Why Not Take the Plunge?

As the Editor
Views the News ...

Mann's Monumental
Work Out in 1 Volume

U.S. Jewry at Crossroads

Defeatists and spreaders of panic have
found a new issue to worry about: the alleged
danger to American Jews—as Jews and as
citizens—of the possible charge of dual alleg-
iance to those who support the new State of
Israel. Fortunately, Jews generally are not
as frightened as the polemists who always
must have something to worry about. Amer-
ican Jews are, in the main, sufficiently con-
fident and have enough faith in the true spirit
of America to be able to retain their balance
and to carry on in defense of ideals which
spell justice and decency for humanity.
American Jews are in no sense different
from the Irish or the French or the English.
We do not yield to anyone in our idealism and
loyalty, and our devotion to this great land
is unmatched in its strength. At the same
time, we have certain cultural affiliations
which, linked with a religious devotion, cause
us to carry on a tradition without which the
religions of the world would be the poorer.
The rebirth of the State of Israel not only
emphasizes Jewish religious loyalties but
gives it new meaning and new approaches.
Jews everywhere naturally acquire- the urge
to know the language of the new State,—a
language which only the most cultured hith-
erto mastered; a language which -until now
was in the main limited to prayers of Israel
but which now assumes the role as an interna-
tional medium of negotiation.
Actually, American Jewry is at the cross--
roads from an entirely different point of view
than that suggested by the panic-stricken
men. From now on, the new interest in He-
brew, the revived concern over the strength-
ening of Jewish spiritual values, the interest
of our people in the builders of the new State,
call for new approaches to our community
structure and our educational institutions.
The inevitability of the speedy solution of the
displaced persons' problem and the reduction
of needs for relief among the survivors from
Nazism will bring to the fore new responsi-
bilities which will no doubt receive a hearty
resnonse from the Jews of America.
American Jewry must, at the very outset,
strive to improve its educational systems. The
reality of the new situation calls for more
extensive knncxTledge of 1-TP1, -,-ew by more of
our people. More will study the language
of the Bible and of the State of Israel and
provisions should be made for adult classes
as well as for improvements in the methods
of teaching the language to children. Plans
should be made for an exchange of students
betw-een Israel and the United States and
for the issuance of scholarships to worthy
scholars. Rabbis should be encouraged to go
to Israel in the best interests of their con-
gregations whom they should inspire with
first hand knowledge of conditions in the
Land of the Bible, and rabbinical students
should be encouraged to pursue their studies
in Eretz Israel.
Among the major obligations of our people
in years to come will be to Participate- ac-
tively in the economic upbuilding of Israel.
There will be need for large-scale invest-
ments and for encouragement to the builders
of a new life in the Land of Israel. Dr. Theo-
dor Herzl's dream has come true. Great res-
ervoirs of vigor and strength are being re-
leased by the Jewish people. Swamps are
being drained, the desert of the Negev is
being transformed into an important colon-
• ization center, factories are going full steam,
researc-h laboratories are advancing the scien-
tific knowledcce of mankind and our un-
iversities will be centers of learning whence
will come 1rlSrlirnt.301-1 for all.
We are indeed at the crossroads and are
challenged by a new era in history. But it
is a better era than the one which we leave
behind. It is better to study and to do re-
search and to invest in the economic life of
Israel than to gather at meetings of protest
against indjrmities or for the shedding of
tears over the murder of millions^ of Jews.
Happier days are ahead for Israel. We are
confident that it is an omen of better days
for all humanity.

.

Wounded Israel Says NO!

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ. Editor

VOL. XIII—No. 18 Page 4 JULY 16, 1948

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the tenth day of Tammuz, 5708,
the following Scriptural selections will be read in
our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 19:1-22:1.
Prophetical portion—Judges 11:1-33.

M. sr Mr r .11► *t.

-Wo

•It

...1..11* *lb

.r +r '411. 41. 411,

• +

One of the greatest masterpieces of all time,
which originally appeared in five volumes, now
is available to English readers in one volume of
more than 1,200 pages. It is Thomas Mann's mon-
umental "Joseph and His Brothers," and the pub-
lisher is Alfred A. Knopf.
The first volume, "The Tales of
Jacob," which first appeared sep-
arately under the major title of
the great work, "Joseph and His
Brothers," was published in June,
1934. The second volume, "Young
Joseph," was published in April,
1935. "Joseph in Egypt" appeared
in two volumes in February, 1938,
_ and "Joseph the Provider" was
published in June, 1944.
In each instance, the volumes
appeared earlier in German. Their
very able English translator is
H. T. Lowe-Porter.
Thomas Mann, Nobel Prize win-
ner, has written a new foreward
Dr. Mann
to the one-volume work. We learn that it took him
16 years to write the collective work. The work
began in Germany in 1926. In order to secure per-
sonal knowledge of the background, he made a
tour of Palestine and Egypt in 1930. He continued
on this work after Hitler came to power, and
divided his time, upon his arrival in this country,
between his efforts against Nazism and his literary
work.
H
He writes in the foreward:

