Dr. Goldrnann's Four-Point Proposal for Zionist
Revitalization Includes Partnership with Non-Zionists
13,USALEM — (JTA) — Dr.
Nahum -Goldmann, chairman' of
the.: -;jewish Agency executive,
proposed this week-end that the
Ziamist -movement - reach :-agree-
ment. ' with the non-Zionists .for
partiCipation by the latter in re-
sPaYisibilities for 'actiVitieS' like
immigration and absorption of
refugees in Israel.
He told the Zionist Actions
Committee, that this participa-
tion- ip responsibility for the work
should not be in accordance with
a forinal blueprint at the outset
but should be initiated by invit-
ing :sortie recognized leaders,
especially in the United States,
to t a ke responsible positions. La-
ter, he said, a world organization
for cooperation with the. State of
Israel could be considered.
Dr.: Goldmann's proposal came
in the course of a long speech in
whiCh he warned that the Zionist
movement _must shake off tradi-
tions and adjust itself to the new
conditions created by the estab-
lishment of the State of Israel. He
set out a four-point program re-
qUiring intensified Zionist acti-
vity.
The first point on which the
Zionist movement must concen-
trate, he said, is to extend Zion-
ism in Jewish life, gain leader-
ship and organize the communi-
ties. He warned that "there has
been no period in history when
the danger of assimilation was so
great." He asserted that Ameri-
can Jewry had deep assimila-
tionist tendencies.
Asks Non-Zionist Partnership
In Some Israel Activities
The second task, he said, was
with the Jewish youth, and the
task of Zionism was to secure the
survival of the people. It was
impossible, he said, to limit the
task of Zionism to individual im-
migration, as does David Ben-
Gurion. This would make Zion-
ism an "an order of chalutzim
rather than a-- great political
movement." However, he added,
immigration must become a cen-
tral part of Zionist activities and
it will be necessary to reduce
other activities to enable a new
effort for Youth Aliyah. The next
Zionist Congress, he said, will
have to establish a system of pri-
orities for all phases of Zionist
work.
In discussing the role of the
non-Zionists, the Jewish Agency
leader said that formerly the non-
Zionists had no responsibility for
the expenditure of funds raised
in the campaigns but that, in
practice, by the threat of with-
drawal, they "bind our hands
and determine the character of
our activities."
In proposing a partnership with
the non-Zionists, he said, it would
be made clear at the same time
that part of the joint campaign
proceeds must be used for speci-
fic Zionist activities in which the
non-Zionists do not desire to
share.
Dr.. Goldmann raised the need
for radical re-organization of
the World Zionist Organization.
An organization built on par-
ties concerned primarily with
Israeli issues, he said, "wastes
a large part of our manpower
and energy on meaningless
party struggles and, worst of
all, prevents those who would
accept the Zionist program but
refuse to be identified with
Israel from joining . the move-
ment."
He proposed an organization
built on territorial units to which
party groups could adhere but
in which membership would also
be open to individuals. He advo-
cated abandonment of the shekel
as the yearly membership fee,
larger representation for Zionists
outside Israel in the Actions Com-
mittee and a reorganization of
the executive. All parties should,
in principle, he said, be repre-
sented in the executive, but there
should be, within the executive,
a small group of fulltime mem-
bers to carry on the daily work. •
The fourth task of the Zionist
movement, Dr. Goldmann de-
clared, was to organize the Jew,
ish people for cooperation with
Israel, to represent the Jewish
people vis-a-vis Israel and Israel
vis-a-vis the Jewish people, not
a wall between the two, but as
a bridge. This, he said, was the
meaning of the law adopted by
the Knesset on the status of the
Zionist movement. While the
state was not excluded from di-
rect contact with other Jewish
The Literary Disappointment of the Year:
By Philip
Herman Wouk's "Marjorie Morningstar"
SIOMOVitZ
. . . We expected a Better Work.
"All
right,
Leon.
It's
very
pretty
and
you
know
it. Quiet .". ."
It is natural for those who have read all of Herman Wouk's
"Maybe we set fire to Sandy, make him worth something,"
previous books to speculate: what success will he have with his
said Mr. Goldstone.
latest novel, "Marjorie. Morningstar," which Doubleday & Co. (575
Madison, NY 22) released yesterday.
