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D ETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
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Detroit Jewish Chronicle
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Crime and Punishment
A Voice in the Wilderness
In a long letter to the N. Y. Times, Lessing J. Rosen-
wald last week complained bitterly of Israelis and Zion-
ists who "interfere in the domestic affairs of the United
States or the lives of American Jews."
"The policy Mr. Ben Gurion laid down for American
Zionism," he writes, "encourages Zionists to intensify
their efforts to organize American Jews as a separate
political pressure bloc in the United States. This program
is designed to transform American Jews into a spiritual
and cultural dependency of a foreign state."
Rosenwald is especially enraged over Ben Gurion's
"demand" for Halutzim from America. "Any such cam-
paign," Rosenwald states, "to stimulate the migration of
young Americans of Jewish faith to Israel would end. if
successful, by depriving us of our most precious re-
source — our youth. Israel's population policies are its
own concern — not the concern of American Jews."
Rosenwald is head of the American Council for Juda-
ism, which explains his distorted viewpoints. The Coun-
cil is an agency which would like to turn back the pages
of history to the good old times of charity Judaism, with
no responsibilities and planning for the future. It is
just as useless to argue with the Council as it is useless
to argue with Gerald K. Smith or similar figures out of
the pages of yesterday's life.
For the record, however, we wish to state that the
enthusiasm for Israel and Zionist ideals is in no way con-
nected with an American Jew's loyalty toward America.
Furthermore, in his recent speech at the eve of his de-
parture, Ben Gurion made it clear that he did not expect
any "mass Halutziut" from the United States. He only
hoped that as many college gradual 3 as possible would
conic to Israel to finish their studies and, at the same
time, give the country the benefit of their know-how.
We are satisfied that the majority of American Jews
have long understood their cultural and religious ties
with Israel. There is no reason to suppress their heritage
in order to foster an American super-nationalism which
can be taken seriously by no one except a few people
who have not yet understood the signs of the times.
Rosenwald, by the way, also believes that American
Jews al e under no moral obligation to buy Israeli bonds.
"It is wrong to suggest," he says, "to any citizen of the
United States that because he is of Jewish faith he has a
unique duty to buy Israel's bonds or contribute to its
capital." It is a voice in the wilderness — and not a
prophetic one.
'Quiet Street'
Tells Agony of
a State's Birth
QUIET STREET, by Zelda
Popkin (J. B. Lippincott Co.,
Philadelphia and New York, 3882
pp. $3.50).
Sivan 11, 5711
The seven Nazi war criminals who were hanged last
week, were convicted of their crimes nearly five years
ago. They should have been long forgotten by now. •
But they decided tg.fight it out. They appealed to every
possible court and federal or military authority in Ger-
many and in the United States to have their sentence
revoked or, at least, reduced.
Even until the last hour of their lifetime it looked
for a mornent as if the U. S. Supreme Court might again
stay .the execution. However, it finally decided to deny
the application of the Nazis' lawyer.
Death meted out by human beings — even though
they are acting under the authority of the law — is a
grim business. Most students of law and law enforce-
ment agree that the death penalty is an unsatisfactory
method of avenging blood, It is also an uncivilized
method.
But in the case of the Nazi butchers we feel that
death Was the only possible answer to their crimes. The
seven men — who were hanged in the same prison in
which Hitler wrote his book, "Mein Kampf" — were con-
victed of ordering the death of more than 200,000 Jews,
a death which was administered under the most cruel
and inhumane conditions, not to mention that they had
no right to "eliminate" human beings because of their
race or religion.
The atrocities of the concentration camps, of the
Warsaw ghetto and many other places of martyrdom
came to life again in the trials against these degenerated
men, and their only defense was that they were under
orders from higher quarters. The international tribunal
at Nuernberg decided that this was no excuse for atroc-
ities, and we hope that this decision will become inter-
national law for all future time.
