weiswitw.
THE JEWISH NEWS
Staking .a
incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 26. 1951
Member: American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 706.10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 36, Mich., WO. 5-1155.
Subscription $4 a year, foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879 .
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
Page 4
Vol. XXIII, No. 4
April 3, 1953
Sabbath Passover Scriptural Selections
-
Pentateuchal portions, Ex. 33:12-34:26, Num. 28:19-25; Prophetical portion, Ezek. 36:37-37:14.
Hol Hantoed Passover Readings of the Torah, Sunday .. Num, 9:1-14, 28:19-25.
Readings of the Torah for Concluding Days.ofpassover
Monday: Pentateuchal portions, Ex. 13:17-15:26; •Prophetital portion, II : Samuel 22. •
Tuesday: Pentateuchal portions, Deut. 15:19-16:17, Nith7L, 28:19-25; .-Prophetical portion, Is.
10.32-12:6.
Licht Benshen, Friday, April 3, 4:03 p.m.
The New President of the Hebrew University
After many months of speculating over portant office to enroll the rich for greater
the choice of a president of the Hebrew - support of the university.
Fortunately for the Hebrew University,
University. the Jerusalem university's board its board of governors gave major thought
of governors, at a meeting in the Holy City to the school's scholastic standing. This em-
last week, elected the school's Rector, Prof. phasis on the academic valties is not made
blindly and without recognition of the need
Benjamin Mazar, to that post. It also con-
tinued an earlier policy, of honoring the for funds. But in the case of a great school,
head of the Jewish state, by electing Israel. . as in the instance of a sacred cause, the idea
President Isaac Ben Zvi as honorary presi- itself must prosper in order to merit* en-
couragernent and support. The Hebrew Uni-
dent of the university.
versity
must retain its high standards: then,
The election of Prof. Mazar provides
and then only, will it be able justifiably to
heartening factors. Contrary to the specu-
Hebrew: Inspirer of Americanism
lations of the past year, the choice for the plead for Jewry's support.
We commend the Hebrew University's
An American Jewish Press Feature
Hebrew University's presidency is not a
"This Is Our Home," the American Jewish Committee pam-
fund-raiser. There seemed to be a foregone board of goVernors for placing scholarship.
conclusion, during the theorizing over can- first. We congratulate them on their selec- phlet, provides interesting information on the influence of Hebrew
country, as follows:
didates for the post, that the man to be tion of a man out of the ranks of the school's in this
So taken up were the Puritans with the Old Testament that
scholars and we extend our greetings to the
chosen would be a person who would either
they- felt it necessary to know it in the original Hebrew. The study
be able personally to bring large sums for new Hebrew University president. We have of Hebrew flourished in colonial America as it did in England
faith
that
the
merits
of
the
Jerusalem
Uni-
the support of the school or who would in-
versity will earn for it greater support from under the Commonwealth. Professors Perry Miller and Thomas
spire increased contributions. There was a American
Johnson remark in their book "The Puritans:" "Not only was
: Jewish communities. We urge such H.
tendency to excuse this sort of thinking be-
Hebrew considered the foundation for an exact understanding of
continued
and
increased
support—especially
the Old Testament, but it was then as later thought to be the
cause of the university's economic plight.
now that the university's governors have re- mother of languages; a knowledge of it therefore was believed to
But it was a regrettable pattern. Instead
pudiated a common belief that only the go- advance learning in the best sense." President Ezra Stiles of Yale
of scholarship, the speculatory tracks were getter and -fund-raiser is to -be considered delivered graduation addresses in Hebrew and firmly held that
paved with monetary figures and with em- for leadership of great institutions. The its study was essential to a full education. The presidents of
phasis on dollar signs. It was not scholastic school of learning is to be guided by a schol- Harvard and Columbia shared his views. President Samuel John-
standing and the desire for greater cultural ar. Out of respect for such a wise decision, son of Columbia believed that Hebrew was "part of a gentleman's
education." At ;Harvard, until 1817, the commencement exercise
attainment that seemed to matter, but rath-
let him who has the funds provide them so included
a Hebrew oration. Hebrew mottos appear to this day
er the power of the nominee for the im- that this idea may prevail. .
on the seals of Yale and Columbia Universities, Early American
books frequently quoted Hebrew in the original, obviously assum..
ing a wide familiarity with the language. The gravestone of
Governor William Bradford is inscribed in Hebrew. Men and
towns bore Hebrew names.
The height of the emphasis on Hebrew was probably reached
economic self-sufficiency for all nations con-
during the revolutionary period. During intense moments of anti-
c,erned, including Israel and the Arab states. British feeling, it was seriously suggested that Hebrew be substi-
*
*
tuted for English as the new language of the young nation.
Enforcement of the reparations pact be-
One of the reasons for this intense interest in Hebrew during
tween Israel and the West German govern- the very early days was a wish to convert the Jews in their own
ment may not put a complete* end to Arab tongue. Although not very many Jews were available for this
threats of an economic boyCott of the Bonn purpose, the Indians were felt • to be adequate substitutes since
government, but it finally puts into effect they were considered to be one of the lost tribes of Israel.
Israel, Egypt and the Effect of Reparations
Fast-moving events continue to place Is-
rael in the world's limelight. The reparations
pact with Germany, the difficulties that
stem from the Egyptian borders and the
Soviet satellites' attacks on Israel and Zion-
ism are linked in the mesh of events that
keep the young state embroiled in the world
conflict.
