at
2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Purely- Commentary
Friday, November 18, 1949
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Historic Contributions by Detroiters to Israel's Growth
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
(Delayer} Dispatches From Israel)
JERUSALEM, Israel.—Letters that mistakenly have been ad-
dressed to Jerusalem. Palestine ; were returned to the United States
after reaching the Arab part of the Holy City, and from there
were rerouted to Jewish Jerusalem.
The road from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, especially that portion
of it which was built by Jews and is known as the Burma Road,
solves a great many riddles. The remnants of destroyed army
cars in the ditches along the road serve as monuments to Jewish
heroism.
Kibutz Maale Hamisha, where the Hordes Forest. is to be
planted, is a glorious sight, especially for those who know the
story of the five Jewish martyrs in whose memory this settlement
was created. Then there are the monuments to David Marcus,
American hero who lost his life on the Israeli Burma Road,
having come here to fight for Jewish freedom.
Kibutz Rachel, Symbol of Jewish Courage
From the height of the partly-destroyed Notre Dame struc-
ture : from which you can literally touch the wall around the Old
City that is in possession of the Arab Legion, it was possible to
see the Arab Legionnaires and the residents in the Old City, the
recently-reopened Damascus Gate and, in the distance, Mount
Scopus with the Hebrew University and Hadassah buildings.
Kibutz Rachel, symbol of Jewish courage, is an amazing
sight. The main building, which was the scene of bitter fighting,
is in ruins. A portion of the destroyed piano in this once-
flourishing settlement is on the ground floor. In this building,
which alone remained in Jewish hands, the battles raged from
floor to floor, but Israelis never gave up the final story, until
they were able .completely to rout the enemy after being isolated
from the rest of the city.
Every man, woman and child here has a story to tell of
Jewish heroism. The extent of the suffering that existed during
the Arab siege defies description.
They've Seen Some of the Grimmest Fighting
Dr. Samuel Lewin-Epstein, brother of Mrs. A. M. Hershman ;
and his family have seen some of the grimmest fighting. Dr.
Lewin-Epstein, who, by this time, is in the United States where
he hopes to create new interest for the establishment of an Israel
Dental College, related how men 65 and youngsters of 14 fought
to preserve Jewish rights - and to prevent disaster in the event
the Arabs entered the New City of Jerusalem.
- The Lewin-Epsteins' son; Yaakov, is serving with the Israel
army. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania College of
Dentistry, he hopes to enter dental practice here upon his release
from the army. During the war he served with the U. S. Army
Dental Corps.
His brother, Noah, a graduate of the University of Michigan,
was killed in action, as an officer in the U. S. Air Force.
Mrs. Lewin-Epstein—Madeline, who is known throughout the
world for the hospitality she gave to soldiers of all democratic
countries who came to Palestine—recalled:
"When Noah died, all Jerusalem wept. And we had so much
more to weep over during the fight for Jerusalem. Our home
was a hospital, - the stairway a morgue."
Herzl Room, One of the Showplaces in Israel
There are several Detroiters in Jerusalem. Joseph Yanich
and Meir Subrin are studying in the Jewish Agency Youth De-
partment Leadership Institute. Jacob Rycus is night editor of
the Palestine Post. Albert Elazar's family lives here. Mrs. Ethel
Zellman, mother of Mrs. Lillian Harrison and David Zellman, is
happy in her modest little home.
The Herzl Room in the Kereri Kayemeth Building is one of
the very interesting showplaces in Israel.. It . is thrilling to see
Herzl's room reconstructed in every way. His desk, his books, his
favorite pictures have been kept intact.
At the Keren Kayemeth (Jewish National Fund) we learned
that forests and groves planted by Detroiters are located as
follows: Fred M. Butzel, Joseph H. Ehrlich and Morris Schaver
Forests, at Ain. Hashophet; Harry Schumer Forest, at Ramat
Hashophet; Irving Shevin Forest, in an area not yet designated;
William Hordes Forest, at Kibutz Maale Hachamisha.
Locations of Groves Planted by Detroiters
Here are the locations of Groves planted by Detroiters: In
memory of Samuel N. Heyman, at Ramat Hashophet; in memory
of Joseph L. Bale, at Maale Hamamisha; Louis Dann Grove, in
Meir Berlin Yaar at Kfar Etzion; Zussman and Rachel Zavele-
vitz Grove in Schumer Forest; Bigelman Grove and Grove of
Jewish Women's European Welfare Org., in Hordes Forest; Moshe
Kalef Grove and Grove of Odessa Progressive Aid Society in
areas to be designated; 'groves of Zedakah Club and Congrega-
tional School of Shaarey Zedek in Shevin Forest.
Our visit in Jerusalem coincided with the return from Moscow
of Eiga Shapiro, cousin of Rabbi and Mrs. A. M. Hershman. Miss
Shapiro was secretary of Golda Myerson when she was Ambas-
sador from Israel to Soviet Russia, prior to being named Minister
of Labor in the Israel Cabinet.
