of Loyalty

Oath Issue

Background of

UN Genocide

Convention

of Jewish Events

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VOLUME 15—No. 18

Historic

HE SW ISH NE

Evaluation

• 2114 Penobscot Bldg.—Phone WO. 5-1155 Detroit 26, Michigan, July 15, 1949

Important Article by.
Prof. Lemkin on Page 4

7

$3.00 Per Year; Single Copy, 10c

Israel repares to Settle 750,000
Immigrants in Four-Year Period

Direct JTA Teletype Wires to The Jewish News

ti

Barkley Aids UJA:

Vice-President Al-

ben W. Barkley (left) is shown in Los Angeles where he
urged local community leaders to intensify their efforts on
behalf of the United Jewish Appeal drive. With Barkley is
Jack L. Warner, president of the United Jewish Welfare
Fund of LoS Angeles, who is heading one of the largest
community .drives in the country on behalf of the U J A.

• TEL AVIV—A forthcoming government four-year plan envisaging the arrival of
750,000 immigrants--:with at least 100,000 of them settling on farms — was announced
Tuesday night by Premier David Ben-Gurion at the seventh Congress of the - Hista,drut
Agricultural Workers Union.
"Five hundred new settlements will be established for the new immigrants on 3,000,-
000 dunams of land," Ben-Gurion stated. "With planned intensified agriculture designed
to meet the Yishuv's requirements as well as to provide a margin for export; the- gov-
ernment will extend all necessary help to Israel's farmers."
Addressing more than 300 delegates representing the Mapai, Mapam, General Zion-
ist, Hapoel Hamizrachi and Communist parties, the Israeli Premier reviewed the accom-:'
plishments of the first four months of the elected government and revealed that the land
area of Israel increased "peacefully by several million dunams." Asserting that construc-
tion costs were lowered during the period, Ben-Gurion stated that 250,000 housing units
are currently being erected while the new state's industrial development was enhanced
through private capital investment from both Jewish and non-Jewish sources overseas.
Touching on the problem of the high cost of living, the Israeli Premier cited the ,•
successful struggle being waged to resolve this problem. He also pointed to improved
communications in the Jewish state and predicted that the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem railway
soon will be reopened. Foundations also were laid for a' system of compulsory free educa-
tion for both. Jewish and Arab children in Israel, he added.
"The government plans to build the largest possible Yishuv with a very high stand-
ard of living to attract Jews equally from rich and poor countries," Ben-Gurion declar-
ed. "The country's first defense line will be based not on .military forces but on the bor-
der settlements," he emphasized. He also reviewed plans for development of the Negev
as an agricultural area with the southern region fronting on the Gulf of Aqaba, becom-
ing a center for fishing and shipping activity.
Ben-Gurion revealed that the government soon will submit to the Knesset a proposal
to give agricultural training to Israeli youths which up a given age would be credited
'as part of their military service.
Abraham Harzfeld, Israel's leading agricultural and colonization expert, told the del-
egation _that .3.47...agricultural settlements now are flourishing in Israel,. while 18 youth
agriculture institutions attended by '3,000 students also are in existence. He estimated
the Jewish state's present agriculture population at. 73,000.

Continued on Page 3

6

Herzl Cedars'-A Sanctified Park in Israel

Afforestation Is Tribute to Leader

Americans
who ; along with Dr. Israel S. Wechsler, president of the
American Friends of the Hebrew University, participated
in the memorable ceremonies marking the opening at the
Hebrew University in Jerusalem of the first Medical School
in the history of the Jewish people, are shown with mem-
beis of the university administration. Included in the
group are, right to left: first row: Sir Leon Simon, chairman
of the university's board of governors; Edward A. Norman,
vice-president of American Friends; Dr. David W. Senator,
the university's executive vice-president; second row: High
Salpeter, executive vice-president; Dr. Wechsler; Mrs.
James. G. MacDonald, wife of the American Ambassador
to Israel; MacDonald; George S. Wise, vice-president of
American - Friends. Others shown are persons prominent in
the organizational and medical fields.

First Medical School:

Symbols of Freedom:.

Young resi-

dents of the shelter for newly arrived DPs. maintained by
United Service for New Americans, study the portraits of
the first and current presidents of their new homeland.
The pictures, symbols of a freedom they never before knew,
were gifts from the Foreign Language Press Film Critics
Circle and were prominently displayed at the shelter's
Fourth of July celebration. The presentation of the striking
portraits was made by Andrew Valuchek, president of the
Film Critics Circle, and Sigmund Gottlober, executive
director.

