utting Two and Two Together

By RINNA G OSSMAN

Ai

American Jewist Press Feature

Recently, a variety of inci-
dents, mostly unpleasant, have
turned a somewhat glaring spot-
light on Israel's National Service
Law. In Israel, itself, this Law
has for months been the subject
of heated controversy and dis-
cussion. Now, a number of Jew-
ish bodies within the United
States have taken up cudgels—
pro and con—and have even
managed to bring this matter
(and the misunderstandings that
simultaneously. surround and
veil it) to the attention of the
press.
All this makes it high time for
us to try to sort out the relevant
facts and figures, distinguish
truth from wild rumor and find
out what is what, ,
What does "national service"
mean? That these young worn-
on, who are not required to en-
ter the army arid are placed
therefore in the category of con-
scientious objectors should none-
the-less serve their nation in
non-military fields of activity.
These include (among others)
work in religious agricultural
settlements, in. immigrant set-
tlements and in sundry educa-
tional, medical. and social wel-
fare institutions where they will
work as civilians in civilian
clothing.
Who voted for this law? A
large majority of the Parlianient,
including the two religious par-

ties Mizrachi and the Poel Ha-
mizrachi.
Did the Chief Rabbinate issue
any edict against the law? No.
The Rabbinate expressed con-
cern on the matter of girl's raised
in highly, i.e. unusually sheltered
homes. But it at no time directed
the religious parties to leave the
coalition or to vote against the
National Service Law.
Do any of the religious girls
potentially involved in the Na-
tional Service now work outside
their family circle? Yes—many
of them. Scores of these young
women for whom absolute and
total exemption from any active
contribution to the welfare of
the State is demanded find that
their traditions in no way pre-
clude their getting government
jobs or working in private es-
tablishments -- any and all of
which, needless to say, are more
lucrative than National Service.
Much of the hue and cry
raised over the Law has come
from ignorance of its pro-
visions.
History is colored and bright-
ened by the legends handed
down through the ages about
those who served behind the
lines and without a uniform.
Surely it ill-behooves a pious
daughter of Israel to refuse to
nurse the wounded or to teach
the newcomer—or to work the
soil—particularly since all these
truly blessed activities are to be
within the framework of a pious
way of life.

Council Assembly Told of Progress
In Communal Affairs; Hears Israeli

20—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Friday, March 5, 1954

Leon Fram Given
Life Contract as
Rabbi, DD Degree

RABBI LEON FRAM

Rabbi Leon Fram received two
distinct honors this week: an
honorary life contract with Tem-
ple Israel and notification that
he will be Olen an honorary
Doctor of Divinity degree by his
alma mater, Hebrew Union Col-
lege. He was notified of these
honors at a dinner given him
Sunday night by the officers of
Temple Israel who arranged the
event in his honor. Hosts at
the dinner were Jacob A. Citrin,
Louis - Schostak, Sol Colton and
J. 0. Lefton, the Temple's of-
ficers.
Mrs. S. B. Danto, past-presi-
dent of Temple Israel Sister-
hood, presented Rabbi Fram
with a book entitled "This Is
Your Life" and announced that
on the last page in the book
was the letter of notification
from Dr. Nelson Glueck, presi-
dent of Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institute of Religion,
that Rabbi Leon Fram will re-
ceive the degree of Doctor of
Divinity, honoris causa, at the
college's founder's day ceremon-
27.
-
eb
Both honors have been con-
ferred upon Rabbi Fram for his
leadership in the organization
and the building of Temple Is-
rael, for his pioneering work in
the field of Jewish education
and for many communal, civic,
social service, and interfaith
causes which he has served with
distinction. He was founder of
Beth El College of Jewish Stud-
ies, has been active both locally
and nationally in the Zionist
Organization of America, the
Jewish Welfare Federation, Jew-
ish Community Council, Detroit
Round Table and the Religious
Education Association of Amer-
ica. He was closely associated
with Mayor Frank Murphy in
the handling of relief and un-
employment problems and • sit-
down strikes during the • depres-
sion era of the thirties.
He is now president of the
Michigan Council of the Ameri-
can Jewish Congress, and is
chairman of the Detroit com-
mittee to plan the children's
celebration of the Tercenten-
nary of Jewish life in America.
Recently the Board of Educa-
tion of Detroit unanimously
elected him to serve as Library
Commissioner to succeed the
late Henry Meyers.

