American Awls!' Periodical of

Friday, March 23, 1951

Page 4

International
Scientists Kill
Myth of Race

Detroit Jewish Chronicle

Published Weekly by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
WOodward 1-1040
900 Lawyers' Building, 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

By GERHARDT NEUMANN

STATEMENT ON RACE by
Ashley Montagu (Henry Schu-
man, New York, 172 pp., $2).

SEYMOUR TILCIIIN
Publisher
GERHARDT NEUMANN
NORMAN KOLIN
Editor
Ady,ertising Manager
II Adar 15, 5711
Friday, March 23, 1951

On July 18, 1950, UNESCO
(United Nations Educational, Sci-
entific and Cultural Organization)
issued a statement on the ques-
tion of race, which was authored
by the most outstanding interna-
tional authorities in this field.
The statement refuted the racist
Israel's request for a grant in aid of $150,000,000 from
theory and declared that the in-
the United States should be considered by all Jews—
dividual must be judged on its
whether active Zionists or interested observers—as a
own merits, not on its connections
danger sign. It should stimulate some serious discussion
with any group.
about the economic structure of the Jewish state.
Prof. Montagu, anthropologist
It seems that through consistently tainted reports
of Rutgers University, discusses
from and about Israel, American Jewry has been led to
the 21 paragraphs of the
UNESCO statement in popular
believe that the Jewish state is being built on a sound
language, and it is to be hoped
economic basis and that all that is needed is a little aid
that such a well documented
from outside sources to help Israel overcome the child-
book as this will make an end to
hood diseases which are the natural concomitants of the
the silly notions which have con-
period of growth.
fused the minds of so many peo-
ple, and on the strength of which
We cannot agree with those who prefer to see Israel's
millions of innocent people were
economic structure in rosy colors. As Zionists and as
sent to their deaths.
responsible Jews who feel that we have a stake in the
The racist theory of modern
existence of the Jewish state we consider it our duty to
origin had' its beginnings in the
warn against setting up a propaganda picture of Israel
19th century. From Gobineau,
which is not in accordance with the actual facts.
Chamberlain and Nietzsche to
Israel now suffers from a terrific inflation. The
Hitler and Rosenberg there leads
a straight line to the gas cham-
pound, which is officially worth $2.80 is selling for 80
bers of Auschwitz.
cents on the European exchanges. Prices in Israel are
There is a Jewish people, no
spiraling. Everything that is not rationed and price-
coun-
doubt, united by a common heri-
controlled is going up. As in all inflation-stricken
tage, history and belief. But there
tries, Israelis are unable to keep up with the inflation, and
is no Jewish race. Although this
the black markets are booming.
statement is no more than a com-
•
•
There are two main causes for this situation. One is
monplace, the events of the past
•
20 years make it necessary to
the unrestricted immigration, the other is the "colonial"
"prove" it scientifically. The Jew-
economy of the Jewish state.
ish religion, as the Nazis would
By
GERHARDT
NEUMANN
It is generally agreed that Israel had no other course
have it, is no identification mark
ARE
THEY
who
bless
Israel,"
wrote
Mordecai
LESSED
but allow Jews from Europe and the Arab countries to
of a Jewish race, since there area
Manuel Noah in 1837. Although he tried hard to bless for instance, Mongoloid Chinese,
enter, regardless of the economic consequences. Help
oi
Israel, he received little blessing from either his contempor- or Abyssinian and American
was necessary, and World Jewry had done what it could
Negroids who are Jews.
aries or his biographers.
—and will continue to do so—in order to enable Israel to
Some Jews possess that peal-
The great pioneer of the idea go there. The only solution, the
absorb the newcomers.
proclamation
said,
was
to
found
a
liar quality of "looking Jewish:*
of a Jewish state, long before
mass
Immigration
into
a
small
and
Herzl, was generally considered a Jewish state in America. This but the same type may be found
Nevertheless, the
undeveloped'country such as Israel has thrown the econo-
crackpot or a dreamer. Not un- Jewish state was to be called, among Italians, Greeks, Turks,
Berbers and other people. Mod-
like Herzl, he died 100 years ago symbolically, Ararat.
my out of gear. Israel is unable to produce what is needed
The invitation to Ararat was ern Israel is a living proof of the
—on March 22, 1851—highly es-
by its enlarged population and cannot afford to satisfy
teemed as a playwright but with- widely publicized in Europe. racial blend of the Jewish people.
demands through imports.
out realizing his life-long aspira- Without waiting for the response, Jews of all origins may be found
The situation is worsened by the fact that Israel's
tions to save the Jewish people. the cornerstone for the Jewish there—and who cares? Their
economic structure is out of tune with modern develop-
Dubnow considered his plans as city was laid on September 15, purpose is not to perpetuate a
ment. When Israel was settled by Zionist pioneers, they
fantastic and said that Noah did 1825. Noah, who called himself "pure" Jewish race but to restore
brought with them, not only their idealism and their faith
not see the development under his "by the grace of Gpd governor the spiritual and cultural unity
their
narrow
partisan
out-
eyes of a Jewish center in Amer- and judge of Israel," delivered a which the Jewish people have
but
also
in the Jewish state,
ica, but indulged . in wishful long speech about the rebirth of been missing for so long.
looks. From the outset, the cities were set against the
the Jewish nation, and the corner-
The scientists who agreed on
thinking.
settlements, middle class against working class, religious
Noah, the son of Manuel Noah, stone is still to be seen in the the statement, came to the con-
groups against "atheists," and so on. ,
clusion that "differences between
one of George Washington's three city museum of Buffalo.
There is no economic cooperation in Israel. In fact,
Jewish aides-de-camp, became in-
Despite persecutions and anx- different groups of mankind are
is
turbulence. Partly, it
terested in the problems of a na- ieties, the Jewish people did not due ,„to evolutionary factors."
its economy is in a frightful
Recognizing that national, re-
government-controlled, partly it is union-controlled, and
tional home for the Jews when he come to Ararat. It was the time
