l► s the Editor

Put Out the Fire John

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Views the News ..

Jewry Relaxes

A new spirit is in evidence in Jewish ranks.
More people are smiling. There is a greater
interest in ' creative Jewish Cultural efforts.
Our people have less reason to worry about
a war in Israel, about possible pogroms in
European countries, about the status of dis =
placed persons.
Before long, there will be no more DPs,
thanks to the truly great and amazing
achievements of the past year when more
than 100,000 Jews entered the State of Israel.
There is considerable hope that even in Ara- .
bic countries the position of Jews, who hith-
erto were threatened with annihilation, will
improve. Arabic Jews either will have an
opportunity for transfer to Israel or will re-
ceive - guarantees of security and freedom,
as a result of. the peace negotiations that are
in progress in the Middle East.
Only the internal Ainerican-Jewish prob-
lem continues to be marked by painful as-
pects. The division in the ranks of the Jewish
Agency and the United Palestine Appeal, out-
lined in Bori§ Smolar's column in this issue,.
is disheartening. This historic era should en-
courage unity in Jewish ranks. There should
be a pooling of all our forces in support of
Israel, for the comnletion of the-resettlement
effort in behalf of the survivors from Nazism,
in defense of the Jews in Arabic lands.
Perhaps the 4,950 Jewish communities
throughout the land — large and small —
should exert pressure upon those leaders who
are carrying on a battle for control of fund-
raising activities. The issue of personalities
must be avoided at all costs, and our major
objective at this time should be to strive for
the success of the United Jewish Appeal and
for the elimination of duplicating efforts in
fund-raising. The best interests of the survi-
vors in Europe and the builders of Israel de-
mand that we should avoid overlapping of
activities, that we should aim to raise the
complete goal of $250,000,000 for the UJA.
Else, a lack of finances will endanger the
positions we have won and built with so
much sweat and blood.
For the privilege of smiling again, of re-
laxing, of being more at ease and no longer
being subjected to the tension of fear for
pogroms and wars, AmeriCan Jewry should
be prepared to pay the only price it is asked
for: financial aid for the causes responsible
for the great tasks of reconstruction and re=
habilitation. -
Unless we provide the means necessary to
enable us to remain on a high level.of achieve-
ment resulting from our successful battle
for justice, we shall be lowering the stand-
ards that were created by the miracles of
our time. Partisan controversies won't help
the situation. The restoration of unity will
solidify our forces everywhere. Let there be
a return to reason and let us insist that in-
ternal bickering should be abondoned. Is-
rael's honor demands it.

A Tra* gedy Ends

' Before many more days will have
passed, the Cyprus detention camps will be
but a. sad memory. Ships are plying the
distance between Haifa and Cyprus to bring
the unfortunate 11,000 Jews who have'
suffered more than 10 years in concentra-
tion camps, then in the British-made camps,
to the only place they , can call home:
ISRAEL.
Israel's Immigration Minister Moshe
Shapiro, Pesach Litvak, Joint Distribution
Committee representative, and Harry Vit-
eles, JDC Middle East director, are in Cyprus
supervising the transfer.
A great battle for justice has been won,
and a sad tragedy comes to an end. The
next move is the total integration of the
redeemed human being as wholesome Citi-
zens in Eretz Israel.

THE JEWISH NEWS

Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Seven -Arts Fea-
ture Syndicate, King Features, Central Press Association,
Palcor News Agency.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
Co., 2114 Penobscot Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich. WO. 5-1155.
Subscription sa a year; foreign $4.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.

PHILIP 'SLOMOVITZ. Editor

VOL: XIV—No. 20 . Page 4 January 28, 1949

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-eighth day of Tebet,
5709, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 6:2-9:35.
Prophetical portion--Ezek. 28:25-29:21.
On Monday, Rosh Hodesh Shevat, Num. 28:1-15
will be read during morning services.

Arthur Lidov — A Top Artist.

