Detroit Jews Mobilize Forces for Histadrut

41

Israel Labor Forces Open
1949 Drive for $375,000

for a people that is determined
to -survive.
The one certain way of protect-
ing Israel's boundaries, she de-
clared, is by establishing hun-

Philadelphia-Byron Students to Get
School Facilities, Abe Kasle Assures

Abe Kasle, president of the ,
United Hebrew Schools, this
week stated that every child now
studying in the Philadelphia-
Byron branch of the United He-
brew Schools and every young-
ster in the 12th Stjeet area who
needs a Jewish education will be
succeed. Paying tribute to Is- fully provided for in spite of the
rael's 'first President, Dr. Chaim impending evacuation of the
Weizmann, Rabbi Weinstein made Philadelphia-Byron branch by

dreds of new cooperatives and
Yehudith Ginsburg and Rabbi Weinstein Call for Inc reased i agricultural settlements.
Efforts; Truman Asked to Stop British Affronts to
Rabbi Jacob J. Weinstein of
. Chicago, the other speaker of.the
Israel: Schumer Re-Elected Chairman
evening, extolled Histadrut's con-
Wek.
tributions and said • that they
made it possible for Zionism to

to operate for some time, and
that at the end of that time the
schools hope to acquire facilities
to care for the 129 - pupils now
studying in the branch about to
be abandoned as well as for ad-
ditional pupils.
Bernard Isaacs, superintendent
of the schools, stated that the
United Hebrew Schools will
transport pupils who can be ac-
commodated in other branches
from the 12th Street area and
that new facilities will provide
for these who must secure their
Hebrew education in the vicinity
of Philadelphia and Byron Ave-
nues.

references to the Weizmann auto- the schools.
biography, "Trial and Error," and
The sale of the building now
reviewed the great contributions housing the Hebrew school
made by Israel's President to branch, at 1245 W. Philadelphia,
Jewish life, to Zionism and as the to the Boys Club of Detroit, was
chief factor in Israel's redemp- announced last week.
tion.
The Philadelphia-Byron build-
Mayor Eugene Van Antwerp,
ing was erected by the United
praising the "great humanitar- Hebrew Schools 25 years ago. It 500 Jewish Passengers.
ian cause" which brought to-
became the property of the Sail for Israel from Crete
gether the large gathering, as-
Guardian Life Insurance Co. of
ATHENS (JTA) — The S. S.
Left to right: CANTOR MIIHAL KOUSEVITSKY, MAYOR
serted that the Israeli pioneers New York about 13 years ago.
EUGENE VAN ANTWERP, YEHUDITH GINSBURG, RABBI JACOB
Tampa, with 500 Jewish passen-
have earned their freedom and
Mr. Kasle said that the He-
WEINSTEIN.
the chance to live a normal life. brew schools' branch on Phila- gers aboard, sailed from Seuda
*
drives here for labobr Israel, and
He indicated that he had made delphia and Byron will continue Bay in Crete for Israel.
Detroit Jews demonstrated their Morris Lieberman, one of the
a study of Histadrut's accom-

loyalty to the Histadrut, at the
rally which marked the com-
mencement of the 1949 drive for
$375,000, by filling to overflowing
the Music Hall, last Sunday eve-
ning. Scores of people were un-
able to gain admittance, every
available seat and all permissible
standing room having been filled
at 8 p.m., the hour set for the
opening of the program.
The impressive gathering,
which included representatives
from practically every Jewish
organization in Detroit, in ad-
dition to the many hundreds of
workers and contributors, ac-
claimed the decision of the His-
tadrut executive committee to
conduct a drive for $375,000 this
year and unanimously adopted
resolutions, which were sent to
President Truman and the new
Secretary of State, Dean Ache-
son, asking them to inform
Great Britain that she must
keep her troops out of Israel,
thereby permitting. Jews and
Arabs to attain peace through
the normal channels of direct
negotiations.
Harry Schumer, chairman of
the drive, after presenting his
annual report on last year's ac-
complishments, praised the ef-
forts of two associates on the
platform—Morris Svhaver, who
pioneered in managing Histadrut

