Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

New Platform for Anti-Semite and Anti-Zionist

Dr. Max Lerner, in a series of articles on anti-Semitism in the
New York Post, prior to his departure for Europe and Israel, found
it necessary to discuss the "Phony 'Double Allegiance' Issue."
Perhaps it could have been foretold that the charge of "dual
allegiance" would assume more serious proportions with the reali-
zation of the Zionist ideal. Prior to the re-establishment of Israel,
persons interfering with efforts to create a homeland for the dis-
possessed ran the risk of being accused of inhumanity—and even
Jewry's enemies might have admitted that it was wrong to pre-
vent the creation of a center which should serve as a home for
the homeless. The fruition of the Zionist idea, however, gave both
the anti-Semites and the Jewish anti-Zionists a new platform.
Dr. Lerner points out in his very illuminating article that, in
spite of the new status gained by Jews as a result of the heroism
of the Israeli fighters, anti-Semitism has not decreased; that Jews
still are hated, but qualitatively with a big difference: "it is now
mingled with admiration for the fighting strength they have
shown." But the myth of "double-allegiance" has "arisen to take
the place of the myth of cowardice;" a myth which has caused
some Jewish leaders to play into the hands of anti-Semites. "They
are sensitive to the possibility that all American Jews might be
charged with being hyphenated, owing emotional allegiance not
only to America but also to Israel." Anti-Semites are able to quote
"Jewish sources" (primarily the Judaism Council which has
launched a new attack on "Zionist fanatics"). To quote Dr. Lerner:
"It used to be that when an anti-Semite wanted to gibe at a
Jew he said: 'There goes a man without a country.' Now he points
to the Jew and says: !There goes a man with two countries.' Per-
haps this is progress. But both gibes are lies. The Jew has always
wanted to be part of the nation he has lived in, only to be re-
buffed-time and again by those who hated him. He was never in
his mind a man without a country. Nor is he now a man with two
countries."
'The Bond of Historical Community'
What is the bond that Jews have with Israel? Perhaps Dr.
Lerner, who a few years ago ,was an unaffiliated Jew but now
proudly associates himself with the Labor Zionist movement, has,
in two brief paragraphs, formulated an answer which most con-
cisely explains the Jewish position. To quote him again':

AJC Shortage Charged to Worker's Failure
To Cover Field; Mrs. Myerson Asks New Gifts

"Our campaign is not over. I beg of you — I appeal te
you—go out and cover the remaining slips and help us raise the drive. He presented a cita-
than of merit to Mr. Berry, on
the additional million needed to fill our goal."
behalf of the Federation, hon-
Louis Berry, general chairman of the 1949 Allied Jew- oring him for his work as
ish Campaign, made this final plea to workers who gathered chairman in this drive.
on June 9, at a kosher dinner at the Tuller Hotel, to honor Emma Schaver, accompanied

Mrs. Golda Myerson, Minister of
by Rebecca Frohman, led the au-
Labor and Reconstruction of that the reason for the decline
Israel, at the final campaign in interest this year is that Is- dience
in the
singing
of Hatikvah,
the Star
Spangled
and
. Banner
rally.
rael is a reality. She pointedly
Mrs. Myerson addressed an
Isidore Sobeloff, executive asked: "Does it mean that we overflow gathering of labor Zion-
director of the Jewish Welfare have an appeal only when there ists at the Labor Zionist Insti-
Federation, the
at this is ,bloodshed and our men are tute after the Allied Jewish
rally that the sum of $5,225,- falling in battle?"
Campaign gathering. Speaking
000 was raised up to June 9—
Julian IL Krolik, president of after midnight, she reported on
leaving a shortage of $1,170,-
the Federation, urged that latest accomplishments in Israel
000 of the originally set goal
Jews share what they have and urged her audience to'carry
of $6,395,000.
with the Israeli builders in the on the work for the settlement
Sobeloff, in brief remarxs, present critical hour and ap - of hundreds of thousands of dis-
chided those who promise to pealed for extended effort in possessed Jews in Israel.
work and then fail to fulfill their
tasks, thus revealing the major
weakness in the 1949 .drive: the
failure of many workers to com-
plete their jobs of soliciting
prospects assigned to them.

The belief still is current
that if the unsolicited pros-
pects are seen, the goal can be
reached.

"On the score of political allegiance, there can be no ques-
tion about it. The American Jew feels allegiance only to Ameri r
ca. And he is happy, as the Zionists have again affirmed, to let
Israel be run by the Israelis. But just as American Catholics
rightly have a sense of kinship with Catholics all over the world,
so American Jews have that sense of kinship with Jews else-
where. Their enthusiasm for Israel is intense because what
Israel has done has helped restore their pride as Jews, and re-
move from their hearts the terrible fear that they will always be
doomed as victims. But it is the bond of a common religious
and historical community, not a political bond.
" 'All decent interests - are in harmony,' someone has said.
This applies to the interests of Ameriean Jews as unqualified,
Americans and as members of a world Jewish community. So fax
from feeling himself split by any conflict of loyalties the Ameri-
can Jew for the first time is fulfilling himself as an American
and a Jew, and feels, himself becoming a whole man."

