Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

ini,Eighter Vein—a Few Stories from Israel

Several fascinating stories from Israel provide lighter copy
for summer reading.

The story this Commentator likes best is about the Jew from
Lodz whose name is Chaim Weizmann. According to Samlung, the
Yiddish organ of the Israeli fighting forces, this man has been
unable to find living quarters in Israel and has directed his friends
to send his mail in care of a post office. Many of the letters,
hovever, were directed to Israel's President and were returned
with the notation "mistakenly addressed," carrying the President-
ial stamp. Rejecting the request that he change his name, the
Chaim Weizmann from Lodz said: "If the name is good enough
for the President of Israel, it is good enough for me." Meanwhile he
prizes the letters with the Presidential stamp and some fear that
he will carry through his threat to settle in Rehovoth in order
to continue the practice and to add to his valuable collection of
forwarded letters.

There are many interesting stories about the Sabras. The
Sabra is the prickly fruit of Israeli cactus hedges, and the term
is applied to the tough children in the Jewish state. The Sabras
have one languageHebrew—and one homeland—Israel. The story
is told that on Hanukah a teacher in one of the Israeli schools
was recounting the heroism of the Maccabees. A 6-year-old Sabra,
listening intently to the tale of the attack of the Greeks upon
the Jews asked: "And on whose side was America then?"

Add to Sabra wisdom the .following: When a youngster
arrived in an air raid shelter as the alarm was sounded during
the hostilities, his mother noticed that he was in his socks and
asked: "Why didn't you put your shoes on, Amitai?" And the
Sabra replied: "Mother, I have a new proverb: Better alive and
barefoot than dead in your boots."

two-year-old Moshe said to his mother: "Granny, Grandpa,
daddy and you had to wait 2,000 years for the Jewish State. I
waited only two years." Davar Hashavua, Israeli Hebrew. weekly,
also relates the following: Listening to a Sabbath Eve broadcast
on the Israel Radio, a 4-year-old Sabra, hearing the announcer
quote "I am the Lord your God .. ." shouted to his father, "Daddy,
come at once, God Himself is talking on the wireless" . . . The
Sabras' mother, noticing that her 3-year-old was sitting a bit too
quietly on his stool, asked: "What are you doing, David?" His
reply was: "Goodbye, mother, I am driving to Rosh Pina." "Kiss
nie•before you go, my pet," said mother. To which David replied:
"First, I am Ossiah, the driver, not a pet. Secondly, I cannot
kiss you because I am not shaved."

When the question arose in the Israeli Knesset as to the
titles to be given the members of the Jewish Parliament the
suggestion was advanced, since it was in the course of planning
for "Zena" (austerity) that they should be called "Zenators."

Among the choicest stories from Israel is the one about the
armored fighting vehicle. We are informed that there are plans
for the establishment of an army museum for the display of
primitive weapons that were used by Jews to fight the aggressor
Arab nations. Among the exhibits will be a so-called tank--an
iron crate, the bottom removed, covered with steel netting,
hitched on top of a tractor.. Engraved upon it next to the
symbol of Palmach is the Yiddish saying: "As Gott vill, shisst
oich a bezim" ("God willing, even a broom can shoot.").

Then there is the story about the new kibbutz Sodom on the
site of the wicked ancient city. Like other kibutzim, Sodom was
hospitable to many American tourists who were unable to find
hotel accommodations in Israel. One American tourist described
the situation as follows: "How can this be? I come to Jerusalem,
expecting the `Zadikim' (or Good and Saintly Men) of Jerusalem to
give me generous welcome. Yet I could not find a proper bed
there, and was fleeced for my -food into the bargain. "Then I went
to Sodom, place of iniquity expecting to meet the `Reshaim' (or
Evil Ones), and what happened? I am feted—without charge—as
is the custom in kibbutzim, and I really enjoyed myself. It does
seem to me that in Israel everything is topsy-turvy."

There is a story about Israel's Prime Minister David Ben-
Gurion who was found in a disconsolate mood. Asked for an
explanation, Ben-Gurion, who has taken to studying the Greek
language and classics, said: "It's about Plato: I have just come
across something in his works which is totally false."
Perhaps a bit of domesticity win be permitted at this point:
Leonard Lyons' column in the New York Post recently carried
this Travel Note: "Fanny Hurst and her husband booked pass-
age to Europe. A group of friends came to their cabin to see
them off. The party was a gay one, and after the "All Ashore"
was sounded and the guests left, Miss Hurst studied the flowers
and the going away gifts and then noticed that her husband
seemed saddened. He confessed, that he didn't really want to go
to Europe .. . "It doesn't excite me either," said Miss Hurst. "Be-
sides the party the gifts and the flowers are best part of a trip.
We've had it—so let's leave . ' They called a porter, took their
trunks off the ship, and went home." Suppose Bar Mitzvahs,. con-
secrants, confirmands had been given their parties in advance,
would they—by the above token—abandon their consecrational
duties? Or—aren't parties and gifts the best parts of life after
all? We pose this question as a comment on the view of one
Rabbi that in the instance of many . Bar Mitzvahs there are more
Bars than Mitzvahs.

a a
Note to Drew Pearson: About Jewish U.S. Senators

Drew Pearson apparently, has been misled on the subject of
Jews who served in the U: S. Senate.