Peace—Even With Great Britain

It is safe to predict that before many months will . have
passed there will not only be peace in Israel but also peace
between Israel and Great Britain. The cruel attitude of the
men in charge of foreign affairs in the present labor govern-
ment 'has been so completely repudiated by public opinion
that Ernest Bevin- has had to issue orders for the release of
Jewish detainees on Cyprus. This was the first sten in a series
of moves to put an end to an antagonism which disrupted
good relations between Israel and Britain.

Now, we are approaching restoration of peace on all
fronts. The government whose predecessors in. ,office were
responsible for the Balfour Declaration and for 30 years of
administration as the mandatory power should have been the
first to grant recognition to Israel. Such acknowledgment of
the existence of a duly organized government is coming late,
but its arrival will be another of the many signals that injus-
tice has come to an end and that the much = mali gned and
persecuted Jewish people at last is accorded a rightful place
among the nations of the world.

The release of the two British pilots; who were captured
when five RAF planes were shot down over Israeli territory,
is one of the steps in the direction of amity between Israel
and Britain. Cyril Marriott, British consul general in Haifa,
was authorized to arrange for the return of the pilots to their
the Egyptian prisoners
homeland. The inevitable freeing
at Faluja "without prejudice to the Rhodes discussions and
any future settlement" and the return of captured villages
point to an early peace, in spite of temporary delays.

Nearly every place I go, I hear about some-
body's nephew, cousin, aunt or uncle who paints
and is a. fine artist. Just recently I ran across a
nephew who really is a top artist—Anna Oxen-
handler's nephew.
Nephew Arthur Lidov is 31 years old, Chicago
born. I find that this young man is already well
established in the field of illustration, with many
Fortune and Colliers covers to his credit. A series
of 10 covers for the American Mercury in 1948
are his work, the theme being portrait heads of
pi otninent Americans, against inventive and color-
ful backgrounds. Perhaps you remember the cover
illustrating a head of Dewey - appearing against a
sunrise, in which the sun is a question mark, for
apparently Lidov had a more questioning point of
view than the pollsters:
Five years ago : "Pencil Portraits of Famous
Writers,' a well conceived portfolio of lithographs
by Lidov, was published: containing portraits of
American and English writers, drawn in. charac-
teristic ) poses and backgrounds. The biographical
notes of the artist state that Lidov started draw-
ing at nine, at nineteen received a Bachelor's de-
gree in Sociology from the University of Chicago,
followed by a year in Palestine teaching Art, Eng-
lish and Geometry, working also as a surveyor. In
1938, the artist spent three years painting murals
for the Illinois Art Project under WPA. While Mr.
Lidov is primarily self taught, he has exhibited at
the Chicago Art Institute, the University of Chi-
cago, and in NeW York and Washington. He has
- received two awards in Mural Competitions and
executed the murals for the . Hyde Park 90th An-
niversary celebration of its incorporation into
Chicago, being also respontible bur the over-all
program of that project.
It seems to me that Mr. Lidov's university edu-
cation has contributed much- to his career as an
illustrator, for he often draws Upon historical and
literary allusions. While a commercial artist must
_ at times use photographs and ingenious methods
in illustration, Arthur Lidov proves -he can draw
and paint with assurance, for the cross section of
a log in the Fortune cover is pure painting, real-
istically detailed, imaginative and taskteful. The
Mercury covers show his skill with color and lay-
out composition, and give an insight of a fine
imagination and mastery of his trade.
- Traveling Jewish Artists' Exhibit
A traveling exhibit of the work of 33 Jewish
artists, is being shown . by Jewish groups in
all seciions of the country.. The exhibition, assem-
bled by the Congress of Jewish Culture, is made
available by the Jewish Center Lecture Bureau
of the National Jewish Welfare Board.

a

The granting of the loan to Israel by the U. S. Ex-.
port-Import Bank is a prelude to de jure recognition of the
Jewish State by this country. Although only $35.000,000
has been allotted at the outset for agricultural proiects, --
the fact - that $65,000,000 more has been earmarked for
future credits is an indication of President Truman's sin-
cerity in pledging wholehearted support to Israel. Furth-
ermore, the loan serves as an encouragement to the exist-
ing government in Israel. '

.

