Women to Relax at June 14 Picnic
After Two Months of Campaigning
Women's Division workers
will relax at a picnic marking
the culmination of two months
.,of activity in the Allied Jewish
Campaign, next Wednsday, at
Franklin Hills Country Club.
Entertainment carrying out
the picnic theme is being plan-
ned by the committee of the
day, headed by Mrs. Harry L.
Jones and including Mesdames
Charles Briskman, Harold L.
Frank, Eli E. Gross, Herschel V.
Kreger and Raymond Sokolov.
Mrs. Tobias Garone and Mrs.
Louis Robinson will handle food
arrangements.
A motor caravan will carry
women unable to provide their
own transportation to and from
Franklin Hills Country Club.
The caravan wil leave from the
Varsity Theatre, Livernois at
Six Mile Road. at 11:30 a.m.
Totals from every phase of the
Division's activities will be given
2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, June 9, 1950
Berry Outline's
Critical Housing
Shortage in Israel
New Boundaries Divide Hadassah
into Ten Neighborhood Sections
by Mrs. John C. Hopp, campaign
chairman for the women. To
date 12,300 women have pledged
$513,000.
Concluding the campaign pro-
gram for 1950, chairmen, vice
Housing in Israel, which will
chairmen and secretaries in all
divisions are holding evaluation receive more than 200,000 im-
meetings this week to summar- migrants this year, has become
so critical that a minimum of
ize the campaign picture.
50,000 housing units must be
constructed in 1949, if new ar-
Half of Polish Jewry
rivals are not to sp6nd many
months in transient camps liv-
Expected in Israel in '50 ing
in tents, Louis Berry, chair-
man of the Pre-Campaign Cab-
About 50 per cent of Polish inet of the Allied Jewish Cam-
Jewry is expected to immigrate paign, declared this week.
to Israel , in the course of this
These units, which will be fin-
year according to a statement anced by the United Palestine
made in Tel Aviv by Dr. A. Ber- Appeal, largest beneficiary of
man, former chief of the Polish Detroit's campaign, will each
Jewish Council, a dispatch to consist of a bedroom, kitchen-
the Keren Kayesod in New York ette and sanitary facilities and
discloses. The present Jewish
population in Poland is esti- will accommodate three persons.
Explaining the magnitude of
mated at 70,000.
the housing problem posed by
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
The 'humerus Clausus' Debunked
The late Prof. Morris Raphael Cohen's "Reflections of a
Wondering Jew"' (Beacon Press), one aspect of which was dis-
cussed in this column last week, is worth its price for one topic
more than all others combined: the eminent philosopher's com-
ments on the shocking numerus clausus • practice in our uni-
versities.
Two chapters in the book "Jews in Commerce and the Pro-
fessions" and "Jews in Science" — deal with the numerus clausus
—
importation from backward anti-Semitic European countries.
Discussing • the place of Jews in science, Prof. Cohen dealt
not only with the academic issue but also, with the view that is
adhered to by some people that "there is something more honest
and honorable in manual than in intellectual pursuits." He re-
pudiated this viewpoint, disapproved wholly of the - numerus
clausus idea and declared:
"If historic conditions have made Jews eager to enter
science and made important contributions in it, I see no con-
clusive reason against their following a natural bent that has
enriched mankind."
We are especially impressed with his argument that: "If we
-do believe in letting Jews devote themselves to the advancement
of science, then the way to promote it is not necessarily through
more buildings and laboratories or large endowments to univer-
sities, - though that may be useful and wealthy Jews may well do
more along that line . .. I believe in the kind of thing achieved
by the Guggenheim Fellowships which give young men a chance
to do research work without being burdened by teaching or
administration . . . It seems to me that anything which helps
young Jews to go into science, and to do thorough work in it, is
in the long run bound to add to the lasting honor and prestige
of our people."
Viewing the charge that Jews are crowding the • professions
with his usual frankness, Prof. Cohen related .a conversation with
a Jewish social worker who wanted to know if the law is as
useful an occupation as tailoring, and Prof. Cohen replied (in the
essay he wrote in 1934) : "
I hadn't supposed that the present economic depression was
due to a scarcity of tailors or even to a superabundance of
lawyers, and that there were probably as many useless dresses
as needlessly litigated cases. In plain words, I don't believe in
this superstitious prejudice that only the man who works with
his . hands is socially useful. The view that denieS productivity
to the man who by. thinking -facilitates social relations, is one
of those superstitions against which nothing more need be said.
It ought to be dismissed, it seems to me, with contempt."
