THE JEWISH NEWS Incorporating the -Detroit Jewish Chronicle commencing with issue of July 20, 1951 Member American Association of English-Jewish Newspapers. Michigan Press Association, National Editorial Association Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co , 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 8-9364 Subscription $4 a year, Foreign $5. Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942. at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3. 1879 PHILIP SLOMOVITZ Editor and Publisher . SIDNEY SHMARAK Advertising Manager Page Four VOL. XXVII, No. 5 FRANK SIMONS City Editor April 8, 1955 Passover Hol Hamoed Sabbath Scriptural Selections Pentateuchal portions, Ex. 32:12-34:26, Num. 28:19-25. Prophetical portion, Ezek. 36:37-37:14. Hol Hamoed Passover, Torah Readings Sunday, Ex. 13:1 16, Num. 28:19-25: Monday. Ex. 22:24-23:19, NUM.. 28:19-25: Tuesday. Num. 9:1-14, 28:19-25. - Scriptural Selections for Last Days of Passover Pentateuchal portions: Wednesday, Ex. 13: 1 7-15:26, Num. 28:19-25: Thursday. Deut. 15:19-16: 17. Num. 28: 19-25. Prophetical 'portions: Wednesday, 11 Sam, 22: Thursday, Is. 10:32-12:4. Licht Benshen: April 3, 4:45 p.m.; April 12, 6:50 p.m. `Roofs of Preluclicei: Re-actions of Youth An examination of "The Root of Preju- dice" conducted at one of the panels of the New York Herald Tribune's ninth annual High School Forum brought to light interest- ing reactions of . Israeli and Arab youth on problems facing Israel on the world scene. The statements of the 17-year-old Jor- danian and Israeli spokesmen are sufficiently important to be quoted in full. Akram Z. Bakarat, Jordanian, delivered this address: When I was chosen to represent Jordan in this Forum, I did not know there would also be a delegate from Israel. Then, in the letter of congratulations from Mrs. Waller, telling us how to prepare for the trip, I saw the name of Israel among the countries to be represented. It was really difficult for me to think how I would act. My first thought was that I would not speak with him at all, and treat him as our countries treat each other. But this was difficult from the beginning because his country was listed as "Israel" and we call it "Palestine." I talked to some of my teachers and friends to get their ad- vice. Some said I should not speak to him at all. Others said I should treat him just as I would treat any of the other delegates, to show him that we do not have any enmity against people. When Gur arrived at Kober House the day after I did, together with boys from Italy and Switzerland, I got to know him just as I did the other delegates. We all had so much in common as members of the same group that our political differences didn't come up. Two days later we both happened to be as- signed to wash dishes together, with some of the other delegates, and Gur and I started to talk about the Palestine problem. I was sur- prised to find that some of the others had not even heard about it. In trying to explain to them, we had to go easy on the "heat" in order to shed some light. And although we were talking about a very complicated problem from very different points of view, still neither of us broke a dish! Only three months ago, I used to think that all the Jews are Zionists. Since I have been here, I have realized that there are some Jews who don't have any faint idea about Zionism. So, a very good thing I learned, first of all, is that Judaism is not synonymous with Zionism. Juda- ism is • a religion. Zionism is a political idea. So we should not confuse the two. There, although I still have prejudice against Zionism—naturally enough—I don't have any- thing against Judaism now. However, as an Arab, I do feel prejudice against Zionism because of all the troubles it has brought to this part of the Middle East. My job here as a Forum delegate, in six dif- ferent host schools and all the others I have visited, has been to talk about my country and explain our point of view. In some of these schools there have been not only large numbers of Jewish students but many Zionists. In many cases I gave them their first opportunity to hear the other point of view. And it was also my first opportunity to discuss this problem with Zionists. I was so glad you know—I really felt happy— when some of them not only understood my point of view but really appreciated a chance for discussion instead of angry argument. It was the first time for some of them to see that the other point of view is possible. Gur Ben Ad., a native of Tel Aviv, fol- lowed Akram with this address .which served as a reply to the Jordanian's differentiation between Judaism and Zionism: I've got another suggestion for