As the Editor
Views the News
,History's Choice
Democratic Planks
Three planks in the Democratic Party
platform hold special interest for us.
In view of the regrettable opposition
that has developed in the United States Sen-
ate against ratification of the United Na-
tions' genocide convention. it is encouraging
to note that the Democrats have incorpor-
ated this point in their program:
"The United States should join other
nations in formally declaring genocide to
be an international crime in time of peace
as well as war."
This is a step in the direction of speeding
justice. Proper action on the genocide issue
has long been deferred. Reactionary ele-
ments have interfered with a stand by this
country in support of this most significant
UN decision.
Mexico this week became the 29th gov-
e•nment to ratify the convention for the pre-
vention and punishment of genocide, the
mass destruction of races and religious
groups. The document became effective Jan.
12, 1951, when 20 nations had ratified. But
while a United States Senate subcommittee
has recommended United States ratification,
our Senate has not yet acted. Thus the
greatest democracy on earth is behind the
times. The Democratic convention renders a
service by supporting this UN proposal.
The second significant plank in the Dem-
ocratic platform is the declaration of sup-
port for Israel. Pursuing a policy urged by
Jewish leaders, through the American Zion-
ist Council, the Democratic plank pledges aid
not only to the Jewish communities in Is-
rael but also to the Arabs and their refugees.
This is as. it should be—if we are to attain
peace between Isviel and the Arabs a n d
therefore also for the entire Mediterranean
area.
Without mentioning the McCarran act
by name, the Democratic platform goes on
record in favor of the revision of naturali-
zation and immigration laws ''to do away
with any unjust and unfair practices against
n a t i onal groups which have contributed
sorne-o4 our best citizens." It calls for the
elimination of "distinctions between native
born and naturalized citizens. We want no
`second-class' citizens in free America." This
represents reaffirmation of one of our high-
est ideals and the Democratic platform com-
mittee is to be congratulated for its defiance
of one of its own Democratic leaders— Pat-
rick McCarran—in urging liberalized immi-
gration legislation.
These are three important decisions. Will
they be adhered to? Will the Democrats. if
they are returned to power, fight for their
implementation? Time — starting with 1953
—will tell whether the Democrats have ut-
tered fighting- or weasel-words.
Egypt's Crisis
Egypt's crisis, the ousting of King Fa-
rouk, the rise to power of elements that were
involved in the defeat of the Egyptian army
by Israel, are elements in a new period of
uncertainty in the Middle East.
Israel's position may or may not be en-
dangered by the present Egyptian situation. ,
The seriousness of the entire issue involves
the security of the democratic powers and
the honor of the United States. Should the
new eruption lead to infiltration of influence
from the East, the fault will be at the door-
step of those who have failed to use their in-
fluence for an Arab-Israel peace.
Peace between the Arab states and Is-
rael could go a long way towards stabilizing
the situation in the Mediterranean area. It
would most certainly raise the standards of
the peoples in that area and it would help
Israel. It would strengthen the prestige of
the United States and the United Nations.
It is the only way of averting another world
war.
•
The Sabbath—A Legend
Culled from History
The importance of the Sabbath Is emphasized
by the established principle, in Samuel M. Segal's
"The Sabbath Book," that "He who keeps the
Sabbath is looked upon as though he originally
introduced the Sabbath . . He who observes
even one Sabbath, in keeping with the prescribed
laws, is considered as though he has kept and
observed all the Sabbaths, from the day the
Holy One, blessed be He, created the world down
to the end of the days."
"The Sabbath is the only Jewish institution
which is applied as a test for proselytes in their
conversion to Judaism, as indicated in the verse:
`Also the aliens, who loin themselves to the Lord,
to minister unto Him, and to love the name of
the Lord. to be His servants, every one that
keepeth the Sabbath from profaning it.' (Is.
56:6). This test is applicable to Jewry as well.
A Jew, who is known to violate all the laws of
Judaism, is considered a Jew in all respects as
long as he observes the Sabbath publicly. Vio-
lation of the Sabbath is one of three cardinal
transgressions in the Jewish system of theology;
and the subsequent punishment therefore is
equivalent to that imposed for all other sins
that may have been committed."
History of Utah Jewry
Democracy—Unmolested
Long ago, Samuel Johnson (1709-17841- set forth a
principle which has become a guide for advocates of democ-
racy. when he said:
"Every man has a right to utter what he thinks truth. and
every other man has a right to knock him down for it."
The two political conventions which have just passed
into history proved the validity of this idea. Two parties
spoke their minds, their leaders knocked where they felt it
would hurt the most and received rebuffs from opponents.
It could not be otherwise in a great democracy like ours.
Else. we would negate the ideal which was outlined in this
superb thought by Woodrow Wilson:
"If there is one thing we love more than another in the
United States, it is that every man should have the privilege,
unmolested and uncriticized, to utter the real convictions of his
mind. * * * We have forgotten the very principle of our origin
if we have forgotten how to object, how to resist. how to agitate,
how to pull down and build up, even to the extent of revolu-
tionary practices, if it is necessary to readjust matters."
In our own time, we have witnessed the advancement
of this area. When more than 70,000,000 people are able to
watch the political conventions' proceedings, in addition to
hearing the messages and seeing the contending personalities
on the screen, they are in a better position to reach conclu-
sions and to select the ablest spokesmen for our government.
Through television, however, the first and foremost
power for good in moulding public opinion—the press—has
become even stronger. We have -seen evidence of it in the
past week. The political contenders and party spokesmen
were not the only heroes at the conventions. Without the
newsmen who supervised interviews and searched for facts,
there would have been more sound than sense. But the news-
men knew what was good for the land and they hurled chal-
lenges at those in power.
