MARCH OF DIMES
FIGHT
INFANTILE
PARALYSIS
JANUARY 2-31
THE EWISH NEWS
A Weekly Review
of Jewish Events
Michigan's Only English-Jewish Newspaper—Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
Some Basic Lessons
In
Prof. Goodenough's
Scholarly Study of
Religious Attitudes
Of Jews in the
Greco-Roman World
Commentary, Page 2
1.1•11/9,
VOLUME 24—No. 17
<47714). 7
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Direct Israel-J rdan Armistice
Talks Receive Dulles' Approval
Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News
'Open Door' in Zionism Urged
By Dr. Goldmann Before ZAC
.
JERUSALEM, (JTA)
An appeal to world Zionist
leadership to open the doors of the Zionist movement to all
who want to help Israel but do not belong, or do not wish
to belong, to any particular Zionist group, was voiced here
by Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the Jewish Agency,
in addressing the Zionist Actions Committee — supreme
Zionist body between world congresses — now in session
here.
Recalling the political crisis faced by Israel recently,
Dr. Goldmann said that the crisis is not yet over and em-
phasized the need for Israel to mobilize the entire Jewish
world for support. He stressed the fact that Israel needs not
only economic, financial and moral support for world Jew-
ry, but also political aid.
Dr. Goldmann said the Israel government must exer-
cise more cooperation with world Jewry, especially in mat-
ters affecting not only Israel.
He strongly appealed for increased immigration into
Israel. He praised David Ben-Gurion, the retired Premier
of Israel, as the man "with whom we did not always agree,
but who inspired and influenced us by his sheer presence,
even if he did not participate in our debates."
A review on the achievements of Israel and the Jew-
ish Agency during the year was presented to the session
of the Actions Committee by Berl Locker, chairman of
the Jewish Agency executive in Jerusalem. He empha-
sized that regardless of the achievements, many outstand-
ing problems still remain to be solved, but he decried the
fact that during the last five years 40,000 to 50,000 Jews
re-emigrated from Israel. He called for measures to pre-
vent emigration from the Jewish State.
The coordinating board of the Israel government and
the Jewish Agency met Monday night under the chair-
manship of acting Premier Moshe Sharett to discuss
problems concerning immigration and emigration.
The members of the Jewish Agency presented at the
meeting several proposals aimed at checking re-emigra-
tion from Israel. One of the proposals suggests the estab-
lishment of a special fund to assist newcomers who find
themselves in need of support. Such aid, it is believed,
would prevent them from leaving the country.
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State John Foster Dulles indicated at
press conference Tuesday that he favors a move instituted by Israel at the
United Nations invoking Section XII of the Israel-Jordan armistice to force
direct talks between Jordan and Israel.
On Monday, Mr. Dulles met for three-quarters of an hour with two Arab Ambas-
sadors who, according to authoritative diplomatic sources, sought to prevail on the
United States Government to change its stand on the Big Three draft resolution on the
Israel-Syrian dispute submitted at the United Nations on Dec. 16.
The Arab bloc sought to bring about revision of the resolution to provide Syria
with veto power over Israeli projects in the demilitarized zone.
(Earlier Story on Page 3)
UN Defers Bnot Yaacov Vote After Angry Debate
UNITED NATIONS, (JTA)—Two hours of angry debate in the Security Council,
Tuesday, finally produced an agreement on a Chinese compromise to defer considera-
tion of the Syrian complaint over the Jordan hydroelectric project to a date between
Jan. 7 and 15, to be fixed by the incoming Council president, Dr. Charles Malik, of Leb-
anon.
Soviet Russia's Delegate Andrei Y. Vishinsky highlighted the debate with a bitter
attack on the United States, charging the Big Three draft resolution as an American
move to establish control of water power resources of the Jordan.
The Council president, Alexis Kyrou of Greece, spoke of the "sense of frustration"
that all must feel at the failure to reach an agreement, but exercised the hope that in
the long run the talks would be productive.
The Soviet Union was supported by Pakistan's delegate who proposed a sine die
adjournment, arguing that the new Council president could convene another meeting if
there were any new developments, but Mr. Kyrou intervened to point out that the Coun-
cil already had enjoined Israel against resuming work on the Bnot Yaacov project while
the case was under urgent consideration and that a sine die adjournment could not be ap-
plied to the urgency of the situation. All other proposals were withdrawn upon acceptance
of the Chinese - proposal, whicirwn- adMpted with the Soviet Union and Chile abstaining
from voting.