One of the major problems affecting Is-
rael stems from the armament race, with
Egypt playing a threatening role. U. S. and
World Report, published in Washington, last
week released an interview with Egypt's dic-
tator Mohammed Naguib who described
Zionist fears of aggression over his negotia-
tions with the State Department for mili-
tary aid as "just Israeli propaganda." He
did . not give details of the nature or the
amount of munitions he is seeking, but made
no secret of anticipated closer military and
economic bonds between Egypt and this
country. When told that "some people are
afraid that if military aid is given Egypt,
you will attack Israel," he replied:
"We are now doing better without war, by
blockading Israel. It has the same effect as
war. Why should I endanger my country and
open it to air raids by launching war? I would
lose the confidence of all big nations. They
would consider me aggressive.
"All this talk is just Israeli propaganda. I
don't think they will attack us. They know we
are not thinking of attacking them. We have
enough means of pressure and do not think of
foolish things like that. -I have fortunately
gained the confidence of nearly all the nations.
Our movement is being regarded with sympa-
thy and we are beginning to feel the results
in financial help and so on. It is not easy to
Jose all this by committing a folly, the end of
which cannot be known to anyone."
This can be interpreted a dozen ways. It
may even leave the impression that Naguib
is not aiming at a war with Israel: One thing
is clear: there is little love for his neighbor
in Naguib's heart. He speaks of a blockade,
which can well mean the continuation of the
undeclared war. -
The audience President Eisenhower had
with a Zionist delegation has created a bet:
ter mood, but all friends of Israel, who seek
security for the young state, must continue
to be on guard against the breakdown of the
best relations between this country and Is-
rael. The Zionist emissaries pleaded with
President Eisenhower to strive for peace in
the Middle East. That alone will assure
strong democratic support in that area and
an act of justice towards those who were
robbed. But even The reparations agreement
must be clearly understood, in the light of
the numerous fund-raising activities in Jew-
ish. - communities. It is valuable that Ameri-
can Jews should have the following facts,
relayed to us by Avraham Harman, director
of the Israel Office of Information:
.
"The economic effects of the; reparations
agreement should not be minimized, but nei-
ther -should they be exaggerated. The pay-
ments are to be made over a period of 12 years
and will-consist almost exclusively of capital
goods, Thus the payments will make no impact
at all on the non-repayable expenditures need-
ed for UJA activities, namely the movement
of immigrants to Israel, their preliminary re-
ception in the country, and their physical and
occupational rehabilitation.
"As far as bond investments are concerned,
the whole purpose of the Bond Drive is to
make it possible for Israel within the immedi-
ate period of a year or two, so to develop its
resources as to achieve self-sustenance quickly.
The payments from Germany cannot, there-
fore, replace bond income, but they do have
the effect of strengthening Israel's capacity to
repay the bond loan. The investor in bonds
now has the assurance that during the course
of the next twelve years substantial funds will
Row into Israel from Germany continuously,
strengthening Israel's economic potential and
so strengthening Israel's capacity to repay the
bond loans which fall due in 1966."
. These points must be remembered as we
strive to provide philanthropic aid to Israel
through the UJA and economic support by
means of bond purchases. The reparations
income does not substitute for either one and
the needs remain the same as they were be-
fore the pact's ratification.
While the dangers that were envisioned
as facing Israel a month ago have dimin-
ished, the necessity for remaining on guard
Franz Rosenzweig's Life and Thou ht
-Franz Rosenzweig, the eminent Jewish thinker who fought
against odds, conquering illness, to interpret Judaism as a living
faith; whose leadership of the Freies Juedisches Lehrhaus in
Frankfort on the Main gave Jewish scholars an opportunity to
become acquainted with his courageous interbretations of Jewish
ideas; whose thoughts continue to inspire Jewish students today
—this interesting personality now can be better understood as a
result of the story of his life. and thoughts told by Nahum N.
Glatzer of Brandeis University.
The Jewish Publication Society has issued this book under the
title "Franz Rosenzweig: His Life and Thought." It is a thought-
provoking work, the first portion of which is devoted to Dr. Glatz-
er's study of the eminent thinker's life.
There was a moment in Rosenzweig's life when he planned to
emulate his friends and turn Christian. A stirring experience on
the Day of Atonement moved him away from that idea.
Although he was critical of Zionism, Dr. Glatzer states in his
introduction:
"Rosenzweig felt that a Jewish intellectual had only two
choices: Zionism., if he wanted to affirm his Judaism, or bap-
tism; if he turned to religion as a Western European."
The major portion of this book is devoted to a study and
review of Rosenzweig's philosophy—his ideas -on Jewish liVing and
learning, on religion and language, on philosophy and the Jewish
people.
Rep. Emanuel Celler's Autobiography
"You Never Leave Brooklyn" is the title of congressman
Emanuel Celler's autobiography published by John Day Co. f21O
Madison Ave., NY). Issued on the occasion of his completion of
30 years of uninterrupted service in Congress, this book proves
the point made by the author; that the battles he fought were
fashioned by the spirit acquired in his home town - of Brooklyn.
This autobiography is in no sense ultra-profound. It is a
simply told tale of the interesting life of a veteran Congress-
man. But out of the simplicity emerges the story
of a man who fought valiantly for the things he
thought right, for fair legislation, for humane
immigration laws, for' an independent Israel.
We learn that Celler's grandfather, a Catholic,
and his mother, a Jewess, were on the same boat
traveling from Bavaria. When the boat was near-
ing American shores, it began to sink. The
Catholic saved the Jewess, he became a Jew and
they married.
Celler's battles with Rankin, his support of
Roosevelt and Truman, his Zionist activities,
which are inscribed in a complete chapter in his Rep. Keller
remains, as we have pointed out, as vital as
ever.
The major hope of world Jewry, and
certainly of American Jewry, is that peace
between Israel and the Arabs is not too re- biography, are told frankly, factually. His book will be read witli
mote. If that can be achieved, the whole a great deal of interest by the historian seeking facts about ato.
world will be able to breathe more easily. generation.