Prof. Cohen, whose "Reflections" discuss Jewish Education
from many viewpoints, in other chapters, points outin his condem-
nation of restrictions on Jews as Jews that "the delight in learn-
ing for its own sake enabled the Jews to bear their hard economic
lot in the Ghetto without being degraded by losing their
self-
respect . . Even in this country I have known a Jewish peddler
who wrote a book on Spinoza in Hebrew and another peddler who
wrote a wonderful essay in. English on Gray's 'Elegy'."
In the main, his appeal was-16 years ago—for acceptance
of Jews on their merits even though they overcrowded certain
professions. Merit is the only yardstick he has for acceptance of
Jews or anyone else who seeks a place in professions. To quote
again from his essay:
"If a man wishes and is fit to study medicine, knowing
that he may have to become a taxi driver afterwards, I think
he has that right. Certainly no state university has the right
to exclude such a Jew from a medical school because the total
number of Jews is only four per cent of the population ...
One is not entitled to a privileged position in education because
he is a Jew, but by the same token he cannot without injustice
be deprived of his individual rights. Indeed, the only reason I
can see why these medical schools do not openly admit that they
reject people simply because they are Jews (although privately
the deans admit it) is that, after all, when you say: 'This man
shall not be allowed to study medicine because he is a Jew,'
you go counter to the American tradition of equality of oppor-
tunity."
Prof. Cohen was emphatic. He made this point: "I ought not
to conclude before explicitly disavowing the intention to accept
any numerus clausus, which would be a betrayal of the American
ideal under which we in common with our fellow citizens have
enjoyed the blessings of freedom and unprecednted welfare. As
Americans, no less than as Jews, we must not abandon the prin-
ciple of the opening of opportunity to each individual according
to his ability. The community as a whole is entitled to the best
doctor, to the most capable lawyer; and if the best, judged by
any fair test, happens to be a Jew, the community, as well as the
individual, suffers a loss if the latter is deprived of his opportunity
to function according to the best of his ability."
This is the way every liberal American should speak. This is
the way ALL Americans should be taught to think—even if it
means going counter to illiberal viewpoints prevalent in the ranks
of university administrators. And because Prof. Cohen spoke as
frankly as he did, his "Reflections of a Wondering Jew," on this
score alone—his discussion of the repugnant numerus .clausus-
assumes an important role among very good books.
the record influx of immigra-
tion, Berry pointed out that the
percentage of population in-
crease in . Israel during 1949
alone, if translated into terms
of the population of the United
States, would mean that this
country would have to absorb
more than 30,000,000 people in
one year.
"During 1948 and 1949 hous-
ing was not a serious problem
because Arabs left many vil-
lages and towns. Newly arrived
refugees were able to find homes
in Jaffa and other towns," he
said. "This year, with all avail-
able housing occupied, the
problem of caring for the in-
flux of new immigrants will
prove insurmountable unless
Detroit and other - communities
support to the utmost the cur-
rent homecoming campaign of
the United Jewish Appeal."
Hershman Speaks
At Dinner June 20
Feting Zackheim
Accepting the invitation to
address the annual election din-
ner of the United H e br e w
Schools on Tuesday evening,
June 20, at the Northwest He-
brew Congregation, in honor of
his life-long friend, Maurice H.
Zackheim, Dr. A. M. Hershman
said in paying him tribute: "Few
individuals have served the De-
troit Jewish community as de-
votedly."
Rabbi Hershman, who is to
be the • prin-
cipal speaker
at the din-
ner, points
out that Mr.
Zackheim's
c o ntribution
to the United
Hebrew
Schools in
particular
has been out-
standing
throughout
the years.
From the de-
pression days
Hershman
of 1929, when
he became president - of t h e
school s, Mr. Zackheim has
served as chairman of its Board
of Education to the present day.
Together with his colleagues on
the board he has coped with
many educational problems and
has kept in constant contact
with the schools through mem-
bers of the staff and frequent
personal visits.
The invocation at the dinner
will be delivered by Mrs. Jos-
eph H. Ehrlich and the benedic-
tion by Rabbi Leon Fram. Abe
Kasle, president of the schools,
will submit a composite annual
report. He also will extend his
greetings to Mr. Zackheim, as
will other heads of organiza-
tions with whom Mr. Zackheim
has been connected.
Reservations for the dinner
may be had by phoning Harry
Cohen, chairman of the com-
mittee, UN. 3-0412; Julius Ber-
man, WO. 2-6050; or the United
Hebrew Schools, TO. 8-0063.
First U. S. Congregation
The first Jewish congregation
(Ashkenazic) in America was
Congregation Rodeph Shalom . of
Philadelphia, Pa., founded Octo-
ber 10, 1802.
