Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
LZOA'S President United Hebrew Schools Services
To Address Labor Extended to Evergreen-7 'Mile Area
Zionists Sept. 3
The United Hebrew Schools, in cooperation with the Beth
in continuation of its 33-year-
old policy of serving the Jewisn
population wherever it has beer,
is now extending its services to
the residents of the Evergreen-
7 Mile area. The nearest Unitas
Hebrew Schools branch to this
area is at Schaefer and 7 Miia!:
In order to make it passible
for children from the far north-
west area to attend the Schaefe ,
Branch. bus transportation now
will be provided to bring the
children from the public schools
in this area to the Schaefer ;
Branch and return them to
their homes.
Bus service will be provided
from the f o l low in g public
Disraeli's Jewishness: 'Sense of Triumph of Race'
A score or more of biographical sketches of Benjamin Dis-
raeli have been published, in voluminous tomes or in brochures,
since the great statesman's death more than 70 years ago.
But it took all these years for the publication of a biographi-
cal sketch angled specifically at the Jewish heritage, interests and
devotions of Great Britain's colorful figure; and it has fallen to
the lot of Dr. Cecil Roth, the eminent Anglo-Jewish scholar and
writer. to be the author of such a volume.
Dr. Roth's "Benjamin Disraeli: Earl of Beaconsfield." pub-
by Philosophical Library (15 E. 40th, NY16), served an
interesting purpose. It is the most complete record of "Jewish
trends" in Disraeli's life. It is the result of thorough research into
all available records and into material hitherlto unpublicized.
Disraeli's pride in his heritage is painted in glowing colors
in this new biography. Dizzy—thus they began referring to him
arly in his career—was especially pleased to be identified with
the Sephardic Jews whom "he considered to be the best-born,
proudest., most romantic and perhaps most flamboyant element
of the Jewish people." Such conviction, Dr. Roth writes, "no less
than the intellectual qualities that he had inherited from his ac-
tual forebearers had its part (and it was no slender one) in mold-
ing that preposterous character."
Benjamin Disraeli was baptized Jul% 21, 1817. Dr. Roth spec-
ulates on an idea: Dizzy's two younger brothers were baptized
10 days earlier. His sister was baptized Aug. 28. "This ,,is the
first of a series of mysteries. or at least coincidences, associated
with the religious life of the later Prime Minister. Why the bap-
11S111 should hare taken place in instalments, the younger chil-
dren coming first . . . is extremely difficult to understand.
(Had the delay been due to Ben's illness, he would certainly
hare mentioned the fact.) But one may hazard the conjecture.
put forward indeed with the utmost hesitancy, that the young
Benjamin's religious education and Hebraic consciousness were
by this time so pronounced that he may have raised objections
DR. JAMES G. HELLER
-.
"The faint tinge of color that came over the pallid cheeks
Announcement is made by A.
C. Lappin, president, that the
opening meeting of the season of
the Zionist Organization of De-
troit will be combined with the
Registration now is being con- closing session of the fifth an-
ducted. Classes for beginners nual conference of the Michigan
will start Sept. 15. Further in- Zionist Region, on Sept. 7, at
formation may be obtained by Brown Memorial Chapel, Tern-
calling TO. 8-0063.
' pie Beth El,
During the past semester. the
Yehudah Harry Levin. newly
United Hebrew Schools has as-
sisted the Evergreen-7 Mile Jew- ' appointed Israel government
ish Community in conducting a press attache to Washington,
Sunday school. The service of will be the guest of honor at the
providing new transportation evening session which will start
promptly at 8:15 p.m. and De-
facilities will make it possible f
children to receive a more in- troit Jewry is invited to attend
tensive Jewish education in the and to meet Mr. Levin.
afternoon Hebrew School includ-
The Michigan conference will
ing preparation for Bar Mitz- open its session with a brunch
vah.
for delegates at 12 noon and will
Hold Registrations
be followed by workshop sessions
The fall semester of the school•: at Zionist House. beginning at
will commence this Wednesday. 2 p.m.
The following are all Hebrew
school branches:
Adas Shalom. 1045 Curtis. UN.
4-9210: Beth Aaron. 18000 Wyo-
09e14.1ry
ming, UN. 1-1745; Bnai Moshe.
11401 Dexter, WE. 3-5711; Cen-
tral, Central High School, TO
on ge
8-0063: Linwood, 8849 Linwood,
This
Week's
Radio and Tele-
TY. 4-2220; Rose Sittig Cohen,
• vision Programs of
13226 Lawton, TO. 8-0061.
Jewish Interest
Schaefer, 18945 Schaefer, UN.
• • •
2-0506.
THE ETERNAL LIGHT
Registration for new studeni_s
is taking place at all branche.7.
Time: 8 a.m., Sunday. Aug. 31.
The Hebrew Schools announces
WWJ.
Station:
the opening of its newest branch
Feature: Raymond Massey will
narrate the 37th Psalm, which
Leib to Direct State
bids the righteous man not to be
disquieted or envious at pros-
Fair Orchestra for
perity. Rabbi William Braude, of
4th Consecutive Year
Providence, R.I., will preach a
sermonette on the Psalm.
