Purely Commentary
Metropolitan Division
Selects Chairmen; Will
Direct AJC All-Out Days
Between You and Me
(Copyright, 1954, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
By BORIS SMOLAR
Mrs. Samuel A. Green and Mil-
ton Lucow will once again head Mission to Israel
Israers Plea for 'Revitalized Zionist Movement`
the Metropolitan Division of the
What is really the situation in Israel? . . I am being asked
Eliezer Livneh, member of Israel's Knesset, in a Jerusalem- Allied Jewish Campaign.
this question from all sides since my return from a short visit
published pamphlet, "State and Diaspora," in which he makes a
to the Jewish State . . .. The answer can be summarized in one
strong appeal for a revitalized Zionist movement, declares that
sentence: The average family in Israel finds it very hard put
"pro-Israel sentiment without Zionist backing is important." He
to make ends meet, but the country is making constant progress
takes the position that—
in its development . . The days when food was scarce in Israel
"In the absence of a. considerable immigration from the
are now past .. . You can see in the windows of Tel Aviv stores
appetizing displays of smoked meat, all kinds of sausages, French
Western countries the effectiveness of the funds mobilized for
sardines, halvah, and other delicacies, but very few people can
Israel's reconstruction is somewhat limited. Without the per-
afford to buy them . . . In the windows of bakeries you see a
sonal participation of the American Jew • in the work of na-
variety of rich cakes, fancy pastries, all kinds of bread—all can
tional reconstruction, the value of the American dollar is below
be bought without rationing, but only a handful of people have C
par in Israel."
the means to buy it . . . On the corners of every main street in
He is even more specific: "Immigration from the West is more
Jerusalem peddlers openly display butter and eggs to be sold at
than just desirable, it is vital. Failing an adequate influx of
a price slightly .higher than similar rationed commodities, but—
settlers from the Western countries, the entire edifice that has
in contrast to former years—there are no buyers .. . People don't
Ir
been erected is in danger of collapse."
earn enough to afford the luxury of buying in the free market
Mr. Livneh places emphasis, additionally, on the following
meat,
cake,
butter,
or
an
extra
egg
.
.
.
This
is
true
with
regard
Mrs.
Green
M. Lucow
elements in the relationship between American Jewry and the
to the .average worker, the employee, the white collar man, and
Israelis:
Michael Stacey will head a even the high government official . . . Their income today is SO
"Three non-economic factors combined to stimulate the major section in the division, low, that in many families husband and wife must both work toe,
flow of external assistance into Israel: a. The enthusiasm gen- composed of persons formerly in eke out a living . . . A substantial proportion of the urban poptlia-
erated among non-Jews as well as Jews by the establishment of the Junior Division. This section ton is happy when it earns enough to cover food, rent an'" other
has scheduled its all-out day for bare necessities . . . Very few think now of buying clothing ,
the State. b. A feeling of guilt towards the Jewish people fol-
And holding down to a job has now—contrary to a few years ago—
Sunday, March 14.
lowing the European holocaust. e. The American policy, with-
become a matter of existence . . . It is no longer easy to find a-
Harold
Finegood,
Sam
Green-
making
substantial
grants
to
out precedent in history, /of
berg, Nathan Sosin, Robert Ve- new job . . Especially when one is over 43 years of age .
friendly countries."
netianer and Maxwell M. Lowe Even the labor exchange bureaus hesitate to register people over
Factor a is, we believe, one of the most vitally needed weapons will lead the Bna.i Brith Sec- 45 .for employment . . Thus, when one has a job, he treasures
strengthening
this
relationship.
It
is
the
enthusiasm
of
two
in
tion, which will participate in it no matter how small an income it bringS.
generations of Zionists that has made possible the re-creation of all-out day, Sunday, March 28.
Shadows and Lights
Jewish statehood. The re-acquisition of enthusiasm represents one
Other teams in the Metropoli-
Does this mean that the economic situation in Israel iS
of the most necessary and most fundamental aspects of a revita- tan Division will be headed by
desperate? . . Not at all . • • While . the individual citizen is not
lized Zionism.
Alex Roberg, Gemiluth Chasso- as well off today as he was a few years ago, the country _itself is
Enthusiasm—the Making or the Breaking of a Cause
dim; Bernard Isaacs. United He-
The value of enthusiasm was evidenced in Detroit, at a brew Schools; Evergreen Jewish marching forward to economic independence . . The cities are
gathering of youth leaders who met in an assembly to formulate Community, Isadore Silverman; spreading out,. important new industries are springing up, ari
land is being irrigated and agriculture is making quite noticeabl
ideas for a youth council to advance the Zionist ideal.
