THE JEWISH NEWS

fog.• Tw.

Agency, Vaad Leumi Deny Authority
Of Alleged Prisoner Welfare Fund

Cables from the Jewish Agency
and Vaad Leumi in Palestine
have been received by the United
Zionist Council of Canada. giving
categoric denials to the authority
of Max Seligman, Palestinian
who recently visited Palestine on
behalf of the Assirai Zion Fund.
The fund, Seligman is reported
to have told Canadians, was
established for the purpose of
providing relief and assistance to
Jewish detainees in prison camps
in the Middle East and for their
families in Palestine.
He stated that his journey was
authorized by the Chief Rabbin-
ate of Palestine and the Mayor
of Tel Aviv, both of whom deny

any such authority.
Rabbi Jesse Schwartz, execu-
tive director of the Zionist Organ-
ization of Canada, reports receipt
of a cable from the Vaad Leumi,
reading as follows:
"Assirai Zion is unauthorized
by the Chief Rabbinate. Vaad
Leumi is spending a large budget
for the welfare of all prisoners,

Assirai Zion Fund, and that that
fund had the support of the Chief
of. Rabbinate and Mayor Rokach,"
Dr. Seligman said.

Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Definition of the Term Jew

Moshe Shertok's interesting reply to the question "What is a
Jew?", addressed to him by Netherlands' UN delegate N. S. Blom,
has aroused considerable discussion. Mr. Shertok said that a Jew is
a person who practices the Jewish religion or at least has not been
converted from his Jewish heritage to another faith. He also pointed
out that while converts to the Jewish fold are accepted, those apply-
ing for admission to the Jewish faith are warned against it.
Mr. Shertok followed traditional lines in his interpretation. An
old saying—"Israel of al pi shehatah Israel hu"—"a Jew, even if he
has sinned. is nevertheless a Jew"—explains his answer to the first
question. On the score of conversions, it is an established principle

that applicants who desire to embrace Judaism are told in advance
of the hardships involved in being a Jew.
Our London contemporary, "New Life," recently related an
interesting story in answer to the question "What is a Jew.'' The
story:
Chaim and Yankel were engaged in an argument on the
subject, "What is a Jew." Unable to come to an agreement, they
approached Reb :YogSel. "Tell me, Reb Yossel, what is a Yid?"
asked Chaim.
"Every morning,"said Reb Yossel, "a Yid must put on his
tefillin."
"But Yitzchok Shlumper," replied Yanket "doesn't put on
tefillin, and he is still a Yid."
If a Yid sins by not putting on his tefillin—then he must at
least attend Shoot every Sabbath," said Reb Yossel.
"But," persisted Chaim, "Lazar Schmerel neither puts on
tefillin nor does he attend Shool on Sabbath—and is he not a
Yid?"
The Rebbe pondered for a moment.
"If a Yid sins by not putting on tefillin, and if he adds to that
the sin of not attending Shool on Sabbath—then he must at least
eat Kosher food."
Chaim and Yankel were silent. Finally Chaim broke silence.
"I don't want to slander a fellow-Jew," he said, "but I know
someone—a real trifener bein—he does not put on tefillin, he
never comes to Shoo!, and—and—what does care about kashres?"
"Very well," said the Rebbe finally, "he must not commit the
greatest sin of all. He must fast on Yom Kippur."
"But, Rebbe," they persisted, "if he commits the sins of not
putting on tefillin, not going to Shool, not eating kosher, and not
fasting on Yom Kippur—can he still be a Yid? That is the
question."
"Listen, my sons, don't ask foolish questions. If he commits
all these sins how can he help being a Yid . . .for a 'Goy' they
wouldn't be sins."
This is so typical of Jewish folklore, delineating the tolerance of
our rabbis who are always ready to find good even in sinners, that
it deserves a place side by side with a discussion of Mr. Shertok's
classic reply to the UNSCOP.
Testimony before UNSCOP presented by Rabbi J. L. Fishman :
Chief Rabbi Herzog and other leaders, dealing with recognition of
the status of Jews who intermarry or have left the fold adds interest
to this discussion, and the record, as reported this week, is one of
the most interesting on the entire subject.
•
•
•

