A Happy
THE JEWI H NEWS
New Year
to the
Entire Jewish
A
Community
Weekly Review
Michigan's Only English - Jewish
VOLUME 28—No. 3
27
f Jewish Events
Newspaper — Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.—VE. 8-9364—Detroit 35, September 23, 1955
$4.00 Per Year; Single Copy 15c
'Definitive, Just' Arab Israel
Peace Foreseen by State Dept.
Polish Jewry Disappearing
Correspondent Saw Only 100
At Warsaw Holy Day Service
"Fewer than 100 Jews assembled today in Warsaw's
only synagogue to pray on Rosh Hashanah," Harry Schwartz,
special New York Times correspondent, reported to • his
newspaper on Sept. 17 from Warsaw.
Mr. Schwartz, the Times authority on Soviet Russia and the
satellite countries, quoted Mordecai Lichtenstein, head of the
Warsaw religious community, as stating: "We are the few who are
left here in the graveyard of Jews, but we cling to Judaism with
iron bonds." He reports that there were tears in Mr. Lichtenstein's
eyes as he recalled the Nazi murders in what had once been a
flourishing Jewish community of 400,000, and quotes him as saying:
"We who remain here are mostly .old people. On an ordinary Satur-
day we have only 20 or 30 at our services, but on Yom Kippur
the synagogue is filled to overflowing."
Mr. Schwartz's cable to the New York Times continues the
report on the status of Warsaw Jewry as follows:
His (Mr. Lichtenstein's) remarks were borne out by the con-
gregation, which consisted mainly of persons over 50 years. Few
appeared- to be in their thirties or forties. Four children of Warsaw
Jews accompanied their parents to the services. Six children of
Israeli Legation members also attended.
"The government helps us in every way," Mr. Lichtenstein
said. "We can have matzohs for Passover. We have persons who
make meat kosher and men who perform ritual circumcision of
babies."
Pessimistic About Future
Asked his opinion of the future of Judaism in Warsaw, Mr.
Lichtenstein said: "So long as we live, we shall do all that we
are able. But our rabbi is 80 years old and there are no new rabbis
in sight. We are glad if some of the Jewish here learn to pray in
Hebrew. Beyond our lifetimes, the future is up to God."
There are estimated to be between 7,000 and 15,000 Jews in
Warsaw, but the overwhelming majority never come to religious
services. One important journalist of Jewish parentage, who sur-
vived the war in the Vilna ghetto, did not know two days ago
that today would be Rosh Hashanah and he had no interest in the
services. His attitude apparently is typical of that of most Jews
here.
A more general picture of the situation of Polish Jews was
given in an interview yesterday by Hersh Smolar, head of the
Social-Cultural Association of Polish Jews, a secular organization.
He also is editor of Poland's only Yiddish paper, Folks Shtimme
(People's Voice), an organ of the Polish United Socialist Workers
(Communist) party.
Yiddish Culture Supported
A veteran Communist, Mr. Smolar declared that the Polish
government had• shown and was showing every interest in pre-
serving Yiddish culture. He estimated that Poland had 70,000 or
75,000 Jews, most of them in western Poland, formerly part of
Germany. His estimates are regarded as too high by other sources
which place the total at 50,000.
Mr. Smolar said there were 30 Jewish culture clubs, each with
its Yiddish library, dramatic circle and the like. There is a Yiddish
theater with a permanent company in Wroclaw, he said. A Jewish
publishing house issues thirty Yiddish volumes a year, mostly of
-a literary nature, he added, and it has 5,500 subscribers.
Mr. Smolar said these activities were heavily subsidized by
the Polish government.
Mr. Smolar said there were eight elementary schools and two
high schools, one in Wroclaw and one in Lodz in which Yiddish
was taught. •
.Most Polish Jews today are workers, not small tradesmen as
formerly, Mr. Smolar said. About 70 per cent are in the leather,
- textile and other light industries, but 30 per cent are in coal min-
ing, metallurgy and other heavy industries, he reported.
Direct JTA Teletype Wire to The Jewish News
WASHINGTON—Israel-Jordan relations are being reviewed in a study published
Tuesday by the State Department in which American hope for a "definite and just"
Arab-Israel peace is expressed. The statement recalls that King Abdullah of Jordan was
State Department stresses. It also points out that "there remain unsettled such serious
questions as the future of almost 900,000 Arabs—about half of whom are now in Jordan
—who left their homes in Israel during the fighting, establishment of friendly relations
and resumption of trade, the status of Jerusa-
lem,
as well as the location of permanent
Progressives Stymie
boundary lines."
