JEWISH NEWS
Trade Unionists Asked for $1,400,000 to Help 2—THE
rriday, February 23, 1951
Jews Trapped Behind Russia's Iron Curtain
ATLANTIC CITY (AJP)—Key
trade unionists were called upon
here to help raise $1,400,000 with
which to save Jews trapped in
Iron Curtain countries as of-
ficials of the Jewish Labor Com-
mittee told a convention and
the general press for the first
time of the existence of an ac-
tive Jewish underground which
in the past year has saved more
than 1,000 Jews under Soviet
domination.
The official announcement of
the Jewish underground by Ad-
olph Held, national chairman of
the JeWish Labor Committee,
and Jacob Pat, executive secre-
tary, followed an exclusive series
by the American Jewish Press,
"Underground to Freedom," re-
lating for the first time details
of the undertaking. (This series
was published in The Detroit
Jewish News.)
ConfirMing the AJP series,
that • 1,000 Jews had been res-
cued, Held said the project was
of the greatest importance. Dis-
cussing the Jewish underground
publicly for the first time he
told reporters that "as much as
we dare" will be told to dele-
gates in order to acquaint them
with the underground and stim-
ulate the drive to raise the $1,-
400,000 necessary.
The American Jewish Press
disclosures in its series made up
the basic foundation for many
of the stories carried through-
out the nation this week on the
official disclosure of the under-
ground against Communism.
The executive committee of
the Jewish Labor Committee
adopted a resolution calling
upon the Ameri?.an government
and other democratic nations to
refrain from arming Germany.
Opposes Rearming of Germany
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., (JTA)
—A resolution urging the U. S.
Government to intensify the
broadcasts of the "Voice of
America" to Jews in countries
behind the Iron Curtain was
adopted at the concluding ses-
sion of the annual conference
of the Jewish Labor Committee
at which Soviet Russia was ac-
cused of the spiritual genocide
and physical enslavement of
Jews.
Another resolution expressed
the opposition of the 600,000
persons represented by the Jew-
ish Labor Committee to the re-
arming of Germany. The con-
ference also pledged continued
support to Israel.
The delegates endorsed the
fight against racial bigotry and
intolerance in the United States
and stressed the role of Jewish
labor in the life of the American
Jewish community in the United
States. They deplored the fact
that some Jewish organizations
permitted Communist elements
it. their ranks and urged these
organizations "to clean house."
Adolph Held, president of the
Committee, told the delegates
that there was no people on
earth that has suffered as much
from Communism as has the
Jews.
Dr. S. Eliashev Named
Israel Envoy to USSR
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—The ap-
pointment of Dr. Shmuel Elia-
shev as Israel Minister to Mob
cow, was announced here this
week. Dr. Eliashev, former head
of the Eastern European Divi-
sion of the Israel Foreign Min-
istry and Minister to Prague, is
expected to proceed to Moscow
soon to assume his new post.
Israel Draft Evader
Sentenced to Prison
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Hayim
Steinberg, a member of the ex-
treme Orthodox group Neturei
Karta, was sentenced by District
Court Judge M. Witkin to three
months imprisonment on the
charge of evading service in Is-
rael's Army.
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
'Black Markets' in Traditions?
What previously has been hailed, in Minneapolis and Detroit,
as a step in the right direction—the setting of a minimum of two
years of study in preparation for Bar Mitzvahs—now is being
branded as menacing. Dr. Ira Eisenstein, director of the Society for
the Advancement of Judaism, has gone so far as to warn that such
requirements will lead to the formation of a "Black Market in Bar
Mitzvahs" resulting in the formation of new synagogues which
might offer reduced standards, a shorter training period and
easier conditions—"for a price, of course."
Is it possible that we are becoming frightened by efforts to
raise the standards of Jewish education?
Fortunately, the director of the American Association for Jew-
ish Education, Judah Pilch, is less _fearful. Mr. Pilch advocates a
minimum of three years of training for potential Bar Mitzvah
students and urges an increase of minimum studies to five years
in the course of time. Similarly, the United Synagogue Commis-
sion on Jewish Education recently set forth a policy requiring
three years' attendance in Hebrew School—not in a Sunday School,
it was emphasized—prior to Bar Mitzvah.
