2
JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Fridayj August 17, 1945
The Jewish Western Bulletin
Offidal Organ of the Vancouver Jewidi Administrative Coundl
Robt. L. Zien................................................Conunittee Chairman
Harry Musikansky....................................Advertising Manager
Ruth Toubman........................................................Society Editor
' Published Weekly Every Friday at
2675 Oak Street--BAy. 4210
Busness Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 pjn., except Saturday and Jewish Holy Days. Entered as Second Class Mail Matter at Ottawa
miCTL¥ HDim
"Believe not each accusing tongue, As most weak mortals do;
But still believe that story wrong Which ought not to be true."
. . . Richard Brinsley Sheridan.
VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA, FRIDAY, AUG. 17, 1945
EDITORIAL
After six years of Sanguine warfare in the greatest event of its kind in history the peoples of the world are again given the opportunity to live and let live which is the only basis on which a permanent peace could be obtained and retained.
But it is already to be noted even before the official surrender of the last enemy, sides are again being chosen by the leaders of the great powers in taking the first step toward the next war when the statement is made that it is not the intention to disclose the secret formula of the Atomic Bomb until such time as peace is permanently assured.
It is hard to imderstand by what stretch of imagination those making that statement can assure themselves that the formula will remain secret for any length of time, in view of what is already known, it is ridiculous to assume that the brains of science for good or evil can be stunted once this war is officially over.
It is probable that the exuberance of the moment prompted that statement and it is to be hoped that now with a clear vision of the future, that statement will warrant reconsidera-ion so that confidence may be retained within, to say the least the leading powers who have promised to give us "peace in our time" not just for the time being but a permanent peace which can only be had with confidence in each other from within.
Atomic Research
Those Nazi leaders who are still alive—for example, Dr. Rosenberg, the exponent of the idea of Germany as a masterful race and of most other peoples, as inferiors, fit only to be ^ enslaved or exterminated, now must be forced to do a little wondering about the correctness of their hypothesis—assuming that they were sincere in their assumption. They must be wondering how is it that the Germans who were so eagerly searching for the atomic bomb failed, while German Jews helped America and Britain to find the goal.
Yes, it must be a rude awakening for the Nazis. The smashing of the atom is considered the greatest scientific achievement in history, and the Jews played so large a part in it, while the masterful Germans failed.
Of course, the smashing of the atom owes much to the science of many nations, and yet the fact is plain, that in Germany, the foremost researchers on the subject were Jews and the arrogant Germans in then- belief of their own superiority, drove out these Jewish scientists as inferiors and so as the New York Herald Tribune writes, handicapped themselves.
America did not like to resort to the atomic bomb. President Truman has said that America went into the matter, only because it knew the enemy countries were busy at it. The Jew too does not like to create destructive weapons and the Jewish researchers when they began their work were thinking solely of the possibilities of atom smashing in advancing the general progress of peaceful living.
Science has perfected a discovery, which may prove an invaluable boom to mankind, if it is properly used and bring imtold havoc, if it is not so used. The people of America, we know, want to use it constructively, and not destructively.
—Seven Arts Feature
Youth of Northwest Gather
Judeaen Camp
• "CAMP HATIKVA" was officially opened to the Youth of the Pacific Northwest on Wednesday, v/hen campers from Vancouver and Seattle arrived at the Young Judaean Camp near Crescent Beach, to spend two weeks in a Palestinian atmosphere.
The carefully prepared program includes Palestinian songs, dances, dramatic plays based on Jewish motifs, daily discussions on Zionism and contemporary Jewish problems, Oneg Shabbat programs and Services. Included with the cultural program will be a variety of general camp activities such as sports, swimming, hikes, and evening camp fires. This well rounded program is designed to give the campers an opportunity for self expression in a purely Jewish atmosphere, which wiU aid in developing in them an appreciation of Jewish values.
"Camp Hatikva" is assured of being a complete success by having as their first directors, Mr. and Mrs. E. Malamuth, who have brought with them excellent ex-I>erience, both as youth leaders and Hebrew educators. Included in the efficient staff is the physical
director, Maury Rothstein, who is conducting a physical culture program which is suited to all campers. Mrs. M. M, Waterman, the camp mother, has gained the affec-tino of all the campers, due to her personality and sincere devotion to the camp.
