64 Jewish Groups Oppose UN Plan For Calendar Reform
NEW YORK, (JTA) — A me-
morandum opposing the pro-
posed plan for calendar reform,
which is now under discussion
at the Geneva session of the
United Nations Economic and
Social Council, was submitted to
the United Nations on behalf of
64 national and central Jewish'
organizations in the United
States by the League for Safe-
guarding the Fixity of the Sab-
bath.
Speaking in the name of
American Jewry, the memor-
andum requests the United
Nations and its agencies "not
to recommend any change in
the calendar involving- the de-
vice of a 'blank day,' or any
other device the effect of
which would be to interrupt
the continuity of the week and
thus destroy the fixity of the
Sabbath on its definite day in
the week.".
In support of this request,
facts and views are presented
in the memorandum from which
it becomes clear that the League
is not opposed to calendar re-
form in general but only to such
schemes as include a "blank
day" provision with subsequent
shifting of the Sabbath to dif-
ferent days of the week.
.mss The memorandum points out
that if the plan for calendar re-
form now under consideration
by the Economic and Social
Council session is adopted and
the calendar reform is inaug-
urated -at the end of 1956, as
suggested, then Tuesday, the 1st
of January, 1957, would be called
Sunday; Wednesday would be
called Monday, and the other
days of the week . would be
shifted in the same manner, so
that for 52 weeks in .the year
1957, Jews and other Sabbatar-
ians all - over the world would
be compelled to observe their
Sabbath on a so-called Thurs-
day. New changes would be
made every year.
The memorandum emphasizes
that the 365th day — the last
day of 1957 — would not be
counted among the days of the
week in that year, but would
be called a "blank day" or
"worldsday" or by some other
name. The 1st of January 1958,
which, according to the present
calendar, will fall on Wednesday,
would, in the proposed calendar,
be called Sunday. And conse-
quently, in 1958, every Sabbath
would fall throughout that year
on what we now call Wednes-
day. Thus the Sabbath would
fall- on different days of • the
week as years go by.
Severe Economic Hardships
fgr Observant Jews Cited
"The introduction of such a
device," the memorandum says,
`which would make the Sabbath
fall in the new calendar on a
different day of the week every
year, will involve severe eco-
nomic hardships and loss on ob-
servant professors of Jewish
faith throughout the world who
Charles E. Feinberg, of 872
Boston Blvd., was recently
awarded the U.S. Information
Agency's certificate of merit, at
the Detroit Public Library, for
"outstanding contributions to
the success of a Walt Whitman
exhibit" in London earlier this
year.
The award was made by Dr.
Franklin L. Burdette, chief of
the Agency's information center
service which conducts the
world-wide U.S. overseas infor-
mation program and supports
and explains American policy
abroad in its battle against com-
munist propaganda,
The program administered by
Dr. Burdette is spearheaded by
the 158 U.S. special purpose li-
braries in 63 countries, which,
with their almost 2,000,000 books,
constitute one of the world's
largest library systems.
Mr. Feinberg's contribution: to
observant Jews would be
vented from recording their
votes, and thus would be prac-
tically disfranchised. Also, that
a Jewish child in this country
who does not attend school on
Saturdays and Sundays, would,
owing to religious scruples,
have to absent himself also on
an additional day of the week.
Among the organizations op-
posing the proposed calendar re-
form are the American Jewish
Committee, American Jewish
Congress, Bnai Brith, all Zionist
organizations in the U.S., Hadas-
sah, National Jewish Welfare
Board, many Jewish educational
institutions, all major Jewish
women's organizations, and all
Orthodox, Conservative and Re-
form groups in American Jewry,
A copy of the memorandum
has been sent to President Eis-
enhower and Secretary of State
John Foster Dulles with a sug-
gestion that the American dele-
gates to the session at Geneva
be instructed not to approve any
resolution recommending adop-
tion by the UN General Assem-
bly of any "blank day" plan.
Inconsistent Action: - U. S. Honors Pro-Nazi Iraq General Aril
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright, 1954, JTA, Inc.)
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S.
Government, which awarded the
Legion of Merit to 344 American
Jewish soldiers during World
War II, more recently gave the
same medal to an Arab general
who fought "on the Nazi side and
later participated in aggression
against Israel in contempt of
the United Nations.
He is Maj. Gen. Mohammed
Rafiq Arif, Chief of the Iraqi
Army General Staff. The Legion
of Merit (Degree of Commander)
was pinned on his chest last
month at the Pentagon by Gen.
Matthew B. Ridgway, U.S. Army
Chief of Staff. The gesture was
approved by the White House.
It was linked by the State De-
partment "with the defense of
the vital resources of the free
world."
Gen. Arif was cited by the
U.S. Army in connection with
the decoration. He was honored
because ". . . his outstanding
leadership, sound judgment, and
exceptional energy in the per-
formance of his duties with the
Iraqi Army reflect distinct credit
on himself and the miltary serv-
ice."
