Ohio Jewish Chronicle, 1940-05-17

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Vol. 19   No. 21
COLUMBUS, OHIO, FRIDAY, MAY IT, 1940
Strictly Confidential
Tidbits From Everywhere By PHINEAS J. BIRON
Record Attendance At /'Jnual Meeting Of Temple Israel
THERE AND HERE
We note that It's still Hitler who decides who's an Aryan . . least, the only explanation we can find for his awarding the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross to Goering's genealogically non- Aryan right-hand man, Gener¬ al Erhardt Milch ... If it's any consolation to you, it was Milch who directed the operations of the Nazi air force in Norway . .-. Those new Immigration restric¬ tions of the Phlllipinee are di¬ rected not only against the Jap¬ anese, as you've been reading, but also against refugee .lews and Spaniard.s. many of whom have been trying to get into the Island.'! . . . Just to make the Czechs happy the Nazis are plan¬ ning to build a new university at Prague in the shape of a swastika ... A local gagman claims that Hitler views Nor¬ way, home of the purest of Nor¬ dics, as Ersatz Israel . . . And in the next breath asks whether in the event of wdr in the Near East, the oil from the Haifa pipe line will be able to smooth the waters of the Mediterranean . .. A Broadway wag says that Hit¬ ler's planned invasion of Hol¬ land (which at this writing seems very near realization) is motivated by his desire ior a sunken, Uvtng-room
Ip^       the fortner French.prqititer, left ¦¦ Nfew Tork on the ceonouflaged
lie de France not long ago, as one of the three passengers on her dash through perilous seas he left with the purpose of his American visit unfulfilled .  . . He had planned to arrange for an American season for the fam¬ ous    Comedie    Franealse,    but found    no   takers . . . Biggest thrill  of the week  for Walter Winchell  was  to see  the  term "Renovated," which  he  coined, quoted in the Law Journal as part of a    Brooklyn    Supreme Court Justice's opinion in a di¬ vorce case . . . Coming on top of the revelation that the Nazis regularly listen in on his broad¬ casts,    this must be Increasing W. W.'s headslze ... His biggest scoop of the week, incidentally, was the news that the anti-Brit¬ ish  campaign  of  the  Nazis  In this country will set up a com¬ mittee which will include Jews too ... Apparently    all's fair in hate  and   war... Down    South they're getting quite alarmed at the   recrudescence   of   the   Ku Klux  Klan... The political ten¬ sion In the air in tlils campaign year has something to do with it, the Idea being to do away with liberalism   In   this   country   by fair means or foul . . . All of which  reminds  us to tell you that   Supreme    Court     Justice Hugo    Black,    whose    enemies tried   to   brand   him   as   a   Ku Kluxer at the time of his ap¬ pointment   to  the  high   t)ench has just chosen a Jewish l)oy, Marks Leva, who is graduating from the Harvard Law School this year, to be his new secre-
Robert Schiff Hc^ads 1940 United Jewisli Fund Drive
What was the largest and most enthusiastic Annual Din¬ ner Meeting ever held by Tem¬ ple Israel took place last Tues¬ day night at the Southern Ho¬ tel. Upwards of three hund¬ red men and women attended the proceedings.
Featuring the meeting was the inspiring address of Dr Louis Wolsey. Habbl of Congre gatlon Rodeph Shalom, Phlla delphia, Pa. His subject was "Who is the Jew?" He pointed out the need for the .lew to know himself in the face of the question which society is insiS' lentiy asking of him—"Who are you? What is your iden tity?" In reply lo the (\\ies tion, Dr. Wolsey quoted from Jewish traditional writings anti the records of general scholar¬ ship to the effect that the Jew is neither a nation, nor a race, but a religious group. Hi.s unity was neither a unity of blood, nor was it based on an ex¬ clusive attachment to soil. Al¬ ways, he felt that his safety and persistence depended altogeth¬ er on his loyalty to his faith. The message was almost elo¬ quent and stirring.
in his remarks. Rabbi Samuel M Gup indicated that he had now concluded the elghth.ycar of his ministry to th^ corigr^(^y tion .and Jilat^ihfcMrtpiiMak
history of the world Despite the international, national and personal   anxieties   which   the
Robert   W.  Hohlff
Facing a year expected to tax its resources to the ut¬ most, the United Jewish Fund of Columbns will officially open the 1!)40 campaign on Tuesday, June 11, with Robert W. Schiff, prominent business executive, heading the drive as general chairman. Announcement of Mr. Schiffs ap¬ pointment was made this week by Edwin J. Schanfarber, President of the Fund organization during the past four¬ teen years.