The first Oneg Shabbat was held on Friday evening, August 17th. A veiry interesting program was conducted, including an impressive ceremonial, reading from the Bible, recitations, commimity singing, etc. The central thought, of the program was universal peace, as symbolized by the spirit of the Sabbath.
It is significant that the first B.C. Judaean camp, which was named "Hatikva" meaning "hope" was opened on the first day of peace, a day which inspires hope for the Jewish people in a better world.
by Chalm
ATOM SMASHERS a WHILE THE newspapers mention the names of four Jewish scientists—Prof, J. Robert Oppen-heimer, Prof. Rudolf Peierls, Dr. Franz Eugene Simon and Dr. Lise Meitner—in connection with the atomic bomb, they overlook the fact that Prof. Albert Einstein was the creator of the theory that made the discovery irassible ... As a matter of fact, we happen to know that Einstein was an active consultant during the period of experimentation.
ATTENTION, JUSTICE DEPT.
The anti - Semitic "Protestant War Veterans of the United States Inc,," have had their treasury replenished from some mysterious source . . . Edward James Smythe, executive chairman of the group, is advertising for "organizers in every hamlet, town, city and state in the Union to organize local jKXSts" . .,. Mr. Smythe annoimces, in a mailed bulletin, that "we will fight these dirty, stinking Com-mimists—the American Veterans Committee, a Jew-Communist Sidney HiUman controlled organization in the streets if necessary" . . . . Protestant clergymen should disavow Mr. Smythe's organization and insist that the Attorney General investigate its headquarters, located at 1211-A Connecticut Avenue, Washington, D.C. FATHER RILEY'S PAMPHLET
The Tablet, the weekly paper of the Brooklyn diocese, which made itself nationally infamous for its defence of Father Couglin and his Christian Fronters, devoted considerable space to your columnist three weeks ago ... It took violent exception ot our attack on Father Arthur J. Riley^s pamphlet "Anti-Semitism," which was published in St. Paul imder the imprimatiur of Archbishop Most Reverend Richard J. Cushing . . . We maintained that the pamphlet is anti-Semitic . . . The Tablet, among other things, published a letter "by Mr. David Goldstein of Boston" . . . . Mr Goldstein had sent this same letter to the editors of the "Jewish weeklies," as he calls OTir Anglo-Jewish press .... The Tablet, strangely enough, omits to mention that "Mr. Goldstein" is none other than Dr. Goldstein, employee of the "Catholic Campaigners for Christ" and America's most notorious convert and missionary.
In his letter Goldstein advises our editors to eliminate oiu" column, and contends that we have committed a great wrong, because Father Riley's pamphlet is "a fair, frank, learned, discriminating, friendly presentation of the topic."
We quote from Father Riley's "friendly" booklet: "the position of the Catholic Church with regard to the Jews has been and still is that the Jewish religion, as exist-
Sonnenstand
ing, represents the direct antithesis of Catholicism. For that reason
and that reason alone She (the
Catholic Church) has striven to preserve Catholics from such contacts with Jews as might cause harm to the purity of their Catholic faith" . . . Quite frank, if not exactly friendly.
Here is what Rev. Ben Richardson, theological authority and executive Secretary of the Regional Action Committee of The Protestant, has to say about the tract Father Riley published under the imprimatur of Archbishop Cushing: "Mr. Biron understates the issue in his column . . . The true extent of the harm that this pamphlet is doing and cein do taxes the imagination . . . Mr. Goldstein takes exception to Mr. Biron's scoring the way in which Father Riley describes the Jews.
On page 4 Father Riley writes, in his explanation of why Jews are hated: ' . . . this hatred arises from deep fear of the influence of the Jews ... At one time it is fear of their hostile political activities; at another it is fear of their usurious and crippling financial control; again it is fear of their open opposition to the established religious order; and yet again it is fear of the alleged Jewish enmity for Christianity!"
Mr. Richardson continues: "Father Riley then gives mock qualification to this viscious series of 'fears* by saying that 'some' of these fears are based on exaggerated accusations. In that all of the fears are dastardly, the reader is left to choose which are true or false".