younger leaders who has brought
hundreds of young people -into
the ranks of labor Zionism.
Yehudith Ginsburg, member of
Jerusalem's Military Council and
leader in the nursing corps in
Israel, in a stirring address chal-
lenged the Jews of Detroit to
be in the front ranks of the
builders of Israel so that they
may have a positive report to
their children who will ask them
what share they had in the build-
ing of the Jewish State.
Warning her audience that
the war has not ended, Mrs.
Ginsburg, in an outline of the
great achievement of Histadrut,
declared that JeWish efforts
must be doubled to assure com-
plete triumph for the reborn
State of Israel. Declaring that
Israel seeks peace, she added.
that "we want to work and to
build but we will carry on the
war if necessary to secure those
sections of the land which we
have won with our blood."
Mrs. Ginsburg praised Amer-
ican Jews for the help they gave
to make possible Israel's redemp-
tion and, referring to Histadrut,
said that "only those who have
themselves become pioneers can
show others how work with the
plow, in the spirit of sacrifice
and devotion," • can attain success

plishments and, reviewing the
labor Zionist movement's his-
tory, praised the builders of
Zion. He urged the gathering
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
to do its utmost to attain His-
tadrut's 1949 goal.
Meyer Levin vs. Arthur Koestler: Keeping the Best in Israel
Louis Levine, chairman of the
Arthur Koestler, the brilliant writer whose articles from Israel,
organzation's division in the where he has watched the rise of the Jewish State during the past
drive, announced that 160 so- few years, have aroused numerous controversies, has created another
cieties have enrolled in the cam- argument with his final article in a series of 13 he had written for
paign, as contributors and as ac- the New York Herald Tribune. He expresses the view that "the
tive participants. Last year these existence of the Hebrew state .. puts every Jew outside Israel
organizations raised $90,000, he before a dilemma which will become increasingly acute. It is the -
announced, and appealed for an choice between becoming a citizen of the Hebrew nation, and re
I nouncing any conscious or implicit claim to separate nationhood."
increased effort this year.
Quoting Dr. Chaim Weizinann's statement to the Anglo- ei-
The large gathering acclaimed ican Committee of Inquiry that "we seem to carry anti-Semitism in
the singing of Cantor Miihal our knapsacks wherever we go," Mr. Koestler declares that "now
Kousevitsky, v,rho is considered the climax is reached, the circle closed. It is no longer a question of
capitulation, but of a free choice."
the world's outstanding cantor.
"The dilemma," he declares, "would not arise if being a Jew
Mr. Schumer, who appealed for were merely a matter of religion like being a Protestant, or merely
increased effort for_Histadrut dur- a question of racial descent like being a French-Canadian. But both
ing the coming 'drive, was re- these comparisons are fallacious. The Jewish religion is not merely
electel chairman. Mr. Schaver a system of faith and worship, but implies membership of a definite
was re-elected honorary chair- race and potential nation. The greater part of the sacred texts is
man, Mr. Lieberman chairman of national history . . • The conclusion is that since the foundation of
the executive committee, and the Hebrew State the attitude of Jews who are unwilling to go there,
Louis Levine chairman of organ- yet insist on remaining in a community in some way apart from
their fellow citizens, has become an untenable anachronism."
izations.
He concludes with this striking statement: "To renounce Jewish
The following were chosen
arateness does -not of course, mean to jettison the perennial
vice-chairmen: Isadore Cohen,' values of Judaic tradition. Much of it has already passed into the
Morris Fisher, John Isaacs, Ben- main 'stream of the Judeo-Christian heritage. Other specifically
jamin M. Laikin, Chana Michlin, I Jewish spiritual achievements, like Talmudic exegesis and the
of the Kabbala, have become, but were not intended to
M. Milinsky, Harry Mondry; Alex mysticism
remain, prerogatives of a sectarian minority. If a Judaic religion is
Nichamin, Nathan Rose, Alex to continue without imposing the traditional stigma, the curse of
Schreier, Nathan Shecter, Julius separateness, on its followers it must be a system of faith and cos-