Which goes to prove that there is a considerable amount of
Although "The Caine Mutiny" .made Wouk famous, his other humor in the new Wouk novel. But the fun derived from the few
novels, eSmecially "The City Boy," rated high sales. We thought puns and humorous incidents is not enough to enable "Marjorie
his "City Boy" was one of the fun- Morningstar" to be matched with "The Caine Mutiny." It falls short
niest stories ever told. By being on of the mark and it is not the great American Jewish novel which
the best-seller list for more than so many of our writers aspire to create.
The test comes when the reader has reached the half-way mark
three years, popularized on stage
and screen, "The Caine Mutiny" in the 565-page "Morningstar." He begins to get bored. He finds that
gave. him the recognition he de- the novel drags. There is a limit, after all, to love scenes between
serves. Now, in "Marjorie Morning- Marjorie and Noel—whose affairs ends in Marjorie marrying
star," we have a Jewish novel, and some one else. And a dragging novel hasn't the chance of being on
it will be interesting to watch the the best-seller list too long. The name Wouk and because it is
public's reactions to it. better than average may place it on the best-seller list: will it re-
Wouk's new novel is the story main there very long? This Commentator doubts it. "Morningstar"
of a Jewish girl, Marjorie. Morgen- is not "Caine Mutiny." Marjorie is an interesting character, well
stern, who while still in her fresh.: described, but she is not a Captain Quigg; and the characters who
man year at Hunter, aspired to be- surround her do not possess the glamour of the people of the "Caine."
come an actress. She began to Marjorie, who winds up in the Wouk story as more-or-less re-
dream, and the first result of her ligiously observant, whose home is kosher, who, later, with the man
fancy and the vision of a great she marries, finds much consolation in faith, is like putty in the
future was to decide on a stage hands of her lover. Noel, who finally induces Marjorie to eat lob-
name, Marjorie Morningstar. Then ster, jests: "They say hunger is the best cook, but they're wrong.
began an exciting social and semi- Prohibition is. There isn't a living Christian who can enjoy ham
Herman Wouk
professional whirl into which the and eggs the -way a renegade Jew like me does."
Later, when she meets Mike Eden, on the boat to Paris in seamh
brilliant author has *woven tales about her family, Jews and Juda-
ism, sex problems and analyses of the evolution of Jewish families for Noel, Eden joked: "I'm more Jewish than you are. You're the
in the process of their assimilation into the American way of life. one that's having bacon."
If Wouk intended to enlighten his readers regarding the food
All the elements in an evolving American-Jewish existence
enter into play in this long story. There is name-changing: not only com .plications and the dietary restrictions, he failed; he confuses
Marjorie's but also her lover's: Noel Airman had changed his name more than he enlightens.
T
The
tragic farce in the entire story is the description of the
from Saul Ehrmann. Mike Eden, whom she met on a boat that-took
her to Paris in search for Noel, late in the story, said to her: "Our Seder. The ceremony that has enchanted believers and unbelievers,
family name—on my - oath, this is true—was Einstein. No relation non-Jews who have attended the Passover event as well as Jews, is
to the Einstein, but don't you think that's funny? The only name represented as a banality in Wouk's story, as a family brawl. True,
that's apt to survive the next twenty centuries wasn't good enough he explains latter: it was Mama Morganstern's way of driving Noel
away. But he doesn't thrill us with his banality. The speech of
for my family." -
There are dialects: - Marjorie's uncle. Samson-Aaron, who calls Judge Ehrmann (Noel's father) at the Seder is in itself an insult.
The major insult - to jewish intelligence in the story is repre-
his favorite niece "-Modgerie," is a delightful fellow, who loves his
food and drink, -who puts on a good show at the camp at which sented by the - tradition of breaking the glass at a wedding. Noel,
Marjorie and Noel stage their performances, whose dialect is not turning to Marjorie as the glass was broken at Marsha's wedding by
offensive. There are debates over Jewish- observances, over kashrut, the bridegroom, said: , "That .confounded breaking .of a glass. It
always shocks me. Doesn't it you? Leave it to the Jews to work up
over loyalties involving Judaism and escapism.
