THE JEWISH NEWS
Jewish Convention Season
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., YE. 8-9364
Elubscription S4 a year, Foreign $5.
Entered as second class matter Aug. 8. 1942. at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879
PHILIP SLOMOVtTZ
Editor end Publisher
VOL. XXVII. No. 17
SIDNEY SHMARAK
Advertising Manager
FRANK SIMONS
City Editor
Page Four
July 1, 1955
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the twelfth day of Tammuz, 5 715, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Num . 1 9:1-25:19. Prophetical portion, Micah, 5:6-6:5.
Licht Benshen, Friday, July 1, 7:53 P.M.
New C s s Within American Zionist Ranks
C .•
ri
i
A new crisis is plaguing the ranks of the
volving differences of opinion over the atti-
Zionist Organization of America. Louis Lip- tude of American Zionists towards Histadrut,
sky, the movement's most distinguished then the issue should be discussed thoroughly
leader, and a number of other prominent and adjudicated to comply with the wishes
Zionists, including other past presidents of of the overwhelming majority of American
the ZOA, stayed away from the convention Zionists.
f
in Washington, two weeks ago, and made
At the ZOA Convention in Washington,
certain demands which indicate that another
rift will call for time and wise guidance to _Dr. Abba Hillel Silver, in a major policy
speech, also indirectly referred to the issue
repair.
It is evident that personality issues, which when he said:
"American Jewry's major contribution,
accounted for previous conflicts, are not lack-
though by no means its `sole contribution, to
ing in the current controversy. While the
the young state of Israel in the foreseeable
abstainers from the convention conceded the
future will be financial support through pub- Dexter Masters' Moving Story
re-election of Mortimer May as president,
lic funds, the stimulation of its economic life
Mr. Lipsky's statement admits that there
through private investments and the defense
were negotiations for "the liberal group"—
of its political position in the vital American
meaning those he represents--to 'be given
sector.
"The Accident" by Dexter Masters (published by Knopf) is a
"The Government of Israel should give every
the privilege of nominating the chairman of
deeply
moving story. It describes the eight days in Los Alamos
encouragement to the private investor. Private
the executive committee."
during which doctors of the nation watched Louis Saxl, an idealistic
capital
can
be
persuaded
to
come
to
Israel
to
It may well be that the re-election of Dr.
help build the Jewish State. It will not be Jewish scientist, die after his hands had slipped in the making of
Emanuel Neumann as chairman of the ZOA's
persuaded to come to Israel to help build so- an atomic bomb. Louis Saxl is a fictitious name, but the book is
national executive committee was the bone
cialism. Socialism is not an historic Jewish dedicated "to the memory of Louis Slotin and more than 100,000
of contention, - due to Dr.. Neumann's well
idea nor a specific Jewish responsibility. Social others" who suffered a similar fate.
known views in opposition to some of the
In the story, the accident is kept a Military secret, but towards
justice is; socialism and social justice are far
the end of the book the act of heroism is revealed. The front
from being synonymous."
.policies and tactics of the Histadrut in Israel.
* * *
pages, according to the narrative, flashed ."Atom Bomb Scientist
While Mr. Lipsky did not mention the Hista-
drut in his statement, the following portion
At the ZOA convention in Pittsburgh, in Dies; Six Saved": "The nature of the accident was made reasonably
of his declaration may be interpreted as hav- 1918, after the issuance of the Balfour Dec- clear; it had involved an experiment in which radiation was re-
in a brief flash; the experiment had been an important
ing been intended as a criticism of those who laration, there was an entirely different tone. leased
one in the development of the atomic bomb, although details
criticize Mapai and Histadrut and its leaders:
The Pittsburgh Platform certainly was a concerning it could not, of course, be released. But most of the
"I have been distressed—as many other Zion-
socialistic document. The Jewish National story -Concerned itself with the heroism of the young scientist who
ist liberals of standing and friends of Zionism • Fund's program certainly is socialistic be- —at the cost of his own life, as it proved—tore the experimental
—to witness the ZOA leadership keeping faith
cause its program calls for the nationaliza- structure apart and thus saved the lives of his colleagues."
with only one of its objectives—its identifi- tion of the land. We doubt whether Pales-
The dramatic story of the eight days, during which Louis Said
cation with the General Zionist Party in Is- tine could have succeeded with the ideas and suffered with hands blown into ugly balloons, reveals many factors
rael—and serving the interests of that party
ideals of collectivism and cooperation which about the young hero, who abandoned a chance to join his father
by attacking Israel political personalities with
were introduced by the labor elements — in his lumber business to become a chemist, then to have a share
in the development of the atomic bomb.
whom its Israel counterpart was not in agree- chiefly by Histadrut.
There are interesting discussions between Louis and a refugee
ment; and meddling in the internal Israel po-
There is much to be said in criticism of
litical affairs which are the legitimate prov- Histadrut's policies, but, for . that matter, is. scientist. There are references to his Jewishness, to an occasion
ince of the citizens of that state."
there a constructive movement anywhere when he was rejected for an important job because he was a Jew.
Dexter Masters, in his brilliant narrative, pays this tribute to
*
*
that does not invite some criticism?
Jewish perseverance:
This raises an old argument: whether
It is not such a long lapse from Palestine
"Like many Jews, Louis had long ago fashioned within him-
American Zionists should lend encourage- to Israel, yet, even in • the brief seven years
self a kind of emotional chute down which such hurts could go,
ment and comfort to parties in Israel related of Israel's statehood, it has become evident
entering the eye or ear bitt bypassing the channels of con-
to those they are associated with in this that labor has played, as it must play, an
sciousness. Re had learned, long ago, that a Jew could not react
country. Yet, pro-Histadrut people—mem- important role in Israel's upbuilding. But
to hurts the way a non-Jew could, since prejudice imposed so
bers of Farband, Pioneer. Women and Poale neither labor nor Histadrut's critics will be
many that too often one reaction would not be ended before
another would have to begin."
