THE JEWISH NEWS
Splendid Source Book on Israel
Mi,s's Liberty, McCarran Model
.
Col. Gerald de Gaury `s
Work Is Meritorious
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle
commencing with issue of July 20, 1951
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 $4 a year: foreign $5.
E,7itered 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. XXII—No. 1 Page 4 September 12, 1952
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-third clay of Elul,
5712, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion DeO. 29:9-31:30.
Prophetical portion—Is. 61:10-63:9.
Licht Benshen, Friday,
12, 6:27 p.m.
Reparations
On the subject "Compensation to Israel,"
a New York Times editorial summarizes the
pain that accompanies the collection of a
debt from Germany as follows:
"No amount of money or goods can, of
course, restore the lives the Nazis have taken
or broken. But the agreement does show that ,
Western Germany has not attempted to evade I
responsibility for crimes committed by the Hit- I
ler regime, which its own courts have declared
to have been illegal, and that it has done its
best to atone for them. Understandably
enough, Israel has repudiated any idea that
any kind of payment could constitute moral
reparations, but the agreement should ease
its economic strains and help restore a . measure
of goodwill between the two sides, and both
sides are to be congratulated on it."
While this approach to the issue is a
realistic one, it remains to be seen whether
the "goodwill" mentioned will materialize.
Even if there is to be forgiveness by future
generations for the millions who perished at
the hands of the Nazis, the horrors perpe-
trated upon our generation can never be for-
gotten. The survivors continue to recoil at
every thought of what has happened to
them and to their kinsmen.
The German payments merely indemnify
the losers for the property of which they
were robbed by the Nazi beasts. They do
not, as they can not, compensate the suf-
ferers for the murder of their dear ones.
the moral obli-
But taking into
gations, there still remains the difficulty of
collecting the debt that is due from the East-
ern portion of Germany. There, an arrb-
gance apparently has been built up, perhaps
with the encouragement of Soviet Russia,
which is certain to perpetuate hate rather
than lead to more amicable human relations.
Thus, the sting left upon the world by
the horrible decade of Nazi rule over Ger-
many and Europe remains to haunt our and
coming generations.
Hope in Bobds
In an adjoining column, our book re-
viewer quotes an important statement in Col.
Gerald de Gaury's book, "The New •State of
Israel," to the effect that "hope" for Israel -
"can center only on 'the subscribers to the
bond issue and on the government of the
United States."
We shall press increasingly for efforts to
encourage our government to continue to
give financial support to the young Jewish
state. In the meantime, we are faced With
the responsibility, internally, of advancing.
the Bond Issue and of enlisting support
among all American Jews for the major in-
vestment undertaking.
. The Israel Bond campaign. is being
pushed with new vigor in our community.
The Rentner Fashion Show scheduled for
next Wednesday, under the direction of the
Women's Division of the Israel Bond Organi-
zation, and the Eddie Cantor show. on Oct. 6,
are two events intended to spur local effort.
It is important to indicate again that the
Bond Drive is not "another campaign," and
that it is, in reality, a great task for the
enlistment of Jewry's participation in the
economic development of the state that is
showing great promise for the future.
Israel's new manufacturing enterprises,
the development of important industries, the
products and commodities that come from
the Philco, Kaiser-Frazer and other plants,
are revolutionizing the Middle East's new
economic projects. History is being made in
the small state, and much of the progress
already is due to the Bond Drive. The ac-;
complishments of the past two years repre
sent a mere beginning. There is much yet
to be done, for the good of the state's pres-
ent inhabitants as well . as for the future
generations and for the hordes of immi-
grants yet to be welcomed there.
The year 5713 can be made a banner
year in American Jewry's share in Israel's
development. The Bond Drive provides this
opportunity. Every Detroit Jew is called
upon to share in this partnership.
-
Education: Our Major Need
Inauguration of Annual Education Month, with the ad-
vent of the month of Tishri, which will usher in the New
Year 5713, impels us to return again to a discussion of the
question of Jewish education.' While it has been reviewed
time and again in these columns in recent weeks, the need
is too great for limited discussion.
The advancement of Jewish education is not, in itself, a
singling out process of Jewish children for special training.
It is an important task that must be. considered as supple-
mentary but urgently necessary in the process of character
building and strengthening our faith in democracy. In effect,
it is essential for our Americanism, for our citizenship loyal-
ties.
Of course, there is the internal need. Our children; if
they are to have faith and are to retain moral strength, must
be provided with a knowledge of their people's history and
traditions. The American Association for Jewish Education,
in its annual call to parents to enroll their children in Jewish
schools, points out properly that--
"An' important element making . for a Jewish child's normal
growth is an intimate acquaintance and identification with the
Jewish heritage. The Jewish background needed by the Jewish
child can be acquired only through the learning and experience
which an adequate Jewish education provides." •
The education association's call points out that the
child's Jewish education will be ineffective unless they realize
that:
Col. Gerald de Gaury, explorer, scholar, mili-
tary authority and author of several works on
Arab history and problems, also emerges as an
authority on the new Jewish republic in "The
New State of Israel," published by Frederick A.'
Praeger (105 W. 40th, N. Y. 18). This soldier, who
has lived for many years in the Middle East and
has befriended Arab notables, is, unlike others'
who have been befriended by - Arab politicians,
objective in his studies of Israel's position and
Iunbiased.
De Gaury's "The New State of Israel'
stands out as an important work for many reas-
sons. The author treats the subject impartially,
with a wise sense of research. He covers every
i field essential to statecraft and state-building.
And his conclusions indicate fairness 'and a
sense of justice.
