•
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
'The Melting Pot'
—
Inter Group Amity
-
Triumph for America
—
2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, September 12, 1952
Leon Kay to Head
State's ZO Region
Israel Zangwill's "The Melting Pot" is a forgotten epic. Per-
At the fifth annual conference
haps the play and the idea it portrayed did not survive because
they advocated the impossible: the fusing of peoples of all faiths of the Michigan Zionist Region,
and nationality backgrounds into a single American unit. The held Sunday at the Zionist House
more successful American idea is inter - group and' inter - faith
cooperation. Here is a sample of it, as described in the "Good
News" column of Saturday Review of Literature:
"Baseball has its own United Nations. The thirty-four-man
roster of the Cleveland Indians consists of eighteen national-
ities. The Irish lead with fourteen, followed by German, seven;
English,. six; Negro, five; and Scotch, four. Led by a Spanish-
speaking manager, Al Lopez, Cleveland's infield is composed of
a Mexican. Jew, Negro, and Scotsman. The catcher is Irish.
Pitchers Wynn and Garcia are of American Indian ancestry."
Remember: we are dealing here with a successful baseball
team. In a larger sense, the team spells America. It looms great be-
cause it is composed not of 18 nationalities, but of all mankind's
nationality groups. That is why America triumphs. The victory
will be endless, as long as inter-group amicability survives.
*
*
Politics
—
Immunity from Bigotry
—
Safety in Freedom of Speech
Of course. we are not free from bias, prejudices and bigotry.
Every so often, sometimes too often, bigots spring forth, their
venom is spewn in public and we are agoniZed by a feeling of
revulsion. But that is not America. .
The current national political campaign offers an example
of what can and is happening to the thinking of many people.
Last week, the national chairmen of the new Constitution Party
quit their posts in protest against anti-Semitic statements made
by some of the party members. Mrs. Suzanne Silvercruys Steven-
son, of Chaplin, Conn., chairman, and Percy L. Greaves, Jr., of
Chevy Chase, Md., co-chairman of the party, learned quickly
what to expect from men like Upton Close, a spokesmen for
the new movement that is boosting the candidacy of General
Douglas MacArthur for President. Close has uttered anti-Semitic
statements time and .again, and it is no wonder that Mrs.
Stevenson, who asserted that some members of the Constitution
Party national committee objected to her because she is Cath-
olic and foreign-born, should have made this assertion:
"The principles of the party as rewritten by an unauthorized
meeting of a few of the national committee in Philadelphia last
week contain the phrase, 'We must preserve our Christian her-
itage which has been the strength of this nation.' Such a dec-
laration sounds to me „like anti-Semitism. I will have no part
of any movement which seems to me to be so steepedinbigotry."
The statement quoted by Mrs. Stevenson becomes dangerous
when uttered by Upton Close and his cohorts. In itself, reference
to "Christian heritage" is not menacing. Presidents and out-
standing Americans of good faith have been known to refer to
the "Christian ideal." Many of them, in their hearts, know this
ideal as an offspring of Judaism, and it is utterly - foolish to
object to it as tending to make this -a Christian land. We have
often objected to public officials speaking of this as "a Christian
country." That is misrepresentation. But when people advocate
adherence to the "Christian heritage," we only pray that they
should live up to it. We doubt, judging by past performances,
whether Upton Close is capable of displaying the true Christian
ideals.
The new chairman of the "Constitution Party," the New York
broker Haliburton Fales, has denied that his movement is anti-
Semitic and contends that the two resigned leaders were deposed.
Here, in view of Upton Close's relationship to the party, the adage
"where there is smoke there is fire" is well applied. And as long
as the membership of the party displays the bitterness which now
distinguishes it, there is little guessing to be done about its ultimate
aspirations. In Denver, for instance, a MacArthur-for-President
rally sponsored by Gerald L. K. Smith's "Christian Nationalist
Party" was converted into an anti-Semitic demonstration. It began
when Don Lohbeck, a key aide to Smith, launched an attack on
the "international-Zionist-combine." What can you expect from
such an alliance?
