Detroit Acclaims Israel's First Ambassad:1
Hon, Eliahu Elath (Epstein) Welcomed
By Christian and Jewish Audiences
Israeli Leader- Tells of Jewish State's Desire to Pursue Peace
With Arabs and the World; Rabbi Adler Recites
'Shehecheyanu' at Shaarey Zedek Rally
Detroit's Christian and Jewish communities gave rous-
ing welcomes Monday to Israel's first Ambassador to the
United States—the Hon. Eliahu Epstein who now goes under
his adopted Hebrew name of Elath, assumed by him officially
last week when he was named to the Ambassadorial post. The
term Elath is from the portion of Aqaba in southern Israel
where the Israeli , Ambassador0
studied sociology after his gra-
fervently sang the Hatikvah
duation from the Hebrew Uni- and many shed tears of joy.
versity.
Allen Crow, president of the
Prominent community leaders Economic Club, outlining the his-
—bankers, lawyers, judges and tory of Zionist activities in De-
troit, referred to the activities of
teachers—were in the audience the Michigan Christian Palestine
at the Book-Cadillac Hotel on Committee which functioned here
Monday when the Ambassador for the past 10 years under the
spoke before the Economic Club. chairmanship of Judge Frank A.
In the evening, an overflow gath- Picard. He told of the delega-
tions now negotiating the pur-
ering heard Mr. Elath at the chase of machinery for Israel,
Shaarey Zedek.
partly with funds from the U. S.
Signalizing the significance loan to the Jewish State.
Judge Theodore Levin of the
of the great historic occasion
of the appearance here of the
U. S. District Court introduced
Mr. Elath to the Economic Club
first Israeli Ambassador, Rabbi
audience. He reviewed the story
Morris Adler, who was one of
of American interest in Zionism
the speakers at the Shaarey
as stemming from the love of
Zedek, recited the Shehechey-
anu, the traditional prayer ut-
Americans for the Bible and
told of the support given the
tered by Jews for being privi-
Jewish cause by American
leged to live in this great day
Presidents. He read a roster of
in our history. The audience
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
America's Traditional Pro-Israel Policy
Dating back to the second President of the United States—John
Adams—this country's traditional policy in support of a Jewish State
_has remained unbroken. John Adams said, more than 100 years ago,
that he wishes to see the Jews a revived nation in Judaea. Other
Presidents have spoken in similar terms.
President Truman has been more outspoken than any other
Ainerican before him. The editors who visited with him a week ago
were convinced that our Chief Executive is a man who sticks to his
promises and for whom a pledge is sacred. He placed emphasis on
Point Four in his inaugural address in which he called for assist-
ance to rising democracies. He knows the Middle Eastern situation
and the comments he made while illustrating his viewpoint on the
o globe in his office are proof that there is an American policy affect-
ing Israel.
He is a frank-speaking man, as his recent utterances have indi-
cated. He knows what he wants, as we learned from his address on
Feb. 24. We repeat what we have stated on another occasion edi-
torially—that his name will go down in history as the man who has
done more to help re-establish Israel than any other living person,
and that his name will be recorded in modern Jewish history as the
Second Cyrus.
It really is needless to add that President Truman has equally as
friendly and amiable an associate in Vice-President Alben W. Bark-
ley. The Vice-President remembered the men he had met in various
Jewish communities throughout the land when he welcomed the
English-Jewish editor at the White House. He is the same genial man
as Vice-President that he was as Senator, and he remains one of
Israel's staunchest friends.
A Non Jew's Comment on the Internal Conflict
On the plane from Washington to Cleveland, we had a long chat
with a good friend, Senator Owen Brewster of Maine. Senator
Brewster was happy to have had a share in the battle for justice for
Israel. He expressed surprise that he should now, in an hour of
triumph for the Jewish people when he had begun to believe that
anti-Zionist forces would retire from the political scene, begin to
receive all over again propaganda material from Jewish anti-Zionists.
