a*.
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Harry S Truman: The Modern Cyrus
Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon, the Republican rebel who
bolted his party to support the candidacy of the Democratic
nominee, dramatically told the United States Senate last week
that he views Mr. Truman as having been a great PreSident. He
made these comments on the retiring President's valedictory
message :
`.1 think we have listened to a great historic statement,
which is, in my opinion, the greatest message President Tru
man has sent to the Congress; indeed, I regard it as one of the
greatest messages ever sent to the Congress by any President
in our history. It is dramatic in its ideals, reassuring in its goals,
inspiring in its appeals to patriotic duty, and convincing in its
citizenship challenge.
"In my judgment, it is a fitting valedictory of a President
who I am convinced, in the judgment of history, will be a much
greater President than his critics now realize or appreciated."
Senator Morse was not alone in his commendation of Harry
S. Truman. Other Republicans and a number of Republican news-
papers commended the retiring leader for his fine analysis of the
state of the nation as he turned over his office to Dwight D.
Eisenhower. There - will, of course, be disagree-
ment on. the choice of adjectives used by Sena-
tor Morse in describing Mr. Truman's record. But
in Jewish history Mr. Truman will be recorded
as a great man who understood our problems,
who recognized an historic moment and utilized
it properly.
It is your CommentatOr's firm belief that Mr.
Truman will go down in history as The Modern
Cyrus, in recognition of the very great role he
has played in the establishment of Israel and in
causing this country to be the first to recognize
the infant Jewish state on May 14, 1948.
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Harry S. Truman
The Chapter Written by Cyrus
In 536 B.C., Cyrus, the founder of the Persian empire, the
conqueror of Babylon, emerged as the instrument for the return
of the Jews, who were exiled by Babylonia, to their homeland in
the Land of Israel. The great Jewish historian Heinrich Graetz
speaks of King Cyrus as having been "but an instrument of God
for furthering the deliverance of Judah and the salvation of the
world." • Graetz wrote as follows about the great period in Jewish
history in the time of Cyrus:
"The joy of those who were . preparing for the exodus from
Babylon and the return to the Holy Land was overpowering.
To be permitted to tread the soil of their own country, and to
rebuild and restore the sanctuary seemed a sweet dream to
them. The event caused great sensation amongst other nations;
it was discussed, and considered' as a miracle, which the God of
Israel had wrought on behalf of His people. A poem faithfully
reproduces the sentiments that inspired the exiles:
"'When the Lord turned against the captivity of Zion, we
were like them that dream.
"'Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue
with singing; then said they among the nations, The Lord hath
done great things for them.
"'The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are
glad.' (Ps. cxxvi.)
•
"As the patriots were preparing to make use of their free-
dom to return to Jerusalem, one of -their poets, in -Psalm xxiv.,
bade them reflect whether they were worthy Of this•boon. For
only the righteous and those who sought the Lord were to as-
semble upon God's ground. But who would dare take on him-
self the right to pronounce judgment?"
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The Related Cyrus TruMan Roles
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.Transplant these impressions, written nearly a century ago
about the great and miraculous event of the return from the
Babylonian exile, 2489 years ago, to our time, and it is easy to
imagine as if the great hiStbriarr were speaking of our time, and
of the rebirth of Israel in 1948. And while the role of Cyrus and
Truman were not entirely analogous, they were related. Cyrus
was able to order the freedom of the return of Jews to the Holy
Land, and Truman used the great power of his office to sanction
Israel's rebirth and to give the great signal to the nations of the
world that the greatest nation on earth wills it that Jewish home-
lessness should end and that Jews should have the right to re-
construct their lives in dignity and freedom and through self-
determination.
Some writers make • mention of • other gestures by Cyrus—
such as the guarantee of freedom to the Greek cities of Ionia—
implying that it was politically expedient, for the safety of his
empire, to create friendships among his subjects. Graetz, too, wrote
that "the true reason for his decision is unknown," but he
•-• made it a point to emphasize that "Cyrus was a humane con-
queror."
By the same token, some 'historians have said that Arthur
James Balfour's famous Declaration was issued as ari expedient
move in time of war, and Truman has been charged with playing
for Jewish votes. Yet, only the ungrateful will fail to recognize
- • that Truman acted a humane role, and if he played for votes he
knew how to gain it through a great historic act.
