Need for Unity Emphasized
By World Jewish Congress
2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, July 16, 1948
Jews and the Presidency
Israel Recognition
`Disturbs' Husseini
Record of Jewish Public
Servants Since Washington
By E. YAPOU
dent of both the American and
MONTREUX, Switzer land, World Jewish Congresses, ex-
(JTA)—The necessity for the tolled the "immortal military
maintenance of the greatest de- feats of the Haganah." He stated
gree of unanimity among the that he was proud that the United
Jews of the world was empha- States had recognized Israel bare
sized here by speakers at the moments after the Israeli govern-
concluding session of the second ment was proclaimed. He ex-
convention of the World Jewish pressed confidence that future
Congress.
presidents of the United States
The delegates adopted a con- would be friendly to the Jewish
stitution which declared that the state and called on Britain to re-
Congress' function was to ensure turn to the "glorious days of the
the survival of the Jewish people Balfour Declaration."
and foster its unity. The docu-
Silverman stated that the last
ment stressed that "affiliation to three years of British policy on
the World Jewish Congress shall Palestine have been "a source
not affect the autonomy of af- of pain, but the day will come
filiates regarding internal and when Britain will remember its
religious affairs, nor imply au- traditional role as a protector of
thorization for the World Jewish small nations." At that time, he
Congress to intervene in domestic asserted, the friendship between
or political affairs."
Britain and Israel will re-emerge.
Delegates from Eastern Eur-
The convention concluded after
DMITRI MANUILSKI of the
opean countries insisted that the electing an executive committee Ukraine, this month's president
executive of the Congress be of 40 members. Rabbi Wise was of the UN Security Council in-
broadened by the inclusion of re-named president, while Dr. sisted on referring, on July 7, to
American leftists who are not Nahum Goldman was re-elected Aubrey Eban, Israeli spokesman,
Communists.
chairman of the executive and as "the representative of the State
The majority of the American Dr. Leon Kubowitsky was chosen of Israel." Jamal el Husseini, the
delegation insisted that the nam- chairman of the administrative Mufti's cousin, spokesman for the
ing of the American members of committee.
Arabs, did not like it. Manuilski
the executive be left to Dr. Ste-
Twenty-seven delegates from was upheld, only five nations
phen S. Wise. The Eastern Eur- Eastern European countries, rep- voting against him, and Husseini
opean delegates warned that resenting left-wing groups, re- walked out of the session. Mean-
they would not participate in the frained from voting during the while the State of Israel stands
executive if it is not broadened elections of the executive com- recognized as a participant in the
in accordance with their views. mittee. The American Jewish discussions at the UN. Another
During the discussion on a community will be the largest great chapter thus has been writ-
resolution calling for the ces- single group on the executive ten in Jewish history, with the
sion of certain German terri- body, but two seats each were plaque at the UN in front of
tories to neighboring states, reserved for Poland, Romania Maj. Eban reading' not "Jewish
one of the delegates opposed it and Hungary and one for Bul- Agency" but ISRAEL.
on the grounds that it might garia. These seats will remain
intensify the anti-Semitism open while the delegates from ZOA Plan $25,000,000
which already exists in Ger- those countries consult with their
many and thus make life more organizations at home on accept- Investment Corporation
difficult for the Jews in the ance.
To Aid State of Israel
DP camps and communities of
A spokesman for the left-wing
that country. He was opposed delegates, A. Raisky of Paris, told
PITTSBURGH (JTA) -- Plans
by delegates from Jewish com- the Congress that the leftists de- for the formation of a $25,000,00-0
munities of Germany who at- mand the inclusion of "progres- investment corporation to aid the
tacked his point of view and sives" among t h e American state of Israel were discussed by
supported the resolution.
representatives on the executive the national executive committee
During the discussion on anti- committee. He emphasized that of the Zionist Organization of
Semitism in Germany, repre- this is not an ultimatum. Rabbi America.
sentatives from zones of Germany Joachim Prinz, leader of the U. S.
