Tipp- Alipv

Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
The Place of SHALOM. in the Capsule of Time
A few weekS ago; your Commentator was asked to participate

in predictionA gathered by the University of Iowa School of
Journalism, to be placed in a time capsule, sealed in the univer-
sity's new Communications Center Building, to be opened in 100
years. This Commentator, asked for his views in his capacity as
president of the American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers, offered these auguries in response to the request of the
Iowa University's Associate Professor of Journalism Edward F.
Mason:
April 13, 2053
SHALOM! PEACE!
The conservative English-Jewish press, now 200 years old,
looks back serenely to its birth. Some instruments of our age
are hoary. But our beard hasn't even begun to sprout. There is
indestructibility in age: hasn't the Psalmist proclaimed, "for a
thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday . . ." It is no
wonder, then, that what we experience today we have already
experienced; that our trials and tribulations also were the
challenges of yesteryears; that history repeats itself.
Yet, this is a good age. It is an age in which we can look
back, calmly, upon repeating events, upon plagues that were
overcome by mankind. The basic ideals of Man survived the
loathsome and offensive elements in life. In our land, the tradi-
tions of freedom and democracy triumphed over the threats that
came from bigots. The genius of America emerged as the guide
for the world.
It is proper to think of these things as we observe the
200th anniversary of a Press, published for Jews, in the spirit
of our Prophets and of America, and to look back a hundred
years to the days when men and women everywhere were in
jitters. With our neighbors, we have survived many things.
We have seen the rise and fall of the Know-Nothing move-
ment, the Ku Klux Klan, the Fascists, the America Firsters,
the extremists in bigotry. In truth, we see them rise again.
Only the other day, another such movement attempted to re-
vive hoary myths, to create hatred, to inspire prejudice against
people of differing religions and tinted skins. We chuckled as
we read about them. -And we said to them: "Brothers, (aren't
we all brothers?) turn back the pages of history! There is a
lesson in store for you! Iniquity can not survive! Look at the
movements akin to yours: Coughlin and Ford retired into
solitude,• and Ford apologized to the Jews. The Ku Klux Klan
tarred some people and shed some blood, but they always had
to hide behind hoods: they should have known their own
shame. McCarthyism had a short life. No, Brothers, you can't
survive wrong and injustice."
Thus, the battle continues, ever for the right, with dangers
ahead, but with faith the triumphing element in Man's exis-
tence.
This is an interesting day for the American Jew. It is re-
flected in our Press. When we first began there were news-
papers for Jews in Yiddish, and in Ladino, and in Hebrew.
Ladino, the dialect of Spanish Jewry, was the first to disappear.
Yiddish had a slower exit. Its decline is a tragedy. Its rich
literature was best understood in the original. Today, most of
its gems are either lost or forgotten.
Of the non-English instruments of public opinion, only He-
brew survived. This is the indestructible language. It is the
language of the Bible and of the Prophets. It is no wonder
that it can not and will not die. It remains undying also for
another reason: It is the language of Israel. Which leads us to
another cause for reminiscing on this interesting day of April
19, 2053: One hundred years ago Israel was barely five years
old. That little land struggled against great odds, but survived
attacks. Today she is a beacon light unto the nations, as her
forerunner in the Holy Land was more than 2,000 years ago.
Israel's rise and survival is proof of the indestructibility of
an ideal, of the superiority of right over wrong. True, Israel
needed the help of America. The acquisition of such help is
indication of the justice of the cause.
And because Right triumphs over wrong, all the fears of
yesteryears, especially of 1953, over an impending destruction
of the world by the Atomic Bomb, have vanished. Right is
might. What a glorious testament to Faith and to Righteous-
ness that Man's fears were unnecessary and unjustified.
Blessed be this day of Peace!

2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 15, 1953

Circle Resolution
Blasts Attack on
Bergman's Loyalty

A general meeting of the
membership of Workmen's Cir-
cle directed its district commit-
tee to draw up a resolution res-
specting the status of Dr. Walter
Bergman, an avowed socialist
and supervisor for educational
research in the Detroit Board of
Education.
The resolution deplores the at-
tacks on Bergman by the State
Department, which revoked his
passport while questioning his
loyalty. Dr. Bergman is current-
ly in Denmark on a sabbatical
leave, attending the Danish Peo-
ple's Institute.
Dr. Bergman, who has served
the Board for 30 years, was de-
fended by the Circle for his ded-
ication "to the highest ideals of
the democratic way of life, in
his teaching and in his profes-
sional and social contacts and
organizations and in his political
life."
The Circle is represented on the
Aid to Bergman COmmittee form-
ed by members of Americans, for
Democratic Action, the Detroit
Federation o f Teachers a n d
other organizations to defend
Dr. Bergman.
The resolution also attacked
Arthur Dondineau, Superintend-
ent of Public Schools, for his ac-
tion in stopping Bergman's pay
on receipt of a letter from Berg-
man himself. The State Depart-
ment had sent no previous no-
tice to Dondineau, a Circle rep-
resentative explained.