.. Contrary to his belief that no Jews as yet have been
elected to the United States Senate, Mr. Pearson will be interested
to know that there were six Jews in the highest U. S. legislative
body.

The last Jew to serve in the Senate was Simon Guggenheim,
who represented Colorado from 1907 to 1913.

David Levy Yulee was the first Jew to serve in the U. S. Sen-
ate. He represented. the state of Florida from 1845 to 1851 and
again from 1855 to 1861. He was a Delegate to the U. S. House of
Representatives from Florida, before it became a state, from 1841
to 1845.

Other Jews who served in the U. S. Senate were: Judah Philip
Benjamin, who later was a Confederate leader, Louisiana, 1853-
1861; Benjamin Franklin Jonas, Louisiana, 1879-1885; Joseph Si-
mon, Oregon, 1897-1903; Isador Rayner, Maryland, 1905-1912-
Rayner also served in the U. S. House of Representatives, 1887-
x.895.

2—THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, August 5, 1949

FCC Investigates
Anti-Jewish Bias
In Station WJR.

WASHINGTON, (JTA) — The
Federal Communications Com-
mission has ordered a full-scale
investigation of charges that G.
A. Richards, owner of radio sta-
tions WJR, Detroit, KMPC, Los
Angeles, and WGAR, Cleveland,
ordered his newscasters to
"slant" news against Jews and
others.
Richards was ordered to ap-
pear before the Commission,
which will hear - -the evidence.
Earlier, he petitioned the FCC
to approve a transfer of voting
control of his stock in an ef-
fort to avoid a public hearing on
his qualifications to continue as
a radio station licensee.
Will Maslow, general counsel
of the American Jewish Con-
gress, hailed the decision as be-
ing of "tremendous significance"
in preserving the United States
from "the poison of hatred de-
liberately spread by those who
abuse the privilege of being
licensed to utilize media of com-
munication like radio."
The decision of the Commis-
sion to hold a public hearing
was commended by the Detroit
Jewish Community Council in a
communication from Dr.
Shmarya Kleinman, council
president, to the chairman of
the FCC.

Mrs. Benj. Jaffe
Wins Red Feather
Volunteer Citation

For her volunteer efforts for
the J e wish Community and
Metropolitan Detroit in general,
the Central Volunteer Bureau, a
Red Feather service of the
Council of Social Agencies, haS
named Mrs. Benjamin Jaffe of
Huntington Woods "Volunteer
of the Week."
For as long as she has lived
in the Detroit area — a little
more than 10 years—Mrs. Jaffe
has been active in the annual
Red Feather Community Chest
drives. - She was vice president
Of the Women's Division of the
Chest for- a three-year term.
A member of the board of the
JeWish Community Center, Mrs.
Jaffe _represents the center on
the executive committee of the
Group Work and Rcreation Di-
vision _of the Council of Social
Agencies, a job of which she is
particularly fond. She is also
an active member of the Volun-
teer Committee of the Central
Volunteer Bureau.
For several years she has been
an ardent worker for the Allied
JeWish Campaign. She is also
a member of a newly-formed
citizen's committee on scholar-
ships, which is affiliated with
the JewiSh Vocational Service.

Woodhull 'Night of
Stars' for INF Set
For Sunday, Aug. 21

Under the auspices of the
Woodhull Lake . Association, a
"Night of Stars" will be spon-
sored on Sunday evening, Aug.
21, at Woodhull Lake, in behalf
of the Jewish National Fund.
An array of artists is being
-enlisted to perform that eve-
ning. The program, will be an-
nounced next week.
Serving on„ the committee of
arrangements are:
Mr. - .and Mrs. Samuel Weise-
man, Mr. and Mrs. Isidore Gus-.
sin, Mr. and Mrs. 'Joseph Airi
binder, J. Lewitzky, Mrs. Philip
Lieberman and Isidore Sosnick.

Lack of Kosher Meat
Faces English Jews

LONDON (JTA) — No kosher
meat will be produced in Eng-
land. after the end of this year
unless approved slaughtering
pens are adopted by kosher
slaughtering houses, it was an-
nounced in the House of Lords
by the Earl of Huntington, Pare
liamentary Secretary of the
Ministry for Agriculture.