The national executive commit-
said that Jews were being ac- delegation, replied that the ques- tee also reviewed plans for de-
cused of profiteering from the tion of who was to represent the veloping a program of expanded
recent change of currency in the American Jews on the executive Zionist education in the United
western zones and that unless the was a matter for the American States. The project calls for the
Allies act "anything may happen delegates themselves to decide. intensification of ZOA efforts in
in the next few days." Dr. Nahum They, therefore, could not accept the fields of Hebrekv art, litera-
Goldman, chairman of the present the "suggestions" of their East ture, music and other cultural,
executive committee, appealed to European colleagues. Two left- as well as religious, media. Dr.
the German provincial govern- wing members of the American Robert Gordis will direct this
ments and the Allies to halt the delegation dissented from Rabbi program.- The names of the win-
agitation before it has disastrous Prinz's statement.
hers of five ZOA $1,500 fellow-
results.
The delegates also adopted a ships, providing for study at the
M. Grabovsky of Israel re- constitution which declared that Hebrew University in Jerusalem
vealed that when the British the Congress' function was to and other institutions, were an-
evacuated the port of Haifa, 48 ensure the survival of the -Jewish nounced.
seized refugee ships which are people and foster its unity. The
lying in the Haifa harbor passed document also stressed that "af-
into the possession of the Jew- filiation to the World Jewish Eva Lansky Scholarship
ish state. He revealed that it Congress shall not affect the Fund Founded at U of M
is planned to establish 40 new autonomy of affiliates regarding
Announcement was made in
settlements in various parts of internal and religious affairs, nor
Israel within the immediate fu- imply authorization for the World Ann Arbor by Rabbi Herschel
ture.
Jewish Congress to intervene in Lymon of the incorporation of
the Eva Lansky Memorial Edu-
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, presi- domestic or political affairs."
cational Fund, to provide scholar-
ships and loans to worthy and
needy students at the University
of Michigan.
Established by Philip Lansky,
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
1310 Lutz, Ann Arbor, the hus-
jeWs in the Arabic Publishing Field
band of the late Eva Lansky, this
Palcor tells an interesting story in a cable from Tel Aviv. We fund will be administered through
learn that Hakikat el A_mr. the only Arab newspaper appearing in
Palestine, is published by Histadrut, the Jewish Federation of Labor. the Bnai Brith Hillel Foundation.
Already several students have
Published in Jaffa and widely distributed in Haifa and other commu-
nities in Palestine, this newspaper recently was changed from a been aided by support from this
weekly 'to a daily. It is being smuggled into Arab territories outside fund, and it will continue to serve
of Israel's borders. It is the type of activity—it will naturally be those students affiliated with the
branded "propaganda"—which proves the . wisdom of Histadrut's Hillel Foundation. Trustees of
program in many fields.
the fund are Rabbi Lymon, Osias
We also learn from Palcor that the Hebrew press in Israel is flour- Zwerdling, Mrs. Belle Lansky,
ishing, that three new morning newspapers have made their appear- Philip Lansky, and Sam Lansky
ance in Tel Aviv (Mivrak, Sternist organ; Halton HaAmarni and a
morning paper published by the afternoon daily Maariv); that there of Ann Arbor, and Mrs. George
now are 10 morning papers, two noon and three evening papers. The G. Goldberg,• of Detroit.
Palestine Post and three Hebrew papers appear daily in Jerusalem
and there are two German papers in Israel.
British Return Kenya
This is a most interesting record for the most interesting commu-
nity whose rise is the greatest miracle of all time. •
Detainees to Israel
Interesting Events in Israel
While Arabs and Jews reached a truce on "harvest time" activities
LONDON, (JTA) — Royal
in Palestine, the Israeli community continued its efforts to strengthen
Air Force planes flew 254
good will among the two kindred people, in spite of the ganging up
Palestinian Jews, under the
of seven nations on Israel's borders. In communities where Arabs
remain, within the borders of Israel, there are friendly relations,
protective custody of a Brit:
and all indications are that Arabs who have yielded to the "flight
ish infantry unit and a rep-
psychosis" desire to return to their former homes. Their future will
resentative of the Interna-
depend entirely upon the results of the "unhappy truce" and the will-
tional Red Cross, from Kenya
ingness of Arabs to acknowledge the fact of Israel's existence.
to Israel. The repatriated
In Israel, two events appear to have established precedents for
Jews had been detained in
future observances in the Jewish State—the Army and Navy Days
Kenya for over a year on
which were celebrated on June 29 and 30.