At a reception at the home of Chief Rabbi and Mrs. Itzhak
Isaac Halevy Herzog, there were two other Detroiters: Isidore
Sobeloff, Welfare Federation director, and Max Lapides, brother
of Charles, Jack, Lester and Henry, of Qtfality Laundry. Max
on leave froth the RFC, is studying economic conditions in Israel.
.
Mediterranean Ocean Has Several Names
TEL AVIV—Names are important and most interesting in
Israel. Take, for instance, the historic lake at Tiberias. It is
known as Lake Tiberias. It also is referred to as Galilee Lake—
with special regard to the . story of Jesus; Lake Ginasaur and
Lake Kinereth. The latter is derived from the Hebrew word
Kinor, meaning violin, because the lake is violin-shaped.
The Mediterranean - similarly has several names: Yam Hati-
chon, Yam Hagodol (the Great Sea), Yam Hatchebeth (the Blue
Sea) and the Arabs call it Bakhar-al-Abyad (the White Sea).
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Scores of people desire to send greetings (gerussen) to their
American kinsmen. In one month it is impossible to cover all
the ground or to see all who should be seen..
A special message, however, is being transmitted to Detroit
physicians by one of the most distinguished men we have met
in Israel—Dr. M. Sherman of Tel Aviv, president of the Palestine
Jewish Medical Association. Dr. Sherman sends his blessing to
Drs. Aaron Dubnove and N. E. Aronstam, with whom he has
been in constant contact in creating a medical U. S.-Israel rela-
tionship, and he hopes that many Detroit Jewish physicians will
irlUrnt
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Entire U.S Jewry
To Have Voice at
WA Conference
Wealth of Culture in Tel Aviv
TEL AVIV—Israel is starved for entertainment. Long queues
are seen regularly in front of the cinemas for an opportunity to
watch mostly American films. Narrow additional strips run simul-
taneously with the movies carrying the translations of narrations
and conversations into Hebrew. Often the operator of this strip
becomes so engrossed in the film that he or she interrupts the
run of the additional strip. Gasps from the audience force re-
sumption of extra screening.
This great all-Jewish city does, however, have its wealth of
cultural activities. In one week we saw the following:
A splendid performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by
the famous Habimah Theater.
A comedy, "The Soldier Schweyk," by Ohel, the Workers'
Theater.
A truly impressive interpretation, in Hebrew, , of "Rigoletto,"
by the Hebrew National Opera.
Several art exhibits in the Tel Aviv Museum which is housed
in the home of the late Mayor Meyer Dizengoff.•
While we missed the Israel Symphony, we were treated to
a very fine performance by the Chamber Music Trio, 'composed
of members of the Symphony.
Several concerts were given here by Sidor Belarsky.
All the events were sell-outs and in many instances patrons
filled the aisles as an overflow audience.
The work of these cultural agencies is supported by the
American Fund for Palestinian Institutions. Mrs. Itzhak Norman,
formerly a member of the staff of the American Fund in New
York, now a teacher in the Tel Aviv Teachers Seminar, is a
member of the volunteer executive committee of the fund in Tel
Aviv and is very helpful to all important cultural movements in
Israel.
Scene of the Crusaders of the Middle Age
ACCO, Israel—The mere fact that Acco (Akko)—the ancient
city of Acre—is described as being a part of Israel is sufficient
to add to the great miracle of our time. This is the city of
British prisons, in our time: of the Crusaders in the Middle Ages;
of Saladin; of Napoleon and his hope to capture the Mediterranean
area.
Here you see many Arabs who remained since the city's acqui-
sition by Israel. But 65 per cent of the population of 9,000 is
Jewish. More Arabs are returning here. There is fishing in this
coastal spot, but more begging. Bakhsheesh is not a strange
word here.
The famous aqueduct remaining from Turkish days-, an inter-
esting relic from the backward days, is nearby.
On every road there are new settlemens for olim and some
of the older settlements are veritable garden spots. Among the.
most impressive is Shavei Zion, established on JNF land by
German Jewish farmers as a cooperative Moshava. Shavei Zion
is a tribute to German efficiency.
Anglicized Hebrew
English words and Yiddish terms have been injected into
every-day use of Hebrew in Israel.
It isn't unusual to hear a "Mid ask his mother for a coin to
buy "ha-heigele," (beigel), and "ha-shwitz" (perspire) is ordinary
by this time.
"Skaytim" (skates) are popular with youngsters—although the
bicycel is a practical vehicle for young and old.
You can order a "sendvich"—American style—and you'll be
welcome anywhere in a "sweder."
An "auto" refers to either bus or truck; but "texi" is either
a taxicab or a privately owned car.
To "trremp" means to hike, but "trrempism" is hitch-hiking,.
and "trrempistim" are numerous in all Israel.
The Jerusalem Talmud has this reference to the use of
languages: "There are four fine languages for the world to use:
Greek for song, Latin for war, Syrian for mourning and Hebrew
for speech." Modern Israel proves the latter point.