.
New boundary lines, dividing Detroit Chapter of Hadas-
sah into 10 neighborhood sections, were announced at the
final chapter meeting. Shown here are Mrs. Theodore Barg-
man, Detroit Chapter - president, and the 10 section presidents.
Seated, left to right, MESDAMES SAMUEL COHN, University
West; THEODORE BARGMAN; MARTIN COWAN, Central
East; JOSEPH NEWMAN, Russell Woods West; standing, left
to right, MESDAMES SAMUEL RHODES, Bagley; SAMUEL
YURA, Wyoming, GEORGE BREMAN, University East; JO-
EPH JAQUIER, Sherwood; MAURICE PERLMAN, Central
West; HERMAN COHEN, Russell Woods East; GEORGE
STUTZ, Southern Oakland County, All members of Hadassah
Study Groups will be honored at an Oneg Shabbat this Satur-
day, June 10, at the home of Mrs. A. E. Bernstein, 2400 Boston
Blvd. After the one o'clock dessert luncheon, a program,
planned by Mrs. Albert Elazar and Mrs. Harry Landsman, will
be presented in the form of a talk on "Jewish Living Through
Books" by Mrs. Harry Oberstein.
UJA Conferees to View Increased
`Now-or-Never' Immigration Needs
Major developments in Roma-
nia and Iraq, involving an un-
expected increase in the need
for "now or never" immigration
in Israel this year, will be the
chief problem confronting the
national report conference of
the United Jewish Appeal, meet-
ing at the Palmer House in
Chicago this weekend.
Present indications are that a
minimum of 50,000 refugees will
come from Iraq to Israel during
1950, and at least 70,000 from
Romania. Heretofore, the agen-
cies of the United Jewish Ap-
peal have plahned their 1950
budgets on the basis of a total
bor in the Government of Israel,
and Aubrey Eban, who will make
his first major public address
since his designation as Israel
Ambassador to the United
States.
Workmen's Circle .List0..
Assets of $10 Million
NEW YORK — (JTA) — A
report revealing that the Work,
men's.' Circle, one of the largest.
and oldest fraternal organiza,
tions, now has assets amount,
ing to more than $10,000,000
was submitted to the 50th an-
nual convention of the organi-
zation.
The report said that the or-
ganization has more than 71 : 000
members. The 700 delegates at-
tending the convention made a
trip to Hyde Park to attend
memorial . services for Franklin*
D. Roosevelt.
.Leon Arkin, advertising man-,
ager of the Jewish Daily For-
ward, was elected president of
the Workmen's Circle at the
closing of the • convention here.
Reuben Guskin was named sec-
immigration of 150,000 to the
Jewish state.
Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, direc-
tor-general of the Joint Distri-
bution Committee, which derives
its funds from the United Jew-
ish Appeal, has flown to this
country from Europe to report
to the Chicago conference on
the sudden . expansion of immi-
gration needs to rescue large
sections of the Jewish population
in Romania and Iraq. .
Principal speakers at the con-
ference, in addition to Dr.
Schwartz, will include Mrs.
Golda Myerson, Minister of La- retary-treasurer.
Between You
and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1950, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Washington Talks
High government quarters in Washington are pleased with
the fact that the American Zionist Council has cancelled its na-
tional conference which was scheduled for last Sunday in the
ital ... The parley was to request that the U. S. Government cap-
per-
mit Israel to buy arms in this country in order to offset the ship-
ping of arms by Britain to the Arab states ... The joint American-
British - French declaration on the aims issue made the conference
unnecessary for the time being ... However, the State Department
still declines to make known the extent or nature of arms ship-
ments that can be expected from this country either to Israel or
to the Arab countries ... Officials say that security requirements
of the various states make it impossible 'for the U. S. to disclose .
the comparative ratio of the arms flow to Middle Eastern coun-
tries ... At the same time, government sources claim that Israel .
has received more American munitions than all the Arab states
combined . . . They admit, however, that the total equipment re-
leased for sale to either party has been negligible , Of course, it
is no secret any longer that the Arab countries don't depend on
arms from this country, since they are being well supplied with
heavy equipment from Britain ...But one high Washington official
claims that although Israel is. unable to obtain such equipment
from the United States, the Jewish state has been permitted to
purchase in this country "other" weapons of American manufac-
ture which the Arabs do not possess . . . A top level policy official
in Washington believes that the "Big Three" declaration on arms
to Israel and the Arab countries will have no bearing on the
State Department's consideration of any particular arms list sub-
mitted by Israel . . . The previous criteria, he says, will prevail in
the granting of export licenses for arms and munitions to colas
tries in the Middle East.