We learn that American volunteers who were interned when they
charges of terrorism and po-
landed from the Irgun ship "Jabotinsky-Altalena" were released and
litical offenses in Palestine.
taken by the Israeli army on a tour of Eretz Israel. Some of the
Philip Noel-Baker, minister
youths, who have nautical experience, having served in the U. S.
of state, told the House of
Navy or Merchant Marine, are expected to join the Israeli army.
Commons he was unaware
This should dispel fears of "cruelty" spread by Irgunist-Revisionist
that Pakistan had pledged to
propaganda.
Events in and affecting Israel continue to form the most fascinat-
send a contingent of troops to
ing story of the twentieth century. • It is clear from all indications
aid the Arabs in Palestine. -
that the genius of Israel will not be subdued.
Purely. Commentary
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
(Copyright, 1948, Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Inc.)
thing to alleviate the plight of
Romanian Jewry.
A rabbi was one of the 13 min-
It was the candidacy of Hor-
isters chosen to participate in ace Greeley for the Presidency
the inauguration of George which really gave birth to Yid-
Washington as first President of
dish journalism in America.
the United States. President Greeley suggested to one of his
Washington, when the capital
Yiddish - speaking supporters
was moved to Philadelphia, lived that he start a paper to boost
at the residence of Jonas Phil-
his candidacy. The - paper that
lips, a Jew.
was launched existed only dur-
John Adams, the second Presi- ing- the campaign, but it was
dent of the United States, was
the pioneer venture in Yiddish
the first President to express' journalism in America. B. Gratz
sympathy with the hope for the Brown, who was nominated for
revival of the Jewish state.
vice-president on the Greeley
Thomas Jefferson, third Pres-
ticket, was descended from the
ident of the United States, was
famous Gratz family.
the first President to appoint
Grover Cleveland appointed
a Jew to public office. He want-
Oscar Straus as Minister to Tur-
ed to name a Jew to his cab- key. Later it got to be customary
Met—a certain Judge Levy of to appoint Jews to the Turkish
Philadelphia—bUt he was dis-
Embassy because Turkey ruled
suaded from doing so by Sec-
over Palestine and Palestine was
retary Gallatin. However, he
considered historically Jewish.
did appoint a Jew named Et-
James G. Blaine, "the plumed
ting to a federal post.
knight" who ran for the presi-
dency against Cleveland, never
President Madison's relations
got the office, but a Jew, Ru-
with Jews began early. When he
dolph Damrosch, was more suc-
was a young man, Haym Salo-
mon used to lend him money, In cessful with Blaine's daughter.
The famous musician, Walter
a letter still extant, Madison
wrote that he disliked to borrow Damrosch, is a product of this
union.
from Salomon because "the Jew-
It was Theodore Roosevelt who
ish broker won't take any inter-
est" from him. AS President, first appointed a Jew as a mem-
Madison appointed M. M. Noah, ber of his cabinet. T.R. chose
Oscar Straus to be Secretary of
also a Jew, as Consul to Tunis.
There were many Jews active Commerce.
Woodrow Wilson's connections
in the campaigns of Andrew
with Jews were many. He named
Jackson. The most influential of
Brandeis to the Supreme Court.
the Tammany editors at the time
There is a seemingly authenti-
was Major Mordecai Noah.
cated tradition that it was Bran-
August Belmont, New York deis who first suggested the
banker and agent of the Roths- name of Herbert Hoover as Food
childs, was a leading supporter Administrator for Europe after
of President Pierce and was World War I.
named Minister to the Nether-
Gus Karger, Washington cor-
lands. Later, Belmont was a respondent of the Cincinnati
strong Douglas supporter.
