Order End of Street Collections
For Israel; JNF's Days Excepted
NEW YORK.—Dr. Abba Hillel
Silver, chairman of the American
Section of the Jewish Agency for
Palestine, announced a decision
of that body calling for the cessa-
tion of all street collections hay-
- ing to do with Israel, with the
exception of the long-established,
traditional annual flag and flower
days of the Jewish National Fund.
In making public this unani-
mous action, Dr. Silver stated
that letters are going forward to
the various organizations which
have been sponsoring such street
collections, urging that they co-
operate in putting the Jewish
Agency's decision into effect.
Dr. Silver also - urged - all friends
12
of Israel to refrain from contrib-
uting to those soliciting funds on
the streets. Pointing out that
"there has been widespread cri-
ticism of street collections on the
part of American Jews and con-
demnation of this practice on the
part of representatives of the
Government of Israel," Dr. Sil-
ver's letter concludes: "I, there-
fore, hope that you will take im-
mediate action in accordance
with the decision of the American
Section of the Jewish Agency
and order the 'discontinuance of
all street collections by members
or representatives of your organi-
zation."
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
•
Newsmen Keep America Free
-
There is a thrill in the reactions of Detroit newspapermen to the
edict of Police Commissioner "Headline Harry" Toy. We are willing
to wager that there isn't a single Communist in the entire lot of
Detroit's reporters. That doesn't mean, however, that a police com-
missioner has the right to assume the role of censor as to who
should or should not cover an important story for his paper. Editors
and publishers have a pretty fair idea about loyalties, and none has
ever been known to employ a saboteur. Malcolm Bingay is too
confident in believing that the thing should be treated as a joke,
but he adds a valuable note to the discussion when he says that:
"Any Communist will swear that he is not one. And giving him or
her a police card will not help him or her a bit in any efforts to
destroy America." The Free Press' executive editor, Basil L. Wal-
ters, has earned respect for his declaration: "If Toy or any other
public official attempts to restrict the freedom of the press, we will
resort to the courts if necessary to maintain that freedom." Windsor
Star's executive editor, Norman Hull, has made it clear that if any
one tried such a stunt as demanding a loyalty oath from its report-
ers "we'd tell them to go to hell," and Mark Beltaire, Free Press
Town Crier, endorses his attitude. That's the way to deal with a man
who goes off half cocked.
By far the best lesson in true Americanism is taught Mr.
Toy by Samuel Grafton, in his splendid column "I'd Rather Be
Right," in the New York Post. With reference to Mr. Toy's de-
mand of a pledge of loyalty from Detroit newsmen, Mr. Grafton
points out that "the whole thing is an elaborate fiddle-faddle,
with no meanings for good, only meanings for harm. . . . What
shell we achieve, except to put the government, for the first time,
into the business of noting people's thoughts, rather than their
actions, and of attempting a gigantic and illusory bookkeeping of
the human mind?. . . If a man's overt actions are of a sort
which are a danger to the country, it should be possible to
note them, by normal administrative means, and we should not
have to depend on this juggling of bits of paper to find out about
it. . . . It is only on . . . the level of action that we can ever be
unsafe, and it is only on the level of administrative surveillance
over action, not thought, that we can ever make ourselves safe.
Our government must watch actions, not try to look into people's
minds."
Perhaps Mr. Toy, after all, has rendered a service to his country
by creating the issue and giving people a chance to think about the
stupidities which motivate the . actions of publicity-seeking officials.
He has elevated the standards of reporters whom he has given a
chance to rebel against an undemocratic idea.
A Christian Who Backs Handful of Self Hating Jews
-
There is wisdom in the saying that "there is an exception to
every rule." Even the feverish joy and enthusiasm that is dominating
Jewish ranks over the triumph of Israel is not universal. There are
dissenters—and-we must renew acquaintance with them. We knew
them in the days when a handful of Jewish die-hards worked with
all their might to destroy the chances of statehood for homeless
Jews. A few of them still are at large.
