Afflericam ( 7ewish Periodical Ca
DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Page 4
Detroit Jewish Chronicle
Published by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
WOodward 1-1090
2827 Cadillac Tower, Detroit 26, Michigan
SUBSCRIPTION:
$3.00 Per Year, Single Copies, 10c; Foreign, $5.00 Per Year
Entered as Second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at
Detroit, Mich.. under the Act of March 3, 1879.
SEYMOUR TILCHIN
Publisher
GERHARDT NEUMANN
EMILY SOMLYO
Editor
Business Manager
Nisan 19, 5710
Thursday, April 6, 1950
Hebrew and Galut Culture
William Zukerman, in last week's column entitled "Galut
Proves Stronger than Israel's Culture," draws attention to the
fact that Israel, for the lack of a culture of its own, is turning
to European art and literature.
Zukerman goes as far as to say that "not only has Hebrew
culture failed, but the entire nationalistic theory that Jews as
a people have their cultural roots in Palestine or in modern
Israel is a complete flop,"
It seems to us that Zukerman is doing an. injustice to Israel.
What kind of a culture may be expected of a Jewish community
that only yesterday,' historically speaking, began settling in
Palestine and by now has not even finished the roof of the new
state?
The western civilization, of which Zukerman speaks, has
grown over thousands of years: It undoubtedly has its national
roots and flavors as well as international ramifications and in-
fluences. As citizens of the world we can hardly escape the im-
pact of western civilization, whether we call America or Israel
our home.
The fact aLso may be easily overlooked in this controversy
that quite a bit of what we call western civilization is indeed a
child of ancient Jewish thinking and poetry and ethics. It comes
back to us in a different form but is still Jewish.
Goethe's prologue to Faust, Milton's Paradise Lost, Dante's
Divine Comedy and hundreds of other famous worli.s would
have been unthinkable without the existence of the Bible.
Neither would there be the statues of David and Moses by
Michelangelo or scores of paintings by Rembrarldt.
We are far from taking a narrow nationalistic view of cul-
tural development. Real culture should be greater than the peo-
ple which created it. However, we believe that in the past 50
years Israel has achieved quite a bit in creating a culture of
its own.
The name Bialik comes to mind first. True enough, Bialik
could have written poems in Hebrew in Russia,. as he did in
his youth.
But his poetry has a specifically Jewish character. It is the
Product of the early settler years in Palestine and reflects the
longing of the Jew to ..eturn to the soil and become a respected
and equal member of the human family.
It is definitely too early to speak of a failure of a genuine
Hebrew culture in Israel. It will take hundreds of years to at-
tain a productive and creative stage similar to the biblical peri-
od. Yet we do not doubt that an imaginative people like the
Jews will eventually produce works of art and literature that
can rival the creations of other nations.
In the meantime, the best Israel can do is to absorb the cul-
tural achievements of the Galut and to interpret them in a way
that will satisfy the needs of Israel. In this discussion, it must
always be borne in mind that mankind lives only on a very
small number of original ideas and that it is up to each group
to interpret these ideas so they will fit the group's special re-
quirements.
Culture in itself is 'Galut'; it is homeless and nationless.
Wherever it app7,ars, it is an adopted child. But as an adopted
child it wears the garments of its foster parents.
The important thing is what a people does to ideas. Bar-
barians murder them. C,ivilized people nurture them. And since
no one has ever claimed that Jews are barbarians, we are not
afraid of the future of civilization in the Jewish land.
Balance of Power
Members of Congress, who expressed their concern over
British arms deliveries to Arab countries, were told by Secre-
tary of State Dean Acheson that there was no cause for alarm
over these shipments.
The British arms, Acheson said, are being sent to maintain
a balance of power and not for aggressive purposes.
Balance of power between whom? Is not Israel hopelessly
outnumbered by the Arab states?
In a sense, Israel may be proud oLAcheson's attitude, for it
proves that the new state has earned respect in the eyes of the
State Department. Our diplomats feel — this is our conclusion
from Acheson's statement — that Israel on one scale and all
the Arab countries on the other scale keep each other's balance.
