Purely Commentary
Mrs. ,Schaver Thrills
Symphony Audience
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Yugoslavia's New Laws on Religious Observance
Church-state relations, regulated recently by the Yugoslav
National Assembly, make many provisions which are based pri-
marily on these opening sentences:
"Freedom of conscience and religion is guaranteed to all
citizens of the FPRY. The citizens of the FPRY may belong to
any religious faith or religious community, or they may not be-
long to any of them.
"Religious practice is a private matter of the citizens.
"Citizens may freely found religious communities.
"An religions enjoy equal rights, and all religious com-
munities have the same legal status.
"The activities of the religious communities must be in ac-
. cordance with the Constitution and the laws."
These are only two of the sections of the new law, which has
24 provisions. Issued over the signatures of the president of the
Yugoslav Republic, Josip Broze-Tito, as well as the president and
vice-president of the Federal and People's Councils, these regula-
tions deserve careful study.
They read like a page out of America's traditions. They make
no distinction between religions. They declare religious practice
to be a "private matter." They give a person as much right not
to belong as to belong to a religious community.
This is what the Founding Fathers of our own Republic said:
that a man has a right to disbelieve if he chooses.
Jewish spokesmen joined in formulating the Yugoslavian reg-
ulations. Only the Roman Catholics abstained from participation
in planning the law.
If the rules will be strictly observed, without invoking dam-
agingly the last quoted sentence, Yugoslavia will have the privil-
ege of being counted among the nations that are free from reli-
gious prejudice.
It stands to reason that in the process of separating church
from state the latter can not sacrifice its established rules to the
former and must insist on law-observance. In this spirit we be-
lieve that the emphasis on law-observance is logical. In the same
sense, the state must not inflict unreasonable demands upon the
religious communities.
There is no cause for doubting Yugoslavia's sincerity. Her
new regulations will be watched with keenest interest everywhere.
The principles Yugoslavia has enunciated deserve wholehearted
commendation. They may be expected to exert great influence
for good in all of Europe.
Spectacular Festival and Stratford Jewish Community
Revival of interest in Shakespeare assumed spectacular
proportions at the Stratford-on-Avon, Ontario, Shakespearean
Festival. Originally scheduled for a five-week staging of two
plays—"All's Well That Ends Well" and "The Tragedy of King
Richard III," the rapid sell-out of all available seats amazed the
community and the festival's sponsors. Another week's perform-
ances was added to the original schedule and now it is considered
a certainty that the project is no• longer an experiment; that it
will be a permanent summer cultural endeavor on this continent.
The Jewish spectator finds much to enchant him at the fe.sti-
val, and he learns an interesting story about the Stratford Jewish
community. He will take pride in the fact that the designer of
the stage and costumes is Tanya Moiseiwitsch. She is the daugh-
ter of the world famous Jewish pianist, Benno Moiseiwitsch, a
native of Odessa, winner of the Rubinstein Prize at the age of 9,
the man who was acclaimed in this country, in England, in many
other lands. He is one of the world's outstanding interpreters of
Bach and Chopin.
Another interesting figure at the Shakespearean Festival in
the Canadian community 155 miles from Detroit is Tyrone Guth-
rie, the brilliant director, who has directed performances in Israel.
The cast of characters includes several able Jewish actors.
Lloyd Bochner plays the role of George, Duke of Clarence, in
"Richard" and Longaville in "All's Well." Beatrice Lennard, the
able Toronto actress, is charming as Diana in "All's Well." Robert
Robinson plays the role of Ratcliff in "Richard."
The obstinate devotion. of a single man—Stratford's Tom
Patterson—brought the entire idea into being. The work of
an able publicity department, directed by Mary Jolliffe, brought
U to the attention of the North American continent. A mag-
nificent idea was splendidly executed.
The Stratford . Jewish community shares in the limelight
which the Shakespearean Festival brought to that portion' of
Canada this year. Scores of Jews have come to Stratford for the
festival from Detroit, Toronto, Montreal, New York and many
other cities. Many of them were befriended in the process by
Stratfordian Jews. There are 20 Jewish families there. Six years
ago there were half that many. Jews haVe lived there for more than
5• years and for two decades they had a cantor-teacher-shohet-
mohel. Now they are bringing him back from Toronto for Holy
Day services (held at the YMCA), and are in the process of plan-
ning a synagogue and community center with a permanent rabbi.
Joseph Greenberg is one of the key men in the community.
