Israel's Enemies
Unearth the Bones
Of Anti-Semites
Purely Commentary
2—DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
By Philip
S lomov itz
Friday, July 30, 1954
Stuyvesant Gets Look
If there is a single person anywhere who can take care of the Prophets and some of the holidays, Miss Bobrow proceeds to
himself in warding off unwarranted attacks, he is Dr. Abba Hillel deal with nationalism and with a warning that Judaism is not At 1st American Jews
Silver, who without challenge is the ablest Jewish spokesman in nationalism, that Israel's flag is the ISRAELI flag, that "we who
the world today. In truth, he is the most brilliant American orator, live in America cannot -follow the same ways of life as the Jews do
—and we include in this category all faiths. But in the attacks in Israel, or in France, or Italy, or India, or Holland, or in any other
upon Dr. Silver by Council for Judaism apologists, after his note-1 country than our own."
The suggestion implicit in this attempt is that some Jews owe
worthy address at the recent convention of the Zionist Organiza-
tion of America, the harm, intended and resorted to, was leveled a double allegiance. By teaching this to children who may get hold
at all American Jews. Much as we would "like to pursue a policy of such a book, the author, as an instrument of a destuctive move-
of ignoring the "Judaism" Council, we must make note of their ment, may be responsible for injecting in the minds of our youth
an idea that they should alienate themselves from their kinsmen
latest outbursts.
Dr. Silver, as has already been noted in the press and in our elsewhere. Viewed from this point of view, Miss Bobrow's book is
editorial columns, severely criticized State Department representa- menacing. -
This children's book really does not deserve the attention we
tives who had the audacity to prescribe an end to the immigra-
tion of Jews into Israel, "no more spiritual identification of Ameri- are giving it here. This comparatively lengthy reference is made
can Jewry with Israel; no intercession in its behalf with govern-1 for the purpose of warning our congregations against an invasion
ments." Dr. Silver warned of the danger that "from here on only of. the Council-type of textbook into their religious schools. They
Arab spokesmen and oil lobbyists and friends of the Middle East,' may appear harmless, and some portions of them may have some
P et e r Stuyvesant, curmudg-
and officers of the American Council" for Judaism shall have access merits, but the source is poisonous. Beware of the poisons of the eon governor of Dutch New
to the State Department." He indicated that "significantly enough, enemies within!
Amsterdam, gets first look at
some officials in the Near Easterri Division of our State Depart-
ship bearing 23 Jews who form-
their views recently. They have been The Israeli Flag—Symbol, Anathema or Panic-Creator?
ed first Jewish community on
ment have been,
preaching -politicl - sermons to the Jews of America which well
The Israel flag is one of • the roots of troubles which divide American soil. Drawing is from.
could have been Written by ghost writers hired by Mr. Lessing American Jewry. From time to time, we hear of a synagogue or picture book, "The Jews Settle'
Rosenwald." - -
a public agency that suddenly becomes frightened lest it be ac- in New Amsterdam, '1654," by
These facts had become generally well known,' but Dr. Silver cused of double allegiance; and the former Zionist emblem, now Samuel Grand. Published by the•
had the courage to call attention to them publicly. Whereupon the flag of Israel, is speedily removed from the premises. Is it Union of American Hebrew Con-
the "ghost writers" went to work and launched a campaign of a justified fear? We hold with those who deplore such a state of gregations to help celebrate Ter-
i centenary, the book is edited by
Vituperation at Dr. Silver and through him at all American Jewry panic.
Dr. Emanuel Gamoran, design-
What
is
this
Blue
and
White
emblem
that
is
the
cause
of
siich
.
Shortly after the ZOA convention, the New Yoik Herald Trib-
ed by William Steinel, and is
unfortunate
fright?