In the meantime, the basic American principle of fair play
and common decency and the aspiration for good team-work
and genuine cooperation triumphs through free discussion. As
long as a Mrs. Stevenson is able to- throw the lie back at her
political associates, and the country at large can hear this
Catholic's repudiation of anti-Semitism, our country's democratic
ideals are secure.
Now
—
*
*
as to Israel's Survival Potentialities
Israel is great as a land where freedom of expression is on
a par with ours. But Israel has other problems which make the
land insecure. Participants in the Bnai Brith Hillel Foundation
Summer Institute last week were told by Dr. Simon Halkin, pro-
fessor of Hebrew literature at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem,
that he was in doubt about the Jewish state's ability to survive
unless there is a substantial immigration of Jews from the West-
ern Hemisphere. He added that the 1,500,000 Jews now in Israel
are insufficient to perpetuate the state.
This is not an illogical statement, and it is good to know
that men like Prof. Halkin have the courage to speak their minds
on such a challenging subject. This, too, involves freedom of
expression. His warning is, in a sense, an indictment of the
Eastern European as well as the African and Arabic Jewries from
whose midst came a large influx of Jewish immigrants to Israel
in the past four years. But if there is need for a leavening force—
people from the- Western Hemisphere—let the facts be known.
The solution lies, in some measure, in the settlement in Israel
of American Jews. But some of our leaders are crouching in
fear lest we speak of "American Halutzim." It was proper for a
Hoover to help advance engineering projects overseas, for a
Byron to fight for Greece's freedom, for untold numbers of Am-
ericans to battle for freedom of other peoples, but Jews are told
to shun aid to their kinsmen! This is the farce of our time!
Dr. Halkin said something else in his talk to the Hillelites:
that "Israel can be lived only in Israel," that "whether you are
religious or not, a complete Jewish life cannot be lived outside of
Israel." This becomes a true evaluation only when we test it with
his qualifying remark that it is "too easy" to be a Jew in America
—since all one has to do is to buy a bond or to go to the Temple
occasionally. Doesn't Prof. Halkin overlook the truth that this is
equally_as true of. Israel—that going to Shul is occasional, that
bond-buying is optional? But there is this vast difference: in
Israel, Jews tread Jewish soil and tax-paying is compulsory. Here,
the "tax for Jewishness"—gifts to UJA, to educational .causes, to
the "tax for Jewishness" is optional.
But—the debate continues, with arguments on both sides.
and as 'long as we cherish our freedoms—especially the right
to speak our minds, even if in criticism of Israel—we are secure.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1952, Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Inc)
U.J.A.-Bond Talks:
The "peace talks" between the United Jewish Appeal and
the Israel bond drive are not expected to start before the national
convention of the bond drive is over . . . The convention takes
place this week-end in Atlantic City . . . Meanwhile, new mis-
understandings seem to have developed . . . Paving the way for
the "peace talks" was a document drawn up jointly by Dr. Joseph
Schwartz on behalf of the UJA and Henry Montor on behalf of
the bond drive . . . It was considered certain that this document
would be accepted by all major leaders of the two drives as an
agreement settling the long-standing conflict . . . Later, how-
ever, another document, composed by Mr. Montor and Israel
Ambassador Abba Eban was suddenly presented to the UJA
leadership . . The second document differed greatly from the
I first, and the UJA was not anxious to accept it soon . . . The
second document was cancelled following instructions from Israel
Premier David Ben-Gurion to Ambassador Eban . . . These in-
structions specified that a supreme body to settle the UJA-Bond
conflict—and to prevent further skirmishes between the two—
must be established once and for all . . This new body should
be composed of representatives of the parties involved in the
conflict plus representatives of the American section of the
Jewish Agency . . . The Israel Premier did not care whether the
new body was composed of five, or seven, or more persons, but
stipulated that Ambassador Eban must be its chairman . . . As
a, result of these instructions, Ambassador Eban indicated to the
UJA that the Eba.n-Montor document, which was not acceptable
to the UJA, is no longer valid . . . Now everybody is ,waiting for
Mr. Eban to return from his vacation and for the Atlantic City
LEON KAY
bond conference to be over, in order to make a fresh start at
here, Leon Kay was elected pres- bringing the UJA and Bond drive leaders to a round-table con-
ident to succeed Morris M. Ja- ference for a final settlement of the issues which caused the rift
cobs, who held that office since between them.
the formation of the region. Mr. Zionist Affairs:
Jacobs was chosen honorary
A strenuous contest is going on behind the scenes of the
president of the region.
