Mass Grave for 'Victims of Savage Assault'

Purely Commentary

Bulgaria Receives I.T. S. Protest, 'Too Hasty'
Action Admitted in 'Death of Innocent People'

- By PHILIP SLOMOV I TZ

A Chazente oif Shabbos?

TEL AVIV, (JTA)—An entire
Remember the old song "A Chazendel oif Shabbos?" Now
country
mourned as the 58 vic-
especially in Temple Avodah, the Reform congregation at Ocean-
side, in Massapequa, L. I., N. Y., the tune may be the same but the tims of a Bulgarian air attack
on an unarmed El Al Constella-
words could be "A Chazente oif Shabbos."
tion passenger plane were laid
Mrs. Betty Robbins, who will conduct her first service in this to rest in a common grave in
congregation on Rosh Hashanah, is the first woman cantor on record, the new Tel Aviv cemetery.
—unless an untapped cave will some day produce a scroll to prove
Leaders of the nation were
that in ancient times there were concurrent Reform groups, like
among the thousands who parti-
our own, who . approved of women cantors.
cipated in the moving services
A spokesman_ for the School of Sacred Music of Hebrew Union as rabbis, two Catholic priests
College—JeWish Institute of Religion, which trains cantors, said it and a Protestant cleric perform-
was merely a tradition, not a law, that only men are to be cantors. ed the religious services. The
Well, then, what are we to call Mrs. Robbins: Cantor or Can- victims, in unmarked coffins
toress? •
were laid to,rest in a long, com-
Born in Greece, 31 years ago, the first woman cantor's parents mon grave which the Catholic
were Russian Jews. She studied in Danzig, was soloist in a syna- priests sanctified.
gogue in that Polish city; fled from Poland in 1939 when the coun-
The Swiss government in-
try was invaded by Hitler, emigrated to Australia where she con-
formed the United States that
tinued her musical studies and was married there in 1943 to Sheldon
the American protest against
Robbins, who was there with the U. S. Air Force. They returned to
the wanton assault by Bul-
this country the following year. Her husband is an inspector for the
garian airmen had been de-
New York Health DepartMent. They have four children.
livered to Sofia, and the Bul-
garian government, in an
. That's the story of the first woman cantor.. Her appointment is a
amazing public confession, ad-
feather in the cap of Dr. Barnett Brickner, president of the Central
Conference of American Rabbis (Reform), who, at the recent con-
mitted that trigger-happy Bul-
vention, proposed that women be permitted to become rabbis. If
garian fighter pilots had shot
down the Israeli passenger
we can't have women rabbis immediately, at least we have a
woman cantor — and Rabbi Brickner undoubtedly is rejoicing over
liner without having first
his triumph.
given it ample warning to
land. The Bulgarians promised
We anticipate another storm of protests from our Orthodox
compensation to the , families
leaders. But if there is a weapon that can kill the idea, it is ridicule.
of their victims, payment to
Already, the punsters are posing many questions: and chief among
Israel for the cost of the plane
them are the queries whether a woman cantor or a woman rabbi
and measures to prevent a re-
will be given time out for children (pre- and post-natal), what'll
currence.
happen to the husband's breakfasts and dinners when the ordained
wife is called to duty, for funerals, weddings; hospital visits; will
Diplomats Attend Services
husband accompany the clerical wife to weddings—and many more
The bodies of the 58 men,- wo-
questions, , ad infinitum, up and down the line, relating to woman's
men and children, including 12
new place in the synagogue.
Americans, were flown to Tel
With the new trend, with the new privileges accorded to women,
aliyot
with
assured them in Reform synagogues and in some Con- Aviv from Istanbul and brought
servative congregations (especially Reconstructionists), there may to the cemetery in a 200-vehicle
be increased interest in liturgical privileges. Surely, it will be more caravan led by Army trucks.
difficult to divide up the Maftir and aliyot privileges with the
Among the mourners were the
increased candidates for them.
President's adjutant, Premier
Is all this good for the synagogue or bad? If not sex, then Moshe Sharett, members of his
surely time will provide the answer.
Cabinet, many deputies, Chief
Rabbi Yitzhak Nissim and Tel
*
*
Aviv Chief Rabbi I. J. Unter-
The Late William J. Cameron
man, the Ambassadors of the
In his day, William J. Cameron caused a major controversy United States and Britain, the
affecting the Jews in this country. Together with E. G. Pipp, then Ministers of Turkey, Finland,
editor of the Detroit News, Cameron, who also was on the News Guatemala, Brazil and Belgium,
staff, left _that paper to join the Henry _Ford staff on the Dearborn and the charge d'affaires of a
- Independent, whiCh was acquired by the automobile magnate.
number of other states. Also in
Cameron was blamed for having injected anti-Semitism in the the funeral procession were top,
Dearborn Independent and for having published in it the forgeries Army officers, police officials, re-