Times-Star, who was also Jewish,
President Tyler appointed was generally regarded as the
newspaper spokesman of William
the first Zionist consul to Jer-
Howard Taft.
usalem. He was Warder Cres-
Victor Rosewater, founder of
son, a Christian convert to Ju-
the Omaha Bee, whose father
daism who changed his name
was a telegrapher in the. Union
to Boaz Israel and founded -the
Army during the Civil War,
first Zionist agricultural colony
was chairman of the Democratic
near Jerusalem. Cresson got
National Committee at the time
himself appointed in order to
of the nomination of William
launch the Zionist experiment.
Jennings Bryan.-
•
There were a number of Jews
Mrs. Belle Moskowitz was the
at the convention which nomin-
ated Lincoln. Among the most leader of Al Smith's "brain trust"
prominent were Lewis N. Dem- during the latter's race for the
presidency.
bitz, uncle of --Louis D. Brandeis,
The Republicans named a Jew,
and Abraham Jonas, who, like
Lincoln, had first lived in Ken- L. Ottinger, to draw away the
Jewish vote when F.D.R. ran for
tucky before moving to Illinois. the governorship of New. York,
Jonas was appointed postmaster but most of the Jews voted for
of Quincy, Ill., by President Lin- Roosevelt.
coln. All three of Jonas' sons
Harry Truman was in the
who remained in the south served haberdashery business with a
in the Confederate army. One of Jewish partner.
them later became U. S. Senator
Thomas E. Dewey, while' study-
from Louisiana. •
ing law at Columbia University,
Ulysses S. Grant at first seem- helped support himself by sing-
ed a little prejudiced against ing in the choir of a New York
Jews, but later became very Temple. It was the late U.S. Dis-
chummy with them, nominating. trict Attorney, George Z. Medalie,
a Jew as Consul to Bucharest, who gave Dewey his first oppor-
with the hope that in that posi- tunity for public service as a
tion he might be able to do some- member of his staff.
Heard in the Lobbies
(Copyright, 1948, Independent Jewish Press Service, Inc. )
•
By ARNOLD LEVIN
Skepticism
Although U. S. alternate Jessup did mention that consideration of
the sanctions was in order if the Arabs turned down: the truce,
observers at Lake Success were extremely skeptical over the week-
end as to the degree of determination behind these words. They
wondered whether the State Department would not, ultimately, think
up another strategem for delaying sanctions by proposing, perhaps,
an investigation to ascertain whether the Arab states have really
done the thing they don't deny doing—rejected the prolongation of
the truce. Whether the observers at Lake Success were right or
wrong, will be clear to the reader by the titne this is in print: The
skepticism does indicate, however, the extent of America's loss of
face. Our words are no longer believed.
Civil Servant
It has been this columnist's custom to draw attention occasionally
to deserving civil servants in the service of national Jewish organiza-
tions. These men do not get laurels, but they do contribute the sweat
and tears that contribute to the vitality of Jewish organizations.
Information directors and press agents are important in Jewishorgan-
izations, not only for the space they obtain for their clients, but be-
cause upon them lies the responsibility of presenting Jewish activities
to the outside world in that world's idiom and in dignified terms.
This coluMnist regards Ernest Barbarash, the slight, tense, amiable,
and remarkably objective information director of the ZOA and editor
of its official organ, The New Palestine, as a leader in his .field.
We have watched him at many conventions, including the fifty first
ZOA convention held last week in Pittsburgh. To organize 1>
administrative machinery for the handling of press releases requires
tenacity, ability and a way with people. Barbarash possesses these
characteristics. It is generally assumed that press agents wake
reporters to ingratiate themselves with the press. Here is one cos.
respondent who wishes to turn the tables and put in some descry:AM
praise for the man behind the ZOA publicity.
-