partly it is free enterprise. There are several types of served as American consul in of the emancipation in Europe, ligious, geographic, linguistic and
Tunis in 1813. He became a vic- and expectations ran high that cultural groups do not necessarily
rural economy, and economic monopoly by one or the
tim of religious prejudice when Jews would soon be full citizens coincide with racial groups, the
other group is threatening to choke the whole country.
his dealings with pirates in the of their countries, with equal committee suggested that it
Other factors also enter the picture. Israel's indus-
Mediterranean were denounced by rights and equal responsibilities. "would be better when speaking
tril output is low because the efficiency of the workers
the British as "violation of a Under these circumstances, the of human races to drop the term
is far below that of other industrial countries. The Israeli
treaty governing the relations of doubtful invitation to Ararat 'race' altogether and speak of
worker earns approximately as much as an American a Christian power to Tunisia." could hardly offset the expecta- ethnic groups."
One important paragraph states
Promptly he was recalled by tions affixed to the emancipatory
worker, but he produces far less. The fact is well known
that no group is endowed with
Monroe, then foreign minister, movement.
in Israel, but it seems that nothing much can be done
who wrote in a letter to Noah
Noah's disappointment w a s special qualities. In fact, tests
about it as long as labor refuses to cooperate.
"that we could not know that your great. For several years he waited have proved "essential similarity
result
of
the
lack
a
The low rate of efficiency is also
religion would prevent you from
for immigrants to in mental characters among all
of modern machinery. Since the Jewish state is in no following the orders of your gov- impatiently
Ararat and then retired from pub- human groups." Cultural differ-
position to buy machinery from American or other coun-
ences, therefore, do not stem from
ernment."
lic life.
genetic differences, the scientists
tries, the logical thing would be to encourage the influx
Noah realized the tragic situa-
• • •
say. Existing differences must be
tion of the Jew. The idea that
of foreign capital. Despite a pumber of invitations by the
IN THE SECLUSION, however, ascribed to environmental fac-
there was no equality even in
government, it cannot be denied that Israel's bureaucracy
America haunted him, and he he continued dreaming. He saw tors.
is actively and thoughtlessly sabotaging the program.
The statement also emphasizes
came to the conclusion that the that the Ararat idea had failed
Importers find it 'increasingly difficult tg overcome all the
Jewish people must establish a and returned to his first concep- that race mixture has been one of
red tape, and investors do not receive the encouragement
state of its own in its ancient tion of a Jewish state in Israel. the chief processes in human his-
which is needed to set up profitable enterprises.
homeland. The Jews, he thought, In 1837, he renewed his efforts tory and adds that there is "no
Undoubtedly, Israel's economy needs a thorough
had a great mission to fulfill in in this direction. He believed that biological justification for prohib-
it would be possible to enlist the iting intermarriage between per-
Asia, "since the day is not far
overhauling and rebuilding from top to bt4iom. The
help of Britain and France and
parties will have to understand that their disputes are off when we shall see the rebirth that all that was necessary was sons of different ethnic groups."
of
Eretz
Israel
on
the
basis
of
(Nuernberg laws!)
the roots of the country's economic condition. This is no
"The biological differences be-
freedom and progress, and the to "raise the banner of Judah on
time for ideological warfare. This is the time for sensible
tween ethnic groups," the state-
reconstitution of the government Mount Zion."
A clarification of his ideas about ment says, "should be disregard-
cooperation in order to lift Israel from the charity level of justice and honor."
a return to Zion became apparent ed from the standpoint of social
• • •
to that of an independent state.
ALTHOUGH HE was convinced in two speeches delivered in 1844. acceptance and social action. The
that a return to Israel was a In both talks Noah discussed the unity of mankind ... is the main
matter of political determination, necessity of a Jewish state in thing."
This book should become re-
he failed to indicate how this could Israel. These "Discourses on the
The week of March 23-30 has been proclaimed as
be done practicably. In fact, a Restoration of the Jews" must quired reading in all schools.
Jewish Youth Week to "focus attention on the role and
few years later he changed his still be considered as some of the
THE HEBREW VERSION
mind and began to advocate the best Zionist literature before
achievements of Jewish youth in the community."
Herzl.
TEL AVIV—(ISI)—A Hebrew
Jewish youth is beginning to participate in the life setting up of a Jewish republic Noah prophetically foresaw the version
of the play, "Death of a
and activities of the Jewish community. Is should be en- in, In America.
1825, he issued a proclama- historical development. He pre- Salesman," was presented by the
couraged by all means to become even more active. Our tion to the Jews of the world, in dicted that Britain would play an Habimah Theater.
young people still are not completely sold on the idea
which he proposed the establish- important role in the establish-
that the survival of Judaism will be their responsibility.
ment of a Jewish republic on ment of a Jewish homeland be- often considered as one of the
Grand Island in the Niagara cause he saw Palestine as a bridge- early territorialists. But the Ara-
A lot of spade work will have to be done to give
way between Britain and India.
Jewish youth leadership and faith in the cause. We River. He emphasized that Israel Noah was a typical product of rat espisode, although the most
was the real source of our na-
spectacular and dramatic act in
like to see our youth groups overcome the shallow-
tional strength, but that political enlightenment and romanticism, a , his life, was only an interlude.
would
ness of their existence and devel op a vigorous intellectual
conditions made it impossible to visionary, not a statesman. He is

Israel's Economy Totters

Mordecai Noah: Seer
and ,Pioneer of Zionism

it B

,

Jewish Youth Week

poseful outlook.
life, realistic thinking and a pur

1