2
JEWISH WESTERN BULLETIN
Friday, April 20, 1945
The Jewish Western Bulletin
Official (kgan of the Vancouver Jewish Administrative Council
Robt. L. Zien................................................Committee Chairman
Goodman Florence..............................................Associate Editor
Harry Musikansky...................................Advertising Manager
Ruth Toubman........................................................Society Editor
Published Weekly Every Friday at 2675 Oak Street — — BAy. 4210
Business Kours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.in., except Saturday and Jewish Holy Days. Entered as Second Class Mail Matter at Ottawa
"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, APRIL 20, 1945
EDITORIAL
mmi\ couDEW
By PHINEAS J. BKON
**It Is Endorsed''
At almost every meeting of the Vancouver Jewish Administrative Council, the problem of "endorsation" arises to vex the members.
Many of the newer participants in Vancouver Jewish Community affairs, seem hot quite sure of the idea behind the "voluntary submission of control" to the Council.
An instance, was indicated at one of the meetings when a Rabbi expressed the opinion that "endorsation" was intended for drives of minor importance or for just local purposes.
Auutiicr liiSiaiiCc waS a rCCciit illcctiilg whcii a lawyG*
also a comparative newcomer, questioned the legality of, and the power of the Coimcil to enforce its mandates on the commuuiiy.
It might perhaps be to the benefit of new participants in our community afEairs, were there available in written form, a compilation of the ideas and practises that are being followed, so that such interested participants as may desire, can quickly bring themselves up to the minute.
Perhaps on the other hand new members of a community, anxious though they may be to take part in its life and activities, and to give of their energy, their ideas, then: talents and intelligence—would make a better contribution, were they during the early part of their sojourn to take an attitude of interrogation rather than one of assuredness and aggressiveness in stating their opinions.
Many of the ideas and procedures followed in the Vancouver Jewish Community, as in all other Jewish Communities—^have come about as the result of the trials and experiments over the years, and they reflect the possibilities and the habits of the particular times, and also the abilities of the representatives who may meet together.
The idea of "ENDORSATION" is not a product of our commimal brain alone. It is an idea, found to have had merit many many years ago. it is a natural requirement of any well-functioning "Kehillah"—to approach which any truly progressive Jewish Community Admmistration strives.
"Endorsation" is purely voluntary. "Endorsation" is protective both to the sponsors of a project and to the prospective contributors.
"Endorsation" helps to increase contributions, for it creates confidence and respect between asker and giver.
The very fact of submitting a "fund-raising project" to the Vancouver Jewish Administrative Council for approval— is in itself a wise move, for here are gathered the representatives of the principal contributing groups and elements of the community.
In the frank and brutal dissection of a project both the sponsors and the members of the council get a clearer picture of what is possible of accomplishment. Here is where a project is sold to the community. Here is where any changes in size of a drive, time and method of approach may best be determined.
No matter how insignificant a fund-raising project may be, no matter how great its goal—it were better for our edification and our material benefit that it be presented for approval to the "Administrative Council".
The very fact of extending the courtesy to the representatives of all communal groups, large and small—should do something to lift up the spirits of those who sponsor a project.
"Endorsation" is purely a voluntary submission and a demonstration of respect. There ii;> little if anything at the moment that can be done by legal means to prevent anyone or any group asking for contributions to a cause that is not an out and out fraud—^but theye is a lot that can be done by moral means.
The average contributor among our Jewish people is generous—but not always careless with his money—and he should be respected for this attitude, for it shows stability and gives stability to a community.
The average contributor has neither the time nor the proper simple means to investigate each project for which funds may be solicited. For his protection—and for his cooperation—and to enhance his self-respect—and to create a community of "cheerful-givers" — before embarking on a fund-raising or new membership campaign, sponsors would show good judgment by putting themselves in a position to answer in the affirmative the question, "IS IT ENDORSED?"
