Thursday, November 10, 1949
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Page 4
That Truth Shall Prev ail
Detroit Jewish Chronicle
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SEYMOUR TILCHIN
Publisher
,
go 'White Su remac
t
dr
Money-Pinched School
Million
Declines $50
EMILY SOMLYO
Business Manager
Thursday, Nov. 10, 1949 (Cheshvan 13, 5710)
Detroit 26, Michigan
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Chaluziut Defined
In the Oct. 27 issue of the "New Palestine," the Zionist
Organization of America came out editorially in support of a new
definition of Chaluziut. "Chaluziut," it read, "has been the corner-
stone of the Jewish settlement in Palestine. It still is the mainstay
of growth and development in the State of Israel . • . The ZOA
has always believed that it was the duty of American Jewry to
help those who wish to become pioneers in the Jewish Homeland
. . In line with this policy the ZOA will help train American
Jewish youth for a variety of tasks, agricultural as well as
technological, that await those who wish to devote their time and
energy as pioneers in Israel."
The editorial goes on further to say, however, that the ZOA
believes that this training should take place in Israel proper, rather
than in this country. It further refused to see any danger to
American Jewry in such a plan because "we prefer to combine a
sense of realism with high idealism, to bring to the State of Israel
American know-how and American technological prowess."
Apparently the main confusion lies in the fact that the word
Chaluziut has not been fully defined. We all speak of Chaluziut
with different definitions in mind. We have no objection to sending
American know-how, be it Jewish or non-Jewish, to the State of
Israel. In fact we, too, would encourage that type of Chaluziut
if that were the definition of Chaluziut.
We define Chaluziut, however, to mean the following: "A pur-
poseful and intentional attempt to INDOCTRINATE our Jewish
children from their very infancy, not only in the Hebrew tradi-
tions and history, but with a love and a feeling for Israel as though
it were their Homeland and with the idea eventually that is will
be their Homeland."
This in our opinion is a dangerous view. It will justify any
complaint that the Jews are disloyal citizens and are in this
country on a temporary basis; are here only to accumulate wealth
and wait for an opportune time to leave for their true Homeland.
That was Chaluziut as we understood it in the European
countries, where the Jew was a second-class citizen and had such
aspirations, for which we could not blame them. In eastern Europe
he had no future. He was not even a citizen of his country. We
dare not and must not support that philosophy in the United States.
If there is.ever the thought that the Jew in his country may
someday be unsafe, then our answer is he will not be safe anywhere
else in the world.
Chanukah-Christmas Conflict
Now that the Christmas season is approaching, the question
bothering many a Jewish parent will be the conflict in the
observance of Christmas and Chanukah.
While we have taken a definite stand that the Jewish parent
should not have a Christmas tree at home or in anyway celebrate
Christmas at home, the question as to procedure when the holiday
is observed in the public schools is still a perplexing one.
Some parents were of the opinion that the bust way would be
to observe both Chanukah and Christmas at school and were
willing to accept that as a solution to the problem. However, a
committee representing all shades of Jewish religious opinion
opposed the participation of Jews in joint ceremonies.
The reasoning of the committee, in summary, was: (1) joint
observances are a tacit indorsement of the introduction of religion
in the public schools; (2) Jewish holidays, in the school celebra-
tions, do not achieve the same status as do non-Jewish celebrations.
What is the solution? The Chronicle will welcome and will
publish any written suggestions on how to solve the conflict of
Christmas and Chanukah.
Cold War With Iraq
Israel's accusations against Iraq that 2,000 Jews in that
country had been imprisoned are a part of the present cold war in
the Middle East. This war of nerves is bound to continue as long
as the Arab states seem unwilling to recognize Israel as a partner
rather than as an enemy.
While Israel's Ambassador Elath told the State Department
that, according to his information, 2.000 Iraqi Jews had been
jailed and that some of them had been tortured and killed. Iraqi
spokesmen insisted that the number of Jews arrested was less
than 40. The Iraq government also assured the State Department
that Jews "who do not participate in activities prohibited by Iraqi
law" would not be molested.
It must be borne in mind that Iraq, like most other Arab
states, has made Zionist activities a crime. Under such a law it
would be possible, without any stretch of the imagination, to
convict t.:e majority of Iraq's Jews of treason.
Iraq's reference to this ominous law does not sound reassuring
at all. However, since our State Department apparently is inclined
to give more credence to the Iraqi version than the Israeli charge,
we agree with the view of seven Jewish organizations that it is
time to appoint a neutral commission to investigate the situation
on an impartial basis.
' It should not be too difficult to ascertain whether Iraqi Jews
are really free and equal citizens or the victims of Arab hatred
and irreconcilability.
Jewish Book Month
Our thinkers and literary lights may not be able to agree on
the definition of a Jewish book, but Jewish communities the land
over have clearly defined their enthusiasm and esteem for Jewish
Book Month, which begins Friday.
Jewish Book Month, organized and stimulated by the Jewish
Book Council of America is the very epitome of what we mean by
the word culture. In the constantly expanding acceptance the
"Month" has found, it is a sparkling expression of Jewish culture
"at its functioning best."
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Letters to the Editor
DENIED BY MON' . jR
Dear Editor:
The statement by Allen Lesser,
managing editor of the "Menorah
Journal," in your Oct. 27 issue,
that "JTA (the Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency) received $150,-
000 in 1949 from the national
United Jewish Appeal, allegedly
as a `service fee'," is completely
without foundation.
There have been no allocations,
grants, or payments of any kind
by the 1949 national UJA to the
JTA, as a "service fee" or for any
other reason.
HENRY MONTOR,
Director, United Jewish
Appeal.