Exposed to public view, candidates no longer are able
to hide behind cliches. We now live in the golden era of fact
which has eclipsed fiction. When newsmen demand of a
Southern Governor that he speak his mind on civil liberties
and that he assert himself on basic issues, they force him to
come forth either with the principles which match the ideal-
ism of the founders of this republic or with bias which drags
people back to medievalism. Either we have Talmadges or
Mavericks—and the country at large has proven its ability
to judge issues properly and to reject every effort to return
to the Middle Ages. Our electorate may even force many
people out of the witch-hunt into a more sound approach to
internal and external issues.
The newsmen have proven, at the Chicago conventions,
that they are fearless in their efforts to force into sunlight
the thinking of men and women in public life and to bring
into the open frank discussion of our basic issues. Democ-
racy no longer has double meanings. If McCarthysim and
McCarranism are threats to our freedoms and newsmen
make it possible for the people to know the truth— (more
than once our political leaders have emphasized the New
THE JEWISH NEWS
Testament quotation "ye shall know the truth, and the truth
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
will make you free")—then may we hope to see an end to the
commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
destructive tendencies which have invaded legislative halls.
Member. American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers, Michigan Press Association.
It is unfortunate that the Civil War had to be fought
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
all over again during convention debates, but we shall be
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 5-1156.
Subscription S-4 a year: foreign $5.
forced into such situations for years to come—until there is
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6. 1992 at Post Office,
Detroit. Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879.
an understanding among men that human dignity and true
brotherhood can be attained only through the absolute
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ, Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK, Advertising Manager
equality embodied in the "all men are created equal" as-
FRANK SIMONS, City Editor
sertion of the Declaration of Independence. The emergence
August 1, 1952 of truth through our modern instruments may make possible
Page 4
Vol. XXI—No. 21
the attainment of the goal for greatest good.
Sabbath Nahamu Scriptural Selections
This is a good age to live in, for in it truth emerges in
This Sabbath, the eleventh day of Ab, 5712,
Sabbath Nahaniu, the following Scriptural selec- all its power, and the instruments perfected by man's hands .
and mind make it possible for us to strive for a better life.
tions will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion—Deut. 3:23-7:11.
Prophetical portion—Is. 40:1-26.
Licht Benshon, Friday, Au.-
1, 7;32 laJa.
The TV sets and the newspapers, as long as they are in good
hands, are our means for bringing order out of chaos, of re-
creating the genius inherent in American democracy.
TitE PIONEER JEV.S I )1.- UTAH (Studies in A I r walk
Jewish History, No. 2'. Es Leon L. Watters. NewYork:
American Jewish Historical Soc-tety.
A Review by Isidore S. Meyer
The American Jewish Historical Society hopes
through the publication of this volume on the
history of the early Jewish settlers of Utah by a
native son of that state to inspire others to do
similar research in a much neglected field—the
history of the settlement of Jews west of the
Mississippi River and of the pioneering endeav-
ors to strike root there and to establish Jewish
communal life in those regions which were
opened to exploration before the middle of the
19th century.
During a busy career as scientist. industrialist
and communal worker, Dr. Leon Watters, him-
, self a descendant of California and Utah pio-
neers. gathered together source material, unpub-
lished and published, relating to the saga
how Jews alongside other pioneers reached the
West—how some trekked across the Plain,
rounded the Horn, or came to the Pacific area
via the Isthmus of Panama and then proceeding
eastward over the mountains. reached the new
Mormon Zion of the West. Since the story of
other religious groups who had settled in Utah
had been described. Dr. •A'atters felt that the role
of Jews in the midst of a predominant Mormon
majority should be recorded. Says the author:
"It is a remarkable fact that a comparative-
ly small Jewish population could have de-
veloped a personality who succeeded in win-
ning the esteem of the Mormon population
and who was elected Governor of the State."
This well-documented and annotated story
of the Jews of Utah is closely related to the
pioneer history of the western part of our
country and carries us down to the close of the
nineteenth century. In it is presented the epic
of those early Jewish settlers, the friendly re-
ception of them by the Mormons who saw a
close kidship between themselves and the ancient
Israelites and whose experiences in many ways
ran a parallel course with those of the early
settlers of Palestine.
How the isolated Jews lived; how they helped
develop the trade and commerce of the new
land ; their religious, social and philanthropic
activities, are all described. In the appendix to
the book, there is a lengthy biographical sec-
tion in which are presented the careers of such
mep as Solomon Nunes Carvalho, the official
artist and photographer of John Charles Fre-
mont's ill-fated expedition to the Far West lei
1853; of Jewish merchants who started their
business enterprises as "freighters" across the
Plains, and who were close friends of Brigham
Young and Mormon elders; of Governor Simon
Bomberger and his family and of many others.
The author has endeavored to capture the color
and flavor of the turbulent time in which the
pioneers lived.
of
-
Facts You Should KnO w:
What is "Yigdal?"
The 13 Principles of Faith are the "Ant
Maamin" which means "I believe." These are
usually divided into three groups. The first group
deals with the belief in G-d which proclaims that
1. G-d is the Creator. 2. He is one. 3. He has ne
body or form. 4. He is eternal and 5. To Him
alone can one pray. The second group deals with
the belief in revelation claiming that: 6. All the
words of the prophets are true. 7. The prophecy
of Moses is true and he is the chief of the Pro-
phets. 8. That the whole Torah (both written
and oral) which we have is that given to Moses.
9. This Torah will never be changed nor shall
there ever be another from G-d. The third
group deals with the concept of reward and pun-
ishment stating that: 10. G-d knows all the•
deeds and thoughts of men. 11. He rewards those
who keep the Commandments and punishes
those who don't. 12. The Messiah will come and
13. There will be a resurrection of the dead.