A Banner to Be Held High

As the Editor
Views the News

`Around the Bush'

Sydney S. Silverman, Member of the
British Parliament, who recently returned
from Soviet Russia with apologies for the
Communist regime, made some rather
strange comments on the position of the
Jews in the U. S. S. R. He brought back the
oft-repeated report that there is no anti-
Semitism in Russia, that it was "fantastic"
to think of the existence of anti-Semitism in
that land where Jew-baiting is punishable by
law. He said that religion is unfettered there
but admitted that there is no Jewish culture,
that he could find no trace of a Yiddish press,
theater or literature. His sumary is–that
Soviet Jews are "neither in paradise nor in
hell." But, the best is yet to come.
Reporting his address before the World
Jewish Congress British Section in London,
the Jewish Observer and Middle East Review
writes: "The classical Communist solution
of the Jewish problem was complete assimila-
tion. Mr. Silverman said—an outlook shared
by the Anglo-Jewish Association and the
American Jewish Committee. But for the
others it was important to remember that
half of the world's Jews now live in Com-
munist countries. "We have to make up our
minds whether we wish to keep the ideal of
Jewish unity a complete ideal or whether we
want to wash our hands of everyone who
does not think as we do.' "
This is a strange view. It is contra-
dictory at best and it smacks of beating
around the bush. In the first place, we
doubt whether a single spokesman for eith-
er of the two groups mentioned—the Brit-
ish as well as the Americans—would go so
far as to admit'a desire to strive for "com-
plete assimilation." We are certain, in fact,
that they would argue to the contrary.
Jewish groups exist for the purpose of
striving for Jewish survival and the con-
tinuity of traditional Jewish ideals.
The shocking portion of his argument is
that "the ideal of Jewish unity" implies con-
sent to the admitted Soviet program of ab-
sorption . of Jews through assimilatory pro-
cesses -arid- toleration of thinking along such
lines. No one will deny the right of people
to think for themselves, but that does not
call for enforcement of the views of propa-
gators of total assimilation. A prograM such
as outlined by Mr. Silverman means the dis-
appearance of the Jewish group, and the
World Jewish Congress. before whom he ad-
vocated his ideas, functions on a platform
which—together with the programs of all
groups calling themselves Jewish — -rejects
suicide by assimilation.
The fact that half of world Jewry now
lives in Communist countries is cause for sor-
row and concern. But this very element of
regret is a major cause for striving towards
survival along cultural and spiritual lines. as
a means of offsetting the scheme to which
Soviet Russia aspires—a scheme that calls
for the death of Jewry, whose determination
to live even her British apologist seems to
ignore in his contradictory apologetics.

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Peace Feelers and Seeds of Discord

Arab War-Monger

.

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 S4 a year; foreign S5.
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. 14

Page 4

June 13, 1952

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-first dal' of Sivan,
5712, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 8:1-12:16.
Prophetical portion—Zech. 2:14-4:7.

Licht Benshen, Friday, June 13, 7:49 p.m.

"To our shame it must be said that the eh'
dren of our Western Hemisphere.have been rais
ed on two breasts—love for man, and hate f.
the Jew," Dr. Dagobert D. Runes cries out
protest against man's inhumanity to man.
In more than one sense, this may be sal.
to sum up his feelings as he expresses them
his new book, "Of God, the Devil and the Jews,
just published by Philosophical Library 05
40th, NY16).
Dr. Runes indicts the Western World for t
failure to create an ethical code for all and
live up to it.
"The world," this noted scholar writes, "will
never be forgiven for anti-Semitism and wha
it has done to the people of the Lord, becau.. -
All your sins will be forgiven, but not the sin
against the Holy Ghost.'
He has written a thought-provoking book in
which he draws upon personal experiences. He
repudiates snobbery, he urges that schools em-
phasize truer thought rather than better syntax.
He appeals for a more just life in his challenge
for a better world.

Loneliness of Americans

People's Character Shown

In 'Faces In The Crowd'

CO Jo...oust% Tr1_16*.P.oe Aoc.or

Sound views on Arab-Jewish relations and the possi-
bility of peace between Israel and the Arab slates were ex-
pressed at the Nation Associates recent conference on Free-
dom's Stake in North Africa and the Middle East.
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt. in a ivid description of her
recent tour of Israel and Arab Lands, to quote a typical ex,
ample of the attitude of non-Jews, placed emphasis on the
need for dealing logically with the situation. Viewing the
Arab position with frankness, she pointed to the ill logic
with which Arabs state on the one hand that they fear that
Israel will "take us over," and on the other hand declare.
"but the Arabs have long memories and some day we will
drive the Israeli people into the sea."
Mrs. Roosevelt commented upon these two views:
"The two just do not go together. It is not logical." And
she added: "So you are left with the feeling that you have
to live through the present period, you have to put every-
thing you can into trying to clear up the refugee situa-
tion, and then perhaps, with help from the rest of the
world, you may get the cooperation which will make of the
Near East a stabilizing element which is badly needed in
that sheaf Once you have cooperation, I believe Israel can
make its best contribution and the Arab states can de-
velop and be a real factor for peace in the world."
Oher spokesmen were similarly realistic in their ap-
proach to the problem. Miss Freda Kiohwey, who pointed out
that "peace with Israel would bring to the Arab states many
benefits and few sacrifices," made this important declaration:
A settlement of the refugee problem can be arrived at
only on the basis of recognition by the Arabs that no eon-
siderable number of Arab refugees can be repatriated in
Israel.
A most earnest effort must be made by the Israelis to
convince their Arab neighbors of what, to' be sure, they
long ago officially promised, namely, that a generous pro-
gram of compensation for properties lost by refugees—
a reciprocal program, of course, since Jewish refugees from
Arab countries must obviously be included—will promptly
be formulated and carried out.
In an article in Life Magazine, Dr.
The Israelis must remove any honest fears that may
Charles Malik, head of the Lebanese UN del-
still exist among the Arab" states that Israel intends to try
egation, makes the shocking statement that
to expand by force its present uncomfortably narrow
"practically every Arab, faced with the - boundaries.
choice between Zionist domination with
Admission that Israel does and will continue to exist,
Western connivance, and outright Soviet an-
combined with willingness to meet and to talk, would pro-
nexation, would choose the latter." He makes
vide the first bit of convincing proof that the Arab world
his position clear: he not only is pro-Com-
does want peace rather than a state of suspended war.
munist, he also is for war. At least we know
that he is a war-monger against whom we
In every instance, in the course of the discussions at
must be on constant guard.
the important Nations Associates conference. there was re-
cognition of the fact that influence from the United Nations
and especially from the United States could go a long way
THE JEWISH NEWS
in stimulating direct talks with the Arabs and in bringing

