Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
William Rosenwald—the New WA General Chairman
William Rosenwald rises to top leadership in the United
Jewish Appeal with an excellent record for service to Jewry. He
has served in the ranks of the Joint Distribution Committee and
the UJA for many years. He was a leader in United Service for
New Americans. He is a familiar figure at national conferences
and he is among the most generous contributors to the leading
Jewish causes.
The very name Rosenwald spells magic, because the family
is known as a philanthropic group of great merit. The name
invites attention because the father had leanings which were not
in accord with the feelings of many Jews, and a brother is an
antagonist to Zionism. But the new UJA chairman has never
deviated from his devotion to the major Jewish cause: the rescue
of Jews from oppression, their settlement in Israel—and whatever
homes could be found for them.
William Rosenwald is among the very good men at the helm
of Jewish movements. We welcome his rise to the post that has
been given great distinction by his immediate predecessor, Edward
M. M. Warburg.
More About 'indifferentism': Catholic Explanation
From London, through JTA, comes a peculiar explanation of
the instructions given to British Catholics by Bernard Cardinal .
Griffin not to participate in the work of the Council of Christians
and Jews. A spokesman for the Cardinal said that these instruc-
tions had nothing to 10 with Catholic-Jewish relations and that
by the "danger of indifferentism" alluded to by the Cardinal was
meant "the attitude that one religion is az. good as another." The
"danger" was explained as "rather possibly with some other peo-
ple" than the Jews.
We remain in a .quandary. What difference does it make
whether the Cardinal is at odds with Protestants or with Jews
over "indifferentism?" The tragedy lies in the obstacle that is
placed in the path of inter-faith cooperation in efforts to create
good will.
But if there are assurances to Jews, perhaps we may expect
also assurances to Protestants that cooperation will be restored
and that the Cardinal will withdraw his resignation as a co-presi-
dent of the British Council of Christians and Jews. After all, we
all seek progress in the relation of man to man.
No 'Hand-Shaking' With Germany
R.. N. Carvalho, president of the Anglo-Jewish Association, told
a meeting of his association in London that the reparations agree-
ment reached between Germany and Israel does not offer reason
for Jewish communities and organizations to "shake hands" with
the Garmans. True, he said, there are some "fine men" among
the German representatives who are known to be opposed to
Nazism, but it is "quite natural" for Jews to be "sensitive" about
signs of a re-emerging Nazism in Germany.
Perhaps added explanation is in order at this time regarding
the German reparations. Germany is not giving Jewry anything.
She is repaying a small fraction of the loot that was acquired by
the Nazis from the Jews. The Germans can never repay for the
loss of lives during the Nazi murders. In fact, they never can repay
even for the thefts from Jews by Germans during the tragic years
of Hitler rule, let alone the losses suffered at the hands of the
murderers.
That is why we were deeply hurt that the headline over the
report of the UJA conference in New York last week in the N. Y.
Herald Tribune should have read: "UJA Goal 99 Million; Bonn
Adding 20 Million." This is misrepresentation. Bonn does not
give Jewry anything: it merely repays a part of a moral debt.. Let
this be understood, so that history may not be reported falsely.
Newest YIVO Volume
Geared to American
Jewish Tercentenary
Devoted to the American Jew-
ish Tercentenary, Volume IX of
YIVO Annual of Jewish Social
Science, published by the Yid-
dish Scientific Institute (YIVO),
535 W. 123rd, NY27, adds im-
measurably to the material cur-
rently being published on the
occasion of U.S. Jewry's 300th
anniversary.
Dr. Jacob Shatzky, a mem-
ber of the YIVO commission
on research, who has long de-
voted himself to study of the
history of the Yiddish theater,
is the author of an essay on
"Some Letters to and from
Jacob Gordin."
Joseph Opatoshu's "Fifty
Years of Yiddish Literature in
the United States" will be found
especially valuable by students
of literary developments in this
country. Mr. Opatoshu's death
occurred shortly before this
YIVO volume went to press.
Truly challenging are the
problems posed in Leibush
Lehrer's "Jewish Belonging-
ness of Jewish Youth." This
essay may well serve as the
beginning for a thorough
study of the problem of keep-
ing our youth active in our
ranks.
"Socio-Psychological Trends in
the American Jewish Community
Since 1900" is the title of an
article by Abraham G. Duker.
Shlomo Noble's thesis is on
"The Image of the American
Jew in Hebrew and Yiddish Lit-
erature in America, 1870-1900."
