Hero of Negba Stirs Christian
Interest in Cause of Histadrut

Christian leaders acclaimed the
work of Histadrut and heard a
touching story of Jewish heroism
in Israel at the reception that was
given on Dec. 9, at Hotel Statler,
- in honor of Captain Yaakov Way-
land, hero of the Negba battle.
Officially introduced to Gov-
ernor-elect G. Mennen Williams
by the chairman at the reception,
Detroit Council President George
Edward, Captain Wayland was
greeted by Frank X. Martel, pres-
ident of the Detroit • and Wayne
County federations of Labor; Mr.
Williams and Barney Hopkins,
secretary-treasurer of the Mich-
,. igan CIO Council. Morris Lieb-
errhan, .nead of the Labor Zionist
Organization' here, introduced Mr.
Edwards.
.Representatives of CIO, AFL,
Inter-Racial - Committee., National
Association for -the, Advancement
of the Colored People, Americans
for Democratic Action and other
groups were present at the re-
ception.
Stirring Addresses
'Mr. Williams expressed confi-
dence that Israel will triumph in
the building of the Jewish State
and pledged his continued co-
operation in efforts to advance
the Zionist cause.
In a stirring address, Mr. Martel
said that people of all faiths
admire the fight Jews put up to
secure independence and ex-
pressed joy at having been in a
position to help the Zionist cause.
He gave assurance of uninter-
rupted interest by labor and their
determination to help the Jew-
ish State.
Similar assurances were given
by Mr. Edwards who, like the
other speakers, praised the efforts
of the Israel Federation of Labor
—Histadrut—in behalf of whose
drive Captain Wayland visited
in Detroit.
Describes Battle of Negev
Captain Wayland's address was
one of the most" effective heard
here since the rebirth of Israel.
He told _of the battle in the
Negev against the Egy-ptions, the
heroism of his fellow-colonists
in Negba who came to the
settlement to build a farm center.
He said that, while Negba was
destroyed in the battle, the Jews
in Israel speak of a living Negba
as the symbol of the undying de-
termination of Jews to survive.
The "secret weapons"—the will
to live, the spirit and honor of
the Jewish people—were dra-
matically portrayed by the
farmer who was compelled to be-
come a warrior. He told of the
advice he offered the corn-
--

mander of the Egyptian forces
to use the money they spent on
ammunition to -wipe out disease
in his land. The Egyptian major
apologized to the Jews whom his
forces outnumbered 50 to L
Captain Wayland pleaded for
peace, for an opportunity to
break the swords into plow-
shares, for a place for Israel in
the United Nations.

2

—

THE JEWISH NEWS

Fannie Hurst Stresses
Role of Jewish Women

Between You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

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

UN Echoes
-
The delay m action on Israel's application for membership in
the United Nations does not worry Israeli leaders . . It is certain
that sooner or later Israel will be admitted into the UN as a full-
fledged member .. However, the temporary postponement may
for the time - being affect the Jerusalem situation The tendency
is still strong in the UN to place Jerusalem under an international
regime, as pfovided in the partition decision . But it is known
that for same time quiet talks have been going on between UN
acting mediator Ralph Bunche and Israeli leaders with regard to
Jerusalem . . . The conversations centered about the question of
how to,"inter-nationalizE" Jerusalem and at the same time meet the
Jewish request that the city—with the exception of its walled sec-
tion—be made part of Israel . . . The idea was that if Israel is given
membership in the UN, the Israeli Government could be chosen
trustee and administrator for Jerusalem on behalf of the UN for as
long as the city would remain under UN trusteeship ... The trustee
for the Old City in Jerusalem would, under this scheme, be one of
the Arab countries . . • Eventually a plebiscite would have been
carried out leading, without doubt, to Jerusalem's joining the state
of Israel outright . . . The postponement of admission of Israel to
the UN has, naturally, prevented the realization of this scheme.