He was puzzled and he appeared to be upset by charges that some
.American leaders were trying to influence political thinking in Israel.
"Is it as simple as all that," he asked.
Your Commentator pointed out to him that it wasn't "that com-
plicated," that Israel will go about her business of building and pro-
tecting a state and that American Jews recognize that their duty
is to help evacuate oppressed Jews and settle them in Israel and that
American Jews in the main recognize that Israelis will and must
govern themselves.
The Commentator's wife had a good comment to make. She
pointed out to the Senator that if American Jews were to arrogate to
themselves the right of meddling into the internal affairs of Israel,
why would anyone deny equal opportunity for such privileges to
Jews in England, South Africa, France, the Latin American coun-
tries? Therefore, said the Commentator's well-informed wife, all
Jews outside Israel are denied the unjustified claim to meddling in a
political scene that is not theirs.
This should not be interpreted as a private debate. It is, clearly,
an issue that was raised by American Jewish leaders who have be-
come embroiled in a personality battle that has no place in the
current struggle to strengthen Israel. The personality battle in which,
unfortunately, outstandiii American Jews are involved, is a dis-
graceful one. American Jews must insist that the authority of the
Jewish Agency should be respected and that United Jewish Appeals
should commence throughout the land—just as the drive already
has begun in Detroit. Senator. Brewster is disturbed because of an
internal regrettable conflict. As soon . as American Jews force an end
to internecine strife. not only Jewry but our friends like Senator
Brewster will be relieved to know that we are down to earth in the
one effort that should con•rn us today: The building of .Israel with
the aid of an undisturbed UJA.
Robert Lyon's Grandson
When your commentator wrote the story of Naftali Herz Iniber,
he had the pleasure of a visit from a distant relative of the author of
"Hatikvah" who came from New York to reminisce about his family.
We had another pleasant experience this week when we heard
from Robert Lyon of New York, grandson of the founder and editor
of the first English-Jewish weekly published in America, The Asmo-
nean. He had read in the New York Times about our presentation
of a reproduction of the first issue of the Asmonean to President
Truman and made his contacts with your commentator. We shall
undoubtedly have more to say about this historical link later on,
since it revives the story of American Jewry 100 years ago.
-
prominent Americans who sup-
ported Zionism.
Mr. Elath opened his address
with a tribute to Detroit's con-
tributions to the Zionist cause
and by paying honor to a DeL.
troiter—Dr. Ralph J. Bunche-
who played the • leading role in
the Israeli-Egyptian armistice.
Describing the Misrule of Pale-
stine by the Ottomans, Mr. Elath
said that 400 years of misrule
had a disastrous effect upon
Palestine's economy, resulting in
the depopulation of the country-
side and the exodus of Arabs to
western countries. He reviewed
Ambassador Elath's address
at the Shaarey Zedek will be
rebroadcast from a special
transcription, made at the
meeting, over Station WJLB,
at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, March 6.
the history of Jewish coloniza-
tion in Eretz Israel beginning
with the second half of the 19th
century, described how the Halut-
zim drained the swamps and
made the land habitable. He ex-
plained, the program of the Jew-
ish National Fund whose Biblical
basis made possible the allocation
of land on long leases for the
Jewish immigrants, and spoke
glowingly of the heroism of the
Haganah in defense of Israel.
Reviewing the development
of 300 existing Jewish colonies,
Mr. Elath began his story with
the rise of the collective colony
of Daganiah in 1909 and em-
phasized that these colonies
are by no means communistic,
that they were created long be-
fore the rise of Russian Com-
munism, that they were co-
operative ventures in which
each colonist has the right to
life, liberty and freedom of ex-
pression.
Daganiah's success in throwing
back the Syrian planes, tanks and
artillery and the triumph of the
Jewish forces . over the Arabs
were described as the victory of
a people with an ideal over the
overwhelming numbers of peo-
ple with a stagnant civilization.