It
was
adopted
as
an
emblem
of
a
movement
une published a letter, signed by George L. Levison, vice-president
based on a UAHC filmstrip pro-
and chairman of the public affairs committee of the American that sought freedom for the downtrodden. It was patterned after ' duced by Victor Kayfetz.
the tallith of the obser* . ant Jew—the stripe's, the colors, the very
Council for Judaism, in which the charge is made that Dr. Silver
idea inherent in the prayer-shawl—that of proclaiming liberty for
IS attempting "to separate the assistant secretary • (Byroade) from all, everywhere. It was cherished by advocates of freedom as well
the Administration," and which contained the following accusa- as those who lacked and needed liberty. And because it symbol- Israel Envoy Recognized
By Paraguayan Government
tion: "Dr. Silver is playing a game which Zionists played many ized the libertarian idea, it was respected and embraced.
years ago in England where, with the same tactics, British Zionists
Its "misfortune" is that the idea for which it stood—and still
ASCUNCION, Paraguay, (JTA)
attempted to separate the colonial and foreign offices from the stands—became a reality in the rebirth of the State of Israel. That
—Dr. Arieh Kubovi, Israel Min-
government."
caused new fear lest those who adopt it be charged with having a ister to several South American
A few days later, another apologists for the "Judaism" Council, double allegiance. It is an unjustified fear and should be aban- countries, presented his creden-
William Zuckerman, whose destructive articles could well have doned. There is need for a return to dignity and courage which tials as Minister to Paraguay to
been written or dictated by Israel's vilest enemies, saw fit to issue will restore to us a status of fearlessness both as Americans and President Tomas Romero Pereira,
a bulletin under the title "Zionist Swan Song," in which he referred' as Jews. By displacing • the Israel symbol we merely honor the at a ceremony here.
to Dr. Silver's speech as being "uncharitable in spirit and as mili- ideals for which the Israelis stand as fighters for freedom, as de-
During his week's stay in this
tant in words as any of 11 years ago," and then' he explained his fenders of Jewish traditions. We accomplish nothing by displaying capital, Dr. Kubovi was welcomed
rollback of history: "He attacked the State Department with the our panic. when removing the symbol of Jewish national rebirth by all Jewish groups. He pro-
same bitterness and in the same intemperate language as Zionists from the synagogue bimah. If we permit fear to dominate, we posed the creation of a Para-
attacked the British Foreign Office a decade ago. He charged that shall soon be carving our sidurim even more, we shall be operat- guay-Israel Chamber of Com-
Messrs. Byroade and Gardiner did not speak for their Department ing on our prayers to a greater degree, there will be an abandon- merce and organization of a
and did not reflect the thoughts and feelings of President Eisen- ment of tradition's and the people of Israel will emerge so emaci- Zionist representation from this
hower and Secretary of State Dulles on the Middle East. He im- ated a skeleton that nothing will be able to save it.
country.
plied that State Departfnent , spokesmen were not motivated by
the interests of the United States in their Middle East policy, but
by personal bias against Israel which, he broadly hinted, was of
an anti-Semitic character—an insinuation openly used by Zionists
against the late Ernest Bevin and still widely used today against
any non-Jew opposed to the excesses of Zionism."
Levison and Zuckerman ---
This is Where these two chaps
who undoubtedly ,, speak for the entire "Judaism" Council clan,
have overplayed their hands: by attempting to .- defend Eievin„whOse
name no longer is mentioned with pride or as a. blessing by the
people of-Britain whom he had disgraced...in_his lifetime with his
The f o u r th volume of "The volumes—all being part of the Cyrus Adler,' Victor Adler, Aimi=
anti-Semitism,—yes, with his anti-Sethitism.
There is this to be said about the Jews of America and Great Jewish: People: Past and Pres- General Encyclopedia in Yid- banel, and scores of other im-
Britain: when an injustice is perpetrated,. they speak up fearlessly, ent," soon to be published by dish.
portant personalities. .There are
The YIDDN series deal with = maps, illustrations, diagrams
against the State Department, against the President himself. That Jewish Encyclopedic Handbooks
Volume I: Essays on anthro7 and statistics.