Communal Currents

Although the conflict in the United Palestine Appeal has finally
been settled on terms acceptable to all involved, the dissident group
known as the Committee of Contributors and Wor
kers has not- dis-
solved itself .. . However, the UPA leaders did not press for dis-
solution of the group, since the possibility of its indulging in an
independent fund-raising campaign is over ... The big question
now is the national conference of the United Jewish Appeal at which
the quota for 1949 will be set . . . There is no time left in December .
for this conference . . . It can only be convoked either in the begin-
ning or the end of January, since the week-end in the middle of the
month is set aside for the General Assembly of the Council-of Jewish
Federations and Welfare Funds . . . On the other hand, the com-
munity leaders who gather from all parts of the country at the Gen-
eral Assembly of CJFWF are practically the same who usually attend
the UJA annual parley ... Discussions are, therefore, now in prog-
ress between the CJFWF and the UJA with a view to coordinating
both parleys in such - fashion as to have them follow each other in
the same city during the same week-end . _ Thus Philadelphia
would, for a week, become the center of American Jewish communal
life.
American Jews desiring to visit Israel on an installment pay-
ment system will soon have a chance to do so ... The economic
department of the Jewish Agency is planning to open a tourist center
in New York and also to promote Tourist Clubs for Israel in: the
larger cities of the United States . . . Members of these clubs will
be able to travel to Israel under special savings projects 'and install-
ment plans.

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

ChurCh-Stafe Issue: Full of Dynamite

Women have a major respon-
sibility to shape a better democ-
racy in the United . States,
FANNIE HURST, distinguished
author, declared at a "Food for
Thought". luncheon recently

In a message accepting New York Yeshiva University's annual
Mordecai Ben David Award, Dr. Isaac Halevi Herzog, Chief Rabbi
of Palestine, made references to the State-Church issue which may
seriously affect amity , in Israel and which has some bearing on the
State-Church issue in this country. Dr. Herzog's long message con-
tained the following two paragraphs:

"Church and State 'nay be kept strictly apart in the United
States, but I know G-d is no stranger, if one may so speak, in
your great country. and that the ethical monotheism of Israel
and the principles, teachings and ideals stemming therefrom do
exert an influence, by no means negligible, upon the minds and
hearts of millions of American men -and women . .

Isaacs Honored
For Services to
Hebrew Schools

In appreciation of his efforts
in behalf of Hebrew education,
Bernard Isaacs was presented
with a watch, as gift from the
Woman's Auxiliary of the United
Hebrew Schools, at the Auxil-
iary's 25th anniversary dinner at
the Shaarey Zedek on Dec. 7.
The presentation was made by
Mrs. Louis Tobin, who presided
at the program. In brief remarks,
Mr. Isaacs expressed the hope
that the work of the Auxiliary
will be accelerated.
Dr. A. M. Hershman and Abe
Kasle, president of the United
Hebrew Schools, delivered brief
addresses in which they urged
continuation of the program for
an_intensive Jewish education for
the children. --
Albert Elazar, Mr. Isaacs' as-
sociate director of the schools, in
the principal address of the eve-
Mg, deplored the tendency • of
limiting the education of chil-
dren to one day a w.eek and de-
clared that the new interest in
Hebrew, occasioned by the re-
birth of the State of Israel,
should - lead to great effort for
Jewish learning. The spirit em-
anating from Israel, he stated,
should lead to greater effort in
this country for Israel and the
Hebrew language.
A thrilling feature of the
evening was the presentation
of the cantata by the United
Hebrew Schools' octet, under
the direction of Shirley Subar
Sklash, with Bob Leslie of Sta-
tion WWJ as narrator.
Mrs. Louis Gelfand, president
of the Auxiliary, welcomed the
500 people who attended the din-
ner. Mrs. Julius Berman gave
the opening prayer. Mark Feder
was featured in a humorous
monologue.

Purely Commentary

Friday, December 17, 1948

The new State of Israel will depend upon it, be aCtiVated
by the spirit of religion at its highest and will embody its
loftiest principles. Take it from me that the articulate religious
clement is New Israel is a living fact and a vital factor and the
more the arm of G-d is laid bare, as it surely will, and the
miracle of New Israel becomes ever more manifest, the more
that influence of religion will grow within truly democratic
Israel. - G-d will dwell -in New Zion!"

