Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Congressional Investigations: Our Country Put to the Test

The National Community Relations Advisory Council has
found it necessary to propose 10 principles for the guidance of
Congressional investigating committees, "to insure fairness, to
aid in discovering facts, to bolster and strengthen public con-
fidence in legislative investigations." Suggesting limitations in
the scope of Congressional investigators, NCRAC urges "prohibi-
tion of one-man subcommittees," the right of cross-examination,
"no release of derogatory material," no public evaluation of peo-
ple until after the completion of inquiries, no radio coverage over
a witness' objections, etc.
It is common knowledge that NCRAC's action was inspired
by a frightful situation created by the panicky interrogations by
one-man committees and by the injection into our American sys-
tem of a state of panic resulting from unwarranted suspicions.
The state of panic now is beginning to involve the press of
our country. No one denies the "right to investigate," but the
problem involves the method of investigation. The New York
Times editorially reasserted the basic rights of a newspaper, thus:
"This newspaper believes that the junior Senator from
Wisconsin has the right to investigate the press—meaning by
the press, we suppose, all means of public communication, in-
cluding radio, television, and the unamplified human voice. If
the junior Senator isn't scared at what he proposes we are sure
the press isn't.
"This newspaper believes in the right and necessity for
congressional investigations conducted for the purpose of help-
ing lawmakers make laws. It does not believe in such investi-
gations as instruments of private ambition or agencies of terror-
ism. It does not, therefore, believe in the sort of investigation
that has been conducted by the junior Senator from Wisconsin.
It believes in sensible and intelligent investigations, in calm
and judicial investigation, in investigations honestly intended to
bring out facts.
"This newspaper believes that 'the press has the right and
duty to print all the news that's fit to print; to interpret and
explain that news to the best of its ability; to advocate or
oppose public policies, and to criticize public officials, whether
they are in the executive branch of the Government or in the
legislative 'iranch. It believes the press at this moment has a -
particular right and duty to report fully and criticize intelli-
gently the gyrations of the junior Senator from Wisconsin.
"It believes that the massive drive against the junior Senator
from Wisconsin has come from communism's worst enemies;
those who hate tyranny in all its forms, those who believe in
saying what they think and letting others do the same, those
who stand for man's liberty and dignity everywhere and undelio
all circumstances.
"We believe in investigating. That is the business of a
newspaper and the pride and glory of a self-respecting news-
paperman. Let the junior Senator call the responsible press of
this country to the stand. They will welcome ..his questions;
'they have nothing to fear. But let him realize, also, that they
will have questions to ask of him, and that some of those ques-
tions he may well fear." _
There is..a basic reason for quoting this important declara-
tion by this country's leading newspaper: once, the newspaper is
endangered, the house of worship, the home, the school, all of our
sacred institutions, may be equally endangered—and then our
liberties will be doomed. Therefore, it is necessary for all people
with a desire for unhindered freedom to battle for their rights
and to proclaim their opposition to intimidations and to terroris-
tic threats to the established judicial rights of Americans.
We have faith in America and special confidence that the
press will be alert to the issue and will be vigilant lest American
principles are defiled. The moment unscrupulous investigators
attempt to destroy our established traditions, olir newspapers are
certain to come forth with the necessary defense to assure the
perpetuation of the ideals without which our liberties will become
insecure.

The 'Fifth Amendment Communists' in the Army

Among the dangers lurking in our midst is a proposal for the
establishment of "labor camps" for "Fifth Amendment Commun-
ists." Another important American periodical, the fortnightly
Reporter, offered warning to the new scheme in the following:

THE REFUGEE

(McCarthy and Dirksen consider "disagreeable
labor camps" for "Fifth. Amendment Communists"
in the Army.)

They're coming near, my son, my son,
They're coming to our door,
I've heard the tramping of their feet
Some twenty years before.

I heard it first so far away
I thought it was the sea,
So far away that I was sure
It could not come to me.

It could not come to us, I said,
The human dikes are high,
But now I think the dikes are down
And the feet are tramping by.

The tramping feet, my son, my son,
Who'll batter down our door
And see to it, my heedless one,
That we are free no more.
—SEC.

The very issue involving so-called "Fifth. Amendment Com-
munists" represents a serious threat to this country. Those who
seek to solve it by the establishment of labor camps for suspected
offenders are merely attempting to introduce in this country
tactics of totalitarians—Fascists and Communists. They are
adopting the methods of destroyers of human rights through
enforcement of the despicable theory that "the end , justifies the
means" and through terrorism. Because all of us have as our ob-
jective the destruction of the menace of Communism, libertarians
must band together to prevent the destruction of the basic Amer-
ican principles through the importation of the lowest tactics of
Europe's totalitarians.
The maccaranisms and maccarthyisms which were injected
Into our body politic already have placed us in a bad light among
the nations of the world. Eopean countries that are bordered
by Communist-controlled nations have less fear of Communism
than we have and they can not understand the panic that has
taken hold of us. We must re-establish our dignity.by abandon-
ing policies which place us in a ridiculous light among the nations
of the world. Retention of our honor and dignity is possible only
by the rejection of maccarthyism and maccaranism.

