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The Extended Hand of Friendship
THE JEWISH. NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit JewiSh Chronicle
COMMeliCing
N
with issue of July 20. 1951
Member: American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26. Mich., WO. 5-1155.
Sebscription $4 a year., foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office. Detroit. Mich.. under Act of March 3. 1879.
sIONEY SFIMARAK
Adve•tising Manager
FRANK SIMONS
PHILIP SLOMOVJTZ
Editor and Publisher
City Editor
December 19, 1952
Page 4
Vol. XXII—No. 15
CTENER.AE. ASSEMBLY.
Sabbath and Eighth Day Hanukah Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the second day of Tebet, 5713, the following Scriptural seleclions will be read
in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portions, Gem. 44:1-44:17, NUM. 7:54-8:4: Prophetical portion, I Kings 7:40-50.
Licht
Benshen, Friday, Dec. 19, 4:45
p m.
Soviet Anti-Semitism A Danger to the World
the theoretical position of radical-Marxist
Bolshevism was also opposed to religion,
and thus, like Karl Marx, it was also op-
posed to Judaism. It was, therefore, basic-
ally hostile to the common consciousness
and tradition of a people in dispersion."
"There is in Soviet anti-Semitism a prob-
lem and a danger for the non-Soviet world,
where Communism does have supporters and
sympathizers. The promotion of distrust and
hatred of Jews can easily become, in times
of crisis, a means of fostering social division
—and Communist influence—in liberal dem-
Gorky, Lenin, Kalinin and Molotov had
ocratic societies."
made pro-Jewish statements, and condemned
This is one of the conclusions arrived at anti-Semitism. Some of them credited Jews
by Alfred A. Skerparl, professor of history at with having helped bring success to the Com.
Kent State University, in a lengthy study of munist regime. Stalin; in 1936, said that anti-
"Aspects of Soviet Anti-Semitism" in the Semitism was a protective device of capital-
Fall 1952 issue of Antioch Review, published ism. But all the Soviet. leaders went to great
by Antioch College of Yellow .Springs, 0. lengths to point to a difference between the
Written and published before the outrageous "Jewish worker" and the "Jewish capitalist,"
purge, and subsequent execution, of a group and in this fashion it became easy to brand
of Czechoslovak leaders, in Prague, on the all Jews outside of Russia as "capitalists,"
charge of Zionism, Titoism and anti-Corn- and to link Zionism with imperialism and
munism, Prof. Skerpan's survey of the ex- capitalism. Lenin was especially outspoken
'sting tragedy in Russia and Soviet satellite in his condemnation of the idea of a Jewish
countries is a warning to democratic coun- nation as "only a Zionist idea, utterly false
tries to be on guard against new repercus- and reactionary in its essence."
sions which may turn into another world war.
How, then, is the Russian pro-Palestine
* *
*
partition stand of 1947 to be explained? It
For Jews, Dr. Skerpan's study, which is was an act against the British, who then
the result of research of more than a decade, were opposed to Jewish statehood and were
is a signal to be prepared for even worse giving encouragement to the Arabs. But,
outbursts than those recorded in the last few "within two years Soviet policy again re-
weeks. For a short period, especially in the versed itself. American power in the area,
months when Soviet delegates to the United replacing the British, had in the meantime
Nations supported the Palestine partition developed in association with the Truman
plan and voted in favor of establishing a Doctrine, and Arab national feeling had
Jewish state, all of us were misled into be- reached a new intensity. In 1949 Communist
lieving that a "new era was in the offing; that propaganda called for a 'class war' on Zion-
USSR spokesmen were leaning on the side ism and declared to Arabs that Israel was
of justice; that there would be greater co- an outpost of American imperialism."
4( *
operation among nations. We were wrong.
At the very outset, Prof. Skerpan declares:
Such is Soviet consistency!' But it is not
"The general evidence available now,
surprising. It will be recalled that in 1929
including data the present writer has been
and again in 1936, in the years of the worst
able to find, shows strongly, if somewhat
Arab pogroms on Jews in Palestine, Corn-
inconclusively, that not only in the last 10
munists instigated Arabs against Jews—
years but since the establishment of the
and Jewish Communists were the ringlead-
Communist regime, the position of Jews, ers in inciting to rioting, plundering and mur-
al Jews, in the Soviet Union has really
der! That, too, is explainable, for if Corn-
never been secure."
_
munists generally can be inconsistent, why
Prof. Skerpan takes into account the should Jewish Communists be different? The
charges that had been made that "anti-_ test came two weeks ago, when the handful
Semitism was read into developments by of Communists in Israel refused to partici-
`professional Jews' where it did not in fact pate in the general condemnations of the
exist." But his study proves conclusively that Prague trials.
under Soviet rule there were four waves of
The facts as presented to us, and as gen-
propaganda against Jews, and that in the erally known, are frightening in the sense
years 1926-31 anti-Semitism "raged with a that they point to the possibility of an ex-
vehemence unequalled even in Tsarist times" tension of purges and wholesale attacks on
—the quotation being from R. V. Nirah's Jews into other Soviet-controlled areas—into
"Semitism."
