U. S. Jews Endorse Israel Bond Issue
National Parley Will Act
Upon $1,000,000,000 Pledge
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—The four-day economic confer-
ence on Israel, attended by 44 American Jewish leaders, con-
cluded with a resolution declaring that if the Israel govern-
ment decides to float a $1,500,000,000 loan, American Jewry
should subscribe $1,000,000,000 to it within three years.
The resolution also called for the expansion of the United
Jewish Appeal and for stimulat-:>
ing private investments from the
United States in Israel's enter- Ben-Gurion declared that he is
prises. The conference urged greatly encouraged by the de-
the convening in the United liberations with the American
leaders. He expressed
States "at the earliest possible Jewish
confidence that American Jewry
date" of a nation-wide parley of
will buy $1,000,000,000, bonds
representatives of all elements within
the next three years.
in American Jewry to sanction
The Israel Premier highly
the decisions adopted here.
praised Henry Morgenthau's
The resolution was presented contribution to the success of
to the conference by Rudolf the United Jewish Appeal and
Sonneborn, of New York and characterized him as a great
seconded by Stanley C. Myers of American who served his
Miami. Following the adoption country well in a decisive era
of the resolution, Premier David of world history and turned,
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
after retirement from govern-
ment service, to devoted serv-
ice to the Jewish people. Re-
affirming the determination of
the people of Israel to solve
their current problems, Mr.
Ben-Gurion said: "No difficul-
ty will hold us back. Israel will
be a light to humanity in its
way of life, and a lesson in
brotherhood. It will serve as
an example of human will,
courage, vision and greatness."
own fund-raising drive in Amer-
ica, told the conference that the
special status of Hadassah and
the functions of the organiza-
tion do not make it possible for
Hadassah to submerge its ident-
ity. However, she added that
the entire Hadassah member-
ship will Support any decision
reached - at the conferente.
ordinate all of them into one
campaign.
Moses A. Leavitt, executive
vice-chairman of the Joint Dis-
tribution Committee, urged that
the Israel government reconsid-
er its policy of unlimited immi-
gration in order to avoid eco-
nomic disaster.
Back Unlimited Immigration
Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, Euro-
Endorse Private Investments
A detailed plan an stimulating: pean director of the JDC, took
,
Private capital investments in
Israel was submitted by Adolph
Robison, of West New York, N.
J. The plan envisages a well-
organized and detailed effort
for the enlistment of private
capital in the United States for
large and small enterprises in
the Jewish state. One part of
the proposal calls for direct in-
vestments in small enterprises
by individuals or small groups
of American investors, while the
second part calls for the estab-
lishment of large holding com-
panies which would urge Jews
in the United States to buy
shares in these companies. The
funds so accrued would be re-
invested in Israel's industry, he
said. •
Abraham Feinberg of New
York proposed a three-point
program: 1. Issue of a large bond
issue for whose sale all organ-
ized forces in American Jewry
should be mobilized; 2. Seek
U. S. Governmental aid for
Israel, a step which he thought
would be successful; 3. Not elim-
inate regular fund-raising drives
in America for Israel, but co-
In appreciation of their con-
tributions to the upbuilding of
Israel, each member of the
American delegation was pre-
sented by Premier Ben-Gurion
with an autographed copy of Is-
rael's Declaration of Independ-
ence and with a bronze replica
of the seal of the Jewish state.
Israel's Foreign Minister Mo-
she Sharett, commenting on the
results of the economic parley,
said that the American delega-
tion dealt with matters affect-
ing "the very existence and fu-
ture of Israel." He expressed the
belief that this conference will
leave its mark on Israel's his-
tory. Lauding the United Jewish
Appeal, Mr. Sharett said that
the UJA must continue on an
intensified scale. At the same
time he appealed, to the Amer-
ican delegates to launch the Is-
rael loan "with the strongest
possible impact on American
Jews." There is full justification
for the UJA as well as' for a mass
loan,- he stated.
Benjamin G. Browdy; presi-
dent of the Zionist Organiza-
tion of America, pledged that
the ZOA would sell $100,000,000
in bonds to support Israel's
three-year immigration and de-
velopment program. •• (See full
.
exception to Mr. Leavitt's ap-
peal for limiting immigration.
He said that the Israel govern-
ment could not limit the immi-
gration of Jews into the coun-
try even if it wished to do so.
He reported that 8,500 Jews are
at present being permitted to
leave Rumania for Israel every
month. Immigration tc Israel
he said, cannot be reduced, un-
less the government of the Jew-
ish state sends ships with immi-
grants back to the countries
from where they sailed. This, he
added, would lead to "illegal*
immigration of Jews into Israel.
He also declared that the JDC
favors any device for bringing
more Jews to Israel and that if
a combination of the UJA and
the sale of Israel bonds in.
America will achieve that end,
the JDC will fully support it.
Judge Morris Rothenberg,
chairman of the United Pales-
tine Appeal, endorsed
Dr.
Schwartz' position with regard
to the question of immigration.
An Arizonian and Israel: Christian Correspondents' Record
This Commentator first met Kenneth W. Bilby, brilliant N. Y.
