Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
A Bouquet to Maryland's Governor:
A Rebuke to the Panic-Stricken
This week's bouquet for courage goes to Governor Theodore
R. McKeldin of Maryland who has called the bluff of the Baltimore
Chapter of the American Council for Judaism on the question of
loyalties and American support for Israel.
Baltimore is reputed to have one of the strongest chapters
of the anti-Zionist Judaism Council. Its president, commenting on
an address Governor McKeldin delivered to the Commercial Law
League convention at Saranac, wrote to him :
"I noticed that you very arduously urged the purchasing of
Israeli Bonds. It is difficult for our group (the American Council
for Judaism) to understand why you should do this in view of the
fact that a number of Jewish people do not endorse the idea of
allegiance to Israel which is part of the Zionist creed."
This note inspired Maryland's chief executive to state, in a
lengthy reply, that the implications of the Council's leader "have
been answered so often that by now your society should have
ceased to be disturbed over this trumped-up problem of alle-
giance"; that he has found no problem in the minds of his non-
Jewish friends; that purchase of Israel bonds does not involve an
act of allegiance to Israel; that "Zionism universally understood
does not call for political allegiance from American citizens to
the government of Israel."
Asserting that "the concern you express over the danger of a
split allegiance is excessive and unwholesome, and in my opinion
misconstrues the requirements of true allegiance to the United
States and its -ideals," Governor McKeldin wrote: "I have never
heard it suggested that Americans who purchased British or Ar-
gentine or Peruvian or other foreign bonds created any problem of
allegiance. They were simply - Americans who had bought foreign
bonds." He then declared:
"Are you intimating that when I speak for the Israel Bond
drive that I am guilty of something forbidden by my allegiance
to America? I could' not treat - seriously any suggestion that my
American allegiance was somehow impaired when I purchaSed
a Bond or when I urged others to do. so .. And if my American
allegiance is not brought into question by such action, I do not
see how the Americanism of any of my Jewish friends is impaired
if they showed a mutual warmth and sympathy for a young
nation whose ideals are quite identical to those of our land.
There is 710 rational basis for fearing a conflict of loyalty if
Americans are willing to assist Israel in the great humanitarian
task which was undertaken. The overwhelming majority of
Americans, regardless of creed or national origin, do not inter-
pret American patriotism as imposing such an unreasonable re-
striction upon themselves or on their Jewish fellow Americans.
."It is cause for reproach to Christian and Mohamedan na-
tions that some of them have been responsible for the oppression
of their Jewish minorities, and that others have shared so
slightly with Israel in the work of rescue. It is fantastic to say
that Americans facilitating this great humane undertaking are
remiss in their duty as American citizens. The words national
allegiance and loyalty have no place in the discussion, and it
would be better if your Council would , deal with the bond cam-
paign on its supposed merits or demerits without attempting to
raise suspicions of disloyalty against worthy and generous fel-
low Americans.
Historically this bond drive has many precedents. The rail-
roads of the United States, notably the B & 0 and the Pennsyl-
Vania, were to a considerable degree financed by foreign in-
vestors. Conversely, American capitalists have invested heavily in
foreign lands. Many an American of Irish extraction bought
Irish Government bonds to aid that nation in its infancy, and
I have yet to hear it said they were not loyal Americans. In
fact, it would not be unreasonable to claim that by showing their
sensitivity to the need of their Irish kinsmen in their struggle
for freedom they proved themselves better men and nobler
Americans. -American.. citizenship does not exclude ciatural,
economic and other ties of a non-political nature with a friend-
ly people.
"Traditionally it has been considered no violation of national'
allegiance for Americans to invest abroad solely for monetary
gain. Certainly the purchase of foreign bonds does not become
descreditable on patriotic grounds if, coupled with the normal
'financial motivations, the object is to save refugees from per-
secution and to build a homeland for them and to restore a
spiritual center for a people to whom we are all religiously in-
. debted. I must reject insinuations made against those who have
faith in glorious fulfillment of the prophetic promise of the
Bible and are willing to back that faith with deeds."
2
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, August 24, 1951
Dr. Milton Steinberg's
Posthumous Work Urges
Jews to Resist Injustice
Federation Pamphlet Explains Value
01 a Well-Planned Jewish Education
Providing a planned Jewish
education for children is the
theme of a brochure sent to
The late Dr. Milton Stein- Jewish families of Detroit this
berg's unpublished essays for-
tunately now are available to week by the educational and
Cross-Burning Laugh
Baruch's Father
Was Klan Member
LATE DR. STEINBERG
the public, thanks to his widow,
who has compiled and published
them in a new volume, "A Be-
lieving Jew," just printed by
Harcourt, Brace & Co.
It is a remarkable guide for
Jewry. It contains brilliant ser-
mons dealing with basic Jewish
problems. It evaluates Israel's
rise as an entity. It includes
the famous sermon on Com-
mentary Magazine — which un-
doubtedly inflifenced a change
in a former objectionable atti-
tude.