Dr. Solomon Grayzel writes
authoritatively on "Two Gen-
erations of Anglo-Jewish Book-
Reading."
Others who have contributed
to this volume include Rabbi
Moshe Davis, S. Niger Charney,
Maurice Taylor, Z. Broches, Louis
Silver, Jeremiah J. Berman,
Mark M. Krug, Rudolf Glanz, Leo
Goldhammer.
Rosenwald Succeeds
Warburg in the UJA
The Handlin-Lewisohn Dispute over Former's Book
Having made note of the dispute over Dr. Oscar Handlin's
"Adventure in Freedom," which was severely criticized by Dr. Lud-
wig Lewisohn, of Brandeis University's faculty, we present here the
follow-up to the controversy, Dr. Handlin's defense and Dr.
Lewisohn's reply. Both appeared in the Saturday Review where
Dr. Lewisohn originally criticized Dr. Handlin's book. Dr. Handlin
wrote to the Saturday Review from Salvan, Switzerland:
"I need hardly say that the views described by Lewisohn in
that review bear no resemblance whatsoever to my opinions. I
have written enough in the past fifteen years to persuade anyone
who wishes to read that Lewisohn has descended to deliberate
falsehood when he says 'undifferentiation' is my ideal for Ameri-
can society.
"One illustration will show Lewisohn's unconcern for elemen-
tary accuracy. I am quoted as saying "the divine ordinances are
'a yoke thrust on from without'." My sentence (p. 42) plainly
reads the contrary: 'Chasidism made of Jewishness more than a
yoke thrust on from without.' More interesting is the intemper-
ate outburst at a sentence to which I do most fully subscribe:
"Here no man was a Jew because he lead to be." Why does Lew-
isohn find these words so painful that they drive him to the mean-
est slanders? Is it because he himself, by the account of his own
books, only backed into his Judaism in withdrawal from the slurs
of a hostile environment and finds it intolerable to believe that,
in a world that has passed him by, men hold to their faith not out
of fear of anti-Semitism, not for want of ..n alternative, but out of
choices freely made? Lewisohn once argued that he could not get
a teaching job in a college because he was a Jew. Perhaps now
he believes that because I am a professor at Harvard I cannot be
a Jew."
To this, Dr. Lewisohn replied:
"Beyond some excesses of language ('deliberate falsehood';
'meanest slanders'), Mr. Handlin reiterates his most simple-minded
assertions. If Hasidism made of that Law for which in all ages
Jews have laid down their lives "more than a yoke thrust on from
without," then, according to Mr. Handlin, it was just that before
the rise of the Hasidic movement, which is an indescribably silly
implication. He sticks also to that gratuitous nonsense which
is his real undoing, namely, that Jewishness is a 'faith' to be
'chosen', and not a destiny to be affirmed.
"His factually fantastic personal attack on me may be amus-
ingly illuminated by the circumstance that on page 249 of his
opus he quotes several observations from a recent book of mine
('The American Jew: Character and Destiny') which has had a
Very real influence on Jewish thinking, but evidently could not
bring himself to name either the book or its author. Ah yes, I am
the atra curs, the "black care," which in the old Horatian tag sits
behind these knights of the assimilatory and anti-survivalist wing.
But that is an old story by now."
It is unfortunate that a controversy of this •sort should have
arisen in the general press over the assimilationist tendencies of
a writer. But it is important, in uur Tercentenary Year, that
the emphasis should be placed on the highest values in Jewish
life. In this sense, we concur with Dr. Lewisohn who, we believe,
adheres to this high principle. There is no sense making cones-
. 'ions that lead to the sacrifice of Jewish ideals.
Gets Pasteur Medal for Research
Dr. GARDNER MIDDLEBROOK, right, director of research
and laboratories at National Jewish Hospital at Denver, is show-
ing the Pasteur Medal he received for distinguished work in med-
ical research, to Dr. SIDNEY H. DRESSLER, medical director of
the non-sectarian center for tuberculosis and chest diseases. The
medal is one of the world's highest prizes in medicine. Dr. Middle-
brook called the medal "a tribute to the entire medical-surgical-
research team at National Jewish Hospital at Denver, as well as to
the persons who contribute the funds that make possible the
Hospital's pioneering program."