While it is too early to judge the reactions to such statements,
Commentator suspects that it will not be accepted in its totality
by all groups in Jewish life and that the urge for the establishment
of a democratic state will influence the actions of the state-builders.
It was not so long ago, during the debates over the validity of
Zionism, that we were called upon to defend ourselves, against
accusations that Jews aimed at establishing a theocracy in Israel.
With the Bible as our guide—whether we deal with the history or
geography or moral attitudes of Israel—there nevertheless will have
to be evolved a form of government which will not be influenced
by synagogUal authorities. High Priests will have their place. but
there is enough for them to do in Houses of Worship without
influencing the railroads and the air force and the postal system.
Furthermore, there will have to be new attitudes relative to public
utilities, and the New Zion, in which, indeed, G-d will continue to
abound, won't be able to wait for a Sanhedrin to compile new laws.

yOLIF

sponsored by the New York
Chapter of the American Jewish
Committee. With Miss Hurst is
Mrs. Joseph M. Proskauer, wife
of the president of the American
Jewish Committee. There are
American Jewish Committee
We sincerely hope that Israel will be spared some of the con-
chapters in 35 cities throughout troversies
which are splitting the citizenry of America on the State-
the country.
Church issue. Two books recently were published on this question.
Each is biased in its own fashion, and both indicate the existence
of a conflict which weakens American unity. "The First Freedom"
Hebrew Schools Unite
by Wilfrid Parsons, S. J. (published by Declan X. McMullen Co.,
225 Broadway, New York 7) represents the Catholic viewpoint. On
For Hanukah Pageant
the other hand, Dr. Joseph Martin Dawson, Baptist leader, chal-
Dec. 29 at Central High lenges the Catholic Church's desire to secure public funds for its
parochial schools in his book, "Separate Church and State Now"
The evening of Dec, 29 has been (published by Richard R. Smith, 120 E. 39th St., New York 16).
set by the United Hebrew Schools
There is something rather frightening about the debate in
for their Hanukah pageant pro-
the two dynamite-laden books which carry on the discussion
gram at Central High School. All
strictly on a partisan basis. The Catholic spokesman demands.
a reversal of the United States Supreme Court decision in the
branches of the Schools will
Champaign, Ill., McCollum Case involving the issue of released
participate.
time in public schOols for religious studies. The Baptist leader
The pageant consists of two
wants a reversal of the New Jersey decision which- permitted
scenes, -the first, historic; the
the state to pay blis fares for parochial school,-children. While it
second, contemporary, beginning
is true that the main issue—that of separation of church and
with the first Aliyah and ending
state—is involved in the discussion, the basic ideals, which.
were taught by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson are
with the establishment of the
. flouted and there is a. stronger Clamor for the infiltration • of
state of Israel. It is directed by
church influence into our schools through released time and
Shirley Subar Sklash, music di-
other methods of injecting religion into public institutions.
rector of the Schools, assisted by
the entire staff. -
The Rev. Parsons. whose book carries the endorsement of
Local Hanukah program direc- Archbishop Francis P. Keough of Baltimore, contends that separa-
tion
of church and state was meant for the federal government and
ted and arranged by the princi-
did not apply to states; that "when the state grants support to a
pals and instructers, will be held Catholic school in some way it is not because it is Catholic, it is be-
in each UHS branch- during cause the students are members of our society"; that the doctrine
Hanukah.
of separation of church and state as preached by secularists of 19th-
century Europe would have the disastrous result, if carried through
in this country, of "enacting into our fundamental law a sectarian
Hashofar to Present
and radical theological dogmatism which would end once and for
all our whdle American tradition of religious liberty and equality."
Cantor J. Sonenklar
Father Parsons makes the additional curious comment that "neither
Lillian Robbins, co-chairman of Jefferson.nor Madison ... considered that separation of church and
Hashofar home musicales an- state included separation of religion from education."
nounced that Cantor Jacob Son-
Dr. Dawson shatters the Catholic viewpoint that their schools
enklar of Shaarey Zedek will dis- are entitled to subsidies because the children would have been in
cuss and illustrate "liturgical public schools, at public expense, if they had not entered parochial
music of the synagogue" at the institutions. Only a small additional experise would provide for the
next musical, at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, larger numbers of children in existing schools, he shows. If parochial
schools are to be supported, why not private schools?- How far is
Dec. 19, at the home of Dr. and the
division to go?
Mrs. S. S. Wittenberg, 2655 Bur-
lindame.
But the partisanship exists. If Dr. Dawson's arguments are
valid, why should the fight for separation of church and state
Community C . n,;ing and refresh-
be conducted by Protestants and Other Americans United for
ments will con.:ude the evening.
Separation of Church and State? Why this additional strictly
religious designation by a group purporting - to fight for the
preservation of American principles? Why not arrive at a sound
Council Recommends Two
American principle FOR separation of church and state but not
Important Radio Programs
on the basis of an intra-religious, intra-family fight?

