As the Editor
Views the News

Goliath to Be Conquered

YIVO Inspires 3-Volume
Scholarly 'Jewish People'

Convincing Figures

Between May 15, 1948, the year of Is-
rael's rebirth, and Sept. 30, 1951, the United
Palestine Appeal provided for the settlement
in agriculture of 120,000 new immigrants.
In, that period, the UPA created 288 new
settlements. •
Figures speak louder than words and it
therefore is of special interest to quote this
comparison: From Jan. 1, 1939, to . May 14,
1948, UPA's expenditure for agricultural
settlement was $117,224,000; but for the
period one-third that length—May 15, 1948,
to Dec. 31, 1951, the agricultural settlement
expenditures amounted to $187,286,000.
This is where a major portion of our
Allied Jewish Campaign dollars go—for a
remarkable effort of transforming untrained
immigrants in Israel into productive agricul-
tural workers.

About six years ago, the first volume of ''The
Jewish People: Past and Present" marked the
beginning of a new era in the Jewish publishing
field. Jewry's leading 'writers and thinkers
joined in creating a monumental set of books
which will be found indispensable for scholars
and research men who desire information on
major aspects of Jewish life and history..
The appearance of the third volume in this
series, (published by Jewish Encyclopedia Hand-
books, Inc., 67 Lexington, New York 10), again
calls attention to the tremendous task which has
been completed in three valuable books. It is
encouraging to know that the sponsors of this
great undertaking, inspired primarily by YIVO
(Yiddish Scientific Institute), is planning an-
other similar undertaking—a new set of three
books which will deal with the history of Jewish
'communities.
"The Jewish People: Past and Present,"
containing 1,000,000 words, 500 photographs,
many maps and nine full-color illustrations,
could not have succeeded as it did if it were
not a labor of love. The third volume is rich
in content and illustrations. it has a mag-
nificent article on "Jewish Music" by A. W.
Binder, and emphasizes as the chief subjects
Jewish literature.

Libya and Her Jews

Formation of the independent state of
Libya has brought from the World Jewish
Congress a statement expressing "to his
Majesty King Idris I its congratulations on
his accession to the Throne of the Federal
Kingdom of Libya and its good wishes for
the well-being and prosperity of his people
and government."
But the Congress found it necessary to
add "its confident hope that the Kingdom
of Libya will be conducted in full accord
with the principles of democratic govern-
ment and with the Charter of the United
Nations under whose auspices and authority
the new State has been created." In a spirit
of friendship towards the new State, the
World Jewish Congress earnestly hopes that
the Government of Libya, in conformity with
the United Nations Charter and the Uni-
versal Declaration of Human Right, will give
the fullest recognition to, and observe the
human rights and fundamental freedoms of,
minority groups and their individual mem-
bers, and will provide a worthy example
to other States by resisting any efforts or
pressure by anti-democratic elements de-
signed to deny or restrict the rights and
liberties of any citizen or resident of Libya."
There is a particular reason for this plea
for adherence to human principles in deal-
ing with minorities. A short time ago, the
Tripoli daily Al Libbi conducted a violent
anti-Jewish campaign and hurled offensive
charges against Jews. The Congress was
compelled to draw the attention of the Liby-
an government to unfair accusations that
Jews were "aligning themselves with for-
eigners against Libyan interests." Unfortu-
nately, the Libyan tradition in dealing with
her Jewish "citizens" is a bad one. In the
pogrom of 1945, Arabs or Tripolitania (com-
ponent of Libya) killed 130 Jews, among
them 36 children of 15 and younger. Another
pogrom was instigated in 1948 and in two
days of pillaging and murdering, 26 more
Jews were killed.
It is with such a people and such a gov-
ernment that it will be necessary to deal in
seeking protection for the 6,000 Jews Who
remain there. In a period of five years, more
than 25,000 Libyan Jews have emigrated,
but there still are the few thousand remain-
ing souls to be protected. Perhaps the new
government will realize that it can not sub-
sist on brutality and that the world will
judge it in accordance with the treatment it
accords its minorities. Libyan Jews can be
listed only as a religious minority and must
be given full status as citizens in a land in
which their ancestors have resided for hun-
dreds of years. Their new government will
be judged by the treatment it accords its
Jewish citizens.