Glazer Heads Committee
Planning Graduation
Dinner of Folk Schools

A school celebration on June
10, followed by a dinner at Bel-
Aire Terrace will honor this
year's graduates of the United
Jewish Folk Schools. The grad-
uation class will perform the
cantata, "What Is Torah?" and
a special music-
al program is
planned.
Representa-
tives of local
and national
Labor Zionist
or ganizations
will be in at-
tendance to see
the students re-
ceive diplomas
from the school
Glazer
board, an-
nounced Jacob Glazer, chairman
of the event.
Reservations may be made by
writing the school office, 13722
Linwood, or by calling TO.
8-9280 or TO. 8-0941. Friends
are invited to attend.
The traditional Shevuot cele-
bration will be held in all classes
of the Folk Schools at 4 p. m.,
Tuesday. Songs, stories, legends
and the meaning of Bikoorim
will be included in the program.
The school's PTA last week
held its fifth anniversary cele-
bration, at - which L. Kruger,
founder and a past president of
the group, spoke of its accom-
plishments in supplying a movie
projector, camera, playground
facilities and nursery school
needs. The group is planning a
picnic June '7, at Lola Valley
Park.

Hebrew Schools' Annual Meeting
To Honor 100 Years of Teaching

When the annual meeting of the United Hebrew Schools is
convened this year, members will pay tribute to SOLOMON KAS-
DAN, MAX GORDON and JOSEPH HAGGAI, pictured left to
right, who between them represent over 100 years of service to
the Schools.

*

*

A very special part of the an- be held. Members of the board

nual meeting of the United He- of directors will be elected to
brew Schools on June 16 will be three-year terms.
Serving on the arrange-
a program in honor of three of
the Schools' most distinguished ments committee are Mrs.
George M. Roberts and Mrs.
scholars and teachers.
The three men, Max Gordon, Louis. Tobin, co-chairmen.
Joseph Haggai and Solomon Harry Cohen is chairman of
Kasdan, each of whom has been t h e reservation committee;
with the Schools for over 33 Naomi Floch, chairman of the
years, have devoted most of alumni committee; and Ru-
their lives to serving faithfully ben Isaacs, publicity chair-
the educational needs of De- man.
Members of the dinner com-
troit's Jewish community.
Consequently, Jacob Kell- mittee include Julius Berman,
man and Mandell Berman, Mandell Berman, Harry Cohen,.
chairmen of the meeting, this Mrs. Isidore Frankel, Louis Gel-
week announced a special tes- fand, Bernard Isaacs, Jacob
timonial dinner, which begins Kellnian, Ira G. Kaufman, Mrs.
Sidney Kosofsky, Milton Mar-
at 6:30 p. m., at Beth Aaron
Synagogue, as a tribute to wil, Mrs. George' M. Roberts and
Mrs. Louis Tobin.
their endeavors.
The minimum goal set for the
Many affiliates of the Schools
have rallied to muster support testimonial dinner is 500 per-
for the affair. At a special sons.
alumni meeting, attended by
representatives of each grad- Social Service Bureau
uating class, plans were made Plans Sunday Open House
for full alumni participation.
The board of directors of the
Support also was forthcoming
from the Parent Teachers Or- Jewish Social Service Bureau has
ganization, Women's Auxiliary invited the community to attend
and the Men's Group, which is an open houre reception at 3'30
co-sponsoring this tribute meet- p.m., Sunday, celebrating the
recent moving of their offices to
ing.
Following the dinner, the 13327 Linwood.
Mrs. William H. Frank, chair-
progress report of the Schools
for the past school year will be man, announces that following
presented, and election of of- a general welcoming, tours of
ficers for the 1953-54 year will the building -will be held.

Between You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1953, Jewish Telegraphic Agency,

Inc.)