No Israeli soldier has been
decorated or cited by the U.S.
Army. Gen. Yigal Yadin, Chief
of Staff of the Israel Army
from 1949 to 1952, visited
Washington at the same time
as the Iraqi general. Gen. Arif
fought against the Allies in
1941 when the Iraqi Army, un-
der Rashid Ali el Gailani
staged a pro-Nazi revolt. On
that occasion Gen. Yadin dis-
patched Haganah men to join
Award Charles Feinberg U.S. Agency's
merit. Certificate for Aiding Exhibit
Pictured at the re-
cent ceremony at
which CHARLES E.
FEINBERG (left) re-
ceived a special award
from the State 'De-
partment, were Dr.
FRANKLIN BUR--
DETTE, representing
the U.S. Information
Service (center) ; and
Dr. LAWRENCE REY-
NOLDS, president of
Detroit Library Com-
mission and chief of
staff at Harper Hos-
pital.
keep the weekly Sabbath on the
true seventh day of the, week
as their ancestors have uninter-
ruptedly done for the past 3,000
years. Non-Jews who trade with
Jews would not know in succes-
sive years which is the seventh
day observance by the Jews."
The memorandum argues that
for the observant Jew, the
"blank day," causing a "wander-
ing" Sabbath, would entail a
third day's enforced rest, in
years when the Sabbath does not
fall on the traditional day of
the week. Also, that whenever
elections fall on the Sabbath,
the Allied cause. There was a joined the Nazis when the Allies I Iraqi concentration camps. About
medal for Gen. Arif. The Pen- seemed on the brink of defeat, 125,000 Iraq Jews escaped into
tagon wasn't interested in has been chosen as the first Israel since 1949. The State De-
Gen. Yadin.
Arab League officer to be decor- partment views Iraq as a "bas-
Iraqi Ambassador Moussa Al- ated with a U.S. medal.
tion of democracy" although the
Shabandar was a guest of honor
Early in 1948, before the Iraqi government openly admit-
at the reception and .ceremony - British withdrawal from Pales- ted it wants U.S. arms to kill
honoring Gen. Arif. The ambas- tine, "volunteer" Iraqi forces Jews rather than any potential
sador behaved politely but has invaded the mandated terri- Soviet invaders.
publicly departed from diplo- tory. Gen. Arif took part in
Iraqi Prime Minister Fadhil al
matic etiquette on other occa- this and subsequent aggressive Jamali is one of the most vio-
sions by denouncing. American actions against Palestinian lent exponents of renewed war-
Jewry and questioning the loyal- Jewry and the nation of Is- fare against Israel. It was Jam-
ty of Americans of Jewish faith. rael. He and his troops were ali who dispatched Gen. Arif to
The occasion for the award to defeated by Jewish courage. .
Washington. The same Jamali
Gen. Arif was his arrival in the With the solitary exception of said that whoever would seek
United States as a guest of the Iraq, all Arab League states "peace with Israel would be
Government to visit Army in- signed armistice agreements. guilty of high treason and should
stallations. He is here to corn- Therefore, Iraq is still in an be hanged . . . The destruction
plete arrangements to receive active state of war with Israel. of Israel will be achieved only
free munitions granted Iraq by Iraq is a zealous organizer of the by a strengthening of the Arab
the State Department. Israel anti-Israel boycott and a leading states."
applied for similar arms aid. The foe of a peace settlement. In -
A British Intelligence report
Israeli application has been 1949 and 1950 the Iraqi Army revealed pro-Nazism in Iraq. It
ignored since 1952. joined in pogroms against Iraq's said: "In 1937, Dr. Fadhil al
Iraq did more than any other Jews.
Jamali, at that time Director
Arab nation to aid the Nazis, to Recent Congressional testi- General of Education, visited
persecute its Jewish inhabitants, mony revealed that Henry A. Germany, where he was accord-
to introduce anti-Jewish propa- Byroade had considerable criti- ed an official welcome and lay-
ganda in the United States, and cism to direct against Israel. But ishly entertained. On his return,
to avoid an armistice with Is- he praised the "spirit" of Iraq. Dr. Jamali (sent) . . . An Iraqi
rael. Yet it was selected by Sec- Byroade, as Assistant Secretary delegation to t h e Nuremberg
retary of State Dulles as the of State for Near Eastern Af- rally of 1938 . . . the Ministry
first Arab League member to re- fairs, knows Iraq's true record. of Education worked actively on
ceive free arms. Gen. Arif, who Hundreds of Jews are' still in behalf of the Germans . . ."
.
World . Congress of Orthodox Jews
Hear's Sharett Call for 'Tolerance'
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — The
Fourth World Congress of Orth-
odox 'Jewry sponsored by Agu-
dath Israel World Organization,
was held here with the partici-
pation of 400 delegates from var-
ious countries and 7,000 guests.