Landsmanshaft Council, Morris
It was heartening to note that the young people gave reality Malin; Jewish War Veterans., progress . Low as the income in Israel may be, one does no
see Jews. wearing patches on their shoes, as was the case wit
to the view of Ralph Waldo Emerson, that—
George Karden.
Jews in Poland, or Romania, or Carpatho-Russia, from wher
Every great and commanding movement in the annals of
many of these Jews came . The new economic policy of th
the world is triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever
Israel government is directed toward strengthening and develop
Lefton Named Chairman
achieved without it."
ing of the state, even at the expense of depriving the averag
This is certainly true of Zionism. And because Zionism is as Of Mechanical Trades
citizen of certain luxuries ... And members of the Israel govern
necessary in Jewish life today as it was in the pre-Israel-state-
ment are themselves affected . by this policy no less than the
Lefton.
active
leader
0.
Jack
hood days, enthusiasm must, once again, be infused into Jewry.
average citizen . . . The salary of a member of the Israel Cabine
Enthusiasm is the mortar that is needed to hold together in the mechanical trades divi- does not exceed $250 a month, on which he must maintain his
all the important claims to Jewish loyalties. This Commentator sion of the Allied Jewish Cam- family, pay tuition for his children and be properly dressed.
was impressed recently by an article in Editor and Publisher, by paigns, has been
Eyes on U. S. Jewry
Norman' Spray, on "The Writer's Most Important Tool." It told named general
of the genius of the late Meigs 0.. Frost who, until his death in chairman of
I met with Prime Minister Moshe Sharett and with Finance
1935, filled New Orleans newspapers with delightful features that Division in
Minister Levi Eshkol; I - saw Golda Myerson, Dov Joseph and
about everything from the return of the Robin in the Spring to the 1954 drive,
practically every member of the Israel Cabinet . . . All of them
hideous murders. Frost was asked what makes a good feature Irving W. Blum-
lay great hopes on aid from American Jewry through the United
Jewish Appeal, Israel bonds, private investments in Israel and
writer. Mr Spray states in his article that "his answer so im- berg and Har-
tourism . . Some of them are nervous over the fact that the
pressed Warren C. Ogden, editor of DIXIE (the New Orleans vey H. Gold-
UJA raised ten per cent less last year than in the previous year
Times-Picayune magazine section.), that Ogden wrote it down man, campaign
. . . They asked me whether this does not indicate that a further
and often refers it to aspiring young writers today. Frost answer- chairman, an-
decline may be expected this year • . . The average man in Israel
nounced.
ed that:
is still talking about the conference of "American Jewish mil-
Nathan R
"It's not form, important as that is.
lionaires" that took place last October in Jerusalem . . . It was
Epstein, chair-
"It's not news sense.
at this conference that American Jewish leaders pledged theta
man of the di- Lefton
"It's not education,
vision in 1953, is honorary selves to raise $125,000,000 a year for Israel through the UJA, the
"It's not even imagination; although that is important.
chairman of mechanical trades sale of Israel bonds and other channels—a pledge which was to
"It's not even hands to write.
hold good. for seven years ... Will this pledge be redeemed? .
this year.
"It's not even eyes—I knew a blind feature writer who was
Division Counsellors are Na- This is the question that is uppermost in the minds of those who
really good.
strive to make Israel a self-supporting country . . Israeli leaders
than Kolb and Ben Kramer.
"What is the most important thing for a feature writer?
Plans are moving ahead rap- are also wondering who will be the head of the Israel bond drive
The
I'll tell you.
idly for the division's "Mecha- in America, now that Henry Morgenthau is retiring
rama Dinner," Tuesday. April 6, candidate mentioned is Jacob Blaustein, since the belief exists
"It is enthusiasm!
that under his chairmanship relations between the bond organiza-
at Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel.
"The superior sour gut can sit on the journalistic sidelines
tion and the United Jewish Appeal may. definitely improve.
and sneer at corn, at sentimental slush, at stories that bring
The 'Cold War'
forth tears or belly laughs, but every good feature writer I ever Sinai VolunteerQ
.
Any American visiting Israel cannot help but notice the "cold
knew loved feature writing. He ate it; he slept it; he drank it.
To Meet March
war" between Moscow and the United States on the streets of
"Enthusiasm!