Marjorie's Mother is an especially strong and interesting char- a spine-chilling symbol for all occasions." This will be found in
acter whose intuitions usually prove correct, whose schemes for the chapter entitled, "The Breaking of a Glass." Then we come to
a
chapter entitled, "Another Glass Breaks." That's where
Marjorie enrage the daughter but will delight the reader. The another
father is a devoted man who goes along with the family: he is a Marjorie was "to take off that dress in a man's apartment and lose
typical Jewish .husband and father who even yields to living above her virginity." When it happened, and - Marjorie knocked over a
his means when the aspirations of his wife •and the joys of his drinking glass and broke it, it was her turn to speak: "Well, that's
daughter are involved. The other Jewish heroes in this novel are fine. We're supposed to break a glass, aren't we? Only you should
the counterparts of all the successful Jewish merchants we know: haVe done it with your heel, I guess. Good 'luck, darling." Who
who have progressed in business, who have drifted from the Ortho- would have expected that from Herman Wouk, who -places a yar-
dox synagogue to Conservatism or Reform; who have abandoned melke on his head when, in public speeches, he quotes the Psalms?
kashrut. In any event,' we read on and on—through that too-long text—
To complete the picture, we also deal in this story with the and we learn another trick, to quote a chapter heading: "how to dis-
typically-Russian-Jewish-intellectual-type—Marsha Zelenko and her card a mistress gracefully"; how Noel drops Marjorie; how' she lo-
parents. Marsha is a busy-body, who proves morally loose; her cates him in Paris, and drops him; how she marries a Jewish doctor
mother is an able musician who supports the family; father is the and becomeS a marVelous Jewish housewife. Except in Snatches,
speculator. Marsha exerts strong influence on Marjorie. Through Wouk does not convince us of anything, except that he has "resorted
her Marjorie lands in the camp that had gained the name "Sodom," to banalities in writing a Jewish novel, and hasn't conclusively
where she meets Noel. She is a character worth knowing. accomplished anything in it to approach his achievementS' in "The
Wouk's intention to debunk some of the American Jewish Caine Mutiny."
mores becomes evident in his description of the Bar Mitzvah of Frankly, we expected a much better work from Wouk.
Marjorie's brother—the preparations, the Conservative service, the
.
kosher-catered banquet. There is a play for sentiment. There is The Author: Doctor Herman Wouk
Our confidenCe brings Us to Wouk himself: Actually,.We should
blunt expose of the social differences' that arise from affluence. At
the Bar Mitzvah dinner, catered by Lowenstein, for instance, the be.referring to hin-i as Doctor. Earlier this year, he was awarded a
department store magnate, Goldstone, his son, Sandy, one of Mar- DoCtOr of Humane 'Letters degree by 'Yeshiva UriiVersity: It is the
ideal school to honor him. He is observantly Orthodox; he may well
jcirie's flames, and his wife, have this discussion:
"What's burning in that copper pot, I wonder?" said Sandy. be - called a Jewish*:scholar, in 'view of his' constant • study of both
Bible and Talmud. He is visiting professor of English at Yeshiva Uni-
'.'"Money," said Mr. Goldstone.
versity.
"It's the brandy sauce for the grapefruit," said Mrs. Gold-
Wouk reached -the- age of 40 only "a feW months ago. He has
stone. "Haven't you been to a Lowenstein dinner before?"
"Brandy before dinner?" said Mr. Goldstone. "Say, it's an recalled that his "first literary task was copying old jokes out
of tattered comic magazines onto file cards." It must have stood
idea. Maybe some ice cream too?"
him in good stead later, in his novel- and play-writing, and as a
"It's. just for the effect, and stop being so clever, Leon."
script-writer for five years with Fred Allen. As. a deck officer in
While the (Bar Mitzvah) boy and his parents went to the
the U.S. Navy during the last war, he acquired intimate-knowledge
dais;. followed by the spotlight, the waiter in the center of the
about the sea and seamen. It helped him in preparing "The Caine
• floor stirred the cauldron, making the flames leap and whirl.
"Caterers, restaurants, great angle they got," said Mr. Goldstone. Mutiny."