And here are some more quotations from the Rev. Ben Richardson's reply to convert Goldstein: "Mr. Biron is altogether correct in stating that Father Riley sanctions these restrictions (against Jews). . . . Relative to the Jewish badge, Mr. Goldstein quibbles over the fact that Mr. Biron wrote 'yellow badge' "... (Mr. Goldstein boasts that "in fact, the term 'yellow badge' will not be found in any of its (the pamphlet's 30 pages."). . . . Writes Richardson: "the term 'distinguishing badge' and 'Jew badge' do appear on page 15 of the pamphlet. Mr. Biron and all informed people know that the badges were yellow".
Incidentally, Dr. Joshua Bloch, head of the Jewish division of the New York Public Library for the last 22 years and nationally known authority on anti-Semitic literature, fully endorses ovu: interpretation of Father Riley's tract ... He labels the pamphlet "a sly, viscious anti-Jewish presentation."
We'er sorry we had to give so much si>ace to this, but the Father Riley pamphlet is important, and its defense by a converted Jew significant.
—Seven Arts Featurs
J^ay     Eleanor Roosevelt
9  NEW YORK, Thursday—When William Cowper, in his "Light Shining Out of Darkness," wrote the lines:
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform; He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm. he was hardly thinMng about our new world—the atomic world in which we are living today! One must, however, feel the hand of God as one ponders the story of Dr. Lise Meitner, working with her two German colleagues.
When Hitler came to power, the first steps of our new discovery had been made. Hitler tried to force Dr. Meitner to divulge her knowledge; but being a Jewess and seeing the rising tide of hate, she left for Copenhagen, Her knowledge finally reached the famous scientist, Dr, Bohr, who was then working in the United States.
Dr. Meitner, I understand, says that she does not know how much .''he contributed to the ultimate malcing of the atomic bomb. This much we know—that at the foot of the pyramid Hhere was a woman who had the courage, to face new knowledge.
How ironic that it is the Germans' hate and persecution of a minority which have prevented them from making tliis discovery first.
I wonder if we can learn form this story a lesson which I think God in His heaven must be trjdng very hard to teach us. He does not discriminate on lines of race or a-eligion in the tools which He uses.   Clearly,  He  is asking us
whether we have learned the lesson that in His world there is no place for discrimination or hate. He has given into our hands the knowledge of a force so great that men can bring about their own destruction.
God must believe that man has reached the point where he can -also bring about his own salvation.
As I read that dramatic story of Dr. Meitner's, I counld not help thinking that her courage was a challenge to every woman in the world, and that perhaps we were meant to see that women have a grave responsibility which we cannot shirk. Many of us recognize and admire the greatness of Madame Curie, who gave something beneficent to mankind. But Dr. Meitner contributed the first steps in an invention which gives mankind power over its own fate. It is a great step forward, but like all steps forward it is somewhat awe-inspiring.
Not to be afraid of it, one must have great faith in hxunan beings. Person after i)erson has said to me in these last few days that this new world we face terrifies them, T can understand how) that feeling would arise unless one believes that men are capable of greatness beyond their past achievements.
The times have txsuaUy brought us a leader when we needed him. The times now call for mankmd -as a whole to rise to great heights. We must have faith or else we die.
-E. R.
(Courtesy of Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
PI
am
Talk
By ALFRED SE(xAL
The opinions expressed by tiie author of this column are not
nesssssiily sabscribei to by, this newsi
• I AM currently on my vacation in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina, where! Jan, one of my several grandchildren resides. To see a grandchild you don't mind going even in the summertime to one of the Carolinas, and if he happened to be in Louisiana you would go that far, too, on a summer vacation.
Anyway, a patriarch should get acquainted with ihis remote grandchildren from time to time. How would it look if a grandchild didn't know the progenitor of his being?
If a grandfather never has been arrested for anything he feels he has nothing to be ashamed of whsn he presents himself to his descendant. I myself could wallc confidently in on Jan whom I hadn't seen in two years. It was most comforting to be able to come to him with a most blameless life and say "Jan, I'm your grandfather."
(I mention this in no vainglory but only to show that it pays a grandfather to behave himself.)
Jan who is 2^ looked me over. It was apparent that he was withholding immediate approval. There are times when even the youngest child is a sophisticated person and is not to be bribed with a stick of candy. I held a lollypop in my right hand as I pi:?sented myself for Jan's approval.
I had heard stories about modern children: There is the well-known case of the kid who demanded that his grandma tell him instead about a couple of (Chicago gangsters when, for bedtime, she began "Once upon a time there was a fairy prince."