• • •
Herschel Leib. well known De-
troit musician, has the distinc-
MESSAGE OF ISRAEL
tion of having been invited, for
Time: 10 a.m., Sunday. Aug. 31.
, the fourth consecutive year. to
direct the orchestra at the Mich- I Station: WXYZ.
Feature: Rabbi Israel Klavan,
' igan State Fair.
Mr. Leib will direct a 20-piece of Cong. Brothers of Israel. Mt.
orchestra. His brother. Max Leib. Vernon, N. Y., will be guest
speaker.
will be concertmaster
Direct JTA Teletype Wire Is
The Jewish Hews
TEL AVIV—The third phase of
the Israel Army's summer man-
euvers ended Tuesday with Is-
rael Navy Units participating in
"Searching in Disraeli's political career for traces and effects the military actions. The pur-
of his Jewish background, - Dr. Roth declares that it is to be , pose of the mock naval warfare
found expressed in "that Jewish craving for social justice which was described by a military
is one of the heritages of the Bible, and that Jewish sympathy spokesman for the "protection
for the under-dog which is one of the results of his history." He of shores, ports and the safe-
enumerates Dizzy's achievements to show how he improved ! guarding of convoys into and
working - class conditions, how he carried through the ideas he out of Israel."
preached in his novels. He pays this tribute to Disraeli: "In his
Premier David Ben - Gurion
burning compassion for suffering humanity he stands in the full and Chief-of-Staff Yigal Yadin
Jewish tradition, in the same way it may be said as Karl Marx did, participated as observers. Dur-
though approaching the problem from an entirely different angle." ing the three-day activity, Ben-
Seeking to improve health conditions, Disraeli parodied , Gurion and Gen. Yadin visited
Ecclesiastes, "Sanitas sanitatum, omnia satitas" ("Sanity of all Israel naval craft activated
sanities, all is sanitation"). He improved conditions for agricul- in the maneuvers.
tural and factory workers. He was much more than a politician
and statesman: he was_a social reformer.
"Victoria was not by nature inclined to be sympathetic to
American Jewish World
Jews," but Dizzy won ber heart.
Marks
40th Anniversary
There is a legend in Dr. Roth's biography to indicate t st
- Disraeli yearned to see the re-establishment of a Jewish sta4 in
Palestine and that he may have been ,the author of a pamphlet
MINNEAPOLIS, (J T A) —
antedating Herzl. But while this may be only a legend, the inter- ' The American Jewish World
est he had in a redeemed Zion is apparent in his novels.
will mark its 40th anniversary
Dr. Roth's story of Disraeli's Jewish interests is revealing in i by publication of a special
all details. It is a volume that fascinates even those of us who
birthday edition on Sept. 19.
have read nearly every book by and about Disraeli. No greater
The paper, founded in 1912
compliment can be paid an author, and we gladly pay this tribute
is the Jewish Weekly, is edited
to Dr. Roth for his fine work on Dizzy.
and published by Leo H.
Frisch.
Friday, August 29, 1952
2 — THE JEWISH NEWS
i/lent there may hare been a deeper feeling still in his heart—
one of regret that he was not leading the House of Commons
without having been compelled to use those hitherto cabalistic
words 'upon the true faith of a Christian.'
Levin to Address
Detroit Zionists
schools: Bow, Coffee, Pitcher,
Emerson. Ylettetal and New-
ton.
Making his first appearance
here since he left his Cincinnati
pulpit to assume the presidency
of the Labor Zionist Organiza-
tion of America. Dr. James 0
Heller will confer with Detroit
Labor Zionists and will address a
public meeting at Hotel Statler
on Wednesday evening, Sept. 3.
An invitation to the meeting has
to what iiis father flaccidly proposed . . . (Their elder sister
been extended to the entice
Sarah. uliroi . s very close to Benjamin, might have shared in the ; community.
Dr. Heller. who is one of the
remit, and stood out a little longer; or it may not hare been
I outstanding Jewish orators, has
considered that forinalities mattered in the case of a girl.)"
But Dr. Roth admi's that this is "pure conjecture, wholly in- gained a high rank in American
capable of proof. and most unlikely ever to receive documentary Jewish life as a leader and or-
! ganizer. He is an eminent mu-
confirmation or contradiction."
Dizzy would have been Bar Mitzvah several months after his sician, having composed many
conversion. Would his personal history and that of England have scores. One-time chairman of
changed had he remained a Jew? He certainly would have been national administrative commit-
deprived of a political career. since no professing Jew could take tee of the Zionist Organization
a seat in the House of Commons until 1858 "and had it not been of America, he abandoned Gen-
!or his on persistent advocacy the date might have been post- eral Zionism for the labor 7i -
poned." He would have made a greater name in literature. The onist movement in 1948.
Tory party,.,,anjght have long remained wholly reactionary and
British Imperialism would never have developed. But as a Jewish
Forward Editor LeaVes
leader he "might have changed the face of the Jewish world."
But in this case, too, "speculation is wholly useless."