If

orowsky Visits Israel to Explore
Promotion of Interest in Ilebreiv

TEL AVIV . .. Leading Israeli scholars, writers and poets as
well as officials of the World Hebrew Union tendered a reception
in honor of Samuel J. Borowsky of New York, president of His-
tadruth Ivrith of America (Hebrew Language and Culture Associa-
tion), shortly after his arrival in the Jewish state.

Borowsky is visiting Israel to explore techniques and proce-
dures for promoting a widespread interest in Hebrew language
and cultural activities' among American Jewry. He is also sur-
veying educational methods which may be employed in the United
States in teaching Hebrew.

Above, the group at the banquet for Borowsky stand for the
singing of "Hatikvah." Left to right: RABBI SIMON GREEN-
BERG; ABRAHAM SPICEHANDLER, formerly .vice president of
Histadruth Ivrith, now in Israel; ASHER BARASH, noted poet;
NATHAN GOREN, of the World Hebrew Union; DR. NACHUM
SCHLOUCH; BOROWSKY; DR. JOSEPH COHEN and PROF. JOS-
EPH PATAI.

Plans are under way here for the summoning of a World
Hebrew Congress which will convene top ranking writers, scholars,
and educators from some 50 countries under the auspices of the
World Hebrew. Union, Borowsky disclosed,. He has had several
conferences with the Israeli Minister of Education, Zalman Sha-
zar, and with World Hebrew Union leaders to draft blueprints
for the forthcoming Congress Included among those laying the
groundwork for the Congress are Borowsky, Schlouch, Goren and
Spicehandler. The delegates will convene in the summer . of l 950.

Between You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1949, Jewi.4h• Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

New Issues

American Jewry is in for 'a most interesting season - of lively
discussions on internal Jewish: affairs . . Primarily on affairs
concerning. fund-raising in this country for various causes in
Israel . . . Will the. Hadassah agree to go out of the business' •of
campaigning and strengthen. the United JeWish Appeal in 1950?
• .. Will the Gewerkshaften Campaign for Labor Israel agree to
do it? . Will other major Zionist groups abolish their separate
fund-raising drives in order to give combined support to the
United Jewish Appeal? .. . These questions will now be dis-
cussed for weeks and weeks at public gatherings and by each of
the involved organizations . . You_ will hear many arguments
for and against a merger of all major Zionist : drives with. the
United Jewish Appeal . . . However, • the most' important is the
fact that the Israeli Government and the Jewish Agency execu-
tive seem to favor such a move ... They are eager to put an
end to the less important multiple campaigns for Israel which
have been growing during the last two years in the United
States Need one doubt the fact that the Hadassah t gill not
yield its position and will reject any plan, this Year, to amalga-
mate its fund-raising activities with the United Jewish Appeal?
.. .. What may happen a few years from now, when the Hadassah
work in Israel will, in the normal course of events, be taken over
by the Israeli Government's health department, is a different
story . . As to the Gewerkshaften campaign which is being
conducted in this country on behalf of the Histadrut, it stands
to reason that the leaders of this campaign will also not take
things lying down . . . One thing is, nevertheless, certain: the
smaller fund-raising drives for Israel, which flourished during
the past two years, will have little chance in 1950 . . . Greater
coordination and control in this field is the order of the day.

Fehind the Scenes

The proposal for the Israeli. Government to launch a $250,-
000,000 loan in addition to the funds raised by the United Jewish
Appeal continues to be a subject of growing discussion behind-
the-scenes both in Israel and • in the United States . .. Propon-
ents of the loan believe that American Jews will subscribe to it
as an investment, while contribUting at the same time to the
UJA as philanthropists . . . The opponents argue that since the
sale. of Israeli bonds will have to be conducted not through
organized Jewish community organs, but on a commercial. and
individual basis, the cost of selling the debentures will be quite
high . .. In addition, - should the • loan not be as successful as
expected, it may prejudice Israel's .credit possibilitieS in this
country . ... However, even opponents of the loan visualize an
Israeli loan in the United States as inevitable, even if its launch-
ing is postponed . • . Meanwhile, it will be interesting for Ameri-
can investors to learn what is on the minds of the - Israeli
government which is determined to encourage new capital invest-
ments in the Jewish state . . The Israeli Finance Minister is
now proposing the exemption of new buildings from municipal
property tax for a period of five years . . . Also, a reduction of
import duty on timber and iron for this year, as well as the
abolition of excise duty on cement . . . Also, a reduction of trans-
portation costs of building. material . . . Foreign capital investors
can bring into Israel machinery, tools, a large variety of raw
materials and prefabricated houses without .paying customs duty.
. . They are permitted to transfer—as far as possible—profits„
interest and dividends, and in certain cases also long-term credits
in the currency in which the investment was made . . Other
means of stimulation of capital investments from abroad are
now being considered with a view to encouraging new enterprises
in the spheres of industry, building and communication.