Romania, Hungary and Russia herself. And
* *
there is so little that can be done to prevent
In the Soviet Union, Jews have been another calamity.
branded as a "privileged nation," and the
Prof. Skerpan reaffirms that "only a
charge quoted to have found circulation in truly democratic society can provide maxi-
Russia is that "Jews were everywhere and mum assurances of social and political jtis-
held all the good positions." Is it any wonder tice." In the meantime Russia and her satel-
that the Soviet anti-Semitism is being likened lites are running roughshod over those who
to Nazism? disagree with them and are resorting once
Yet, officially, anti-Semitism is outlawed again to anti-Semitism as an instrument for
in Russia. But it is not difficult to under- the creation of scapegoats to avert discon-
stand this inconsistency. We are informed tent among the masses of their people. All
in the survey of the reign of terror—for this of which combines to form a threat not only
is what it actually is—in Russia that— to Jews—the first and major sufferers—but
"While being opposed to anti-Semitism, to the peace of the world.
,
Biography of a Peace-Maker
Story of Dr. Ralph I Bunche,
Great Statesman and Mediator
J. Alvin Kugelmass became deeply interested in the career of
Dr. Ralph J. Bunche while editing copy for a Washington news-
paper. He commenced to study the life and activities of the great
Negro leader and the result is his new book, "Ralph J. Bunche,
Fighter for Peace," published by Julian Messner (8 W. 40th, NY 18).
It is a deeply moving story. Powerful as an interesting page
of current history, it is a touching document that should go far.
ther than a hundred meetings in ad-
vancing good will and in removing
rejudice. It is the record of the life
of the grandson of an ex-slave whose
genius has defied and defeated bigo-
try.
-
Actually, Kugelmass' biography of
unche is a rebuke to bigots and a
epudiation of the medieval doctrine
of "race supremacy" which, unfor-
tunately, continues to keep Dr.
unche out of Washington. Kugel-
mass relates how Dr. Bunche • was
compelled, while living in Washing-
ton to drive_ his children many miles
to a school to which they were ad-
mitted, before going to his office in
the State Department. When he was
offered the post of Assistant Secre-
Dr.'Bunche
tary of State recently he turned it down, refusing again to un-
dergo this humiliation.
The most interesting character in this biography is Bunche's
grandmother, Anna Johnson. From his youth in Detroit—he was
born here at McComb and Orleans Sts.—through his college career
in Californa, Grandma Johnson was his guide.
It was after his graduation from U.C.L.A., before going on
to Harvard on a scholarship, that she passed away. `Grandma's
strength, trial, perseverance and humor stayed with him while
he was shaping history."
Much, space is devoted in the book to Bunche's role as
UN mediator in the Arab-Jewish war. Some of the aspects of
that issue are ha
ndled rather superficially, but in the main
Kugelmass gives a fairly good account of what had happened.
Especially valuable is his review of Bunche's career on the island
of Rhodes and the manner in which he got the Jewish and
Arab emissaries to get together and to 'sign an armistice. One
wishes that he could continue his work in that area in order to
attain a lasting peace.
Among the more interesting episodes in the book is the story
about a woman from Georgia who sat next to him at the dinner
in Oslo, Norway, after he had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
She kept on ranting about Negroes and asked him whether he
would have his daughter marry a Negro. When he finally got his
few words in edgewise he told her:
"Perhaps you don't read the newspapers carefully. I'm Ralph
Bunche, a Negro. This dinner is being given in honor of me be-
cause I just won the Nobel Prize. And you're sitting right nest
to a nigger."
Kugelmass' fine biography tells the entire story about this
great man, about whom Israel Foreign Minister. Mosne Sharett
said: his 'Herculean efforts . . . put an end to the fighting in
Palestine," and in tribute to whom General—now President-elect
The value of the United Nations to the only through force—and force is the element —Eisenhower said: "Ralph J. Bunche is one of the greatest states-
men this country has ever produced."
A Triumph for the UN and Hope for Peace
peace of the world was proven most con- we seek to avert.
The Arabs are not cooperating in the new
clusively with the adoption by the UN Poli-
tical Committee of the resolution calling for UN move. The prayer of all peace-loving peo-
ple is that they may see the light and go
direct negotiations for peace between Israel along with the logical proposal. The peace of
and the Arab states by the contending par- the entire world is linked with the issues of
ties involved in the dispute. any one portion of the universe. Further-
Israel has been pleading for such an op- more, the welfare of several nations is in-
portunity. Objective students of world af- volved. An Arab-Israel peace will mean the
fairs and of conditions in the Middle East advancement of the economic status of the
have emphasized again and again that peace entire area. It can put an end to poverty—
in that part of the world is possible only if if the Middle Eastern countries decide to
the parties involved will negotiate it directly. work in harmony for the good of all, rather
As a matter of fact, any peace anywhere is than for the benefit of a handful of effendi
attainable only when the contending forces landowners. May peace come soon.
talk their grievances through themselves.
This is a test for the UN and for the
No outsider can possibly plan amity for some world. Peace in the Mediterranean area
one else, Such an arrangement is possible should, as it can spur peace everywhere. _
,
Strange Suit Involved Copernicus
lem.
Fifteen years ago, a strange court incident occurred in Jerusa-
In November of 1937, the long-established Copernican theory
that the earth revolves around the sun was given legal standing
in Palestine when Judge W. Clive Curry, president of the Jerusa-
lem District Court, rejected a claim for $25,000 damages by Benja-
min Cohen, 70-year old American Jew from Tel Aviv, against the
Hebrew University, which he claimed had rejected his discovery,
reversing the Copernicus theory and allegedly proving that the
sun revolved around the earth and sets in the middle of the
Mediterranean Sea. Judge Curry rejected Cohen's claim on the
ground that the plaintiff has no contract with the University
for accepting his discovery and hence had suffered no damages.
Roars of laughter greeted Cohen's assertion in court that 1*
theory "is quite obvious even to the naked eye on the Tel Mew.
seashore. The University committed a crime against science ea
discovex„y is of interest to all mankind."