As the Editor Views the News ... The Smell Is Awful! Sulamith Ish-Kishor's Book Earns Acclamation Unity in Our Campaign Contrary to earlier beliefs that Lessing J. Rosenwald's American Council for Judaism would become an independent fund-raiser for "relief, resettlement and general humanitar- ian needs of distressed co-religionists and others," the anti-Zionist movement instead has issued a statement urging its members to support the 'following: Refugee Assistance Fund, Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid S'ociety, American Friends Service Commit- tee, American Overseas Aid and United Na- tions Appeal for Children. A news release from the anti-Zionist Coun- cil explains that in accordance with a resolu- tion adopted by its St. Louis convention "it instructed the president and the executive committee to negotiate with relief agencies, and in particular with the Joint Distribution Committee, for the establishment of proce- dures or a separate fund that will make pos- sible the widest and most generous support of those in distress without any moral con- straint due to what was described as the present comingling of funds for humanitar- ian purposes with those that. are expended for political and foreign governmental pur- poses in the United Jewish Appeal." . In his reeport to his executive -committee, Mr. Rosenwald stated that "quite apart from the merits of our contention. the contracts existing between JDC and UPA, and con- tracts between JDC and local welfare funds, make it impossible for JDC to accede to our request." It is clear from the statement of the anti- Zionist Council that it objects to political actions involving Palestine. In some commun- ities their followers have rendered serious harm to the UJA campaigns by refusing to contribute to relief and Palestine redemption funds and by urging others to do likewise. In spite l of the American position in support of partition—a stand which has not been abandoned, if we are to believe President Truman's repeated assertions of friendship for the cause' of Jewish statehood in Pales- tine—Mr. Rosenwald's group has carried on an antagonistic battle against Zionism. The most objectionable element in such an obstructionist campaign is the failure of the Rosenwald-Council group to acknowledge that the agreements between JDC, UPA And Welfare Funds (Federations) • are the result of the overwhelming sentiments of the five million American Jews (less the two thou- sand anti-Zionist Council members) in sup- port of a program that will facilitate the es- tablishment of the independent Jewish Com-' monwealth in Palestine, while, at the same time, unifying' the American Jewish com- munities in efforts for the relief, and even- tual settlement in Palestine, of the European survivors from Nazism. The five organizations—Jewish and non- sectarian" selected by Mr. Rosenwald's group for assistance by anti-Zionists—are worthy causes and no one will hold it against them that the anti-Zionist Council has chosen to support them. Even from these groups, how- ever, there undoubtedly will come rejection of left-handed endorsement that emanates from antagonism to the major causes set up to wave lives in Europe, to protect the Jewish position in Palestine and to help bring refu- gees to this country. Fortuantely, the obstructionist Council has failed to make inroads in Detroit. Our unity, 'as it is expressed in the wonderful 1948' Al- lied Jewish Campaign, should continue to serve as a rebuke to anyone who may enter-_ taro the slightest notion even of impairing Jewish solidarity in support of the major causes of the UJA for the Joint Distribution Committee, the United Palestine Appeal and the United Service for New Americans. One of the most impressive contributions to the Jewish history shelf is Sulamith Ish-Kishor's "Everyman's History of the Jewish People" which Frederick Fell, Inc., (386 Fourth Ave., New York) recently published. In 304 pages, including eight pages of index, Miss Ish-Kishor, who is widely known for her - children's stories and numerous essays on Jewish subjects, has covered all of Jewish history, from the earliest days through the November• 1947 UN partition decision. Treating her subject as "the'. story of an idea," Miss Ish-Kishor's approach is so fascinating from the viewpoint of story-telling that her book at once emerges as a very popular history which should attract the interest of Jews and non- Jews, young and old alike. Frederick V. Fell, the publisher, has reason to be proud of the fact that Miss Ish-Kishor's his- tory was chosen as the February selection of the Jewish Book Guild of America. The book will make a splendid gift. It is light reading and at the same time will serve as a