This international conclave' was
the first such gathering to be
held since the establishment of
the State of Israel. The last
world congress of Agudath Is-
rael took place in 1938 in Mar-
ienbad, Czechoslovakia.
Premier Moshe Sharett, ad-
dressing the opening session, in-
vited the Agudah in Israel to
join the coalition Cabinet and
bear joint responsibility for the
government.
"You have to exercise loyalty,
lenience and tolerance, especi-
ally now when we are still sur-
rounded by enemies aiming to
destroy us," Premier Sharett
said. "We must form one strong
front militarily, economically
and politically."
Mr. Sharett took note that the
Agudists might not like all of
Israel's laws and possibly would
like to have all its laws based
on the Torah. Nonetheless, he
urged the Agudists to join in
upholding ;those laws. The Pre-
mier was greeted by a wave of
stormy applause when he de-
clared that "only in this country
can Jews live as really religious
Jews." .
Before he spoke, Rabbi Itche
Meir Levin, head of the Agudas
Israel party of Israel, appealed
to the United States not to arm
the Arab states which he
stressed were incessantly pre-
paring for war against Israel.
Rabbi Levin, who called on all
Jews to cooperate with Israel
and participate in its work, ex-
plained that the Agudah has left
the Israel government because
it would not compromise its
"Torah principles."
In a letter to the congress,
Rabbi Levin discussed the prob-
lems of the Israel party, in re-
the exhibit in London was des-
cribed by agency officials as a
"heart-warming example of en-
thusiastic and whole-hearted
cooperation in support of United
States objectives abroad."
Feinberg, president of the
Argo Oil Co. here, was in large
measure responsible for the suc-
cess of the Walt Whitman Ex-
hibit in London at the U.S. In-
formation Agency's library there.
It ran from March 45 to April
29, two weeks longer than sched-
uled because of the great inter-
est.
He not only selected extensive
material from his own outstand-
ing Whitman collection but as-
sisted the Agency in obtaining
items from several other sources.
Feinberg went to London at his
own expense to speak at the
opening, and remained on to as-
sist in greeting distinguished
visitors and to stimulate interest 24—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, July 9,, 1954
in the exhibition.i. A.*KAt I u
lation to the government, its
work in the Knesset and in other
areas in Israel. He argued that
the • Agudah's work should be
centered in Israel. H. A. Good-
man, of the London office of the
Agudah movement, spoke .in
favor of three autonomous cen-
ters: Jerusalem, London and
New York. Dr: Itzhak Levin, of
the American delegation, re-
ported on the work of Agudah
at the UN. Dr. Jacob Rosenheim,
90 - year - old president of the
World Agudah organization, was
named president of the congress.
The congress was opened with
a eulogy and prayers for the
6,000,000 Jews martyred by the
Nazis in Europe. Israel's Chief
Rabbi Dr. Isaac Herzog did not
appear personally at the open-
ing session, but sent a written
message of greetings to the con-
gress, in reply to an invitation
to attend. Similar invitations to
leading Orthodox figures in
Hungary also brought messages
of greetings.
Dutch Asked to Return
Two Kidnapped Orphans
LONDON, (JTA) —British Chief
Rabbi Israel Brodie, who is also
chairman of the Commission on
the Status of Jewish War Or-
phans m Europe, appealed to the
Dutch authorities to restore
Anneke Beekman and Rebecca
Melhado to Jewish environ-
ments and provide for the type
of upbringing that their mar-
tyred parents would have pro-
vided had they lived.
At a meeting of the commis-
sion here, Rabbi Brodie indicat-
ed that he intended to follow up
his appeal with the authorities
and any one else who could
bring influence to bear to rem-
edy this situation. The girls,
both of Jewish parentage, were
left in Catholic homes by their
parents who were murdered by
the Nazis. They have never been
returned to the Jewish commun-
ity, despite public appeals, • court
action and other attempts.
IHIAS Expands File
Of Missing Persons
The Location Bureau of HIAS,
the Hebrew Immigrant Aid So-
ciety, has aided, since 1944, more
than 160,000 people who have
been placed in touch with rela-
tives and friends whom they had
believed dead, or with whom all
contact had been lost. Recently
the location files of the Jewish
Agency for Palestine were
turned over to HIAS, which will
now handle all requests for lo-
cation of persons in Israel and
the United States formerly
reaching the Agency.
Zionist Movement Starts
Functioning in Germany
PARIS, (JTA) — An official
Zionist organization, affiliated
with the world Zionist move-
ment, will be launched in Ger-
many, Sam Segal, European di-
rector 'of the Keren Hayesod, an-
nounced.
Mr. Segal said that the sale of
shekels will be authorized im-
mediately, thus permitting the
German Zionist Organization
representation at the next World
Zionist Congress in Jerusalem.
He added that all the usual
Zionist institutions will be es-
tablished in West Germany for
the 25,000 Jews living in the
country.