American Zionist movement for the post of chairman of the
Abraham Cooper, Detroit; American Zionist Council, in which all Zionist groups are repre-
Samuel Adinoff, Port Huron and sented . . . Seeking the post are Rabbi Irving Miller, the newly \I
Tom Horowitz, Pontiac, were elected ZOA president, and Mrs. Rose Help= of Hadassah . _/
elected vice-presidents; Ben Zion Indications are that neither will get it because the Zionist Labor-
Gotlib, Flint, secretary and Law- ites and Hadassah seem to oppose Miller's candidacy, while the
rence Crohn, Detroit, treasurer. ZOA and Mizrachi object to Mrs. Halprin's candidacy . . . As a
The conference endorsed a result, Louis Lipsky, the veteran American Zionist leader, will
qtiota of $15,000 for Michigan probably remain chairman of the Council—a post he has had
towards the American Zionist
for several years . . . It must be said that the Council has done
Fund of the Zionist Organiza- a
very fine job under Lipsky's administration . . Although
tion of America.
Participants in the sessions in- Israeli affairs are now handled in Washington by the Israel em-
cluded leaders from a dozen bassy, the Council, as an American body, helped no end to round
up members of Congress to vote for grants-in-aid for Israel . .
Michigan communities.
Discussions of the political, The Council is also, to a large extent, responsible for the fact
spiritual and economic aims of that both the Republican and Democratic parties, at their recen
the Zionist movement featured conventions in Chicago, adopted platforms favorable to Israel .
Other work of importance to Israel is being done by the Council
the sessions.
Newly-elected members of the on the American scene in a quiet but effective way . . . At pres-
region's executive committee in- ent the Council is undergoing a reorganization with some of it
members being replaced by the parties whom they represent
clude the following:
Osias Zwerdling, Ann Arbor; Al Rog- The new members will include not only Rabbi Miller and Mrs. 1
ers, Rabbi Katzenstein, Bay City; Rabbi Halprin—even if they are not elected chairmen—but also Rabbi'
Jos. Schwartz, Benton Harbor; Herman
Miller, Chrystal Falls; Rabbi Morris Ad- Heller, the new president of the Labor Zionist Organization o
ler, Sidney Brand, Rabbi Jacob Chinitzz, America . . . Some of the functions now performed by the
Max Chomsky, Hairy Cohen, Sol Edel-
man, James I. Ellrnan, Sam Feldstein, American section of the Jewish Agency executive in the field of
Waltter L. Field, Bill Fitzerman, Rabbi education, youth activities and others may be transferred
Leon Fram, Rubin Gold, DDDr. Louis
Kazzdan, Seymour Kraus, A. C. Lappin, the Council, which will also have an economic department.. .
Micky Laancet, Rabbi Moses Lehrmann, Thus, the Council's functions will not be limited to politica]
Ben Lewis, Sol Lifsitz, Dr. M. S. Perlis,
William Shani eld, Dr. Albert Schwartz, activities, and the public will hear more about its work as SOOn
Rabbi Jacob E. Segal, Philip Slomovitz, as it expands in other directions.
Lillian Tron, Ben Weiss, Dr. Bernard
Weston, Dave Zelhnan, all of Detroit;
Rabbi Philip Kieval, Sam Holland, Louis
Kasle, Marcus Lebster, Abe Reskin, all
of Flint; David Cohodes, Rabbi Harry
Essrig, Irving Kleinman, Ben Wepman,
Rabbi Gershon Winer, all of Grand
Rapids; Jacob Dray, Iron River; Louis
Heppner, Kalamazoo; Morton Davis, Mery
Pregulman, Lansing; Joseph Fine, Mar-
quette; Max Rosenberg, Rabbi Samuel
- Omen, Muskegon; Mark Davis, Arthur
Rosenthal, Pontiac; Samuel E. Adinoff,
Port Huron; Dr. H. L. Diamond. Saginaw;
Pauline Cohen, Tobias Kroll, Josbph 01-
sher, South Haven.
