Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

The Rapid Rise of a Jewish Community
Nine years ago, Dr. Israel Shapiro, the former Chief of the
Semitics Division of the Library of Congress, spoke to this com-
mentator in Los Angeles of the possibility of the rise of Los
Angeles to the position of the largest Jewish e,ommunity' in the
world. We laughed at the idea. We could not even foresee the
possibility of a Number Two spot for L. A. There were, then, in
the year of the formation of the United Nations (first referred
to as UNTO) at the historic sessions in San Francisco, about
100,000 Jews in the rapidly developing California community. -But
Dr. Shapiro knew what he was talking about. In less than a
decade L. A. has acquired a Jewish population exceeding 350,000,
and it is already the second largest Jewish community in ,America.
This gives it the status of the second largest Jewish community
in the world.
In this new position, Los Angeles may serve as the guinea pig
for the study of the ability of American Jewry in its new status
as an entity that is just coming of -age. Will it have cultural
virility? Will it retain identity as a Jewish spiritual force? Will
it have courage to perpetuate sacred traditions? And will it
treat its great heritage inviolately?
There are many indications that there will be a struggle
for the retention and defense of traditions. The Jewish youth
has many temptations to contend with, and there are flirta-
tions with culture away from their parents' bailiwicks. The
parents themselves already have become assimilated into a new
environment that differs from the Jewish past. Zionism and
the Israeli appeals are diminishing rather than growing in
power. Orthodoxy and Kashrut have weakened. The tempta-
tions of modern life are stronger than our acquired powers.
The outlook for the future, therefore, is speculative at best.
L. A. Jewry is not homogenous, and its difficulties are akin to
those of the heterogenous communities of New York and Chicago.
But, in the main, the changes in Jewish life may not be different
from those in other -communities, including Detroit.
The most optimistic man in L. A. is former Detroiter Sam
Gach, editor of the California Jewish Voice. Sam believes Los
Angeles Jewry will coordinate its forces and will form a strong,
homogenous community. He insists that Greater L. A.'s Jewish
population already is in excess of 450,000 and that in the course
of time L. A. will replace New York as the largest Jewish corn-
in.unity in the world. Meyer Keleman, publisher of the Bnai Brith
Messenger, appears to be in agreement. He gives Los Angeles'
Jewish population as 400,000. Interestingly enough, speculations •
about vast territorial growth often materialize. What a remark-
able transformation in jewry's population movements!

A Campaign for Book-Reading
A citizens' National Book Committee has been formed, under
the chairmanship of Dr. George N. Shuster, Hunter College presi-
dent, to encourage people to read books and to keep books "free
from restraint." Here's this committee's interesting statement of
purpose:
"In A time of tension like the present, it is especially need-
ful for citizens to see to it that books are made available to all,
that they are kept free from restraint, and, above all, that they
are read so that we may understand the complex issues of our
time and see our current 'Irises in perspective.
'People must have easy access to a wide range of books if
the freedom to read is to be given validity; but thirty million
of our citizens have no libraries available to them, more mil-
lions have inadequate library service, and even more millions
lack access to book stores.
This general statement inspires inquiry into the strictly Jew-
ish area. It is safe to say, without danger of challenge, that Jews,
like their neighbors, read books to a limited degree. Our books
do not la4::k freedom: they lack readers. We have progressed in
the publiPthing sphere. There are several good private publishing
houses. Our seminaries and congregational assemblies often print
good books. The most representative Jewish, publishing venture
is that of the Jewish Publication Society. If their products could
acquire the circulation they deserve, American Jewry would be
in a strorger cultural position.
The desired increase of interest in- Jewish books can not be
attained Ithrough committees. It must be encouraged by natural
ways—in our case by the synagogues and Sc]ools, by our social
and cult:4ral groups, by instilling interest in the creation of
libraries. It is a major task for American Jews.
Personalities in the News
Mai Maverick: He was one of the most courageous Ameri-
cans of Our time. He was a genuine maverick. As a member
of Congras he fearlessly battled in defense of the downtrodden.
He was the author of a powerful book on civil liberties. He was
equally eeurageous as Mayor of San Antonio. This Commentator
was a party to an interesting incident in which Maverick was in-
volved wItile he was mayor. Steve Sarasohn, who studied in San
Antonio 7r)efore entering Columbia University, asked for an as-
signment to interview him for us. He reported that Maverick finally
arrived DI his office in a pair of slacks, without tie, shirt un-
buttoned When he learned the purpose of Steve's visit, he
expressed doubt whether a Jewish newspaper would publish what
he had to say, because he intended to charge that Jews, too,
possess some rabid Fascists. "For example, David Lawrence," he
told Steve. But Maverick was wrong, then: we did publish the
interview.
Dr. Carl T. Compton: Only a feW weeks ago, Dr, and Mrs.
Karl Compton were guests in Israel. Upon their return, at a
dinner meeting of the MIT Club, in Cambridge, Mass., the Comp-
tons announced two gifts of $1,000 each to the Israel Institute of
Technology (Technion) at Haifa—one for "unrestricted purposes"
of the Technion, the other for the Greater Technion building
fund. Through the death last week of Dr. Compton, the great
scientist and president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), the Technion loses one of its most distinguished friends.
Technion will accord deserved honors to this eminent supporter
by establishing the Karl Taylor Compton Institute of Chemical
Engineering, as part of the new Greater Technion campus.
Pierre Mendes-France: Add to the names of Leon Blum and
Georges Mandel that Of another French . Jewish political leader.
Pierre Mendes-France, the new French Premier, served his appren-
ticeship in 1937, at the age of 30, as- Secretary of the Treasury
in Blum's Popular Front government. He was among those who
accepted temporary exile rather than approve of the armistice
with the Nazis in the last war. He was imprisoned in Casablanca
but escaped, was in active combat against Germany, held the post
of Finance Commissioner under Charles de Gaulle and has built
a distinguished career as a statesman. Anti-Communist, he is
radical enough to be accepted by the leftists, and sufficiently con-
servative to offer himself as a compromise candidate in his posi-
tion as a striver for peace. But, in the light of French experience,
will he—can he—last long? The odds are against political lon-
gevity in France.