$35.000 to Charity
Dr. Roth's study is replete with facts recapitulating historical
incidents relating to Jews in England. There is a record, in his
NEW YORK. tJTAI—Abraham
line biography of Dizzy, of other Jews, who became converts to': Cahan, late editor-in-chief of
Christianity and gained seats in the British Commons. Dizzy alone the Jewish Daily Forward. left
boasted of his Jewish heritage and made it a mark of honor and an estate of $80,000 in insurance.
pride. His leadership in the battle for the removal of the phrase savings accounts and U. S. Gov-
on the true faith of a Christian" from the oath of admission of ernment bonds. His will provid-
Jews to Commons, thus enabling the seating of Baron Lionel ed that 45 per cent of the estate
de Rothschild, who was consistently elected and who consistently : be distributed for cultural edu-
refused to take such an oath. ennobles that era in British politics. cational and charitable purposes
The chapter 'Disraeli, Judaism and the Jews" in Dr. Roth's and the remainder be given to
biography is an enchanting resume of the statesman's interests. I his relatives.
It is a remarkable tribute to the work of a man who, with a very
The largest part of his bequest
limited knowledge of Jewish customs and traditions, nevertheless ! for institutions—about $25.000—
propagated Jewish values and ideals and was the author of a will go to the Berl Katznelson
number of novels which embodied his credo as a Jew,
Institute of Social and Political
At the outset of his career, he told a young friend, "You Science in Israel, according to a
and 1 belong to a race that can do anything but fail." To him . decision made by the executors
Moses was "the greatest of legislators," Solomon "the greatest
of the estate. The executors are
of administrators," Christ "the greatest of reformers."
Harry Rogoff, Alexander Kahn
In his support of the Jewish Disabilities Bill, "greatly to his and Ephim H. Jeshurin.
ci edit. and fully aware of the antagonism of his own party, and
of what it might cost him. Disraeli did not waver in his attitude ! Other beneficiaries are The
United Jewish Appeal. the New
or ever shi ink from expressing his convictions." Upon the adop-
York Federation of Jewish Phil-
t ion of the measure, "Baron Lionel de Rothschild, after taking
the Oath in its amended form at the Table of the House, paused ant ropes, the Max Pin
by the Treasury Bench and nervously shook hands with his old school in Israel.
h lend. the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I the post then held by'
DisraAi., who at last had seen another of his dreams come true.'
Navy Active
Dr. Roth recalls that "the next issue of the Illustrated London
Iii
Military
Maneuver•
News commented pungently on the scene:
of Mr. Disraeli as he grasped the hand of the first Judaic mem-
ber of Parliament, and the momentary gleam of his eye, indi-
cated a sense of the triumph of race: and perhaps at that ma-
Aaron Synagogue, 18000 Wyo-
ming. Classes will commence
Sept. 15th.
June graduates and members
of the high school department
will assemble in the Rose Sittig
Cohen auditorium at 11 a.m.,
Sept. 7, for a special program
welcoming the new enrollees has
been arranged. High School
classes resume Sept. 8.
3_
B et een You and Me
tw
w
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copy right.
1952.
Je.i.h Tele graphic Agency. Inc.)
Washington Notes
It can be revealed that President Truman was pretty much
upset when it was brought to his attention that the Visa Division
of the State Department had introduced the racial principle for
. On the other
for Jews applying for visas to the United States
hand , American Jewry owes, to a certain extent, a vote of thanks
to the Visa Division for bringing this issue into the open . . . In
this way American Jews realized concretely the implications of the
McCarran Immigration bill on the basis of which the Visa Depart-
ment acted in forcing Jewish applicants for visas to declare their
Jewish descent . . - Only now many begin to understand why
President Truman, who vetoed the McCarran bill termed it "ra-
cist" . . . Among congressmen who voted for the passing of the
bill over the President's veto, there are now some who begin to
' see the measure in its true light .. • Through the passing of this
bill, Hitler's anti-Jewish racial theory entered the United States
through the back door .. . Under the new visa regulations, based
on this bill, Jews are classified not by their religion, but by their
race . . . This means that even a convert must state in the ap-
plication that he is a Jew by race . . . In some American con-
sulates, Jewish applicants must now specify not only their own
race, but also the race of each of their parents .. . In other words,
if they are children of mixed marriages, they must state which of
the parents was a Jew and which was the non-Jew . . . Doesn't
this remind one of Hitler's system of dividing Jews into full-Jews
I and half-Jews, . . . Jewish organizations are facing the task of
mobilizing all their forces to light for a revision, if not for the
withdrawal, of the new immigration law which may become the
forerunner to other racial laws if not checked in time .. .
Accent on Youth
The American Zionist Youth Commission, established in 1946
to promote and coordinate the work of Zionist youth groups in
this country, will soon become one of the major factors in the
Zionist system here . • . More than 25,000 young people are now
being -served by this body through a countryside network of some
200 Zionist youth commissions . . The work of the commissions
will now be intensified .. in line with the determination of
American Zionist leadership to gain greater influence on American
Jewish youth . . . At present the largest group affiliated with the
Commission is Young Judea which has g membership of about
14,000 boys and girls age 10-18 .