that became tools in the hands of .anti-Semites, the so-called "Pro- ligious leaders, judges, members
of the Jewish Agency and May-
tocols of the Elders of Zion." .
or Chaim Levanon of Tel Aviv.
It is 'amazing that in spite of the frequent condemnations of
At the • cemetery, an El Al
the Protocols and their having been exposed in many lands as
frauds and forgeries, •there are occasional customers for them. guard of honor lowered each cof-
Royal Oak's Father Coughlin swallowed them and appeared to fin into the long trench-like
have accepted them as factual documents by publishing them in grave as the recitation of Psalms
by rabbis were heard mingling
his Social Justice.
with the sobs of relatives of the
(See editorial in this issue about Protocols' latest expose at victims. After the grave was
the Paris international exposition devoted to "Forgeries of History.") covered, the relatives recited a
Cameron assumed many roles—as writer, lecturer, sermonizer, mass Kaddish.
director of the Ford radio hour. After the disbanding of the Dear-
Rabbi Unterman eulogized
born Independent, he became interested primarily in the British
the dead and prayed for their
Israel 'movement. He propagated the idea that the English families, after \which Premier
were the true Jews, that they were the descendants of the Lost Ten
Sharett told the mourners that
Tribes, and by suggestion spread the idea that the Jews aren't the they had laid at rest men, wo-
true Hebrews at all. The group he represented maintained that the
men and children who "had
British Israelites were the real offspring of the ancient Hebrews.
perished as victims of a wan-
Last month we published a review of "The Bible versus British ton and savage assault. The
Israel," by 0. H. Brown, of Vancouver, British Columbia (Exposi-
revolting brutality and callous
tion Press, 386 4th Ave., NY16). Mr. Brown stated emphatically
disregard for the sanctity of
that "British Israel" is a "false cult," that under the disguise of
human life revealed in this
religion it has deceiVed many sincere Christians; that British Israel-
murderous attack will remain
ites do not circumcize their children in accordance with the Abra-
the subject , of universal exe-
hamic covenant, "that the British are not Israel at all, or else the
cration and serve as a stern
Bible is false," and that the Jews alone are God's chosen people
warning for the future."
Israel.
The Premier made mention of
In a foreword to Mr. Brown's book, the Rev. W. M. Robertson, Bulgaria's statement accepting
of Vancouver, says that British Israelism is "among the theological full responsibility for the deed
vagaries that plague the church of God in these days." He con- and admitting its guilt, but said
demns the movement as being "pure conjecture, built up upon "the full truth" about the in-
coincidences," and commends Mr. Brown's book as being a "calm, cicident is still not known.
reasoned examination."
"There can be not compensation
Should a man adhering to Mr. Cameron's views be considered and retribution for the death
an anti-Semite? Let us say, instead, that he was deluded,—in his of the peaceful wayfarer brought
"British-Israel" views. But we certainly must consider his accep- about through, no fault of his
tance of the "Protocols" as an act of animosity. Let him, as a religi- own," he concluded.
ous preacher, give an accounting of his earthly activities in the
Bulgaria Admits Guilt
Hereafter. His record will be the Advocate against him.
The
Bulgarian government ad-
*
*
*
mitted last week that two of its
David A. Croll—Canada's New Senator
fighter planes—not anti-aircraft
By all standards in political life, and by common admission, ground batteries — had shot
David A. Croll belongs in the Cabinet of the Canadian government. down the El Al Constellation
He is better than Senate material. But his associates in public life plane.
have seen fit to name him to the Upper Legislative House of the
"The organs of the anti-air-
Canadian government: to the Senate. He is the first Jew to be craft defense were too hasty,"
named to this high position.
the statement said. "They did
He is not the type of man to clothe himself in a mantle of not take all necessary measures
inactivity. Wherever he will be, he will be heard from—for the to force the plane to land." It
good of the people of his country. We have no doubt that so able a concluded with an expression of
man will rise to the fore, in or out of politics, in a lower as well regret at the "death of innocent
as a higher legislative body: because of his dedication to service to people."
his fellow men.
Text of U. S. Note
When Senator Croll received his appointment last week, he
WASHINGTON, (JTA) — The
stated: "I am not going to be an ornament. The Senate has a very Swiss government has informed
real function to perform, and I intend to use it." Those who know
Dave Croll have no doubt that he will fulfill this promise and 2
DETROIT_. JEWISH NEWS
that he will always be heard from on humanity's good side.
Friday, August 12, 1955