But there is evidence on another front that the standards in
our synagogues are not advancing, that the houses of worship are
being treated in routine business fashion, that "administrative"
matters are given more serious consideration than educational
and spiritual affairs. We turn for proof to a local source. The
Shaarey Zedek Recorder, in a recent issue, under the heading
"Shaarey Zedek Consulted by Other Synagogues," published these
"revelations":
In recent months our Congregation has furnished informa-
tion to the following Synagogues:
"Valley. Jewish Community Center, Hollywood, California on
budgetary matters; Temple Ansche Chesed, New York City on
complete set of administrative forms; Shaar Hashomayim Con-
gregation, Montreal, Canada on policy regarding caterers; Atlas
Israel Hebrew Congregation, Washington, D.C., on information
in conducting dues-increase campaign, special administrative
forms and Bar Mitzvah policy; Park Synagogue of the Cleveland
Jewish Center on policy regarding caterers; Adath Jeshurun
Congregation, Minneapolis, Minnesota on the unassigned pew
system; Congregation Sherith Israel, San Francisco on Sunday
School, dues and seating; Beth Yeshurun Congregation, Houston,
Texas on administrative forms; Beth Abraham synagogue Cen-
ter, Dayton, 0., on regulations and rates for use of facilities."
Study this carefully, and you'll find that there are no refer-
ences to worship; that only in two instances—mentioning Bar
Mitzvah and Sunday School—is there the slightest concern with
the educational programs of synagogues. The questions posed
deal with dues, caterers, administrative forms, seating. The "rev-
elations" do not speak well for the synagogues which asked the
dignified Shaarey Zedek of Detroit—which continues to be one of
the most important congregations in America from the points of
attendance and spirituality—questions that emphasize the com-
mercial aspects of houses of worship.
In one instance, higher standards for Bar Mitzvahs have cre-
ated fright; in others, there is emphasis on administrative and
commercial aspects of our religious life. What, indeed, are we
coming to?
a Pa f.•
vit‘ties-4.: •
New Anna Rosenberg Assistant
Lavon's Wheat Talks
With Capitol Officials
Reported Successful
NEW YORK, (JTA)—The visit
of Israel Agriculture Minister
Pinhas Lavon to Washington for
discussions on a wheat agree-
ment has been successful, Is-
rael's Ambassador to the United
States, Abba Eban, disclosed.
Although there was no revela-
tion of the specific content of
the Washington talks, Eban told
a press conference at the Israel
consulate that Lavon had come
to Washington to insure Israel
of Interim supplies of wheat
while the Ambassador himself
continued discussions for a long
term agreement and that this
effort had met a favorable res-
ponse.
Meanwhile, he revealed, Israel
continued to impress on Wash.-
ington the urgent need of the
Jewish state for stockpiling food
and raw materials since the na-
tion was surrounded by hostile
neighbors and depended on an
overseas lifeline for its supplies:
Following conversations in-
itiated by Foreign Minister
Moshe Sharett with the United
States Secretaries of State and
Defense and with Presidential
adviser, W. Averell Harriman,
Eban said he was discussing
with Secretary of Agriculture
Brannan a scheme for the long-
range supply of American wheat
to Israel on favorable credit
terms.
The Israel Ambassador em-
phasized that Israel was not in-
terested in a grant, as in the
case of India, but wanted to pay
for all supplies it got here. He
said he also had discussions
with Secretary of the Interior
Chapman on the question of
fuel supplies.
Baruch, Sen. Ives
To Addres's HIAS
—Sabra Photo
Anna M. Rosenberg, Assistant Secretary of Defense under
General Marshall, discussed plans with her new assistant, Arthur
S. Fleming. Mr. Fleming will be directly concerned with manpower
in regard to supplying the needs of defense industry.
Around the World ..
A digest of current news reported by the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency. the Israel Service of Information and the World
Jewish Affairs News Service.
FRANKFURT—A new procedure of blank assurances by a
future American employer instead of the previous written affi-
davit, will speed the sending of 8&,000 DPs to the United States
before the Displaced Persons Act expires on June 30 . . The
American German language organ, Die Neue Zeitung, has refused
to review "The Immortal Controversy," new film produced by Viet
Harlan, notorious anti-Semite, because of the political implications
involved.
BERLIN—A student leader here said that while he and his
colleagues accepted the principle of German responsibility for
Nazi crimes, the Jews should avoid a "hate psychosis" that would
impede reconciliation between Jews and Germans. At the same
time, a Jewish student leader said that he thought the anti-
Semitic mentality of the Germans remained fundamentally un-
changed.