Thus, "O. K." is a' common expression. No one registers sur-
prise when he hears the phrase "shnei gentlemanim" (two gen-
tlemen). "Telephonim," "telegraphim," "carbureterim" and simi-
lar terms have found their way into Hebrew. "The Song of the
Jeep" has two interesting lines: "Ha-ikka.r ba-jeep zeh speed"—
the important thing about the jeep is speed—and "brakes, atzor,
atzor"brake, stop. stop! Of interest in the latter expression is
that "brakes" is the Hebrew singular for brake and its plural is
"brakesim."
Look at it any way you wish, Hebrew is the rapidly-develop-
ing interesting language of an even more interesting land. And
if you want the reason for Hebrew's triumph . over Yiddish—and
all other tongues in Israel—it is this: There are people here from
50 lands, speaking 30 languages. They had to find a common
language for common expression and they selected the toughest:
Hebrew. That's the way it is in Israel: the hard way soon becomes
the easiest.
NEW YORK, (JTA)—All "im-
portant decisions as to the ob-
jectives and scope of the 1950
campaign of the United Jewish
Appeal will be made by Jewish
EINSTEIN
SHARETT
communiti es through the widest
democratic representation" at
the UJA's national conference,
opening in Atlantic City on Nov.
25, it was announced by the na-
tional chairmen — William Ro-
senwald, Judge Morris Rothen-
berg and Rabbi Jonah B. Wise.
The announcement by the
UJA leaders disclosed that a
"formula has been devised to
enlarge and broaden the base
of community representation on.
the -preparatory sub-committee
that will be charged with draft-
ing and adopting resolutions
and recommending a quota for
the 1950 drive of the UJA.
"Under the new formula," it
was added, "every Jewish com-
munity in the country with at
least 2.000 Jewish residents will
.have ' a minimum of one repre-
sentative on the sub-committee.
Communities with a Jewish pop-
ulation in excess of 40,000 will
have three representatives, while
New York City will have 15, in
view of its large Jewish popula-
tion. These representatives will
be selected by the communities
themselves."
In addition, the eight. regions
of the Council of Jewish Federa-
tions and Welfare Funds will
select two representatives each
and 25 individuals will be chosen
from the country at large. Last
year the preparatory sub-com-
mittee was composed of repre-
sentatives of 67 top communities.
The total membership of this
year's committee will be 214 as
compared with 136 for the 1949
conference.
Foreign Minister Moseh Shar-
ett of Israel will fly to this
country to make an important
address before the UJA parley.
Among the other outstanding
leaders who will address the
conference will be Dr. Albert
Einstein, who will speak by
telephone from his home.
Hebrew U. Officials
Plan Anniversary Fete
JERUSALEM, (JTA) —Officials
of Hebrew University were com-
pleting plans for their jubilee
celebration on April 1, com-
memorating its 25th anniver-
sary. Among guests invited are
Dr. Elbert Einstein and Field
Marshal Jan Christian Smuts of
the Union of South Africa.
Due to their need for addi-
tional space, Hebrew University
officials, meanwhile, have ap-
proached the Jesuit Fathers who
Latest Ben-Gurion Story
administer the Pontifical ' Bibi-
cal Institute, which is situated
Here is the latest story about Ben-Gurion:
across the street, to lease the
Israel's Prime Minister appeared at a public dinner in shorts, first floor of their building. De-
tie-less, collar unbuttoned. Some of his associates were shocked. cision on the request is pending.
"How can you do such a thing, B. G.?" they asked.
"It's permissible," he replied.
"Who, under what circumstances, can possibly permit such
a break in etiquette?" the critics persisted.
"Why, Winston Churchill himself gave me permission."
Due to the early mailing of
"Stop joking."
the Nov. 25 edition of The
"But it's true. A couple of years ago I was invited to a state
Jewish News, necessitated by
dinner in London and appeared in exactly my present outfit.
Thanksgiving Day, the follow-
Churchill came over to me and said: 'B. G., you can do this in
ing special deadline has been
Palestine, but not in England.' "
set up for next week's paper:
MI copy and photographs
must be at the Jewish News
(The cable from Emma and Morris Schaver, informing us
office, '708 David Stott Bldg.,
that the U. S. Senate had adopted the Vandenberg-Dingell bill
by 11 a..m. Monday, Nov. 21.
declaring their little Itzhak to have been of French descent—
It will be impossible to use
any material arriving later
thus enabling them to bring him into this country—was shared
than that time.
with joy by Israel government and Jewish Agency officials
advertisements
Classified
Minister of Labor Golda Myerson and Jewish Agency Treasurer
will be accepted at the office
Levi Eshkol were especially happy to hear the good news and
or by telephone, WO. 5-1155,
asked that we include them in our cabled message of con-
until 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28.
Early Deadline
gratulations to the Sc1i.avers—which we did.)
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