Infant Israeli Film Industry Strides Forwara

By DAVID BROWN

and exhibition of films in South Africa. He was with anyone of ten million young men in any
a correspondent with the Jewish Brigade during the country, and not as a single-minded, high-purpose
other
se-
An important step towards the establishment of a
war and made a number of documentary films for and perman who overcomes every obstacle.
full-blowr film industry in Israel was taken the other
about that unit of the British Army. Krumgold is
"So we decided to tell the story of a young Jew
day when Spyros P. Skouras, president of Twentieth a former writer of screenplays in Hollywood, a pro-
Century-Fox, undertook the distribution of "Israel
ducer of documentary shorts for the Office of War just out of Poland who is not, after his recent experi-
Reborn." This one-reel documentary, the first o fences,
terribly_anxious
to involve himself in the milieu
"v•w'''.1•:',':',-''',,,/,',
dInformation during the war and will
tt.'s.:.',:.•
the monthly series which is to have the overall title of
of pioneering. He wants to rest. He wants to be im-
probably be best-remembered at the
"Israel Today," will bring to audiences everywhere a
known. He wants, in other words, to be left alone.
moment as co-author of "Magic Town. "
first-hand account of the creation of the Jewish state.
'A Place Called Home takes him through this pre.
Lourie is as optimistic about the
The release by a major film company of this
liminary, altogether human negativeness and tells the
film industry in Israel as he is about
first documentary reel; an arrangement with
story of how he does finally find a useful and satisfy-
Tsrael itself. " Palestine is the. finest
Telenews to distribute newsreel material; and the
ing place for himself in his oven country. We believe
latur al studio in the world," he declar-
many people ever ywhere in the world will personally
arrival within the next two or three months of "A
, with
"
2d
a
climate
much
like
that
of
I
:
i
.
Place Called Home," the first full length feature
identify themselves with our hero. For above all
•Southern California, but better. There's
picture to come out of Israel these are the three
else he is like most of us—a simple human being."
zunshine
10
months
of
the
year
and
pillars upon which the structure of Palestine
w
, very type of topography for location
The leading player in "A Place Called Home"
Films, Inc., producers of all the above, is being
Via,
is twenty six year old Arthur Sroke. Along gen-
shooting t, within a two hour drive."
built.
Lourie
eral lines his own recent life is a reflection of the
The plan of Palestine films is to
Palestine Films is headed by Norman Lourie, a
produce one feature film a year for the next two or
hero's development in the film. "A Place Called
South African Jew, and Joseph Krumgold, an Ameri- three years. Then Lourie expects to have gathered
Home" was completed, and young Sroka went to
can. Lourie is now in the United States (on leave
Jerusalem for a holiday. There he was almost
sufficient facilities, enough technicians and the proper
from Haganah, of which he is a member) and has
fatally wounded in the Ben Yehudah St. explosion.
dramatic ideas for at least two feature films a year.
been conducting active negotiations for the distribu-
In describing "A Place Called Home", Lourie de-
The incident seemed to come to him as both a
tion and circulation of his company's variegated film Glared:
warning and the reward. He was rushed to Hadassah
output. Krumgold is in Tel Aviv, where he arrived
"It is, we think, a bit unusual. If one were asked Hospital and every effort was made to keep him alive.
from Jerusalem following the recent lifting of the
to put it into any category at all—say tragedy or corn- Just before word came through that Sroka had a good
Holy City's siege.
edy or whatever—one would say it is a comedy. We chance to live, Laurie and Krumgold had decided
to
Lourie has been, and still is, active in distribution
wanted to tell a story that would identify our hero dedicate the picture to their young leading man.