Thus Only' (?)--Resistance--Yarmelkes

"Rak Kach" was the legend splashed on posters displayed by the
Irgun in halls during the sessions of the convention of the Zionist
Organization of America. A gun-toting warrior splashed across the
map of Palestine was the symbol of this "Thus Only" appeal by the
extremists.
During the display of these posters, youngsters were collecting
funds for the Irgun. Some of them wore yarmelkes, and in their
appeal for their Palestine resistance movement, one of the boys, spot-
ting a man with a Jewish National Fund box, shouted, "He's collect-
ing for a Nazi fund."
That's how we are being split asunder at a time when unity of
action is so urgent. We are split in the process of activiating our
movements and ideologically.
Naturally, it is impossible to go along with people who say "only
thus"—meaning the gun. It undoubtedly is unwise to say "only thus"
while we plant trees, redeem the soil and establish colonies, because
resistance is so necessary as long as a great imperial power betrays
its trust. But to say "only thus" in a gun-toting game is suicide.
Meanwhile the yarmelke lends courage to the deluded boys, and
Young Israel sees fit, without listening to much reasoning, to endorse
the Irgun.
If this were not a passing phase in a long history, it might be-
come something to be seriously worried about.
•
•
*

'Ex - Presidents Have a Way

UNSCOP Reported Studying
Herzog Replies New Cantonization Plans
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — The ed cooperation of the three rel.*
To Queries on nature
of political thinking tak- ions in the cultural and religious
ing shape among members of the development of the country.
Christianity
United Nations Special Commit-
Anglican Bishop W. H. Stew-

UNSCOP THEOLOQY

detainees and families. Definite-
ly opposes separate activities of
above fund which is also uncon-
trolled by the Jewish Ag'ency.
Leassireinu, comprising 15 local
branches, is the sole prisoners'
welfare society recognized by
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—The
authorities, doing extensive wel- memorandum submitted by the
fare work in Jerusalem, Acre, Palestine Government to the
Bethlehem, Latrun, Kenya prison
camps, helping families."

NEW YORK, (JTA)—Dr. Max
Seligman, Palestine lawyer here
on a mission for the Assirai Zion
Fund, has issued a statement de-
nying charges made by the Unit-
ed Zionist Council of Canada that
during his fund-raising tour in
Canada he claimed that he was
authorized by the Palestine Chief
Rabbinate to speak on its behalf.
"I have always made it per-
fectly clear that my tour was
being conducted on behalf of the

... '

On the eve of his becoming ex-president of the ZOA, Dr.
Abba Hillel Silver warned that "ex-presidents have a way of be-
coming troublesome." It was a remark which preceded his address
at Carnegie Hall on July 2. It was a sarcastic remark referring to
the telegram of the seven former ZOA prexies who mobilized into
leaders of a "loyal minority." Dr. Silver's pun may well turn into a
serious matter. Some day he may be, with Lipsky and Kaufmann,
in an opposition camp to Levinthal and Goldman. Now, Lipsky,
Goldman, Levinthal, Kaufmann, Rothenberg, Szold and Wise, are in
one camp. In years past, they have been found among alternating
opposing factions. That's true democracy—permitting change of
mind. It undoubtedly will survive as a principle in Jewish life.
Therefore, we won't be surprised if Silver one day is found on the
side of his present opponents in opposition to his present conferees.
This is what makes life interesting.

Friday, .144 IS, 1947.

tee on Palestine may be seen
from one federalization plan be-
ing considered by a delegation
which has been exceedingly ac-
tive in the Committee's work.
The plan envisages immediate
division of Palestine into seven
Jewish and seven Arab canton-
ments, with a temporary 10-year
federal government vested in a
council composed of one repre-
sentative from each cantonment
and an equal number of non-Pal-
estine councillors appointed by
the United Nations, presided over
by a United Nations governor.
This program would call for
immediate evacuation of the
British; giving the Jews com-
plete authority over immigra-
tion, health, education, land
development and similar prob-
lems in all Jewish canton-
ments, including the Negev;
placing
trade, security and
CHIEF RABBI HERZOG
public works, including water
United Nations inquiry commit-
pipelines and other improve-
tee was severely criticized by
ments, under jurisdiction of
Chief Rabbi Isaac Herzog.
the federal government.
Emphasizing to UNSCOP that