Great. British land-owners? On a smaller scale
we were witnesses of the accursed life of ten-
nants in our own land and we even saw it on a
EDITOR'S NOTE : The 20th day of Tamuz, which falls
this year on July 17, marks the anniversary of the death of
tic and liberal America.
large scale in dp
Dr. Theodor Herzl, founder of political Zionism. The 45th an-
fund of the Jewish people,
The JNF, the
niversary of his death this year is of special significance,
with plans completed for the removal of Dr. Herzl's remains
has saved the Yishuv from this evil and will
from Vienna to Israel. Moshe Smilansky, the author of this
continue to do so in the future.
article, is a noted Hebrew writer and one of the most prom-
inent figures in Israel.
It was Herzl, too, who brought to the fore the
*
*
*
challenge of afforestation. The devastation of
JERUSALEM—The tragic day on which the
the trees in our country, especially in the moun-
cedar was hewn which set the Jewish nation
tains, for many generations after the destruc-
ablaze, the cedar in the Zionist camp, he who had
tion of the Temple, has been one of the great
founded the Zionist Organization with all its
tragedies of our Homeland. _ •
ramifications, • has become a 'great day for the
In Herzl's famous novel, "Old-New Land," the
Jewish people. The death of Theodor Herzl
hearts of his two heroes sorrow at the sight of
rallied the Jewish nation around its age-old ' the naked mountains. They
aspirations even more than did the deeds of his
wonder whether, if half a mil-k
lifetime. The 20th of Tamuz will remain for
lion cypresses were to be plant
future generations a. landmark on the road of ed on the nude hills, the physi
suffering of the Jewish people in their struggle
cal appearance of the country
for liberation. And, inseparably linked with the would be appreciably altered.
memory of this great leader, are the two ideals
With his own hands Herzl
which he left as a heritage: nationalization of planted a cypress at Motza on
the land and afforestation of the hills.
the outskirts of Jerusalem dur-
The concept of the redemption of the land
ing his one and only visit •
of Israel was brought before the First Zionist
1898; an act which made him
Congress by Prof. Hermann Shapira, and it was
partner ,in the huge task of of
the Jewish National Fund that:
forestation which was to follow. M. Smilansky
That tree was unfortunately cut down by scoun-
was to transform the dream into
drels, but his partnership remains an enduring
a living reality. But without the
fact. Symbblic, the first forest planted by the
help of Herzl, Prof. Shapira's
JNF bore Herzl's name but, like all - beginnings, it
idea would have remained noth-
did not develop well during its first years. Since
ing more than an idea. Herzl,
then, however, the JNF has learned much about
who was raised aloft by the
afforestation and its many forests have already
noblest of ideals, had his hands
brought much of the shade for which Herzl
tied for years by his nearest col-
longed during his visit in that difficult and dry
leagues : bankers and lawyers
summer.,of 1898. Though each of our forests
who considered Shapira's idea a
bears a special name they are in essence "Herz1
childish utopia. Eventually, how-
ever, Herzl found the strength Dr. Herzl
Forests".
to free himself from the advice of these finan-
But before the landscape of Israel will have
cial and legal "experts." He extended his hand undergone considerable change many millions of
to the "childish utopia" and was decisive in
trees must still be added to the five million so
bringing about the approval of the Fifth Zion-
far planted by the JNF.
ist Congress held in Basle in 1901. Later years
The transfer of the sacred remains of Herzl
were to prove how right were the "children" who
to Israel this summer affords, therefore, a most
supported the "utopian" idea.
fitting opportunity for the continuation of this
It hardly seems possible that men of judg-
work. On the outskirts of Jerusalem a memorial
ment were unable to fathom the poignant
park, to be known as "Herzl Cedars," will come
tragedy of the Russian farmer who for gen-
into being—a woodland destined to become a
erations had been a serf because of the con- sanctified place for the children of Israel and
centration of vast lands in the hands of great
for Jews throughout the world. The prospect is
land-owners. How was it possible that they
a challenge full of enchantment to kindle the
could not see the great misery in Ireland which
enthusiasm of the people.
(Copyright, 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
bred hatred between the Irish people and the

By MOSHE SMILANSKY

