THE NMI SH • NEW S
An Ex-Communist's Minii
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., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich.., VE. 8-9384.
Subscription $4. a year, foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at PoSt Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Editor and Publisher
VOL. XXIV, No. 4
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
October 2, 1953
Page 4
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twenty-fourth day of Tishri, 5714, the following Scriptural selections will
be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Gen. 1:1-6:8. Prophetical portion, Is. 42:5-43-10.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Oct. 2, 5.20' p.m.
Middle East Tensions, the U. S. and Jerusalem
Refusal by the United States to partici-
in the "Conquest of the Desert" exhibition
in Jerusalem, arms shipments to Arabs, dan-
ger of possible diversion of funds intended
for Israel and the Arab countries to Iran
and the tensions on Israel's borders have
combined to create new anxieties. The new
developments spell added dangers to the in-
fant Jewish state, and it is of the utmost
urgency that the strained situations should
be relieved of the menacing aspects in the
interest of peace and the security of the en-
tire Near and Middle East.
It is particularly unfortunate that our
Government should be involved in issues
which have developed into threats for Israel.
The diversion of funds to Iran is most re-
grettable, in view of the great needs in
Israel, whose economic status, created by
the need for self-defense against threaten-
ing war-seeking neighbors, is most precar-
ious. The many friends of the infant state, in
and out of Congress, must be mobilized to
avert this danger.
*
*
Then there is the problem that arose out
of the decision of Secretary of State John
Foster Dulles to bar participation by Ameri-
can diplomats in Israel's "Conquest of the
Desert" exhibition, on the ground that it
is an official function and therefore must be
boycotted because it is being held in Jeru-
salem. In behalf of the American Zionist
Council, Louis Lipsky, the Council's chair-
man, properly pointed out that this exhibi-
tion is non-governmental, "dedicated to hu-
manity's struggle to reclaim the waste
spaces of the earth." In his appeal to the
Secretary of State "to rescind these and
other restrictions on the movement of United
States Government personnel within a coun-
try to which the United. States is closely
bound by ties of friendship and common tra-
dition," Mr. Lipsky expressed this admoni-
tion:
"American failure to be represented
on this occasion exhibits not only an un-
warranted disregard of international
amenities, but it is also a harsh affront to
the cause of economic betterment in the
Middle East to which the United States is
fully committed."
We concur in this sentiment and we join
in regretting the State Department's action
in an exaggerated issue revolving around
Jerusalem.
Far more menacing are the develop-
ments on Israel's borders. The constant snip-
ing, the infiltration of plundering gangs
from Arab territories and the threats to
Israel's reclamation projects are evidences
of the pressures that are being exerted to
interfere with Israel's progress.
Last week, Israel was compelled to re-
ject the Syrian charges that the Huleh pro-
ject will cause the drying up of 12,000 acres
of Syrian farmland because of the diversion
of Jordan River waters for a hydroelectric
station. Syria protested against the Israeli
plan for a nine-mile canal to bring water
from the Jordan to a power station north of
Lake Kinneret. Israel denies the charge, and
war clouds are gathering over the entire
area. The tragedy is that Arabs have pro-
tested against every progressive move in the
Middle East, if sponsored by Israel, in spite
of the fact that in every instance such un-
dertakings would inevitably also benefit the
Arabs.
*
*
*
In the interest of peace it is urgent that
the United States and the United Nations
should seek amicable solution to all existing
problems. But solutions will be deferred as
long as our State Department resorts to
tactics like those in relation to the Jerusalem
exhibition and the Huleh issue.
Israel has much to overcome in the
battle for an understanding of her problems
by the nations of the world. And her friends,
especially we, her kinsmen in this country,
have a grave responsibility to seek just ap-
proaches to the issues created by those who
aim at the destruction of Israel.
A Dental School for Israel: An Immediate Need
During his numerous visits in this coun- Aviv and Jerusalem, with a third soon to be
try in the past decade, Dr. Samuel Lewin- organized in Haifa.
Epstein of Jerusalem has made an effort to
Michigan's Alpha Omega chapters are
prove to a generation of young Jewish den- already at work to enlist support for the Is-
tists in this country that a dental school is rael dental school in this state. They should
one of the most vital needs in the Jewish be given wholehearted support in their ef-
state. Apparently, his appeals have not forts.
fallen on deaf ears. Assumption of responsi-
bility for this important project by Alpha
Omega, national dental fraternity in this
country, points to the possibility that the
Menahem Ribalow's life was cut short
idea may be realized very soon.
at the early age of 54. But he leaves behind
The accumulating facts about the dental him so many great contributions to Jewish
situation in Israel provide ample proof of culture that his name will be recorded in-
the immediate necessity for the establish- delibly in our literary history.
ment of a dental college. It is not only the
He had lent distinction to the only He-
shortage of dentists but also the limited brew weekly outside Israel—the Hadoar-
training acquired by those now practicing which he founded and of which he was the
in Israel that creates this demand. Further- editor since its inception 30 years ago.
more, the average age of dentists now prac-
As a young man he attracted the at-
ticing in Israel is 52, and before very long
tention
of the great Hebrew poet, Hayim
the saturation point will be reached when
Israel will suffer from a total lack of dentists. Nachman Bialik, who encouraged him in his
literary activities. Since his association with
It is encouraging that an important Histadruth Ivrith, the Hebrew Federation
American Jewish fraternal organization like of America, upon his arrival in this country
Alpha Omega should have assumed respon- in 1921, he had been the guiding light in
sibility for the $300,000 campaign for the Hebraic activities in this country.