Zion—do not hesitate to uphold the banner
served well unless differences of opinion are
of Mapai; Mizrachi is unhesitant in its sup- ironed out amicably—otherwise, Israel will
Louis Saxl, while attending a scientific conference in Ma-
drid, had joined the libertarians in Spain. It was not a secret,
port of its fellow-Mizrachists in Israel, and be harmed.
the same holds true of the smaller parties.
The complete story undoubtedly is yet to and he was completely cleared. But while on his deathbed a
Right or wrong, this practice goes on, be told. There will be charges and counter- Congressman arrived in Los Alamos and began to demand an
and it is misleading to limit criticisms to the charges in the new feud. In the best interests investigation of the scientist. "The Accident" does a superb job
of exposing the stupidities of some such investigations.
ZOA.
of a stronger Zionist movement—granted
There is also a love story in "The Accident." While he is un-
If the issue is primarily based on per- that Mr. Lipsky is right that Zionism has questionably a positive Jew, who affirms his Jewishness, he falls
sonality conflicts, it is most deplorable, declined with "shocking rapidity"—and of a' in love with a non-Jewess, and intermarriage is not a problem
especially at this time, when Zionism secure Israel, feuds should be avoided and all to him. The girl's part in the story also is impressive.
Another interesting point in this powerful story is Louisa
should be strengtheneci If it is a matter in- sides should give a little, both ways.
'The (Los Alamos) Accident'
,
Yiddish-Speaking Arab: Story With a Moral
Scopus, the periodical issued by the He-
brew University in Jerusalem, in its issue
that has just reached us tells a story whose
eharm as well as revealing lesson motivates
us to share it with our readers. It is about
The Arab Who Spoke Yiddish," as follows:
This is a story that can be appreciated
only by those who know Yiddish. And,
strangely enough, it concerns one of our Arab
students. He is Bahjat B. Khleif, of Nazareth;
who about two years ago received a Rotary
Foundation Fellowship for advanced study
abroad and who is now working for his doc-
torate at Johns Hopkins University, Balti-
more.
Recently Khleif wrote to a friend here-
in Hebrew, of cause telling of his experi-
ences in America. Among other things he
has done some lecturing in Jewish circles,
and he describes an address he delivered on
the Hebrew University to an Hadassah Chap-
ter. In introducing the guest the chairman
announced that she knew a little Arabic.
"And I," countered Khleif, "know a little
miarna-loshe-n." Immediately he was called
to speak Yiddish. "You know," he writes to
his friend, "what Bialik said: 'Hebraish ret-
men ober Yiddish retzach.' Well, it wasn't
quite that way with me. I spoke a bit of
Yiddish, but as I told them, 's pastsach tsn
'ink m d goy a ". However, he ap-
parently got by, and at the end he informed
his audience that if ever they needed a shah-
- has goy, he was at their service.
share in an appeal to thee President not to use the atomic bomb
against the Japanese people. There is a strong rebuke in Mr.
Masters' story against that action.
Twice in the novel, the author has Louis reflecting on the
famous two questions of Hillel: "If I am not for myself, who will
be? But if I am for myself alone, what do I amount to?"
"The Accident" is a revealing story. It is replete with tension
and drama—and with a lot of wisdom, in which the Jewishness
of the hero is utilized admirably and with dignity. It is, indeed,
a powerful and a very good novel.
The story itself is entertaining enough
to deserve widest circulation. But it also
has a moral lesson. It carries with it proof
that Israeli Arabs know Hebrew — the
language of the land of their citizenship—and
that. some of them even learn the language
that was the tongue of the majority in the
When it first appeared in 1951, "Koheleth—the Man and His
Galuth, Yiddish. The important related point World" by Dr. Robert Gordis was reviewed at length in The Jewish
is that Arabs are integrating, as they should, News.
into the life of the Jewish state. Once the
This very scholarly commentary now is included among the
4 new publications distributed by Bloch Pub-
pressure from antagonistic outside forces
lishing Co., in a second and enlarged edi-
diminishes, such integration will surely be-
tion.
come more wholesdrne. We pray for the ar-
It is encouraging to know that so va3-
rival of that day.
Dr. Robert Gordis' 1 Koheleth'
Bible in Schools
California's Attorney General Edmund
G. Brown has ruled that the Bible may be
read in the schools as literature, but not for
religious instruction.
Mr. Brown pointed out, quite properly,
adhering to the spirit of American tradi-
tions, that "even atheists and agnistics are
protected in their beliefs by the Constitu-
tion."
His wise ruling helps to uphold the basic
principle of separation of church and state.
uable a volume has found a response and
goes into more than one edition. It is one
of the rare books that. is certain to live as
a classic in Jewish literature.
ii
Dr. Gordis, one of the most disting-
uished scholars of our time, has included
in his enlarged second edition additional
material he has gathered, including the
following:
Supplementary notes on scientific
methods in research on the Book of Kobe
Dr. 'Gordis
leth, additional notes on the text, the Ara-
maic Origin hypothesis and the theory of a Phoenician background,
addenda and corrigenda and more recent bibliography.
Dr. Gordis' "Koheleth" is one of the truly great books et
Jewish scholarship in our time. Laymen as well as trained stu-
dents will find it stimulating. It is a volume that deserves to be
listed as a "best seller."
-