"Is it asking too much of posterity—assuming that
we may look forward to any sort of intellectually active

"Deeply wounded" by some of the proposals in Count posterity—is it asking too much to expect a bit of
puzzled surprise that this narrative of 70,000 calmly
Folke Bernadotte's proposals for the solutions of the Palestin-
flowing lines telling of the primitive occurrences of
human life, of love and hate, blessin. and curse, frater-
ian issues, the Government of Israel replied with an emphatic nal
strife and paternal grief, pride arid penance, fall and
rise,
a humorous song of mankind, if one is allowed to
"NO!" to suggestions which would, in effect, have meant the
call things by name—that this narrative could have come
abandonment of the United Nations' plan of Nov. 29, 1947, for into being in the turbulent circumstances of these years
1926 to 1992, when every day hurled the wildest demands
the restoration of Jewish Statehood.
at the heart and brain? As for me, I yield not to sur-
prise but to gratitude. I am grateful to this work which
Whatever the future relations between Israel and the UN
was my stay on a path that often led through dark
and Israel and Bernadotte, or any one else who may be
valleys. It was my refuge, my comfort, my home, my
symbol of steadfastness, the guarantee of my perseverance
selected to attempt to enforce peace in Israel, the reply given in
the tempestuous change of things."
by Foreign Minister Moshe Shertok in behalf of Israel must
The war brought its despair, but under the Cali-
fornia
sky Dr. Mann felt a new spirit hovering over
be considered as a basic statement of policy to be applied
him. It was as if he were in an Egyptian setting
in all future deliberations.
and the final volumes in this epic story saw the
Mr. Shertok made it clear to the Swedish Count, who has light of day.
been suspected of acting as a tool for the British Foreign
Now, Dr. Mann himself is curious: "How will
Office, that he appears not "to have taken full account of the posterity regard this work? Will it soon become
a dust-covered curio for antiquarians, the easy
outstanding facts of the situation in Palestine, namely, the prey
of fleeting time? Or will its pleasantries cheer
effective establishment of the sovereign state of Israel in the those who come after us, its pathos touch them?
Or will it perhaps be numbered among the great
area assigned to it in the General Assembly's resolution."
books?"
Unless and until the sovereignty of Israel is recog-
We are inclined to agree with the concluding
nized, endorsed and defended, any attempt at a solution
words of his foreward: "The song of Joseph is
of the problem of aggression—and the problem MUST be
good, solid work, done out of that fellow feeling
for which mankind has always been sensitively
recognized as one of aggression by outside Arab states—
receptive. A measure of durability is, I think,
it will be futile to attempt to force upon Israel a solution
inherent in it." And this reviewer is ready to
of its territorial and other rights. Count Bernadotte's
say that Mann's work does have a great measure of
greatness which will retain "Joseph and His Broth-
proposals, all totally negative in character, have failed to
ers" among the best books of all time. For Jew-
take into consideration the existence of a sovereign Jew-
ish readers it has an especially strong appeal.
ish state, and his plan therefore emerged as a shameful
statement deserving of rejection.
The Government of Israel further has pointed out to Count
Bernadotte that "the Jewish people accepted the (UN) settle-
A Bible Quiz With Answers
ment ... as a compromise entailina heavy sacrifices on its part,
By Dr. Solomon Goldman
and the territory assigned to the b Jewish State constitutes an
irreducible minimum." Instead of easing the problem, "inclu-
What do you know obout the
sion of the Arab portion of Palestine in the territory of one
Bible, its history, its people,
and its influence on the world?
of the neighboring Arab states fundamentally changes the
Test your knowledge in this
context of the boundary problem," and the Israel Government
quiz by Rabbi Solomon Gold-
therefore found it necessary to assert that "the territorial
man, author of the new thir-
provisions affecting the Jewish State now stand in need of
teen volume commentary, "The
Book of Books." The onswers,
improvement in view both of the perils revealed by Arab
from Dr. Goldmon's monumen-
aggression to the safety and integrity of Israel and by the
tal project in Biblical scholar-
results achieved by Israel in repelling this aggression."
ship, ore printed with speciol
Israel, having been subjected to unnecessary interference
permission of the publishers,
Harper & Brothers.
not only from the neighboring Arab states and from other
unfriendly elements, also finds it necessary to adopt a new
(The sixth of a series.)
economic policy with relation to her neighbors.
How do you account for the fact that some
In view of the shockina attitude adopted by Count Berna-
Biblical stories do not point up a moral; in
dotte, it is no wonder that
b the State of Israel should have
fact, they are stories of sinfulness?
adopted the following firm stand on the question of Jerusa-
The Jews dreamed and prophesied of the ideal
lem's future:
society and even legislated for it, but never got

