As the Editor
Views the News ...

Appeal to Reason

In the second appeal of its kind to be
issued by the Council Against Intolerance
in America, more than 500 Christian clergy-
men warn of Christian responsibility for
anti-Jewish feeling in America. Drafted by
Dr. Henry A. Atkinson and Dr. John Paul
Jones, who were assisted by noted Christian
leaders, this appeal was signed by the fol-
lowing Michigan clergymen:

Israel's Hebrew University : Herd
Urged Sultan to Back School

By SHIN FEY SAMACH

(An American Jewish Press Feature)

C. A. Albright, William A. Andrews, Herbert
M. Fink, Clyde C. Gibson, Daniel Hughes, Herbert
B. Jackman, R. L. Jordan, John W. Parrish, I.
Paul Taylor, Roger Eddy Treat and John Arthur
Visser of Detroit; G. H. Alexander, Albion; J.
Leslie French and Philip L. Schenk, Ann Arbor;
Edgar M. Wahlberg, Ann Arbor; R. C. Wenger,
Grand Rapids; Walter M. Swann, Grant; Clar-
ence M. Burkholder and N. S. Sichterman, Port
Huron; E. John Yuells, Rochester; Russell G.
Osgood, Saginaw; Robert Liezt, Wyandotte.

We list these names in order that they
may be recorded on the honor roll of dis-
tinguished men who have seen fit to stress
the dangers inherent in anti-Semitism that
have not been recognized heretofore. The
clergymen's statement points out that while
anti-Semitism has been a frightful ordeal to
Jews "it may be that the injury is even
more terrible to the Christian world unable
to prevent it, and ternpted to offer excuses
or disclaim responsibility."
The appeal declares additionally that the
most subtle and most powerful influence in
arousing anti-Semitism is the careless use of
Christian source material — and the New
Testament is not excluded. The Bible itself
is used with harmful results. Christians are
admonished that the more than 70 refer-
ences to "the Jews" in John's gospel give the
impression that they were a group to them-
selves, but as a matter of fact all concerned
were Jews since the early Christians were
all Jews. The statement continues:
"It is somewhat as if an outsider wrote
the story of the abolitionist martyr, Elijah
Lovejoy, constantly referring to 'The Amer-
icans.' It is a fact, of course that the Amer-
icans hounded and finally murdered Lovejoy,
but then everybody around him was Amer-
ican, both friend and foe, just as every-
body arotind Jesus and the early church
was a Jew."
This important statement declares that
Jews have the same faults and virtues as
Gentiles; that, if there is a difference, Jews
boast a longer cultural heritage, but the
primary reason for their sufferings is that
as a minority, they have been strong enough
to prevent discrimination.
The basic purpose of the appeal is an
urgent one : the appeal for closer unity of
all peoples as the one hope of overcoming
the evils which threaten Jews and Gentiles
alike. It is a tribute to the authors of this
appeal and to its Michigan co-sponsors that
they displayed vision in issuing a call for
urgent action to Americans of many Chris-
tian denominations.

Annual Z-Day

Devoted Zionist workers will participate
Sunday in the annual Z-Day membership
campaign of the Zionist Organization of
Detroit.
. Those who will be approached with the
call to enlist as members of the Zionist
Organization of America should take into
account the numerous challenges which con-
tinue to face the Jews of America vis-a-vis
Israel.
Israel continues to depend upon Ameri-
can Jewry. She not only needs funds with
'which to keep her doors open for new set-
tlers but also the moral strength that is
back of a - strono- movement whose influence
is urgently needed,
b
in political circles. _ A
strong Zionist movement can be helpful in
fostering Israel's needs. For that purpose,
ZOA membership is vitally needed. The Z-
Day response must be a hearty one, in the
best interests of the defenders of Jewish
statehood.