2—DETROIT JEWIS-4 NEWS

Friday, April 2, 1954

Rabbi Wohlberg- Here
For Cornerstone Laying
Of Yeshivah Annex

Samuel Hechtman, chairman
of the building committee of the
Beth Y e h u d a h Schools, an-
nounces that Rabbi Harr;I.
Wohlberg, -o u t-,
standing. Brook-
lyn - r a b b i; will
be guest speaker
at, the corner-:
torm laying cer-
emonies fOr the
Yeshivah's n e w
annex at 1 p.m.,
April 11, at Dex-
ter and Sturte-
vant.
Actual con-
struction of the
building was Rabbi Wohlberg
started this week, with Dr. Sam-
uel Belkin, president of Yeshi-
vah University, one of the inter-
ested spectators. The construc-
tion is under the supervision of
Meyer Weingarden.
Dr. Belkin also delivered a Tal-
mudic discourse to upper classes
of the Yeshivah, while here for
a testimonial dinner in his be-
half tendered on his 10th anni-
versary as president of YeshiVa
University.
Prior to the cornerstone cere-
mony on April 11, Rabbi Wohl-
berg will be feted at a brunch
party at 11 a.m., at Horowitz
Catering, under auspices of the
Ye s h i v a h board, Synagogue
Council and building committee.

Kvutzah, Teachers
To Honoi Birthday
•
Of Z . Scharfstein

A special program honoring -
Prof. Zevi Scharfstein, author
and editor, whose 70th birthday
is being observed throughout the
Hebraic world, is planned by the
Kvutzah Ivrith and H e b r e w
Teachers Association for Satur-
day. evening, in.. the Rose Sittig
Cohen auditorium.
Several reviews and , analyses
on Scharfstein's w or k s are
planned, including comments_ by
Solomon Kasdan on "Teaching
the Bible;" Michael Michlin on
"Teaching the H e b r e w Lan-
guage Morris Lachover, on his
three volume treatise on the his-
tory of Jewish Education; Jo-
seph Haggai, chairman, an out-
1 i n e of Scharfstein's literary
works; and Bernard Isaacs, a
review of "There Was Spring-
time," his latest work.
Prof. Scharfstein, who came to
the United States in 1914, quick-
ly became recognized as one of
the country's leading Jewish
educators. A great many
schools, including the United
Hebrew Schools in this city, use
h i s elementary, intermediate
and high school text books for
teaching purposes.
Currently, Scharfstein is edi-
tor of the Hebrew pedagogic
monthly, S h e vile y Hahinuch,
and is professor of pedagogy in
the Teacher's Institute of the
Jewish Theological Seminary of
America.
The distinction of having the
first Hebrew book printed in
Braille was accorded to Scharf-
stein several years ago when his
"Hebrew Self T a u g h t" was
selected for the honor.
Saturday's meeting is open to
the public, stated Joseph Katz,
Kvutzah president, and Morris
Nobel, chairman of the cultural
committee.

Israel Village Honors Wise
Family with Citizenship

TEL AVIV, (JTA)—A special
celebration to honor Justice Jus-
tine Wise Polier was held at
Kfar Shmuel, name('. in honor
of the late Rabbi Stephen S.
Wise, her father.
During the party, a represen-
tative of the village announced
that it had granted honorary
citizenship to all members of
the Wise family and that it had
granted a plot of land to the
family for the construction of
a home.. ' • ' • • • "

Mayor Proclaims Sunday
As World Jewish Child Day

By official proclamation of
Mayor Cobo, Sunday, April. 4
will be oberved in Detroit as
World Jewish Child's Day.
In calling for the observance
of the day, the Mayor's procla-
mation stated that it is ". .
dedicated to reaffirmation of
human and spiritual values, the
enrichment of individual lives
and, ultimately, the strengthen-
ing of democracy."
• Signing of the statement,
which calls attention to the fact
that Jewish children have suf-
fered through two decades of
catastrophe and that more than
60,000 have found' a haven in
Israel, was witnessed by Mrs.
Irving Posner, president of the
Detroit Council of Pioneer Wo-
men, one of the sponsors of the
day, and Mrs. Michael. Michlin,
Council vice-president.
Co-sponsoring organizations of
the annual event are Hadassah
and Mizrachi Women.
One of the principal efforts of
World Jewish Child Day under-
taken by Pioneer Women, with
the assistance of Bnai Brith
Girls and Habonim, is a canister
drive, under the direction of
Mrs. James Brindze.
To be held over the entire
weekend, with special concen-
tration on Sunday, the canister

drive's slogan is: "Please Be
Generous When Approached."
Aiding Mrs. Brindze and Mrs.
Louis Diamond, co-chairman. in
the canister drive, will be Mes-
dames Sara Jacob s, Phyllis
Cooper, Sara L a n k i n, Anna
Chaness, Minna Herman, Eve-
lyn Noveck, Betty Rath, Olga
Fried, Ann M e r s k y, Bertha
Freedman, Sara Friedman, Clara
Marks, Goldie Fleisher, Sylvia
Baum, Ann Bronson, Esther
Nusbaum, Netti Betinsky, Ann
Silvlerman, Freda Meta and
Edith Richter.
For information, or to contri-
bute to the cause of aiding Jew-
ish children around the world,
particularly in Israel, call Pio-
neer Women's headquarters, TO..
9-7180:

Tuvim to Address JNF
Council Next Tuesday

Abe Tuvim of New York, di-
rector of the Foundation for
Jewish National Fund, will be
the guest speaker at the meet-
ing of the Detroit JNF Council,
next Tuesday, 8:30 p.m., at the
Zionist House, Lawrence and
Linwood. Members of the Coun-
cil and friends of Jewish Na-
tional Fund are invited.

Between You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1454, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Israel Echoes

American Jewry has now made a considerable contribution
to Israel by raising, through the United Jewish Appeal, close to
$75,000,000 as a loan to help the Israel government meet its short-
term debts . . . The UJA action has been approved by the Uni ' te±
States Treasury, and the money will be turned over by the UJA
to the Jewish Agency . . The Jewish Agency will exchange the
American dollars in . Israel for poundS . . . Thus the Jewish Agency
will have Israeli pounds . to conduct its colonization and rehabilita-
tion program and the Israel government will have American dol7
lars to repay its short-term obligations . . . The transaction marks
a turning point in Israel's foreign currency debt which totaji
about 408 million dollars . . Israel must repay in 1954 about
$111,500,000 in foreign debts ... The remainder will be repaid in
installments ranging from $12.700,000 to $64,900,000 annually until
1966 . ; . The present loan raised through the UJA will wipe out
Israel's short-term obligations—amounting to $72,900,000 . . . It
will not only permit more advantageous business transactions for
Israel \ but it will also effect a tremendous saving for the Jewish
State . . . By eliminating the short-term debts, Israel will save
about eight million dollars annually ... This is because on short-
term debts Israel pays up to eight percent interest, while the in-
terest on the consolidation loan of the. UJA is only about four
and one-half percent . The policy of the Israel government
from now on will be not to increase its short-term—or even
medium-term—indebtedness . The foreign currency debt of
$406,000,000 includes all direct debts of the State and those guar-
anteed for convertibility by the Israel government to banks; hold-
ers of Israel Bonds, foreign suppliers of goods and services, United
Nations institutions, Arabs who fled Palestine, private individuals,
and firms drawing dividends ... The bulk of the sum—about 374
million- dollars—is in dollars, the remainder is in sterling and
other currencies . . . The largest creditors are the Export-Import
Bank (124 million dollars) and the Israel Bond Drive (about 131
million dollars, excluding expenses).

Domestic Issues

Jewish community centers in many cities are facing tremen-
dous changes . . . This is especially true with regard to Jewish
centers in changing and mixed population neighborhoods ... The
centers, which have for years maintained a non-sectarian in-
take policy, are discovering that their Jewish membership is de-

creasing, particularly in the teen-age groups . . . Jewish parents
are obviously concerned over the increase of non-JeWish members
in teen-age diVision of the Centers . . . They fear that intimate
social contacts with non-Jews in center activities may lead to
intermarriage .. Some of them express concern that non-Jewish
children coming from a different religious and lower socio-
economic background exert a negative influence on the behavior
of their children and come into conflict with them . . In some
neighborhoods, where the Jewish centers are open to Puerto
Ricans, the female membership of the older teen-age Jewish
groups diminished to an almost invisible point . . . Many parents
also maintain that Jewish funds which finance Jewish centers
should be used for the benefit of Jewish groups, and that financial
responsibility for non-sectarian programs should be assumed by
the general community ... On the other hand there are some who
feel that Jewish people should be enabled to mingle in Jewish
centers with the various groups of 'people who reside in the
neighborhood . . . This, they argue, is the most effective method
of combatting prejudice and reducing group tensions . They
claim that a policy of exclusive Jewish intake would lead to
isolating rather than integrating the members of the center into
the general community They also argue that exclusive Jewish
intake tends to create negative attitudes and behavior patterns
towards Jews on the part of the excluded non-Jews . This,
they point out, may. be aggravated in communities where the
Jewish center facilities and services represent the most adequate
and attractive program available .. It is no secret that the new
situation creates confusion among staff members of Jewish
centers, many of whom have no clear conception of the Jewish
aspects of center purposes and practice . . . It is hoped that the
problems involved will be echoed at the convention of the National
Jewish Welfare Board-7-the • parent body of the .jewiall ...centers—
which will open in Cleveland on April 8.

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