J oys of Summer
As the Editor
VieIns the News
Bonds for Democracy
Former U. S. Ambassador to Israel
James G. MacDonald made the important
point, in an address before an American
Jewish Congress group in New York, that
"an economically advanced and democratic
Israel, set in the, midst_ of feudal and oli-
garchical Arab states, is naturally regarded
by the reactionary Arab leaders as a threat
to their autocratic powers." It is Dr. Mac-
Donald's view that the Arabs are carrying
on their economic and political boycott of
Israel in the hope that the young state,
flooded- with more than 200,000 new immi-
grants each year, will "sooner or later suffer
economic collapse."
This point needs constant emphasis in
order to indicate to world Jewry that it is
charged with t h e grave responsibility of
sharing the burdens involved in the large-
scale settlement program in Israel. Recog-
nizing that the Arabs will continue to rebuff
Israel's offers of peace so long as they cling
to the hope of an impending Israeli collapse,
Dr. MacDonald emphasized the existing need
of assuring the success of the $500,000,000
Israel bond drive and declared that Arab pol-
iticians will establish normal .relations with
Israel only when the new state becomes
economically so strong that "it will no longer
be possible to maintain, even in Damascus,
Baghdad or Cairo, the illusion that Israel
will fall of its own weight."
Two other interesting observations were
made by Dr. MacDonald:
1. That peace in the Middle East, which
is vital to the interests of the United States
and of all the democratic nations in the
world, would "reduce drastically Russia's
present opportunities to capitalize on Arab
hostility to Israel ;"
2. That, to quote the eminent statesman:
"Israel's advanced social legislation, the pow-
erful role of union-labor, guaranteed medical
care for all organized workers, full political
rights for women—by their very example,•
these and many other aspects of life in the
new state will breed dissatisfaction with tra-
ditional regimes .under which most of the
people remain impoverished, illerate and
without medical care."
The great issues at stake in the Middle
East can be resolved if Israel is successful.
Much of the success, as Dr. MacDonald has
indicated, depends upon the fulfillment of the
aspiration to sell the entire $500,000,000 Is-
rael bond issue. Non-Jews as well as Jews
should exert all their energies to make such
a success possible—for the sake of democ-
racy and justice everywhere.
Another myth was exploded last week. It
is reliably reported from Tel Aviv that only
about 30 per cent of the Arabs evacuated
from the villages of Baghara and Ghanama,
in the demilitarized zone bordering on the
Syrian frontier, have expressed a desire to
return to their former homes.
Much - has been made by enemies of Israel
of the status of the Arab refugees. Their sad
plight is fully recognized by the Jewish state
and the Israelis always are among the first
to extend a helping hand to those who suffer
from self-imposed exile. A number of. leading
nations concur with Israel's proposals that
Arabs should be rehibilitated in Arab lands.
Unfortunately, politicians are out to give
the impression that the Arabs have been
ousted from their homes, while it is an es-
tablished fact that they left either in fright
or because they were induced by their lead-
ers to abandon Israel's territory.
It is an established fact that Arabs who
have left Israel in the main refuse to return
to their old abodes. The only practical means
of relief for them is to settle them in Arab
territory. It should be possible, through the
UN, to arrive at a logical solution to this
problem. But a solution will be deferred as
long as the issue is misrepresented. The
latest report smashed another myth about
the Arabs.
Jewish Postmistress Outwits
Prussians Until Betrayal
By FRANK SIMONS
Dynamic Detroit-250 Years Old
An American Jewish Press Feature
The saga of a French postmistress, who dur-
ing the Franco-Prussian War was a heroine in
the eyes of her countrymen, is often recounted
in the chronicles of the little provincial town of
Moisheim.
Mlle. Mayer, the Jewish postmistress, refused
to work for the Prussians when they conquered
the little town in 1870. Instead, she would
smuggle letters dropped from the air by balloon
to the townspeople.
One day when a balloon descended in a
neighborhood closely, watched by the enemy, she
proceeded to the spot, hid the letters and de-
stroyed traces of the balloon. However, she was
betrayed by a former postoffice employee whoM
she had discharged because of dishonesty. .
Interned by the Prussians, only her populari-
ty in the district saved her life. She was finally
removed to Strassburg for trial, and seven
months later released from prison following the
end of the war.
On applying to the Minister of Posts for a
new appointment, she was told she arrived too
late, to which she replied, "How could I have
come earlier? I have only now just left prison."
Fortunately a post at another French town
fell vacant, and she was awarded the position as
a reward for her patriotism.
The Emigrants:' Powerful
Novel of EarryAmericans
Detroit's 250th Birthday, which is being observed this
month with pageants and public gatherings, with religious
services and community-wide celebrations, serves to attract
attention to the interesting history of the Jewish community.
For many months to come, the entire country
Although only 100 years old—thus claiming a share in is certain to be discussing the merits of a great
novel. The interest predicted by this reviewer
only 40 per cent of the glory of Detroit's entire history—our is
inspired by the power inherent in Carl Artur
Jewish community nevertheless may rightfully claim to have Vilhedm Moberg's "The Emigrants," due to be
shared in the building of this great city during its most im- released by the enterprising publishers, Simon
portant and most creative years.
and Schuster (1230 6th, NY20), on July 16.
".`The Emigrants" does not appear without
The flattering tributes to Detroit Jewry written for The
birthpangs.