2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
-Friday, July 2, 1954

Judge 0. Z. Ide Wins
Sgt. Silverman Plaque

Austria Denies It Will Pay Restitution
To Israel in Communique to Arabs

WASHINGTON, (JTA) — The sources to relieve the condition
Austrian government has sent of Austrian Jews who can prove
diplomatic memoranda to Arab they suffered under Nazism, but
League states confidentially ad- will not negotiate an agreement
vising the Arabs that Austria with Israel like the one between
has no intention of paying resti- Israel and West Germany.
The Austrian communication
tution to Israel.
The Syrian Embassy has con- said that Austria desires the
firmed that Syria has received friendliest relations with the na-
such official advice from Aus- tions of the Arab League. The
tria. The Austrians told the Austrian Cabinet decided to send
Arabs they considered Austria its position on Jewish claims to
to have been an innocent victim the Arabs through diplomatic
of the Nazis during World War channels after the Arabs pro-
II and in no way obligated to tested to Austria against the po-
Israel for claims arising from sition of the Jewish claims com-
Nazi persecution of Jews.
mittee which is now negotiating
Austria said it would pay min- with the Austrian government
Judge 0. Z. IDE, (right) re- or sums taken from heirless in Vienna.
ceives the Americanism Plaque
awarded by Sgt. Morton A. Sil-
verman Post, Jeivish War Vet-
erans. Making the presentation
is LAWRENCE GUBOW, out-
going commander. The award to
By BORIS SMOLAR
Judge Ide and a similar plaque
(Copyright, 1954, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
given to the Pfeiffer Brewing
Co. were in recognition of serv- Zionist, Affairs
ices rendered to the Louis Stone
Now that the convention of the Zionist Organization of
Memorial Foundation, headed America is over, it can be revealed that Deputy Under-Secretary
by Judge Ide. At the same cere- of State Robert Murphy, after accepting the invitation to address
mony, a husband and wife team,
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Schwartz, the ZOA convention,, attempted later to withdraw his acceptance.
were installed as commander ... It was after much wire pulling behind the scenes in Washing-
and president, respectively, of ton that he finally conceded to appear . . . Delegates at the con-
the Post and its Auxiliary.
vention noted that President Eisenhower, in his message of greet-
ings to the convention, meticulously avoided mention of the word
"Israel" . .. Nevertheless, the ZOA leadership was happy with
Doctors Announce the
President's message • . . They consider the contents a blow.
to
attempts
by the American Council for Judaism to insinuate
Strike Intentions
that Zionism in America implies double loyalty .. . Although
nothing of special importance developed at the convention, the
TEL AVIV, (JTA)—The Israel delegates were impressed with the realiiation that ZOA leader-
Physicians Association has ap- ship has during the year become more expert in fund-raising .
proved an unlimited strike of During the past year a beginning was made on the creation of
doctors working for the Israel a National 500 Club with the idea to get 1,000 ZOA members to
government which was to have donate $500 a year to give the ZOA the financial basis it needs
begun Thursday.
to function effectively . Although only a few months have
The association also voted to passed since the drive began. about 170 fully paid-up members
have doctors working for the were honored at the convention . . The feeling was that the
Hadassah medical network in Is- Club will grow in the coming year, and, with it. ZOA income . .
rael join the strike of govern-
ment .physicians if Hadassah The American Scene
does not meet the demands of
Election of Alfred E. Perlman, the Minneapolis-born and
the doctors for wage increases.
Physicians working for munic- Colorado-trained engineer, to the presidency of New York Central
ipalities and other local govern- Railroad, has caused some eyebrow raising since few Jews hold
ment are scheduled to join the key administrative jobs on American railroads .. . But Bernard
national work stoppage on July Postal and Lionel Koppman, authors of the soon-to-be published
4, and these working for the A Jewish Tourist's Guide- to the U. S. tell me that Jews have had
Joint Distribution Committee's a considerable role in the development of railroads in this coun-
Malben welfare project will be- try . . . Several sections of the Santa Fe Lines were built or
financed by Jews . . Jesse Seligman was responsible for the
gin striking on July 15.
A strike of doctors employed Atlantic and Pacific Railroad through Arizona and New Mexico.
in the Histadrut medical welfare .. . Maurice W. Levy of Wichita was an associate of Jay Gould
program has temporarily keen in the building of the Wichita and Western, also part of the
held off pending continuation of Santa Fe in New Mexico • . Theodore Judah, whose grandfather
