A Peace-Maker's Problems
THE JEWISH NEWS
Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20. 1951
member: American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers, Michigan Press Association.
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 108-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26. Mich., WO. 9-1155.
4ubscription $4 a year, foreign 115.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1819.
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
VOL. XXIII, No. 11
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
Page 4
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
May 22, 1953
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the ninth day of Sivan, 5713, the following Scriptural selections will be read in
• ur synagogues:
PentateuChal portion—Num. 4:21-7:89.
Prophetical portion—Judges 13:2-25.
Licht Benshen, Friday, May 22, 6:52 p.m.
Israel-Arab Issue: Role of U.S. as Peace-Maker
As a result of the visit in the Middle East,
including Israel, of Secretary of State John
Foster Dulles and Mutual Security Director
Harold Stassen, Israel's position has been
made clearer and the role of the United
" States as peace-maker with the Arabs more
apparent.
On the eve of the U. S. officials' departure
for the Middle and Near East, interesting
propaganda was unleashed. The Arab po-
sition, as outlined by the spokesmen for Is-
rael's antagonists, was summarized as be-
ing based on demands for territorial re-
visions and the return of Arab refugees to
Israel. We have no doubt that the U. S.
spokesmen are well acquainted with the true
facts. When Arabs speak in terms of terri-
tory based on the original 1947 .United Na-
tions partition decision, they seek to mislead
the world into believing that they favored it
at the outset. The truth is that the destruc-
tion of liVeS• and properties in the Holy Land,
for which they must be held responsible, was
the result of a war launched upon Israel the
very moment the Jewish state declared its
independence. The present territorial status
of Israel is a direct result of the defensive
activities of the new state.
*
Similarly, the statesmen of the world,
and more especially the spokesmen for this
country, must be made aware of the truth
in the Arab refugee issue. The Palestinian
Arabs were not driven froth . their homes:
they left of their own accord, • at the instiga-
tion of their leaders who believed that they
would destroy the young state and acquire
that territory. During the early stages of
• discussion, in the UN, Israel offered to re-
- patriate more than 100,000 refugees. This
offer was rejected and such repatriatiOn later
was made difficult, if not altogether impos-
sible.
These are the two major issues raised by
the Arabs who could have been parties to an
amicable solution to the problem had they
shown the slightest interest in peace nego-
tiations. But they refused to negotiate with
Israel, they :•• would not :recognize the Israeli
name and refused to mention it in UN de-
bates, and they now speak of adherence to
the terms of the original decision only out
of a belief that they can. thus force Israelis
to evacuate territory like the Negev which
has been developed and strengthened since
Israel's liberation.
Israeli spokesmen, howeVer, are more
conciliatory. They speak of financial aid to
refugees and of assistance in repatriating
.
them in Arab countries, and they are ready
to compensate those who have fled.
Of particular interest is Israel's readiness
to make frontier rectifications in areas
where villages are located on both sides of
the border. While it has been indicated that
only about 150,000 dunams—approximately
38,000 acres—of land would be involved in
such negotiations with Syria and . Jordan, the
fact that Israel is prepared to discuss prob-
lems involving such areas is an indication of
a sincere desire to come to terms with the
Arabs and to work for peace in the best in-
terests of the entire area.
In addition, Israel's offer of Haifa's port
facilities to Jordan adds proof, to her crav-
ing for amity.
*
Naturally, before there can be an en-
forceable peace there must be an end to the
Arab economic boycott, the truce violations
on the borders must end and Naguib -must
stop his gun-toting. •
Only the United States is in position to
bring both sides together. The first step
must be in the direction of inducing Arab
leaders to talk directly with the Israelis with
whom they must establish common ground
at a peace table. Thereafter, matters will be
less difficult.
We are witnessing the beg inning of a pos-
sible peace as a -result of ttie visit in Israel
and in the Arab states by the two U. S.
leaders. Now all peace-loving peoples must
hope that out of these initial efforts will de-
velop genuine accord. All the fears from
Communism, all the doubts about strife, can
thus be dispelled. World peace hinges upon
the wholesome results of the Dulles-Stassen
visit in the Middle East.
*. .*
Mr. Dulles, who was greeted in Israel-
with • shouts "Long Live America," had
a proper reception, in spite of the arro-
gance that was displayed by Communist
elements. The Secretary of State's ex-
planation that he had made the trip to
gather information and "to . show the
verment
.friendship of our people and go
for your government and people" is en-
eouraging: Heartening also is his state-
ment: "We know the great progress made
by Israel and the energetic way in which
its leaders are attempting to solve the
problems which exist."
But Arab intransigence is a serious ob-
stacle to overcome. The . solution is in . the
hands of reasonable U. S. and UN leaders.
May the statesmen of the world prove strong.
in their determination to enforce peace.
Firm Stand for Free Editorial Expression
Spokesmen for the English-Jewish press,
at the annual convention of publishers and
editors, in Washington, last week, took a
firm stand in defense of a free press, declar-
ing unanimously that they "hold inviolate
the right of editorial expression without fear
of harrassment." The Jewish newspaperMen
called upon editorS and publishers of all
faiths and all races "to guard zealously the
trust that is theirs by rallying to the defense
of those whose Constitutional rights are vio-
lated and to recognize that so long as the
rights of any individual are jeopardized, a
threat exists to all."
