The Wrong Road

As the Editor
Views the News

Franklin Bell, of the advertising division of H.

A Nightmarish Bill

The House of Representatives has passed
a measure which nullifies the remaining acts
of justice towards immigrants and threatens
the civil liberties not only of newcomers to
this country but also of naturalized citizens.
Adoption of the Walter Bill was marked
by catcalls and emphasis on the supremacy
of "white gentiles." The day of its passage
was a sad one for this country. Now its
counterpart, the McCarran measure, is up
for debate in the Senate. We pray that the
Upper House of Congress will be wiser, that
it will eliminate the bigotries incorporated in
the McCarran-Walter Omnibus Bill .and that
it will save the honor of this country.
While President Truman is expected to
veto the proposed legislation, that large vote
in the House and the many supporters in
the Senate threaten in advance to override
it. Perhaps, however, the liberal Senators will
so modify the bill as to remove the dangers
it contains.
Senator Herbert Lehman, who is leading
the fight against the bill, has issued this
warning against it:

"As I read the McCarran-Walter Bill, there
rows conjured up in my mind's eye the spec-
tacle of immigration officials knocking on
doors in the middle of the night, hustling
aliens off to detention centers, and herding
them onto ships outward bound, while wives
and children weep, and the courts are power-
less to intervene. This is a nightmare, but it
could happen here, under the terms of the
McCarran-Walter Bill."

The backers of the measure include
avowed anti-Semites. While opposition to it
has been registered by the most respectable
organizations in the country, by spokesmen
for Catholics, Jews and Protestants, there is
evidence of a determination on the part of
illiberal forces to push it through with all its
venomous aspects. They are forcing America
into a state of medievalism.

Churchill and Israel

At the Israel fourth anniversary celebra-
tion sponsored in New York by the American
Zionist Council, Miss Sarah Churchill read
the following cable from her eminent father,
Great Britain's Prime Minister Winston
Churchill:

"As a Zionist from the days of the Balfour
Declaration. I have watched with admiration
the courageous efforts of Israel to establish
her independence and prosperity. May this and
future anniversaries be celebrated with grow-
ing confidence and goodwill by Israel's many
friends throughout the world."

It is an encouraging message. Israel needs
the friendship of the nations of the world,
and a kind word from the former manda-
tory power lends prestige to the young state.
While we would have been happier if
gracious words had been uttered during the
trying years when the Jewish settlers in
Palestine under British rule were fighting
for their lives and for the right to independ-
ence, we are mindful of the assurances that
were given in the days of uncertainty by Dr.
Chaim Weizmann that under a Churchill gov-
ernment the Jewish cause would have had
a better chance than it was accorded by the
l . abor government.
Churchill's kind words do not wipe out
the tragedies that were imposed upon Pal-
estine's settlers by the British rulers. But
they strengthen the new bond of friendship.
They give strength to the view that Israel
will live in harmony with all the nations of
the world, including her neighbors who con-
tinue to threaten war against her.

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 Publishing
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 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. XXI—No. 9

Page 4

May 9, 1952

Sabbath Scriptural Selections

This Sabbath, the fifteenth day of lyar, 5712,
the following Scriptural selections will be read
in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Lev. 21:1-24:33.
Prophetical portion—Ezek. 44:15-31.

Lag b'Omer occurs next Tuesday
• 'debt Itenil4n, Friday, May 4, 7:)*

Kagan's 'Changing Attitude
Of Christian Toward Jew'
Gets N on-J ew's High Praise

J. Heinz Co., has become so enthused over Rabbi

Henry Enoch Kagan's "Changing the Attitude of
Christian Toward Jew; A Psychological Approach
Through Religion," published by Columbia Uni-
versity Press (2960 B'way. N.Y. 271, that he advo-
cates its use as a textbook by Christians and
Jews.
Praiing it as a remarkable "research project*
Mr. Bell states that Dr. Kagan is "a trained
professional psychologist and a brilliant rabbi"
who "takes the guess out of changing Christian
attitudes toward Jews."
In his book, Dr. Kagan, who is part-time in-
structor in psychological guidance at Teachers
College, Columbia University, makes an interest-
ing approach to the question of anti-Semitism.
His "psychological approach" is accomplished by
means of tests conducted among students who
were given a chance to discuss their attitudes in
all frankness.
His experiments and frank discussions have
led to a change of heart among those who pre-
viously had believed that Jews were numerically
strong, financially dominant, etc. Through study
of the Psalms and the Old Testament, he was
able to secure the results he sought—a searching
into the minds of the students.
The experiments in inter-faith education in-
clude the indirect method—through religious ap-
proaches, Biblical studies, etc.—as well as the
direct method: participation of Christian stu-
dents, with their Jewish instructor, in direct
The United States Supreme Court decisions, handed group discussions of anti-Jewish attitudes. Rabbi
Kagan also used another method which he calls
down last week, challenge the interest of all Americans.
the Focused Private Interview." He reports sig-
By a vote of 5 to 4, the highest court in the land upheld nificant
changes in the attitudes of Christians.
the right of the state of Illinois to pass a "group libel" He advocates the adoption of "tested group
law to prevent the dissemination of material that would methods which do reduce prejudice," and he
expose any race, creed or color "to contempt, derision urges educators and clergymen to "become ac-
or obloquy." Justice Frankfurter, who spoke for the ma- quainted with the new techniques in group dy-
jority, stated that "if an utterance directed at an individual namics which offer a more effective therapy for
may be the object of criminal sanctions, we cannot deny to improving Christian-Jewish relations."