He is a leader in fund-raising for overseas needs and Israel, as
well as in local Jewish affairs, and is popular among his non-
Jewish neighbors. He is a member of the boards of directors of
the YMCA, Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Commission.
All calls for aid to needy are directed through him. Joe and his
wife Mary are, additionally, charming hosts.
The oldest Jewish resident in Stratford, Joe Gerofsky, has
resided there for 49 years. Harry Shapiro has been in business
there for 45 years. A generation of younger Jews—the sons and
daughters of the settlers—are rooting themselves in this inter-
esting city of 19,000. Among the newcomers is Ralph Goren, a
young optometrist, formerly from Toronto, who has been named
treasurer of the synagogue and center building fund.
Thanks to Shakespeare, we have become acquainted with an
obscure Jewish community. There are many like Stratford's-
communities with a dozen or more or less Jewish families. Strat-
ford's largest Jewish neighbor is the Kitchener community of 400
Jewish families, only 28 miles away. Toronto and London and
Detroit are located at greater distances. But in-between all of
them there are centers where Jews, numbering rninyanirn, strive
to observe Jewish customs. Those that have less than a minyan
join forces with the larger neighbors to carry on Jewish traditions.
Thus Jewish life goes on in places far and near.
2 — DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, August 14, 1953
Before one of the largest au-
diences of the present series,
EMMA SCHAVER accompanied
by the Detroit Symphony Or-
chestra under the direction of
VALTER POOLE, presented a
program which evoked thunder-
ous applause and enthusiasm.
In addition to the Aria from
Aida "Ritonna Vinci Tor", Mrs.
Schaver also sang several He-
brew and Yiddish numbers. The
entire program proved of great
interest to the gathering. In
addition to the large audience
present, it is estimated that the
program was viewed by 100,000
over WWJ-TV.
63 Congressnten Back
Tercentenary Stamp
NEW YORK, (JTA) — Sixty-
three members of Congress, in-
cluding 19 senators, have noti-
fied the U.S. Post Office Depart-
ment of their support of the
proposal for issuance of a com-
memorative stamp next year to
mark the 300th anniversary of
Jewish settlement in the United
States.
The announcement was made
by David Bernstein, executi - re
director of the American Jewish
Tercentenary, who said that
other members of Congress are
expected to go on record urging
that "this historical anniversary
be commemorated by a special
postal stamp."
National Jewish organizations,
labor unions and individuals
from all over the country are
urging the Post Office to issue
the stamp not only as a means
to highlight Jewish participa-
tion in American life, but also
to underscore the. strength and
spirit of America's free institu-
tions.
(Michigan members of Con-
gress who have joined in urging
a Jewish Tercentenary Stamp
include -Senator Homer Fergu-
son and Congressmen John D.
Dingell, Gerald R. Ford Jr.,
George D. O'Brien, and Louis C.
Rabatit.)
Sharett Attacks U. S. 80-20%
Split on Near East Military Aid
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Israel were much more sharply written
Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett than in the final version.
denounced the United States
Arabs Raid Frontier Areas
policy of preferential arming of
the Arab States as deceptive in A third attempt within a week
general and dangerous to Israel by large Arab bands to pene-
trate Israel territory near Jer-
specifically.
Replying in Parliament to a usalem was repulsed after a
demand by the right-wing Herut two-hour engagement between
party for debate on the Amer- a large raiding force and an
ican arms policy, ..Sharett de- Israel border patrol.
clared that the Foreign Office Members of the UN Mixed
had expressed its opposition in Armistice Commission hastened
writing and through oral repre- to the scene of the assault for
sentations to the State Depart- an on-the-spot investigation.
ment against any supply of arms Previously, Jordan authorities
by the United States to the had been urged strongly by the
Arab nations so long as they re- commission to check attempted
fuse to make peace with Israel. infiltration of Israel territory by
Under the Mutual Security bands operating from Jordan<
Act passed by Congress earlier An emergency session of the
this week, the sum of $30.000,000 commission last week adopted
was provided to be applied at two resolutions condemning Jor-
the discretion of President dan and two others condemning
Eisenhower in the supply of mili- Israel in connection with the
tary aid to the Arab States and continuing border incidents.