This statement, coupled with ,President
Eisenhower's assertion, in his message to the
convention of the American Association • of
English-Jewish Newspapers, that "one of the
most effective sources of a democracy's
strength is the accurate presentation of the
news by a free press," serves an important
purpose. It links Jewish leadership with the
serious efforts now being exerted by respon-
sible newspapers to allay fears and to com-
bat efforts at intimidation. The Wechsler-
McCarthy episodes served to bring the issue
to the attention of the larger public, and the
request of James Wechsler, editor of the
New York Post, for action by the American
Newspaper EditOrs Association, appears• -cer-
tain to bring the desired results in defense of
basic American rights. All Americans owe
Wechsler a debt of gratitude for his coura-
geous stand against investigators' intimida-
tions. -
The New York Times, in an editorial
analysis of. "Freedom and Fear," made an
important contribution to the truest Ameri-
can ideals with these conclusions:
"Fear leads to panic, and panic can
lead to the subversion of our most precious
institutions. Americans have to be alert,
strong and steady. But they do not have
to be scared. It is contrary to the best in-
. terests of the country to capitalize on fear."
The position taken by the English-Jewish
press endorses these views. It calls for the
abandonment of intimidations. It takes its
rightful place along with • the general press
of our country in combatting fear. It is
proof that the basic medium for the dis-
semination of news, the expression of views
and the exchange of ideas—the Jewish news-
paper published in English—is a vital Amer-
ican instrument and a major institution in
the development of Jewish communal struc-.
tures.
`Early American Jewry': Dr. Marcus'
•• Fathers'
Story of 'Jewish Founding
EARLY AMERICAN JEWRY, Velume fI. By Jacob R. Marcus. Philadelphia, Pa.,
Jewish Publication Society of America. 615 pages and 18 pages or illustra-
tions. 54.
The second volume of "Early American Jewry" by Dr. Jacob.
R.. Marcus continues with the story of the Colonial Jews, pursuing
the same method used so effectively in the first volume which
appeared about a year ago. Volume 1 dealt with New York, New
England and Canada; Volume II includes Pennsylvania and the
colonies and states to its south. Once more we are introduced
—frequently through their own words—to the men and women,
important and unimportant, who were in a real sense the "Found-
ing Fathers" of the American .Jewish community. This volume,
like the preceding one, contains a number of interesting illustra-
tions; it also has an extensive index, covering about thirty pages,
to facilitate reference to both volumes which constitutes the set.
Pennsylvania is given more space than any of the other
colonies treated in Volume II; not only did it have a considerable
Jewish • population, but its Jewish, residents were exceptionally
varied and interesting. What with the Frankses, the GratzeS,
the Levys and Haym. Salomon, Philadelphia played a notable , '
role then as for a long time thereafter. Apart from engaging .
in trade and actively participating in the development - 0 the
land to the west. the JeWs of this colony numbered some very
colorful personalities possessing a surprising amount of imagina-
tion_ and energy: The Jews of Virginia, the Carolinas and
Georgia were equally gifted; but they were fewer and the condi-
tions these colonies offered them were not as favorable. Dr.
Martus makes these differences abundantly clear.
The second part of this volume is of a different nature. Hav-
-
ing discussed the settlement of the Jews in the various colonies
and, the early development of Jewish life in each, Dr. Marcus
decided that a general survey, or summary, was called for, in
order that the reader may see the forest as well as the trees,
the process as a whole as well as its individual manifestations.
Almost half of this volume is therefore devoted to a generalized
description of Jewish life during the colonial period. He discusses
in broad terms who came to the American shores and why they .
came here; what were their economic activities and the "classes"
into which they divided themselves; what sort of community life
they organized and what were their social activities; what was
the level of their Jewish and of their general culture and how
their life began to display differences from the .Jewish life of the
countries in which they originated. Nothing quite like this sum-
mary, for simplicity, directness, and authoritativeness, has ever
been done before. - Indeed, it may be that some readers will want
to turn to these last chapters even before reading the earlier and
more detailed portions of this two-volume work.
-
H I STOR I ETTE:
Feeling. Toward Early Jewish Settlers
An American Jewish Press Feature)
What was the feeling towards the early Jewish settlers in this
country? In the second volume of his "Early American Jewry,"
just issued by the Jewish Publication Society of America, Dr.
Jacob R. Marcus writes:
"About ten years after the first Jews landed in New Amster-
dam. the English took possession and named the city New' York.
In the course of the next generation the few Jewish settlers who
remained or who came in received, or assumed, the privileges
which were denied them by the Dutch. About the turn of the
century, they began to exercise political rights by voting for can-
didates for the Assembly. On occasion, this right to vote was
challenged. At no time were they permitted to 'hold honorary
offices.
"On the whole. conditions for New York Jewry throughout
the eighteenth century were quite satisfactory, though they were
now and then marred by untoward incidents. It is curious that
those expressions of anti-Jewish prejudice found their record
only in contemporary newspapers and other non-Jewish sources;
the synagogual minutes ignore them. The instance of the goy-'
ernor's brother, Oliver DeLancey, married to a Jewess, was a
drunken escapade. DeLancey broke into the house of a Dutch
Jewish immigrant and made insulting proposals to his wife. A
more serious incident, for it bore all the marks of religious bigot- -
ry, was a brutal assault on a Jewish funeral cortege. The inci-
dent is described in the May 16, 1743, issue of Zenger's New-York
Weekly Journal. The shocked witness, a Christian of some. theo-
logical learning, said that the rabble interfered with the burial
and 'even insulted the dead in such a vile manner that to men-
tion all would shock a human ear.' But those were isolated inci-
dents covering almost a century.. In general, there was very little
anti-Jewish feeling that expressed itself in violence."