itu.11SX 'TVA GIRPOP14.. 1.4 4 C. y

/ (-(4.ip—
-
M4tc

f(1 %-4-4 ---

Egyptian Piracy and the UN

A short time ago, a set of photographs from the Bezalel
Museum in Jerusalem reached The Detroit Jewish News two
months late because the mail pouch was among goods seized
by the Egyptians. It was part of the two-year old blockade
on Israel's goods still being enforced by Egypt contrary to
all accepted international regulations.
Unfortunately, Egyptian piracy continues. Although
Maj. Gen. William E. Riley, chief of staff of the United
Nations truce supervision body, has expressed the view that
in his opinion the interference with shipping dirough the
Suez Canal "is an aggressive and hostile act," he has ruled
that since he has no knowledge that the seizures are being
conducted by the armed forces of Egypt the blockade must
be considered beyond the competence of the Israeli-Egyptian
Armistice Commission. His vote decided the issue in favor
of Egypt's appeal against the ruling on Aug. 29, 1949, of
the Mixed Armistice Commission which asserted jurisdiction
over the blockade issue. At that time the French chairman
sided with Israel.
Now the matter must be\Jaken to the UN Security
Council or to the International. Court of Justice at The
Hague, in accordance with Gen. Riley's ruling. While the
American representative on the truce commission has ex-
pressed the view that the blockade jeopardizes the functions
of the armistice agreement and has asked the Egyptian
delegate to intercede with his government to end the seiz-
ures, it is not to be wondered at that his ruling has dis-
appointed the Israelis. Shabetai Rosenne, legal adviser of
the Israel Foreign Ministry, a signatory to the armistice
pact who attended the meeting on the blockade question,
calls Gen. Riley's attitude "inconsistent," since he condemned
the seizures yet voted in Egypt's favor on a technicality.
When Dr. Ralph J. Bunche was the acting UN mediator,
he asserted that free traffic through the Suez Canal is among
the principal aims of the armistice agreement. On this basis,
Gen. Riley has erred and therefore has harmed Israel. He
has acted indecisively in a matter which was ruled illegal
nearly two years ago. Gen. Riley in a sense permitted, with
his decisive vote, that piracy should be practiced by the
controllers of the Suez Canal.
If Gen. Riley's decisive vote was cast on advice from
the UN Legal Department, the latest ruling is, in effect, a
slur on the record of the world organization. Now it is
apparent that the issue eventually will have to be solved
by the International' Court of Justice.
Meanwhile it becomes increasingly more understand- ,
able why Israel seeks to protect her control of the seaways
and to establish another outlet for her commercial -ventures
through Oath. Without such advantages, her economic
ventures might have been crushed and she would have been
completely at the mercy of Egypt. Israel's friends must see
to it that the little state's just claims are not trampled
under foot.

Benson Ford--NCCJ- Co-Chairman

Benson Ford's election to the post of Protestant co-
chairman of the National Conference of Christians and Jews
marks an interesting development _in inter-faith activities in
this country. -
The youngest man ever to be elevated to such a post,
Mr. Ford is a symbol of the spreading interest in efforts to
end racial and religious discrimination and _to introduce a
new era of amity among all elements in the American popu-
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
lation.
papers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
There is a wide gap between the attitudes which existed
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., W0.5-1155.
in the days of his grandfather and those current today. The
Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug-. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
younger Fords have been in the forefront in many humani-
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
tarian movements. They have aided all worthy causes and
have contributed large funds to the national Conference of
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
Christians and Jews whose Detroit spokesman is the Round
Table.
Vol. XIX—No. 14
Page 4
June 22, 1951
The Fords have shOwn a keen interest in relief and
rehabilitation activities. They have been liberal givers to
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
the United Jewish Appeal and have encouraged activities in
This Sabbath, the nineteenth day of Sivan, behalf of UJA by their Metropolitan New York Ford Dealers.
5711, the following selections will be read in our
Benson Ford's efforts in the inter-faith movement in
synagogues:
the past two years attest to a sincerity of purpose which
Pentateuchal portiOn—Num. 8:1-12:16.
should serve as a guide in his new position. The cause of
Prophetical portion—Zech.: 2:14-4: 7.
amity is certain to benefit from his leadership.‘ ••