Herald Tribune correspondent in Israel, in Tel Aviv, about 11
months ago. There was a brief chat—we had to forego the pro-
posed cocktail because Bilby then suffered from a toothache—and
we were together at several functions which were attended by the
2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 15, 1950
press. We learned more from others about this able writer whose
cables to his New York paper were considered the most important
stories about Israel's war and rebirth. The story went the rounds at
the time that Bilby, having been an eye-witness to the most import-
ant battles of the war as well as the development of a new govern-
rnent; having interviewed nearly all the important Arab. and Israel
By BORIS SMOLAR
leaders; having covered all the Arab areas involved in the struggle text of the U. S. delegation's res-
(Copyright, 1950, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
against Israel—that Bilby, having tasted of the great adventure, olution on page
was becoming tired of his job, was craving for new excitement,
Prof. Hayim Fineman of Phil- Israel Echoes
was anxious for a transfer from Israel. The gossip went far adelphia, leader of the Labor Zi-
Everybody in the Zionist movement seems to be happy over
afield: Bilby, when he leaves Israel—so the rumor-mongers said— onist Organization of America, the fact
that the World Zionist Congress has been postponed until
will be less friendly. He will surely write a book and Israel will pledged the wholehearted sup- the end of May ... Some Israel leaders who are now in the
United
not fare well at his pen.
port of the Labor Zionist move- States were -elated when the news reached New York that
the
Bilby has written his book. ("New Star in the Near East," ment in America for the sale of Congress will not be held at the end of this year ... It would have —
Doubleday). He is critical of Israel. He says a few rash things bonds. He said the bond drive been a "calamity" to hold the Congress in Jerusalem in' Deceml2er,.
about Sharett. But he is not unfriendly. On the contrary: he is would receive top priority in hiS one of them told me. • -
most realistic. Israel should benefit from his experiences and trganizatiOn's work if ond when
Top Israel- leaders are now packing their bags to come titaAe.
should take to heart many of the things he says. Perhaps evens the Israel Government decides .United States.a.'s soon as the High Holidays are over . . . Some
of
them ; will be-busy. - at the United Nations General Assembly
Sharett will be guided in the future by the comments about his to float a world-wia loan.
which
rashness.
Opens in the middle of September, while others will be busy
Louis Lipsky, chairman of
in
An Arizonian, Bilby, speaking of the "vibrant reality" - (a
the American Zionist Council ; stimulating 'additional giving by American Jewry to Israel . .
phrase coined by Dr. Ralph J. Bunche of whom Bilby says that
There
are
quite
number_
of
problems
affecting
Israel
which
the
declared that the- meeting was
he "has a sharper, more facile brain than his friend Bernadotte")
General Assembly will discuss
. Chief among them is the
the "first great conferenee of UN
of Israel, makes this comparison:
question of the status of Jerusalem, the report of the UN Concili-
American Jews with the Israel.
"Take a section of Arizona desert land with cacti, mesquite,
government and represents an ation Commission—which vainly attempted to bring about per-
arroyos and flinty foothills. Transplant it to a similar equatorial
manent peace between Israel and the Arab countries—and the
important
step - towards ce-
clime 5,000 miles away. Surround it with hostile peoples, linked
-Arab
menting bonds of friendship estine request for readmiSsion to Israel of Arab refugees from Pal-
to the region by centuries of unbroken tenure. Cut off its -com-
. Although these questions may provoke much interest •
and Underslandiri .g." Dr.
munication with the world by air, land and sea. People it with
among Jews in • this country and in Israel, it will not be as great
Emanuel.
Neumann,
:fOrmer
the unwanted dregs of 50 nations. Give it a sovereign status
as the : interest which will be stimulated among American Jews
president of - the ZOA, said the
even though the neighbors grumble. Fire the governess and let
towards
giving real financial aid on a big scale to the Jewish state •
it stand on its own feet.
. conference is a turning point
The next three months will be real "hot" months in America.
in the history of work f9r the as fat. as financial action for Israel is' concerned.
"You would emerge with a fairly accurate approximation
upbuilding of Israel. He opined
of this new state of Israel on May 15, 1948. You would also
Domestic - •Notes
that the United Jewish Appeal
possess the ingredients of a true drama of growth. Only, if the
• There are, after all, 5,000,000 Jews in the United States and •
is a . "preciOus instrument and
neighbors kicked up a big fuss, and if balky members of the
not 4;500,000 as some statisticians claimed recently . . . Data which
household began_ some hair pulling and gouging of their own,
nothing should be done to im- is now being analyzed
you, as a newspaper reader, would probably hear little about
pair its effeCtiVeness for Is- without -donbt -that , by the Jewish Statistical Bureau establishes
. the number of. Jews in this country is very
the growth."