The study reports that
refugees in Jordan
under certain circumstances might wish to remain
there in preference to returning to Israel "while
Direct JTA Teletype Wire
to The Jewish News
many cling passionately to claims for repatriation.
Experienced observers have said that most of the
JERUSALEM — Prospects for comple-
refugees would actually prefer to stay in Jordan,
tion of a coalition cabinet this week ap-
provided they could get adequate • compensation for
peared dim on Tuesday after a meet-
abandoned lands and property and aid in getting a
fresh start," the State Department review says.
ing between Premier-Designate David
It notes, however, that "until more arable land
Ben-Gurion and the Progressive Party
can be made available it is doubtful if Jordan can
leader, Dr. Pinchas' Rosen, Minister of
absorb these refugees. Jordan's great hope lies in
Justice in the outgoing government. , irrigation development from the Jordan and Yarmuk
rivers."
When the two men failed to make
progress toward solution, Mr. Ben-Gurion
Even though the signing of a formal treaty of
peace between Jordan and Israel may be still a dis-
asked permission to address a meeting
tant hope, the report says "it now appears possible
of the Progressive Party central commit-
to solve problems of Jordan water needs without
tee in Tel Aviv. A stumbling block at
such a treaty." In any event, it declares, the United.
this point, after Mr. Ben-Gurion had
States will continue its efforts to bring about "an
conceded a number of issues in an ef-
equitable
sharing of disputed waters and their de-
fort to get the centrist group to join with
velopment- in 'benefit of the peoples concerned."
Mapai, IVIapam and Achdut Avodah, is
Israel embassy circles indicated Tuesday that
control of labor exchanges. Histadrut now
- clarification of Secretary of State Dulles' recent
controls them. Progressives insist .thrs
policy statement is still proceeding and that further
function be turned over to the govern-
ment.
conversations will take place both in Washington and
in Jerusalem. The most important point so far
Mr.' Ben-Gurion, who did not concede
elucidated according to Embassy sources is an assur-
the point to Dr. Rosen, asked that the
ance by a State' Department official that Mr. Dulles'
Progressives enter the coalition now and
speech does not envisage unilateral or drasth -.
leave unsettled issues for later adjust-
tonal changes. Fear - Jn. ,this point, expressed in
rnent. This Dr. Rosen rejected.
Israel's press, have been described by Isrel officials
Meanwhile, Moshe Kol, chairman of
here as unfounded, since it is not assumed that any
the Progressive Party, indicated that the
party would not remain outside the coa-
but minor adjustments will be agreed to. Israeli
lition if the religious groups or General
officials point out that even this clarification does
Zionists held adamant in their present
not insure that the U.S. and Israel have the same
opposition position. In response to ques-
idea on what can be called a minor change.
tion by newsmen, he said that while his
Nor does it fully dispose of the criticism that
party referred a broad coalition, includ-
linking of border adjustments with progress on a
ing the General Zionists, "we will not
security treaty might produce a deadlock on the
seclude ourselves in a monastery is some-
latter question, which is' described in Dulles' speech
body does not join."
as of urgent irrportance.
Israel Cabinet Plans
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Extent of Anti Semitism
-
There is residual anti-Semitism in Poland, Mr. Smolar as-
serted, attributing it mainly to competition between Jewish and
'Polish merchants. The government prosecutes vigorously any cases
•of discrimination that come to its attention, he added.
Other sources regarded anti-Semitism as much greater than
Mr. Smolar indicated and linked it with opposition to the present
regime, which has several persons of Jewish ancestry in leading
positions.
Mr. Smolar conceded that the support of Yiddish cultural ac-
tivity in Poland was far greater than in the Soviet Union or other
Communist -countries.
The government is granting some visas to Jews who wish to
- emigrate to Israel, Mr. Smolar said. He said these were given
-mainly on humanitarian grounds. Other sources reported that
about fifteen or twenty such visas were being issued monthly.
• The area of the Warsaw ghetto, which was razed by the Nazis
after its inhabitants had been killed in the 1940 uprising, is being
developed for housing. A modest stone memorial commemorating
the heroism of the ghetto's inhabitants stands there and will be
the central point of the development.
(Additional Reports from the USSR on Page 28)
18th Century Kol Nidre Service:
This engraving, repro-
duced from a rare volume, "Jewish Ceremonials," published in Nuremberg in
1730, shows
the Selichot and Kol Nidre services in an early 18th century German-Jewish synagogue.
This rare volume, one of the few of its kind still in existence, is part of the library of the
Detroit collector of rare books and ceremonial objects, Charles E. Feinberg.