Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

'Indiscreet Tourist'—Sees All, Knows All in 14 Days

Louis L. is a bit upset. He listened to long list of complaints
by a Detroiter who recently returned from Israel, and wondered
whether all really is as bad as some Jews paint the infant, strug-
gling Jewish state. He asked some questions, learned that the new
complainant was in Israel 14 days, and began to analyze the
situation:
"Jake," said Louis, "of the 14 days you were in Israel you
spent at least half the time sleeping and eating. That left seven
days. You told us that you did some shopping to bring back some
Israel novelties. That takes time. You spent time listening to
peeves. How much time did you have left? Hardly four days, pos-
sibly five days? You want me to accept you as an authority?"
But Jake still is kicking. He didn't like the way he was treated.
..He had American Express Checks but the Israel banks refused to
give him American dollars for them!
Now, that's a new wrinkle; in fact, it's an ingenious one!
American Express Checks are intended not for manipulation from
one type of American currency into another, but as a form of
insurance for travelers who wish to exchange their dollars—with-
out the burden of carrying dollars on their persons—into foreign
exchange. But Jake wants Israel to break her laws for a man
from Detroit—and Louis sensed it. Said Louis to Jake:
"Use discretion, Jake, and don't harm little Israel unneces-
sarily!"

Status of Iraqi Jews in 1931

Your Commentator has discovered that he is in possession of
a valuable copy of an Anglo-Jewish periodical—the final "Good-
bye" issue of the London Jewish Guardian, dated Aug. 14, 1931.
The Guardian was an unusually well-edited publication. The late
Dr. Claude Montefiore was one of its regular editorial contributors
and its contents were noted for accuracy and for good_ writing.
It existed for 12 years and many people—in England and in this
country—mourned its passing.
An item about Iraq, in the final issue of the Jewish Guardian,
has special interest at this time, and we quote it in full:
"The admission of Iraq to the high privilege and responsibility
of membership of the League of Nations was recently the subject
of an interesting discussion in the House of Commons and in the
course of it some important things were said and some natural
anxieties were expressed with regard to the likely treatment of
minorities under the new dispensation. In view of the friction in
Palestine it was but natural that fears should be expressed as to
the position of Jews in that country. Jews in Iraq constitute a
minority of 88,000 people spread all over the country, and Dr.
Drummond Shiels said that according to the best authorities on
the subject they appear contented and happy, and are fully recog-
nized by the Arab and general population wherever they live. It
is certainly of some significance that whereas in countries where
the Jews are badly treated there is a great desire to go to Palestine,
there has been no evidence at all of any desire among the Jews
of Iraq to go from Iraq to Palestine. The argument of Dr. Shiels
is not so convincing as this last 'significant fact' would seem to
imply. It may be a case of Jews not wishing to go from the frying
pan of Iraq into the fire of Palestine. When it is suggested, as Mr.
.0. Manders, M. P., argued, that Arabs have such a very good
record, one cannot help asking would it really be suggested that
the Arabs should be entrusted under present conditions and politi-
cal excitement with looking after minorities, let us say, in Pales-
tine at present. Before Great Britain lays down its mandate over
Iraq, Geneva will have to get very busy."
This sounds like a chapter from ancient Jewish history. In
reality, it is a carbon copy of the reports on Romania, Poland,
Hungary, Germany and even France. In 1931—the year of the
above quotation—Iraqi Jews did not - want to go to Palestine.
Today—their number now is estimated as high as 120,000—they
are being moved entirely into Israel. It is one of the miracles of
our times that these Jews, who represent the offshoots of the
exiles from Babylon, should have been given a year of grace to get
out of the land they inhabited for more than 2,000 years and that
they should at the same time have the opportunity and the privi-
lege to find homes in Eretz Israel. This is, indeed, the era of
miracles for Israel, and the wonders grow larger when we study
history—as -in the above quotation.
*
*
*