On Jan. 24, the American Council for Judaism gave a luncheon
at 201 E. 57th St., New York. The speaker—remember his name—
was Dr. Henry Sloane Coffin, president emeritus of Union Theologi-
cal Seminary. This Christian gentleman, instead of blessing the
Almighty for having ended misery for Jews whom nobody wanted,
who would have perished in DP camps if not for Israel, made a plea
that the State of Israel should not be made an "integral element" of
American foreign policy. He did not plead against Greece's position
in America's foreign policy, or against China's or Britain's integra-
tion in U. S. policy—but against Israel's. He warned—didn't we hear
it time and again during the years of the Council for Judaism's
activities?—that political Zionism might "dangerously complicate"
American life and foreign policy-. He assumed to renew an old theo-
logical argument with the statement that "Judaism is a religion and
not a nation."
Instead of aligning himself with libertarians and rejoicing over
the triumph of decency, justice and democracy—a triumph that is
certain to bring great good to the entire Middle East and to be
emblazoned in the records of this country as one of the great
achievements for democracy—poor old Dr. Coffin has joined the
ranks of bigots. His name will be remembered with a sense of shame
for his refusal to learn a better lesson from history. But more de-
grading shame devolves upon the Council for Judaism for its re-
sponsibility in misleading Dr. Coffin into a position of disgrace and
un-Americanism. Would that there were a way of stopping this
handful of destructive die-hards from misusing the term Judaism
for their demoniacal self-hating purposes.
*
*
*
Transformations in Jewish Journalism
One of the Jewish news services, Independent Jewish Press
Service, has been suspended. Palcor, which provided IJPS with
Palestinian news, is being continued by the Israeli Consulate in New
York as a service representing Israel. In many respects IJPS ren-
dered valuable services for which its sponsor have received de-
served gratitude.
A change also has taken place in Anglo-Jewish journalism. The
New Judaea, organ of the World Zionist Organization, has been sus-
pended and no longer is published in London. It soon will make its
appearance in Israel. Its editor, J. Hodess, already has left for Israel
to assume his new role.
Meanwhile, . in this country, the English-Jewish weekly press
soon will celebrate its 100th anniversary. The tendency among edi-
tors and publishers is to give new life to their publications and
there is hope that American Jewry, the largest Jewish commu-
nity in the world, will treat its press well—as well as it deserves.
*
*
*
The Income Tax Pleasure
A bouquet to Rabbi Morris Adler for his comment, in the
Shaarey Zedek Recorder, about his income tax payment: "I regard
this duty as no imposition or deprivation since it is this country
which has given me the opportunity to earn the income upon which
it levies the ttax." We endorse this view—with the pleasure with
which this duty should be accepted. Income tax is very little to pay
for all our citizens privileges, isn't it?
THE JEWISH NEWS
Israel Woman Leader to Speak at
Public Rally Feb. 9, Other Events
—
Friday, February 4, 1949
Halevy Society
Hers Musicale
Shoshana Harielli, American-
born leader in Israel who recent-
ly arrived in this country as a
delegate of Moatzot Hapoalot, the
Israel Working Women's Council
that is the counterpart of the
Pioneer Women in America, will
address an open Pioneer Women's
meeting at the Jewish Center,
Woodward and Holbrook, at 8:30
p.m. next Tuesday. Stanley Pa-
Detroit Halevy Singing Society
will preSent its midwinter musi-
cale and social at 8:30 p.m. Sat-
urday,. Feb. 12, at. Butzel Hall of
Community• Center.
the.
Among - the .Halevy - members
who will be featured are Irene
Rosina:. Beckman .Lakritz,.
Dr. Joseph •Carleba.ch sand Harry
Kobel. -Mrs. Aliza Stullman, Ha-
levy accompanist, will be at the
. •
piano.
Friends of Halevy are invited
to attend. Refreshments will be
sesrved.
PEC Votes $1 Dividend,
Four-for-One Split
The board of directors of the
Palestine Economic Corporation,
largest American investment or-
ganization for the economic de-
velopment of Israel, has declared
its regular quarterly dividend of
$1 per share of stock and has
voted a four-for-one split in its
common stock, it was announced
by Henry Morgenthau, Jr., for-
mer Secretary of the Treasury,
who was recently named chair-
man of the board of the corpora-
tion. With the current action the
total dividend paid for 1948
amounted to $4 per share.