"Tell me about those two so-an -SOS in Chicago," the child said.
So I shouldn't have been entirely Tmprepared for Jan's quick come-back when I presented the lollypop to his mouth in the way of appeasement. Yet I was dismayed when he pushed the lollypop away and asked "How do you stand on the Jewish problem?"
Though I am supposed to be a fellow in weekly touch with Jewish life it turned out that I have been scarcely aware of the deeper currents. Even the kids had become obsessed by the Jewish problem which is the main absorption of their elders. The elders may be in the midst of a poker game and somebody is holding foiu- aces when Mr, Zilch who has a full house may out of a clear sky ask, "What do you thmk should be done about the White Paper in Palestme?"
The man with the four aces says, "I'm glad you brought that up ... I raise you ... I think we should go direct to Truman about it ... I raise you again . . ."
So I shouldn't have been surprised at Jean slapping me in the face with the Jewish problem first crack out of the box, as they; say. Kids do quickly pick up things. But I exclaimed: "Jan! This is a lemon-flavor lollypop! It's good for all day!"
The child would have none of it. He said: "After all, your being my grandfather is only a biological accident. The question is are you worthy to be my grandfather."
I replied I had done my best to be a decent grandfather. I hadn't yet been caught doing anything
meretricious. My credit was good in the department stores. I was a fairly respected man.
The kid said he had heard all that sort of thing before . . . 'let's agree you're a decent grandfather. So what? The maui fluestion is. What kind of a Jew are you?"
It was shockingly evident to me that the child had fallen into the intellectual environment in which bemg a Jew is the main thmg. I had myself been distressed by manifestations that suggested the being a Jew was an identity somehow separate from the rest of the human rave; something special.
"Well, Jan," I repUed, "Your grandpa is a Jew who thinks that being a Jew is only one of his several sides. He doesn't think that he is somebody special, requiring special treatment, because he is a Jew. He is one of the human race and his problems and his pain are not separate from those of the human race in general. Being a Jew isn't the whole thing.
"Your grandpa has an idea that whenever there is justice for the whole , human race there will be justice for the Jews as well. V/e aren't separate, Jan. You are nobody different from all the kids of the world who when they grow up must inherit a world in which they will never be called; away to die for the sake of greeds, hates, prejudices and aggressions. That's the world I Ihope you are inheriting.
"In that world your being a Jew will be just amatter of religioi^ii. ideals, just like bemg a Catholic or a Protestant, and what the hell's the difference in what chxu-dhly place you worship? (Excuse me, Jan, for using that naughty word but that's the way I feel about it.) There is no special Jewish problem; it's all one problem of the kind of a world all you kids are going to inherit.
"Well, Jan, that's the kind of Jew your grandpa is. He goes along with all other kinds of people who are going his way."
The chUd looked at me as if asking with deepest disappointment, "What kind of a grandfather have I inherited? What have I done; to get such a grandfather? I, a Jewish child, to have him! ■What kmd of a Jew is that? He seems an illiterate Jew entirely unaware that he belongs to a Jewish nation."
His displeasure seemed such as I have seen in adults when they looked at me. Children are so quick to pick up the prejudices of their elders.
"Assimilationist!" Jan exclaimed contemptuously as he resumed the book he had been reading: "1001 Jewish Problems."
(Jan's mother, Marcella, has been reading this over my shoulder and getting madder every minute. What do I mean, sflie asks, by presentmg Jan who is a sweet and sensible child, in a false public li^t? People wo^^ld think he is being influenced at home. I explamed that a columnist has a license to use whatever medium is at hand to get an idea across. He may use even his own grandchild. This satisfied Marcella.)
—Seven Arts Feature
MONUMENTAL WORKS
Local and Foreign MARBLES AND GRANITES
J. FORSTER
5528 Eraser Ave. FRaser 3336
Endorsation Granted
Dates Name Purpose Amount
June 6th to June 30th Van. Aux. No. 77 B'nai B'rith Raffle July 1st to Aug. 15th    Vancouver Peretz School   Building $10,000.00
Hanita Club Raffle Lillian Freiman Hadassah Concert Lillian Freiman Hadassah Bazaar
July, Aug. & Sept. September 25th only November 15th only
VANCOUVER JEWISH ADIvONISTRATTy-E COUNCIL ENDORSATION BUREAU