THE JEWISH MEWS i
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Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
VOL. XV—No. 14
Page 4.
June 17, 1949
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-first day of Sivan,
5709, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 8:1-12:16.
Prophetical portion—Zech. 2:14-4:7.
'Humanity in Microcosm'
An interesting lesson is offered Ameri-
can Zionists by a Connecticut Irishman, Tom
Sugrue, who recently returned from a five-
and-a-half month tour of Israel, made in
a wheelchair, for the purpose of gathering
material for a book.
Mr. Sugrue, in his study of Israel's peo-
ple—the warriors, farmers, housewives,
traders, statesmen — coined an interesting
phrase for the Jewish State: "Humanity in
microcosm." He said he found Israel "an
advance post in the pioneering efforts of
humanity."
And he made this evaluation : "Every
man wants what once only kings possessed.
If this is somehow accomplished, each man
will then be unhappy as an emperor, or a
prince. The alternative, of seeking riches
of the mind and spirit, of being as happy
as a beggar or a saint, has occurred to a
few people, but notably to Jews in collective
settlements of Israel."
Such views could only have been inspired
by an interesting community, by men and
women for whom materialism is secondary
to the basic needs in life: the spiritual, moral
and libertarian values which made the re-
vival of Jewish statehood in our day un-
avoidable and inevitable.
It is in the collective settlements, which
are devoid of speculative ideas and which
provide the strongest support to Israeli
leaders in their trying austerity program,
that the Jewish state has acquired basic
roots for a powerful community. The ideal
of collective action and of cooperative ef-
fort is the result of four decades of struggle
and of the pioneering movement which ac-
quired its urge from the labor movement in
Zionism.
The labor idea is not limited to the Poale
Zion. It was inherent in the philosophy of
the forerunners of Zionism. It found root
in a significant portion of the Mizrachi re-
ligious Zionist ranks. It gave substance to
the. General Zionists at early conventions and
was incorporated in the famous Pittsburgh
Platform adopted at the 1918 convention in
Pittsburgh.
Halutziut—pioneering—was one of the
major objectives of the Zionist movement,
and it grew into a creative force in the years
when it became necessary to settle tens of
thousands of refugees. Out of this power.
has developed the present driving force
which enables Israel to welcome hundreds
of thousands of newcomers yearly, thanks
to the collective will of the labor-inspired
community known as Medinat Israel.
It is impossible to explain how a poor
community is able to defy all economic
laws in the process of increasing its popu-
lation by one third. The entire result is fan-
tastic, but it is being achieved. But it could
not have been attained without the deter-
mined will of the labor-conscious people of
Israel. It might not continue if its leader-
ship—labor-born—which has grown into
very able statesmanship, is not retained in
the best interests of Israel's economy.
Israel is secure only insofar as its peo-
ple are able and
to submit to aus-
terity programs and to b battle for the right
to live. The fact that the new state is steeped
in traditional aspirations to perpetuate the
principles of creative labor is valuable. It is
a program that must be continued if Israel
is to live with a minimum of hindrance.
The acclaim which Labor Israel's lead-
ership continues to merit is proof of a gen-
eral desire to lend encouragement to the
builders of the Jewish state in their present
system of cooperative effort. It is interest-
ing to note that some of American Jewry's
outstanding leaders, including Dr. Robert
Gordis, Prof. Mordecai Kaplan and others,
have joined in support of the National As-
sembly for Labor Israel, which will con-
vene in New York during the coming week
to review the needs of the labor-inspired
'Jewish state. It is additional proof of a deep
appreciation among American Jews of the
creative efforts without which Medinat Is-
rael either could not have succeeded or
would have been burdened with insur-
mountable difficulties.
-
Challenge to Democracy
NAZIS, RETURN
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TO
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AS It
GERMAN SCHOOLS
U.S: - ONE
Palestine and Middle Ease
Zionist Aims Recorded
In Books by Christians
A HISTORY OF PALESTINE; From 135 A. D. to
Modern Times. By James Parkes. Oxford University,
Press, 114 5th Ave., New York 11.
A SHORT HISTORY. OF THE MIDDLE EAST; From
the Rise of Islam to Modern Times. By George E. Kirk_
PublicAffairs Press, 2153 Florida Ave., Washington 8,
D. C.
Emergence of the Middle East as one of the
most important areas in the struggle between
East and West and as a symbol of expanding
cultural and economic forces in hitherto unde-
veloped territories is inspiring the writing of
numerous volumes dealing with this territory.
The rise of Israel is an added influence in the
new interest in the Mediterranean area.
Dr. James Parkes, whose several volumes on
Judeo-Christian relations, anti-Semitism and
the Jewish problem have aroused wide interest,
has accomplished a commendable task with his
history of Palestine. In reality, his well-written
book is a complete history of the country, its
peoples, its religious groups, dating back to
earliest times.
Naturally, the complete story of Zionist en-
deavor is recorded in this interesting volume.
Dr. Parkes approaches the issue with under-
standing and in a spirit of sympathy for the
Jewish cause. He does not hesitate, where
necessary, to criticize 'his own government, the
British. He describes objectively the collapse
of the British administration.