The United Fund chairman will have the assist¬ ance or sucli capable vice chairmen as I. W. Oarck, Ralph Lazarus, Herbert Levy, Leonard Kohn, Albert Schiff and Robert Weiler. Already for the past few weeks these men have been busily engaged in formulating plans for this forthcoming fund raising effort.
Other important heads who have accepted posts in this year's campaign are, Mrs. Alfred Kobacker, Women's Division; William Wasserstrom, chairman of the Speakers Bureau; and Dr. Don Shusterman, Junior Division.
members have experienced, the congregation has steadily grown in numbers, interest, loyalty and confidence. He expressed his gratitude to all the officers, committee heads and members for their cooperation and com¬ radeship.     The Babbi conclud, -™«!^Pv,^;^??5fii?^i'8R^?i°?;.
In accepting the chairmanship of this year's United Jewish Fund Campaign, Mr. Schiff is¬ sued the following statement to Columbus Jewry:—
''Over six million Jews in Cen¬ tral and Eastern Europe are faced with great danger of anni¬ hilation   as   the   result   of   the
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267,000 Jews Trapped In Low Countries Be^ium Releases Interned Refugees
be interested to leirn that the) immediately volunt.
LONDON (WNS)—The fate of more than 267,000 Jews, includ¬ ing 45,000 Jewish refugees from Greater Germany, hung in the balance as Belgium and Holland, supported by Allied airplanes and troops, dug In to resist the Nazi invasion.
At least 3,000 Jews, including several hundred refugees from Nazi Germany, fell into the hands of the Nazis when the Germon Army swept Into Lux¬ emberg, which has a standing army of 700.
Unlike the Jews in the Scan¬ dinavian countries who were taken by surprise when the Ger¬ man Army invaded Denmark and Norway, the Jews of the Low countries had expected the German Invasion and remained calm. The Jewish population In both Holland and Belgium is centered In the big cities, which have been heavily . bombed by the German Army.
A few hours after the Nazi troops crossed the Belgium frontier, the Belgium Govern¬ ment ordered the release of 18,- 000 Gennan Jewish refugees, who had been Interned In con- icentration camps, and announc¬ ed that the refugees would be permitted to fight against the ¦   •       re-
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Taking a cue from the Scan-
Regime Fascisto interprets the anti-war attitude of the Osser¬ vatore Romano, the Vatican's Newspaper, as Indicating that this ultra-Catholic organ is be¬ ing directed by Jews ... It was Arthur Hays Sulzberger, pub¬ lisher of the New York Times, who nixed the project of renting (0*«tl>M4 n Page »
dlnavlan countries where Ger¬ man citizens In those countries helped break down the national morale by the use of "fifth col¬ umn" tactics, Belgium police rounded up all Gennan citizens and kept them under strict sur¬ veillance.     As far aa it could
be learned here, no German Jewish refugee was arrested, al¬ though it was understood that the released refugees were be¬ ing supervised by the police. Plight of Refugees
Conflicting reports were re¬ ceived here about the several hundred Jewish refugees intern¬ ed in the Dutch-German fron¬ tier town of Westerbork. It was Impossible to learn whether the Dutch Government had kept its pledge to evacuate the camp at the first signs of a Nazi In¬ vasion. One report had It that the German Army had occupied the town.
The plight of the refugees in Belgium and Holland Is partlcu larly tragic since Nazi measures against recaptured Jewish re¬ fugees are even harsher than those taken against the native Jewish population in invaded countries. Several hundred of the refugees had already receiv¬ ed visas to emigrate to other countries, many of them to the new Sosua colony in the Domini¬ can Republic.