the diplomats who come back here on Monday. If they haven't time to wash their dishes together, maybe they could play ping pong? After Akram and I fin- ished doing those dishes he told you about, I went down to the ping pong table with the Arab League. I beat Rifaat, from Egypt, but then Akram beat me. Speaking of the Arab League, Saniya, from the Lebanon, was washing dishes that day when Akram and I were drying them. She didr4t say a word when we were talking about the Middle East. At first I thought she kept quiet so that it wouldn't be two against one. Then I discovered she was having to concentrate all her attention on doing a job she never had learned how to do lit the Lebanon. Five Months ago, when I wrote my essay on "The World We Want" for the Forum com- petition, I wrote as an Israeli, without any international experience. My horizon has been considerably widened. In these three months, I have often felt my- self thinking as an American, a Burmese, or a Japanese. Once I even got myself into a really tough spot! It started as a game. You know that in each host school we have been together with two or three other Forum delegates. Listening to each other say the same things about our countries so many times in assembly programs, we practically learn each others' speeches by heart. So, one night in Washington when all of us were together, just for fun we exchanged roles to see how well we could present another's point of view. And I found myself being the delegate from Jordan, and almost convincing the dele- gate from Israel (played by another of the dele- gates from the Middle East). In the end it was a draw! We have had a lot of fun. But we have also discussed many serious problems. Sometimes I realized how narrow-minded people can be pursuing only selfish interests, and forgetting that there is something more funda- mental—serving good international interests, as nations and as individuals. Of course, this is not as easy as it may sound. Coming back to what you said, Akram, about your experience here, and what you discovered about Judaism and Zionism. My experiences were entirely different. I am happy to say that all the Jews I met and also most of the non-Jews I talked to were very sympathetic toward Israel and what it stands for. Especially the Zionists, who see in the an- cient new country of Israel the fulfillment of .their age-long hopes. Our different experiences here show how complicated problems are. We don't want a world where we can breathe freely in the morning just because no calamity happened overnight! We don't want a world where countries spend most of their energy on armaments in order to bring closer the possi- bility of dying together. Instead we should be finding a way to live together! This Forum encouraged me to be an opti- mist. Now I am sure that co-existence is possible. This Forum helped me in another way. Tt made me proud of being a citizen of my young country. I was asked many times whether I would like to live here. To me it was like asking, would I like to exchange my parents. However, I find much that is alike in your country and mine. Both countries face the problem of in- -tegration, the problem of forming -one nation out of people from everywhere. And we are over- coming their prejudices and making one nation just. as you have. Israel is a country of challenge that gives every citizen a feeling of being needed—especial- ly the youth! What my country needs now, as all other nations, is peace. We have much constructive, creative work to do. War prevents this and solves nothing. I said I was an optimist. - I wonder whether we will be able to impart the wonderful experi- ence we have had here to as many as we would like to. Maybe that is why - I can end by saying I wish the politicians would solve their problems the same way we did. We lived here in the world we want, a peaceful world which, dis- counting prejudices, can be achieved. A • I, • V 1* - 101141„ Ribalow's Splendid Anthology American Jew at Mid-Century Harold U. Ribalow, who recently has established a high repu- tation as a book reviewer, as author of several books and as trans- lator from the Hebrew, is enhancing his position with his latest book, "Mid-Century:- An Anthology of Jewish Life and Culture in Our Times," published today by Beechhurst Press (11 E. 36th, NY16). This volume accomplishes with great skill the objective it has set out to attain: to present the works of the outstanding Jewish writers of the past half century. A glance at the list of authors whose works are .included here will provide the best evidence of the value of this work. Mr. Riba- low, who also has included his own "Some Melamdim I have