BUENOS AIRES—Six Jews have been arrested in Concordia,
near here, and are charged with entering the country illegally. The
six, who originally came from Romania, Poland and Hungary,
are said to have crossed from Uruguay. A number of smugglers,
all non-Jews, are also being held.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1951, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Military Notes
More than 4,000 labor, religi-
It can now be revealed that Israel was some time ago faced
ous and fraternal organizations with a direct United States offer to establish an American military
supporting HIAS, Hebrew Im- base at Haifa ... At that time Israel decided not to accept the
offer ... The U. S. military authorities are reported to have
decided instead to establish the U. S. base at Sidon, just north
of Israel's border, in the Lebanon . Short of full open identifi-
cation between Israel and the United States in such military mat-
ters as bases, the Jewish state is patterning its army along U.S.
and British lines . .. It also keeps no military secrets from the
United States • . Although Israel military leaders and the gov-
ernment are doing a lot of thinking on the question of how a
world conflict will affect the country, discussion has not yet per-
colated down to the general population . . . The Israel govern-
ment has recently been giving serious consideration to the shadow
of war which hangs over the Middle East . . . It is taken for
granted that if Israel is within the orbit of Russian plans to
Baruch
Sen. Ives
occupy the Middle East with its oil fields and sea outlets, the Jew-
migrant Aid Society, will send ish state might be in danger of being overrun.
delegates to the 66th annual
*
meeting to be held March 4, at
the Hotel Astor, New York, an- Zionist Affairs
nounced Murray I. Gurfein,
The Zionist Organization of America which announced its
vice-president of HIAS and intention of changing the name of the New Palestine, its official
chairman of the meeting.
publication, received several hundred letters suggesting no less
A five-yeai summary of HIAS than 170 different names . . . The most popular names suggested
world-wide activities in the are "The American Zionist" and "The New Israel" . .. There are
postwar migration of displaced also many suggestions to name 'the ZOA organ "Shma Israel,"
and refugee Jews -will be pre- "Shalom," "The Promised Land," "Voice of Israel," "Herzisrael,"
sented. Speakers at the meeting ."Star of David," "The Blue-White World," "The Weizmann News,"
include Irving Ives, senior Sen- and even "The Henry Morgenthau Jr. News" . . . But at the last
ator from New York; Bernard
Baruch, elder American •states- meeting of the ZOA committee which is to choose a name for the
man; Samuel Telsey, interna- journal there was almost unanimous agreement in favor of "The
tional president of HIAS; and American Zionist" . . . In view of the overwhelming response, it
Isaac L. Asofsky, HIAS execu- was decided to hold up final decision until receipt of more votes.
If the remains of Prof. Hermann Shapiro, originator of the
tive director.
Jewish National Fund idea, are transferred to Israel soon, it will
be due to the initiative of the Chicago Zionist leader S. B. Ko-
On the Record
maiko who, at the recent JNF convention in Washington, intro-
duced a suggestion that Prof. Shapiro's remains be transferred
By NATHAN ZIPRIN
from Germany to Israel with an appropriate ceremony. It was
Town Hall in New York this later established that Prof. Shapiro's grave is in Cologne and that
week was the site of a piano re- the cemetery had not been disturbed during the war . . . Mr. Ko-
cital by Sylvia Heschel, t h e
charming wife of P'rofessor Ab- maiko has been notified that it would be possible to carry out his
raham J. Heschel, author of the suggestion.
•
fantastically exciting book "The
Earth Is The Lord's." The aud- Domestic Developments
ience at the concert was one of
Jewish communities in many cities have completed pre-cam-
the most fascinating this writer paign budgeting formulas for consideration by the United Jewish
has ever seen — a mixture of Appeal and their own boards ... In Chicago the following terms
music lovers, scholars, intellect- were agreed upon . . . Of the first $4,500,000 of allocatable funds
uals and chassidic folk. Prof. received by the Chicago Jewish Welfare Funds from the Com-
Heschel is a descendant of a bined Jewish Appeal, UJA will receive 75 percent . . . Of the next
most prominent chassidic dyn- $500,000 or any portion thereof, UJA will receive 35 percent ... Of
asty.
any sum over $5,000,000 of allocatable funds, UJA is to 2eceive 90
Over-looked in the turmoil percent .. . In Jersey City, UJA will get 70 pert-vnt
the gross
was the recent appointment of amount raised . . . Figures on the operating costs of of
the Jewish
a brilliant young Jewish lawyer
to the post of Assistant Attorney Centers in this country compiled by the National s7ewish Welfare
General. He is Abraham J. Har- Board show that 98 Centers which submitted information are
ris of St. Paul, Minn. He suc- spending at least $12,000,000 a year . , Altogether there are about
ceeded Judge George Washing- 180 Jewish Centers in the U. S. ... Nearly half of their income
ton, who swore him into office. comes from welfare funds . . Income from program activities
Young Harris NJ a man of great covers about 25 percent of their budget . . . The dues paid by the
humility mu his superiors in 500,000 members of the Centers provide about 17 percent of the
Washington predict a great le-, total income . . Compared with 10 years ago, the operating costa
gal future for him.
of the Centers have grown by 125 percent.
.
V•Al 41%
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