Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Victor Gollancz: Almost a Meshumad, but 'a Jew at Heart'
"My Dear Timothy," an autobiographical letter to his grand-
son by Victor Gollancz (Simon and Schuster, 630 5th, NY20) , to
which passing reference -already has been made in this column,
is destined for a' long stay in the Best Seller Lists, The reason is
obvious: it is excellent writing, it is daring writing, it is a "good
Jew's" affirmation of love for Jesus and Christianity—all of which
are good reasons for arousing interest in a book that is different
and in which the author has something to say.
To explain the attitude of Victor Gollancz---eminent English
publisher, pacifist, socialist, member of a noted Anglo-Jewish fami
ly--this long -quotation is necessary:
"If there had been no war, it is possible that I should
have been baptized while at Oxford. Arrangements for the
ceremony had been made some time during the summer of
1914. But I am almost certain that, war or no war, I should
have called it off. And how glad I am that I 'did! Apart from
anything else, your grandmother, when the time came, would
never have married a meshumad (apostate).
"All my thoughts and emotions about religion, in the nar-
rower sense, were centred at Oxford on Christianity. It is true
that I went one Friday evening, probably during my first term,
to the cold little orthodox synagogue; but the visit was not re-
peated. I dallied a little longer with liberal Judaism, which I
felt to be genuinely religious and, what was much the same
thing. to demand my support as revolting from orthodoxy; I
still feel very similarly about it. . .
"As I reflect about my brief dalliance with liberal Juda-
ism, there comes to my mind an image of almost complete dis-
sociation: Nothing really passed between us. . .
"Long since . . I had given a wholehearted assent, in-
tellectual and emotional, to the ethics of Christianity. .
"If, during my first term at Oxford, someone had said to
me 'Are you a Christian?', I should have replied 'Ethically, yes,
in the sense that I "believe in" Christian ethics. In any other
sense, no.'.
"Well, I was a sort of Jew, and remain one, who in the
presence of antisemitism regards formal apostasy as disgust-
ing; and though I came across very little antisemitism during
my two years at Oxford, I came across just enough of it to
make me pause.
"Finally, there was my father. He had been horribly
wounded by my, sister's conversion: could I wound him again
still more horribly—for I was his son, not his daughter—with-
out being sure" that my motives were unmixed and that what I
had contemplated was inexorably demanded by conscience?
"The decision was taken out of my hands. Whatever I
might have decided, if the impulse had remained, it left me
in the turmoil of war. .
"There has been a lot about Judaism, Jewishness and the
Jews in this letter, and because, in spite of a good deal I have
written,- I shall give myself the pleasure of ending with a
Benediction which, with curious misinformation, many Gen-
tiles imagine to be of Christian origin: so I raise my hands
above your head, and say, May the Lord bless you and keep
you; may the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be
merciful unto you; may the Lord lift up the light of his coun-
tenance upon you and give you peace. Amen."
*
*
Rebellion Against Orthodoxy
Many readers may ask: why pay so, much attention to a
would-be meshumad? There is good reason for the interest we
have shown, for the at-random selected quotations' from "My Dear
Timothy." Gollancz happens to be an important name in English
Jewry. His book is commanding a great deal of interest in liter-
ary circles. Much will be said about Gollancz's confessional to a
grandson whose father is a half-Jew. There is sufficient reason
for probing into the heart and mind of Gollancz.
His book begins with an excoriation of orthodoxy. Yet, on
several occaslons, he confessed to a love for things Jewish. He un-
derstands his faith, knows the language of his prayers, was a
leader in the intellectual battle on Nazism. You don't just brush
aside a would-be apostate who chose to remain a Jew.
But his motives are of importance. Some of his reasoning is
-
so utterly foolish! For instance: his rebellion against his father's
anti-feminism (referring to the prayer thanking God that "thou
hast not made me a woman"), synagogue attendance, the dietary
laws, sabbath observance, fasting on Yam Kippur. He especially
resents the latter.
.
*
*
The Shrimps That the Flegs Served
And yet, when he and Mrs. Gollancz were the guests of the
noted French Jewish couple—the Edmond Flegs—("they were not
the tiniest bit less Jewish than we were," writes Gollancz)— and
were served objectionable food, because they were anxious not to
,offend their hosts, "somehow we got the horrid little lump things
down." They learned later that the Flegs would not have minded
if they had turned these objects down. The point is: inconsistency!
Gollancz speaks with hatred of Jewish traditions, but the nostalgia
for things Jewish remains: his allegiance proved strong when he
fought Nazism!
Why does he write as he does, and why his loyalty? Perhaps
he gave his own answer when he suggested anti-Semitism. Many
a man remained a Jew at the sight of the knout, or at the
thought that it might be applied to a kinsman. And such loyalty
reflects the better part of man.
