Detroit Delegates See Acid Test
For NCRAC During Coming Year
"This coming year," said Dr.
Shmarya Kleinman, who recent-
ly was nominated for the presi-
dency of the Jewish commun-
ity Council, "will be the acid
test of the long over-due at-
tempts to coordinate the ac-
tivities of the major Jewish na-
tional agencies in the commun-
ity relations field."
Dr. Kleinman, Boris M. Joffe,
executii director of the De-
troit Jewish Community Council,
and Walter E. Klein, associate
executive director, represented
Detroit at the seventh plenum of
the National Community Rela-
tions Advisory Council in Ate
'antic City.
-Representatives of the 26 local
community councils agreed to
consolidate their forces and
hit at one problem simultan-
eously rather than peck away
at it disjointedly as in the past.
Dr. Kleinman, said these efforts
of the NCRAC were hampered
because the NCRAC originally
was created as an advisory body
and was not vested with any
enforcement powers.
Hear Prof. Haber
The plenary session heard
papers by Rabbi Maurice Eisen-
drath, president of the Union
of American Hebrew Cohgrega-
tions, on the impact to the Am-
erican Jewish Community of the
emergence of the State of Israel;
and Prof. William Haber of the
University of Michigan, former
adviser on Jewish Affairs to
Gene •Clay in Germany.
Prof. Haber's presentation,
made it evident that there is a
need for greater democratiza-
tion of German governmental,
social and economic structure
than has taken place heretofore.
Anti-Semitic Incidents -
He told of sporadic incidents
of obviously anti-semitic nature
still are taking place in Ger-
many and the groups within
German population who can
safely be accepted as democratic
such a labor unions, and social
democratic parties are not re-
ceiving due recognition and sup-
port from the AMG.
Dr. Kleinman, Messrs. Joffe
and Klein, reported on the pro-
ceedings of the NCRAC Conven-
tion to the executive committee
of the Detroit Jewish Commun-
ity Council.
Mr. Joffe was elected to the
NCRAC executive committee.
Organized Anti-Semitism
In U. S. Reached Lowest Ebb
NEW YORK.—(JTA)—Organ-
ized anti-Semitism in the United
States in 1948 was at the lowest
ebb since the depression years
of 1932-33, it is established in
the Encyclopedia Britannica
Book of the Year.
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
'Holding Company' in Control of History
Bernard G. Richards, one of American Jewry's elder states-
men and ablest publicists, reviews the recent "acquisition" of the
Jewish Historical Society by the National Jewish Welfare Board,
in an article in Congress Weekly under the title "A Holding
Company for Jewish History," and charges that: "Thus an out-
standing agency offering a most rewarding preoccupation, which
now might have had a fresh flowering in the survey of a wider
field of research presented by the 'New Exodus'—as Harold
Frederick called it—came to a halt, if not to an end, by its
absorption into an educational • octopus.'
B. G. R. makes the points that the Historical Society "should
be free to operate independently" and that "there is nothing in
the history, traditions or intellectual equipment of the JWB to
justify its taking possession of and assuming responsibility for
such an important branch of Jewish research and scholarship."
This Commentator finds himself in agreement with B. G. R.
on the strength of the above arguments and . more especially
with the following statement with which he sums up his argu-
ment: "Regardless of the merits and credentials of the JWB,
the primary consideration is that of maintaining and advancing
the individual interest and initiative of American Jews and
saving them from the deadly sin of salvation by proxy. There
is clearly a moral obligation devolving upon us to halt the
heedless surge toward streamlining, pyramiding, enlarging,
merging and expanding our agencies and building up one organi-
zational octopus after another, which would • ultimately 'sub-
merge every type of individuality and free expression and
endeavor in Jewish life. There is nothing beautiful or promising
in the idea of setting up a cultural hodge-podge monopoly on
the arid basis of technical dexterity."
