"Help Me Keep It Open, As the Editor Views the News rother---99 Welcome, Mr. President Detroit's 250th Birthday Celebration will be highlighted this Saturday by an address by President Truman. It is a great occasion for a great corn- /flunky and it is thrilling to know that the President of the United States considers this event of sufficient importance to join with us in honoring our important anniversary. In welcoming the President, we join in reiterating the wish that this Arsenal of Democracy will continue to be a strong force for peace and amity and for the ad- vancement of the highest ideals of this great land. Detroit Jewry has played an important role in the making of this great community. Our leaders have shared in the planning of the celebration. We rejoice in welcoming to Detroit our President and the many dis- tinguished national leaders who are sharing with us the joy of this great birthday party. `Ritual Murder' Smear First United America to Act 100 Years Ago By JUDAH GILEADI An American Jewish Press Feature The atrocious ritual murder charge against the Jews of Damascus by Father Thomas, - in. 1840, marked the first efforts at unified defense action by American Jews in behalf of their Euro- pean brethren. While Sir Moses Montefiore and Isaac Adolphe Cremieux were intervening with the Egyptian Pasha, a group of American Jews asked President Van Buren, on Aug. 19, 1840, to seek a fair trial for the maligned Egyptian Jews. Secretary of State John Forsythe made it known that action was taken in accordance with the requests of American Jews who conducted protest meetings against the outrageous lie in a number of cities. 'of Blood and Oil': Novel Of Israeli Underground Aid for Bond Drive A Council of Organizations for the Israel Bond Drive, organized here last week, has for its objective the sale of at least one Israel bond to every Jewish man, woman and child. All the Detroit organizations are affiliat- ed with this Council. Thus, every Detroit Jew is in some fashion affiliated with the effort to assure the possession of a bond by every individual. The Israel bond drive represents a chal- lenge to all of us. It calls not for philanthropy but for investment participation in Israel's upbuilding. While it is supplementary to the United Jewish. Appeal in its task of assuring support in the supreme task of rehabilitating hundreds of thousands of newcomers to Is- rael, it assumes a position of first rank in Jewish life because it marks a partnership in Israel's economic tasks. The Council of Organizations for the Is- rael Bond Drive should be given all the sup- port it needs to assure success in its efforts. Through the organizations it is possible to expand the bond sales. With a concerted ef- fort this new activity can render very great service in defense of Israel's economic po- sition. Abdullah and Israel - LES °ME 49,1"0,514 VeVikRAPN. Masi, An Answer to Dorothy Thompson The recently formed American Friends of the Middle East, led by Dorothy Thompson, has received an answer to its widely advertised statement of principles, in full page in- sertions in the New York newspapers, from three noted his- torians. • As students of history and the Middle East's develop- ment, Hedley V. Cooke, former American Vice-Consul in Je- rusalem, Taraknath Das of the faculty of Columbia Uni- versity and Emil. Lengyel of the faculty of New York Uni- versity, in a letter to the New York Herald Tribune, while hailing the Thompson group's desire to increase mutual un- derstanding in the Middle East, nevertheless assert that the proposed program left them "with the feeling that it fails to come to grips with conditions of cardinal importance in the situation." The known anti-Zionist and anti-Israel attitude of Miss Thompson and many of her followers cause the attachment of special importance to the letter of these three eminent students of conditions in the Middle East In their letter they state: "It is true that 'to defeat Communism the 200 million people of the Middle East need more than bread alone. But they must have bread first, and there are dangerously large segments of them who are most inadequately fed, clothed, housed, healed and educated. Cultural and spiritual understanding can mean very little to the slum dwellers of Teheran to whom the Iranian government recently pointed as a concrete argument in - their case against the Anglo-Iranian Company. American respect for their Islamic tradition will not seem very helpful to those thousands of Egyptian peasants who last week stormed the estate of a rich landowner, fighting bitterly for hours with the police. "If Communism is succeeding to some extent in capturing the ancient Middle East faiths, it is because even the pious ad- herents of those faiths cannot be immune to privation and poverty and cannot fail to be swayed by Communism's promises of a more equitable economic order. The success of Communism in Catholic Italy and France is proof enough. What we plead - for here is a less abstract, ethereal approach to the problems of the Middle East and more concrete concern with the practical economic and social reforms that translate ethical and religious concepts into human reality. "Those of us who love the Middle East and hope for its progress and freedom must not forget its shockingly unhealthy economic foundation, its low living standards, the blight of its absentee landlordism. Unless these evils are tackled with our considerate and generous help, we fear that little of real value can be done to counter Communist penetration and secure the free growth and development of the region's ancient faiths and cultures. American co-operation with constructive trade-union and co-operative groups and with such promising governmental experiments as the still too limited Egyptian Village Improve- ment scheme can give great impetus to native beginnings. Of primary and perhaps even crucial importance is the Adminis- tration's proposed foreign-aid program to the Near East. En- lightened use of the $125 million asked for economic aid to the Middle East, including Iran, Libya and Israel, would raise living • standards, facilitate United Nations resettlement of the Arab refugees, divert local energies from political frictions to con- structive work." King Abdullah of Jordan was ,prevented from making peace with Israel by the Arab states, under pressure from the former Mufti of Jerusalem. There were feuds in his palace which were engineered by the Ex-Mufti. Ab- dullah's death revives suspicions that most of the troubles in the Middle East are attribut- able to the conspiracies of the former Arab religious leader. For Israel and for the equilibrium of the