THE - .JEW] SH NEWS
Still at the Peace Table Alone
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., 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26. Mich„ WO. 5-1155
Subscription $4 a year foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6. 1942. at -Post Office. Detroit. s Mich.. under Act of March 3, 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
Vol. XXIII, No. 14
•
SIDNEY SHMARAK
adye•tising Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Page Four
June 12, 1953
Sahbath , Rosh Ibidesh Tammuz Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the thirtieth. day of givan. the foncwing Scriptural selections will he read:
Pentateuchal portions—Num. 16:1-18:‘?2. 28:9 -15. Prophet%cal. portion—IPaiah 56.
•
Pentateuchal portion for Second Day Rosh Hodesh .Tammuz, Sunday, Nun/. 28:1-15
Our State Department and Peace of Middle East
We are . entering upon crucial months sity of the dispute between Egypt and Great
during whiCh many serious problems, in- Britain and also the bitterness of A rah feel-
volving the peace of the entire world, will ing toward Israel," and reported Mr. Pulles
have to be solved Major issues involving tl'e as saving "the • Arabs are afraid of Israel
and Israel is afraid of the Arabs . . . a last-
Middle East and -Israel will play a vital role
ing peace settli,'ment hetv,, ce-n Tsrael and the
in, the peace • offensive.
Arabs will probably have to be NVOrl'erl out
The statement Made last week by Secre-
tary of State J ► l-m Foster Dull-s is vital to step by sten . . . an early peace should not
the discussion. Mr. Dulles attached great be expected."
All of us take a grave view of the. situa-
importance to the Arab refugee problem.
Fortunately, Israel's leaders take a seriotts tion. We know - that peace can not come over
view of the need for solving this issue. They night and must be "worked out step by
step." But as long as the "sten by step"
know that the homeless Arabs must be re-
possibility is admitted. we hopefully pray for
settled and placed in productive occupatiOns.
But they are compelled to take the view that effectiveness of American intercession.
their wholesale resettlement in Israel might
Under any circumstances, American
lead to. the destruotion.. of their democracy,
and they can not possibly yield to the de- leaders. must take into consideration the in-
consistencies of the Arab position. On .a
mands of the Arabs.
single day, Statements . - from. tx.vo Arab
Mr. Dulles recognized the reality of the sources pointed to the unreality of the posi-
Israelis' position when he said:
tion of Israel's antagonists. In Cairo, the
"Some of these • refu9;ees could be .
Egyptian MiniSter of National Guidance,
tile
settled in
area presently controlled by
Mohammed FUad Galal, stated: "We main-
Israel. Most, however, could more readily
tain that the UN resolutions on Palestine
be integrated . into the lives of the neigh-
must be carried out. Israel alone cannot be a
boring Arab countries."
danger to the Arabs. If there is anything
The latter, as Mr. Dulles has indicated, to be understood from . the statement of Mr:
awaits the completion of irrigation and other Dulles, it is that •America's assistance to
projects "which will permit more soil to be Israel is considered as a danger by the
cultivated." Israel stands ready to contribute
Arabs." There_ is . one concession to truth in
her share of needed funds for the solution this statement: Arabs are mentioning._ the
of the refugee problein.
term "Israel." But there is a veiling of truth
Viewed realistically, on the basis of the in• the demand for adherence to the UN res-
availability of vast uncultivated areas of olutions, since it was the . Arabs who had
land in Arab countries—as compared with rejected
them in 1947 and followed up their
the smallness • of Israel's. territory—as well repudiation Of the. United Nations' action .
as the language and cultural needs of Arabs by launching the war on Israel.
who must, on a permanent basis, find them-
Another indication- of Arab intransigence
selves more at home -among their kinsmen comes from Bagdad where the Iraqi Premier
than they would among Israelis, this. is not Jarnil el Madfai is reported to have said
an insoluble problem. It can be cured, pro- "I can assure you that the Iraq government
vided there are direct negotiations between has not negotiated anything with Israel
Israel and the -Moslem countries.
fore and Will never do so in the future." His
*.
