Saddened Lady
As the 'Editor
Views the News
Value of Blowing Off
Steam at Mass Rallies
Campaign Prejudice
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
Anti-Semitic literature is in evidence
again in an attempt to influence the voters
in the current Presidential campaign. A re-
port in the Denver Post reveals that pam-
phlets attacking Jews were mailed in con-
siderable quantities to delegates to the Re-
publican state convention. The disseminated
propaganda attempts to link the Bnai Brith
Anti-Defamation League. which is being
branded by the anti-Semites as a "red" or-
ganization, to the candidacy of Gen. Dwight
D. Eisenhower.
In an editorial in the Hartford (Conn.)
Jewish Lodger, Rabbi Abraham J. Feldman.
who emphasizes that Senator Robert A.
Taft is not an anti-Semite, expresses deep
concern over the fact that the forces of cor-
ruption. racism and bigotry are attached
to the coattails of the Ohio Senator. He
points out that "the Jew'-becomes the ogre
and the embodiment of all that is evil" in
the avalanche of printed material that is
pourin4.7, into communities throughout the
land and he warns:
"We know that this is contrary to the
Senator's views and we wonder whether it is
beneath the dignity of Senator Taft to make
an early pronouncement rejecting this entire
campaign of villification which is being carried
on in support of his candidacy but is emphatic-
-, ally a vicious and vile display of anti-Semitism
. . . it is unfair to him and we urge that long
before the convention of the Republican party
meets, the Senator make a ringing declaration
condemning these tactics and denouncing dis-
service which is being rendered to his political
ca use."
This request for a firm pronouncement
denouncing anti-Semitism must not be limit-
ed to Senator Taft. General Eisenhower
should make his views known and t her e
should be emphatic declarations by the Dem-
ocratic candidates. Else, the anti-Semites
will gain courage to carry on their practices
which tend to destroy American ideals.
The National Community Relations Ad-
visory- Council last week directed an appeal
against the spread of bias to the chairmen
of the Republican and Democratic parties.
Acting in behalf of the leading American
Jewish organizations and Community Coun-
cils, NCRAC expressed the
"fear that, unless effective preventive
steps are taken. the exploitation of bigotry
may assume serious proportions as the elec-
tion campaigns develop. Such recourse to bigo-
try could produce tragically harmful effects
should they be used in the impending _cam-
paign, which takes place at a time when the
greatest possible unity is required to meet the
challenge of Communist tyranny.
"In the interest of assuring a campaign in
which the qualifications and platforms of
candidates and their parties are the only
criteria on which the voters will cast their
ballots, we respectfully request that you pub-
licly reaffirm your Party's abhorrence of the
use of bigotry in election campaigning and
that you inform your local affiliates through-
out the country of your party statement on
this issue."
The Political Conventions
(Copyright. 1952, Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Inc.)
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Ben-Gurion and the ZOA
Rabbi Irving Miller's elevation to the presidency of the
Zionist Organization of America carries with it some inter-
esting implications. It marks a vote of confidence in his sup-
porters, Dr. Abba Hillel Silver and Dr. Emanuel Neumann.
It is a signal to the General Zionists in Israel that they are
backed by an important faction in American Jewry. It re-
pudiates the efforts of the minority to assure non-affiliation
of American Zionists with a political party in Israel.
In some quarters. the new trend is interpreted as a re-
buke to Israel's Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion who was
believed to have encouraged the opposition to the new ZOA
leader. The leader of the General Zionists in Israel. Dr.
Peretz Bernstein, stated bluntly that Ben-Gurion's recent at-
tack upon the ZOA in the Israel Knesset was responsible in
great measure for the action of the American Zionists at
their convention.
While such repercussions are not pleasant in them-
selves. it is too early to judge the attitudes of leaders and it
is possible that Rabbi Miller's administration will exert all
its energies-towards cooperation with the Israel government.
This. of course, is the prime need of the hour in the pro-
cess of planning cooperation between American Jewry and
Israel.
Rabbi Miller's post-convention statement is an encour-
aging one. His aim to cooperate with the United Jewish Ap-
peal and the Israel bond drives and to strive for mobiliza-
tion of ZOA forces in support of the two causes points to a
sincere intention on the part of the Zionist leader to make
his organization the important factor it should be in Israel's
upbuilding.
Whatever differences may have existed apparently have
been removed by a commendable message of greeting to
Rabbi Miller from Mr. Ben-Gurion, who said. in Tel Aviv:
The Republicans and Democrats are heading .
for Chicago for their respective conventions.
These political conventions which nominate
our Presidential candidates are as American an
institution as pumpkin pie. But come to think
about it, didn't the Jews have something like it? 0
Wasn't it a convention which Moses called at
the foot of Mt. Sinai? They adopted a platform ;
there, called the Ten Commandments, which has i
been approved the world over, but has never i
really been put into effect in any comprehensive
manner.
;
Moses was the standard bearer at that first i
convention, but he was a reluctant candidate. I
He was drafted against his will. When God told I
him to go forth and stand before the people and
lead them out of bondag , the Bible says that
Moses tried to get out of it. He knew what it •
meant to hold office. He knew what the opposi-
tion newspapers would say to him. He argued
with God that he 'wasn't the type for a popular
leader. He wasn't a fluent speaker. He pointed
to the fact that he suffered from a vocal im-
pediment. But God refused to be moved. He .:
told Moses he could take Aaron along with him
to do the speaking. Aaron, a good public rela-
tions man, was more of a politician. When the
people wanted a Golden Calf while Moses was
away. Aaron let them have it.
The famous Rabbi Schmuel Mohlirer used
to saw that in the end it proved a great ad-
vantage that Moses was not a speaker. All
Moses could sou was "Let my people ao..• 11
Moses had been a fluent speaker, said Rabbi
111ohliver, we Jew.s would still be in Eaypt
today.