reference work. The acclaim "Everyman's History of the Jews" already has received is well earned. Father of Partition By DAVID SCHWARTZ had thought that Dr. Chaim Until lately, Weizmann was the father of partition, but then I began to recall my history and it seems that the idea is as old as the hills. Probably the American who espoused the idea of partition in the biggest way was President Theodore Roosevelt. Kermit Roosevelt, who always appears on the Town Meeting of the Air programs, to speak in behalf of the poor Arabs who have only seven in- In reply to a series of questions in the Australian Parlia- dependent and sovereign states, ought to read up on the biography of his father, for Teddy Roose- ment concerning the work of the Australian delegations to velt at one time put through the biggest case of the UN, Dr. Herbert V. Evatt, Minister for External Affairs, partition in history. In fact at one and at the who was the chairman of the UN Palestine Ad Hoc Com- same time, Teddy put through three cases of partition. mittee at the last General Assembly, declared that his gov- It was Teddy who engineered the construc- of the Panama Canal back in 1903. That was ernment does not believe that the UN Palestine partition tion a case of the partition of a continent. A major plan should be summarily abandoned, the decision having surgical operatiOn was performed on the con- fluent at the Isthmus of Panama, cutting the been arrived at only after a most thorough investigation of hemisphere in two so that; paradoxically, east the facts and serious consideration of other alternatives. He and west .might be the better tied together. Remember, there was no such thing -as the pointed out that UN decisions should not be -`revoked because Panama Republic before the days of Teddy. The of trends; that because the U. S. has changed its opinion it land around the Isthmus was part of the Republic of Colombia. does not follow that Australia should do likewise. Teddy Roosevelt was not satisfied with the dis- Answering criticisms that Australia's delegates had voted patch with which the Bogota Government I es- with small nations and Russia against the' U. S. and 'Britain, ponded to his proposals to construct the canal. "We must have partition," Teddy Roosevelt said, Dr. Evatt said that it was in accordwith the policy of making and he had it. He dispatched some American just and impartial decisions; that it did not suggest any battleships to the coast of Panama. Whatever lineup, as Australian votes often were against the Soviet. troops of- Colombia there were around the Isthmus At Lake Success, an Australian amendment which would were given $50 each, in bribes. Dr. Amador, an have referred action on the Jerusalem issue to the General employee of the company which was interested in a building - of a canal, had devised a flag of Assembly sub-committee rather than to the Trusteeship the new republic which was raised and Dr. Amador Council was defeated, 26-20, but the fact that 20 countries— was proclaimed President of the Republic of including the Soviet bloc, Latin American lands and the Panama. "The people of Panama rose in revolution as Pacific Dominions—lined up- against the U. S. is ari indication one man,P President Theodore Roosevelt ex- that a reversal of partition will meet with strong, possibly plained and Senator John - Sharp Williams in victorious, Opposition. the U.S. Senate Commented: "The one man who represented our Government, The disturbing factor is that rose was Teddy Roosevelt." at the UN by irresolute men, was subjected to so many re- So Panama was partitioned off from Colombia bukes. Observers and correspondents at the UN sessions and the Canal was built. I am not in annroval of the tactics employed by were unanimous in the belief that the U. S. spokesmen had Teddy Roosevelt in senarating Panama from mismanaged their trust. . . Colombia. We gave the Colombians something of That it should have been necessary for Dr. Abba a raw deal. yet Teddy Roosevelt was doubtless right when he contended that the building of the Hillel Silver to reply. to a slur by Jamal Hasseini of the Panama Canal was something so paramount that Palestine Arab Higher Committee, who referred to him geogranhical niceties should not be permitted to as "Russian-born," is in itself shocking proof of a tragic retard it. situation made more tragic by the incompetence of the The partitioning of Colombia into two states, Colombia and Panama, did not end Teddy's parti- U. S.