Morgenthau reported that the
Palestine Economic Corporation's
1948 net profits, after the deduc-
tion for expenditures-,-and taxes,
amounted to $297,713.73, as com-
pared with a net profit in 1947
of $268,786.52.
The board established a com-
mittee of its members to draw up
a blueprint for a number of ho-
tels in key Israeli cities. The
committee includes Nathan
Straus, III, of New York, chair-
man; Joseph Cherner, Washing-
ton; Samuel Rothberg, Peoria,
Ill.; and Henry Montor, New
York.
The board also named Harold
J. Goldenberg, Minneapolis, as
vice-president of the corporation.
SHOSHANA HARIELLI
sikov will render piano solos.
Mrs. Norman Kanter will preside.
Admission is free.
Mrs. Harielli will. be the guest
of Detroit's Pioneer Women from
Feb. 9 to 13 and in addition to
Tuesday's open meeting will
speak at the following events:
Thursday, Feb. 10, 1 p.m.
Council meeting and seminar,
Reba Colman presiding.
Thursday evening at Labor
Zionist Institute, Histadrut
Night, Chana Michlin presid-
ing.
Friday, Feb. 11, 12:30 p.m.,
seminar on the subject "Parties
in Zionism," Risa Marin pre-
siding.
Friday evening, Feb. 11, Sab-
bath • Eve service at Shaarey
Zedek social hall.
Saturday, Feb. 12, 1:30 p.m.,
Oneg Shabbat at Workmen's
Circle, Sophie Sislin presiding.
Mrs. Harielli is assisting in the
WJBK-TV to Present
Jewish Veterans' Film
current $1,000,000 drive of Pio-
neer Women of America.
Dtring the past months, the
new emissary from Israel has
been stationed in Jerusalem, aid-
ing the wounded and helping in
the evacuation of Jewish resi-
dents.
Petite and dynamic, equally at
home in the English language
as she is in Hebrew, Mrs. Harielli,
a third-generation American on
the maternal side, was born in
New York in 1908 and educated.
there and in Providence, R. L
Her grandfather, Josiah Stamper,
famous among Palestine pioneers,
emigrated from the United States
to ,.the Jewish homeland and
founded the Petach Tiekvah agri-
cultural conoly. She went to Pal- .
estine in 1931 and became active
in the working women's move-
ment. During World War II she
became a recruiting officer for
the A.T.S., the Palestine .equiva-
lent of __the American WACs. In
1946„ she was transferred to
Haifa, administering many social •
services including day nurseries,
immigrant centers, vocational
schools and similar projects for
refugee women and -children.
Social Action Group
To Meet in Detroit
The Joint Commission on So-
cial Action of the Union of
American H e b r e w Congrega-
tions and the Central Conference
of American Rabbis will meet at
the Book-Cadillac Hotel Sunday
morning, Feb. 6. The Commis-
sion will issue a statement on
race relations and plan a na-
tional institute on "Religion and
National Health".
Rabbi Leon Fram and Gabriel
Alexander, Detroit members of
the Commission, will act as hosts,
to' the out-of-t o w n delegation,
which will include Dr. Maurice,.
Eisendrath, president of t h e
Union of American Hebrew Con•
gregations, Joseph Rauh, prom...,
inept Washington, D. C. attor-:
ney, and Rabbi Ahron Opher,
executive .secretary of the Corn-!. :
mission on Social Action.
Between You and Me
Harold F. Moran, State De-
By BORIS SMOLAR
partment Commander Jewish Washington Moods
War Veterans, announces that
Sentiment in Washington is groWing that Israel, not the Arab
the film "Dear Ma" will be fea- countries, may turn out to be a strong ally of the Western powers if
tured on radio station WJBK-TV war breaks out in the Middle East . . . Many now have come to the
conclusion that although Soviet Russia strongly supported the estab•
at 8:30 p.m. Monday.
The film, produced by Warner -lishment of the Jewish state, the Israeli Government is pro-Ameri-
Brothers, highlights the work of can, not pro-Soviet . . And there are even some who are of the
opinion that the Israeli Army, small but well-organized and experi-
the Jewish War Veterans and enced in battle, may bar the way to a Russian advance into North
their auxiliaries.