Sobeloff, commenting on Ay...is.
Myerson's report that the Is-
raeli Kneseth adopted her pro-
posal for low cost housing, to
relieve the most serious need in
the Jewish state, asked for ad-
ditional gifts to supplement
earlier contributions — in the
form of payments for housing
units at $1,500 each. These
houses are bare walls, the homes
to be completed with roofs and
other parts by the settlers them-
selves. A number of people made
additional gifts, in the amount
of $11,000.
Joseph Holtzman, who was ac-
claimed as "minister without
portfolio" in the 1949 drive, pre-
sented Mrs. Myerson with a
check for $250,000 for the United
Jewish Appeal and announced
that he recently presented to
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, in New
York, a check for UJA in the

GOLDA MYERSON, minister of labor in the Israeli
cabinet confers with JULIAN KROLIK, president of the Detroit
Jewish Welfare Federation, at the dinner meeting which mark-
ed the formal closing of the 1949 Allied Jewish Campaign.
Continuing left to right were MRS. HENRY WINEMAN, MR.
WINEMAN and RABBI LEON FRAM.

allegiance. Those who knew the attitudes of Russian. German.

partial contribution for Israel's

make a comeback against Israel in

Between You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

The Zionist Front
Zionist leadership in the United States is again on the 'alert
It is a good argument, and it nails the lie of "dual" or "double" amount of $1,000,000 as Detroit's . . . Pro-Arab elements in the State Department are trying to

Spanish and others Jews, in various eras, understand it well. Even
in the days of the worst Czarist atrocities, Russian Jews 'craved for
citizenship and were loyal to the land of their birth. The same is
true of Jews in all lands. How much more true this is of the
American Jew is attested by the passionate love for this land in
the hearts of our people, as demonstrated in time of sorrow, crisis
and joy.
Multiple Loyalties of Intelligent Beings
The tragedy is that it has become necessary, once again, to
_ _ explain the truth and to expose the bogy. In a sense, it is disheart-
ening that Jews should be parties to the spread of a lie. It has
spread even to England. In an address in London recently, the
•eminent Christian. theologian, Dr. James W. Parkes, speaking of
Israel as "perhaps the only positive thing that had come out of
the two world wars," condemned the "dual loyalty bogy'' and. made
this interesting statement:

"The foundation of Israel is the relationship of the Jewish
people to Palestine, historically and religiously, of which you as
English Jews are as much a part as the Jews of Rishon-le-Zion or
Jerusalem, or of Washington or Warsaw. Nothing is more super-
ficial in relation to the situation than to get bogged down in
the problem of dual loyalties; it is to quite a large extent a bogy.
All of us have not merely dual but multiple loyalties. Of course as
British citizens you will have views on Israel which may be an-
guishing to you individually in the disagreement in which you
will be involved with other British citizens. You are perfectly
entitled to have them. You merely enter into the ranks of all
your fellow-citizens, of having, as inteligent beings, a multitude
of loyalties and you have to choose between this or that decision
as it comes to you."

upbuilding.

Towards the conclusion of the
June 9 meeting, Mrs. Myerson
presented autographed etch-
ings of President Weizmann of
Israel to Berry, Holtzman and
Henry Wineman, honorary
chairman of the drive.

Campaign leaders who report-
ed on results in the divisions in-
cluded Mrs. JIDseph H. Ehrlich,
Irving W. Blumberg, Paul Brod-
er, Jason Honigman, Tom Bor-
man, George Seyburn, Milton
Mahler, John Isaacs, Samuel W.
Rubiner, Norman Naimark.
Berry, who presided, appealed
to his co-workers to match
Israel's austerity and to help
finish the job. He stated that he
would personally give up his va-
cation to continue to work and
that he hoped others would join
him in his effort to achieve the
desired . result.
Mrs. Myerson, pointing out
that in one year the Israeli
population increased from 700,-
000 to 950,000, asserted that the
Jewish state either must stop
immigration or must build
houses for the newcomers. She
stated emphatically that Jews
will refuse to stop immigration
and, asserting that "housing is
the key to the solution of the
unemployment problem," told of
her proposal to Kneseth which
now is being carried out.
Emphasizing that it is impos-
sible for • 700,000 people to ab-
sorb an additional 250,000 and to
build houses in the same pro-
cess, Mrs. Myerson appealed for
continued help from American
Jewry in the present important
year of reconstruction.
"This is the greatest year in
our history," Mrs. Myerson said.
"Ten years hence we will look
back and recognize this fact. We
must recognize that not only do
Jews need Israel but Israel needs
Jews. We are confident that
Arabs will live in peace with us,
if we are strong, and our
strength depends on our num-
bers. As long as we are small in
numbers we are in danger."
Emphasizing that this is not
a charity drive but a. great re-
construction effort, Mrs. Myer-
son said she was amazed to learn