He expresses the view that "there will be no
peace in Palestine until there is reconciliation
between Jewish and Arab needs." He writes with
sorrow over the accompaniment of bitter faction
fights and by war in the attainment of the
The accompanying cartoon, by Arieh Navon, reproduced Jewish hopes for a National Home. And he does
not hesitate to criticize the Christian Churches
from Davar, the Israeli Hebrew daily newspaper, depicts the
for the ignominy of their role in Palestine:
burdens of the State of Israel on its first birthday. It shows "Their influence has been negligible, because
the Jewish state carrying the responsibilities for the ingath- their behavior has too often lacked not only
ering of the exiles, the solv- moral grandeur but even honesty."
ing of economic problems, se-
A Leading Reference Book
curity and housing. These are
George E. Kirk's history of the Middle East
the burdens that made it nec- can well serve as one of the leading reference
essary for Israel to introduce books on the subject of Palestine, her neighbor-
a program of austerity, to ing countries, Christianity, the Muslims.
enforce rationing of food and
Mr. Kirk's penetrating study covers very ably
, clothing, to impose heavy the religious and commercial issues, the con-
taxes upon the citizens of the quests and struggles.
New light is thrown in this book on several
new state. Commodity im-
ports are under strict control Middle Eastern issues. We learn that "the tra-
and production is planned to ditional Christian account that Muslim con-
fit into the scheme of things querors gave Christians and Jews the choice
only of conversion to Islam or death by the
which must be guided to fit sword
is totally erroneous." We are told that
into the program of welcom- "though the Dome of the Rock at Jerusalem
ing all newcomers, no matter (often miscalled the Mosque of Omar), which
how large their numbers.
was founded in 691 by Abd ul-Malik, was a
shrine built for Muslim worship, it must never-
In a sense, Israel's new theless be regarded as a product of Christian
functions of s t at e-building art."
represent another in the long
The role played by Jews in Muslim countries
series of miracles which have is significant. Mr. Kirk's history contains many
been wrought in our time. In references to Jewish middle-men, astronomers,
spite of the failure of Jewish cultural leaders, physicians. There is. reference
communities to provide the to the part played in the acquisition of power
necessary funds for the set- by Great Britain in the Suez Canal area through
. tlement of more than 250,000 the efforts of Disraeli and the Rothschilds.
Palestine's story and the role of Zionism is
immigrants in a single year, the work goes on. New colonies
are being built ; men, women and children from all corners told in full in this volume. Unfortunately, Mr.
Kirk reveals a pro-British prejudice and a
of the globe are being integrated into Israel's economy; many
marked
anti-Zionist attitude which in great
more schools and hospitals have to be built. The very poor-
measure detracts from the objectivity of his
est of Israel's citizens, even among those who only a short book.
For instance, in his discussion of aid
time ago were themselves displaced persons, are sharing given the Nazis during the last war, he finds it
their homes and possessions with the new settlers and liv- necessary to write a footnote: "The extent of
ing room is being created out of the test-tube of brotherhood this aid has probably been exaggerated by Zion-
and humanitarian considerations.
ist propaganda." In nearly every case of conflict
recorded by Mr. Kirk in his story of the struggle
It is natural for American Jews, who had a most im- between Jews and the British, he always gives
portant share in establishing the foundation for the Jew- the benefit of the doubt to the . British and
gives credence to anti-Zionist charges.
ish state, to pose questions about the future. How long can. invariably
It is regrettable that an otherwise good book
Israel carry on without funds, under an austerity program,
should have been marred by such a prejudiced
attitude.
faced with great difficulties which can be overcome only
The Baby's Year-Old Burdens
when the minimum Obligations to immigrants—who are flee-
ing DP camps and threats of persecutions—are fulfilled and
large supplementary investments are made to augment the
economy of the new state?
The United Jewish Appeal is not as successful this year
As it was in 1948. This means that even the minimum finan-
cial requirements are unavailable. There has been large talk
about multi-million investments, but until now the response
has been very limited. One would have to turn into an
ostrich to overlook these hard facts and not to entertain
some anxiety over the future.
Perhaps the leaders in various American Jewish com-
munities can find a way of encouraging new gifts to UJA,
in order that the immigration, resettlement and reconstruc-
tion program should not be halted.
Meanwhile the investment corporations must proceed
with plans for great constructive efforts and for the enlist-
ment of liberal interest in the Israeli development schemes.
Both for direct contributions and for investments, it is
necessary to inaugurate a new program of education. With-
out understanding of the needs and true values of our kin-
ship with Israel the entire scheme of state-building may be
threatened. Failure to fulfill our obligations may cause se-
rious harm to Israel, and since all Jews aspire to Israel's
success, all of us must labor to that end. None of us dares
to leave the entire burden to-the one-year-old state. The
baby is strong, but it needs the sustenance which only the
Jews in free countries can provide.
Facts You Should Know . .
Do women have the right to hold public of-
fice according to Jewish tradition? •
Not only Jewish tradition but Jewish scrip-
ture bears proof . of the presence of women in
public office. Moses' sister, Miriam, is known as
a prophetess in her own right who led the
women of Israel in song after the crossing of
the Red Sea. Deborah is listed as one of the
judges in the prophetic writings of the Bible.
The Talmud tells us that there were seven
women who were prophets in Israel—Sarah,
Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Abigail, Chuldah and
Esther. These facts prove that Jewish tradition
recognizes the right of women to public office.
Does Jewish tradition attach any significance
to names?
There are indications in the Talmud to show
emphasis upon the name of a person. The
Talmud (Berochos 7) even ,goes so far as to hint
that a person's name may be responsible for his
destiny. Rabbi Meir, the famous Talmudic
scholar, was known to consider the name of a
person in determining his character. (Yoma, 83).
From the early pages of Biblical history, A
has been the mother who in the majority of the
cases named the child. For example, Hagar called
her child Ishmael (Genesis 16:11) and the wives
of Jacob, Rachael and Leah, assigned names to
their children in the Book of Genesis. It must
be kept in mind, however, that cases are cited
wherein the father named the child, as for
example when Abraham assigned the name Isaac
to his son. (Genesis, 21:3)