Africa ... They foresee the possibility of a Russian invasion into the
Members of the JWV wishing Middle East ... They estimate that Russia could reach the oil fields
to see the television show are of Iraq within a week or so . .. They reveal that the bases now
invited to call the state depart- available to the Western powers in the Arab countries are under..
ment office, WO. 5-1753 or WO. manned and poorly equipped for defense against a major power ..
they even go so far as to state that Westerners living in the Arab
5-3056, and arrangements will be And
countries are resigned to the idea that the Russians can move in
made for television parties in there when they like, if they should decide on war . . . Under these
the homes of members.
circumstances, Israel, the Suez Canal and Cyprus are considered by
them as the first line of defense for the Western powers . . . The
main Western military and air bases for war in the Middle East,
I. F. Stone to Speak
under existing plans, are to be in Libya, the Sudan and Eritrea .
This is because of the existing theory that even if the Soviet advance
In Detroit March I
were halted at the Israeli border, the bulk of the Middle East would
be in Russian-control . . . Experts now believe that when war comes
I. F. Stone, noted correspondent to the Middle East, the oil in Arab lands must be written off as lost
and traveler, author of "This Is to both sides . . . And the idea is now taking hold to consider Arab oil
Israel," will speak here under as a peacetime asset, not a wartime asset . . . Those advancing this
auspices of the Metropolitan idea base- it on reports from the scene that the Russians, once started,
Chapter of the American Jewish can sweep through Iran, cut pipe lines and seal off whole territories
Congress on Tuesday evening, . . . The West can harass the region, but cannot keep it, they thirl'g
March 1, at Northwest Hebrew ... Hence nobody will get the Arab oil in a shooting war .. .
Congregation, Curtis and Santa Zionist Affairs
Rosa. Tickets already are avail-
Dr. Abba Hillel Silver and Dr. Emanuel Neumann will soon
able from members and at the begin a tour throughout the country to fortify the position they have
Congress office, 9124 Linwood.
taken to the effect that the Jewish Agency executive has no juris-
diction to interfere in the internal affairs of the United Jewish
Appeal ... And their tour will be "in the interest of better clarifica-
Polish Courts Sentence
tion of the current situation in American Zionism" . . All this has
Jews' Torturers to Die
much to do with attempts which are still being made by some mem-
bers of the Jewish Agency executive to bring Montor back into the
WARSAW (JTA) — Ludwig United Jewish Appeal . . . Meanwhile this year's campaign for thp.
Hessler, a former Gestapo official, United Jewish Appeal has begun as usual in a number of cities.
Within the ZOA the question is now being discussed as to who ,
was hanged here for cruelties he shall be the next president of the organization to succeed Dr. Neu-
practiced against inmates of the mann when his term expires . . . Under the ZOA constitution Dr„,
Jewish concentration camp in Neumann can no longer hold the post, and the question under dis-
Prokocim. Pietr Felishak, a Pole cussion is which of the ZOA vice-presidents should take his place
who became a German citizen . . . The names of Daniel Frisch and Irving Miller have been men-
during the ocupation of Poland, tioned as candidates . . . But indications point to Herman L. Weis-
was sentenced to death for exe- man, national chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, as the can-
whom Silver and Neumann will back for the ZOA presidency.
cuting prisoners in the Jewish didate
As the time of the Weizmann-Truman dinner approaches, Meyer
concentration camp in Sonnen- Weisgal, who is arranging this affair for the benefit of the Weiz•
burg. In Poznan, the court im- mann Institute, is being flooded with requests for reservations ..
posed the death sentence on Fry- The dinner is to take place on Feb. 19 at the Waldorf-Astoria, and it
deryk Neuman, director of the was indicated that Truman may offer his personal airplane to Weiz-x
Jewish slave labor camps in the mann to bring the Israeli President to New York . . . There are also
province of Poznan during the many people asking Weisgal to secure for them from President
war, who was found guilty of Weizmann an autographed copy of his book, "Trial and Error "
which has just been published in this country ,. . . One Jewish leacir
inflitcing inhuman cruelties on who asked for such an autographed copy was told by Weisgal that
the laborers under his supervi- he will get it if his community contributes no less than $100,000 to
sion.
the Weizmann Institute.
.