Israel dental school. This fraternity's mem-
Only one of his books was published in
bers are, in the main, young dentists who Yiddish. All of his other works were in
recognize the duty of assisting the young Hebrew. His last book, "Im Hakad el
state in filling a gap in an important field. Hamabuah" ("With the Pitcher to the Foun-
The sum required to achieve the objective- tain") was a prize-winner in 1951.
$300,000—is not large. The fact that the
As editor of Hadoar and of the Hebrew
campaign is being conducted in cooperation literary quarterly Mabua, as author of many
with the American Friends of the Hebrew essays, monographs and books, as the un-
University should add impetus to the move- tiring leader in the Hebraic movement, he
ment. And the achievement of the objectives has earned the gratitude of Jewry for his
of this campaign should also prove of great many accomplishments in the efforts for
value to the American fraternity, which now Hebrew's revival and survival. • We join in
already has , two chapters. , in Israel, . in Tel paying tribute to- his memory.
Menahem Ribalow
H I STOR I ETTE
When Multi Was Called War Criminal
An American Jewish Press Feature
From time to time, the former Mufti of Jerusalem, the man
who instigated Arabs to rioting against Jews, appears on the
scene with new campaigns against Israel.
Turning back the pages of history, we come across evidence
of the ex-Mufti's pro-Nazi activities.
In 1946, the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League produced proof
to show that the Arab leader was in the pay of the Nazis. The
claim was made that by being an Axis partner he provided suf-
ficient evidence for his inclusion among the Nazis who were placed
on trial at Nuremberg.
On June 20, 1946, the Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League cabled
the then Secretary of State James F. Byrnes in Paris as follows: :
"We urgently suggest the propriety of immediate steps to
secure surrender of the Mufti Amin El Husseini by Egypt and
his trial as a war criminal in the first degree. Guilty along with
Goering and Himmler of offenses against humanity and of
seekinc, directly to spread treachery among United States sol-
b Near Eastern extraction. If Hitler's chief Moslem Quis-
diers of
ling is allowed to maintain his published claim of "refuge" in
the Egyptian palace the entire plan of United Nation's justice
under law on which rests the world's future hope for peace
will be endangered. In view of Great Britain's special position
in the Egyptian situation we further suggest the desirability of
determining this issue as part of pending general diplomatic
negotiations with England.
Non-Sectarian Anti-Nazi League, by
Herman Hoffman, Chairman
Board of Directors
James H. Sheldon
Administrative Chairman"
Between You and Me
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1953, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
UN Reflections:
Did the United States vote for Israel's vice presidency of the
United Nations General Assembly? ... There is much speculation
about this question in UN circles, and there is a strong belief that
the American delegation at the UN voted not for Israel but for
Pakistan, the competing candidate . . The truth is difficult to
establish, since the balloting was secret, although it is known that
delegations from practically all the Catholic countries voted in
favor of Israel's candidacy ... This despite the pressure from the
Catholic world for the internationalization of Jerusalem . . The
voting was conducted without any pressure from any of the Big
Powers and the election of Israel to the UN vice presidency reflects
the respect which Israel enjoys in the family of nations ... There
was considerable behind-the-scenes threatening by the Arab dele-
gations over the naming of Israel . . . Up to the last minute it was
far from certain that Israel would win out against Pakistan in the
balloting ... Especially because of the fact that the Jewish state
does not see eye-to-eye with the United States and Britain on the
Jerusalem issue . . . On the other hand the Israel delegation lost •
out when the Arabs strongly opposed the naming of Dr. Jacob
Robinson, one of its members, for the chairmanship of the UN
Legal Committee . . . Dr. Robinson, is considered in UN circles one
of the top experts on international law and has the respect of all
members of the Legal Committee . . . The Arab delegations
threatened to boycott the Legal Committee if Dr. Robinson was
named its chairman.
Washington Reflections:
The first substantial release by the U.S. of Mutual Security
funds to Israel is expected early in October . . . The exact amount
of Mutual Security aid allocated for Israel is still not known, but
it will be less than last year's .. . Part of the sum allocated by
Congress recently for the Middle East will be diverted to Iran as
"emergency" aid . . . In the meantime, Israel is looking around in
this country for funds to meet its short-term obligations .
Israel's foreign debt now stands at about $400,000,000 . .. During
the year ending June 30, 1954, Israel must pay $110,000,000 on
account of this debt . . . The refusal by the United States to help
Israel consolidate its short-term debt into a long-term loan is
interpreted by public opinion in Israel as a decline in the U.S.
attachment to the American-Israel tradition of friendship . .
This has been pointed out frankly to the State Department by.
Israel Ambassador Abba Eban . . . However, State Department
officials stoutly deny any implication that American policy towards
Israel is dictated by anything but warm friendship . . . They de-
clare that disagreement on the need or possibility of specific finan-
cial aid should not obscure the fact that American assistance to
Israel is continuing on a very substantial basis . . . Ambassador;
Eban may soon visit the State Department on matters concerning
American aid to Israel..