entire Middle East, the assassination of Ab- dullah is a serious blow. It may postpone peace and may add to the troubles which compel that entire area to remain in a state of war. Israel now must redouble her guards on the Jordan border. She must be doubly alert against possible attacks from the enemies that surround her. A redeeming feature in the entire situa- tion is the part of Great Britain in Jordan politics. The presence of British troops un- doubtedly will keep the Mufti and his co- horts from Jordan. The world's democratic powers may be compelled to exert influence to prevent as- sumption of power in Jordan by ultra-reac- tionary forces. The chief aim is to effect peace in the Middle East, and for that pur- pose it is important that reason and amity should be restored and, if necessary, enforced by the United Nations. THE JEWISH NEWS The concluding paragraph of their statement is of spe- cial interest. Messrs. Cooke, Das and Lengyel point out that "without concrete steps toward economic progress, it is dif- ficult to conceive of a Middle East marked by genuine toler- Member: American Association of English-Jewish News- papers, Michigan Press Association. ance and cultural and social cooperation between the re- Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., W0.5-1155. gion's various groups—Christian, Jewish and Moslem. The Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5. urgencies of the time make this intergroup relationship im- Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office, perative. We dare not now be party to the playing of one Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879. group against another. The stakes are too large and too PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor meaningful for all men." SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager The unfortunate attitude adopted by Miss Thompson Vol. XIX—No. 20. Page 4 July 2'7, 1951 and some of her associates compels emphasis upon the point that Americans "dare not be party to the playing of one Sabbath Scriptural Selections group against another." The Thompson organization's aims . - This Sabbath, the twenty-fourth day of have been interpreted as aiming at pitting Arabs against Tammuz, 5711, the following selections will be the Jews, at mobilizinc, sentiment in this country against. Is- read in our synagogues: rael. If that attitude should be pursued, it will be necessary Pentateuchal portion—Num. 25:10-30:1. to expose the unfair approach of these "American Friends Prophetical portion—ler. 1:1-2:3. of the Middle East." Messrs. Cooke, Das and Lengyel al- Next Friday, Rosh Hodesh Ab, Num. 28:1-15 ready have rendered an important service with their logical will beread during morning services.. statement. Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20,1951 A-411 41. •-• .. 111-- QV. . -GS, 7.- a- .7.- 617, 41, 0- .• All the excitement that accompanied the struggle for independence in Palestine is incoi- porated in "Of Blood and Oil: With the Israeli Underground," a novel by Dr. Erwin Arnovitz, 31-year-old University of Pittsburgh graduate, who is practicing medicine in Duquesne, Pa. Exposition Press, (386 4th, N. Y. 16), publishers of this brief but interesting novel, revealed this week that a series of letters received by Dr. Arnovitz from the late Dr. Chaim Sersen, who fought in the Negev with the Israel forces under an assumed name, supplied the background fOr the new novel. "Of Blood and Oil" is the story of the Ameri- can physician who was drawn into the conflict for Israel's freedom. There are inner struggles which disturb our hero who was attracted into the movement by a young girl who came to enlist his efforts. In the course of time, he be- comes an important part of the fighting ele- ments. It is the story of an idealist, of a man who sheds cynicism to make himself an important cog in a rapidly-moving wheel that strives for progress by means of arms. • The tough fighting is described in all its real- ism. From the experiences with his brothers-in- arms, Dr. Fabian regains his own strength of character, the warmth of his feelings for his fellow-men, the devotion with which he threw himself into the struggle for liberty. "Of Blood and Oil" ends with an interesting note referring to the reopening of the road to Jerusalem. As "the President cut the ribbon across the road . . . there was scarcely a dry eye as we watched a tired old man at the head of a beaten, tortured and murdered people straight- ening his back and going on." That's it: the -story of a people straightening its back and winning by force of arms. This novel will be read with keen interest by all who show concern over Israel's past and future. Cantor Wald man's Records Three 45 RPM RCA Victor records just issued, presenting six liturgical selections by Cantor Leibele Waldman, are certain to attract wide interest. Accompanied at the organ by Abe Ellstein, Cantor Waldman does a magnificent job of in- terpreting "L'Fichoch Anachnu Chayovim," "Al Horishonim," "Sarfe Maloh," "Ki Keshimcho," "Zochrenu beZikoren" and "Odom Yesede Meofor." The latter is especially well sung. In all of them, Cantor Waldman infuses the traditional spirit. His fine voice vibrates through the series of recordings. The young synagogue singer adds to his glory as a liturgical music interpreter with his new products. Facts You Should Know: What are the "three weeks" occurring this year from July 22 to Aug. 12 and why are they observed so mournfully? The "three weeks" is the name given to the period which occurs annually between two fast days, i.e., the fast of the seventeenth of Tam- muz and the Fast of the Ninth of Ab. This three week period is observed in state of semi- mourning. Marriages are not permitted. Many do not take hair cuts. Many do not eat meat or drink wine. The two fasts commemorate mournful occasions which had to do with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Seventeenth of Tammuz commemorates the breach in the wall of Jerusalem made by the Romans while the Ninth of Ab represents the actual date of the destruction of both Temples. The interim period between the two dates is thus regarded as the period of mourning for that destruction. Does the Talmud justify vengeance? On the contrary, the Talmud advises against it. Here are a few quotations in proof: "A man should always be of the pursued and not of the pursuers" (B.K. 93a). "Be the cursed and not the curser" (San 49a). Humility is one of the great ideas promulgated by our rabbis who teach that 'the abusers will suffer the fate of those they seek to destroy, as the Psalmist. says: "He who digs a ditch for others shall fall therein."