Sunday to Be Observed as 7-Day; Bez

Heads Volunteers in Membership Driv)

Proclaiming Sunday as Z-Day,
for the observance of Herzl An-
niversary Year, the Zionist Or-
ganization of Detroit has mo-
bilized a group of workers who
will visit Detroiters to enlist
them as members in the local
movement.
Under the chairmanship of
Samuel M. Bez, the following al-
ready have vol-
unteered to con-
tact those who
desire to pay
their dues, and
enroll them in
the continuation
of the efforts of
t h e movement
that stands back
of Israel's se-
curity and res-
cue activities: S. M. Bez
Harry Cohen, Andor Feldheim,
Samuel Feldstein, Nathan Fin-
klestein, Philip J. Gilbert, Ruben
Gold, Max Goldsmith, Joseph F.
Hirsch, Morris M. Jacob, Rubin
Kaplan, Ira G. Kaufman, Leon
Kay, Dr. Louis Kazdan, Micki
Lancet, Maurice Landau, Philip
Langwald, Dr. George Leib, Da-
vid Leiberwitz, M. Ben Lewis,
Louis Lightstone, Robert R. Mar-
wil, William Nadler, Harry Na-
than, Nathaniel Pernick, Sid
Robins, Emmanuel Rosenberg,
Harry R d a c h, Dr. A. A.
Schwartz, Sherman Shapiro, Na-

Ben-Gurion Predicts Use of Atomic
Energy for Negev Desert Irrigation

Services Division Plans Campaign

ZOD Honors Leon Kay
With Plaque, March 18

In recognition of his serv-
ices to the Zionist movement
and his outstanding contribu-
tions in helping establish -a.
Detroit Zionist House at Lin
wood and Lawrence, the Zion
ist Organization of Detroit
will honor Leon. Kay by in-
stalling a plaque in the ZOD
building. A special Purim
program in Mr. Kay's honor
is planned for March 18. All
are welcome.

The Z011 office, at Linwoc
and Lawrence, will be open a
day Sunday to welcome volun
teer workers and to accept men
bership payments from thos.
who won't be reached by th-
workers.
The Herzl Anniversary Yee
has been proclaimed by the ZO
on the 50th anniversary, the
year, of the passing of th
founder of the Zionist mow I
ment, Dr. Theodor Herzl.

Detroit Delegation to Attend Israel
Bond Conference; Dov J oseph to Speal

A group of Detroit Israel
bond leaders will attend the
presided. Two prominent Michi-
national planning conference
gan Christian leaders attended
for Israel in Washington, D.C.,
the national conference of the
March 26-28. Those planning to
American Christian Palestine
attend are Max Osnos, Phillip
Committee held in Washington.
They were Rev. William B.
Stollman, Peter S. Goldstein and
Sperry of Christ Episopal Church
Max Stollman.
and Philip Hart, former U.S. Dis-
The conference will assume
trict Attorney and presently
an international character by
legal adviser to the Government.
virtue of the enrollment of
Schlussel praised the coopera-
many countries, in Europe and
crt---e-2zio a a t
—on this continent, for the sale
1St the Davison Center, Feb. 25. Zionist Council and the Com-
of Israel bonds.
Cola Herman' stated that when munity Council.
According to Julian B. Ven-
the Arab nations defied the UN Immigration Developments
ezky, chairman of the national
Speaking of the status of im-
Partition Plan in 1947 and at-
executive committee of the Is-
tacked Israel,. "they did not ex- migration developments, David
rael bond drive, who spoke in
I. Rosin, chairman of the sub-
pect the fight they got."
Detroit last Tuesday, the first
t•
bond issue, the Independence
He praised the Valor of Israel's committee on immigration, re-
Issue, reached a total of $140,-
border settleinents that had vealed that since the passage
of the Refugee Relief Act last
000,000.
been established decades ago and August,
presumably allowing for
Characterizing Israel Bonds as
proved themSelves during the
"the most successful foreign
war to be part of a vital defense the admission of 214,000 refu-
security to be floated in this
link. Israel is a militarily sound gees, only four immigrants had
country since the end of World
state, Colonel ..Herman stated, reached our shores and been ac-
War II," Venezky emphasized
and its goal now is to achieve cepted under its provisions. He
urged Council-affiliated organi-
the faith which American pur-
economic soundness.
zations to direct major interest
chasers of Israel Bonds have
The meeting presided over by to immigration matters and
demonstrated in the economic
Sidney M. Shevitz, Council presi- particularly to revision or re-
future of Israel.
dent, featured 'reports of Council peal of the McCarran-Walter
The March 26-28 conference,
and community activities.
Immigration Law. Rosin also
at which American Jewish lead-
Vocational SerVice Campaign
described the Workshop on the
ers will meet with delegations
Hoke Levin, delegate from the Refugee Relief Act which had
from Canada, Western Europe
Jewish Vocational Service and been held in Detroit, sponsored
and Latin America, will be held
to-chairman of the internal re- by the Michigan Committee on
at the Mayflower Hotel in
lations committee described Immigration, with which the
Washington.
the stepped-up placement pro- Council is affiliated. This ses-
Mr. Venezky was accompan-
gram of Jewish Vocational Ser- sion was addressed by State De-
ied to Detroit by the national
vice.
partment officials and by lead-
field director for Israel bonds,
ing workers in the immigration
Activities With Zionist Council
Leo Bernstein, who also spoke
Recent activities of the Joint field.
at the meeting at the Barg-
Council action on the Bricker
Community Council — Zionist
man home.
Council Liaison Committee were Amendment and the successful
At a press conference on Tues-
related by Irving W. Schlussel, opposition to the Released Time
day, Mr. Venezky outlined Isra-
president of the Zionist Council. Bill was described by Samuel J.
el's accomplishments and the
These included activities in con- Rhodes, chairman of the com-
young state's present economic
nection with the visit to Detroit munity relations committee.
position. He predicted that Is-
The assembly was recessed to
of Dr. Walter C. Lowdermilk
and of Colonel Herman. The lo- view a special TV program in
cal chapter of the American observance of Jewish Music
Christian Palestine Committee Month, prepared by the Council's
was revitalized at a luncheon culture commission. The pro-
meeting attended by Christian gram featured Emma Schaver,
leaders and addressed by Rev. vocalist, and Jerome Rosen and
SDEH BOKER, Israel, (JTA)— and cheap transportation hold
Karl Baehr. Judge Frank Picard. Yasha Becker, instrumentalists. The ultimate use of atomic hope for fullest development of
energy to convert sea water into , the Negev. He asserted that there
fresh water for irrigation of huge
areas of the Negev was predicted is a need for "hundreds of pi-
by former Premier David Ben- oneers to pave the way for many
thousands to the Negev."
Gurion in an interview here.
The use of such water, plus
Returning to discussion of one
the piping of excess water stores of his favorite subjects, Ben-
from the north and the conser- Gurion suggested that the Zion-
vation of rain in Negev gullies ist Organization with its present
and wadis, presents the possi- functions should become an "Is-
bility of extending fruitful agri- rael Friends League," adding
culture to many more thousands that the Zionist movement has
of acres of what is now waste- more important tasks than mere
land, Ben-Gurion said.
support of Israel. The movement,
Considering other develop- he continued , should consist of
For their role in the Allied Jewish Campaign, members of the
services division are shown mapping division plans. Left to right: ment aspects of Israel's southern Jews who give their children a
MYRON D. STEIN, HAROLD GOTTLIEB, LEO POLK, ARNOLD land reserve, the former Premier Hebrew and pioneering educa-
ROS ► AN, JOHN ISAACS, HENRY AUSLANDER, and HARRY pointed out that the possible tion, which is more important
discovery of oil supplies, mining today than ever before.
NATHAN.

