Purely Commentary

Ike Restores Aid to Israel

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Education Month: 'Happy is the Man ..."

Observance of Education Month, already an established tra-
dition, nevertheless presents a recurring challenge to our com-
munity. The repeated appeals for support of our schools. for the
advancement of Jewish cultural values, have, in truth, borne
fruit. A larger percentage of our children is enrolled in the
schools. There is a better understanding of the need for knowl-
edge of Jewish conditions in the world. But much remains to be
accomplished in the educational field.
We are weak in the area of positive apologetics. We are lim-
ited in the sphere of public relations and there are not too many
in our ranks who are in a position to face issues like the critical
one which arose out of an antagonistic attitude to Israel adopted
by the State Department and concurred in by the President.
In the 94th Psalm we are admonished:

Happy is the man whom Thou instructest, 0 Lord,
And teachest out of Thy law;
That Thou mayest give him rest from-the days of evil.-

While Ecclesiastes asserts that "he who increaseth knowledge
increaseth sorrow," the accepted and preferred idea is that "the
man whom Thou instruc'best" is happy—happy in the knowledge
that he is able to face issues squarely, happy in the position that
he is able to justify the right against the evil.
On this basis, we strive to increase the ranks of the well-
instructed and to create a well-informed Jewish constituency.
We face today the unpleasantness of the challenge created by
reactionary support of a vicious immigration and naturalization
law now on the statutes of our country, and in addition to that
we must battle against unfair rulings aimed at Israel. We are con-
fronted by issues involving a spreading assimilationist tendency
which must be warded off by people who know and understand
the values of our heritage. There is need for understanding our
own values in dealing with our neighbors and in creating true
brotherhood which, nevertheless, justifies the perpetuation of
Jewish traditions.
Only those who know can face such issues squarely, courage-
ously, without fear of unjustified criticisms. That is why we must
strive to instill learning, to train a youth that possesses knowl-
edge of our history, and a well-informed adult constituency. That
is why Education Month is a vital task on the calendar of Jewish
activities.

Eliminating Frustrations in Jewish Life

There also are many other internal factors involving our edu-
cational needs which must not be overlooked, frustrations to be
eliminated, approaches to the banal to be abandoned.
Rabbi L. Milgrom, an American student of affairs in South
Africa, prior to his return to this country sever-al weeks ago, made
the statement that he had found a widespread, feeling of frustra-
tion among the South African youth on Jewish matters. His
observation was that youth was not being helped to become integ-
rated into the Jewish community.
Perhaps we can go even farther in acknowledging that not
only youth but their parents as well are frustrated. How else
could we possibly explain the abandonment of previous policies
of our numerous organizations which at one time sponsored high
grade educational programs that now are being displaced by
vaudevillians, by night club acts, by a lowering of standards in
programming?
Education Months have not helped eradicate these evils.
Therefore such observances must continue, in the hope that event - .
ually they will bear fruit, and will triumph over frustrations.

Humilitating Proof of Inadequacy

We had proof of the inadequacy of our interpretive programs

at the bond meeting Sunday. A Jewish spokesman who had the

opportunity of enlightening prominent non-Jews on the great
tradition of Christian aid to the Zionist cause failed miserably.
Even fund-raising should provide limitation in the banalities of
Some approaches to Jewish valueS. We shall return to this issue
in another column.

"The Robe' and Understanding of History

There is another matter which we consider related to an un-
derstanding of Jewish values and to the need for an effective edu-
cational program in the American Jewish community. We refer to
movies like "The Robe." There is an unusually interesting angle
in this very powerful Cinemascope film. It is the carefulness with
which its producers avoid hurting the Jewish viewer. The film
follows the historical truth of ascribing crucifixion to its creators:
the Romans. The Jews emerge as the Christians; as followers
of Christ, as truth-and justice-lbving people (except for Judas).
But the film is christological, and unless that angle is under-
stood it carries with it the danger- of misleading the unknowing
and the impressionable.
That is why it is so urgent that a proper educational system
should function as an enlightening force for the youth who should
be guided against being misled by proselytizing forces. A well-
educated youth will be able to view "The Robe" with enjoyment
and without danger of being confused. The danger for the un-

knowing viewer is very real.