Jewish Population Trends

In the same issue of the Guardian, we came across another
important item which assumes special inportance with reference
to the leading editorial in this issue of The Jewish News. It deals
with Jewish population trends and quotes one of the authorities
whose figures are utilized in our editorial. The 1931 Guardian
article reads:
"Some important data have been collected by Jacob Lestchin-
sky, the Jewish journalist and sociologist, with respect to the
Jewish population of the world. The most significant fact is that
during the past half-century the Jewish population of the world
has more than doubled, whilst during the last century it has in-
creased nearly fivefold. Whereas in 1825 the Jewish population of
the world was only 3.28 million, in 1880 it rose to 7.6 million, and
in 1930 it was estimated to be 15.8 million, Whilst again the Jewish
world population has increased nearly fivefold during the last
105 years, it is pointed out that the general population of the
world was only slightly more than doubled. The great increase of
the Jewish population has come, it would seem, mainly as a
result of a great decline in the Jewish death rate, a much greater
decline than among other peoples. There is much food for thought
here. Again one of the most important phenomena of Jewish life
in the last century has been the tremendous concentration of
Jews in large cities. Jews are the most urban people in the world
and it would be easy to explain this phenomenon without reflect-
ing much glory upon the enlightenment of the peoples amongst
whom they have dwelt. What will the next century urban figures
have to say?"
Compare the figures of 1931 with those quoted in the cur-
rent editorial wad you find another type of death rate to account
for the decline in the Jewish population. The death rate of the
last 15 years is due to murders, to a Nazi extermination policy
which reduced our population by 6,000,000. But the new trends in
Jewish life, the rebirth of Israel, the accompanying signs of as-
similation, the increase of intermarriage, the decline of Jewish
traditional observance—all the new tendencies undoubtedly will
affect future Jewish population figures. Our question, unlike the
one posed by the Guardian writer in 1931, is not moulded by the
influence of urbanity but rather by the reactions of world Jewry
to our traditions and to the re-created Jewish state. What, indeed,
WILL the next half century's Jewish population figures show?
Will they reflect the results of a better world in which all peoples
can prosper, or will they indicate another decline in sentiments
leading to reaction among Christians and Jews?

2—THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, July 28, 1950

Detroit to Host
Regional Seminar
Of Pioneer Women

The 13 chapters of Pioneer
Women of Detroit will host an
East Central Region seminar,
with Mrs. Irwin Berman as
chairman, at Farband. Camp,
Chelsea, Mich., Aug. 27 to 30 in-
clusive.
The national vice-president,
Ray Levitt, will participate in
all sessions. Artie Gorenstein
will present Habonim and their
Israeli guests in a session on
"Youth", at Camp Kinneret.
The theme of the seminar will
be "Re-orientation of Pioneer
Women."
Registrations are being ac-
cepted at Pioneer Women's of-
fice on Dexter Blvd., Mrs. Mar-
garet Huppert is chairman.
The East Central Region in-
cludes Michigan, Ohio, Pitts-
burgh and parts of Pennsylvan-
ia and Indiana.
Mrs. Berman has arranged for
a children's counselor at Camp
for those who wish to spend
the entire three days there. Ar-
rangements are being made for
transportation. For further in-
formation call TO. 9-7180, or
TY. 7-6875.

Facilities of Vocational Service Include
Preference Test for Career Planners

Not just a job, but a job that brings satisfaction is the
goal of the Jewish Vocational Service. HOWARD MAUSNER,
staff psychologist of JVS, explains to three career planners the
Kuder Preference test which will serve to determine what their
interests are.