Known" and "Zion in Contemporary Fiction," has selected the most impressive works of the following: Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel, the late Menachem Ribalow, editor of Hadoar, father of the compiler and editor of this book; Dr. Jacob S. Minkin, Dr. Jacob B. Agus, Maurice Samuel, Dr. Will Herberg, Menahem Boraisha, Dr. Milton Steinberg, Hannah Arendt, Harry L. Golden, Milton Hindus, Charles Angoff, David L. Cohn, Robert H. Glauber, Daniel Bell, Ashley Montagu, Irving Howe, Leslie A. Fiedler, Dr. Ludwig Lewisohn, Michael Blankfort, Edith Handleman, Shloind Katz, Alfred Werner, Naomi Ben- Asher, Abraham Rothberg, Charles I. Glicksberg, Eliezer Whart- man, Benno Weiser, Johan J. Smertenko, Hayim Greenberg, Prof. Horace Kallen, Meyer Levin, Marvin Lowenthal, Dr. Sidney Hook, Leon Stein, Nathan Glazer, Irving Kristol, Prof. Mordecai M. :Kaplan, Dr. Trude Weiss-Rosmarin. In addition there is the story "I Changed My Name" by an anonymous author and the article by nine contemporary authors that attracted wide attention when it first appeared. "Why I Wrote a Jewish Novel." This volume may well be said testrike one of the highest notes in literary efforts on the occasion of the American Jewish Ter- centenary. The writers selected have produced the finest type of Jewish creative works. They have already written on high notes of integrity- and of respect for their people. Mr. Ribalow is correct—this reviewer believes—in stating that his collection "offers an accurate portrait of the American Jew at mid-century." EsSays like Dr. Heschel's "The Meaning of Jewish Existence" and Dr. Herberg's "Religious Trends in American Jewry" provide justification for this assertion. Dr. Hayim Greenberg's "Jewish Culture and Education in the Diaspora" and "On Dual Loyalties" remain as valuable and as analytical today as when they were first written. This is true also of the other essays which throw light on the A young Jordanian's attempt to draw a sharp line between Jewish religious tenets status of American Jewry and on the literary creations of out- and nationalism may or may not indicate standing American Jews. Mr. Ribalow's anthology deserves a very that he was thoroughly briefed on the sub- wide circulation. ject before coming to this country. Many adults, unless they come from the prejudiced circle of the Council for Judaism, will be amazed at the views of a 17-year-old boy who seems to know all about Judaism but lacks understanding about a people's—in this case the Jewish people's—right to a homeland. It is regrettable that Akram Z. Bakarat should only have learned from his dish-washing ex- perience alongside an Israeli that he thereby gains an audience for anti-Zionist ideas. It is pleasing, on the other hand, to note the- emphasis placed by an Israeli on the need for peace. While it is doubtful Whether Gur Ben An was able to inject a desire for amity in the heart of his neighbor, the Israeli's op- timism is heartening. Forums like the New York Herald Trib- uune's, which bring together young people from many nations, provide excellent means of clarifying the views of opposing forces. It is especially encouraging when the effort to bring youth together is made in a free land like ours. Perhaps out of this environment will come the great incentive for world peace —including a speedy rapprochement between the Israelis and the Arabs. Jewish Adventures in U.S.: Biographically-Told History In 243 pages, the eminent novelist and story-teller, Mrs. Elm* Ehrlich Levinger, has written an interesting history of the Jews in the United States in novel form: through a series of biograph- ies of noted personalities. The book, under the title "Jewish Adventure in America," has just been published by Bloch. Her story begins with the first Jewish- settlement. in New Am- sterdam — now New York—and is a fine addition to the America* Jewish Tercentenary publication s. It continues the narra- tive of American Jewry's story with fine descriptions of the devel- opment Of Jewish settlements in other areas—in Newport, Massa- chusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, the Southern states_ Interspersed are the biographies of the noted leaders--the early American . martyr Francis Salvador, Benjamin Nones, the Revolutionary heroes, the war-time "rabbi" Gershom Mends Seixas, Haym Salomon, and scores more. Mrs. Levinger describes the activities of Judah T01.11'0, Solomon Nunez Carvalho, the heroes of the Civil War period, Emma Lazarus. Samuel Gompers, Mordecai Manuel Noah, Henrietta Szold, Louis B. Brandeis, Nathan Straus and many, many more. Beautifully illustrated, this is an 'excellent and informative i volume for young and old.