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.