It is quite a corraliment, although we are afraid, a compliment
that might cause the Israelis more uneasiness than satisfaction.
Or should — perish the thought! — Russia enter the pic-
ture? Do we intend to build up the Arab states as a buffer
against Soviet aggression? We can see them running like hares
at the first onslaught.
No, we better not depend on that imaginary Arab line of
defense which is just as solid as was the Maginot line in 1940.
Washington needs a more realistic orientation in its Middle
Eastern policy — and maybe less prejudice.
A Good Start
Detroit did very well last week at the kick-off dinner of
the Allied Jewish Campaign when more than $1,000,000 was
pledged.
•
We are hopeful that the letup of last year will be overcome
this year and that generosity will govern the decisions of the
donors. It cannot be repeated often enough that too much de-
pends on the outcome of this campaign to permit it become
a flop.
Every Jew ought to consider the Allied Jewish ampaign
his chance to share in the constructive effort of rebui ng Is-
rael and rehabilitating the victims of the war years.
From the charity philosophy of pre-war years to the con-
structive and future-building demands of our time — what a
change!
•
Doing Their 'Level' Best
s%• •:1a•aPass isaoler• r"
-‘s ■ -•
Thursday, April 6, 1950
Einstein Book
Falls Short of
Expectations
By GERI1ARDT NEUMANN
OUT OF MY LATER YEARS
by Albert Einstein (Philosophi-
cal Library, New York).
When Albert Einstein speaks,
the world listens with reverence.
The name of the famed scientist
has long transcended the field of
his immediate studies but is as-
sociated with a number of causes,
such as world government, Zion-
ism, planned economy and many
other good .causes.
This new book is a collection
of Einstein essays, speeches a nd
broadcasts on his convictions,
public affairs, personalities, Jews,
science and religion.
In going over these short
sketches—there are 60 of them—
we 'could not help but be disap-
pointed.
. • •
Scientists will be delighted
with i3 number of clarifying state-
ments on the theory of relativity,
but as far as Einstein the philoso-
pher is concerned we feel he ut-
ters more banalities than his ad-
mirers can stand.
No one will object, of course,
when Einstein complains about
the decay of our world, about in-
justice and intolerance, but when
it conies to the basic question of
what shall be the futue course of
mankind, Einstein has no answer.
The physicist's idealistic ap-
proach to the problems of our
civilization and his ethical stand-
By ALFRED SEGAL
THERE ARE ALWAYS those who say: "Jews shouldn't be sticking ards are the expression of a high-
mindedness which would be the
•L their necks out." Or, "Jews should be careful." Or, "Jews should ideal state of mind of any society.
stick to religion," though most of the people who talk that way don't
Unfortunately, we are so far re-
see the inside of a synagogue from one Yom Kippur to the next.
moved from this loftiness that it
a
I have been
is even useless to make it a basis
Brandeis
must
name of Justice ‘
hearing from
be dedicated to conscientiousness of a serious discussion.
some of these
• • •
in research, to honesty in the
ever since Dr.
Einstein. however, is at his best
exploration
of
truth
'to
its
inner-
Abram Sachar
when he discusses the relation-
most parts' . .
visited our town
ship of science and religion. He
•
•
recently. He is
himself is religious, if in a vague
"THE
UNIVERSITY
is
deeply
the president of
manner, and acknowledges that
rooted
in
the
American
tradition
Brandeis Unirsr-
are spheres which science
of 'fair play. Its trustees despise there
sity at Waltham,
cannot penetrate but which are
all totalitarian forms—the 'isms' the exclusive domain of religion.
Mass., which is
of the extreme left and the ex-
next door to Bos-
"The further the spiritual evo-
Segal
treme right.
ton. Brandeis
lution of mankind advances," he
"They cannot have traffic with says, "the more certain it seems
University is Jewishly sponsored
but is not Jewish in academic Communists and Facists because to me that the path to genuine
content or the content of its facu- such men are compelled to fol- religiosity does not lie through
lty whose members are non-Jews low a party line, and therefore the fear of life . . . and blind
they are not free, and they can- faith, but through striving after
as well as Jews.