*
statement adds to the concern over Arab
In the main, 1‘,1r. Dulles' statement is
attitudes, and to the realization of the dif- -
hopeful one.. other views to the contrary ficult task ahead for the U. S. and the UN in
notwithstanding. We doubt whether o
the Middle East. It is true that although
Government would take steps which would her troops were among the Arab forCes
in any way impair. the friendship that exists
that invaded Israel in 1948, Ii as never en-
between Israel and the United States. Mr. tered armistice negotiations with Israel,. hav-
Dulles has made it quite clear when he said:
ing surrendered her position in Central Pal-
"We were :impressed by the vision and
estine to Jordan units, which still hold them.
supporting energy with which the people
But as a member of the Arab League,
are building their new nation. Inspired by
Iraq's position is troublesome.
a great faith, they are now doing an im-
pressive work of building. a new nation.
There are, indeed, difficulties ahead. But
They face hard internal problems, which
they can be overcome. We adhere to the
I believe they can solve. Furthermore, the
view that through the efforts of our State
. Prime Minister, David Ben,-Gurion, and
Department, with the cooperation of friend-
other Israeli officials asserted convincingly
ly nations whose representatives recognize
their desire to live at. peace with their
the importance of peace in the Middle East
Arab neighbors." •
to the peace of the world, the contending
The basic handicap to peace was de- forces can be brought together.
scribed by Mr. Duffles in a brief sentence:
It is heartening to know that President
"The atmosphere is heavy with hate." In Eisenhower's foreign program includes a
spite of the obstacles with which the road plank for peace in the Middle East. The ser-
to peace is strewn, however, our Govern- ious efforts in that direction should, as they
ment's persistent desire to achieve peace must, lead to amity—for the good of the
must . eventually`. lead in the right direction.
Arabs, who would then be major benefici-
Dr. Ralph- Bunche. one-time peace negotiator, aries from peace, of Israel and of a peaceful
has .reaffirmed this view time and again,
world.
.and he knows whereof he speaks.
This "hate atmosphere" explains Mr.
Dulles' statement that the Arabs "are more
The annual dinner of the United Hebrew
fearful of ZioniSm than of Communism and
they fear lest the United States beccime the ' Schools of Detroit_ next Tuesday assumes
backer of expansionist Zionism.' On the other special significance by virtue of the recog-•
hand, the Israelis fear that ultimately the nition that is to be given the services of three
Arabs may try to puSh them into the sea." pioneer teachers. Joseph Haggai, Solomon
Kasdan and Max Gordon are now complet-
When there is hate of this sort, it is natural
that the world menace • stemming from ing, collectively, 101 years of teaching in our
.Hebrew schools. The seriousness with which
Communism should - be overlooked.
they devoted themselves to their callings
It is to be hoped, hovt'ever, that the assur-
ance given on many occasions by Israel's have earned for them recognition in scores
Premier Ben1G-urion, -.by Ambassador Abba of Jewish communities.
They have perfected teaching methods.
Eban and others, that Israel does not seek
additional territory will be accepted 'as a Their earnestness has won for them the es-
serious pledge by a people that has difficulty teem of their pupils. They deserve, equally
enough without incurring the enmity of a as well, the recognition that is to be given
them by the community-at-large.
friendly world through "expansion."
Theirs has not been an easy task. The He-
There is major importance in the state- brew teacher for years has had to struggle
against great odds to achieve the desired
ment by Senator Alexander Wiley, chairman
end of inspiring the youth with a love for
of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,
after his committee had met in secret ses- their heritage. For the successes they have
sion with Mr. DUlleS. Senator Wiley said attained they deserve the gratitude to be
that 'the Secretary emphasized the inten- exwessed at our schools' annual dinner.
101 Years of Service
Uncrowned Head of Exile
Biography of Isaac_ Abra-va net
.
- DON ISAAC ABRAVANEL—STATgSMAN AND PHILOSOPHER, By Benzion
Netanyahu. Philadelphia, Pa., Jewish Publication Society of America.