•  AS YOU may have read, Wal-
tham, Mass., recently has been the scene of a number of outrageous anti-Semitic outbreaks . . . The poEce authorities of tiiat locality insist on calling these organized desecrations of the Jewish cemetery instances of "youthful delinquency" . . . Yet the police of Waltham surely know that exactly the same outrages are being reported from Chicago, Philadelphia and even the Bronx . . . No, not as having hapx}ened in the distant past, but NOW ... All these youthful pranks really constitute a strange coincidence, gentlemen . . . Orchids to the Indianapolis Jewish Post for its exclusive expose of the anti-Semitic pamphlets distributed in Boston under the imprimatur of Archbishop Gushing, who gave such glowing lip service to the proposed antidiscrimination legislation . . . TfflS AND THAT
We're told that Jewish boys in the Jewish Army make it a practice to attend, en masse, services in synagogues in liberated Germany . . . They do this to manifest their  solidarity  with  the Jews whom Hitler has driven out of their German Vaterland . . . Our friend Danton Walker claims that Mexico will be ready to receive 300,000 European refugees when the . war is over . . . Mr. Walker is misinformed . . . The ex-Mufti of Jerusalem,  who   collaborated so closely v,"1^ iEiitler, is snid to h^ve reached Mecca, and reportedly will be given an important post by King Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia. TAPS
If Major General Mam-ice Rose, who was killed by his Nazi captors, had known Yiddish, he might still be alive . . . When the German  corporal  shouted "Stramm stehen!" (stand at attention), he tliought he was being ordered to disarm, and reached for his pistol —a gesture that cost him his life . . . Winchell reports that when General Patton heard of the shooting   of  General   Rose  he was strangely silent for a long time . . . Then he reached into his pocket, slowly took out a German-English dictionary—and  crossed  out the word "mercy" . . . 2nd Lt. Daniel Ginsburg of Detroit, who was killed in action on Iwo Jima, was only 22 years old . . . The last letter he sent to a friend stamps him as a splendid specimen of the contemporary generation of American Jews . . . Wrote Daniel: "If I don't come back, will you try to make my folks imderstand that it isn't such a tragedy—that their son isn't any better than any one else's son—and, unfortunately, he happened to be just as vulnerable" . . . His was a genuinely democratic  character, completely
integrated with the rest of our millions of boys fighting Fascism to the bitter end ... We have received thus far the small total of §15 for the Sgt, Meyer Levin Memorial Fund . . . One more week remains to send in your check and thus participate in honouring America's greatest Jewish hero of World War II.
ZIONIST NEWS
Regardleiss of the publicity you may read, the American Jewi^ Conference   and   the American Jewish   Committee  have been granted equal status as consultants at the San Francisco Conference . . . The Jewish Agency for Palestine will not be invited, not even as an observer . . . Dr. Wei2anann will not be in this country diudng the Conference . . . The Hashomer Hatzair of Buenos Aires has a membership of 400, and is the fastest-growing Zionist group in South America . . . The Silver-Goldstein ril't is spreading from coast to coast, Zionist observers report . . . Insiders say. that Rabbi Silver is gaining strength . . . Silver doesn't intend to run for the presidency of the ZOA at the next convention, but plans to back one of his supporters for the top position. ABOUT PEOPLE
Jacob Fishman, dean of Yiddish columnists, was feted at an intimate birthday party atteiided by a number of editors and Zionist leaders last week . . . Fishman, 67
five days a week, and it's said to be the most widely read feature in the American Yiddish press . . . Congratulations to Emanuel Rosen, one of UNRRA's top executives in -Turkey, on the marriage of his son Rishon, of the U, S. Army, to Marion Ruth Dancis . . . Emanuel was formerly head of Palestine-Oriental Tours . . . Fannie Simson, charming wife of Dr. Alexander L. Simson, is New York's most dynamic   Hadassaite   and champion fund-raiser . . . Maurice Schwartz has leased the Public Theatre in . New ■ York's Second Avenue for five years . . . His first Yiddish production for the coming season will be Shakespeare's "King Lear" ;. . . . Ellen Ballon, formerly of "Montreal, is becoming radio's most I sought-after piano soloist .... : Note to returning war veterans: < Corporal Max Novack's book "How to cash in on yoiu- Veteran's Benefits," is said to contain many valuable tips for you . . . Mtisic critic Leonard Liebling tells us to look out for young Elaine Malbin, who, ; though only 14, now, gives promise of becoming one of the world's greatest smgers . . . Booked for some more USO tours overseas are ; violin virtuoso Jascha Heifetz and harmonica virtuoso Larry Adler.
