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. 4 * 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?" - * The Related Cyrus TruMan Roles - .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 - 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.