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THE ,W,WISI1 NEWS

Incorporating the Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20 1951

Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspap?rs, Michigan Press .Association.
Published every Friday by The :Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35. Mich., VE. 8-9:364
subscription $9. a year, foreign $5.

PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher

SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager

Page 4

VOL. xxm, No. 22

FRANK' SIMO.NS
City Editor '

August 7, 1953

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath. the twenty-seventh day of AB,'5713, the following Scriptural selections will be
,
.
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuehal portion, Dent. 11:26-16:17. Prophetical portion, Is. 54:11-55:5.
Rosh. Hode8h Elul Scriptural selections. Tuesday and Wednesday, Num. 28:1-15.

Licht Benshen, Friday, Aug. 7, 6:45 p.m.

Israel's Need for Friends on All Fronts

"At best, Israel will need gener o.0 s
friends for a long time."
This is one of the conclusions reached by
the Democratic standard-bearer, Adlai Stev-
enson, in his article "No Peace for Israel,"
in Look Magazine, written after his visit in
the JeWish state.
Israel, and the Jewish people, should be
grateful to Mr. Stevenson and to others who,
like him, view the Middle East problem with
a realism which appears to us at times rather
hard. There may be disappointment in his
attitude on the proposal for the internation-
alization of Jerusalem, repatriation of Arab
.refugees, or the boundary question.
On the latter question, he indicates an
understanding of the controversy when he
states: "My own feeling is that insistence
on any major alteration of Israel's boundar-
ies is unrealistic." In truth, it is not only
unrealistic—it is fraught with danger, in
view of the security problem. Israel has in-
dicated a readiness to alter its borders where
certain minor territorial changes would
serve to remove hardships for Arabs. But
to ask for large-scale alterations would open
an avenue for increased infiltration of Arabs
and extension of border clashes, the occur-
rence of which represents the most disturb-
ing development on the Israel-Jordan bor-
ders since Israel's establishment.
* *
Mr. Stevenson is, unfortunately, on the
wrong track in the matter involving Jeru-
-salem's position. In this respect, too, unlike
Jordan, Israel is on record as conceding to
the internationalization of the Holy Places.
It is inconceivable, however, that the Jew-
ish state should yield to anyone in a demand
for the consignment of the 150,000 Jews in
the New City — which was developed by
Jews—to international authority. That would
mean the loss of Israel citizenship by the
Jerusalemites. It would indirectly threaten
their very lives, since they would then be
deprived of self-defense, which they possess
as one of the privileges of Israeli citizenship.
To abandon this right to the mercy of an
international group that would inevitably
also include Arabs would mean the sacri-
fice of a large population to a future of un-
certainty.
There also is, of course, the historic ele-

The Cohen Forest

Detroit Jewry undoubtedly will respond
promptly and liberally to the call for the
planting. of a Forest in Israel in honor of the
70th birthday of Harry Cohen.
One of our community's most respected
leaders, Mr. Cohen has well earned the hon-
ors now being accorded him. He is always
among the first to respond to calls for action
on all fronts. He is a devoted Zionist and ar-
dent worker in the cause of Jewish educa-
tion, an observer of all Jewish traditions, a
man of true charity.
He is outstanding as a campaigner and
few match him in ability to secure responses
to deserving causes - from people he contacts.
The Allied Jewish Campaign, the Hebrew
Schools, the Zionist Organization, our re-
ligious community and many other causes
always find in him a ready worker and a
man of action.
In greeting Mr. Cohen on his approach-
ing birthday, we wish to express the hope
that the call for the planting of trees in the
planned Cohen Forest in Israel will bring an
immediate and a good response.

anent. Jordan has taken over the Old City
of Jerusalem, with the Western Temple Wall,
with many Jewish holy places, with the
Mount of Olives Upon which stand the Had-
assah and Hebrew University Buildings. Is-
rael, in the interest of peace, desires to hold
on to the New City of Jerusalem. which was
built with the sweat and blood of Jews from
all parts of the globe. The very name of the
City of David — Yerushalayim — City of
Peace—beckons to Israel to link the City
with the State, to-restore it as the capital
of Israel, to retain the - historic values in-
herent in the heritage represented by this
historic spot. How can anyone possibly view
this problem in any other light?
rx:
To offset the dangers that have been in
evidence in the attacks recently launched
upon Israel, the young state, indeed, "will
need generous friends for a long time." Mr.
Stevenson was right in this assertion. Israel
needs friends without its fold—among non-
Jews—and within. It is dependent upon the
good will of Jews as well as non-Jews, since
Jews, too, must understand the issues in
order not to be misled by destructive propa-
ganda from Arab rumor-mills.
Fortunately, this country is continuing
its friendship for Israel. In spite of the grow
ing minority of ill-wishers, whose sentiments
have been in evidence in Congress, a major-
ity of America's legislators have shown faith
in Israel and have battled for continuation
of Mutual Security appropriations to the
Jewish state. But the propaganda has been
damaging. Israel's antagonists have become
bolder. The outlook for peace has not bright-
ened as a result of this boldehina antagon-
ism, and Israel's friends must think in terms
of future security in order to protect the
struggling young state in its defensive role.
•
•
Much of what has transpired may be due
to the lethargy that has crept into Jewish
ranks. The pro-Israel militant feeling seems
lacking. The Zionist ranks are weaker. Jews
are willing to help the new settlers in Israel
financially, but they appear to have become
politically dull — failing to recognize -that
assistance to Israel by means of spreading
the truth about the young state is a right
that should be cherished rather than feared.
American Jewry can not afford the
spread of anti-Israel libels in the press, in
Congress, in churches. It will harm Israel
and indirectly will be damaging to Jews as
free citizens of the land which is tradition-
ally the friend of Israel.
What is the solution to the. problem.?
Clearly, it calls for the strengthening of
those ranks which are charged with the duty
of keeping the country informed about the
real facts in the situation, without colora-
tion from quarters that seek the destruction
of Israel. There is need for guidance which
has been lacking in recent months. The
dynamism of pre-statehood Zionist leader-
ship appears to have disappeared. The un-
compromising firmness of an Abba Hillel
Silver is needed to forestall danger.
Israel's friends must think clearly on
this issue without permitting personality
issues to mar their dedication to service in
a great humanitarian effort whose accomp-
lishments as the rescuer of a million survi-
_ vors from Nazism must never be forgotten.
Those in position to render service should
not defer action. What they do now to -re-
create the forcefulness of a pro-Israel move-
ment will be to the benefit not only to Israel
but equally to Jewry and to humanity's
democratic ideal.