Jewish Women Urge
Voters to Speak Out
"Speak up! Freedom needs ex-
ercise," is the slogan of a cam-
paign to be launched in Detroit
under the joint sponsorship of
Detroit's chapters of the na-
tional Council of . Jewish Wom-
en, and the Young Women's
Christian Association. Represen-
tatives of 35 organizations will
atttend a meeting at 12:30 p.m.
Thursday at the YWCA, 2230
Witherell, to form a steering
committee for the project.
The campaign's purpose is to
encourage citizens to speak out
on political issues. Such cam-
paigns are being conducted
throughout the nation.
Plans for an all-day institute,
open to the public, with a na-
tionally-known keynote speaker,
will be discussed Thursday.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sun-
day and again on Oct. 5, volun-
teer drivers of the N.C.J.W. will
cover the city collecting mer-
chandise for its re-sale shops.
Mrs. Saul Glueckman and Mrs.
Herman Holinstat, co-chairmen
for the pick-up, announce that
Sunday's collection will cover
the area from Davison to Eight
Mile Rd., as far west as Wyo-
ming. Mesdames Ben Weintraub,
Louis Grossman. Oscar Silver-
man, Nate Schlafer, James Marx
and George Rosenberg are su -
pervising the project in this dis-
trict.
Communal Notes:
American Jewish communities—large and small—can now
perform a valuable service on an interesting project . . There
has never been any volume which traces state by state, city by --
city and town by town cities of Jewish interest in connection
with Jewish life in the United States . . Such a book is no
being prepared by Bernard Postal of the National Jewish Welfare=
Board . . . It will attempt to record and describe thousands of
places of Jewish interest all over the country . . . In this work,'
local Jewish communities can be extremely helpful by supplying,.
Mr. Postal with the proper information . . . The places on- which
such information is sought include national shrines like the
Touro Synagogue in Newport, R. I., ancient Jewish cemeteries,
major Jewish buildings and institutions . .. Also, monuments to
Jews, streets named after Jews, public plaques honoring Jews,
buildings on university and college campuses named for Jews
. . Also, towns, counties, mountains, lakes named for Jews, such
as Aaronsburg, Pa., Rosenburg, Oregon, Kaufman County, Texas,
etc. . . The book, which will be in the nature of a Jewish tour-
ist's guide to America, will also include information on portraits
and bas reliefs of Jews on or in public buildings .. . It will list
historic residences or sites erected, owned or named for Jews,
graves of Jewish personalities famous in American and Jewish
history, monuments and memorials to non-Jews who were great
philo-Semites . . Also statuary and monuments donated by
Jews, art collections given by Jews to cities or public museums,
public buildings—or rooms in such buildings— donated by Jews
or dedicated to Jews . . . Towns founded by Jews, or where Jews
were first settlers but not named for Jews . . . Large library col-
lections established by Jews or- contributed by Jews for public
use; also public collections of Judaica . . . The -variety of infor-
mation sought provides a possibility practically for each com-
munity. in the United States to participate in the project, and
in a way to bring to light local Jewish contributions to this
country.
.
L'Shonah Tovah:
This is to wish all my readers a happy New Year
. I ant,
taking leave from you for several weeks during which I will be
overseas . . . The column will be resumed upon my return to
the United States next month.
Holidays Necessitate Earlier Deadlines
The larger issue to be published for Rosh Hashanah
necessitates the setting of an earlier deadline for Sept. 19.
All copy for that issue should be in our hands not later thai.
at 9 a.m. on Monday. Photographs will not be accepted aftei
10 a.m. today.
Due to Yom Kippur, which occurs this year on Monday
Sept. 29, all copy for the issue of Oct. 3 must be in our hand
at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.