Dr. Steinberg's attitude on ap-
proaches to civic-protective ef-
f or t s will be found especially
valuable. He favored resistance
to injustice. The proud and the
courageous will find in him a
great teacher and a man who
knew how to hold his head erect
and to teach his people to do
likewise.
"A Believing Jew" is a magnif-
icent work. If only it could be
gotten into every Jewish home
with an assurance that all Jews
would read it! We then would
have a powerful American Jew-
ry.
Also, See Editorial, Page 4
West German Jews
Make Up 0.9 Percent
Of Total Population
DUSSELDORF, (JTA) —About
25,000 Jews live in Western Ger-
many, according to the 1950
census. They represent approxi-
mately 0.9 percent of the West
German population.
The Royal Air Force will take
over the Jewish camp at Jever,
in the British zone, next week.
Displaced Jews living in the
camp were told to move to an-
other camp closer to Munich
but they refused, fearing that
their withdrawal from the camp
would delay further restitution
. Governor. McKeldin's letter did not end here. He proceeded claims. Most of the camp in-
to rebuke the Baltimorian by advising him that "the question of mates are ill and disabled.
governmental policy be left to the government"; that:
The International Refugee Or-
"In a time when America is giving assistance to many ganization and Joint Distribu-
nations in an effort to strengthen democracy, what it has done tion Committee - representatives
for Israel it neither excessive nor unusual. The United States have appealed to the Jewish
has made greater contributions to the Arab nations than 'to DPs not to "make difficulties"
Israel. A significant factor in the attitude of the United States and have also sought to ac-
toward Israel may be the recollection that during World War II celerate their emigration.
The Jewish cemetery at Heu-
the Jews OrPcilestizie - (nOW Israel), then numbering only 600,000
souls, gave- over 40,000:volunteers to the Allies. They served as enstamm was desecrated and 42
sappers in. removing RomMel i s booby-traps at El Alamein, and in tombstones upset. The local po-
other dangerous places. The far more numerous Arabs did.noth- lice are investigating and the
ing to support the Allies. This demonstration of Israel's trust- municipality has offered a re-
worthiness as an ally to democratic nations of the world justi- ward of 200 deutschemarks for
fies the friendly attitude of the United States. Voluntary acts of information leading to the ar-
friendship by Anzerican citizens, I respectfully submit, are en- rest of the vandals.
WASHINGTON (AJP) — The
father of Jewish financier Ber-
nard Baruch was a member of
the original Ku Klux Klan of
Civil War days, a Washington
columnist revealed this week.
Peter Edson r eported that
when Baruch returned from his
recent trip to Europe he was
asked for comment on the burn-
ing of a KKK cross near his
South Carolina estate. Baruch
laughed off the cross-burning.
The demonstration had been
accompanied by a remark from
one of the participating Klans-
men that Baruch was a "Zion-
ist Jew."
"What the Klansman didn't
apparently know was that Bar-
uch's own father had been a
member of the original KKK of
Civil War Days," Edson reported
New York Rabbis Endorse
Yeshiva U. Medical School
The New York Board of Rab-
bis adopted a resolution urging
support of Yeshiva University
$25,000,000 Medical Center cam-
paign. Terming the project "an
historical event in the annals
of American Israel," the Board
called upon each of its mem-
bers to devote a special sermon
to the Yeshiva University Medi-
cal School.
cultural division of the Jevvish
.
Welfare Federation.
More than pointing up the
values of a Jewish education to
a child—helping him or her to.
grow up into a happy, well-
adjusted and constructive mem-
ber and leader of the Jewish
community, while perpetuating
the Jewish heritage—the porn-
ph.let lists the many fine Jewish .
schools in Detroit offering a
thorough grounding in Jewish
customs, holidays, history and
literature.
In a special message accom-
panying the brochure, Samuel
H. Ru.biner, president of the
Federation, urges parents to be-
gin their children's Jewish
education this fall by enrolling :
them in one of the Jewish
schools in their neighborhood.
Among the Allied Jewish.,
Campaign-supported schools
are: United Hebrew Schools (six
branches) with Bernard Isaacs,
superintendent, and Albert Ela-
zar, associate superintendent,
TO. 8-0063; United Jewish Folk
Schools (three branches) with
M. Goldoftas and M. Haar as
co-directors, TO. 8-9280; United
Jewish High School with IL
Bendore, director, TO. 6-9619;
Workmen's Circle Schools, Ar-
beiter Ring, under the direction
of Samuel Sigal, TO. 6-9619; and .
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah, di-.
rected by Rabbi Simcha Wasser-
man, TE. 4-8100.
The schools hold afternoon
sessions and all offer classes
from the pre-kindergarten level
except the United Jewish High
School.
Included in the list of con-
gregational schools are Beth
Aaron, Beth Itzchock, Bnai
David, Bnai Moshe, Adas Shalom
Synagogue, Shaarey Zedek, Tem-
ple Beth El and Temple Israel.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1951, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, hie.