Purists sought its purge in Sweden
Jewish News by our city's most distinguished newspaper- where it first
appeared in its original. Its
men and community leaders evaluate the contributions that "earthy and tangy" words • were not to the
have been made in the building of- our dynamic community liking of the "movement against pornography
by noted Jews in all walks of life. It is a record we can be and profanity." ' But the brilliant author de-
•
sired to convey to his readers the spoken words
justly proud of.
the thinking of the men and women who,
Neither 250 nor 100 years are significant if judged by and
100 years ago, sought freedom from economic
the spans of Jewish history or by the standard set by the burdens in America. He was vindicated in Swe-
Psalmist: "For a thousandyears in Thy sight are but as yes- den. He is certain to be accepted in this country,
terday, and as a watch in the night." Yet, Detroit and . its No other book was so definitely predestined to
Jewish community, by their achievements, by their growth, become a best seller as "The Emigrants."
Although the English volume is a translation
and have measured
long ago have shown marks of
UP to the stature of cities and communities ten times their (and an excellent one) from the Swedish by
_Gustaf Lannestock, it is, in reality, a great
age.
American book. It is the story of the first stage
Detroit, referred to as "dynamic" because of its tre - of a transformation from the European suffer-
mendous industrial enterprises, called the "arsenal of democ- ings to the freedoms and securities of America.
racy" because our plants manufacture munitions for our While the heroes are Swedes, they suggest the
country's defense, is now labelled more affectionately "The other peoples the Jews from many lands, the
City of Freedom." We love to think of it and to speak of it Poles, the Russians, the Germans, the scores of
nationality groups who left the degrada-
as the Freedom City growing out of the great American tra- other
tions of economic and political oppression to
dition of liberty and equality for all peoples.
seek . freedom in this great land.
The Swedes did not suffer political oppres-
It is good to know that Detroit is not devoid of a Soul.
Malcolm Bingay's informative article in this issue splendid- sion. Their troubles mostly were economic. But
ly evaluates the contributions that have been made to they also had their church difficulties. Only a
sensed them. Yet, the domination of the
Detroit by Jews who were motivated by spiritual values. few
church was the cause for the emigration of some
There is something thrilling in his evaluation of the late of those who began their trek westward 100
Rabbi Franklin's message: "the need to awaken and to
years ago. In the century that has elapsed
keep forever shining 'The Soul of Our City.' "
more than a million Swedes settled on this con-
Minnesota and
There is romance in Detroit's Jewry's history. It began tinent. Most of them went to diligent
desires to
ransferred their energies and
in true traditional fashion — with a "Minyan" — a group of t t ill
The
soil
10 men of the age of 13 or older required to conduct a re-
. Two
ning of Moberg's great storyem
the
ligious service. That is why this city's history begins with only
more volumes w ill deal with their settl en t
1850. Prior to that year there were individual Jewish house - and life here.
holds, but they did not function as a Kehillah, — as a Corn -
"The Emigrants" is the story of their life in
Sweden, the struggle to escape from starvation,
munity — or as a Minyan.
- the bitter ride of 10 weeks on an old and un-
Asa matter of fact, there may have been Jews in De seaworthy ship
with the
NeW York. It ends
troit even from the very day of the City's birth, because we lanng.
will look forward
or
to the
d d it
di All who rea
know of Jewish residents in the Wolverine State of Michigan continuation of the trilogy.
nearly 200 years ago. They were linked with wars with the
One need not be a Swede to be enraptured
Indians, they traded with the Redskins and were part of the by this tale. The beginning of the movement
westward is delinated, thus:
picturesque story of the struggle for survival.
"There is a stir in peasant communities
There are nearly two million people in Detroit. It is a which have been the home of unchangeable-
veritable melting pot. Every conceivable nationality group ness itself for thousands of years. To the
is rooted in its multiple mixture of peoples. Working to- earth folk, seeing their plots diminish while
gether for the common good 'as a great American communi- their offspring increase, tidings have come of
ty, they have created great schools—Detroit's Wayne Uni- a vast land on another continent where Per-
tile soil was to be had almost for the taking
versity now is among the leading universities in the country;
all who wished to come and till it. Into old
THE JEWISH NEWS
fine libraries, an excellent art museum and scores • upon by
gray cottage in tranquil hamlets where food.
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News- scores of other great institutions. .
is scarce for folk living according to inherited
papers, Michigan Press Association.
- Our Jewish community has distinguished itself. We now customs and traditions, a new restlessness is
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., W0.5-1155.
rate a top position in philanthropy. Our leaders seek the ad- creeping over the threshold. Rumors are
Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5.
spread, news is shared, information is carried
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6> 1942 at Post Office, vancement of Jewish cultural values, while participating in
neighbor to neighbor, through vales and
'Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
the development of all educational endeavors. Our efforts in from
valleys, through parishes and counties. These
support of Israel match those of any Jewish community in germs of unrest are like seeds carried by the
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
the world. We have never failed to provide means for relief wind: one takes root somewhere deep in a
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
of the needy. We are in the forefront in the struggle for man's soul and begins its growth unknown to
Vol. XIX—No. 18
Page 4
July 13, 1951 justice for the Jew while, at the same time, creating means
others."
The sprouting spreads and the movement
with which to expand American ideals and to defend them.
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
grows. It means new strength for America.
This Sabbath, the" tenthday of Ta71/71121Z, 5711,
The 250th Birthday of Detroit is a glorious occasion on - With emigrants from other lands, it means the
the following selections will be read in our syna- which to recall an interesting history and a joyous partici making of a stronger nation. "The Emigrants"
gogues:
pation in the efforts of one of America's great centers of is part of us. Created by a master, it becomes
Pentateuchal portion---Num. 19:1-22:1.
learning, of history, of patriotic devotion to the cause of part of the history of this great land. It de-
• Prophetical portion—Judges 11:1-33.
-
—
—
—
Ebert"
serves all the good that goes to a best seller.