He emphasized that Israel's aim
is to raise the standards not only
of the Jewish State but of the
entire Middle East and to strive
for the economic and cultural bet-
terment not only of herself but
also of her neighbors. -
Mr. Elath reported that 100,000
Jews had come to Israel in 1948
—this number representing the
complete figure for which Presi-
dent Truman was pleading for
admission to Israel with the Brit-
ish in 1945. He expressed thanks
to President Truman for his
friendship and help.._
In • 1949, Mr. Elath said, 250,-
000 Jews will be welcomed to
Israel. He declared that the
large number of intellectuals
in Israel are striving to create
a healthy socially and eco-
nomically advanced community
for the betterment of the en-
tire Middle East. He declared
that Israel's aim is to emulate
the Swiss economic plan and
pointed out that the diamond,
optical and chemical industries
already are showing progress
in the Jewish State. The tour-
ist trade, fisheries and other
industries are making progress,
he said.
"Every opportunity will be giv-
en to private investors," Mr.
Elath said. He stated that Israel
would have accepted the UN de-
cision of 1947 if it had been im-
plemented, but that the obstruc-
tionist practices of the Brtiish
mandatory powers and the Arab
states forced the Jews to fight
for their existence. He expressed
satisfaction over the fact that
Jews themselves fought for their
freedom and that it was prefer-
able to having American and
Russian troops do the fighting.
He said that May 14, 1948, is a
greater date in history than the
UN date of Nov. 29, 1947, because
it represented the self-liberation
of the Jewish State.
Sidney Shevitz, president of
the Zionist COuncil of , Detroit,
presided at tae Shaarey Zedek
meeting.
Pointing out that the welcome
in honor of Mr.. Elath belongs
to the. entire community, Mr.
Shevitz echoed the spirit of joy
that prevailed at the meeting
when he declared that instead of
gathering to protest against in-
justice Jews at last were meeting
to proclaim triumph for freedom.
Visibly moved by the historic
significance of the event, Rabbi
Adler, after reciting the Shehe-
cheyanu,. -stated that "Israel is
the laboratory of a large vision
which all men need." He declared
that "in Israel the pattern is being
fashioned for a world civilization,
spelling the renewal of justice for
all mankind."
Aaron Droock, president of the
Jewish Community Council,
greeted the gathering in behalf
of the community.
Julian H. Krolik, president of
the Jewish Welfare Federation,
described the pride which Jews
take in the assertion "Ivri Ono-
chi"—"I am a Jew." He hailed
Israel as the establishment of a
new society dedicated to the
maintenance of the rights of
men." He expressed the hope
that Detroit Jews will continue
to give liberally towards Israel's
upbuilding.
Vicki Lebow, 12 - year - old
daughter of Mrs. Morris Lebow
of 2263 Blaine, greeted the
guest in Hebrew in behalf of
the children of Detroit. When
Vicki finished her little talk,
Ambassador Elath walked
across the Bimah and kissed
her. Vicki on Sunday was grad-
uated from the Philadelphia- r:
Byron branch of the United'
Hebrew Schools.
In his talk at the Shaarey Ze-
dek, Ambassador Elath expressed
gratitude to Detroit Jewry for its
share iri Israel's upbuilding. He
declared that to sacrifice was too
great to make Jewry. free.
"Our victories were made pos-
sible by Israel's strength and your
backing," he declared,, and ex-
pressed the hope that Jewry
would continue to aid Israel's re-
construction. He said that Israel
is determined to add to the dig-
nity acquired during the past
year and added: "We face the
future with the full. knowledge
that behind us are our brothers
everywhere."
Shirley Subar Sklash, accom-
panied by Hilda Shoob Krotrnan,
led in the singing of the national
anthems. A message was read to
the large gathering, which nutri-
bered 3,000, from the Orthodox
Rabbis' Council. It is estimated
that more than 1,000 were turned
away from the meeting for lack
of space.
Ambassador Elath received a
Bnai Brith delegation headed by
Julius Deutelbaum.
He was returned to Washing-
ton on Tuesday morning in a spe-
cial plane provided by the Ford
Motor Co.