THE JEWISH NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
commencing with issue of July 20, 1951

Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by " The Jewish News Publisning
Co, 'c. 08-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., W0.5-1155.
Subscription $4 a year; foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor

Vol. XX—No. 19

Page 4

January 18, 1952

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the twenty-first day of Tebet,
5712, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:

Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 1:1-6:1.

Prophetical portion—Is. 27:6-28:13, 29:22, 23.

Licht Benshen, Friday, Jan. 18, 5:07 p.m.

L..

Monumental Work Completed

Mizrachi 's 50th Anniversary

Sunday evening's dinner of Detroit Mizrachi marks an
event that has earned the attention and interest of all Jews,
regardless of party affiliation.
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of the world Miz-
rachi movement, the Detroit organization will evaluate the
accomplishments of the organization since its formation on
March 4,4902.
Formed by one of the most diStinguished Jewish leaders
of our time, the late Rabbi Isaac Jacob Reines of Lida, Lith-
uania, Mizrachi attracted to Zionist ranks the 'religious ele 7,
ments among whom there was doubt as to the validity of a
political effort which was inaugurated to supplement mes-
sianic hopes. Rabbi Reines,- who was recognized as the out-
standing leader of orthodox Jewry in the world, by mobiiiz-
ing the religious groups to support the work of settling Jews
iePalestine, gave courage to Dr. Theodor Herzl and his as-
sociates. It was one of the most important steps in . the di-
rection • of world-wide Jewish support of the Zionist cause.
During the 50 years of its services, Mizrachi has been a
vital factor in Palestine's. upbuilding. The HaPoel HaMizrachi
settlements in Israel are today among the most impressive
signs of Jewish achievement. Devout Jews not only settled in
Israel to study, and to pray but also to build. They became
artisans and agriculturists and were among • the bravest de-
fenders of the Jewish 'state in time Of war. ,;-• -
Mizrachi mustered large numbers of supporters and
became a partner with Mapai in the Israel government. Its
leaders have propagated the cause of Israel throughout the
world to great advantage. They are now planning the cre-
ation of the Bar-Ilan University in memory of Rabbi Meyer
(Berlin) Bar-Ilan, at Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv. And they
are carrying on a program of action without which Israel
would be the poorer.
In Detroit, Mizrachi, under the leadership of one of our
ablest young men, Irving W. Schlussel, not only has given
new life to Zionist activities but also has invigorated the
orthodox religious groups in the city in all their activities.
They are now the leaders in the Israel bond sales here and
they are valuable participants in all Detroit communal ac-
tivities.
All forces that help Israel are significant in the corn-.
munity- set-up, and Mizrachi occupies a place of signal im-
portance here. It has earned the commendations and con-
gratulations of all of us on the movement's 50th annimersary.

Murderers Must Not Inherit

Israel's Knesset acted in the only logical fashion by ap-
proving its government's stand in favor of direct negotia-
tions with Germany to secure reparations for the crimes
committed against the Jewish people.
When representatives of Jewish organizations from
many lands met in New York Oct. 25-26 to map a program
of action in demanding claims against Germany, Dr. Nahum
Goldmann made it clear that it was not a question of deal-
inc, with Germany, since it may take generations to adjust
German-Jewish relations as a result of the brutalities which
resulted in the murder of 6,000,000 Jews, but rather that
of securing cash reparations for the sufferers and the sur-
vivors from Nazism.
Dr. Goldmann made this important point: "Where is
the moral validity in saying: 'You have murdered and you
shall also inherit?' " He spoke of a higher morality "in
doing everything we can to insist that Germany pay back
to the Jewish people as much as it can of what it has taken
from them. It is unforgivable of us to forget the dead, it
is also impermissible of us to forget the living survivors, in
whose behalf German repayment—whatever it may be—
would be used."
We concur with Dr. Goldmann and with Israel - Ambas-
sador Abba Eban, who also participated in the October con-
ference, that we are not "forgiving our debtors" in dealing
with them at this time. But there is no reason for abandoning
our just claims and especially Israel's demand for a minimum
of $1,500,000,000 to compensate the small state in part for
rescuing 500,000 survivors from Nazism. The Knesset acted_
properly. Now every effort must be made to secure the rep-
arations from a government that claims to be anxious to
atone for the Nazi crimes.
i,111`111 .10 ea:*
o'Irro