Washington Notes

The American Government may soon start sending arms to
Egypt in large quantities . . and Israel's application for arms,
which has been "frozen" for a long time, will finally be acted upon
. . . Both countries will have to give definite guarantees that they
will not use the American arms against each other . . . The Egyp-
tian army has lately achieved a considerable measure of effi-
ciency, thanks to its many German instructors . . . Therefore,
some Washington circles are of the opinion that the U. S. Gov-
ernment must enable Israel, too, to streamline its defenses in or-
der to keep military power in the Middle East properly balanced
. . . Pro-Israel elements in Washington point out that the British
military forces now in Egypt will probably be evacuated in the not
too distant future to Jordan, thus strengthening Jordan vis-a-vis
Israel . .. On the other hand, speculation is rife in Washington
of the possibility of evacuating part of the British troops from
Egypt to the Israel section of the Negev where there is plenty of
wasteland which could easily be made available for military bases.
. .. However, it is also realized that the evacuation of the British
troops from Palestine is still too recent in the mind of the Israelis
to allow the return of these troops now under a different arrange-
ment . . . The belief exists that were it a question of American
troops, the idea might be a little more palatable . . . The Negev
is a vacant wasteland right between Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Saudi
Arabia and the Suez Canal area, linking the Mediterranean with
the Red Sea, and some in Washington maintain that it cannot be
ignored when the need for military bases is so great.
*

If it is true, as has been said, that "no man is a prophet in
his own country," it may be stated with equal truth that no man
is prophet in his own time. It also has been said that "the best
reply to a prophecy is another forecast." There is a Yiddish say-
ing that "a Novi is a naar,"—"a prophet is a fool." We mention
these not only in our own defense but also as an evaluation of
our augury:
We have drawn upon faith in evaluating the Future, and in
faith we believe that Right will conquer might, that justice must
prevail in the world. We have many examples in history to point
to the contrary, lout all of the ugly seasons, all of the cruel expe-
riences, were passing phases in Man's existence. The aftermath
of each declining era has witnessed the resurgence of better days.
So it will be in 2053—and so it will be a thousand years after
Communal Affairs
that—in spite of threats from atomic or other outbursts.
The United Jewish Appeal campaign is going very well in most
Our own time is the best proof of our confidence. It is a New Director of LZOA
tough age; perhaps it even will toughen our children against all To Speak at Forum Meet of the communities . . . A Big Gift meeting in Detroit brought
$2,518,000 in pledges, which is 12 percent more from the group
impending dangers. But it is a most interesting age to live in—
than last year . • . A Special Gift meeting in Cleveland resulted in
especially for one who is given a chance to be a prophet in his
The newly-appointed execu- pledges totalling over $2,000,000, an increase of 14 per cent over
own country and in his own time.
tive director of the Labor Zion- the amounts contributed by the same persons last year .. . In Los
ist Organization of America, Angeles, $1,900,000 was raised from contributors who gave $1,600,-
Jacob Katzman, will be in De- 000 last year . • . In Philadelphia, $1,800,000 was raised from per-
Hebrew Schools to Hold Rosh Hodesh Celebration
troit on May 25 when he will sons who gave $1,580,000 last year . . In Newark, a Big Gifts
speak on "The Role of Labor
Central Hebrew High School Alvin Sulkes will discuss its Zionism in the American Scene." meeting brought about $500,000, or 37 per cent more than last year.
Denver's Big Gifts meeting surpassed 1952 by ten percent, with
and the Midrasha will observe meaning fulness in English.
The meeting, to be held at pledges totalling more than $410,000 . . Milwaukee's Big Gift
Atzereth RoSh Hodesh Sivan at Leonard Lachover will recite the
the LZOA. Institute, 13722 Lin- meeting topped those of 1952 by 15 per cent . . . Hartford's Big
11 a.m., Sunday, in the Rose Sit- Atzereth Hadibrot.
Other participants are Fay wood, is part of the Labor Zion- Gift meeting brought $400,000 in pledges, which is about $20,000
tig Cohen Bldg. auditorium. The
high school graduating class will Goldin and Dorothy Feinberg, ist Forum, and will conclude more than last year . . . Also ahead of last year are Memphis,
Houston, Peoria, Dallas, Louisville, San Diego, Norfolk, Duluth,
lead the .celebration, which is who will . sing several melodies: the series of four lectures.
While here, Katzman will Albany, Savannah,, Springfield, Phoenix, Seattle, Kansas City,
devoted to the significance of Faith Greenbaum, who will play
the violin; and Ruth Katzman, meet with the local LZOA CouriL Richmond, Trenton, and numerous other cities , .. In New York
Shevuot.
Alan Rosenthal will be chair- who will discuss the month's cil and speak before several City, the UJA has already provided Israel this year with $6,615,000
man, and Frieda Griner and important events. Mrs. Alex affiliated groups. The public is in cash, of which $4,000,000 was borrowed from banks . . . All and
Nina Spirecher will relate • the Roberg will direct community invited to the lecture, at no all, the UJA is doing better this year than last year in all parte
charge.
of the country.
holiday story in Hebrew, while singing.