is the way of free men. That certainly is the way of free Ameri- (25 E. 78th. St., New York 21),
Volume 2 includeS Atlantic
cans. That was Dr. Silver's way. But out of the propaganda mills will concern itself with the pology, archeology, history, sta-
sponsored by the frightened Jews who would hide their panic under American Jewish Tercentenary tistics, colonization, the authors Ocean to Interference (p'hYsi-
a cloak of hatred of alleged "excesses of Zionism" emerge men Who theme. Its photos, maps, and being • such eminent authorities cal). It pursifes the same plan.
would deprive Americans of the right to criticize and to call a full-color deluxe plates will il- as . Prof. A. L. Sukenik, Dr. A. as the _first, has the 'proper
spade a spade. By unearthing the bones of the evil-spirited Col- dustrate the text which will in-. Steinberg, A. Menes,.Dr. I. Brutz- lustrations, includes; among the
kus:,, Jacob. Lestchinsky, Prof. L. biographies those 'of• Henryk Ib-
onial and Foreign Office British Officials whom they, not ,Ve, -- elude the following:
"The History of the Jews in Hersh, Dr. M. Wischnitzer, and sen, David Einhorri, Albert Ein-
they, not we — liken to Byroade and to Gardiner, they show their
stein, and others. .. '-
true colors: it is the "Judaism" Council that is now apologizing the United States," by Anita Lib- others.
Volume II: Dialects and phil-
In Volume 3, Whic h begins
for Ernest Bevin of cursed memory who knew no other way of at- Man Lebeson. •
"Social and Eeonomie:.Trencls ology among Jews, the theater, with Intra and ends with Anti-
tacking Israel and the Zionists than by condemning all the Jews
of New York and' by attempting to arouse hatred in the fashion and Vital Statistics," by Jacob music, literature and religion Semitism, the reader finds an
are the subjects of this book, exhaustive 'study • of prejudice.
Lestchinsky.
made stylish for anti-Semitism.
"Jewish Communal Life in the and authors of its essays are Dr. Three authoritieS 'combined their
Those who may take exception to our disregard Tor the honor
Steinberg, Prof.. G. Scholom, Dr. efforts to deal With the subject
of the memory of a former British Foreign Minister should look Uriited States," by H. L. Lurie.
"Social and Political Move- A. Illukduni, Dr. I Shatsky, Dr. —Ben-Adir, A. Teherikeyer and
at the record. They will learn—if they do not know it or have
forgotten—that Ernest Bevin'S actions were responsible for the ments and Organizations," by -Rachel. Wischnitzer - Bernstein, R. Abraniovit. In - the 56. pages,
Avigdor Tcherikover, Dr. M. Causes and effects are reviewed.
the doom of thousands of innocent Jews who were barred by Philip Friedman..
"Current Movements in the Re- Weinrech and other authorities. In its totality, it is a valuable
him from the shores of the Holy Land.
Volume III: B. Weynrib, S. Ni-. addition to research on the sub-
The Zuckerman essay is a long one. This tragic fellow, who ligious Life of American• jewry," -
ger, I. Shatzky, L. Spizman, A. ject,
seems to have only one purpose in life: that of harming Israel by• by Jacob. Agus.
Volnme 4 incorporates sub-
"Jewish Labor Movement," by Golomb, A. Regelson and others
seeking the destruction of the Zionist movement, tried hard to give
the impression that Dr. Silver's speech was "a swan song" for Abraham Menes. deal with the subjects of the jects from Antiseptic to Eretz
"The Impact of American Jew- Jewish press (Hebrew and Yid- Israel. As in the previous worith,
Zionism. His saying so won't accomplish such a calamity; on the
ry
on Jewish Life in Europe," by dish), Hebrew literature, the illustrations ; biographies, expla,-
contrary, it may strengthen the movement, recognizing, as Ameri-
Mark
Wischnitzer. Jewish Socialist . movement in nations of important objects,
can Jews mustithat since they must be on guard not only against
"Yiddish Literature; Press and Russia and Poland, the Jewish are included here.
enemies without—the misguided in the State Department—but
Volume 5 enters into the Beth:
Theater," by Samuel Niger. • labor movement in this country,
also enemies within. Zionism must be strengthened. It will!