Al Review by Dr. Abraham A. • Neuman, President,. Drop•ie College
, Isaac Abravanel is one of the noblest figures of Spanish
Juddism. Whether he was in fact a scion of the Hcuse of David or
whether this 'elaim was but a legendary fancy, his life and works
bear the indubitable- seal ofregal majesty. He was at home in the
palaces of POrtugal, Spain and Italy. He was an intimate of kings
. and nobles, whom he served with devotion and distinction in high
office. To his people, however, he was more than a courtier. He
was the philosopher-king, the -uncrowned head of the exile. In
greatness of soul he towered above the crowned heads - of • Fer-
dinand and Isabella, when he spurned their favot with the lure of
baptism to follow his people into the affliction of exile.
In the darkest days following the Spanish expulsion„ he
rallied the faltering faith, of his people with a series of literary
works unmatched in th.eir blend of 'intellect and faith. analytic
reasoning and mystic fervor. In •these works,' written in aniaz-
ingly - quick succession with hectic intensity, Abravanel is al,
ternately - the philosopher, the historian. the exegete and the
th1istic; but these. varying moods were not the-echoes of a split
personality. At the core of his•.beina there was a deep unity
of faith and purpose. Because his writings covered .a great vari,
ety of themes—philosophy. theology, Bible commentaries, his,
torical excurses, political theories and apocalyptic visions of
the Messianic era,._ scholarS have hitherto depicted Abravanel
from one or more angles in accordance with their own favorite
viewpoint. Missing the essential unVy- of his personality,. their
portrayals of Abravanel were marred by diffilseness and oft-
times created the impressiOn of a character torn with inner
contradictions. ' •
In the present work, Netanyahu presents a warm, sympathetic
treatment of Abravanel with whom the author, like a gifted artist,
identifies himself in his work. He finds in his hero harmony of
soul and unity of purpose. He refutes the charges of inconsistency
or lack of originality leveled against Abravanel by those who did
not penetrate the depths of his ideas. Doctor Netanyahu reviews
Abravanel's world outlook, his theology, his political concepts, all
of which prepared the stage for the climax, Messianism. The
result is a fascinating study of one of the great figures iri Jewish
history.
•
Dr. Netanyahu, an Israeli who is a graduate of the Dropsie
College in Philadelphia, is at present the executive editor of the
Hebrew Encyclopedia which is being -published in -Israel on: the
model of the EncyclOpedia Britannica.
"Don Isaac—Statesman and PhilosCpher" contains 360 pages.
It may be secured as one of the books which members of the
Jewish Publication Society receive on membership.. An introduc-
tory membership in the society costs as little as $5 per year, for
which members will receive any two books published by the
Society, plus a 20% discount on additional purchases. Annual
memberships are - available at $11.25 per year, which entitles the
member to receive any five books published by the SocietY, plus
the above' mentioned discount. Full details of the membership
plan of the Society may be secured by writing to Jewish Publica-
tion Society, 222 15th St., Philadelphia 2, Pa.
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Historiette:
A Book Dedicated to Hitler
An American Jewish Press Feature
In April, 1941,- the eminent Jewish scholar, Dr. Cecil Roth,
published a book entitled "The SassOon Dynasty." In his preface
he addressed the book "To Adolf, .Hitler, .Fuehrer of .the German
Reich." Here is his explanation: • . - •
"For two reasons, I desire to. inscribe your name at the begin-
ning of this book. The first is, that I consider its topic to be a
useful object-lesson . to the unfortunate people whom you have
misled into thinking themselves •a pure and superior 'race' (what-
ever that may mean). The 'most .rudimentary political common-
sense should make it obVious that the absorption. of gifted foreign
families cannot be other than an advantage for a civilized state.
England and English life have in particular been enriched, for
centuries paSt by receiving fresh elements froth oiher sources, and
there can surely be no reason to regret a liberality that has en-
dowed her with soldiers, philanthropists and poets such as the
Sassoon family and many like it have produced. Germany under
your guidance has deliberately set herself on the path not merely
of self-destruction (which while her present temper lasts would
be a peculiar boon to humanity at large), but of self-dementation.
"In the second place, I am happy to have this opportunity to
express once again, as publicly as I may, my profound execration
and abhorrence, not .merely as a Jew and an Englishman, but as a
human being, of you, your ideals, your. ideas, your methods, and
all that you stand for. Should God -punish the sins of the world
by allowing you a momentary victory, I trust that this declaration
will bring upon me the honour of the .most drastic attention of
your nauseous tools, for life in such circumstances would not be
worth the having."