spectacle of the youth of our community giving a performance which, to those who are not aware of all the circumstances, proved that with proper guidance, the Talmud Torah certainly holds a very important place in our community. As a matter of fact, this is the only institution which fosters and perpetuates the customs and traditions of Judaism as portrayed by our people down the centuries. The community may well look forward to a repeat performance next year which will no doubt be held in the auditorium of the new Talmud Torah, now being built.
It is incumbent upon the Jewish men and women of this community to see to it the work of the Talmud Torah is carried on and should receive the assistance not only financially but the untiring efforts of the community as a whole whereby an active interest may be displayed by a larger number of people so that those few who are giving of their time and effort may be encouraged to continue this good work.
One would be amiss in not referring to the untiring efforts of the teachers who made this concert possible, taking into consideration the difficulties under which they labor, and a great deal of thanks is due them.
The Unveiling in memory of
RUTH COOPERMAN
(nee Ruth Simons)
was held on SUNDAY, MARCH 21st
Schara Tzedeck Cemetery
Rabbi Nachum Burstyn officiated.
U.J.P.O. English Speaking Lodge
Presents a
RECORDED MUSIC CONCERT
Sun., Mar. 28, 8:30 p.m.
1173 W. Broadway JOHN GOSS, Narrator
Program:
5th Symphony-
Shastakovltch
Jewish Songs-
Lotta Lehman
Refreshments
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The Joint Distribution Committee, major American agency aiding distressed Jews overseas, announced last week that expenditures for its relief, reconstruction and resettlement operations in March will total $6,244,400,
This raises to $19,215,650 the agency allocations thus far this year for aid to almost 1,000,000 Jewish men, women and children in Europe, North Africa, the Near East and the Orient,
These figures were released by Moses A. Leavitt, Executive Vice-chairman of the J,D,C., which receives its funds through the $250,000,000 campaign of the United Jewish Appeal.
Of the quarterly budget total, $3,860,000 has been allotted for supplementary assistance o f food, clothing, medical supplies and other essential services to almost 250,000 Jewish refugees in the displaced persons camps in Germany, Austria, Italy, and Cyprus.
J.D.C. assistance programs include the operation of workshops and training centers to help thousands of Jewish D.P.'s to prepare for new careers and new homes in Palestine, the United States, and elsewhere, Mr. Leavitt reported.
The largest single item in J, D,C. appropriations for "the first three months of this year is $4,-170,000 for both relief and reconstruction aid for more than 800.000 Jews in Eastern Europe and the Balkan countries. Mr, Leavitt declared that these funds in addition to supplying direct relief aid, will be employed to help as many able-bodied persons as possible to become economically self-sufficient.
An appropriation of $2,339,-500 for assistance to Jews in Western Europe, where J.D.C. provides direct aid to more than 45,000 Jews, including 13,500 children, was also announced.
J.D.C. allocations for the purchase of relief supplies for shipment abroad total an additional $2,700,000 in the first three months of 1948. while $1,200,000 has been appropriated for emigration aid to the United States, Palestine and elsewhere.
New York School Bans Two 'Best Sellers' Or Anti-Semitic Problem
NEW YORK.—Benjamin R, Epstein, national director of the Anti-Defamation League, this week denounced as "censorship" the banning of "Gentleman's Agreement" and '"Focus" from the library of a New York high school.
Epstein, in a letter to the N.Y, Times, criticized the custom of permitting high school principals to decide what books should be permitted in their school libraries.
The ADL official pointed out that the action was self-defeating because "such censorship invariably makes a book a best seller. More serious than this, however, are the implications of censorship of literature which is placed in the principal's hands."
Epstein pointed out that after Principal John B. Walsh rejected the books for Clinton high school students, he named a committee of five teachers who agreed the books should have been accepted.
"But Dr. Frederic Ernst, associate superintendent in charge of high schools, insisted that Dr. Walsh's original decision must be sustained," Epstein declared.
Epstein argued that the decision in such cases "should be made cJn the basis of whether or not these two books make an, important contribution in their field," He termed the books "forthright, crusading denunciations of anti-Jewish bigotry."
He said the criteria of the N.Y. board of education for choosing books was that they should be selected with a positive approach and should fill a definite need.
Epstein suggested that a central committee should be named to handle selections of books for schools.
Prague Jewish Communists Denounce Zionists
PRAGUE.--(WNS)—The first meeting of the newly-formed Actions Committee of the Council of Jewish Communities of Bohemia-Moravia and of the Prague Community was transformed into a bitter attack on the Zionist members of the Prague Jewish community.
One speaker, a Communist official in the social department of the Prague Jewish Community, questioned Zionist loyalty, and another Communist charged that the official organ of the community, Vestnik, was being edited in a Zionist spirit. The need of Jews "to join parties of progress'' was the theme of an address by Frantisak Fuchs, vice-chairman of the Council and a Social Democrat, A warning that, unless they join the ranks of organized labor, the staff members of the Council and of the Jewish Community would be dismissed was sounded by a representative of the Trade Union Council. Simultaneously there was a demand from the floor that a recently-expelled Communist Party member, Kurt Premysl Heller, be dropped from the board of the Prague Jewish Community,
The Action Committee was formed last week, subsequent to the change in the Czechoslovakian Government.
Eternal Light Program
"HOW URIEL GOT INTO HEAVEN"
The fourth in a series of seven Eternal Light programs to originate from Hollywood, a radio play by Morton Wishengrad entitled, "How Uriel Got Into Heaven," will be presented on Sunday, March 28, 1948 (NBC network, 12:30-1:00 p.m,, E.S.T,).
• The Etemal Light, acoast-to-coast radio program under the auspices of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, and edited by Dr. Moshe Davis, is a public service presentation of the National Broadcasting Company. The entire West Coast series will be written by Mr. Wishengrad. It is planned that a Hollywood star will be featured in each of the programs.
This week's dramatization,*;-"How Uriel Got Into Heaven," treats the question of whether the clever are more qualified to enter' Heaven than the good. Uriel, a simple old water-carrier is accounted a sinner because he lacks learning.
When Uriel dies, however, he is admitted to Heaven because the scales of justice show that the sin of illiteracy is heavily overbalanced by his love of humanity. *
During the time that the program will emanate from Hollywood, the production will be supervised by Jennings Pierce, director of the western division of NBC's department of public affairs and education, and will be under the direction of Andrew Love.
Music for the Eternal Light, composed and arranged by Morris Mamorsky, will be conducted by Henry Russell of the NBC Hollywood staff. Milton E. Krehts is producer for the Seminary and Barbara Gair, supervisor of the Eternal Light, will act as liaison officer in Hollywood between the Seminary and NBC during the special series.
Among the Hollywood stars who have already appeared on the West Coast broadcasts were Melvyn Douglas, Edward G. Robinson and Sam Jaffe.
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For Particulars Write:
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1948 subscriptions are now payable at the Centre, 2675 Oak Street.
Hanita Club
The next meeting of the Hanita Club will be held at the home of Marcia Garfinkle, March 29. Dr. White will be at this meeting to speak about Camp Hat-ikva.
Members, please get your par-celis ready for the rummage sale. Start your spring cleaning early this year. Clean out your cupboards and send everything you can spare. Anything goes, jewelry, china, odds and ends, clothes, of course. If you can't bring your parcels to Muriel Porte's, phone FA. 3459-L and your parcel will be picked up.
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