Purely Commentary By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ 2—THE JEWISH NEWS Synagogues N. End Festival Season with Simhat Torah Friday, October 19, 1951 State Department Head To Address JWV-Meet The Palestine Issue in the Forrestal Diaries "As if the Forrestal Diaries were not enough to strike terror Dr. John A. Loftus, U. S. State into the hearts of the most discreet public servants, we are now promised Senator Vandenberg's diaries," Dr. Max Lerner corn- Department official, will address ments, in his column entitled "Keep Out of Diaries" in the New the United Nations Day meeting, York Post. He makes this interesting observation: "The true function of a diary is to record not so much what you did and where you went and what someone else said, but what you thought you felt in the crisis moments of your life. To use your diary as a mode of revenge by a dead man on the living is an act that may create a paradise for historians, but only a hell for those who must go on with the world's work. When you talk to someone, friend or enemy, in confidence he has the right to assume that you will not betray the trust that the words imply. "The communication, between two human beings is in itself the social tissue of life. When it is betrayed, for however noble motives, life itself is invaded and betrayed. This is one of the forms that the desensitizing of man is taking." This comment has considerable bearing upon the references to the Palestine issue made public in the Forrestal Diaries. The Forrestal Diaries include some well known facts. At a Cabinet lunch, Sept. 4, 1947, less than two months before the United Nations voted in favor of Palestine's partition and the establishment of a Jewish state, Postmaster General Hannegan brought up the Palestine question and urged, as means of getting funds for the Democratic National Committee, the issuance of a statement particularly with reference to the admission of 150,000 Jews into Palestine. Dr. Abba Hillel. Silver was spoken of as neither a Democrat nor a friend of Truman and as the man who DR. JOHN A. LOFTUS prompted the President to make an earlier statement in support sponsored by Department of of the_Jewish position. At another Cabinet lunch, Sept. 29, 1947, exactly a month Michigan Jewish War Veterans, before the UN's partition action, Mr. Forrestal. urged the lifting at 8:15 p.m., Wednesday, at the of the Palestine question out of politics. The President was skep- Woodward Jewish Center. tical but said it was worth trying. Later, the monetary question Presently economic advisor to was dragged in. On Nov. 26, 1947, Senator (now Attorney General) the Assistant Secretary for Near McGrath was admonished to lift foreign affairs out of domestic Eastern, South Asian and Afri- politics. Mr. McGrath is said to have referred to Jewish contribu- can Affairs, Dr. Loftus has held tions to the Democratic Party funds. On. Dec. 1, 1947, Under Sec- other State Department posts as retary of State Lovett told the Cabinet that there was pressure in well as teaching positions in favor of. the Jewish position from Herbert Bayard Swope, Robert American universities. He was Nathan, a request for the Liberian vote for partition by the Fire- economic advisor to the U. S. stone Tire and Rubber Co. delegation at four Anglo-Amer- The issue did not end there. On Dec. 3, 1947, at another ican oil conferences in Wash- lunch, Byrnes said he was not optimistic about getting the Repub- ington and London. licans to agree to a non-political basis for the Palestine question Dr. Loftus' subject here will be because of Rabbi Silver's - influence .upon Senator Taft. Forrestal's "The Mutual Security Program." Diary records him as telling the Cabinet at that time: "I said I The community at large is in- thought it was. a most disastrous and regrettable fact that the vited to the meeting by Ben foreign policy of this country was detertnined by the contributions Desenberg, commander of JWV a particular bloc of special interests- might make to the party Department of Michigan. There funds." will be no admission charge. Forrestal tackled the . Republicans • and the Diaries quote the late Michigan Senator as pointing "to one obvious difficulty"— that