His Jewish background inspired his numerous public appear-
"Anything they can set fire to they charge ten times as much.
Set fire -to a,twenty-centflapjack, ,crepes suzette. for . two. .dollars. ances-7--for, UJA, the Zionist and' other causes. He -is a-very likable
Maybe vize;corthl . uses:*in. our store; Mary. Sella : flaming, pair of -16liavand-- he is '6mi:tearing: himself, to his. audiences; Many good
P urely Cornatenta,r y
,
shoes, fifty dollars instead Of five dollar's. A flaming corset' .".
irdt'tO
expected
typewriter.
organizations, he noted, the in-
strument for organizing and mo-
bilizing the Jewish people must
be the World Zionist Organiza-
tion.
Dr. Goldm.ann said Zionist
parties must "begin to think
in terms of the overall move-
ment and not in narrow, party
interests." A new approach
will also be required of Israel's
leaders, he warned.
Among the critics of the propo-
sal were Louis Segal, American
Labor Zionist leader, and Dr. S.
Levenberg, head of the Jewish
Agency office in London, who
felt " that Dr. Goldmann's criti
cisms of the world Zionist move-
ment and his solution for its ills
resulted from his looking at Jew-
ish life "through American spec-
tacles.'
Rabbi Mordecai Kirshblum of
Mizrachi agreed with Dr.' Gold-
mann on the necessity of expand-
ing the Zionist executive, but
warned against the possible crea-
tion of a "new party of non-Zion-
ists" within the executive. Mrs.
Judith Epstein of Hadassah took
issue with Dr. Goldmann's def-
inition of assimilation and- its
dangers in the U.S., and brushed
aside the proposals for reorgani-
zation of the. Zionist movement.
Replying to the threat by Chief
Rabbi A. Fingerhut of Algiers of
an "illegal" immigration of North
African Jews who presently are
kept out of Israel by immigration
limitations, Israel Finance Min-
ister Levi Eshkol, who is chair-.
man of the Jewish Agency's set-
tlement department, said there
was • no question of limitation of
immigration, but rather of the
hard fact that bringing 100,000
Jews to Israel meant the expen-
diture of 150,000 pounds in ini
tial costs — without taking into
account the costs of ultimate set-
tlement. Eshkol said there are
not even sufficient funds to pay
the travel expense of the pro-
posed mass immigration. He sug-
gested that there must be found
at least 250,000 of the 2,000,00G
shekel holders throughout- the
world who will add at least $100
per person to their present con-
tributions for a special rescue
fund.
Priority For Israel
Economic Stabilization
The Zionist Actions Committee
Concluded general debate follow-
ing a summation by Dr. Gold-
mann.
Attacking the North African
immigration problem, Dr. Gold-.
mann_ said he did not believe
that the situation had yet reached
a "catastrophic stage," noting
that if it had the members of
the Actions Committee would not
be sitting here talking but would
Mrs. Rose Halprin, member of
the Agency executive in New
York, said a movement of return
to Jewish life had developed' in
the United States side by side
with the tendency toward assimi-
lation, against which Dr. Gold-
mann had warned. She insisted
that Jewish education was of im-
portance to all elem4its of the
Jewish community, -not only to
the Zionists, and that there was
a need for more all-day Jewish
schools. She also opposed "con-
quest" of the Jewish communi-
ties by the Zionists, insisting that
the Zionists. should be partners
with other sections of the Jewish
community.
Jacob Chazan, leader of the
leftwing Mapam Party of Israel,
credited American Jewry with
financial efforts in Israel's be-
half the like of which had never
before been .seen, in history. This
is not enough, he continued, de-
manding "the social strength" of
American Jewry and warning
that the day may yet come when
Israel will save American Jewry
from assimilation. He called for
American Jews to provide man-
power -as well as cultural and
spiritual force to help conquer
the Negev.
Care Seth Sept. 1 As
Israel Delivery Deadline
Americans wishing to send spe-
cial CARE- packages to their
friends and relatives in Israel
for the Rosh Hashanah must have
their orders in no later than
Thursday, Sept. 1.
2---DETROIT JEWISH NEWS .
Friday, September 2, 1955