German radio broadcasts heard in Belgium and the Neth¬ erlands have warned the popu¬ lation of severe retaliatory mea¬ sures. The broadcast stated that the Jews would l)e the "first victims" of the invading Nazi Army.
Meanwhile, the Swiss Govern¬ ment held Itself in readiness for any eventuality. Eariler, Nazi planes had dropped several bombs In Swiss territory. There are approximately 18,000 Jew¬ ish refugees In Switzerland In addition to the normal Jewish population of 18,000.
war,fBtifferersHpv6raea's);*and> as¬ sistance to emigres bbhilng to the United   States.
Jewish life in Europe is fac¬ ed wltji a 'blackout' in the grim¬ mest sense of the word. This places upon every community in America the greatest respon¬ sibility since the first World War created a wide-spread emergency relief problem.
I am calling upon thetColum- bus Jewish community to estab¬ lish a new standard of genero¬ sity in the campaign which will open Tuesday, June 11, in order that the unprecedented emer¬ gency in Jewish life may be met through   large-scale   efforts.
Realizing full well that a tre¬ mendous responsibility rests upon the General Chairman in attempting to raise the largest quota ever asked of this com¬ munity, 1 am confident that with the cooperation of my Vice- Chairmen, committee heads and workers, local Jewry will ans¬ wer the challenge of the times as it has always done." Robert W. Schiff
Robert Schiff, although a well known public-spirited citizen In
our community for a number of years, has had little time to de¬ vote In active participation of both local and national move¬ ments. His contributions, how. ever, to all worthy causes have more than offset this handicap. Mr. Schiff began his career as a shoe saleamaji ln,1916,.ana i j ¦¦withlri.1 four ;years,had; reached.,':
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feheiBl'offices Jocited af 35<N*, :¦ 'ourth St. The firm to^ay Ja the third largest Shoe, Chain with approximately 287 stores from coast to coast and over 1500 employees.
Among the familiar personali¬ ties in our midst who played an important part in the success¬ ful Schiff enterprise are Albert Schiff, 2389 Bryden Rd., Morris Schiff, 63 S. Cassady Ave., Wil¬ liam Schiff, 211 S. Cassingham Rd,, Jack Schiff, 2717 Fair Ave., Saul Schiff, 2538 Maryland Ave., Edw. Schiff, 1805 Franklin Pk. S., Earl Coplon, Jule Mark, 2672 Fair Ave., and Abe Jacobson, 223 S. Cassingham Rd.
By his geniaity, his kindness and his thoroughgoing loyalty, Robert Schiff has endeared himself to thousands here and thruout the state. The Ohio Jewish Chionicle desires to commend the local leadership in their choice of this year's cam¬ paign head. It assures him every cooperation in conveying the weekly message to our peo¬ ple in this, the greatest of all humanitarian efforts.
U. J. A. Makes Plea For
Refugees In Low
Countries
NEW YORK (WNS)—The German invasion of Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg has trapped more than 260,000 Jews In the enlarged arena of the European War, placing upon American Jewry the Immediate responsibility of providing greater assistance for more than 43,000 refugees from Germany who had found a temporary haven In the Low Countries, it was announced by the United Jewish appeal. ,
Until the spread of war en¬ gulfed the Jewish communi¬ ties    of Holland and Belgium,
they contributed substantially toward the maintenance of re¬ fugees In their lands, the Unit¬ ed Jewish Appeal reported.
With the sudden extension of the war to these areas, the Joint Distribution Committee, which Is a participant with the United Palestine Appeal and the National Refugee Service In the nationwide campaign to raise $23,000,000 for the United Jew¬ ish Appeal, will be required to Increase Its support to Jews In these lands.
GIVE TREAT TO INMATES
The Council of Jewish Women presented a treat to the Jewish inmates of Oblo Penitentiary last Sunday. May 12. Mrs. B. S. Goldman, chairman of Social Service committee of the Coun¬ cil, was In charge.
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