THE JEWISH NEWS

Israel's Hebrew University now has many
faculties.. It has nearly 1,500 students. It is a
young, but a strong university, and its back-
ground forms an interesting chapter in Jewish
history. Dr. Hermann Schapira, professor of
mathematics at the University of Heidelberg,
founder of the Jewish National Fund, first ad-
vocated the establishment of a Hebrew Univer-
sity, in essays published between 1882 and 1884.
His presentation of the idea at the first World
Zionist Congress- in 1897 remained a theoretical
plan. Dr. Chaim Weizmann, who was the chief
proponent of the proposal thereafter, moved
for a survey of the possibilities for the creation
of a Jewish university at the Fifth World Zionist
Congress, in 1901, but Dr. Theodor Herzl did
not put the motion to a vote and announced that
the plan would be taken up by the General Zion-
ist Council. Dr. Martin Buber and Dr. Berthold
Feiwel collaborated with Dr. Weizmann in draw-.
ing up a memorandum in advocacy of a Jewish
university in 1902. That year, Dr. Herzl suggested
the idea of such a university, to be established
in Jerusalem, to the Turkish Sultan. At the
eleventh World Zionist Congress, on a motion
by M. M. Ussishkin, later head of the World
JNF, the plan for a Hebrew University in Jeru.:
salem. was adopted. Dr. Weizmann enlisted the
support of outstanding world leaders for the
university. During World War I, on July 24,
1918, when only the southern part of Palestine
was occupied by the British, Dr. Weizmann
mally laid the cornerstone for the university.
The university was opened formally on April 1,
1925, at ceremonies at which Dr. Weizmann pre-
sided. The distinguished guests included Lord
Balfour, the High Commissioner Sir Herbert
(now viscount) Samuel, Field Marshall Lord
Allenby and heads from universities throughout
the world.

Facts You Should Know .. .

Why is it considered wrong to sew a gar-
ment while a person is wearing it on his body?
Two reasons are generally advanced for this
prohibition. One is that such an act is harmful
to one's memory. Others like to read into this
reason the fear that the person who is wearing
the garment may forget that it is being sewn on
him and hurt himself moving into the needle.
Others see in this reason the general attitude
of discouraging a Jew from doing two things at
one time. Thus it is generally prohibited to put
on two garments at once, for much the same
reason. The emphasis is upon reminding us to
pay full attention to each thing that we do in-
dividually, lest "haste makes waste." Others
claim that sewing a garment on one's person is
prohibited because it is customary to finish
the stitching of the shrouds on the corpse.' The
latter may have been done so as to assure the
fact that this particular garment was made
for this particular body; and that no one else
is ever to derive any particular benefit from it.
*
*
*
Why is it customary to blow the shofar in
the streets of Tel Aviv to announce the coining
of the Sabbath?
In ancient times it was said that the Shofar
was blown six times to announce the coming of
the sabbath. Generally the shofar was the
means of announcing things in days of old. A
fast day was thus announced. The new month
was thus heralded in. Morning and evening the
Shofar was blown to announce the daily sac-
rifices. The six times on the eve of the Sabbath
announced that - six working days were ending.

*

*

*

Why is it 'that no knots are tied in the
shrouds of the dead?
This practice is usually regarded as a symbol
of confidence in the resurrection of the dead. A
knot is representative of finiteness or the end of
a rope. Not having any knots in the garment of
the dead is indicative of the fact that we re-
gard death as but another chapter in the mys-
tery of life; and not the final one, by any meant.
Thus the absence of the knot indicates that the
thread of life is still being spun and will finally
result in the resurrection of the dead.

What is the "Mapai?"
"Mapai" is the name of the leading party iri
Israel today. It is the labor party - of Prime Min-
ister David Ben-Gurion. Its program 'dedicates it
to a "devotion 'to the construction - of the Jew
ish people in Israel as a free working people ...*
The name "Mapai" is an abbreviation composed
of the initials of the words: "Miflegeth Poalei
Eretz Israel" which means "The Party of Work-
ers in the Land of Israel." Actually the "Mapai"
is a merger of two previously independent labor
Zionist groups, In 1929 the "Poale Zion" (Work-
ers of Zion) and the "Tziere Zion" (young.Zion-
ists) known in Palestine as the "Hapoel Hatzair*
(Young Laborer) merged into one party which is
called the "Mapai." The "Poale Zion" dates back
to the year 1907 when it was organized- in Hague
under the leadership of Borochov. The "Zeire
Zion" was organized in the year 1905 under the
leadership of A. D. Gordon who is referred to
by some as preaching a "religion of labor"
his doctrine.