The Refugee Relief Act Exposed

President Eisenhower is being challenged anew to live up to. a
campaign pledge and to strive for revision of the McCarran-Walter
Act. More than that: his so-called refugee relief act stands con-
demned as not having helped a single refugee or escapee to enter
this country.
•
Mrs. Irving M. Engel, president of the National Council of
Jewish Women, in an address to her organization's national board
of directors, made the accusation that the so-called emergency
legislation has not met the emergency at all and declared:
"Not only has the government failed under this Refugee
Relief Act to issue a single visa to a refugee since the act was
passed, but unless the law is changed, it can now be definitely
predicted that because of the many restrictions with which it is :
hedged, not even halt of the 214,000 immigrants and escapees
ostensibly to be permitted entry to this country in the next two
and one-half years will actually be admitted.
"We hope that the demonstrated failure of the improperly
described 'emergency relief' legislation will induce Congress to
change the announced intent of some of its leaders to let this
.enactment stand unamended = through the two-and-one-half
year period. The situation calls for a new timetable—in other
words, action now."
This is a serious challenge to the present administration. Will
Mr. Eisenhower heed the words of the pleaders for justice, who
ask, no more and no less,ihat he fulfill a campaign pledge?

.

2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Friday, October 30, 11953

42 line is being crossed by thieves
in the night."
Debate on Procedure
Sir Gladwyn Jebb had asked
for 24 hours in order to consult
the British government about
the Pakistan proposal that Is
Direct JTA Teletype Wires to The Jewish News
rael be requested to stop work
WASHINGTON
President Eisenhower announced to on the canal pending considera-
his press conference Wednesday morning that aid to Israel tion of the case before the
Security Council. Dr. Charles
is being restored.
Mr. Eisenhower said that he had conferred with Secre- Malik of Lebanon insisted that
this was an urgent matter and
tary of State Dulles and was delighted to learn that Israel while
agreeing to Sir Gladwyn's
had given its approval to what the President described as a request said that the Council
United Nations recommendation on the water question.
should proceed to discuss the
Consequently, Mr. Eisenhower said that the United substance of the question.
States can proceed with arrangements for economic aid to
As a result of the chairman's
Israel. He said that Mr. Dulles will bring forward proposals intervention, a compromise was
agreed to whereby the Council
at once.
The President said that aid to Israel was cut off under would hear Gen. Bennike's re-
and then turn to consider-
the policies laid down by the UN, and pointed out that this port
ation of the Syrian complaint.
nation does not want to prejudge any question before the UN
Zafrullah Khan of Pakistan
but will attempt to support it in everything.
moved that Israel be asked to
*
stop work on the Jordan River
UNITED NATIONS, N. Y.—Israel's chief delegate to project pending consideration of
the UN, Abba Eban, on Tuesday evening announced at the the question by the Council.
Israeli Ambassador Abba
Security Council that the Israel government is willing to sus-
pend temporarily work on the Jordan River Canal, without Eban, who had been invited to
Council table protested
prejudice, in order to facilitate the Council's deliberations. the
against this maneuver. He said
He pledged that Israel would cooperate with whatever de- that what Pakistan wanted was
cision the Council reaches. His announcement was warmly the Council to take " a decision
received by all present, including the Lebanese delegate on the very matter of substance
Charles Malik who congratulated Eban for this move.
without having heard our view-
point." Dr. Farid Zeinnedine of
Gen. Vagn Bennike, UN Truce
Supervision Chief in Palestine, two methods available to solve Syria also was invited to the
charged the Israel army late the problem of infiltration: To Council table.
Tuesday with responsibility for agree to high level talks between
the Kibya raid. Reporting to- the senior military commanders or Turkish Jew Decorated
Security Council, Gen. Bennike to resorting to force. "This sec- For Service in Korea
ISTANBUL, (JTA)—A Turkish
cited reports of UN investigators ond method reflects impatience
to support this charge and esti- with the slow results of peaceful Jew who served with the Turk-.
mated that 250 to 300 "well- means and a preference in- ish detachment in Korea, was
trained Israeli soldiers carried stinctive or deliberate for the one of three Turkish Army offi-
old law of talon—eye for eye and cers to receive the United States
out this operation."
The UN truce official, who de- tooth for tooth," he said. "In military decoration, the Bronze
scribed the K i b y a incident such a frame of mind, respect Star Medal, for meritorious con-
against a background of troubled for the provisions of the armis- duct in Korea, at imposing cere-
border conditions and repeated tice agreement forbidding the monies here. He is Lieut. Haim
disturbances of peace, warned, crossing of the demaracation Benbassat of Istanbul, a reserve
the Council that "a threat to the line appears absurd when such officer.
security of the area is possible,"
and stressed that Kibya and
other occurrences could not be
considered as isolated incidents.
Gen. Bennike told the Security
Council that "the hand grenade
By BORIS SMOLAR