What is so amazing is the shamelessness of these
Nazis who had no qualms whatsoever in putting thou-
sands of Jews to death and even enjoying their suffer-
ings, but who consider it the height of injustice when
they are called upon to pay for their barbaric acts.
We feel no satisfaction over their execution. Their
death will not revive the victims of Nazi hatred nor can
it indemnify the Jewish people for the disaster it has
suffered.
We do hope, however, that the end of these war
criminals will be a warning to future would-be dictators
and that mankind will hang its head in shame over the
degradation of civilization by the Nazis.
Friday, June 15, 1951
By HAROLD S. COHEN
SEYMOUR TILCHIN
Publisher
GERHARDT NEUMANN
Editor
Friday, June 15, 1951
Periodical Ceh
mom .
Gen. George C. Marshall, secretary of defense (right), last week
indorsed Bnai Brith's new service program for the armed forces
and disabled veterans. He is seen here with Col. Elliott A. Niles
of Boston (left), national chairman, and A. B. Kapplin of Wash-
ington (standing), national director of the service committee.
Give Youth a Chance
to Cement Israeli Ties!
This book, with an ironic title,
is clearly the work of an ex-
perienced and well - balanced
writer. Zelda Popkin has been
writing since she was seven and
the results are apparent. "Quiet
Street" reads more smoothly
than anything we have seen in a
long time. It is a pleasure to
scan over her sentences, simple,
direct, clear.
The book deals with life in
Jerusalem, on one street in par-
ticular, from February, 1948, to
about the end of the historic
summer.
Specifically it looks into the
IIirsch family, Edith and Dr.
Jacob and their son, Teddy, and
daughter, Dinah.
Helen Hirsch, the main char-
acter, is of a fine old Zionist
family of Boston, who immedi-
ately after marrying J a c o b
moved to Jerusalem.
Her husband is an obstetri-
cian who was born in Russia
and educated in the United
States.
With a knowing insight into
character and a personal knowl-
edge of events, Zelda Popkin ex-
plores the reactions and for-
tunes of the Hirsch family (the
girl is 18 and the boy 10) and
their neighbors, through the
fight with the British, war with
the Arabs, the siege of Jerusa-
lem and the uneasy truces be-
tween hostilities.
With a wealth of intimate de-
tail, the plain people of Jeru-
salem, going about their busi-
ness under a hail of lead and
debris, doing without food, wa-
ter and every amenity of life,
By GERHARDT NEUMANN
Prime Minister David Ben Gurion had a* few important things
to say before he ended his visit to the United States. Among the
many interesting (and highly controversial) remarks he made, there
was one which struck us as most vital to Israel's development. We
refer to his hope that American Jewish college students might come
to the Jewish state and finish their studies at the Hebrew University.
Ben Gurion acknowledged that Halutziut, as it was known and
necessary in Europe, cannot be expected from America, "since the
need which brings about such mass migration does not exist in the
United States."
However, Ben Gurion ',loped that American Jews may supply
Israel with the technical know-how so badly needed there, and
he expressed the idea U at Jewish college students or graduates
may spend a few years In Israel, which would not only benefit
the Jewish state but cement Israel's relationships with Ameri-
can Jewry.
Ben Gurion's suggestion is excellent and should be followed begin to assume the proportion
up. The acquaintance with Israel does not come out of books but out of heroes.
of living and working together. Most American Jews know so little
Dinah Hirsch, the daughter,
about Israel because they have no personal ties with the Jewish is a thorough-going sabra who
state and little opportunity to acquire them.
has abandoned the comforts of
However, it costs money to go to Israel, and very few students her parents' wealthy home and
or recent graduates have it. Either through the government of Israel joined a new kibbutz in the Ne-
or through the Zionist Organization of America (possibly in co- gev.
operation with other groups) such a movement has to be organized.