Israel. The State Department Five Israeli fishing boats cap-
had made it known that the tured by the Lebanese authori-
Arab States would receive 80 ties while they were in Leban-
per cent of this as against 20 ese territorial waters were re-
per cent for Israel. turned to Israel as a result of
In Washington, Israel and negotiations in the Israel-
United States Government econ- Lebanese Mixed Armistice Corn-
omists are studying implications mission.
of an amendment to the Mutual UN Chief Visites Jerusalem
Security Act adopted before the Gen. Vagn Bennike, United
adjournment of Congress, the Nations truce chief, visited the
effect of which would be to re- Israel Foreign Office in Jerus-
strict Israel and other recipient alem prior to his departure for
governments from using MSA New York in connection with the
funds to "make payments on ac- forthcoming session of the UN
count of the principal or interest General Assembly. He discussed
on any debt." various matters with high offi-
The amendment was written cials of the Foreign Office.
into the act after Senator Mar- Acting Defense M in i s t e r
garet Chase Smith, of Maine, Pinchas Lavon categorically
had raised questions about Is- denied Arab charges that Israeli
rael's past use of MSA funds. It forces had perpetrated "atroci-
was learned that at one time ties" when they searched the
during congressional considera- village of Tirah after an Israel
tion: of the legislation, restric- Air Force plane had been fired
tions on the use of MSA funds on from the village.
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1,53, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Washington Echoes
Congressional approval of $30,000,000 for military aid to Israel
and the Arab countries is giving Israel something to worry about
. . . This will be the first time that the Jewish state and the Arab
countries receive military assistance from this country . But the
Arabs will receive at least 80 percent of the sum which . Congress
has voted for military aid ... Of this the State Department makes
no secret, 'and this is what worries Israel greatly . . . It would
almost be better for Israel if no military aid at all had been
voted either for the Jewish State or for the Arabs • . Under
military assistance, the Arab countries will be able to get from
the United States the latest jets, submarines, atom weapons and
all kinds of arms which could be used by them against Israel .
Israel, therefore, objects in principle to arms shipments to the
Arab countries so long as they refuse to sign a peace treaty .
The argument of the Israel Government is that no confidence can
be placed in. Arab promises not to use these arms against the
Jewish State . . . If the State Department does not accept this.
view, Israel will demand equality with the Arab countries in the
quantity and quality of the military aid, in order to maintain
regional equilibrium . . It is understood that Israel has suggested
in Washington that the aid be given as equipment for industry
which would increase the military potentials of the recipient
countries • . . It was pointed out that the delivery of ready made
arms to the Arabs would only increase their aggressiveness towards
Israel, but not their ability to withstand aggression from outside
the Middle East . . All indications point to the fact that some
American diplomats and State Department officials privately
Shiloah to Succeed Goiten
share this opinion . . . However, the stand taken by the State
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—The Is- Department so far is that the Arab countries are entitled to four
rael Foreign Office announced time more military aid from the United States than given to
that Reuben Shiloah was ap- Israel.
pointed Minister Plenipoten- Community' Trends
tiary to Washington to succeed
More than 300 agencies have applied for allocations to Jewish
Minister David Goiten who is Federations and Welfare Funds . .. About 70 of them are major
returning to Israel.
agencies engaged in overseas relief 'work, in the fight against
anti-Semitism, in health and welfare activities and in cultural
work . The objective of the Federations and Welfare Funds is
Holiday Deferments
to include all valid Jewish appeals which deserve the support of
the Jewish community ... But not all the agencies which appeal
Granted Inductees
for support are given it ... Some communities consider the sup-
port of theological seminaries to be the responsibility of the
NEW YORK, CITA) — Jew-
respective congregational groups and consequently do not grant
ish draftees ordered to re-
them allocations . . . This is true of about one out of every five
port for pre-induction physi-
welfare funds . . . The remainder include them, but two out of
cal examination or induction
every three welfare funds include only the major seminaries, like
during the High Holy Days
may request deferment until Yeshiva University, Jewish Theological Seminary, Hebrew Union
College . . . Two out of every three welfare funds include the
after the holiday period, it
national TB hospitals . . . But these hospitals are excluded in most
was announced by a spokes-
of the larger commmunities on the basis that there are local
man in the Jewish Welfare
medical resources supported by the Jewish community which
Board's commission on Jew-
serve the needs of the Jewish tubercular . . . Most communities
ish chaplaincy.
The announcement quoted exclude appeals which are of interest to only a highly restricted
segment of the Jewish population .. . These are primarily efforts
an order from Selective Serv-
to secure membership of adherents to some form of ideology .
ice headquarters which re-
On the other hand, communities will support operating programs
commends that local boards
where need is proven despite the ideological sponsorship of such
shout d, "wherever possible,
programs . . Most communities do not support appeals for Israel
give favorable consideration
which do not have the approval of the Jewish Agency Committee
to such requests.'
on Control and Authorization
.