there was a feeling among most Republicans that the Demo- Federation Women Plan cratic Party had used the Palestine question politically, and the 3 CommunityClinics Republicans felt:they were entitled to make similar use of the issue." And Vandenberg quoted Stassen's remark, "if Republicans "Get in form to inform your were to cooperateTOri, foreign policy they 137 01/1d have to be in on neighbors" is .the theme of an the - take-off as-r*e4 - as in the crash landing." • invitation issued by • the educa- At the Griellion:Dinner,, Dec. 13, 1947, Governor Dewey said tion committee of the Jewish (to quote 'the 'Forrestal Diaries) he agreed in principle to non- Welfare Federation Women's Di- partisan action on the Palestine , question but that it was a difficult vision, in sending out a call for matter to get results on it becaUse of the intemperate attitude of leaders to participate in the 1951 the Jewish people who had taken Palestine as the emotional community clinics training pro- symbol, because the Democratic Party would not be willing to gram. relinquish the advantages of the Jewish vote. • The training program, to in- These are just a few of the points in the Forrestal Diaries clude three sessions from 9:30 on the Palestine question. On the face of things, they may not to 11:30 Oct. 26, Nov. 2 and react too nicely and American Jezvi'y may be branded—as they Nov. 9, a.m., at the Davison Jewish undoubtedly will by anti-Semites—as having used gifts to the Center, will cover the organiza- Democratic Party as means of pressing the Zionist issue. But tion of the Detroit Jewish com- this is not the whole story. The truth is that the Republicans munity, the activities of the were first in including • a pro-Zionist plank in their party plat- Women's Division and social form. Democrats came through with a stronger statement. The services provided by the com- truth is that Jews contributed large sums to the Republican munity. Party, and it may well be that the funds received by Republi- Mrs. Isidore Sobeloff is chair- cans were larger than those reportedly given to the Democrats. man the education committee, The story that was privately circulated before the 1948 election with of Mrs. Harry L. Jackson, vice- was that Jewish contributions to the Democratic Party came chairman. The subcommittee on forth at the last moment—in time to save a bankrupt organi- the training program is headed zation on the eve of the election. by Mrs. Siegmund Kulka, as- While there are no saints anywhere and in politics attempts sisted by Mesdames Stanley are always made to capitalize on available votes, there is another Akers, Abe Becker, Arthur Bloom, point that must not be overlooked. It would be utterly unjust— Max Chomsky, Lewis B. Daniels, perhaps even dishonest—to fail to recognize the human ele- Stanley Fleischaker, Harry Frank, ment in the Palestine issue. It would be a sad commentary on Samuel Grandon, Lewis Gross- Americans to overlook the genuinely sympathetic sentiments man, Herschel V. Kreger, Moses that dominated most of the people who supported the Zionist Lehrman, Louis Redstone, Geo- idea in Congress, in the press, on public platforms. A third of rge Rubin, Alexander W. Sand- the Jewish people was murdered by the Nazis. Another third ers, Jacob S. Sauls, Oscar was threatened with extinction in Europe, in Africa, in Mos- Schwartz, Ben Snider, Nathan lem countries. Hundreds of thousands of people continue to live Spevakow, Leonard H. Weiner in danger under Arab rule. There is no hope for these people and Samuel Yura. . outside Israel. Now this issue again is being dragged through a political boiler. It is unfortunate and inevitable, but the true facts should be made understandable. The justice of a cause ought, to play a role—even in politics. The majority of American statesmen apparently reacted in favor of justice. The balance should remain in that direction. There is another point, by no means a minute one. The late Mr. Forrestal, a Wall Street banker, was more concerned about the Arabs and their oil fields than about Jews and their determination —for which no one need apologize—to rescue the remnants of the survivors from the Nazi holocaust. His emotions were