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

Pr. Runes' Book Indicts
Western World Failure-

Yale University Press "Studies in National
Policy" is enriched by Prof. David Riesman's
"Faces in the Crowd: Individual Studies in Char-
acter and Politics."
Prepared in collaboration with Nathan Glazer,
these studies, based on individual interviews. re-
veal the personal reactions of people of all strata
of life, their reactions to political trends, their

social outlooks on life.
Men and women, rich and poor, Jews and
non-Jews, those from Harlem and from other
areas, tell what they think, speak freey. reveal:
their innermost feelings.
The "loneliness" that is exposed in this study:
may. according to Prof. Riesman, - be the ines--
capable destiny of many Americans." He adds:

'

"The chance encounters by which our char-

acters may be shaped, for better or worse, are
as open as the chance encounters by which, in
countless millions, we get our jobs, choose our
course and our colleges, our mates and our read-
ing matter. This is wasteful, even chaotic, but

at least it prevents the more or less autonomous
from talking only to each other, as the Cabots
and the Lowells were once said to hold rather
bilateral conversations. As perishables in food-
stuffs are shipped in containers bearing the
legend "Keep It Moving.' so we in this country
are born with the same legend. In such a big
land, with so much space to move in, we are
likely to be lonely even with multilateral con-
versations."
The importance of the contribution to this
study incorporated in "Faces in the Crowd"—
companion volume to Dr. Riesman's "The Lonely •
Crowd"—can not be measured in a brief review.
It must be judged through comprehensive study..
Its revelations are guides towards deeper appre-

ciation of the character and freedom of

of Americans.

thought

Facts You Should Know:

Does a handshake have any significance is
Jewish tradition?
A handshake seems to have been one of the
ways of making a promise and, according to
some sources, one of the ways of making an
oath. Some sort of notion like a handshake is
indicated in the Bible in a passage from the
Book of Proverbs 46:1) wherein it is mentioned
as a means of assuming an obligation towards
one's fellow man. Many marriages were promised
by a handshake called "Tekiat Kaf" in the Euro-
pean countries of yesteryear. That happens tO
be the name of a film produced in Yiddish con-
cerning a marriage that did not come off and
subsequently led to misfortunte. A Hebrew king
by the 'name of Zedakiah gave his hand to the

.

Babylonian monarch Nebuchadnezer as a symbol
of a promise. We find Abraham swearing his

servant Eliezer by the use of the hand. It seems
that the hand was employed in many ways as a
symbol of a promise since it was the symbol of
human power or ability.
What is . meant by "Shema?"
Colloquially speaking, the "Shema" refers to •
about peace.
one verse in the Bible which proclaims "Hear 0
Unfortunately there still are elements of disruption Israel the Lord Our God the Lord is One" (Dent,
which give courage to war-mongers and stand in the way of 6:4). Technically, the term refers to a threefold
of Biblical passages (Dent. 6:4-8, 11:13-21,
true accord. Dorothy Thompson's present activities, which group
and Numbers 15: 37-41). The first word of the
threaten a new outburst of hatred veiled in the movement verse quoted above, which is also the first word
sponsored by her under the name "American Friends of the of the group of passages, is "Shema" which
Middle East," are proving damaging to peace.
means "hear." For this reason the verse or the
passages—which is read at least three
In the meantime there is a new crisis, resulting from group of day—is
called "Shema" or "Krias Shema'•
times a
the secret discussions in the Jordon Parliament which is which
means "the reading of the Shema."
considering a successor to King Talal. At Beirut, Talal is
Why has the "Shema" assumed such an le s.
described again as a victim of schizophrenia and the state portant significance in Jewish life?

of affairs in Israel's neighboring state is precarious.
There have been other indications pointing to possible
peace talks between Israel and Egypt as well as Jordan. En-
couragement from the Western powers would bring the
contenders nearer to amity. The seeds of discord neverthe-
less are still flowering. The challenge remains great not only
for the states involved but more especially for the nations of
the world acting through the United Nations.

Basically, the first sentence of this trilogy

of Biblical passages is a fundamental proclama-
tion of our faith in God. In spite of aU the
various Commandments and observances tba$
are called for by the Jewish trailtion, the accep-
tance of God as the One and only God is the
essential common denominator of all our reli-
gious activity. Naturally, such a proclamatiee
would assume supreme importance.