Samuel Niger's essay on "Yiddish Literature
in the Past 200 Years" in itself justifies the
publishing of the volume. Students of Jewish
literature will be deeply impressed by the facts
he has gathered, the. many unknown. details
that he has uncovered, the reproduction's of
the title pages of "Kol Mevasser" of 1869, Yid-
dishes Folks-Blatt of 1883 New York Jewish
Gazette of 1886, St. Petersburg "Friend" of
1903. The names of the best known as well as
the lesser known names in Yiddish literature
appear in this historical review.

"Old-Yiddish Literature" by N. B. Minkoff,
written in collaboration with Judah A. Joffe,
adds valuable material not covered by Mr. Niger.
Some of the facts in this chapter are eye-open-
ers. The readers will find genuine revelations in
the reproduction of pages from 16th and 17th
century translations of the Bible and prayer
books into Yiddish, and a page from "Zeena-U-
Reena," Basle, 1622.
But the volume does not limit itself to Yid-'
dish literature. Abraham Menes' "Jewish Liter-
ature in Biblical Times" is a lesson in typogra-
phy, in early publishing, in works by Jews dating
back many centuries.
Ralph Marcus' "Hellenistic Jewish Literature".
discusses "Jewish Antiquities," "Against Apion"
and other selections from Josephus; the Septua-
gint, the Maccabees, the Wisdom of Solomon,
etc. The author informs us that "one need not
be surprised that several Hellenistic Jewish writ-
ers published their works under the names of
famous Greek writers in order to bring off what
we might call 'pious frauds'." He appropriately.
labels this section of his essay 'Jewish Propa-
ganda in Gentile Guise."
"Talmudic and Rabbinical Literature" and
"Liturgical Literature" are two essays by Boaz
Cohen. He draws upon commentators and codi-
fiers, and his efforts enrich not only this volume
but also the entire field of Jewish literature.
There are two essays on Hebrew. literature:
Joseph Heller's "Hebrew Poetry in the Middle
Ages" and Meyer Waxman's "Modern Hebrew
Literature."
The English field is covered by Harold U.
Ribalow in "Jewish Literature in the United
States and England." S. Dubnow-Ehrlich dis-
cusses the subject "Jewish Literature in Russia."
"Jews and Jewish Problems in German Litera-
ture" was written by Hugo Bieber.
A magnificent essay by Rachel Wischnitze'r
covers the field of "Jewish Art." Illustrated
with reproductions of works by noted Jewish
creative artists, this essay, like Mr. Binder's
"Jewish Music," fills a great need with its
splendid evaluation.
In its entirety, "The Jewish People," the
present and the earlier volumes, mark a great
contribution to Jewish literature. Its editors and
publishers have earned the respect and gratitude
of world Jewry for their vision in pursuing this
task and the loyalty with which they devoted.
themselves to a remarkable creative project.

Facts You Should Know:

What is the blessing which the father makes
at his son's Bar Mitzvah?

"Boruch Shepotrani" which means "Blessed
(be the Lord) who has excused me from the
punishment of this lad" is the blessing made by
the father at his son's Bar Mitzvah. Two reasons
are advanced for it. One states that the father
is punished for the sins of his children until
they are Bar-Mitzvahed. Thus he is relieved of
this punishment and thanks God for it. The
"Levush" claims that the son is sometimes pun-
ished for the sin of the father and that the
father thanks God his sins will not fall upon the
son anymore. It is mentioned in one source that
according to some it was once customary for the
son to make this blessing and to say he thanks
the Lord for being excused from the responsi-
bility of being punished for the sins of his fa-

ther.

, •

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