Between You and Me
By BORrS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1954, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Political Moods
Does the State Department really intend to modify its Middle
East policy which has provoked so much dissatisfaction among
Jews in the United States? . Leaders of major Jewish organiza-
tions—not necessarily Zionists—have decided to hold a conference
in Washington and invite high State Department officials to
address the parley . . . The conference will probably take place
'in February, and it is hoped that by that time there will be some
concrete action on the part of the State Department indicating
the latest mood prevailing in that quarter . . . Some indication
about this mood was given recently by U. S. Solicitor General
Simon Sobeloff who said that an evaluation of Middle East policy
will. take place and emphasized that he made the statement with
the approval of Secretary of State John Foster Dulles . .. While
Mr. Sobeloff's statement was warmly welcomed by all elements
of American Jewry, Jewish leaders would like to hear from
Secretary Dulles himself . . . They believe that he owes them an
answer to the memorandum they submitted to him personally
in Washington several weeks ago . . At that time, he said that
he would talk to them after the Congressional elections.
• # *
Inside Washington
WILLIAM ROSENWALD, right,
newly named general chairman
of the United Jewish Appeal, is
greeted by his predecessor, ED-
WARD M. M. WARBURG, who
held this post four years in suc-
cession and who has now become
the president of the UJA, a new-
ly-created post. Mr. Rosenwald,
one of American Jewry's most
prominent leaders, was named
by acclamation at the UJA's re-
cent annual national conference.
The more than 1,200 delegates
representing communities
throughout the country, called
upon American Jews for renewed
efforts in behalf of Israel and
distressed Jews in Europe and
Moslem lands, as they set a goal
of close to $100,000,000, thereby
setting in motion the UJA's 17th
successive nationwide campaign,
That something new is brewing in Washington with regard to
the American policy in the Middle East can be seen from a number
of developments ... One of them is the...fact that the State Depart-
ment has taken the initiative in . privately enlightening a number
of editors on its stand towards the settlement of the Arab-Israel
problem . . . The views expressed are no secret, and I feel I can
give some of them here . . . Secretary Dulles believes that there is
need for peace in the Middle East . . . He ardently hopes for "a
definitive and just" peace between Israel and Arab nations . . .
At one time, he said that the United States will use its influence
to promote "step-by-step" reduction of Arab-Israel tension and
the conclusion of ultimate peace . Now the State Department
feels that there can be "a series of adjustments" moving in that
direction . . . The State Department holds that the prospects of
such adjustments "seem better than they have been for. some time"
. . It was definitely indicated to the editors that "the United
States will seek to advance and realize those prospects" ... With
regard to U. S. friendship, the State Department takes the attitude
now that "the United States will not seek the friendship of the
Arab states by being unfriendly to Israel, or vice-versa" . . . It will
Pursue the policy of friendship of all countries in the Middle East
that will best serve the interests of the United States . . . At the
same time, it will - seek, in dealing with Israel and the Arab
countries,' to eradicate causes of friction between them and the
United States and to develop a "cooperative" relationship with
each.
Other Trends
There are also other very important points on which I am in
a position to convey the present moods in the State Department
I . . One of them is the policy of the State. Department towards
Israel's security in connection with the projected sending of
arms to some of the Arab countries . . . The basis of the State
I Department's present policy is the statement made by President
I Eisenhower at the American Jewish Tercentenary dinner in New
1York that the U. S. will make sure that arms provided by this
country should not create local imbalances which could be used
for intimidation or aggression against any neighboring nation
. . . To this the State Department adds that safeguards stipulated
Israel Minister Waives
by
Congress are now being applied tc ensure that American
Immunity to Face Trial
military aid to countries in the Middle East "will not be misused"
for aggressive purposes . . . With regard to the economic policy,
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Rabbi the State Department stresses the fact that from 1948 to July
Shlomo Rosenberg, Deputy Min- 1954 the United States had allotted economic and technical
ister of Welfare, waived his Par- assistance of over $191,000,000 to Israel, over. $62,000,000 to individ-
liamentary immunity to enable ual Arab states and over $124,000,000 for the benefit of . Arab
the Attorney General to file an refugees ... These figures do not include agricultural commodities
action against h i m alleging which the U. S. Government has made available to private relief
breach of the foreign currency organizations for distribution in Israel and in the Arab countries
regulations. The charge specifies . . . The State Department also seems determined to support
that Rabbi Rosenberg violated Israel's request for unmolested passage of Israel ships through flu)
the law when he transferred Suez Canal.
certain monies from Switzerland
to a Mizrachi institution In Is-
Friday, December 24, 1954
2--DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
rael.