thrown on the night of the 12th
(Copyright, 1453, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
and 13th . October into a house
in the Israeli village of Yahud, UN Sentiments
Secretary of State John Foster Dulles' action is interpreted by
which caused the death of two
small children and their mother, some delegates as a step toward undermining the prestige and
may have provoked the attack authority of the United Nations . . . The argument is that the
on Kibya 48 hours later, result-
is only one mmeber of the United Nations, and it is
ing in the death of 53 Arab in- United States
habitants and the destruction of therefore improper for the State Department to impose "sanctions"
against any country unless the United Nations as a whole decides
more than 40 dwellings."
He warned that 'the latest on it . . . Especially since the American sanctions against Israel
news received from the United were taken under the pretext that the Jewish State is allegedly
N at, ions observers indicates defying the order of the UN truce supervisor in Palestine to halt
the persistence , of t e n s i o n,
particularly in Jerusalem." work on the hydroelectric project near the Syrian frontier . . By
That situation, he said, is rushing into such sanctions, Secretary Dulles not only prejudiced
"dangerous and should be the Israel case even before the UN had a chance to discuss it, but
also has unmistakenly indicated that the U. S. does not care to
watched closely."
Gen. Bennike reported in de- consult the United Nations when she wants to use the big stick
tail on the findings of the UN to teach a nation a lesson , . This is a very sensitive matter for
investiation team which enter- the delegations of smaller nations at the UN who resent being
ed Kibya two hours after the used merely as rubber stamps to approve actions taken by the
raid and quoted from a memo- Big Powers . Secretary Dulles' move against Israel is considered
randum by Commander E. H. in UN circles a poor showing of statesmanship.
Hutchison, USN, acting chair-
man of the Jordan-Israel Mixed Washington Moods
Armistice Commission, explain-
Not everybody in Washington agrees with Secretary Dulles'
ing why he had voted in the drastic action against Israel . Some question the wisdom of his
commission to condemn Israel. anti-Israel move, at a time when Israel has proven itself the Only
He said he had found the Ameri- pro-American country in the Middle East ... It is obvious to them
can officer's t e c h n i ca I ,argu- that Mr. Dulles' present policy can only weaken the position of
ments "convincing."
Israel's pro-American Cabinet and strengthen Israel's pro-Soviet
Before Gen. Bennike took Mapam party which is not in the government . . • Thus, Secretary
the floor, UN Secretary .Gen- Dulles is unwittingly playing into the hands of Moscow in a part
eral Dag Hammersjold, ad- of the world where Israel, next to Turkey, is the strongest power
dressing the Council, offered against Moscow . Some think that he is also playing into the
a. stern warning to the, "par 7 hands of Britain which does 'not like to see American influence
ties concerned" in the Arab- replacing British influence in the Middle East
Strong suspicion
Israel dispute to refrain from prevails that Britain is utilizing Mr. Dulles in her attempt to re-
any action "which would con- gain position in the Middle East through the old "divide and con-
tribute to a widening of ten- quer" system ... Faced, with a situation where Egypt insists on
sion in the area, and, especial- the withdrawal of the British troops from the Suez area, Britain
ly, to avoid any action which is seeking an opportunity to transfer these troops to nearby Jor
could jeopardize the Security dan ... The best opportunity of this kind is presented by increased
Council's present endeavors." tension on the Jordan-Israel border . . Under a military pact
He called on both sides to re- with Jordan, Britain is obligated to defend Jordan whenever it
frain from any action con- asks for such aid ... Thus, the increased violence on the Jordan-
trary to the Armistice agree- Israel frontier—Jordan was found guilty by the UN Mixed Armis-
ments and which Would "prej- tice Commission Of violating the armistice pact with Israel more
udice the attainment of per- than 150 times in the course• of the last 12 months—paved the
manent peace in Palestine."
way for Jordan's recent appeal to Britain It is noted in Wash-
Geri. Bennike, in summing up ington that no such appeal was made by Jordan to the United
the situation on the • Israel- States, nevertheless Secretary Dulles, during his, stay in London,
Jordan.demaracation lines, said joined Britain against Israel . • France did it too, but the French
the present , tension was "due to delegate at the UN Security •eutincil did not hesitate to indicate
a large extent to the problem of that France did it very reluctantly . . It is also noted in Wash-
infiltration. This problem," he ington:that while Jordan provocations on the Israel border have
said, "is . particularly difficult grown during recent , months both in number and in boldness, no
because it divides the former such provocations took place at all on the part of the other Arab
mandated territory of Palestine countries neighboring Israek—conntries like Syria and Lebanon
_haphazardly, separating many where• Britain has p.-o foothold. 4 . This despite the fact that there
Arab villageS from their lands.". is a sharp
between Syria, and Israel over the Jordan ty-

Israel Stops Jordan Canal
Work; Criticized by Bennike

—

Between You and Me

•

-

Gen. Bennike said there are droelectric scheine.'