"Hebrew Literature and Press," the Jewish professional move-. It continues the established tra-
Proof of our contentions—of the right of Americans to criti-
by J. K. Mikliszanski. inent in Israel and other vital dition for scholarship. In the
cize wrongdoing and defend the just rights of the underdogs—
story on Baltimore, for example,
"Major Trends in Jewish Ed- topics.
was offered last week by Senator William Langer of North Dakota
Volume IV: This extensively while it must of necessity be
by Hayman B. Bass.
who took issue with the support given by the present Administra- ucation,"
"The Canadian Jewish Com- illustrated portion of the great brief, 'it incorporates reference
tion to the Arab states. Secretary of State Dulles' actions were
by Louis Rosenberg. . encyclopedic work has • impor- to the infamous "Jew Bill" and
referred to by Senator Langer as "childlike" and "ill-considered." munity,',
"Main Curre n't s' in Jewish tant essays on the Jewries in really offers an excellent thumb-
But our darling "co-religionists" advise us to be nice at Israel's
by Russia, Poland, Belgium, Luxem- nail sketch a that community.
expense. Is it any wonder that so few—except the Arabs and the S c h o l a r .s h - fp in . America,"
burg, France, Holland, _Czecho- There are fine biographies here
Joshua
Trachtenberg.
.
anti-Israeli State Department officials whose purposes they serve—
possess the first slovakia, Germany, Austria; and, of Balfour, Pearl Buck and oth-
Those
who
pay any attention to them?
three of these important en- as in the previous volumes, the ers, and good stories about Bos-
•
cyclopedic volumes have suf- authors are men of distinction ton and other. communities.
The "Judaism" Council's Threat to Our Schools
This, briefly, is a resume of
ficient. recommendation . to be and authority.
Meanwhile, not only Zioniats but all Jews, on all fronts, espec- eager to acquire this new publi- The, five alphabetical works nine truly great Yiddish vol-
ially in the area of education, must be on guard against the at- ,` cation. J e wish Encyclopedic serve an important purpose . as. umes. More are corning—provid-
tempts of. the "Judaism" Council to invade our schools.
Handbooks already have emerg- encyclopedia on Jewish and gen- . ed the large sums needed for
this great project• will be made
A typical example -of the extremism of the Council for Judaism ed as leaders in Jewish ,creatiVe eral sUbjecti:
way of thinking is to be found in a children's book, "Tell Me Why literary efforts, and the research
Volume I . begins with Aleph available by. our communities. It
—A. Primer for Judaism," by Dorothy Bobrow, published by Book- incorporated in their works will and continues through Atlantic is , an, effort eminently worth
man Associates in New York.
serve as landmarks in American City. The important cities, coun- while encouraging = because it
tries, personalities,. • organisms, .assures continuation of - interest
This mediocre 'and' uninteresting book is an attempt to teach Jetish 'history.
children the Jewisi religious • folklore. It is written in the form of
The Tercentenary -volume will scientific, . geographical and in-,- in the most vital factors in,Tid-
questions and answers and it states quite logically that '"there can be the fourth book in English. dustrial subjects are , well cov- .dish and because. it ;encourages
be no BEST or FAVORITES among religions, except to our Own. The publiShers'= sponsored by ered here. The lever of Yiddish research : by - great Yiddish
selves. We must respect the religions of others, and expect others CYCO,. Central Yiddish Cultural will delight in the 'explanations -ars.
J e.* i s h :Encyclopedic d and-
e pro.- and in the • perfection • of the
to respect ours too." 'Why, then, did not the author describe all Organization—already hav
books deseiVe:fo among
language used here.. • •
dtieedliihe
faiths, but instead deals only with: Judaism?
I,n this yolume..,will.be found: the most `rioteWthx,t4y JetWiSli cul-
In any. event,: this is, _as, the title states, supposedly a book four produced under the title
tural projects in America.
about Judaism. After relating the story of Abraham, of Moses, YIDDN, and five alphabetical the biographies of
Historic Yiddish Encyclopedic Works
Nke Volumes Attest to Tremendously
restive Literary Effort by U.S. Jewry
"
'
-
.