(Copyright, 1948, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

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Hebrew Has Been Ma or Factor 'In the Beginning . .
Roots of Anti-Semitism Planted
In Jewish Survival
in Diaspora Torment of Spirit In 4 Basic
.---
Phases of Existence
By. DR. TRUE WEISS-ROSMARIN
Seen As Origin
By RABBI MILTON STEINBERG
is a mistaken notion that Hebrew was a dead language
until Eliezer Ben Yehudah restored it to life and spoken Of Modern Bible
If the survival of the Jew be one riddle of history, the

(Copyright, 1948, Seven Arts)

It

(Copyright, 1948, Seven Arts)

naturalness, to be a language "like all the rest," but this does
hardihood of hatred for him must be another. For this, like
not mean that before they created a modern technological By DR. SOLOMON GOLDMAN the Jew himself, has outlived all vicissitudes of time. In large
(Copyright, 1948, Seven Arts)
Hebrew vocabulary Hebrew was "dead." It was far from
part, prejudice against the Jew is the direct result of in-
that.
,(:)
The Bible is the outgrowth of doctrination. Of all its sources, the Christian religion
Throughout the centuries of cultural and literary expression the divine wrestlings, endless seem to be the most potent. Certainly it is the oldest, the would
pulpit

Jewish homelessness, Hebrew except in Hebrew.
frustrations, and deep optimism having for centuries taught wor-
was the vehicle of literary cre-
All of Jewish literature which
shippers to regard the Jew as the plausibility to any charges
ative and scientific-scholarly Jew- has stood the test of the millenia of the Jewish people. It had its Christ-killer.
directed against him.
ish expression. There is no Jew- and the centuries was written in beginnings in the tales of a bold
Further, anti-Semitism is in no
From this distressing prac-
ish or general theme in the po- Hebrew, or a Hebrew-Aramaic skeptic of whom it was recount-
tice, there are among the Chris- - slight measure the result of the
tential orbit of the scholar of the idiom dominated by the spirit of ed that, repelled by idolatrous
fact that it is so useful, that it
tian clergy these day dissenters,
pre-technological era on which the Hebrew language. Jewish creeds and pagan practices, he
and in increasing numbers. But lends itself so readily to exploita-
volumes in Hebrew are not books written in any other
tion by unscrupulous persons.
the exceptions are not yet so
tongue, be it Greek, Arabic, groped his way to a glimpse of
available,
numerous as to nullify the rule.
Finally, as Carey McWilliams
Spanish
or
German,
failed
to
be
the
One
God,
perfect
in
all
per
a Jew of yesterday
has demonstrated in his recent
Economics
invested
with
the
peculiar
sane-
fections.
would commit something to
book, it has been utilized as "a
along with reli
writing, he almost certainly tity associated with Hebrew books
mask for privilege," economic,
HIS
DESCENDANTS,
or
at
gion,
has
a
role
by whose
very touch the Jew is
chose Hebrew as his medium of inspired.
social, political caste.
.
It is significant that any rate some of them, brooded in the creation
expression, because it was the
on this God with such constancy of anti - Semit-
only
those
medieval
philosophical
language which he mastered
and concentration that it became ism. The Gen-
perfectly in writing, even if he works written in Arabic that the passion of their being to mold, tile, struggling
have influenced Jewish thought
spoke it only haltingly.
for a livelihood,
were ,early translated into Heb- humanity in His likeness.
This -All seem incongruous to rew.
For they had discovered in the takes the com-
those who, by studying a foreign
Jewish history proves conclu- holiness of their father's God petition of a
language, have discovered that
fellow '.- Gentile