Someone had to say these things, and it is encouraging to
know that an able writer and scholar has found the subject close
enough to his heart to register his protest. JWB, as Richards
points out in his analytical article, after the intense period of war
activity "relaxed into the routine of rather mediocre endeavors to
furnish educational programs. and material to Y's and Jewish
Centers, which after floundering between their oval-filled swim-
ming pools and gymnasiums and half-empty classrooms and
schools for a quarter of a century, somehow arrived at certain
practical and useful social and educational activities, with or
without the aid of the ever-revolving mimeograph machines from
New York."
The stereotyped sort of "culture" which has come from the
set-up so colorfully described by B. G. R. naturally fitted into
a scheme of things which has led to the absorption of Book „
and Music Councils and the Historical Society by JWB—the
"holding company" to which the criticism refers. Unfortunately
the quarter century of emptiness in our classrooms is responsi 7
ble for a condition which makes Richards' anguished protest
a voice in the wilderness. It is no wonder that there weren't
enough people to save the Historical Society and that a "hold-
ing company" had to take over the sponsorship of streamlined
book and music festivals. Just a few able leaders, who might
have risen above the culturally barren era of the past two or
three decades, could have saved the situation.
Is it too late to salvage something from the wreckage of the
last few years? Jews did a magnificent job of encouraging self-
defense movements, here and in Israel. We don't seem to have
the stamina for equally-strong cultural activities. We agree. with
B. G. R.'s criticisms. We wish it were possible to find a speedy
solution for a problem which has created "holding companies"
on a peculiar soil: the willingness of some American Jewish lead-
ers to let any social worker do a job for them as long as you
relieve them from active communial responsibilities and permit
them to rule on a throne built out of publicity releases which
glorify them in compensation for their dollars.
SHARETT .
. And That's How les Spelled
Israel's Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett became a bit annoyed
last week by the numerous spellings given his name . . . Air-
France, the line he used to get to the UN to make the admission
speech for his government, spelled it Charette .. . It IS Sharett
Israel's UN Representative Sharett had an ealy chance to
vote in the General Assembly. The first question that faced the
Israeli spokeiman was Indonesia., but the most ticklish one was
Franco Spain . . . The "uay" on Spain was an act of poetic
justice, enabling Israel to cast a ballot against.... Fascists ... Israel,
indeed, is. now a nation among the nations.
2
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 27, 1949
Butchers to Feel Import of Price Campaign
Women to Limit Purchase
Our Letter Box Of Meat Costing Under 70c
Dr. Magnes Says Hebrew U.
Does Israel Research Work
Editor, The Jewish NeWs:
I happened to come across the
issue of the Detroit Jewish News
of April 22, 1949, in which an
editorial paying tribute to Dr.
Weizmann and his Institute of
Science was published. I person-
ally am a member of the staff
of the Hebrew University at
Jerusalem in the Department of
Physiology, on a visit to the
United States. While subscrib-
ing in full through first-hand
knowledge to your appraisal of
the achievements of Dr. Weiz-
mann as a scientist and of the
Weizmann Institute, I would
like, however, to take exception
to one statement in your edi-
torial, namely; "The Weizmann
Institute is the only establish-
ment for scientific research in
the Middle East." ,
The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem has been in existence
since 1925 and Dr. Weizmann is
the chairman of its Board of
Governors and one of the
founders of the University. Dur-
ing the 25 years since the Uni-
versity's opening it has become
a most important center of
scientific research and of teach-
ing. It should hardly be neces-
sary for me to recount the im-
portant contributions that the
scientists at the Hebrew Univer-
sity have made to the upbuild-
ing of Palestine. I would like
to quote a recent staterhent of
his Excellency; Mr. Eliahu Elath,
Israeli ambassador to t h e
United States. "Without the
help of the laboratories, re-
search workers and graduates of
the various departments of
science at the Hebrew Univer-
sity, our intensive agriculture
and our modern industries
would never have achieved their
present standard. For our fu-
ture plans of large-scale devel-
opment in the Negev and other
parts of the country, the scien-
tific guidance of the University
will be invaluable." Futhermore
it is common knowledge that
largely due to the zeal of Uni-
versity scientists the health of
the population in Jerusalem was
maintained during the Arab
siege last year.