* • *
Truman Linked American and Jewish Histories
We have said it while he was in the White House, and we
say it now that he is in Independence, Mo.: Harry S. Truman's
name will go down in history as the man who knew the arrival
of an historic moment and he linked it promptly with American
history. He saw the emergence of an oppressed people as a free,
sovereign state, and he used his great office to extend to that
people a friendly hand. For that reason, we say that he is The
Modern Cyrus. .•
There were other occasions when Truman rose to great
heights, especially when he aligned himself with the liberal forces
In defense of humane immigration and naturalization laws. He
proved his genius when he took the lead in propagating civil
rights and legislation for the advancement of our highest social
sense. In these roles, as Senator Morse said, he was a great
President.
Cyrus' deeds are recorded in four Biblical books—Ezra, Isaiah,
Daniel and Second Chronicles. Truman's name is indelibly written
in modern Jewish history, to be remembered by all generations
to come.
'
2 — THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, January 23, 1953
62 Senators Prevent
Genocide Ratification
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—Six-
ty-two Senators have signed
a resolution introduced in the
Senate by Sen. John W.
Bricker, of Ohio, which would
prevent the United States
from ratifying the United
Nations Convention oh Geno-
cide and similar internation-
al agreements.
The supporters of the meas-
ure are mainly Republicans.
It is similar to a resolution
introduced last year known
as Senate Joint Resolution
130. If adopted, the resolu-
tion would amend the consti-
tution to restrain this gov-
ernment from signing the
genocide pact or similar .UN
accords like the Human
Rights Convention now -being
worked out. Sponsors of the
Bricker resolution claim that
the UN desires to "interfere
in matters essentially within
the domestic jurisdiction of
its members."
Sen. Langer Vows
Help in Amending
The McCarran Bill
Senator William Langer (R.,
N. D.) promised his aid • in
amending the McCarran-Walter
Immigration Law, in a telegram
to the annual meeting of United
Service for New Americans in
New York, Jan. 17-18.
Senator Langer, who was
scheduled to speak to the meet-
ing, has replaced Senator Pat
McCarran (D.. Nev.) as chairman
of the Sehate Judiciary Com-
mittee.
After expressing regret that
extraordinary stress of work
prevented his speaking to the
meeting; the Senator said, "You
may be certain that my com-
mittee will carefully scrutinize
the McCarran Act which I per-
sonally fought bitterly when
passed. Undoubtedly amend-
ments will be proposed and
hearings held. The committee
will welcome the attendance
and testimony •of any and all
folks who are interested. I shall
be glad to have representatives
of your organization present its
testimony upon that occasion."
At the Saturday night dinner,
of 400 Jewish community leaders
from all over the United States
and representatives from Prot-
estant and Catholic agencies,
government agencies and the
United Nations, heard a blister-
ing attack on the McCarran-
Walter Immigration Law from
Senator Hubert Humphrey,
Democrat of Minnesota.
The Senator called for the
united action of all faith groups
in liberalizing the un-American
IVIcCarran Immigration Law and
prbmised that whispering cam-
paigns and smears would not
stop his fight against it.
Walter H. Bieringer, who was
re-elected USNA president, also
bitterly assailed the McCarran
law at the Saturday night din-
ner meeting.
Committee Guides Butzel
Bui I di ng's Administration
To provide for efficient ad-
ministration of the Fred M.
Butzel Memorial Building, an
a ci-v i s o r y committee of real
estate and management men
and attorneys has been ap-
pointed by Samuel H. Rubiner,
president of the Jewish Welfare
Federation, and Theodore Levin,
president of the United Jewish
Charities.
Co-chairmen of the new com-
mittee are Avern L. Cohn and
Bert L. Smokler. Their commit-
tee includes Ingram Bander,
secretary, Harold Berry, Jay M.
Kogan, Charles L. Levin, Judge
Levin (ex-officio)„ Erwin S.
Simon, Richard Sloan and Rub-
iner (ex-officio).
The committee will make re-
commendations to the United
Jewish Charities board concern-
ing the annual operating bud-
get of the building, to supervise
the building operation, to advise
on personnel and purchasing
and to insure optimum utiliza-
tion of Butzel Building space.
Satovsky, Schiller Awarded Citations
ABE SATOVSKY (left) and CARL SCHILLER (right) receive
citations from Rabbi MORRIS ADLER for "outstanding services
and devotion" rendered in behalf of the campaign of the Jewish
Theological Seminary of America. Mr. Schiller is president of the
Men's Club of Congregation Shaarey Zedek and Mr. Satovsky is a
co-chairman of the Men's Club Seminary campaign committee.
Schools and Synagoalles Active in
Hamisha Asar Israel Tree Planting
William Hordes, president of
the Jewish•National Fund Coun-
cil of Detroit, announced this
week that extensive activities
are in progress in Detroit's
schools and synagogues to spur
tree-planting in Israel on the
occasion of „Hamisha Asar
b'Shvat, occurring Jan. 31.