BOOK OF BOOKS

,

The Provisional Government is deeply wounded by your sug-
gestion concerning the future of Jerusalem which it regards as
disastrous. The idea that the relegation of Jerusalem to Arab
rule might form part of a peaceful settlement could be conceived
only in utter disregard of history and the fundamental facts of
the problem: the historic associations of Judaism with the Holy
City; the unique place occupied by Jerusalem in Jewish history
and present day Jewish life; the fact that Jewish inhabitants
constituted a majority of two-thirds of the population of the city
before the commencement of Arab aggression—that majority has
greatly increased since then as a result of Arab evacuation; the
fact that the whole of Jerusalem with only a few minor excep-
tions is now 'in Jewish hands; and not the least the fact that after
an exhaustive study of the problem and as a result of the over-
whelming consensus of Christian opinion in its midst, the Gen-
eral Assembly resolved that Jerusalem be placed under an
international regime. The Provisional Government must make
it clear that the Jewish people and the State of Israel and the
Jews of Jerusalem will never acquiesce in the imposition of Arab
domination of Jerusalem no matter what formal municipal
autonomy and right of access to holy places the Jews of Jerusa-
lem will be allowed to enjoy. THEY WILL RESIST ANY SUCH ‘,
IMPOSITION WITH ALL THE FORCE AT THEIR COMMAND.
The Provisional Government regrets to have to say that your
startling suggestions regarding Jerusalem, by encouraging false
hopes among the Arabs and WOUNDING JEWISH FEELINGS
is likely to achieve the reverse of the pacifying effect which you
undoubtedly had in 'mind.

THE JEWISH NEWS

Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Seven Arts Feature Syndicate, Palcor
Agency, King Features. Central Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
ing Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1155.
Subscription, $3 a year: foreign. $4.
Entered as second-class matter Aug 6, 1942, at Post Of-
bee. Detroit, Mich.. under Act of March 3 1879.

Epic Story of Joseph

The situation is clear and Israel's stand is firm. The Pro-
visional Government of the Jewish State has and will con-
tinue to receive the wholehearted support of Jews and liberals
everywhere in a strong stand in support of the liberties of
its people. Once having destroyed the shackles of serfdom,
Israel will never consent to policies which involve replace-
ment of oppressive conditions which would only tend to post-
pone its sovereignty. Israel is free and will remain free. Any
other condition is unthinkable and unacceptable. Any other
attitude on the part of UN or other officials must be inter-
preted as interference with Israel's sovereignty.

••• ■ •

41.

nr

down to build it . The Bible recorded the disparity
between faith and conduct, the habitual frustra-,
tions and backslidings of the people, but it never
hardened into cynicism or pessimism. If the Jew-
ish people laid bare in its national literature its
own evil doing with an openness and candor that
no people was ever to emulate, it also demanded
of the Judge of all the earth an accounting for
chastising the innocent and making the guilty
prosper. The Bible revealed the Jewish people as
never deserting its God, nor ceasing to vex him;
nor did the Bible ever reveal the Jewish people
as despairing of its own ultimate regeneration or
of the salvation of mankind. It was out of these
apostasies and wrestlings and _aspirations that the
Bible came into being.

What famous Anierican social historian,
widely known as the first muckraker, claimed
that the original muckrakers were the proph-
ets of the Old Testament?
Lincoln Steffens, in chapter 3 of his autobiog-
raphy, said: "I was not the original muckraker.
The prophets of the Old Testament were ahead
of me."
* . :-.*
What early American president wrote a
book about the Bible in which he said, "It is
an invaluable and inexhaustible mine of
knowledge and virtue."
This description of the Bible was written by
John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United
States, in the book "The Bible and Its Teachings."
It was published in 1811, a little more than a dec-
ade before he assumed the presidency.

What great English ruler said of the Bible,
"This is the secret of England's greatness."
This statement was made by England's great-
est Modern monarch, Queen Victoria, while hand-
ing a Bible to an African tribal chieftain.