—Seven Arts Feature.
PI
am
By ALFRED SEGAL The opinions expressed by the author of this column are not
necesaamy subscribed to by this newspaper.
^wauLD roc; shelter them?
Wins Nobel Prize
•  NEW YORK (WNS)—Dr. Is-idor Rabi, Professor of Phys-ocs at Columbia University, received the Nobel Prize in physics
at a ceremony presided over by Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, president of the University.
Dr. Butler presented the Nobe] medal and the diploma to Prof. Rabi.
Sedition Trials Resume This Month
• WASHINGTON (WNS)—The Department of Justice is believed to be prepared to resume the mass sedition trial which ended in a mistrial last fall when the presiding justice died in the midst of the proceedings, according to well-informed circles here. ,
The trial is expected to begin late this month, vmless a further postponement is necessitated by the difficulty of finding a judge.
• IT'S TIME to tell you about a certain beirthday that occurs this year and the 70th birthday of an idea really is something to notice; especially of an idea that has remained young and vigorous after 70 years.
A 70-year old idea seems to be well-established in the world. Id-ead come and go and few of them live that long.
This particular idea is more than just a concept in the minds of people. It has become a great institution. It may be the temple in which you worsihip, if you are a member of a temple congregation. It is the textbook your child uses in the Sabbath school. It may be the modem, lively yoimg man who is your rabbi.
It is a stately group of buildings on a hill in the city of Cincinnati, caled the Hebrew Union College. Yes, on Oct. 3 it will be 70 years since the Hebrew Union College was founded in the basement of a synagogue in Cincinnati. The numerous temples, the Sabbath schools, the textbooks, the rabbis, all came out of that occasion.
The idea was Dr. Isaac M. Wise's. He was a rabbi out of Bohemia who came here for freedom's sake in 1845. Elderly gentlemen in Cincinnati remember him in the venerable majesty of his latter years. ' He died in 1900. Still stands the temple he built in the sixties—a structiure of Moorish outline. The original geometric frescoes of the interior haven't faded.
Dr. Wise may be called one of the later Jewish prophets. He developed the concept of Judaism called Reform, though a better name for it is Progressive Judaism. It was a liberal faith measured to the breadth of American democracy.
Wise's interpretation of Judaism was toward the preservation of Judaism in the American scene, for Americans. People were not made for Judaism to 6e worn by . Judaism was made for people. He preached a Judaism that could ' grow and adapt itself to the conditions of free life in America.
Wise preached that Jews must be of the bone and sinew of American life, not separate from it. He challenged ghettos, spiritual as well as physical; ghettos built by enemies and ghettos built by Jews themselves.
He preached the Torah and the prophets in the light of ideals acceptable to men and women of the nineteenth century. To him the xmderlying truths of Judaism were absolute; the forms in which these truths foimd expression were relative. Religious forms were things that, like all human things, cotild change and become new forms.
Wise preached a Judaism that was not self-serving. His Judaism was a light for Jews to carry into the world on the march with aU other men of good v/ill an age of universal justice, mercy and peace. This was prophetic Judaism, since it was the vision of Israel's prophets.