.

—

the State Department that the
American memorandum protest-
ing the Bulgarian downing of
the Israel aircraft was delivered
on behalf of the U. S. to the
Bulgarian Ministry for Foreign
Affairs at Sofia. The American
protest was sent through the
Swiss Charge d'Affaires who
represents the American inter-
ests in Sofia, since the U. S.
does not maintain diplomatic re-
lations with Communist Bul-
garia.

The text of the American aide
memoir had not been made pub-
lic until the Swiss representa-
tives acknowledged its receipt
in Sofia to the State Depart-
ment. The complete text reads
as follows:

"The United States Govern-
ment protests emphatically
against the brutal action of
Bulgarian military personnel
on July 27, 1955 in firing upon
a commercial aircraft of the
El Al Israel Airlines which
was lawfully engaged as an
international carrier. This at-
tack, which resulted in the
destruction of the aircraft and
the death of all personnel
aboard, including several
United States citizens, consti-
tutes a grave violation of ac-
cepted principles of interna-
tional law. The Bulgarian
government has acknowledged
responsibility for this action.

"The United States Govern-
ment demands that the Bul-
garian government 1. take all
appropriate measures to pre-
vent a recurrence of inci-
dents of this nature and in-
form the United States Govern-
ment concerning these meas-
ures; 2. Punish all persons re-

•

sponsibile for this incident; and
3. Provide prompt and ade-
quate compensation to the
United States citizens killed in
this attack."

Israel Ambassador Abba Eban
met with Secretary of State
John Foster Dulles to discuss
among other matters, the Bul-
garian downing of the Israel air-
craft.

The Ambassador did not ,re-
veal the details of the discussion
with the Secretary. He stated
only he had reviewed all mat-
ters affecting Israel and the
Middle East that had elapsed
since his last meeting with Mr.
Dulles in April.

U.S. Gets Sofia's Reply

Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News

WASHINGTON — T h e Swiss
government on Tuesday cabled
the State Department as to the
substance of the Bulgarian reply
to the American aide memoir,
protesting the 'shooting down of
the Israel passenger plane.

While the text of the reply has
not yet reached Washington, the
substance of the note as reported
by the Swiss government in Bern
indicates that the Bulgarians take
full responsibility for the incident
and expressed regret over it;
that measures to prevent the re-
currence of such incidents will be
taken; that those responsible for
the incident will be punished and
that compensation to families of
of American victims is forth-
coming.

The American protest, which
was sent t h r o u g h the Swiss
charge d'aiffaires who represents
American interests in Sofia, was
sent 12 days ago. The full text
of the Bulgarian reply will not
be available here until its arrival
within the next few days.

Between You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1955, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

The Domestic Front

.•
The intensified Arab propaganda in the United States is now
meeting strong resistance from Lebanese Christians in this country
Leading in the anti-Arab fight are the Maronites who publish-
a number of newspapers in this country . . . They insist on conclu-
sion of peace with Israel . . . The Maronites are the largest single
group in Lebanon and number about 450,000 in a total population
of 1,250,000 . . Together with other Christian groups—Assyrians,
Armenians and Melkites—they constitute a Christian majority in
Lebanon . . . And they are not at all happy with the treatment they
receive . . In fact, they fear for their very existence, being a
Christian island in a sea of Moslem countries .. They, therefore,
welcome the mergence of another non-Moslem state—Israel--
especially since this state borders directly on Lebanon . . And
they sincerely favor the concluding of peace between Lebanon and
Israel . . . What they cannot say openly in Lebanon, because of
intimidation by the Arab League, their relatives in the United
States proclaim here and in Canada . . . There are twice as many
Maronites living abroad as there are in Lebanon, and the Lebanese-
Americans send financial support to their brethern in Lebanon just
as American Jewry sends financial aid to Israel . . . The present
fight of the Lebanese-Americans is especially directed against the
Arab Information Center which the Arab League recently estab-
lished in New York to penetrate the American press with propa-
ganda and to influence American public opinion . . . In their publi-
cations, in Arabic and in English, they point out that the claims
of Arab propagandists that they speak for 300,000 American citizens
of "Arab descent" is completely unfounded .. Ninety-five percent
of these Americans are Christian emigres and refugees from Syria
and Lebanon, mostly Maronites, they emphasize . . . And they
stress that these Americans come from a non-Arab community
which has fought for centuries to preserve the non-Arab and non-
Moslem character of Lebanon . . . They charge the Arab League
with preventing Lebanon from concluding a peace with Israel and
suggest that the Jews and Maronites in this country coordinate
their efforts in fighting Arab League propaganda.

.

Communal Affairs

Amth- ican Jewish communities will now have an opportunity
to meet a new dynamic leader of the National Committee for
Labor Israel . . He is Dr. Dov Biegun who took over the reins
from Isaac Hamlin, former national secretary of the organization
.. A noted economist, he uras educated in Continental and British
universities and speaks 13 languages fluently, including English,
Hebrew and Yiddish . . . During World War II Dr. Biegun served
with the British armed forces in France, the low countries and
Norway . . . He was a member of the British War Crimes Investi-
gation Unit of the British Army on the Rhine . .. He enjoys a repu-
tation as an excellent orator and has to his record the raising of
loans in various countries for the Jewish National Fund and the
Jewish Agency, in conjunction with The State of Israel . . . He has
also organized large-scale investments in this country and in Latin
America for Am•al and Israel industries . . • The monopoly held
by Arab and pro-Arab elements at the Summer Institute on Near
Eastern • Affairs at the University of Michigan was broken after
represented, by Ambassador Abba Eban who lectured before 1,500
long and tedious negotiations . . . For the first time, Israel was
students at the University of Michigan.

.

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