M. Singer, J. L. Wolock.
mopolitan ethics freed from all racial presumption and national
Norman Cottler was elected exclusivity. Buchenwald was the last station; there must be an end
• treasurer; Philip Imber and Wil- to every Calvary."
Mr. Koestler's arguments, which are certain to win a following
liam Thomson, recording and fi- in the
Diaspora, have nothing to do with separation of religion and
nancial secretaries; Sidney Shev- state within Israel. They are concerned with separation of Jewries
its, I. Pokempner and M. Goldof- from "national loyalties." The eminent author errs in one major
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
tas, charmen of speakers' bureau; respect: it never was a question of national loyalties insofar as
Dr. Irving Posner and Dr. Saul Israel's redemption was concerned. The major aspiration was to end,
Behind the Scenes
Realizing. that the Arabs have lost the war against Israel, Bevin C. Stein, charimen of professional the homelessness of Jews and to provide a permanent haven for the
his henchmen are determined to begin a large-scale diplomatic division; M. Taich, director of or- dispossessed. Continuation of such a "loyalty!' involves an earnest
and
offensive against Israel . . . The malicious story that the U. S. hinted ganizations; Sam Rabinowitz, desire to see a true democracy perpetuated in the Middle East and
it might withdraw recognition of Israel was no surprise to those
to help a struggling young republic remain on its feet in the battle
familiar with the situation . . . London rumor mills haye been busy executive director. Members of against feudal aggressors. But it would be as wrong to question the
on the story for a long time . . . The rumor was disseminated as a the executive board are:
loyalty of Jews today to the respective governments of which they
Sylvia Adler, Dr. A. Alper, Bernard are citizens as it would have been before the re-creation of Israel.
trial balloon to test American reaction . .. Mr: Truman heard the
Maurice Baker, Anna Bas-
rumor and laughed it off . .- He has told a leading Senator that Althchuler,
Another eminent author, Meyer Levin, who also has lived in
sin, Alex Belkin, A. F3igelman, J. Bro-
f a further attempt is made to create the impression that he has dy, R. Shesluk, Mrs. D. Colman, S. Israel for many years, producing films and writing books, writing
deviated from his campaign -pronouncements he might have to do Dronzek, David Faigenbaum, Mrs. G. from Paris, France, in answer to an earlier article by Mr. Koestler,
Selma Friedman, Morris provides an interesting answer to the latter's viewpoint. Mr. Levin,
some knuckle rapping . . The key to the President's thinking on Fleischer,
A. Goldberg, J. Goldberg, Osher
Palestine is to be found in- the statement he made on the occasion Glass,
Goldberg, Dena Goldsmith, Peter S. in a letter to the New York Herald Tribune, stated:
of the testimonial dinner to Eddie Jacobson at Kansas City . . . Mr. Goldstein, Philip Goldstein, Harry
I was particularly interested in Mr. Koestler's last article
Truman said that peace between Israel and its neighbors could have Grossman, B. Halpern, Dr. Leon Hersh-
on Israel because as a wrifer with twenty-five years of contact
:Ens,
Lebel
Hoffinitz,
J.
Honeyman,
Wil-
been achieved if it were not for the meddling of "one of our great Schubiner, Frank Segal, W. Selman,
with Palestine his experience exactly parallels my own. I can-
allies in the last war" _ . The reference was to Britain and not to ham Hordes, L. Jacobs, B. Kaplan, A.
not say that I arrive at the same conclusion. For Koestler's
Russia . .. When a prominent Kansas City leader who was seated Kaminker, Morris Kane, Sam Kane,
conclusion clearly reveals the psychosis which has long been
William
Klafer;
David
Grouse,
B.
Ku-
on the dais asked Mr. Truman what he meant by the statement the move, Morris Lachover, Harry Laker,
apparent to many of his readers: he is a Jew who hates being
President recalled that he referred to "our great ally to the North" Charles Landau, Mrs. L. Levine, AC
a Jew. Yet as long as there was no Jewish homeland he felt the
when speaking of the Far East . . The implication was clear .. . Levine, Mrs. Leiberrnan, N. Linden,
burden of race, the obligation to persist as a Jew in order to
the
dinner
for
President
Harold
Milinsky,
Adele
Mondry,
Nor-
-
President Truman's appearance at