Pro-Nazi Magazine
Banned in U. S. Zone
NEW YORK—The New -York
executive of the World Jewish
Congress has been informed that
the German language pro-Nazi
magazine "Neue Politik" has been
banned in the American Zone of
Germany, Dr. Robert S. Marcus,
World Jewish Congress political
director, revealed.
The ban followed by several
days a letter from Dr. Marcus to
U. S. Brigadier General Saltzman,
Assistant Secretary of State for
Occupied Areas, in which the
WJC official pointed out that
although published in Switzer-
land, "Neue Politik" enjoyed its
largest distribution in the Ameri-
can Zone. He added that the chief
material in the Magazine was pro-
Nazi. propaganda.
2
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, March 4, 1949
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
-
UN Notes: Dr. Ralph Bunche, Peacemaker
A feeling of great pride prevails in the ranks of United Nations
officialdom in connection with the success of UN mediation between
Israel and E t ... High officials in the United Nations predict that
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche UN mediator will be the
recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in recogni-
tion of his achievement . . . At the same time it
is. reported in .AMerican business circles that
Dr. Bunche may be appOinted American Am-•
bassaclor MOseow . • This would be the
first - time in Atherican history that a Negro
would be appointed to such a high post.
No one in the United Nations doubts now
that Israel will soon be admitted to UN mem-
bership . < < This is now considered a matter of
great importance not only to Israel but also to
Britain and the United States .' It is obvious
to British diplotnats that Bevin's talks in Lon
don for the formation of an Eastern Mediter-
ranean alliance to be linked with the North
Atlantic alliance will never be effective with-
out Israel's participation . . . It is realized that
Israel is now a major power amonethe Eastern
Dr. Bunche
Mediterranean countries, and both Britain and
the United States want all these countries to be members of the UN.
. . . On the other hand, it is also taken into consideration that Israel
will try to maintain a neutral attitude in any manipulations between
the Western Nations and the Soviet Bloc. . . In its effort to maintain
neutrality, Israel may prefer to get economic and financial assistance
through the United Nations rather than directly from the Big Powers,
it is believed at Lake Success.
The grandson of a slave and the son of a Detroit barber, Dr,
Bunche is now the hero of the day in international politics. < . As
UN acting mediator on Palestine, he succeeded in bringing about the
Israeli-Egyptian armistice agreement and is now paving the way for
a general peace in the Middle East. . . . His is no small task, but
everybody is now sure that he will accomplish it .. . At 44, he is
an international civil servant and an outstanding authority on racial
groups throughout the world and their problems; fears and animosi-
ties . .. He is also the first Negro to become a leading figure in
world affairs .. . In reaching his present position he has surmounted
numerous obstacles . . . When he was 12, his father and mother died
within a few months of each other . . . He went to Los Angeles
to live with his grandmother . . Eager for education, he was an
honor student at high school ... Later he won a scholarship at the
University of California ... That provided his tuition . .. For the rest
of his expenses he worked as a janitor, a carpet layer, a cleaner, a
vacation-time mess boy on a coastal steamship line ... In 1927, he
was graduated summa cum laude and sported a Phi Delta Kappa key
. .. A year at Harvard and a Master's Degree in political science fol-
lowed . . . For a time he was an instructor at Harvard ... Then he
switched to Howard University, in Washington, D.C., where he
eventually became a full professor . . . He traveled on various fel-
lowships and awards, studying the races of the world and colonial
problems ... After the outbreak of the war, he went into government
service and helped in the preparations for the invasion of North
Africa . . . Later he became the acting chief of one of the divisions of
the State Department ... At the San Francisco Conference of the
United Nations he was consulted on trusteeship problems . The
language of the UN Charter on that point is partly his .. In 1946,
he was "loaned" by the State Department to the UN as director of
the Trusteeship Division . , This is still his official post today and
he hopes to return to it immediately after the armistice arrangements
between Israel and the Arab countries are completed. „ Quite
a record!