Arab League Instructs Jordan to Abstain from Talks With Israel
LONDON, (JTA)—The Arab League Political Committee, meeting in Beirut, in-
structed Jordan to reject Israel's bid for direct talks between the two countries.
The meeting was called after the United Nations had notified Jordan of Israel's
invocation of Article XII of the armistice agreement calling for diect talks.
Egypt Confiscates 2,000 Tons of Clothing Sent to Israel
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—Israel's Foreign Office indicated it may take steps against
Egypt following a report that Egyptian authorities confiscated not only a transport of
meat destined for Israel when the Italian ship Franca Maria passed the Suez Canal, but
also 2,000 tons of clothing.
The report does not indicate the origin of the clothing, but it is assumed that the
transport was sent as a gift to Israel from South Africa. The Israel government has
already protested against Egypt to the U.N. Security Council, as well as to the United
States, England and France, regarding the confiscation of the meat.
Knesset Votes Increased Penalties for Arab Infiltrators
JERUSALEM, (JTA)—The Israel Parliament approved the first reading of a bill
to increase penalties to be imposed on infiltrators crossing Israel's borders and on per-
sons in Israel who aid or abet the marauders. Only the Communist deputi-s and those
affiliated with Dr. Moshe Sneh's leftist group voted against the measure.
Ancient Synagogue Rebuilt by DC in Rome;
Pre Abraham Settlement Discovered in Negev
ROME, (JTA)—A 538-year-old synagogue, the oldest in the ghetto of
Venice, was rededicated after extensive restoration carried out with funds made
available by the Joint Distribution Committee.
The synagogue, known as "La Scuola Grande Tedesca" (The Great German
School), was built in 1415 in the ghetto of Venice inhabited then by Jewish
bankers, most of whom had come from Germany, hence its name. Four other
historic synagogues in the ghetto have been restored this year. All five structures
were found in 1949 to be in danger of imminent collapse and the small Jewish
community of Venice, numbering 1,100 persons, was unable to pay for their
repairs.
The other rebuilt synagogues include Scuola Canton, probably named after
the family that founded it in 1532; Scuola Italiania, built in 1575 on a portico
supported by pillars; Scuola Spagnola, founded by Spanish Jews in 1580 and en-
larged by the famous Baroque architect Baldassare Longhena in 1635 and
Scuola Levantina, founded by Levantine Jews at least 300 years ago and en-
dowed with an important collection of ceremonial objects.
9120-Year-Old `Bashi Synagogue Unlikely to Be Rebuilt
'WORMS, Germany, (JTA) —Reports in the Berlin press that the ancient
"Bashi Synagogue" here, used by the great Biblical commentator of the 11th
century, is to be reconstructed were established to have little basis in fact.
- Built in 1034, the venerable edifice was in constant use as a house of prayer
until Nazi vandals dynamited it during the November pogroms of 1938. The famed
0 `Rashi Chair" was later salvaged. from the wreckage, together with some tablets
and a number of ritual objects. They are now showpieces of the local St. An-
drew's Museum, where devout Jews visit on occasion. The centuries-old
archives of the Worms commun.) ty are also at the -disposal of interested scholars..
Today, however, two old women are the entire resident Jewish population
of Worms, one of the three Rhine cities — Speyer, Worms and Mainz—known and
renowned in the Middle Ages among Jews everywhere as communities of wealth
and learning.
Shortly after American troops occupied Worms in 1945, the Military Gov-
ernor encouraged the city's Custodian of Monuments, Dr. Melt, to have the
entranceway to the synagogue reconstructed with the original stones that were
still littering the area. He also had the ancient cemetery put in order.
The Mayor of Worms is among those who would like to have restored as
tourist attraction, this building, which until its destruction was Europe's oldest
synagogue still in use. The total cost is estimated at 200,000 marks. His attempts
to secure a good part of the necessary sum from the state or federal government
has met with little success so far.
Locate Settlement Existing Before Abraham
NEW YORK, (JTA)—A settlement that existed 1,000 or 2,000 years near
Beersheba before Abraham made the famous water-rights contract with Abi-
melech there, is now being uncovered, the New York Times reported from
Beersheba.
The discoverer of the ancient community is a young French archaeologist,
Jean Perrot, who is directing the exploration for the French National Center of
Scientific Research with the assistance of Israel's Department of Antiquities
and the municipality of Beersheba.
Mr. Perrot says that the settlement is older by a couple of thousand years
than any other found in Palestine, and that it indicates a pattern of life at the
"dawn of civilization" in this area. One hundred or so people apparently lived
in the hill in little round houses connected with each other by tunnels. Mr..
Perrot's diggers have cut into ten of these houses and laid bare the pattern.