& & THANKS
By ALFRED SEGAL
THE TALL, thin man was a
L stranger who said that
for
years he had admired me from
afar until this moment when he
had come to call on me. Ile had
been reading my column in the
daily press 20 years :mil Ire m that
he concluded I was worth his
attention. His name was Atkinson.
"There's only one thing the
matter with
you," he said.
Oh, Mr. Atkin-
son, only one
thing? Without
any preparation
for giving such
an accounting I
can recite off-
hand many
things that arc
the matter with
me.
Mr. Atkinson insisted
( that in
his book there was only one thing
wrong in me. He had called to
tell me about it with the bast of
good will and to do something
to improve me ... "I might say I
am your best friend, though we
became acquainted only a few
minutes ago" ... He was worried
about my soul.
He explained that his worry
derived from the fact that he is
a deacon in a suburban church
that applies itself to gathering in
people who should be saved and
making them ready for heaven.
Dear Editor:
May I at this time thank you
on behalf of the 16 chapters and
6,000 women of Bnai Brith for
the very splendid publicity you
have given us with regard to our
Fund Raising Affair to be held
in Masonic Temple on Nov. 21.
The Chronicle has always been
cooperative whenever the occa-
sion arose, and the many friends
of the oldest Jewish service or-
ganization, Bnai Brith, again
thank you.
MRS. BERNARD GOODMAN
Publicity Chairman.
Nationalists 'in Retreat
Before Liberals' Blows
By WILLIAM ZUKERMAN
(Jewish World News Service)
EW YORK—The Chicago resolution of the American Jewish
Committee executive is of greater significance than it was
represented to be. Its significance was obscured by the nationalistic
press which deliberately belittled
N
and even misrepresented the voiced by American liberal Zion-
event. Yet, with all of that, the fists; like Justice Simon H. Rifkind
document will probably be seen and others.
in perspective as a landmark in
Frisch's statement may mark a
American Jewish life of the post
move on the part of the ZOA in
war period.
the direction of the Western and
In the first place the resolution American cooiception of Zionism
.pf
the
national-
marks a retreat
and away from the east European
istic forces, both in Israel and in concept.
this country, from the advanced
True the retreat is only in words
positions they had occupied since
the establishment of the State of which are the cheapest commodity
Israel. Premier Ben Gurion's in our age and may be contra-
cable reply to the Committee, al- dicted any day when it will be-
though it does not repudiate his come necessary. But the various
former demand that American declarations have clarified the
Jews send their children to Israel, issues as they have never been
before, and in a clarified atmos-
no longer mentions that, but
stresses Israel's more modest pjhere, people can see better and
farther.
needs for American financial aid
• • •
and "know-how."
Ben Guriori's statement also COMMITTEE LAUDED
clearly indicates that Israeli lead-
THE RESOLUTION is also an
ers have realized that they cannot indication of the awakening of a
and must not attempt to influence feeling of independence on the
American Jews, or to intervene part of the American Jewish
in their internal affairs.
Committee. This old American
•
Jewish organization which repre-
'AMERICA IS HOME'
sents an important section of
DANIEL FRISCH'S statement native-born American Jews, has
is even more thorough in its re- for the last years been to a great
treat from the spirit of national- extent under the general spell of
ism: "American Jews are an rising nationalism. It had lost its
integral part of the American former distinctiveness and was
community. To them America is swept away with the general tide.
home ... American Jews as citi-
The present resolution is the
zens of this country remain here first indication since the end of
by choice, looking forward to the war, that that important sec-
their own future in America ..." tion of American Jewry is be-
ginning to re-assort itself. The
he says.
Such words were not heard be- spell of guropean nationalism is
fore from "good old Zionists" beginning to wear off and Amer--
like Frisch, although they were
(Continued on Page 15)
• •
• • •
'YOU ARE DOOMED'
"YOU ARE DOOMED if you
continue in your present state,"
Mr. Atkinson was speaking like
a father to a son who isn't going
right. Mr. Atkinson said he felt
sure that heaven could be even
more enjoyable if a fellow like
me would get there with him ...
"But I feel bound to tell you you
are not going there."
Me? I confessed I hadn't thought
much of going to heaven. My
idea has been that if I tried to
be a fairly decent citizen, I
needn't worry much about my
future.
"But you are a Jew, Mr. Segal"
. Mr. Atkinson was saying this
in the friendliest way . . . "As
a Jew you are an unbeliever and
unredeemed. You can not share in
salvation. There is no salvation
except in being a Christian."
Mr. Atkinson was saying that
not only he but other officers as
well as ordinary members of his
church had been worrying about
me . • . "If you hadn't shown
yourself to be a decent man in
your column they wouldn't bother
about you" • .. They had decided
to try to save me because they
regarded themselves as friends
of mine. They had sent Mr. At-
kinson to make overtures toward
a salvation that would make my
future secure.
• • •
INVITATION TO CONVERSION
"TO MAKE IT SHORT, we are
inviting you to be a Christian.",)
Mr. Atkinson, this is too sudden.
After having been a Jew some
2,000 years and more a man can't
in a moment make himself over.
"I'm not asking you to become
a Christian in a moment," Mr.
Atkinson said. "We'd be happy
to take you into our church next
Sunday, though. That should be
time enough. At your age you
can't take ton much time deciding
whether you want to be saved or
not."
"Well, Mr. Atkinson, I must
say your proposition is flattering.
You say that no later than next
Sunday I can escape all the dis-
abilities of being a Jew on earth
and in heaven? It's something to
think about." —
Mr. Atkinson's eyes flashed
brightly ... "I knew you would-
n't turn me down. I can make a
hopeful report on you to the con-
gregation tomorrow. All our
prayers will be for you at our
Wednesday prayer meeting."
But, Mr. Atkinson, I'm think-
ing: Suppose I did become a
Christian. Wouldn't I be an ate-
(Continued on Page 14)