Recommended by the Jewish
Community Council . for good
listening, two more programs,
numbers 9 and 10 in a 13-week
series, "Stories to Remember,"
will be heard Tuesday, Dec. 21,
and Thursday, Dec. 23 at 4 p.m.,
over station WXYZ.
Bambi Linn, one of Broadway's
newest stars, will be heard Tues-
day in "There Isn't Time Now,"
in the role of a girl who learns
that important things cannot wait
and that what her heart tells
her to do for a friend must not
be postponed.
Thursday's program will be
"Act of Faith" by Irwin Shaw.
It is the story of an American
soldier who has faith in his coun-
try's ability to maintain in peace
time' the bonds of companionship
forged on foreign battlefields.
Allen Baxter is the star of the
performance.
This series of progress has been
prepared by the Institute for
Democratic . Education and is be-
ing heard locally under the spon-
sorship of the Coordinating Coun-
cil on . 11111rnan RelatiOns of which
the Jewish - Community Council
is a member.

The two books referred to show a sharp division of Catholic
and Protestant opinion in the interpretations of the intentions of the
First Amendment to our COnstitution. The battle is developing into
more than a family fight. It threatens to create a religious war. The
charge that 12,000,000 Catholic votes had influenced the -sending of
a special Ambassador to the Vatican is counteracted by charges that
millions of Protestant votes are having an effect upon political
action and thinking in this country in the opposite direction. -

We- have consistently taken the stand that our school system
should be kept free from religious influence—whether Protestant,
Catholic or Jewish. It CAN be done, provided we refrain from
confusing the issue and from seeking to satisfy selfish ends.

Your commentator concurs in two viewpoints expressed
this week. He endorses the stand of Mrs. Eugene Meyer of
Washington, a member of the President's Commission on Higher
Education, that since our schools have the primary mission of
strengthening community solidarity, family life and a sense of
brotherhood, "they should refuse categorically to become the
battleground of sectarian religious beliefs;" that persons who are
afraid of being misinterpreted as "anti-religious" when they
oppose released-time programs should remember the historical
and constitutional precedents of keeping church and secular
public schools apart in this country.

Your conlmentator also accepts the viewpoint expressed
currently in the Congress 'Weekly in opposition to Christmas
celebrations in public schools and concurs in the following
qualifying statement: "We are equally opposed to joint Christ-
mas-Hanukah celebrations. What is wrong if done by , Christians
does not become right if carried on by Jews as well. '

Similarly, it is our sincere hope that the State of Israel will not
be burdened by clerical. influence. G-D already dwells in Israel—in
the hearts of the People Israel. The spiritual heritage will guide our
leaders to justice. We must avoid f_ ,f.),.nflict based on religious issues.
By striving for unity and by rooting our aims in democratic ideals,
the religious spirit' will of and in itself be strengthened in Israel