Congress Reflections
The reverberations of the World. Zionist Congress will keep
American Jewish community leaders .busy for quite a number of
months this year and even next year . . . The major issues
raised at the Congress affect American Jewry more than the Jews
in Israel . . . And it can be revealed that already important
American Jewish leaders have requested clarification from leaders
of the Israel government on a number of issues • . . It can also
be revealed that each of these leaders received cabled assurances
from Israel on the questions that bothered them .. . To some
these assurances seemed pretty vague and the exchange of mes-
sages between American and Israeli leaders settled troublesome
issues only on the surface—and only. temporarily . . . Indicative
of the mood in the Jewish communities in America is the fact ,
that for the first time in the history of the Zionist movement,
the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds has con-
sidered it important to transmit recommendations to Jerusalem
for the Zionist Conaress . . These recommendations deal only
with matters concerning fund-raising for Israel in the United.
States, but there are also political matters on which American
Jewish community leaders keep a watchful eye .. • Among the
recommendations transmitted by the Council of Jewish Federa-;
tions and Welfare 'Funds is the old request for the establishment
of a Central Israeli Budget for all Israeli agencies seeking funds .
in the United States . . . Added to this is also a new request that.
the offices of the United Palestine Appeal, Jewish National Fund
and Keren Hayesod in America be consolidated "in order to achieve
greater economy and efficiency" ... These and other issues are
sufficient to keep discussion alive in the American Jewish com-
munity far into the coming winter ... Not to speak of the pos-
sible internal split in the ranks of the Zionist Organization
America which may lead to the formation of another General
Zionist party in the United States . . It 'is worthwhile to note -
that the Jewish Welfare Funds have a 40 percent representation
on the board of the United Palestine Appeal.
of
*
*
Domestic Affairs
In the fight which is now developing around. the Maclver
Report. on Jewish groups combatting anti-Semitism in America,.:
tirely consistent.
"Your letter adds, 'there is no more reason to urge the buy-
Yeshiva Psychologist Attends the American Jewish Congress is siding with Prof. Maclver
ing of Israel Bonds than the buying of Arabian bonds.' My only World Polio Conference
Leaders of. the American Jewish Congress take quite a different
stand on the MacIver recommendations than that taken by the
comment is that if you should prefer to urge the purchase of
Dr. Morton A. Seidenfeld, American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of
Iranian or Arabian bonds I might not see fit to follow ad-
vice, but I :should cheerfully acknowledge your right to speak professor of clinical psychology Bnai Brith . .-. While the latter two organizations are very far
as you did. .without impugning your loyalty as an American.. at Yeshiva University and asso7. from accepting MacIver's recommendations, the American Jewish
Moreover, when Iran or any other nation undertakes a work ciate director of the University's. Congress takes pride in the fact that most of the recommenda-
'psycho logical lions coincide with the Views often advanced by its leadership . .
comparable i in character to that for which Israel seeks support,
clinic, will par- The leaders of the American Jewish Congress consider irrelevant
I should, as an American, consider it an honor to help."
Governor McKeldin made it clear that he was unable to "un-
derstand the indifferences of a group of Jews to this great en-
terpriSe. Opposition from such a source is to me quite incompre-
hensible." He paid tribute to "the valor and sacrifice of the small
population of Israel which has successfully withstood the attacks
of its more numerous enemies in the very hour of its birth",
adding: "I am proud that the United States through the United
Nations had a part in establishing this new sister nation, and I
feel privileged as an American to assist in a small way in this
work."
. The governor did some plain speaking. After all, he was dealing
with citizens of his own. state. But he was faced with a challenge
to an American ideal and he treated it with courage. Therefore,
the bouquet to a brave American.
• Will the Council for Judaism now oppose him for re-election?
ticipate in the the argument that Prof. Maclver did not understand the "par-
2nd Intern a- ticular philosophy" of each of the Jewish organizations engaged
t i o n a 1 Poli6- in fighting anti-SeMitism • . . They are primarily interested in
myelitis C o n - the fact that the -MacIver Report points out how to avoid the
ference in Den- kind of overlapping which, they claim, costs the Jewish com-
mark, Sept. 3-7. rnunity several million dollars a year .. . The Jewish Labor
He will discuss Committee, which came through with flying colors in the Maclver
-to deal Report, is quite indifferent to Maclver's recommendations •
how
with psycholog- This despite the fact that Prof: Maclver suggest8 that the Jewish
Dr. Seidenfeld lea]. complica- Labor Committee be given the monopoly on work among labor
tions of a polio attack. ,k)r. unions in combatting racial prejudice . • . The Jewish War Vet-
Seidenfeld is director of psythttio- erans, another grotip favored by Prof. Maclver, goes even fur-
logical services of the Natithual ther . The JWV makes it clear that in its view, no single
Foundation for Infantile Par...try - * agency organized by the American Jewish community can combat
sis. the work of anti-Semitic elements.