Senator Robert A. Taft: In Memoriam

Senator Robert A. Taft, like all controversial figures, had his enemies and his friends.
He stood for certain principles which aroused the animosity of many people. But even his
severest critics had to admit that he ,was earnest in his views, that he had strong convic-
lions about the issues he advocated and that he was honest about them. He was a very
able man, and his death is a loss to this country. The Jewish people have special reason to
mourn his passing. He was the acknowledged leader in the ranks of the Christian friends
of Israel. He was uncompromising in his advocacy of just rights for oppressed Jews. As
a national co-chairman of the American Christian Palestine Committee he helped in the
realization of the Zionist ideal. For these services he has written his name indelibly in
Jewish history during his lifetime.

Dr. A. A. Neuman's Studies

Notable 'Landmarks and Goats'

To honor the decennial of Dr. A. A. Neuman's presidency of
Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning, his historical
studies and addresses have just been published under the in.
triguing title of "Landmarks and Goals." It is an appropriate name
for a book of essays by a man who is
primarily a his t o r i a n; whose re-'
search in the field or Jewish learning,
has elevated him to a high position''
among our scholars.
The first two essays in this Drop-
sie-published volume at once reveal
the author's trend in his new book
They deal with Josippon and Saadia
Gaon.
The Josippon study is a challenge
to Jewish scholarship. While there
have been differences of opinion as
to the origin of the famous book, Dr.
Dr. Neuman
Neuman maintains that it was written
in the second or third century. During the Middle Ages, the book
was considered the Hebrew. version of Josephus' "Jewish War.'
Later, students ascribed the work to the tenth century. Dr. Neu
man's analysis of Joseph ha-Kohen ben-Gorion's work points out
that Josippon is "history fused with pietism."
Indicating that this "unique work" "exceeded fascination
upon learned and unlearned alike," •Dr. Neuman states:
"Its wealth of historic and legendary matter in the earlier
part of the work, touching on the biblical period and also the
Hasmonean era, was also useful to the learned scholars engaged
in Bible and Talmudic exegesis. Rabbinical and biblical celeb-
rities such as Rashi, Abraham ibn Ezra, David Kimhi, and
Isaac Abravanel refer to Josippon as a classic authority."
Dropsie's eminent president analyzes Saadia's relation to
Palestine, his influence in the elimination of references to Zion
from the prayer book with:
"Saadia lacked warmth and poetic sentiment in his'attitude
to the Palestine of his day. His liturgical compositions in some
instances have as their theme the vanished glory of the ancient
land and the Messianic hope of Israel's restoration to the an-
cestral home ; but they are singularly devoid of the glow and
fervor of a true lover of Zion."
Was Saadia disillusioned with Palestine after liying there for
a number of years? Dr. Neuman rather believes that his attitude
was due to his conviction that "supreme religious authority be-
longed to the academies in Babylon."
His sketch on "Samuel Usque : Marrano Historian of the Six-
teenth Century," is a revealing tale of the Usques, the Portuguese
Marra.nos. Equally interesting is the essay on "Medinaw-Historian
of the Inquisition."
Dr: Neuman's essays on Judaism, Immortality of Man, Six-
teenth Century Historiography, Scriptures and American Institu-
tions, Dr. Cyrus Adler, The Future of Torah in America, etc,
combine to make his "Landmarks and Goals" a truly valuable
work.'

-

Boston Expelled Its First Jew

An American Jewish Press Feature

Jews and Christians live in peace in Boston, as they do in all
American cities. But the first Jew to arrive in that city wasn't
that lucky.'
The Jewish Historical Society's president, Lee M. , Friedman
related an interesting tale in his address at the society's meeting
in Boston recently. He related that when the Jew Solomon
Franco arrived in Boston in 1649, on a Dutch vessel, the "Puritans
who had fled religious intolerance did not intend to allow re-
ligious tolerance to others" in the then 19-year-old city.
A Jew settling in Boston at that time was considered as rep-
resenting an "outrageous" and "dangerous" possibility and the
General Court of Massachusetts Bay, asked to handle the prob-
lem, passed a grant to "allow the said Solomon Franco six shillings
per week out of the treasury for ten weeks for his subsistence
till he can get his passage into Holland, so long as he does it within
that time."
"So," stated Mr. Friedman, "it's first Jew disappeared from in-
hospitable Boston."
"Yet," Mr. Friedman pointed out, "since' GoVernor Bradford
inscribed and preserved eight pages of Hebrew in his history of
`Of Plimoth Plantation' that Hebrew learning might be spread in
this new land through his and the following generations. Hebrew
learning and Old Testament ideals were ever the ambition of
Massachusetts' scholars and divines. From earliest days, even
before the Puritan fathers formulated hi. 1641 The Laws and.
Liberties of Massachusetts 'to compose the model of the Judicial
Jaws of Moses,' pious leaders had already organized to rule ac-
cording to the ancient tribal laws of the Jews."