The ancient Jews held many conventions.
Three times every year. they went up to Jerusa-
lem. All the heads of families were required to
make this trip. They marched, they sang, they
danced, they called it a holiday. Who can doubt
that at these gatherings the Sadducees, who
and reactionaries,
Lir epresented the conservatives
argued for their ideas and the Pharisees, so
maligned in general history, who stood. for more
democratic ideas, battled for theirs. The essen-
tial thing was that they got together and blew
off steam.
Some people think we should abolish conven-
tions and depend entirely on the direct primary.
But you don't shout yourself hoarse in a direct
primary. you don't blow off steam, you don't get
together. You go off all by yourself and cast a
vote.
What the world seems to need today is to come
together. Imagine if we could get together for
just one solitary day with the Russian people,
this whole cold war business might be settled.
But there are iron curtains and other impedi-
ments which prevent this coming together. When
we cannot get a chance to talk to one another,
we are likely to end up shooting at one another.
Maybe it was an instinctive knowledge of this
that caused the Jews to call their house of wor-
ship the "both haknesseth," the house of coming
together. the meeting house. The Puritans, bor-
rowing the idea from the Jews, also called their
church the meeting house.
Some people don't like the noise and roughness
of convent-ions. I like them just for these things.
They are not respectable, like praying at an
orthodox synagogue. They are loud and noisy. but
sincere. Respectability is death, said Israel Zang-
will. But the Psalmist said it long before him:
"The dead do not praise the Lord, nor those
who descend in the pit."
0
/
■
i
Past experiences have shown that loyal
"In the Zionist movement, as in any other democratic force.
Americans refuse to countenance bigotry
differences of opinion are inevitable and legitimate. Every Jew.
and that the major political parties will not
wherever he may be, has the right to criticize what is being done
become partners to the crime of injecting
in Israel and to express his views on all problems affecting the
race hatred in pre-election campaigns. If state. But only he who lives here and so identifies himself
they do not act firmly NOW, there is the personally with the fate of the state is in a position to shape
a dded danger that anti-Semites will be
directly its life and policies by participating in. the elections of
heartened to continue their activities after
Our parliamentary representatives and our Government.
the election.
"I am very happy to note that the misunderstanding which
We look forward anxiously to the replies
formerly prevailed in this respect among the ranks of the
that should be forthcoming from the two
Zionist Organization of America was at last cleared up at your
parties. Their leaders must act at once to
last convention."
end the spread of hatred. We face a grave
test of American principles in the outrage-
Mr. Ben-Gurion was refering to the ZOA convention
ous injection of bigotry in a political con- resolution which said that ZOA takes no part in the political
test that should be considered sacred and life of the State of Israel, which is the exclusive function of
should be treated honorably. Disseminators its citizens.
of racial and religious hatred should be told
The major trials facing Israelis emanate from economic
in no uncertain terms that they have no
problems,
some of which have been created by the extremist
place in American society.
views of the varying parties, and the effect of party differ-
-
-
ences from the outside, especially from the ranks of Ameri-
can Zionism, is overwhelming. In fact, these differences are
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
evident in the slowness with which investments are being
commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
made in Israel by American Jews.
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
It would have been better for Israel and for Zionism
papers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
if American Jewry were to have a single Zionist movement,
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 28, Mich., WO. 5-1155.
Subscription $4 a year foreign $5.
devoid of party differences based on conflicting economic
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6. 1942 at Post Office,
ideologies. Perhaps time, the solver of all problems, also will
Detrc,iL Mich.. under Act of March 3, 1879.
solve this issue.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
SIDNEY SHMAR AK, Advertising Manager
It would be well for Rabbi Miller, his administration,
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor
June 27, 1952 David Ben-Gurion and the numerous parties in Zionism to
Page 4
Vol. XXI—No. 16
get together, with the aim in view of creating a single Zionist
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
force that will eliminate internal strife.
This Sabbath, the fifth day of Tammuz,
We wish Rabbi Miller well in his task of strengthening
5712. the following Scriptural selections will be
Zionism and Israel, with the sincere hope that he not only
read in our synagogues:
will strive to help the Jewish state but also to eliminate party
Pentateuchal portion—Num. 16:1-18:32.
conflicts which inevitably lead to battles between Israel and
Prophetical portion—I Samuel 11:14-12:22.
Jewry.
Licht Renshen, Friday, June 27, 7:53 p.m.
THE JEWISH NEWS
-
Germany s New Naz s'
Warns of Anti-Semitism
Warnings that "Nazi beliefs and habits of
mind have survived the collapse of Hitler's
Third Reich" are made in "Germany's N e w
Nazis", an important outline of existing con-
ditions prepared by the Anglo-Jewish Associa-
tion. of London, and published by the Philo-
sophical Library (15 E. 40th, NY16).
Objective in its views, giving credit I*
right-thinking people when such credit is due,
this study nevertheless shows the danger ad
recurring anti-Semitism.
"The evidence available," the survey states,
"leads one to the reluctant conclusion that
though a great deal of excellent work is done
by the leaders of democratic par tie s, t h e
Churches, and other organizations, the disease
(of anti Semitism) implanted in the German
people under Hitler's tutelage has gone far and
deep."
Asserting that "the time for action is now,"
the study declares that it is not unreasonable
to demand that when the time comes to select
the leaders of any new German army the
political record and affiliations of any German
ex-officers should be as closely. scrutinized as
their military records . . . We owe it to the
memory of the ten million non-combatant vic-
tims of Hitlerite blood lust to make the effort."
"Germany's New Nazis" probes deeply into an
aspects of present-day conditions and reveals
-
facts that will open the eyes of those who are
blind to the situations against • which warning
is made in this study.