Meanwhile, Jewish leaders are proceeding with large-
scale programs of completely evacuating the - displaced Jews
from camps in Europe. In Rome, the Zionist Pioneer Center
announced last week that it was being dissolved because all
Israel-bound Halutzim in Italy already had left for the Jew-
ish State. Founded in 1945, with the aid of the Jewish Brigade,
this Center at one time represented 7,000. Halutzim living in
80 kibbutzim throughout Italy.

European DP camps are rapidly being terminated and it
is expected that all displaced . Jews will be settled in Israel
during the coming year. A tragic era is ending for the world
at large—thanks to the heroism of Jews who have fought for
freedom in Israel and on diplomatic fronts before the UN
and in the parliaments of all nations.

There will yet be many serious problems to overcome.
The UN Conciliation Commission is beginning its sessions
under many clouds.. The resignation. of the American ap-
pointee, Joseph B. Keenan, necessitated the pre§ence of. John
Carter, U. S. Minister at Berne, Switzerland, as ex-officio, at
the first meeting in Geneva. In Paris, Andre Blumel, president
of the French Union of Zionists, charged Claude de Bois-
sanger, the French representative, with having been a Petain-
ist and an anti-Semite. Nevertheless, the activities of this
commission must be awaited with patience and in the hope
that its members will be motivated by a sense of justice.

But the selection of. Mark F. Ethridge as the U. S.
member on the UN commission offers renewed assurance
that work will proceed without halt to solve the pales-
tine issue peacefully.

Recognition of Israel' by France is only the prelude to
similar acts by Great Britain, Belgium, the Netherlands and
other powers. The era of antagonism. to Israel is- ending.

Indeed, this is a great time made sacred by historic

acts. Blessed be this era of peace and justice.

Shown here is "The Youngest Married Off," by
Saul Raskin, one of the paintings in the exhibit.

A Hamisha Asar Quiz

As part of its program of service to Jewish
Community Centers and other community agen-
cies, the National Jewish Welfare Board has pub-
lished a 102-page book, "The Jewish Holidays—A.
Guide to. Their Origin, Significance and Observ-
ance," by Dr. Mordecai Soltes. From this volume
and a supplementary series of JWB manuals on
the observance of the major Jewish festivals and
holidays, there has been developed a series of
Jewish holiday quizzes of which this one, on Ham-
isha. Asar b'Shevat (to' be observed Feb. 14) - is
.
the fourth
QUESTIONS
1. What does Hamisha Asar b'Shevat mean?
2. By what special Hebrew name is "Hamisha
Asar" known?
•
3. What does Rosh Hashanah .L'ilanot mearr?
4. HOW is "Hamisha Asar" observed in Israel?
5. What peculiar custom has been in vogue in
Jerusalem in connection with the- planting of
trees?
6. How do Jews outside of Israel observe Ham-
isha Asar?
7. In what manner do the Hebrew Schools in
Israel celebrate Hamisha Asar?
8. What special functions do the classes and clubs
in Hebrew. Schools and Jewish Community
Centers arrange on Hamisha Asar? .
ANSWERS
1. The fifteenth day in the Hebrew month of
Sheat.
2. Rosh Hasharah Le Ilanot.
3. New year for the trees.
4. By the planting of trees.
5. A cedar tree was planted for every male child
born and a cypress tree for every female.
When a marriage was to take place the trees
were cut down and used as posts for the
"Huppa" or canopy.
6. By partaking of fruits that grow in Israel.
7. By conducting outings and field events.
8. Israeli Fruit Parties, including especially
"bokser" (carob or St. .1Ohn's bread).