lilw•eit.••••• Itob.wanI

Supreme Court Decisions

-

a state power to punish the same utterance directed at a
defined group." But he made the reservation that while the
majority finds the law not to be Constitutionally objection-
able it does not imply "approval of the wisdom of the legis-
lation or its efficacy."
Justice Jackson, on the other hand, believes that "free-
dom of expression" may be invaded by the ruling. Justice
Douglas is of the opinion that the right to freedom of speech
is endangered and Justice Black warns minorities who have
clamored for such a "group libel" law: "Another such victory
and I am undone."
The Supreme Court ruling is of special interest to
American Jews who have supported proposals that anti-
Semitism and similar bigoted trends should be outlawed. In
our own ranks there is no unanimity on the subject, many
civil liberties . proponents adhering to the view that freedom
of expression gives the right even to Nazis and anti-Semites
to speak their minds—as long as we have the right to reply.
Once again, -those who advocate a process of education are
able to advance the argument that only through patient
presentation of true facts will we be able to overcome the
dangers that stem from bigotry. Unfortunately. the process
of education is an all-too-slow procedure to fight seriously
menacing movements in time of stress.

In the 6 to 3 decision upholding the right of New York
state to legislate in favor of released time for religious studies
in the public schools, the majority, whose opinion was writ-
ten by Justice Douglas, :naintains that there is no infringe-
ment of the principle of separation of church and state in
the law they upheld; that there is no partiality in it to any
group since it "lets each flourish according to the zeal of
its adherents and the appeal of its dogma."
Nevertheless, we are inclined to the view of the minority.
We start with "released time." - Next, we may have "dis-
missed time," and then we may be subjected to compulsion
which will negate the basic principles of our religious free-

dom.

Justice Black's dissenting view is: "State help to re-
ligion injects political and party prejudices into a holy field.

It too often substitutes force for prayer, hate for love, and
persecution for persuasion. Government should not be al-
lowed, under cover of the soft euphemism of 'cooperation,'
to steal into the sacred area of religious choice."
Justice Frankfurter, another dissenter, points out that
the unwillingness of the proponents of the "released time"
idea to dispense with use of the public schools "betrays a
surprising want of confidence in the inherent power of the
various faiths to draw children to outside sectarian classes
—an attitude that hardly reflects the faith of the greatest
religious spirits."
Justice Jackson disagrees.with the majority's suggestion
that "opposition to this plan can only be anti-religious, athe-
istic, or agnostic." He protests against "the power of coer-
cion" involved in the case and he asserts that this determines
for him the unconstitutionality of the law.
We see merit in the latter two arguments. There is dan-
ger of coercion. Furthermore, religious instruction should be
provided in the home and in synagogues and churches—ex-
cept where the latter choose to establish parochial schools
which, in turn, are not winning majority support from
Americans. •
It is sincerely to be regretted that the "released time"
idea should have received the Supreme Court's -ApproNaA
is step in the wrong
'

From Palestine to Israel!
Canadian Jew's Analysis

Moishe Dickstein, one of Canada's outstand-
ing Labor Zionist leaders, described the fascina-
tion of his recent visit to Israel in a series of
articles in Yiddish. In an English translation by
the noted Canadian Jewish poet and communal
leader, A. M. Klein, these impressions now appear
in a volume under the title "From Palestine to
Israel," issued by Eagle Publishing Co.. Ltd,
Montreal, Canada.
Although he wrote as a newspaper reporter,
Dickstein's interesting observations and splendid
manner of narration make his collected essays
valuable not only as current literature but also
for future historians who will find great interest
in the views of an able student of Jewish history.
In his description of his tour, Mr. Dickstein
devotes a chapter to "The Jews in Paris,' as an
introduction to his arrival at Lydda. The work
of Histadrut in Israel, the functions of the Is-
rael government, the personalities who make up
the Israel Cabinet, are viewed with keenness. Thle
fine rendition into English adds value to the
work. It will be found useful by tourists to Israel,
by students of history and by all lovers of Zion.

'Peace, War, You': Davis'

Powerful Plea for Amity

Jerome Davis' "Peace, War and You," ( Henry
Schuman. publisher, 20 E. 70th, N. Y. 21), is a
daring book, and because it courageously pre-
sents the most serious issues facing mankind. it
is thought-provoking and is practical in its pro-
posals.
Mr. Davis, one of whose ancestors was a sign-
er of the Declaration of Independence, .believes
that peace can be attained. He favors disar-
mament and the use of atomic energy for con-
structive purposes. He believes in world govern-
ment and advances this point:

"Over a century and a half ago Americas
leadership asserted the principle: 'All men are
created equal.= Is it not time to implement
this noble declaration by another: 'World
peace under world law?'"

In a number of hints on approaches to peace
he urges his readers not to fall victims to propa-
ganda and to read both sides of world questions,
not to be cynical, to work for peace, to read
peace books, to encourage peace organizations,
to strive to take profits out of war.
He advocates international cooperation and
warns that "the suppression of democracy us-
ually means the end of effective cooperatives."
Deploring the suspicions with which this coun-
try treats Russia, he writes that "we can destroy.
the seeds of Communism only by really estab-

lishing an over. the world the four freedoms
which we said we were fighting for in World
War II. He endorses the proposal that was made
by Bernard Baruch for the creation of a. top-
level group to work out a plan for genuine peace.
Friendship wit*
gosexpmgalts-/8 E 144011401,
urged.
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