negotiations between the doctors was a Connecticut Jew, built California's first railroad and planned
what became the initial transcontinental line . . . Baltimore's
and Histadrut.
It was later learned that Min- Solomon Etting was among ,the founders of the country's first
ister of Health JOseph Serlin re- railroad, the Baltimore & Ohio ... Benjamin Gratz, of Lexing-
quested the government doctors ton, Ky., organized the Lexington and Ohio Railroad, the first
to hold off their strike threat west of the Alleghenies . Fred Salomon, the first Jewish settler
to give him another chance to in Colorado, was the prime mover in organizing the Denver and
raise the question of their wage Rio Grande Railroad, of which Perlman was president when he
demands with the Cabinet but was moved up to the New York Central job . .. Otto Mears, also
of Colorado, built a large section of the Denver and Rio Grande
they refused.
NevertheleSs, Serlin is expect- in the 1880's .. David Levy. Yulee, the first Jew elected to the
ed to raise the issue with the U. S. Senate, had a large part in rebuilding Florida's east-west
Cabinet. More than a month railroads after the Civil War . Bernard Baer, a relative of Dr.
ago, the doctors called a one-day Cyrus Adler, built the Fort Smith and Little Rock Railroad, now
and later a three-day "warning" part of the Missouri Pacific System, in the 1850's . . . The Joaquin
strike, without achieving any re- Valley Railroad in California was built sby Lewis Gerstle and Louis
-Sloss . . . Harris Newmark was responsible for Los Angeles getting
sults.
its first rail connection . One of the first railroads in the
Pacific Northwest was organized by Ben, Hirsch of Portland, Ore.
U.S. Jewry Supplies
. Some of the earliest lines in Texas were built by Moritz Kop-
. of Galveston . . . The only existing railroad named for' a
47% of Funds to ORT per(
person, the Bamberger Line of Utah, was founded by Moses Bam-
Aran-
NEW YORK, (JTA) — Of the berger, governor of Utah . Incidentally, the late Jacob
son,
chairman
of
the
executive
committee
of
the
Union
of
Ameri-
$3,088,210 spent last year by ORT
on . its vocational training pro- can Hebrew Congregations, was , for many years general counsel
gram throughout the world, and vice-president of the New York Central Railroad . . .
about 47 percent came from
American Jewry, it was empha- Cultural Notes
The history of the Jewish federation movement in the United
sized in the annual report of the
States will soon be available to Jewish community leaders and
American ORT Federation.
Dr. William Haber, president students of Jewish communal life . . . It is being written by Harry
of the Federation, said that the L. Lurie, executive director of the Council of Jewish Federations
bulk of the funds received by and Welfare Funds . . . Mr. Lurie has already completed a draft
ORT in the United States came of the historical study on die federation movement . r . He plans
from the Joint Distribution Corn- to continue this phase of the work with an analytical study of
mittee. He called attention to trends in Jewish federation work ... His study furnishes the most
the sum of $11,500,000 contrib- comprehensive document thus far prepared on the- history of
uted by American Jews for over- Jewish community organization in this country.
seas ORT schools since 1946.
Boston University pays quite a compliment -in its Graduate
More than 175,000 displaced Journal to the Press of Maurice Jacobs of Philadelphia which owns
and needy persons have been the typesetting plant formerly owned by the Jewish Publication
taught occupational skills by Society . . It tells the story of how the Medieval Academy of
ORT in this period and have America was confronted with the problem of finding a printer-for
been restored "to economic a manuscript on Aristotle . • The number of American printing
health and independence," de- firms able to handle Hebrew and Arabic texts is limited . . . And
there are increasingly few to which even Latin and Greek can be
clared Dr. Haber.
Last year, ORT 'operated 274 entrusted with any confidence . . . However, in the Press of
schools, workshops and technical Maurice Jacobs the editors found just what they needed . . Ac-
courses among Jewish communi- cording to the article in the Boston University publication, some
ties in 19 countries. The report of the compositors and proofreaders In Dr. Jacobs' establishment
announced that 17,599 persons hold doctorate degrees ... Two important qualifications for em-
enrolled in these programs. Main ployment in this establishment are a knowledge of six languages
centers of ORT work were listed and an ability to type ... One of the typesetters is studying Arabic
as Israel, the Moslem lands of at Dropsie College in his spare time and Aristotle's "Poetics"- at
North Africa and Iran, and Wes- the University of Pennsylvania . Half of the typesetters are
university-trained men.
tern Europe.

Between You and Me