THE JEWI,.:.S - H NEWS

Page. Two

Purely
Commentary

Dr Weiz mann Co 'es %to N Rh l al

Palestine Newsletter Describing‘Visit of FamoUs Scientist and Zionist
Leader to Jewish National Fund Agricultural
Settlement in Palestine
•

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

DENTAL • DISCRIMINATION
The latest scandal in the expanding
field of discrimination involves the den-
tal profession.
A suggestion made by the Council on
Dental Education of the American Den-
tal Association for the setting up of a
"racial quota" has aroused widespread
protests, and once again we learn which
elements stand for justice and which in-
tolerantly favor discriminatory prac-
tices.
It is no wonder that Jewish groups, in-
cluding the Anti-Defamation League and
the Jewish War Veterans, are fighting
the proposal. Nor is there cause for
marveling over the fact that PM is fight-
ing the proposal to establish a "numerus
clausus" in, the dental schools.
By the same token, there is little cause
for surprise that Congressman Rankin
approves of the , "quota" system. Had he
lived in Russia 30 years ago, or in Rom-
ania and Hungary 10 years ago, he would
have been among the proponents of the
. "quota system."
The lines are thus sharply drawn, sim-
ilar to the lineups on all liberal legisla-
• ton or movements for social justice.
*•*
*
THE' IRONY OF IT!
There is an ironic angle • to the new
issue.
Why become excited over the esta=
blishment of a "quota system" in the
dental profession when we • have been
_silent for years over the "unwritten
laws" which have kept Jews from the
medical schools and which have barred
Jewish engineers and chemists from em-
ployment?.
Furthermore, why the excitement when
some dental schools have for years been
silently practicing discrimination against
Jewish studentsl ,
For several years we have been hear-
ing about an "unwritten law" • at the
dental school.of the University of Michi-
gan limiting Jewish attendance to 10 per
cent. It is a drastic cut in Jewish students
which may lead to further quota restric-
tions.
Where have we been until now, and
what should be our procedure in fighting
such measures?

THE BASIC PRINCIPLE
Your Commentator believes in only
one basic principle in such issues: that
if there is to be selection of students—and
selection may become a necessity, in view
of the overcrowding of some schools—the
selections MUST be made on the basis
of MERIT. Otherwise, we abuse our
rights as Americans.
When it became known in limited
quarters that Jewish attendance at
the University of Michigan dental
school was to be cut 0.10 per cent; some
people gloated. _"Splendid," ' said they.
"Why, we are only 3. or 4 . per cent of
the population, and we are.13eing given
special privileges." .
That's not true. If a Japanese-American,
or a Negro, or a Hottentot, is better than
the Jew, let hini'be adrnitted to .practice
in the profession for 'which he • is best
suited.
_
But if Jews.or others are well suited
for teaching,.. or medicine, or clentistpy,-
common d e c:e n c y demands that -1when
their services-are needed they should not
be asked what synagogue or church, they
attend, what their racial or nationality
background::,_is, q1 0. whether their.: grand-
fathers were ;Clean-shaven or wore
beards.
Will this t,ringiple receive,_the unquali-
fied endorsement of all our` readers? We ,
do not expect it. On the contrary, we
know that professional men have dis-
agreed on this point. Such disagreement
is the fl-.. , to true. American prin-
ciples because we are not -united in
fighting for the MERIT of the cause of
academic freedom and too- Many - are pre-
pared to accept .a quota system.—just as
we have ,too readily accepted. the Am-
erican type of "numerus clausus" in the
medical schools. .
We certainly 'are not doing" so Well in
defending basic American, principles in
. -
universities:
* * *
ETERNAL VIGILANCE
Protests bring results!
Dental authoritieS:have -already discov-
ered the protiOsals for the 'establishinent
of quotas in Eastern colleges.
Let us keep .eternally
the renewal of such proposals.
And let's see if we can't bust - the
"numerus clausus" in other professional
schools. ,