exposed to light when he spoke of "the Palestine-Haifa question." Who ever heard of such a geographical combination, unless it is the oil- minded who • thought of the Haifa oil as opposed to the Judaic ideal inherent in the humanitarianism of the Zionist cause? The oil issue pressed on Forrestal's mind and he sought to prevent advantages for Jews. Fortunately, Barney Baruch called his bluff. Fortunately, Americans appreciate libertarians. Fortunately, the Haganah supplied the libertarians and American Jews provided means for their fight. In its totality, the battle for freedom shoved the. oil interests—and Forrestal-into the background. Holiday Requires Earlier. Deadlines JWV Changes Time Of Donor Meetings The concluding days of the day. At Yizkor services Monday, festival of Sukkoth, the holidays Rabbi Moses Lehrman will of Shemini Atzereth and Simhat preach on "Lasting Values." Torah, will be observed in our Temple Bethel El synagogues beginning Sunday Rabbi Sidney Akselrad . will of- evening, Oct. 21, and continuing ficiate at services at 10:30 a.m., through Monday and Tuesday, Monday. The ceremony of the Oct. 22 and 23. blessing of children newly- Cong. Shaarey Zedek enrolled in the religious school Rabbi Morris Adler will preach, will be conducted Sunday, with and Cantor J. H. Sonenklar and the blessing by Dr. B. Benedict choir directed by Dan Frohman Glazer. Each child will receive will officiate at services. Even- a miniature Torah. The inter- ing worship begins at 5:30 p.m., mediate children's choir, direct- Sunday; at 5 p.m., Monday. ed by Mr. and Mrs. Jason H. Morning services are at 8:45 a.m. Tickton, will perform. Three Memorial and Yizkor services generations of Temple members will be chanted on Monday, and will participate in the ritual of the graduation of eighth grade handing down the Torah. religious school pupils on Tues- Cong. Bnai David day. Evening services at 6 p.m., with Adas Shalom Synagogue morning prayer beginning at' Rabbi Jacob E. Segal will 8:30 a.m., both days. On Monday, preach at 10:30 p.m.,. Monday, at Rabbi Joshua S. Sperka will Yizkor services, on "Roads to preach on "Tents of Israel," and Survival." Services begin at 5:30 on Tuesday he will speak on p.m., and Monday, at 8:45 a.m. "Esrog and Lulay." Special Simhat Torah services Cong. Beth Itzchock for children under 10 will be Services will be held at 8:30 held at 5 p.m., Monday, and for a.m., both days at the East Side the regular congregation at 6 Congregation, 3836 Fischer. At p.m. Cantor Nicholas Fenakel Shemini Atzereth, Yikzor ser- and the choir will officiate. vices, Rabbi I Strauss will preach Temple Israel _ on "Blessed Memories." At Shemini Atzereth services Cong. Mogen Abraham at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Rabbi Rabbi M. J. Wohlgelernter will Leon A. Fram will bless the 100 children who have just started lead services,. beginning Monday at the religious school. Each and Tuesday at 9 a.m. Before child will receive a gift from the Yizkor services Monday, Rabbi Temple and will recite prayers Wohlgelernter will preach on and songs learned in the school. "Yisgadal V'Yiskadash." On Sat- At Sabbath services at 8:30 p.m., urday, at 9 a.m. Sabbath services, Friday, Rabbi Fram • will speak he will preach on "Koheles." on "Vanity of Vanities." The Parents and children are invited Bar Mitzvah of Sidney Jackson to Hokofos at 5:30 p.m., Mein- day. will be observed. Cong. Beth Aaron Evening services at 5:30 p.m., DeYoung and Kaufman Sunday; morning services at 8:45 Head Heilman Memorial a.m., Monday and Tuesday. Rab- bi Benjamin H. Gorrelick will Wilbur DeYoung is chairman. preach at Yizkor services, at and Oscar Kaufman, vice-presi- 10:30 a.m., Monday, on "Life dent of the City Bank, is secre - ' Eternal." A children's party will tary of the committee fornied to be presented at 4 p.m., Monday, establish a cancer research with services for the congrega- memorial in tribute to Harry E!' tion following at 7 p.m. Heilman. The committee plane Cong. Bnai Moshe a fund-raising campaign to Services at..5:30* p.m., Sunday establish a cancer research lab - and 5:15 p.m., Monday; at 8:30 oratory as a memorial to Heil- a.m., Monday, and 9 a.m., Tues- man who