With a handful of comrades
First of all, students should be given special low transporta-
she joins in repelling an Egyp-
tion rates, be it by plane or ship, because the fare is the biggest
tian tank-led attack, equipped
item in a trip to Israel.
only with home-made Molotov
Secondly, all housing preparations must be made so that the
cocktails and a few guns.
student will have a roof over his head the moment he enters
Meanwhile the members of
Israel.
her
family risk their lives each
Thirdly, a job must await the traveler. We suppose it is
time they step into the street.
mainly engineers, chemists and similar professions that Israel
From the Old City of Jerusalem
is interested in. It should not be difficult to place these young
the Arab Legion pours down a
professionals in the cities or the settlements, where they can
rain of death day and night.
familiarize themselves with Israeli life and, at the same time,
One by one each family on
instruct others in new methods in their respective fields.
the street suffers the loss of
Undoubtedly, there are many thousands of Jewish students who one or more members. How
would welcome an opportunity to complete their studies in Israel or each faces its own personal grief
transmit their knowledge to, or exchange it with, their Israeli col- and how the news is received
leagues. Most of them are hampered by financial difficulties. We see by the other families makes for
no reason why it should be impossible to overcome them.
the most compelling reading.
Of course, we would also like to see Israeli students in our midst.
The author by no means
Not enough of them are coming to the United States. We believe shows unalloyed virtues among
that the American Jewish community could make similar arrange- the Israelis. In one of the most
ments for them as for Americans going to Israel.
moving chapters, she tells of the
There is a definite need for such an exchange. Its advantages arrest and hasty execution of a
are too obvious to enumerate. We hope that this suggestion will Jew by his compatriots on the
cause a few energetic people to put their heads together and work completely false charge of spy-
out a system which, in the long run, may revolutionize the pattern ing. She also is at pains to give
of relationships between Israeli and American Jews.
a balanced picture of both the
Arabs and the British.
If there is the slightest flaw
in the novel, it is that it is al-
most too smoothly done. One
en to all ventures that tend to comes to miss the rough edges
By ERNEST ASCIINER
Economic Department, Jewish earn foreign exchange through of the beginner's work or of the
''invisible exports," such as ship- writer with a cruder and more
Agency for Palestine
powerful style. Her characters
The tour of Prime Minister ping, aviation and tourism,
Vigorous efforts in this direc- are a little too contrived to be
David Ben Gurion and other cab-
inet ministers through the United tion are being made both by the entirely believable.
States brought Israel's economic government and by private in-
But this is a minor matter in
problems closer to the American vestors. El Al, the Israel National the overall book. One thinks
public than at any time since the Airlines is enlarging its fleet and again of that eventful moment
establishment of the state three adding to the number of sched- when a battered but unbroken
uled flights and foreign ports of group of average dwellers in the
years ago.
Holy City gather before a bat-
The main problem facing Israel call.
In the field of shipping, Israel's tery-powered radio to hear the
is the fact that the country must
continue to import at the approx- merchant marine, which started future prime minister, David
imate annual rate of $300,000,000 out in 1948 with five obsolete Ben Gurion, read the declara-
while exports continue at a rate steamers totaling 21,000 tons, has tion of independence of the new
of only about $40,000,000 per grown to 20 vessels with an ag- state of Israel.
At that moment each one an-
gregate deadweight of 117,000
year.
swers the question which has
The resulting gap must be cov- tons.
Similarly, promising opportun- tormented them from the start
ered through loans, gifts, and
transfer of private capital. To the ities exist in he field of tourism of hostilities, "I have given my
extent that new export indus- through the establishment of ad- son or daughter to make this
tries are developed with the help ditional hotel facilities in Israel. state, was it worth it?"
And somehow the reader must
of foreign investments and loans, The number of tourists who
the need for gift and loan dollars visited Israel last year totaled agree with the author that, cost
ip future years will be decreased. 30,000, a 50 per cent increase over what it may, the state of Israel
was worth it.
Equal importance must be giv- 1949.
Israel Seeks to Earn Dollars