By HARRY LEVIN
Among all the settlements of Emek Jezreel a certain distinction lies about
Nahalal, the "Mother of the Moshavirn". The pace of this village is the strong
steady rhythm of the soil. There is no intrusion of the city atmosphere that
you find in - some of the larger Kvutzoth, no factory stacks Or clamor. Nahalal
is not merely a part of the countryside. It is the home of people whose sole
care is the, earth, whose bond with ft will' endure whatever may happen..
That* is one reason for the close tie that binds Dr. Chaim Weizmann to
Nahalal. Another is his personal friendship with some of its settlers. On his
visits to Palestine Nahalal is always the first settlement he calls on.
It was a sunny, early winter's morning when Weizmann paid his tra-
ditional visit to Nahalal, five years since his last visit.
From all over. the Emek representatiVes of the settlements—of Mishpachat
Ha'Adamah, "the' family of the soil"—came to' Nahalal to greet Weizmann.
They received him as Ha'Nassi, "the President" as he is called in the Yishub,
and at the same time as an old friend. As they went around with him a
whirl of excitement went with them. He remembered many of them by
name. But there were also some who saw him for the first time: child
refugees recently arrived from Europe,
It was both a triumphal procession through the village and a conducted
tour of inspection. In the course of it they paid him the highest honor the ,
Jewish people can give today. In the synagogue, where the Hanukah lights
recalled the story of the People and the Land in olden days, the members of
the Synagogue presented him with the certificate of a J.N.F. 'Golden Book
inscription of his name on his 70th birthday.
Only later, in the formal speeches—and of course there were plenty of
them—did they speak of the problems that beset the movement today. And in
his quiet, patient way, Weizmann replied to each of their questions. He told
them smilingly that there were two ideals of his that had never been
fulfilled: that he should be able to see Eretz Israel without speeches; and
that the Jewish people should learn to use the post for sending their contribu-
tions to the building up of Palestine instead of emissaries having to wander
through the world to collect them.
Land and people—these were the keynotes of most of what was said that
day by Weizmann as well as by the other speakers. Some spoke of what
had been achieved; others of what cried out to be done. One of the speakers
announced that the existing settlements had decided to absorb 12,000 more
children from Europe. Another spoke of the Lowdermilk scheme and similar,
schemes which Palestine engineers have been working on for some years.
But in most of the issues raised, the old principle enunciated now once more
by Weizmann stood out again, and again as the base on which all else
rested: "The foundation of foundations is land. Only when you have land can
you build'it up."

';`;

Friday, February 16,1945

Elea r . d, in
The Lobbies

By ARNOLD LEVIN

.

(Copyright, 1945 Independent Jewish
Press Service. Inc.)