Tel Aviv . . . The East-West "war" is strongly reflected on the
"That's the one thing that makes or breaks a feature writ-
All in-service volunteers of newsstands and in the multitude of book-stores in the city...
er. if he has it, he'll get (ill the other things necessary. If he
Sinai Hospital Women's Guild Books and magazines published in the United States are dis-
doesn't have it, he might gist as well get himself a good job as are urged to attend an impor- played side by side with Soviet books and publications . . They
an elevator operator or a bank clerk."
tant meeting at 10:30 a.m., can be bought in Tel Aviv for much less than in the United States
We offer this as a vitally needed tool for Jewish action, and March 19, in the hospital's or in Moscow . . . In this competition of minds, the United States
especially for the revitalization of the Zionist movement. With lecture hall, according to an has the upper hand over Russia ...Israelis are eager to know
enthusiasm—the kind that helped build Israel—all is conquerable. announcement by Mrs. Lewis B. what is going on behind the Iron Curtain because many of them
A weakening in the enthusiast's spirit endangers the towers we Daniels, chairman.
have relatives there ...But when it comes to reading, they prefer
have erected.• We need enthusiasm in the Allied Jewish Cam-
Speakers making presenta- America ...Not only are American newspapers and magazines sold
paign, in the setting up of investment projects in Israel, in efforts tions at the meeting include Dr. in large quantities in Israel, but American novels, dictionaries,
to retain the good will of our Christian neighbors in behalf of I. Jerome Hauser, "The Hospital scientific books and encyclopedias enjoy a good sale there
the Jewish state.
and the Child;" Mrs. Ruth El- Especially popular are the 25-cent editions ... The Soviet Legation
William Cowper, the 18th century English poet, offered ad- son, "The Place of the Volunteer in Israel is far from happy over it, and the Soviet Ambassador
ditional good advice when he said:
in the Nursing Service;" Dr. in Tel Aviv is trying to counteract thii phenomenon by throwing
"No wild enthusiast ever yet could rest,
Sidney Kobernick, "Perspectives parties in the Legation for intellectuals, so as to meet Israelis
Till half mankind were, like himself, possest."
of Research at Sinai Hospital;" interested in literature . . . Even Israeli intellectuals known for
This is a good slogan to remember: the enthusiast, "possest," Dr. Julien Priver, "Report of their anti-Soviet sentiments are being invited to these parties ...
can literally, conquer the world. Reacquisition of enthusiasm in Progress at Sinai," and Dr. Soviet diplomats approach these anti-Soviet intellectuals with a
Jewish ranks is certain to give us that new breath of life that is Harry Saltzstein. "Projected frank desird to be invited into their homes ... Obviously, the order
from Moscow is to counteract American influer.ce among the
so vitally needed in an era which, because of the realization of Aims of Sinai."
'Pins will be presented to all population in Israel at any price, even at the price of making
historic dreams, has found some Jewish ideals lulled into slumber.
But enthusiasm is beginning to triumph anew, and it is en- volunteers who have offered 100 friends with anti-Soviet elements ... The Israelis are both puzzled
couraging to see youth emerging as the conquerors of lethargy or more hours of service to the and amused by this Soviet approach, especially since outside of
and the acquirers of a new spirit of enthusiasm and courage in hospital. A luncheon will follow Israel—in the United Nations, for instance—Moscow representa-
the meeting. Reservations should tives do everything they can to display pro-Arab rather than
retaining their people's heritage.
be phoned to the Guild office, pro-Israel sentiment.
BR. 3-3000, ext. 214.
American Investments
The American investment that makes the best impression on
National IZFA President
Americans visiting Israel is the paper mill at Hadera, established
by Joseph Mazer, noted New York philanthropist ... I was fasci.
To Address Local Chapter
nated by what I saw in this plant which, if I am not mistaken, is
Gabe Glazer, national presi- the first modern paper-produeing factory in the entire Near East
dent of the Intercollegiate Zion- ... The mill saves Israel millions of dollars by supplying the local
ist Federation of America, will newspapers with newsprint, hitherto imported . . . It will take
speak at 3 p.m., Tuesday, at months before some of the orders now on hand are filled ...This
Wayne University Founda- indicates how important a gap Mr. Mazer's enterprise hlls in
isra'ers industry . . . Another important contribution by Ameri-
tion.
In an attempt to reactivate cans—though not in the field of industry—is the American Zionist
Moving ahead in their phase of the Allied Jewish campaign the Wayne chapter, Glazer will House of Tel Aviv . . Here Israelis come to enjoy an evening,
are members of the food division. Left to right: MERWIN K. speak on "Campus Zionism To- some listen to lectures, others to dine and dance .... The ZOA,
GROSSBERG, PETER COPELAND, NATHAN SOSIN and MEYER day." In the evening, Glazer will I was told, is losing $50,000 a year on the establishment in order
BERMAN, section chairmen; and HERMAN LEVINE, a vice-chair- travel to Ann Arbor to address to make it accessible to people with low income.
man of the division. This . division will, hold its annoal; : dinner, tie UniversitY of Michigan IZFA
niday, March 12, 1195.1
March 29, 5:30 P.m., at Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel.
2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
groUP.'
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
•
.
-
AN Food Division Leaders
..■■•■■ ••••..