art complained that Jewish and
Moslem converts to Christianity
were subjected to pressure from
all sides and charged that the
government was too tolerant
with the Moslem and Jewish
faiths, which had a detrimental
effect on the Christian minority.
`Jews, Arabs Can Live in Peace'
Rabbi I. M. Lewin, leader of
the Orthodox Agudas Israel Or-
ganization, presented his organ-
ization's demand for "unrestrict-
ed Jewish immigration, abolition
of the British White Paper, can-
cellation of existing land pur-
chase restrictions, and the pos-
sibility to develop the country's
full absorptive capacity."
"And what about the Arabs?"
the Yugoslav member of the
committee, Dr. Jozhe Brilej, ask-
ed. Rabbi Lewin replied that
his organization believes that
"Jews and Arabs can live in
peace." He asserted that the
Jews are raising the living stand-
ards of the Arabs in Palestine.
"Political questions must be de-
cided by political negotiations,
and I believe justice is with us,"
he added. If a just decision
is
made, he declared. "we will ac-
cept it."

After ten years a pebiscite
"the preservation of Judaism in
its religious aspect depends in would be held in each canton-
it
no. small measure on a revival ment to determine whether
of the Jewish Commonwealth of wishes to continue the plan, unite
Palestine," the Chief Rabbi more strongly, or desires parti-
charged the Palestine Govern- I tion into separate Arab and Jew-
Ask End of Regulations
ment with seeking, in its mem- ish states.
WASHINGTON, (JTA) — Rep.
orandum, to reduce "the glori-
Under the plan, the Jewish Andrew L. Somers, Democrat of