WASHINGTON NOTE
The "big three"' are not_ unlike smaller
fry, each blaming the other to. ,escape
embarrassment. Palestine, on the eve of
the "Big Three" meeting, was a case in
point • Harold Hoskins, proposed as
U. S. Minister to the Middle East, has
been scurrying between Washington and
the Middle East for quite a few - years
and is doing more against Zionism than
a horde of Abduls and Ibns could ever
do. He would out-Moyne Britain's. Lord
Moyne, who is no particular friend of
the Jewish cause, Churchill's statements
to the contrary. Hoskins to say, the
least, a choice fit for British Colonial Of:
fice tories and for Standard Oil, but not
for the people of the U. S.
Bill' O'Dwyer (General, to you), new
chief of the War. Refugee Board, has to
his credit some heated battles, in the
past, to oust hateists from the ranks of
the Catholic Church. Himself a prorxii-
.nent Catholic, O'Dwyer, several years
ago, When. he was a candidate for the
IC.ing's County judgeship, spoke up to a
notorious hate cleric in Brooklyn and
told him to read the POPe's encyeles
more studiously.
a * *
JEWISH ORGANIZATIONAL
• Herbert 'C. Pell did not address the
Federation of Polish Jews. All. he
was send a message. - The Federation
knew this, we are told, yet they advertis-
ed him as a speaker. That is reprehensi-
ble procedure. organizations should. cease
advertising speakers they do not expect.
Attorney-author Louis Nizer, of "What
to Do With Germany" fame, heads Stet-
tinius' list of candidates for Pell's labsi-
tion on the War Crimes Commission.
Names floating in the air in this, connec-
tion include William B. Ziff, author of
a,
"The Gentlemen Talk of Peace" and
other -works.
By
PHINEAS
J.
BIRON
By BORIS SMOLAR
The Yiddish press carries full 'page ads
(Copyright; 1945, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate)
(Copyright, 1945, Jewish Telegraphic
these days, asking people to contribute to
Agency, Inc.)
a fund for political prisoners in Pales-
MESSAGE
WASHINGTON TRENDS
A rather tactless broadcast coming tine and the deportees in Sudan: • The
I think that I have cheerful news for from the Vatican radio was picked up by men behind the ads to raise the fund
are known Peter H. Bergson associates
Zionist leaders in this . country and in one of our operators on Jan. 25 ... Re- and the style of these ads- is not. unlike
viewing the ancient history of the Jewish
Palestine who are worried over the pos- people and their sufferings through' the those, which appeared not so long ago,
sible. appointment by the State Depart- ages, the Vatican speaker said: "Real under the auspices of the Emergency
ment of Col. Harold Hoskins, the influ- Jews are actually those who become Committee to Save the Jews of Europe.
* * *,
ential pro-Arab and anti-Zionist, to the -Christians . . By entering the Catholic
church the Jews will find themselves TOKYO YIDDISH
post of Director of American Economic among their fathers, and their own sis- . Tokyo Rose, the Jap short-wave prop-
Operations in the Middle East . . . I, do ter, the Virgin Mother, will welcome agandist, has added Yiddish folksongs to
not believe that Col. Hoskins will be ap- them . . . Our message to the Jews is: her repertoire. It makes the Jewish
pointed to this very importarit position, "Enter the Catholic church and you will- heroes. in the Pacific boil to hear Mama's
although until a few days ago there was have the unity of all men!" ......What a songs broadcast by a Jap thrush:
* * *
a strong possibility that he might be message to send to the Jewish victims of
chosen as successor to James M. Landis, Hitlerism!
PALESTINE
SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA
* *
an intimate friend of the late Justice
From the American Fund for Pales-
Brandeis, who resigned . . . also hear LISTEN HERE
tinian Institution_s we learn the follow..
Elmer Roper, the public relations ex- ing about one of its beneficia7ries, the
that Edmund Kaufman, former president
of the Zionist Organization of America, pert, believes that the revived Ku Klux Palestine Symphony Orchestra: The first
is being considered by the State Depart- Klan will concentrate its attacks against time the Lebanese national anthem was
ment for a Position in Washington which labor . . . Roper may be right—but he played by a symphony orchestra was
has something to 'do with American eco- forgets that the weapons the Klan will when the PSO gave a series of concerts
nomic interest in' the Middle East . . . use are anti-Semitism and anti-Negroism in Beirut. The Anthem was especially
The name of the persdn who will. be .. . We are reliably informed that there orchestrated by Marc Levy, Palestinian