- representatives. On previous occasions, Arab spokes- tioning in this matter. Panama was subjected to men have insulted the entire American Jewish com- another partitioning, for the Canal Zone was made munity, impugning our loyalty, and the U. S. "statesmen" American territory. So Theodore Roosevelt put listened in silently. Dr. Silver found it necessary to through a triple partitioning at one and the assert before the UN. Political Committee - in reply to same time. 'The moral of the story is that' the justice of Husseini: "I submit that it was rather an unworthy partitioning denends on your right arm. If you've statement to make," and pointed out that his loyalty to got the battleships to send clown to effect it, it is the U. S. required no testing by the Arab Higher Corn- right. If you have no battleshipS to put it through, mittee and that in America "we are all immigrants." 'The it is morally wrong. To those who contend that the Jews, in urging ,,, statement should have been made by Warren Austin or partition, have become the exponents of a one of his associates. Their silence added to their disgrace. • divisive idea, I submit one question, to wit: It fell to the lot of Andrei Gromyko to 'describe Hus- "Was not that a greater and more rigorous par- seini's charge that Jewish fighters in Palestine were being titioning, this act of the Arabs in partitioning off to therhselves such a vast area of the world's trained in Russia as "a slanderous assertion in a whole series surface, while the Jews are left nationally of irresponsible allegations." homeless?" (Copyright. 3946, JTA, Inc.) With the reappointment of Maj. Gen. John H. Hilldring Regrettable Rebuke to the U. S. as Special Assistant Secretary of State for Palestine Affairs there may, after all, emerge a final favorable solution for Pal- estine from the UN deliberations. It is regrettable, however, that a vacillating American policy should have been permit- ted to lead to continuation of bloodshed. Dr. Frank Kingdon thus described the American position: "We have muddied the Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish Press Servide, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Palcor waters of Lake Success and become entrapped in our own Agency, King Features, Central Press Association. mire. The issue behind Palestine is the integrity of our own Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish- ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1155. government and, because we have forsaken that, the disgrace Subscription, $3 a year; foreign, $4. of Palestine is even more vividly our own disgrace." And the Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942. at Post Of- fice, Detroit, Mich., under -Act of March 3, 1879. Detroit 'News stated editorially: "Washington has played the fool in this matter. History will be kind if it does not also BOARD OF DIRECTORS Philip Slornovitz say we played the knave." Maurice Aronsson Isidore Sobeloff Fred M. Butzel It is painful to be compelled to charge U. S. spokesmen. Abraham Srere Judge Theodore Levin with major responsibility. for what transpired in Palestine. Henry Wineman Maurice H. Schwartz The indictment is inherent in the stark facts. A strong Ameri- PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor can policy could have averted trouble and our Government VOL. xfii—No. 8 Page 4 MAY 7, 1948 could have - shared in the glory of having helped in the estab- lishment of the Jewish State. Under the circumstances, his- Sabbath Scriptural Selections tory will record that Jewish efforts alone were responsible Penta- teuchal portion—Lev. 16:1-18:30. for the attainment of independence for Judaea. Perhaps this Prophetical portion—I Sam. 20:18-42._ the most honorable Rosh Hodesh Iyar Scriptural selections on Sun- is the more desirable—since it is proving in a sad struggle for justice and self-liberation. •—result day and Monday . Num. 28:1-15. THE JEWISH NEWS A Popular Hisfory - Facts You Should Know Answers to Readers Questions ... • Wat is the derivation of the word "Matzoh?" "Matzoh," the name given to the special form of bread eaten on Passover, may have its origin from one of two sources. It may-have come from the Hebrew word meaning to "suck out." This idea stems from the fact that the "Matzoh" has the look. of "strained out" bread when compared with the usual type of leavened bread, while "Matzoh," of course, never rises. It may also come from a Hebrew word meaning "to squeeze" or "to press." In this sense the "Matzoh" appears as -"flattened" or "squeezed out" bread when collo- pared to the loose and fluffy type of leavened bread. In line with either of these two definitions, it is easy to understand why the Bible (Deuter- onomy 16:3) refers to the "Matzoh" as "Lechem Oni," which means the "Bread of the Poor" er the "Bread of Affliction." The comparatively ema- ciated look of the "Matzoh" denotes the affliction suffered by the Israelites in Egypt.