Declaring that "tile peace of
the world lies in. peace of the
Middle East," COlOnel Basil Her-
man, Israeli Military Governor
of the Negev, told delegates rep-
resenting more .than 100 of the
Jewish Community Council's af-
filiated organilations that Israel
has shown its peaceful inten-
tions to the World and to its
Arab neighbors. He spoke at the

than Spevakow, Dr. Berner
Weston, David M. Zellman, Be]
jamin Daitch, Joe Franovit
Sam Horowitz, Sam Levine, Ma
M. Schwartz.
Mr. Bez has personally offere,
a prize to each worker of th
team renewing the largest nur,
ber of members.

rael

will become self-supportil
by 1960 and that Israel bono
will play an important role it
that development.
He reported that Senator
Homer Ferguson of Michigan
will be among the principal
speakers at the Washington
conference. While the kick-off
for the Israel Development
Bond Issue will be at the
Washington conference, Mr.
Venezky said that cities
throughout the country will
select their own dates for their
campaigns.
The new Development Issue
represents the sum—$350,000,00C
—comparable to the amount of
unsold bonds in the first (inde-
pendence) issue, Mr. Venezk
said. He pointed out that ti
$140,000,000 in cash produced t
the first issue was sold to 600,0'
people—representing an averag.
of $280 per purchaser.
Mr. Venezky plans a country
wide tour in behalf of the Israe.
Bond Development Issue. .
Reporting on his conferences
with Israeli Premier Mosh,
Sharett, Henry Mentor, who re-
turned to New York last week,
announced extension of the sale
of Israel bonds to European
countries.
Mr. Montor declared that th
Washington conference woul.
Mark the international inaugu-
ration of the new Israel Develop-
ment Bond Issue which will seek
to raise $75,000,000 in 1954 as
part of a total of $350,000,000 to
be floated in Israel bonds in the
next few years for industrial
and agricultural expansion.
Mr. Venezky
said th . e gov-
• ernment of. Is-
rael is so con-
cerned with the
success of the
Washington
conference that
it has designat-
ed Dr.. Dov
Israel
Joseph,
Minister of De-
velopment, t o j
it..
serve
as
spokesman a
... „
Joseph the meeting
Dr. Joseph held the portfolio'
of Trade and Industry, Com-
munications and Justice at vari-
ous times in the government
headed by David Ben-Gurior
In keeping with plans to en
large local leadership of Israe
Bonds along permanent lines„
a new division, known as the
community leadership division.'
has been set up under thi
chairmanship of Melvin Dubin!
sky of St. Louis.