He defmed it: "A religion without mysteries or miracles, rational and self-evident, eminently human, universal, liberal and progressive, in perfect harmony with modern science, criticism and philosophy, and in full sympathy with universal liberty, equality, justice and charity."
Wise's idea was to send this concept of Judaism around throu^ the mouths of many men through-
out the land; to train young Americans for the service of the Am--erican' rabbinate. He had already founded the Union of ;jAmerican Hebrew Congregations; imder the sponsorship of the Union be founded, on Oct. 3, 1875, the Hebrew Union CoUege—first rabbinical seminary in the United State&-to bring up rabbis to preach a liberal, progressive Judaism in the Eiiglish language. \
Eight yeiars later the first class of Reform rabbis was graduated. There were four of them, of whom Dr. David PhiliiKon rich in years and works, survives. Foiur hundred and seventy-one other rabbinical graduates of the Hebrew Union College have gone in iheir footsteps since. They have been more than preadbers; they have led their communities to the 4^ preciations and respect of the cities in which they sreve.
They have been builders of so-ial institutions^ have been creative leaders in the nation and in their commimities, have served with Protestant and -Catholic for the common good, have brought progressive Judaism to the heart and mind of youth in the time wSien he questions old and dogmatio re-; ligious ways.
They have influenced their congregations toward a vital and effective participation in the life of their cities. It's kn.own pejrticular-ly in the city in whidh the Hebrew Union College stands, since I live in it. There three generations of Jews have heen tbudied' by the teaching of Isaac M. Wise and his pupils in the colleger—bjT' this liberal and progressive Judaism H^^ch broke down ghetto walls and summoned Jews to take their mianful part in the general life, in accordance with their prophetic ideals.
In this community Jews have been vigorously and idealistically to the fore of the city's affairat— prophet-like spirits who lead movements of social and political reform, who take up politics with no desire or hope of gain and accept office by compulsion of conscience. They lead in humanitarian services and carry lights for better ways of social living; they have much to do with education and the arts.
They have served Jewish life no less. They have been faithful at their own altars, have buu^ noble Jewidi institutions of religion, philanthropy and education. They go along cooperatively with the men and women of traditional Judaism to build with them an ever lovelier house of Israel.
They are the children and grandchildren of Wise's teaching and of his disciples who came after him. In their characters is this liberal and progressive Judaism whose ideals are applied to that v/hich is righteous and that which is beautiful and that which is true in the common life.
Well, the 70 years are about over and there's to be a proper celebration of the birthday in all the congregations everywhere that are served by Hebrew Union CoUege rabbis. You will hear more of that from congregational leaders as the time of the birth^ day approaches. The college's friends are planning a birthday gift—$5,000,000 for its endowment —to be presented to the college, through its President, Dr. Julian Morgenstem, on the anniversary.
—Seven Arts Feature.
Einstein Retires
0 PRINCETON, N.J. (WNS)— Professor Albert Einstein has been retired from the faculty of the Institute of Advanced Study here with the title of Professor Emeritus, it was revealed. Prof. Einstein was 66 years old on March 14.
Professor Einstein had been working on the theory of bi-vec-tor fields and other fields the "structvual elements of which depend on two space-time points," as "possible means for the construction of a amified field theory of relativity." This research, which aims to find a tuiified, all-embracing mathematical system for the physical phenomena of the univarse, has occupied Professor Einstein for thirty years.
Funds May be Sent Now to Rumamia
•  FOR the first time since the
outbreak of the war in Europe,
remittances .can be sent from the
United  States  to  relatives and
friends in Rxunania, according to
an announcement by the Hebrew
Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS), which has jtist been licensed by the U.S. Treasiu^r Department to transmit funds to that coimtry.
Funds can be transmitted only to "Old Rumania", and not to that portion of Rumania tmder Soviet occupation and control. Not more than $100 per month may be sent to a beneficiary. Payments of remittances will be made by the HIAS Bucharest Office.