The Agudath Horabonim of
the United States and Canada
last week issue,' a call to all
synagogues tc cooperate in the
Hamisha Asar tree-planting ef-
fort.
Mr. Hordes commended • the
principals and teachers of all
community schools for their ef-
forts for this annual traditional
project. He also stated that in
many synagogues presidents and
rabbis have undertaken on Sab-
bath Shirah—Jan. 31—to appeal
for the planting of trees.
Many individuals are expected
to join in the effort and to es-
tablish a new record for JNF
activity on the Jewish Arbor Day,
Mr. Hordes said.
Schools and synagogues, as well
as individuals wishing to plant
trees; are asked to communicate
with the JNF office at 11816
Dexter, TO. 8-7384.
Hillel Bavli to Address
Kvutzah, Teachers Meeting
Hillel Bavli, professor of mod-
ern Hebrew literature at the
Jewish Theological Seminary,
will address a joint meeting of-
the Kvutzah Ivrith and Hebrew
Teachers Association on Feb. 4,
in the auditorium of the Rose
Sittig Cohen Bldg.
The noted Hebrew poet and
essayist will speak on "Religion
and Tradition as Reflected -.in
Modern Hebrew Poetry." Max-
Gordon is chairman of the
meeting.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1952, Jewish
Telegraphic Agency, inc.)
Eyes on Washington
The eyes of the world are directed toward the White House
and President Eisenhower. .. The young state of Israel is one of
its most interestd observers „ The Israel government is fearful
that President Eisenhower might comply with the requests of the
Arab countries to supply them with American heavy arms and jet
planes . . . The Israelis are disturbed over the fact that Gen.
Naguib, Egypt's "strong man," may be invited to visit Washington
. . . As matters now are developing in Egypt, it seems reasonable
to believe - that Naguib may be afraid to leave Egypt even for a
brief visit to the United States, since he is faced with a growing
opposition . . . Just as Stalin is his own prisoner and does not
dare leave the Soviet Union, fearing the outbreak of a revolution
in his absence, so is Egypt's "strong man" today . . However,
there is no doubt that he will repeat to President Eisenhower's
administration the request he made of the Truman administra-
tion for American armaments and military planes. . . And the
big question is: "How will President Eisenhower react to this re-
quest?" ... American Zionist leaders are more concerned about
this question than about any other issue affecting. Israel It is
understood that Jacob Blaustein; Who was close to President Tru-
man, discussed the matter with President Eisenhower a few days
before Eisenhower moved into the White House.. . Although a
non-Zionist, he was the first American Jewish leader to approach
the President with this problem.
.
Facts and Figures
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The by-laws of the United Israel Appeal are being revised
Up to January, 1952 the UIA was comprised of the Keren
Hayesod and the Jewish National Fund . . . Now, by decision of
the last World Zionist Congress, UIA functions as the fund-rais-
ing agency of the Keren Hayesod alone ... UIA by-laws provide
that representation in the UIA shall consist of 72 persons ap-
pointed by the Keren Hayesod and its executive committee and 48
persons chosen from local American Jewish communities . . . Offi-
cers of the UIA are named by the board of the directors which
meets monthly . . . A small executive committee, composed on,
the same proportion of basis as the board, functions for the board'
on day to day business . All funds received by the UIA are
made available to the Keren Hayesod, which is the fiscal arm of
the Jewish Agency.. . ; Figures on UIA income now made public
reveal the interesting fact that in 1951 the UIA received from the
United Jewish Appeal about $46,000,000, which is $1,650,000 more
than in the preceding year . . This increase, in the face of a
smaller total of funds raised by the UJA is due to the smaller
allocation of UJA funds to the Joint Distribution COmmittee and
United Service for New Americans . . On the other hand, the
United Israel Appeal paid out in 1951 about $3,750,000 for trans-
portation of immigrants from Europe and the Middle East to Is-
rael ... In 1950, this financial responsibility was borne by JDC.
. The UIA allocated in 1951 more than 41,000,000 to the Mizrachi
Fund, more than $1,200,000 to the World Confederation of Gen-
eral Zionists, about $260,000 to the Agudath Israel and approxi-
mately the same sum to the Agudah laborite organization .. . In
subsidies, UIA gave $147,000 to the Hechalutz Organization; $65,000
for emigration from the U. S. to Israel; about $68,000 to schlichim,
$50,000 to the 'Palestine Gallery for Arts and Crafts in New York,
and $46,000 to the Zionist Archives in New York ... General of-
fice, administrative and executive costs declined in 1951 to $124,0009.
but publicity costs rose to $42,000.