Jewish Vocational Service, an ities and job requirements.
Allied Jewish Campaign agency,
JVS made 701 job placements
has moved to new quarters at last year. Only New York and
822 Farwell Bldg., 1249 Griswold, Chicago have placed more refu-
in order to extend its free ser- gees on jobs since the beginning
vice to job seekers and career of 1950. Priority of the JVS pro-
planners.
gram will continue to be refu-
The new quarters were secur- gee placements, which lighten
ed by the JVS housing commit- the community's expenses for
tee, consisting of Samual S. support of new Americans.
Greenberg, Herbert D. Robinson
In 1950, 47 per cent of JVS
and William Gershenson. Robert placements were in office and
N. Janeway is president of the clerical jobs; 41 per cent in
agency and Albert Cohen is ex- trades; 5 per cent in sales; 5 per
ecutive director.
cent in service occupations and
The layout of officers for 2 per cent in profeisions. Place-
counselors, staff psychologist, ments of those over 40 repre-
placement director and execu- sented 15 per cent, and the
tives assures confidential inter- youngest age group, 18 and lin,
views with clients. Facilities in- der, 18 per cent.
Mrfs. Morris A. Morton of De- clude a testing room and a
Nearly 3,000 Detroiters used.
troit was elected national presi- library on vacational opportun- JVS facilities last year
dent of the Women's Auxiliary
of Alpha Zeta Omega, national
pharmaceutical fraternity, at
its convention last week in Bal-
timore. Mrs. Morton also heads
the local AZO auxiliary.
Korean Consequences
Representatives of 19 chap-
The Korean situation has brought about a change in the
ters attended the national
minds of many persons in Washington who hitherto opposed the
selling of arms to Israel . . . It is now being realized by these ele-
ments that the Middle East is as much in danger from possible
Soviet penetration as were China and Korea and that Israel,
with its Mediterranean ports, may become one of the major stra-
tegic position in case of armed hostilities in the Middle East .
Hence, the stronger Israel is made, the more advantageous this
may be for the democratic forces in the world . . . Not much
hope is now held in Washington of Egypt's cooperation with the
democratic countries in case of war ... It is not expected that
other Arab countries will have the military strength to resist
Soviet aggression . . . In fact, only recently some British
strategists advocated the withdrawal of British troops from the
Arab countries in the Middle East. Their argument was that
they doubt whether Arab armies would be strong enough, even
with British military support, to check possible Soviet aggres-
sion in that part of the world . . . They pointed out that it
would be impossible for Britain to provide effective garrisons for
all the danger spots in the Middle East and insisted that "weak
garrisons would be worse than useless" .. However, their views
are apparently not shared by American military experts . .
MRS. MORRIS A. MORTON
Following the outbreak of the Korean war, it became obvious
meetings. Detroit pharmacists that even the British government cannot take these views ser-
elected to office include Morris iously . . . The issue will now no" longer be whether Israel is per-
A. Morton, supreme exchequer, mitted to acquire arms in the United States . . . The new world
and Edward Rothenberg, sup- developments have made it clear to high officials in Washington
that the security of Israel is vital to the U. S. . . . The question
reme board member.
Detroiters representing Omi- will rather be whether the left-wing Mapam party will not ob-
cron Chapter at the convention struct Israel's acquisition of arms from the United States under
included Mr. and Mrs. Harry the present world situation * .. . *
*
Berlin, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin
Communal
Affairs
Buchhalter, Mr. and Mrs. Man-
uel Katzman, Mr. and Mrs. Max
The Korean developments are impoSing new obligations On,
Millman, Mr. and Mrs. Morris the National Jewish Welfare Board . . The American armed .
Morton, Mr. and Mrs. Seymour forces in Korea are so far limited, however there are Jewish
Morton, Mr. and Mrs. Burton soldiers among them requiring the same special attention offer-
Platt, Mr. and Mrs. Maurice ed during the last World War . . . This necessitates a revision
Starr, Mr. and Mrs. Al Watnick, in JWB budgetary estimates . . Originally, JWB estimated that
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Whitfield, the cost of its program for Jews inn, the armed forces in 1950 at%
Al Stein, David Weiss and Mar- about a $500,000 . . . The total expenditures in 1950, in all fields,
vin Bresoff.
was estimated at about $1,400,000 . . Application was made by
JWB to the trustees of the $1,000,000 Jewish Welfare Board Trust
Fund for a loan of $200,000 to cover costs of Armed Services pro-
Ask JWV Cooperation
grain hitherto carried by the United Service Organization . . .
The loan was granted on condition that it be repaid .. . It was
With Armed Services
emphasized that the principal of the Fund can be used only for
wartime emergencies.
WASHINGTON — (JTA) —
Jewish War Veterans posts
More than 1,000 Hebrew teachers in New York who instruct
throughout the country have
50,000 children in some 400 institutions insist on salary increases
been called on by National
. . . They claim that their present salaries have not kept pace
Commander Jackson J. Holtz
with the increased cost of living and, as a result, their morale
to furnish all possible cooper-
has been lowered. They demand a yearly increase of $150 until
ation to the armed services
a maximum annual wage of $3,900 is attained . .. The Hebrew
in connection with the Ko-
Teachers Union is not only supporting this demand, but is re-
rean situation. The veterans
questing the setting up of a welfare fund to provide for unein-!
were asked to support the
ployed, ill and aged teachers . This, because teachers in He-
current call for technicians
religious institutions are not 'covered by government social
brew
with much-needed specialties
security . . • Talmud Torahs are being requested to contribute $
and to cooperate in all other
a year per child for this fund, while full-day Yeshivoth aft
measures involving the
asked to pay $2 per child . . The demand of the Hebrew teach-4
emergency expansion of the
ers in New York may be matched by Hebrew teachers in other
13. S. armed services.
cities where instructor:,. in. Jewish schools are underpaid.

Detroit Woman
Heads National
Fraternal Group

Between You and Me