There is much to be said about "My Dear Timothy." The
book deserves a special essay for its treatment of compulsions in
Jewish religious practices. Compulsion, more than anything ase,
caused him to acquire hatred for orthodoxy and tradition. But,
where, in any faith, or in any law-abiding society, will Victor
Gollancz find himself without any semblance of compulsion,—un-
less it be in anarchy?
In any event, his book is worth reading, for the good thingS
it expresses, for the opportunity it affords for dissent—for its ex-
cellent literary style.
•
McCarran Act Writer Delves into Law for Congress Group
One of the writers of the Mc-
Carran Act will be guest speaker
at a meeting of the Business and
Professional Chapter, American
Jewish Congress, at 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. William Cohen, 2265 Chica-
go.
The speaker, Harry Kobel, will
years employed and associated
with the federal government in
the Immigration. and • Naturali-
zation service.
Israel Builds Radios
TEL AVIV, (IIP)—Production
of radio sets in the Philco re-
frigerator plant here was re-
talk on an "Analysis of the cently begun, with the assem-
McCarran Act. Kobel was for 14 bly of 500 sets.
.
2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, February 20, 1953
I Convert Council Delegate Assernbly
Into Meeting to Protest Soviet Acts
Marvin Lawrence
Named North. End
Clinic Director
North End Clinic and Sinai
Hospital have announced the
appointment of Marvin J.
MARVIN J. LAWRENCE
Lawrence as director of North
End Clinic. Lawrence will as-
sume the post on Monday.
A member of the American
College of Hospital Administra-
tors, the American Hospital As-
sociation and the American
Public Health Association, the
new director received his bache-
lor of science degree in educa-
tion. and master of arts degree
in psychology from Wayne.
Before accepting the direc-
torship of the North End Clinic,
he was employed at the Jewish
Hospital Association of Cincin-
nati, as assistant to the execu-
tive director.
Until provision is made for an
out-patient clinic at Sinai Hos-
pital, patients will continue to
receive care at North End Clinic,
936 Holbrook.
The Clinic is a member agency
of the Jewish Welfare Federa-
tion and the Council of Social
Agencies.
Fraternity Is Upheld
In Pledging Jewish Boy
BOSTON, (JTA)—The sus-
pension of the Williams College
chapter of Phi Delta Theta fra-
ternity, a national organization
of 115 chapters, for accepting a
Jewish student as a member
has developed state-wide and
national ramifications.
The chapter was charged
with violating a constitutional
restriction against accepting
members who are not white or
of "full aryan blood."
Rep. Richard D. Caples, of
Boston, has introduced a reso-
lution in the Massachusetts
legislature condemning the, ac-
tion of the national fraternity
and asking the House to "ap-
plaud" the decision of the cam-
pus group.
At Brown University in Provi-
dence, local Phi Delts announc-
ed they would invite suspension
by pledging either a Negro or
Jewish student.
Dr. James P. Baxter III, pres-
ident of Williams College, has
issued a statement that "each
undergraduate should be ac-
corded whatever recognition he
merits as an individual accord-
ing to his ability, achievement,
personality and character."
Following a series of emerg-
ency meetings, Community
Council leaders announced this
week that the Delegate Assem-
bly scheduled for Monday will
be devoted to the problems
raised by Soviet anti-Semitism.
Isaiah M. Mumkoff, executive
director of the National Com-
munity Relations Advisory
Council and an authority on the
subject, will be principal
speaker.
Sidney M. Shevitz, Council
president, pointed out that the
decision was accelerated by
events of recent weeks: the
Prague and Moscow trials, the
bombing of the Soviet embassy
and the break-off, by Russia, of
diplomatic relations between
the USSR and Israel.
A Community Council com-
mittee has been developing
plans for a community protest,
and these plans were to have
culminated in a general com-
munity-wide meeting some time
during March. The urgency of
the situation impelled Council
leaders to convert the already-
scheduled Delegate Assembly in-
to a protest meeting.
While the date remains the
same, the place of the meeting
was changed to Central High
School auditorium to accommo-
date a larger attendance. Be-
cause of the extraordinary char-
acter of the forthcoming Dele-
gate Assembly, invitations are
extended to the entire commun-
ity to attend.
It is expected that at this
meeting plans, *formulated for
nation-wide action on the part
of the Jewish community, will
be explained and discussed.
The decision of the Council
leadership includes also the
calling together of a conference
of non-Jewish groups within the
city for the purpose of directing
general community-wide atten-
tion to the latest Soviet perse-
cutions.
Havana Jews to Plant
Forest in Israel in
Cuban Hero's Memory
HAVANA, (JTA)—The Jewish
community here has decided to
plant a forest in Israel to be
named after Jose Marti, who
liberated Cuba from the Spani-
ards. The centenary of Marti's
birth is now being celebrp,ted in
Cuba and throughout Latin
America.