It may be of interest to you
that during the week of April
18 to 22 the annual meetings of
the Federation of American Bio-
logical Societies were held at
the Masonic Temple in your own
city of Detroit. Seven scientists
from various departments at the
Hebrew University attended
these meetings and a number of
scientific papers were read by
them.
I hope that you will find it
possible to publish my letter in
one of the forthcoming issues
of your newspaper.
Very respectfully yours,
Jonathan Magnes, Ph.D.
* * *
The Israel Celebration
Edit.orr, The Jewish News:
It is obviously impossible to
thank individually the many
people who contributed to the
success of our May 15 observ-
ance. However, on behalf of the
Jewish Community Council and
the Zionist Council, co-sponsors
of the event, we do want to say
a special word of appreciation to
you for your cooperation in in-
forming the Jewish public of the
event.
We hope you will accept this
expression of our sincere thanks
for your part in making this af-
fair the successful and memor-
able one that it was.
Sincerely yours,
Aaron Droock
Prresident Jewish Com-
munity Council
Sidney Shevitz
President, Zionist Coune
oil of Detroit
• • •
Thanks for the Bouquet
Editor, The Jewish News:
Please enter our subscription
to. The Jewish News. The occas-
ional sight of a copy of The
Jewish News—so far from De-
troit—has brought the warmest
of pleasure, and the sooner the
paper comes regularly to our
home, the better we will like it.
IVIrs. Julia Stocker,
1507 S. Redondo Blvd.
Los Angeles 15, Calif.
Jewish women of Detroit will
limit the purchase of kosher
meat to cuts costing no more
than 70c a pound for two
weeks, starting June 6, it was
announced by the Kosher Meat
Women's Actions Committee fol-
lowing a meeting of most wom-
en's organizations at the Jewish
Center, May 19.
The following women were
chosen as officers of this new
organization: Mesdames William
Cohen, chairman; Samuel
Aaron, William New, James Rai-
sin, Rose Singer and M. 3.
Kritchman.
Reports were made to the
meeting by Robert Nat's an s,
chairman of the sub=committee
f Kosher Meat of the Jewish.
Community Council, and Julius
Weinberg, internal relations di-
rector of the Council. The state-
ment issued by the American,
Meat Institute, reported on by
Robert Nathans, revealed that
wholesale meat prices were
down 22%, as compared to last
summer. • -
Weinberg reported a pamphlet
entitled "Information Please on
Kosher Meat" will be distributed
shortly. •
Two-Thirds of ADL Funds Expended
To Encourage Better Human Relations
NEW YORK, (JTA) — At the
three-day annual meeting of the
national commission of the
Anti-Defamation League of
Bnai Brith at the Waldorf-As-
toria, Benjamin R. Epstein, na-
tional director, emphasized that
"two out of every three dollars
expended last year was not for
`defense' activity, but to encour-
age a positive program for bet-
ter human relations."
Epstein asserted the bulk of
the ADL's 1948 program was "de-
signed to promote the cause of
civil rights" and to "popularize
the meaning and content of the
historic report of the President's
Committee on Civil Rights."
ADL reported the promotion
of 73 books and pamphlets with
a. circulation of 544,365, while
the agency's speakers depart-
rnentefilled 2,335 lecture engage-
ments and booked 226 radio and
television programs. The report
added, in cooperation with the.
Protestant Film Commission, the
ADL produced in Hollywood a
full-length film, "Prejudice,''
which was released in April in
150 theaters throughout the
country.
During the past year, ADZE;
created several film strips and
one-reel color cartoons for school
and club use, the report said.
An advertising program — pre-
pared in cooperation with the
Institute for American. Democ-
racy—utilizing billboards, post-
ers, newspaper display ads and
car cards, was placed in 87 ma-
jor cities.