rael." He urged that the MTh's
close to . The results of the survey by the Bureau
Bilby writes a great deal about the growth, about the people potentialities be used more be. _made public. very soon . • The Bureau is also preparing will
a
responsible for it, about the man who emerged from Israel's re-
fully and jhat greater empha- directory which will list 4,000 rabbis, about 4,500 congregations
birth as one of the world's outstanding statesmen: David Ben- sis be placed on developing and
more than 1,500 various Jewish organizations . . . The last
Gurion. Bilby's tribute deserves being quoted:
, confidence in the state of Is- government census of Jewish congregations, conducted
in 1936,
"No man in this century has proved himself a more daring
rael and in its financial and
established that at that time there were 3,728 congregations in
and successful gambler than Ben-Gurion. It was, his final de-
economic stability."
this country with a membership of more than 4,600,000 . . . It also
cision that fixed the battle lines wherever- Jewish settlements
Henry Montor, director of the
that 2,851 synagogue buildings valued at more than $123,-
existed. it was he who pushed through the Burma Road to UJA, said the UJA cannot pres- reported
000,000 existed in 1936 throughout the country . • • The first
direc-
Jerusalem, who ordered the offensive in the Negeb, who decided ently provide funds needed to tory
of Jewish congregations in America was published in 1854 ...
to defy the United Nations_ on Jerusalem. Without Ben-Gurion meet the critical situation out-
in
the star role, it is difficult to visuctlize the drama of re-. lined by Premier Ben-Gurion. It listed 41 congregations . . A drive to raise $100,000 for the
birth brought to such a swift and spebtacular climax. I belie)** "While Israel's banner is a ma- publication of its forthcoming directory is now being conducted
Ben-Gurion ranks as' the most eminent Jew of his generation." jor factor in fund-raising in the by the Jewish Statistical Bureau . . The work of the Bureau is
by Dr. H. S. Linfield, who assisted in the 1936 Government
Kenneth Bilby deserves attention because he represents an U. S., Israel is not a major bene- directed
census of religious bodies.
important era in journalism—an era he enhanced with his bril-
ficiary of the funds raised," he Theatrical Moods
liant coverage of the Near Eastern situation. . His ,paper—the said. He stressed that local com-
N. Y. Herald Tribune—has risen to the forefront • of coverage of
Those who claim that Yiddish is dying in the United States
international events thanks to Men like him. He was preceded munities are cutting down their will be surprised to learn that the new theater season opens with
.in Palestine by the very able Pulitzer Prize-winner Homer Bigart. share of funds for Israel and are rio less than eight Yiddish theaters in the country . . . Most of
Another good man now fills his place in Tel Aviv: Ralph Chap- giving more money to purely them are, of course, in New York . • You will also be interested
in the fact that the Hebrew Actors Union has acquired more than
man, We were especially impressed recentif by an article from local needs.
Favor Consolidated Drive
30 new members during the Jewish year just concluded .. . Most
. Tel Aviv by - Chapman in which he described Israel as "A Nation.
A proposal , that the United interesting is the fact that the Yiddish theater is today the only. ,
That Laughs"; in which he stated: "Coming from Cairo to Tel
Aviv is like going from an all-night poker game into the fresh air Jewish Appeal be expanded to permanent foreign-language theater in the United States . . It
of an April Morning. Win, lose or draw, the air is refreshing. include all other fund-raising h'as survived the German, Italian and other foreign-language
Egypt, one feels, is living in its past. Israel, one hears, is living drives for Israel conducted in theaters in the country . . . Credit for this phenomenon is in no
on its future. The difference is that between a murmured 'en- the United States by various small way due to Reuben Guskin, the head of the Hebrew Actors
cha,ntee' and a shouted `sholom' . . . Egypt smiles; Israel laughs groups was supported by prac- Union which has the most outstanding actors among its members
. Women one sees in cafes and hotel lounges are just about as tically all American delegates ... Mr. Guskin has been the guiding spirit of the Union for more
handsomely decked out as their sisters elsewhere but they seem to participating in the conference. than 30 years and has greatly contributed not only t% the welfare
The proposal was presented of its members, but also to the development of the Yiddish theater
be having more fun and, a not unmixed blessing, they bring their
by Julian Venezky. In support- ... Many of the members of the Union are also engaged in Yiddish
children with them. It's a tonic atmosphere."
There are other good men among the Christian newspapermen ing this proposal, American dele- radio programs .• And one can hear Yiddish radio programs not
in Israel, notable among them being Gene Currivan of the New gates expressed the opinion that only in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, but also in smaller
the recommendation is adopt- cities ... The largest Jewish radio station is WEVD, owned by the
York Tim_es and Frances Ofner of the Christian Science Monitor. if
ed, it might lead to the elimina- Jewish Daily Forward ... Incidentally, the .90th. birthday of Abra- •
Currivan has helped restore faith that the Times can be fair, that tion
of multiplicity of U. S.
it need not perpetuate a former anti-Zionist -policy. Today the fund-raising campaigns for ham Cahan, the Forward's editor-in-chief, was celebrated last
week . .1,600 prominent Jews and non-Jews attended the cele-
Times plays an historic role in delineating Israel. At the moment, Israel,
bration • .. It was a gala affair—by invitation only—and it was
Bilby and his book overshadow their counterparts in the interest
Mrs. Rose Halprin, president extremely interesting to hear the veteran Jewish editor telling
they have created.
of Hadassah, which conducts its the audience how he lived to be 90 and still be active.
Between You and Me
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