the mastery of the written word sively that there is no security man's sanctity, his common or- with as much
By DR. ABRAHAM A. NEUMAN
for
Jews
in
any
country
of
the
igin
and
destiny;
in
His
eternity
is much more difficult than that
as he can:
(Copyright, 1948, Seven Arts)
principle
of the spoken word. But to the diaspora. Wherever Jews were the rinciple of the consistency of muster. But
There is a new awareness in
Jew of yesterday, Hebrew was finally cast out, they had at one history; and in His goodness the when his corn-Rabbi Sternberg
the camps of Israel of the
time been eagerly welcomed. No coherence of humanity or the
emptiness of modern life in
not
a
foreign
language;
it
was
country
has
ever
been
more
to
brotherhood
of
man.
They
desir-
petitor
is
a
Jew,
he
grows
resent-
the
which religion has been relegat-
language in which he lived us than a Nachtasyl—a stop-over. ed nothing more out of life than ful. -_
his
it were. of
It his
was
A third root of anti-Semitism ed to a minor place and the
not better
merely life,
the as
language
.. -not because we would not call to make of their people the
prayers, but also of his thoughts it "home" but because the na- agent that would bring the is human psychology. It is part Torah, which is the heart of the
tions have refused to grant us whole world to live by these in- of man's animal heritage to sus- Jewish religion, has been desert-
and meditations.
more than a Nachtasyl and, in sights.
pect the unknown, to fear what ed by the laiety and neglected,
The Jew of yesterday, if he many cases, even this was denied
The people responded readily he suspects and to hate what he all too frequently, in the ranks
was at all lettered—there were us. And like our adoptive coun- and agreed to do and obey. They fears. The Jew being in some of the rabbinate.
no literally illiterate Jews—read tries, so their languages, too, resolved never again to be like degree an unknown, of different
A future for Torah in Amer-
Hebrew and Aramaic works ex- which we loved and enriched. unto the nations — but could background and modes of living, ica, if resolved upon in positive
elusively. Only in the later Middle were inexorably wrested from not abandon their ways.
the Gentile is tempted to suspect, terms by American Israel, will
Ages there emerged a popular us in the end.
go a long way to strengthen the
fear and hate him.
Yiddish literature in response to
YET, THEIR DISPARITY be-
Jewish survival is bound to
religious fibre of American
Implicated
in
group
prejudice
the cultural needs of those who Hebrew to an even higher de
tween faith and conduct, never is still
another psychological Jewry.
possessed only an elementary gree than to the Jewish home
hardened into cynicism or pes-
What is Torah? It is a coat of
tendency, that scapegoatism
Hebrew training sufficient to land. For Hebrew has been simism.
many
colors, a spiritual garb of
whereby
men
and
societies
are
follow the synagogue services.
with us in our territorial home-
Israel would neither desert its forever prone to blame others infinite variety. Torah is the em-
Ahad ' Ha'am's thesis that
lessness.
God, nor cease to vex Him; nor for their own mistakes and bodiment of Jewish thought and
"our national literature is only
There can be no Jewish sur- would it despair either of its misfortunes. For this role the vision; the reposifory of Israel's
that which is written in our vival without Hebrew. The own ultimate regeneration or of
historic experiences; the vehicle
national language and does not strengthening of our ties with the salvation of mankind. And Jew is ideally suited. He is of its communion with the In-
strong enough to be able to set
include what Jews write in Hebrew is therefore imperative it was out of these apostasies and up effective resistance,