The forest will be planted by
the Jewish National Fund in
cooperation with Jewish organi-
zations here. A delegation of
representatives of Jewish insti-
tutions, headed by M. M. Kap-.
lan, Israel Consul in Cuba, re-
cently visited the Ministry of
Information and informed Min-
ister Ernesto de la Fe of the
decision to plant the forest.
Morgenthau Vacations in Cuba;
Has Discussion with Pres. Batista
HAVANA, (JTA)—Henry Mor-
genthau, Jr., was received by
President Batista, and discussed
various matters with him. No
statement was issued on their
talk. Mr. Morgenthau is spend-
ing his vacation at Varadero, a -
Cuban resort.
Between You and Me
By LIORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1953, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Diplomatic Notes:
Moscow's diplomatic break with Israel will not prevent dis-
cussion of Soviet 'anti-Semitism at the UN General Assembly
which resumes its session Tuesday . . Soviet Foreign Minister
Andrei Vishinsky, who will head the Soviet delegation at the
Assembly, will have to do a lot of explaining after he hears his -
country denounced by numerous UN delegates . . Israel Ambas-
sador Abba Eban will spare no words in expressing the abhor-
rence of the entire Jewish world at the Kreinlin's incitement
against Jews . . . And all indications point to the fact that he will
be supported by delegates of the United States, various European
countries and Latin America , .. The American delegation at the
UN will follow the line of President Eisenhower who, in undiplo-
matic language, sharply condemned the Soviet anti-Jewish drive.
. .. The Argentine delegation is expected to take the lead among
the Latin American delegations, in line with the statement
against Soviet anti-Semitism made by Argentine President Juan
Peron to two Jewish delegations in Buenos Aires ... Brazil, Chile,
Uruguay are also certain to join in condemnation of the propa-
ganda campaign in the countries behind the Iron Curtain .
Simultaneously, with the protests voiced at the United Nations, a
petition signed by many leading Americans—Jews and non - Jews
—will be submitted to the United Nations, charging the Kremlin
with conducting a deliberate campaign against the Jews.
Washington Trends: _
Is it true that Senator Robert Taft met with representatives
of five member nations of the Arab League for more than three
hours? . . And is it true that, after listening to their requests
with regard to Israel, he promised to give careful consideration to
these requests? . . Those who claim to know something about
this alleged meeting boast that the Arab representatives reported
to their governments that they expect much to emerge from their
conference with the Senate's majority leader, that they
asked Sen. Taft for another appointment in tle near future .
Anti-Israeli elements in Washington are intensifying their "be-
hind - the - scenes" activities with a view to influencing the State
Department's stand on Israel . . . Some American diplomats, who
cautiously avoided coming out openly against Israel until now,
are becoming bolder . . . Their utterances aim to create in the
ranks of the American Government an atmosphere' less friendly
to Israel . . . One such person is an American diplomatic repre-
sentative in Ethopia, of all countries . . Another anti-Zionist
diplomat who is scheduled to be assigned to an important post
George Wadsworth. His anti-Zionist feelings have been no
is
Appoint Mrs, Arnfeld
secret since the days when he was in the American diplomatic
To Head Pre-Campaign service in Mandated Palestine , . . He is now American Minister
to Czechoslovakia, but the State Department intends to name him
Mrs. Eugene J. Arnfeld's ap- AmeriCan Ambassador to Pakistan, which always sides with the.
pointment as chairman of pre- Arabs against Israel at the United Nations.
campaign for the Women's Di-
vision in the 1953 Allied Jewish Israel Art:
Campaign has been announced
Much is known in this country about Israel's political affairs
by Mrs. Lewis B. Daniels, Di-
vision chairman. Serving as ex- and economic problems, but little is known about Israel's contri-
ecutive vice-chairman is Mrs. butions to modern art . . . In this respect, the Israel theater and
Israeli music have had much more luck than Israel's achieve-
Ivor J. Kahn.
Mesdames Harry Becker, I. ments in the field of modern painting . . To build better under-
Jerome Hauser, Philip Lipson standing of Israeli paintings among American art lovers, the
and Melville S. Welt will serve Gazith Art Publishing Co., a New York-Tel Aviv enterprise, has
as vice-chairmen and Mesdames just published "Israel Painters"—an album of excellent reprodue-
Ben L. Silberstein and James tons of the works of a number of outstanding Israel artists ..
The reproductions give an excellent idea of the high calibre of
Wineman as secretaries.
Other members of the pre- art which is being created in the Jewish: State . . Not all of
campaign cabinet are Mesdames them reflect Israel local themes, but all of them testify to the
Abraham Srere and Hyman C. fact that there is today in Israel a group of painters whose ma,.
turity cannot be doubted.
I Broder.
.