ous pages of the Bible" dealing cantonments would include the New York, today introduced a
with Jewish history to "a miser- region north of Safad; the Tib- joint resolution directing Secre-
able recital of tribal worship and erius area; the south-western tary of State Marshall to request
tribal warfare."
section of the Beisan area; the imediate abolition by the British
A good deal of the failure of coastal plain from Haifa to Jaffa, government of the emergency
the government's handling of the with the exception of the south- regulations now governing Pales-
present problems in Palestine is ern Jaffa district; the area south tine, re-establishment of a civil
explainable by its "unsympa- of Hebron; the area directly administration and restoration of
thetic, incomprehensible and south of Beisan and north of the the civil liberties of the people
shallow interpretation of Jewish Dead Sea; and the entire Negev of Palestine.
history," the Chief Rabbi said. south of a line running about
LONDON, (JTA)—The charge
He pointed out that while the eight wiles north of Beersheba.
government memorandum "gives
Arab cantonments would in- that the Palestine Government is
every detail of the sacred associ- clude the Safad, Beisan, Nablus, provoking outbreaks in the coun-
ations of Palestine for Christians Hebron, Rahmallah, Jaffa and try in an attempt to prove to the
United Nations that 100,000 oc-
and Moslems, it is completely Gaza districts.
silent on the message of Hebrew
This plan's advantages over cupation troops must be main-
prophecy."
partition are: It would keep tained there, was made here by
Chief Rabbi Herzog attacked
the country's economy intact, an authoritative Jewish Agency
those "who say that all the
provides a period of observa- source.
The Agency source predicted
Jews need is a so-called spirit-
tion to see if the Jews and
ual center, a great religious
Arabs can get along together that the British Government will
academy, a university, a cen-
under United Nations super- do all in its power to delay a U.
tral rabbinical snyod—but no
vision; divisions make civil N. decision because Foreign Sec-
land, no settlements, no towns,
war remote, security would be retary Ernest Bevin, who is re-
ported to have believed a few
no I n d u s t ry, no common-
vested in UN-supervised police
wealth. I stand here," he de-
rather than in more extremist months ago that Britain would
withdraw from Palestine within
clared, "to give the lie to these
hands.
hypocritical assertions of the
A plea for a Christian share in a year, has now changed his
enemies of our people who af- any future government of Pales- mind. He insisted that high Brit-
fect a pseudo-spiritual concern tine and the return of the entire ish Army officers have informed
for its spiritual future."
country to the status of a "Holy Bevin that West Africa cannot be
The Chief Rabbi said that a land" was urged before UNSCOP developed as a major military
Jewish Commonwealth would by the Rev. Clark-Kerr, modes- base for another five to ten years
never attempt to impose the ' ator of the Church of Scotland and that Palestine is needed un-
Jewish religion on people of Presbytery in Palestine. He ask- til then.
other faiths residing there. Holy
places of the Moslem and Christ-
ian religions in Palestine would
be under their own administra-
tion, he added.
By ARNOLD LEVIN
He urged the committee to in-
(Copyright. 1947, Independent Jewish Press Se rvice. Inc.)
vestigate the displaced persons
camps of Europe, declaring that The Ad War
We leave the remedy to brighter minds; all this dull-witted
"the world will not find peace
wishes to suggest is that it is high time something be done
until it relieves its conscience of reporter
about the Jewish civil war waged through the columns of the general
their great burden—the home- press. The Bergsonite leeches and the Ben Hecht playboy apostles
lessness of one of its most ancient are beyond control. They thrive on anarchy. Naturally, the Bergson-
people."
ites must be exposed through the same media they have been using
to put themselves across. But the verbiage does not have to be
Indian's Theologic Questions
Sir Abdur Rahman, Indian lifted from Ben Hecht. The tone should be more dignified, and one
delegate, telling Rabbi Herzog shall always bear in mind that however true the charges against the
and Irgunists may be, airing them in the general press
that he has "great respect for Bergsonites
We pro-
is not ,always salutary for Zionism or American Jewry .
the spiritual and religious feel- pose therefore that each and every advertisement put in by a Zionist
ings of every community and group, should first be censored by the top councils of the • movement
•
•
•
holds them in reverence," said he
felt such matters should remain Books
outside of politics. He then asked
Place on your shelf of Jewish Americana Harriet Lane Levy's
the Chief Rabbi: "Can anyone "920 O'Farrell Street," a description of a Jewish family in San Fran-
cisco
at the end of the 19th century, published by Doubleday and Co.
believing in Christ as a member
of the Holy Trinity,be considered Not one of the ghetto-dreamer families this, nor a melting pot story.
It is a Jewish Life with Father, but we like Miss Levy's book better.
a Jew?"
portraits of people, and montages of the
Rabbi Herzog replied: "Adop- It has fine needle-point
living or the period—down to a minute description of the furniture
tion of another faith does not that cluttered up the house at 920 and gave it a depressing stuffiness.
make a Jew not a Jew. For ex-
Sinclair Lewis' Kingsblood Royal (Random House) may have
ample, the marriage of a Jew many faults. But Lewis is never dull, there is always pungency
with a non-Jew is invalid religi- and punch to his satire, and the theme he handles has long waited
ously; however, the marriage of for treatment. Arthur Miller in "Focus," a novel of a few seasons
a Jewess and a renegade Jew is back, told the story of what happens to a gentile who looks like a
when an all-gentile neighborhood is aroused by anti-Semitic
binding. The Jew who has aban- Jew
agitation, and Sinclair Lewis tells of what happens to a respectable,
doned Judaism is a Jew in our well-situated white man who finds out that he has some distant
law, but not a good Jew."
Negro forebears. This primes him to a showdown on the racial issue,
Sir Abdur: "Would you there- with the white community, which has been unaware of his lineage.
fore consider Christ a Jew in Lewis did a magnificent job some years back in "It Can't Happen
religion as He was in ancestry?" Here," an expose of native fascism. Kingsblood Royal may be re-
Rabbi Herzog: "Sir Abdur, you garded as further exploration of this theme; here he goes down to
the racism roots of native fascism. A writer of his stature could
are treading on very delicate render
no greater service than write such book, and we don't give a
ground. I do not think it advis- continental whether it is a perfect literary work or just a political
able to introduce this subject. tract. It reads well, and deals with a vital problem. What else do
But of course He was a Jew."
we want?

Heard in the Lobbies