The introduction at once reveals his ap-
proach and attitude. It is a summary of events .
and a commentary on .occurrences in Israel. It
is a tribute to the remarkable achievements of
the Jews who were considered unprepared for
statehood but who emerged strong. The new
state-building Jews. are described as people with
a changing character and appearance.
. De Gaury's volume, which contains many
charts, maps and attractive illustrations, is an
excellent textbook for those seeking acquaint-
ance with Israel's position. The make-up of the
new government, the functions of its various
departments, their personnel and leaders, are
described factually and in detail. The chapter
dealing with the geography, area and popula-
tion characteristics will be found especially valu-
able. The analyses of the political system of the
land and the constitution are valuable additions
to the surveys of Israel already available. The
fact that the author is a non-Jew, most of whose
fraternization have been with Arabs, sheds
human interest on the results of his research.
In the matter of finance and economics, Col.
DeGaury reaches the interesting conclusion tha
"History, not economics, suggests that Israel
will neither be destroyed by inflation nor im-
mediately expand in the Middle East."
How does he .attain this viewpoint? The en-
tire finance chapter is exceptionally instructive.
Reviewing the help extended to Israel by the
- United States, he states: "No equation can' be
drawn for Israel's foreign accounts in the corn-
ing year. Indeed, no equation at the moment is
possible; they will not balance, and the only
thing that can make them balance is the emo-
tional ties between Israel and American Jewry.
All that can be said is that nearly all the, other:
factors that contributed to making a balance
in 1950 will be favorable in 1952. Hope can
center only on the subscribers to the Bond Issue '-
and on the Government of the United States."
This is realism. It is backed up by facts
which Col. de Gaury has gathered so ably.
His "New State of Israel" is an outstanding
work. At the moment, no other surpasses it in
value as a textbook and as a source of -informa-
tion.
"1.. It .cannot be achieved overnight. To attain its purpose,
JeWish education must begin early, in the kindergarten years,
if at all possible; it must be offered for. a. sufficient number of
hours each week, and it must continue for enough years to per-
mit the child's Jewish schooling to keep pace with his mental,
emotional, and social growth.
0 2. The school alone is not enough. Children receive a rela-
tively - sntall part of their education in school. The major por-
tion depends upon the surroundings you provide for them at
home. The home Must strengthen and supplement the work of
the school by providing a warm atmosphere of Jewish living
and observances, and an. emphasis on Jewish ethical and reli-
gious values."
Facts You Should Know;
Why is it customary.: to offer a toast by saying
"Lechayim?"
The expression "Lechayim" means "for life
and its use with the drinking of alcoholic bev4
erages has a number of interesting explanation8...
It seems to be an old custom, being • Jnentioned
in Talmudic literature.
SOme claim that it stems from the.. ancient
custom of offering a condemned man. -a drink of
wine before he was executed. The same was
sometimes done for an animal befOre its - slaugh-
ter. This was obviously clone to alleviate the last
suffering of the individual. Thus the
These arguments are strengthened by the emphasis that minute
drink came to be known as an overture to
"home and school are in partnership." But home. and school slaughter. Therefore the toast "Lechayim"
also are in partnership with the community. They are in offered when drinking. in company, -as if to say
partnership with life and they must train the child to meet that this drink is offered for - "life" and not for
life's challenges. On this score we have a very important "death."
obligation to our youth to provide them with knowledge that
Others claim that thiS custom stems front
will make them .free, that will make it possible for them to the claim that the forbidden fruit consumed by
Adam in the .Garden of Eden. was the fruit of the
overcome many obstacles. - •
vine. It being well known that Adam's experi-
As Jews and as 'citizens, we . are not yet "freed from ence brought death in this world, therefore
bigotry arid from threats to our existence. There are anti- when we partake. of wine we express our desire
Semites who seek to destroy us through lies and misrepre- that this drink bring life and not death as it did
sentations. Often—too often—their lies find our young peo- for Adam.
ple unprepared with knowledge of the truth. There are anti-
Israelis who, yielding to false Arab propaganda, join in at-
tacks not only upon the young Jewish state but also on all
of Israel's kinsmen.
We do injustice to our youth if we do not get them
ready to meet untruth with truth, to be able to differentiate
falsehood from fact, to be in position to stand their ground
as Jews and as citizens. .
When, therefore, we repeat again and again that the-
need for a Jewish education . ..is paramount in our existence
as American Jews, we fulfill a major need in the planning of
our daily lives.
The United Hebrew Schools, as initiator of the idea of
Education Month, which has now become a national project,
is rendering an important service with its annual emphasis
on the community's first need. The other schools, by follow-
ing similar examples, are serving our people's needs. We
wish the United Hebrew Schools success in the current Edu-•
cation Month celebration. May the hands of our educators
be strengthened in their sacred tasks.
• :
0.14:1.. , .
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'5
...* . •
Why is it customary to say "God bless you,"
or "Tzu Gezund" (For your health when observ-
ing a friend sneeze?
The usual explanation for this is an ancient
Midrashic account that until the time of Jacob
the Patriarch, a sneeze was the overture to
death. Since illness did not result in death, the
sneeze was the only warning. Jacob was sup-
posed to have asked for illness as a preparatory
step to death so that he could have the oppor-
tunity of bidding his family farewell. Because
of this original connotation- of the sneeze it be-
came customary to wish one good health upon
hearing him sneeze. .
Of course, there is a practical aspect to this
matter too. It is common knowledge that a
sneeze is a sign of a cold or an allergy,. One
symbolically wishes•his friend 'well when hearing
him sneeze, perhaps as a token of saying."1 hope
this 'sneeze is .not the product of a -cold or an
l allergy, but simply a normal • healthy retiex
I action." -