insure our survival. With Israel established he feels he can wave
Mr. Truman man Naimark, Larry Nichamin, Miriam
in
more
than
one
way
.
Weizmann may make history
Paransky, Syvia Pine, L. Rosen, Ben
goodby, and live as an Englishman.
may utilize the occasion to make a dramatic declaration . We hear Rosental, Morris Ross, Sam Rubin, M.
This is of course the purely negative reaction. But I think
the general election in Israel has been postponed to February . . Ruzrnuna, Dr. Alexander Sanders, M.
there are more of us who have a positive reaction to our
Shkolnick, M. Shumkler, David
It was to have been held on Jan. 25 . . . U. S. de jure recognition Philip
development as Jews. In spite of the ugliness of Tel Aviv, the
Sislin, Mrs. S. Sislin, J. Weiner, M.
of Israel was expected to follow the election.
Weiner, Nahum Wei-Ssman, J. Wenner,
fundamentalism of some of our orthodox elders, the ultra-
The appointment of Dean. Acheson as Secretary of State is Abe White, Mrs. Fannie White, H.
nationalism of some of our youngsters, we enjoy being Jews.
expected to lead to a more friendly State Department attitude to- Wiener, Albert Wineman, N. Wolock.
We come out with a plus instead of a minus. We don't feel that
ward the Palestine question . . . He is known to have been friendly
we have to declare ourselves the Chosen People in order to
to the Israeli position vis a vis Arab resistance to the UN Partition ZOA Is New Sponsor
accept our culture, our history, our ethics. We don't believe this
will lead to an insoluble conflict in ourselves, if we happen to
decision.
Of Israeli Broadcasts
live in a land other than Israel.
Indeed, every human yearns for simplification of his role in
Orchids
NEW
YORK
(JTA)
—
Israeli
society, but there is a certain laziness that goes with this yearn-
Rudolf Kayser, author of Spinoza, has just finished a new book
ing. We feel we can work out the complex equation, and take
under the title '`Between Cross and Crescent: The Age of Jehudah Consul-General Arthur Lourie
enrichment from it.
Halevi" . . . Mr. Kayser is Prof. Einstein's son-in-law . .vol- was among the 400 persons who
We believe that the plain existence of Israel is the antidote
ume will be -published by the Philosophical Library in the spring. participated in ceremonies inaug-
for anti-Semitism. Even Streicher, in jail. in Nuernberg, showed
An interesting and easy shorthand method for music was urating Zionist Organization of
a complete change of reaction in face of the fighting Jews of
devised recently by Jack Levi of Johannesberg . • Levi, a Lithuan- America sponsorship of daily
Palestine. The myth can evolve.
ian-born Jew, will long be remembered by a certain Nazi • . When broadcasts from Israel to be car-
There have always been Jews who felt better as non-Jews.
. the Nazi ambassador to South Africa was given his papers at the ried by Radio Station WMCA.
We hold no rancor toward them. We hope Mr. Koestler gets to
outbreak of the war he sold his furniture at auction — The auc-
The
direct
Tel
Aviv
broadcasts
feel better. But there are, I think, more of us who 'feel that the
tioneer asked for bids on two pianos . . . When a prospective buyer
sack we carry contains many precious things, and if we carried
called on Levi to test the instruments he played the Hatikvah to the will be heard Monday through
anti-Semitism too, we can perhaps lift out this poison, and throw
Friday evenings from '7:04 to
discomfort of the ambassador and his subordinates.
It is said of Prof. Einstein that he once defined a Jew as a 7:15 p.m. • Nathan Straus, presi-
it away, keeping what is good.
Meyer Levin, always close to the Jewish masses, was able to
dent of the station, greeted the
person who loathes hunting.
recent
public
function
at
Columbia,
the "issue" strictly from a cultural point of view, without
approach
A reader writes that at a
guests.
becoming involved in national hysteria. Arthur Koestler, disillu-
South Carolina, the Rev. L. Boyd Hamm delivered a highly spiritual
sioned by language and religious problems in Israel, retains a fear
talk . . . The next speaker was Rabbi Paul Liner . .. He thanked
that is unjustified. Perhaps time will bring Mr. Koestler closer to
Rev. Hamm for his spiritual message and remarked: "Perhaps this 2 THE JEWISH NEWS
is the only time that any Rabbinical leader can publicly say that
Mr. Levin's—and our—viewpoint,.
Friday, January 14, 1949
Hamm was kosher."

Purely Commentary

Off the Record

—