Between Y tu and Me ,
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright 1949, Jewish Telgraphic Agency)
Washington Trends:
It can now be revealed that it waS due to Truman's personal
intervention that Israel was admitted , to UN membership ... The
State Department was against it . -.: This was plainly indicated to
Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett during his visit to Wash-'
ington ... He was bluntly told by high officials that the U. S. dele-
gation at the UN would sponsor the proposal to have Israel ad-
mitted to UN membership only under certain conditions ... And
the conditions were: 1. Israel should readmit Arab refugees; 2. Is-
rael should compensate the Arabs with Israeli land for the part
of Upper Galilee wrested by the Jewish Army from•the Arab forces
.. Since both conditions were unacceptable to the Israeli Govern-
ment, Sharett left the State Department in a gloomy mood . . •
For about- two weeks the Australian delegate, Dr. Herbert V. Eva•t,
who was the president of the UN Assembly, spent all his efforts
to win the co-sponsorship of the U. S. delegation for the resolu-
tion urging the admission of Israel to the UN . . . However, he
met with very little success . . Nor could he get Canada to be a
co-sponsor, since the Canadian delegation made it clear that it
would follow U.S. action . . . Finally, the matter was brought to
Trufnan's attention and the U. S. delegation began to lends its sup-
port to the proposal favoring Israel's admission . . . And Canada
followed suit . . This is not the first time that Truman has
stepped in during crucial moments for Israel at the UN . . . it will
be remembered that the U. S. delegation voted for the "partition
resolution" only after Truman telephoned from Washington to do
do so, against the "adVice" of Loy Henderson and others in the
State Department .. . It will also be recalled that Truman saved
the situation for Israel at the UN when he surprised, everybody by
announcing de facto recognition of the Jewish State . . . This Was
a surprise not only to the world, but even tathe State Department
and to the American delegation at the UN ... It certainly changed
matters for Israel at a moment when it looked like the Arabs had
the upper hand at the UN Assembly.
The Battling Professors:
I am no expert in archaeology . . But I am watching with
great interest the fight now developing around the discovery of
ancient Hebrew manuscripts, reportedly including the Book of
Isaiah . . . Some Jewish historians • in America, including Prof.
Soloman Zeitlin of Dropsie College, doubt the authenticity of these
manuscripts . , But Israeli scholars and archaeologists are cer..
taro that the manuscripts are genuine . . . The manuscripts are
now being studied in America. and may become the property of-
Yale University . . . A sum of $1,000,000 is being asked for them by
the head of the Syrian Convent in Palestine who is in possession
of the most important part of these recent discoveries . . . Should
the manuscripts turn out to be. genuine, they will add something
new to the Bible, and this is the most important factor in the
quarrel between the Israeli and American Jewish scholars . For
in addition to the original text of the- Book of Isaiah, the diseov-
cries include an epic work called "The Book of the Wars" and an-
other scroll entitled "The Book of Thanksgiving" . . . Experts con-
sider them as important as the Book of Job and other sections of
the Bible . . . There are also three manuscripts of Hymns and
Psalms, considered by experts of no less importance than the
Psalms we now know . There is also among the discoveries an
important commentary on the Prophet Habakuk as well as a man-
ual of Jewish rights and discipline ... The Hebrew University in
Jerusalem would love to acquire these manuscripts, but has no
funds , . . Yale University is bargaining for them and will, in all
likelihood, get them . . . A rBitish scholar, who examined the Is-.
riah manuscript on its way through London to the United States,
told me that he 'believes the scrolls to be genuine . . . He is of the
opinion that the discoveries are "revoluntary" and can have an
incalcuable effect upon future teaching in schools and universi-
ties all over the world . Furthermore, he also visualizes consid-
erable consequences in politics, ''because there can be no doubt
that 19th century Biblical criticism was followed by far-reaching
political and social consequences,"