died of cancer July 9. Between You and Me By BORIS SMOLAR hie.; Washington Warning While the question of whether American Jews should send . , their children to Israel as Chalutzim is becoming a controversial issue in American Jewish life, the State Department is warning, American citizens to proceed to Israel on "visitors' visas" only . American citizens applying for passports to travel to Israel are warned by officials that they can be required to perform military service in Israel if they enter on a residence (immigration) visa . Under the laws of _Israel, any American citizen who enters the country on a residence visa must perform military service in either the regular or reserve forces of Israel . . . This applies to men between the ages of 18 and 49 years and to women between 18 and 34 years of age .. The State Department also warns that persons entering Israel on immigration visas---men between 17 and 29 and unmarried women between the ages of 17 and 26-1-are not per- mitted to leave the country until they have completed the required military service . . . The warning adds that American citizens may lose their right to the protection of the United States, if they serve as members of Israel's armed forces .. . Applicants are therefore advised by the State Department to get a visitor's visa which is generally limited to three months, but may be renewed in Israel periOdically without subjecting the visitor to service in the regular or reserve forces there. (Copyright, 1951, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, . Facts and Figures The extent to which Jewish communal life has grown in the United States during the last 15 years soon will be revealed in data compiled by the Jewish Statistical Bureau . . Dr. H. S. Lin- field, head of the Bureau, has now completed a survey of Jewish congregations which will furnish a concrete idea not only of Jew- ish religious life in this country, but also of other aspects of Jew- ish communal activities „ The last census of Jewish congrega tions was carried out by the U. S. Government in 1936 ... It es- tablished that at that time there were 3,728 Jewish congregations throughout the country with a total membership of 4,541,184 . . The number of Jewish congregations now exceeds 4,000 and the membership also seems somewhat larger . . . There were 2,851 syn- agogue buildings in the United States 15 yearsago, valued at about, $125,000,000 . . . With the Jewish DP problem practically solved, it will be interesting for many to know that the U. S. has admitted 77,500 displaced Jews up to July of this year . . The total number of Jewish DPs in Germany, Austria and Italy was 168,000 on July 1947 „ . . The heaviest burden in caring for DPs fell upon the. Joint Distribution Committee . With a field staff of 7 100, the -JDC tackled such tasks as child care, medical aid, education, assistance in religious activities, etc. . From 1946 to 1950, JDC shipped 80,000,000 pounds of medicaments . . . Its most important activity, however, consisted of helping DPs migrate to Israel, the United States and other countries . . Within five years, JDC assisted 200,000 persons-DPs and non DPs—M migrating, the great major- ity of whom went to Israel ..H4lAS was similarly engaged ,in helping DPs emigrate to various countries,' although on a mu ch smaller scale than the jDC.,, . • . Mrs. Lillian Bernstein, general chairman for the fifth annual donor luncheon of the Depart- ment of Michigan Ladies Aux- iliary, Jewish War Veterans, an- nounces that future donor meet= ings will be held on Wednesdays, at 12:45 p.m. at the Memorial Home. At a recent meeting, the fol- lowing were appointed to work as liner chairmen and co-chair- men, under the supervision of Mesdames F 1 o r ence Schindler and Miriam Ferst: Mesdames May Ginsburg, Belle OSterman, Rose Goodman, Rose Katz, Goldie Goodgall, Sy- _ dell Shell, Lillian Epstein, Eve Solomon, Rachel Gattegno, Julie Block, Dorothy Alderman, Mar- ion Gaspas, Fay Goldberg, Ida Greenberg, Freda. Kolb and Bea The final days of Sukkoth will be .observed on Oct. 22 and. 23 and : ail copy—including photographs—for our issue of Oct. 26 must. reach us not later than at noon of Friday, Oct. 19.- • Weinstein. • .