Brandeis accepts as student not teach objectively.
rational knowledge. In this sense
"But exactly because this is so, I believe that the priest must be-
whoever is well-qualified by mind
and character, and what differ- the University must stand with come a teacher if he wishes to do
ence does his religion or his race the honorable institutions which justice to his lofty educational
or his national origin make? He have grown very tired of the
may be a Jew, a Catholic, a Pro- tub-thumping of the demagogues. mission."
Einstein takes a strong stand
testant, a Negro and there are no Brandeis will wish to do its on world government as the only
share to keep the atmosphere of way to avoid the dangers of an
quotas.
Despite the objections and fears learning free. It belongs at the atomic war. "Real security," he
of some Jews, Brandeis Univer- side of educators and scientists asserts, "is tied to the deflation-
sity has managed to flourish and public spirited men who will alization of military power." The
beautifully even in its first year. not be tyrannized by bluster and military mind seems to him the
President Sachar told us all whisper."
greatest obstacle to lasting peace.
Dr. Sachar defined some of the
about it when he visited our
Ile warns that time is "terribly
town. Its doors stay wide open current darkness against which short" and that a tremendous ef-
to the worthy of whatever con- Brandeis hopes to stand as a fort by all nations is necessary to
diton Of birth. Twenty-five per bright light in the world: 'The save the human race from des-
cent of the students are on habit has become too deeply es- truction. Will his be a voice in
tablished in some quarters to an- the wilderness?
scholarships. •
• • •
• • •
suer disagreement with vitu-
Einstein's love of the Jewish
BRANDEIS STANDS on a 100- peration, to fight dogma with
acre campus that was formerly stigma, to fasten labels which people is a matter of record. He
the seat of Middlesex University are libels. has never hesitated to raise his
"Disagreement in the field too
of voice in protest against injustice
which closed its doors and sold
or in favor of a constructive ef-
its properties to founders of politics or economics has
Brandeis University. So far often led to the 'loose and irre- fort to rebuild the Jewish land.
"The Zionist movement," he
Brandeis is a school of liberal sponsible bandying about of
terms
like
Fascist
and
Commu-
says,
"has revived among Jews
arts which include a department
of music of which the renowned mist. These terms have become the sense of community." At the
flex action to register same time, however, he warns of
Koussevitzky is consultant. In a kind of reflex
it hopes to have, profession- mere dislike of a person or a "narrow nationalism" and even
al schools of medicine, dentistry, program. The result moves from states that "my awareness of the
nuisance to danger when devo- essential nature of Judaism re-
engineering, etc.
Brandeis doesn't aim to be a tion to the principle of civic con- sists the idea of a Jewish state
big mass-production university trol of atomic energy is identified with borders, an army, and a
in which quantity gets the bet- with Communism; when faith in measure of temporal power."
ter of quality. It wants its pro- the Marshall plan is stigmatized (This was in 1938.)
"We Jews," Einstein says else-
fessors to know every student as Fascism.",
In the dark scene of these where, "should be and remain
by name and to be friends and
times Brandeis University dedi- the carriers and patrons of spirit-
guides.
Maybe from Dr. Sachar's first cated itself to the ideal of Justice ual values."
As a rule, Einstein's remarks
annual report you can get much Brandeis who described a great
more about the spiritual realities university: "It must always be on Jewish affairs seem extreme-
of Brandeis than its vital statis- rich in goals and ideals, seem- ly insignificant and trivial.
The scientist cannot be blamed
tics can give you. Dr. Sachar ingly attainable but beyond im-
for being a dreamer and living in
sounds more like one of the pro- mediate reach."
If all this is not persuasive on an ivory tower. His accomplish-
phets than a university president
the minds of those who object to ments make him one of the out-
reporting to the board.
He spoke of Brandeis' physical a university Jewish sponsored, I standing men of our age. Still,
that
progress, then said: "Brandeis is am happy to give them this this does not erase the fact
his leadership in one field may
a school which will remain free. sporting news: Brandeis hopes not be acceptable in others.
which bears the to have a football team soon.
Brandeis U. Symbol
of Unfettered Learning
An institution