sent by the U. S..Government to Cairo as is a working agreement between the composer . . • The PSO seeks to bring
Soviet. soloists and conductors to Pales-
head of the American Economic Opera- KKK and the Christian Front.
Orchids to New York State Senator tine for concert tours ... Princess Amina
tions in the Middle East cannot yet be
Lazarus Jciseph for proposing the estab-
of the Egyptian Royal :House,
disclosed . . . He will have tremendous lishment of two state-financed medical Toussoun,
. influence on the attitude which the U. S. college's as a 'means of overcoming the has accepted chairmanship of the Friends
in Carip.
vrillytake with regard to the future status quota system against Jewish students. of the Palestine Orchestra,
* * *
of PaleStine . No wonder that Zionist
leaders were nervous when Col. Hoskin . . The proposition will, however, be STORY OF' A . SEFER TORAH
A wealthy Sudeten. German . Jew
Was being considered for the key position rejected.
* *
transported
all his zurnishings to Canada
.
It
is
well
known
that
Col.
Hoskins,
•
• • '
in 1939, on the eve of the war. The fur-
who was raised in Syria; is greatly res- JEWISH -AFFAIRS.
Oliver Lyttlelton, British Minister of nishingS arrived, he was to follow but did
ponsible for much of the anti-Zionist
sentiment' spread recently in influential State, concedes French' authority over not—the -'war beat him to the ship ,; .
circles in Washington . . Returning Syria and Lebanon as a quid pro quo His furnishings haVe been auctioned . off,
except fbr a small Holy Scroll; which a
from a special mission In -Sandi - Arabia, for' full JurisdiCtiVir - over
Jewish young man bought for $25 . .
he submitted a report which was consid- tine.
ered by many persons to be' a piece .Of ' 'Interesting statisties:: :85 Or . Cent of the Now many .Wealthy' Orthodox - Jews in
Pro-Arab and anti-Zionist propaganda pupils of the Herzliah Hebrew Academy, Montreal have • offered 10 times the
The damage done by this report to - which, gives a high school and college amount the young man has paid; but' he
.
HebreVi: -language; 'literature won't sell. He has placed it- with a 'syna-
Zionist efforts in Washington was con- - course
siderable; in fact greater than many a and culture, are American-born.. . . gogue until such time as the original
owner may claim it.
Years._
3 .
They range in age from 12• to r'23
Zionist suspects.
* * *
A council of representatives of na-
* *
ORTHODOXY
tional , ,,Jewish.,- : organizations has: been
HERE AND THERE '
Zionist veteran publicist Arnold_ K.
established to raise $35,000 for adult
From Milwaukee, we hear that the Hebrew. education,...-. .. Not so long ago. Israeli, writing in "The Day," -estimates
board of a certain sChool 'district in Wis- the budget of the . Histadruth Ivrith, that $50,000;000 is spent annually by
consin asked prospective. teachers wheth- which. carries on : . these activities, was Orthodox Jewry in America for the:Main-
tenance of synagogues, centers and staff.
er- they were "Semitic", inforMing 'the $25,000 per year. .
Some 2,000 Orthodox rabbis, an: equal
applicants outright that it would not hire READER'S ..GVIDE
.
number of cantors' and 3,000 sextons are
teachers who were Jewish . . . WiS-
;
Don't miss Dr. Joseph Goricar's article
consin statute forbids even the asking "The Jewish Problein and the Slays," employed full or part-time by' Orthodox
of such questions . . . The school board published in the current issue of The institutions, he states.
was forced' disavow discrimination Slavonic . •Dr. Gwic.ar is a
after the matter. wasbrilught :, to the att. 'distinguished' cliPlOniat and 'economist. about the period when the Zionist lead-
. per authorities.
tention of the pr O
One of the best articles on Romain ership snubbed, his :advice.
Pierre van - Paassen's "DayS of::Our
From Minneapolis .we hear: that • Uni- Rolland's 'death appeared- iri •th&•Februf
versity of Minnebt a Daily, largest col- ary issue of Youth and Nation, published Years" haS just 40i3. published in' He-;
lege paper in the world, expressed regret by Hashomer Hatzair . It is written breW, by the NetiMan PresS of Wi
Maurice Schwartz is now fully re-
over the fadt that in two of its issues by Yosef Wilfand.
Prof. A. S. Yehuda, the famous scholar, covered, and planning, ,a Jewish theatrica
an advertisement was published under
"Rooms for Rent" which specified "to is preparing a volume on Max Nordau, seaion, English, on 'Broadway; tot the
and -promises 'to • tell the whole truth
Christians onlyt3 •••
•

Between
You and Me

Strictly
Confidential

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