but not finite. But the Torah in the ideal
other languages" is sound. for all those who want our i wrestlings and aspirations that
conspicuous and influential cannot be chained to the written
There is no eternity for Jewish
people to live.
the Bible came into being.
enough to give some show of word nor contained wholly in the
institutions designed for human
•• ••• NORMAN &so, 1•00E ♦
LIVES OF OUR TIMES
beings. It is the indwelling of
LEON SOLOMON MOISSEIFF
••••
MARC RUTNER.
the divine spirit in living souls
as expressed in the genius of
LATVIAN - BORN 20-YEAR-OLD JEW,
HIS DREAMS MATERIALIZED WHEN HE DEVELOPED
Israel.
WHO DREAMED OF GRACEFUL AND POWER -
PLANS FOR THE REBUILDING OF THE FAMOUS
FUL SPANS ACROSS THE EARTH'S GREAT
Our lay leaders are displaying
BROOKLYN BRIDGE WHICH LINKS NEW YORK TO
RIVERS, CAME TO THE U.S.IN 1891 AFTER
BROOKLYNA WAS CONSULTANT FOR THE EQUAL-
heroic courage in shouldering
FIFI1SHING HIS STUDIES AT THE
LY FAMOUS GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AT SAN
enormous responsibilities for the
POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE IN RIGA
FRANCISCO. HE ALSO DESIGNED THE ARTISTIC
physical
sustenance and the re-
/ //
GEORGE WASNINGTON,TRISOROUGH, SAN
habilitation of our brethren in
FRANCISCO-OAKLAND BRIDGES &MANY OTHERS.
Europe and in Palestine. They
IN 1929,HE WAS INVITED BY THE MOSCOW
are setting precedents of phil-
GOVERMENT TO BUILD BRIDGES IN RUSSIA.
anthropy and human engineer-
THE GERMAN GOVERNMENT ASKED HIM
ing that reflect the wisdom and
LATER TO BE THE CONSULTANT ENGINEER FOR
THREE YEARS AFTER GAINING HIS ENGINEER -
compassion of the Jewish heart.
THE SUSPENSION RHINE BRIDGE AT COLOGNE.
ING DEGREE AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, HE BE-
THE U.S. WAR DEPARTMENT MADE HIM A MEM-
But that leadership has not de-
CAME ENGINEER-DESIGNER FOR THE N.Y.C. DEPT.
BER OF ITS ADVISORY BOARD OF ENGINEERS
veloped the keen sensitivity and
OF BRIDGES FOR THE NEXT 18 YEARS.
ON STRUCTURAL STEELS AN ADVISOR ON
sacrifical devotion for Torah
which is so essential.
STEELS FABRICATED METALS. CREDITED WITH
AN ARDENT JEW,IFE WAS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS
A MAN WHO CREATED"ROADS ABOVE
The terth "the Golden Age of
DEVELOPING THE NOW-UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTED
OF THE N.Y. ''KEHILLAN:' HE WAS ALSO A MEMBER
THE EARTFCHE WAS ALWAYS ACTIVE
the
Jews in Spain" was more
DEFLECTION THEORY OF SUSPENSION BRIDGES,
OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE JEWISH POUF
IN THE JEWISH AFFAIRS OF N.Y. UNTIL
HE WAS AWARDED NUMEROUS PRIZES AND
than a gilded phrase. Literally
CATION SOCIETY AND CHAIRMAN OF THE
LIE DIED,ATTHE AGE OF 7Q IN 1943—
HONORS,AMONG THEM THE NORMAN MEDAL ;
great riches of gold were -poured
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN
THE JAMES LAURIE PRIZE,TFIE EGLESTON
out for institutions of learning
FRIENDS OF THE HEBREW UNIVERSITY.
MEDAL &TI4E MODERN PIONEER AWARD.
011
I
inspired by the love of Torah.
,
Till the day comes when this
11
attitude becomes the dominant
ills LOVE FOR BRI•E-BUILDING DID NOT OVER-
mood and conviction of Amer-
SHADOW HIS INTEREST IN YIDDISH LITERATURE.HE
ican Jewish \leadership it be-
HAD BEEN PUBLISHER OF A YIDDISH MAGAZINE IN N.
hooves the spiritual leaders to
WHICH INTRODUCED MANY WRITERS TO THE
guard, to cherish and to nurture
YIDDISH-READING PuBLiC.HE ALSO WROTE FOR
THE N.Y. YIDDISH PRESS UNDER THE PEN-NAME
this ideal in our midst.

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America,n Jvwiy
Needs ReneWed
Interest in Torah

-

-

LEON

SOLOMON
MOISSEIFF

Lew./
oLomow
s

m oisseirF

4/.04p

OF M. LEONTIEFF.

00,416.41.

•JelAlly ists0..nuf A..411

12—THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, Oct. 1, 1948.