On a previous occasion (Purely Commentary, May 6, 1949),
this Commentator outlined the great advantages of cultural di-
versities to free countries. America has been enriched by the
many cultures which have been pooled into this great land. Our
country will be enriched even more by the spiritual influences
which will be borrowed by us from Israel. And what is more, we
shall be adhering to an established American tradition of helping
an emancipated people stand on its own feet.
This is a transition period in which we shall have to fight the
cowardly few who did not see the handwriting on the wall before
Israel became independent and fail to recognize the contributions
towards the making of a decent One World for humanity with the
solution of the tragedy of Israel's homelessness. The ranks of
reactionaries must dwindle, else humanity would suffer. Therf.-
fore, the humanitarian idea must relegate to the farthest back-
ground those who would create a "divided allegiance" bogy instead
of encouraging the unity of Americans on the basis- of mutual
respect for highest cultural and libertarian values.
Israel's Verdict on Duality Charge
In his address at Flushing Meadows on May 11, on the oc-
casion of the admittance of Israel into the United Nations, Moshe
Sharrett, Israel's Minister for Foreign Affairs, said: "At this
historic juncture our first thoughts turn to our fellow Jews in
all countries. The State of Israel claims no allegiance from Jews
in other lands. As a sovereign entity it rests on the loyalty of
its own citizens. It alone is responsible for its actions and poli-
cies. But from this lofty international tribune our fervent wishes
go out to all Jews for their security, dignified existence and equal-
ity of rights everywhere. Israel is deeply and reverently conscious
of its mission in Jewish life. It will strive to keep the Jewish
name high and to live up to the noble record of the Jewish tradi-
tion. Israel will regard it as a most sacred trust to keep its doors
open to all Jews who need a home." This is a verdict that ought
to serve as a guide for all who are bewildered by the silly charge 2
of "duality."

—

THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, June 17, 1949

more than one way .. . And one

of the reasons for the departure of the Israeli Ambassador, Eliahu

Elath, to Tel Aviv is to report to his government on the new anti.-
Israel moods in the State Department . . Mark Ethridge, Ameri-
can member of the UN Conciliation Commission who quit his pos-
ition, tells intimates that the State Department instructed him to
be tough on the Israeli delegation at the Arab-Israeli peace talks
at Lausanne . . . Louis Lipsky, veteran American Zionist leader,
will soon resume active leadership in the Zionist Organization of
America . . . And Dr. Emanuel Neumann is preparing to start on a
book which will reveal the role played by American Zionist leaders
in bringing about the establishment of Israel . . . The book will
review the activities of Zionist leadership in the U. S. since the
Biltmore Declaration 10 years ago . .. It will clash with. sections
of Dr. Weizmann's autobiography in which the Israeli President
deals with the American Zionist movement.

Communal Issues
The Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds is be-
ginning to think in terms of preventing "crises" and conflicts in
fund-raising organizations in 1950 . A special committee of
CJFWF will confer this month with major national agencies on
their fund-raising programs for 1950 . -A committee headed by
Julian Freeman, of Indianapolis, has begun to weigh the pros and
cons of nine questions. .
Keep your eyes on the very interesting . conference of Jewish
leaders of small Jewish communities which will take place in the
charming resort of St. Joseph, Mich., the .week-end of June 17 ...
This is the first time in the history of Jewish community organi-
zation in the United States that such a parley is being called .
Participating in it will be representatives of communities of. 50 to.
100 Jewish families, most of them scattered at great distances from.
each 'other and from big sister communities ... According to the
CJFWF's latest reports, some 50 of these small Jewish communities
raised $3,800,000 last year for national and overseas causes . . . The
conference will discuss many phases of Jewish life in the small
town.

Military Analysis
Israeli plans call for a standing army of 25,000 and a large
ready reserve on the Swiss model , . And Israeli military experth
are now studying in Switzerland the military establishments . of
that country . .. These facts are disclosed in the current Book Of
the Year published by Encyclopedia Brita.nnica . . . The volume,
naturally, lists the establishment of Israel as one of the major
historic events of 1948 . . Interesting, however, is the analysis
presented on the military victory achieved by the Israeli armed
forces . . . This analysis is written by Brig. Gen. Edwin L. Sibert,
commanding general of the U. S. Army Forces in the Antilles ..
Gen. Sibert says that contributing to the defeat suffered by the
Arab countries was their inability to reach any decisions on unified
command . . . He points out that fear of the ambitions of King
Abdullah of Transjordan blocked leadership from the Arab Legion,
which he considers "the most competent military body" among the
Arab armies .. . Each of the participating Arab powers, he estab-
lishes, withheld parts of the forces, anticipating jockying for
position after the war . . . As a result, the uncoordinated Arab
forces attacked on widely-dispersed fronts and badly dissipated
their efforts, he asserts . . . He emphasizes that the Israeli Army
was "highly efficient" and gained steadily in strength and skill a.s
the struggle progressed . . . He contributes a good deal of Israel's
victory to the fact that about 200,000 of the Haganah members.
were veterans of the British forces in WOrld War II . . And be
emphasizes that as the Arab-Israeli war • developed, the Isradij
forces received arms "on an ever-increasing scale" from EurOpe y ,
including Messersaimidt fighters , from. Czechoslovakia.

