Irfrirl.,:" 7 •

Examtumg a Bulwark of DemocraCy

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 Asso-
ciation
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17108 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

FRANK SIMONS

City Editor

Scriptural Selections for Concluding Days of Sukkot
Pentateuchal portions: Shemini Atzeret, Saturday, Deut. 14:22-16:17, Num. 29:35-30:1; Simhat
Torah, Sundau, Deut. 33:1-34:12, Gen. 1:1-2:3, Num. 29:35-30:1.
Prophetical portions: Saturday, I Kings 8:54-66; Sunday, Josh. 1.

Licht Benshen, Friday, Oct. 7, 5.46 p.m.

VOL. XXVIII, NO. 5

Page Four

October 7, 1955

Egypt's Shocking Threats to Israel

Saut -el-Arab, under date of Aug. 31, 1955, mand revenge—and revenge means the death
is authority for the fact that the Egyptian- of Israel."
This frightfully cruel incitement to mur-
controlled radio station had broadcast the
der—we
are inclined to label it uncivilized—
following statement from Cairo, during the
Israeli-Egyptian military clashes in the Gaza indicates the trend of events in Egypt.
Israelis have been criticized for "boasting"
area:
"Weep, 0 Israel, as much as you desire. Be r about their strength and for having taken
moan your fate, morning and night, and expect "arbitrary" stands in relation to their ,neigh-
earth minute your bitter end, because Egypt's bors. Nowhere, however, is there to be found
Arabs have already found their way to Tel a statement to equal in cruelty the one we
AVFv. Whine and groan about your existence have just quoted. * * *

and-gnaSh your teeth, regretting you have come
into being. Be ready for your end because
Egypt's Arabs have found their way to Tel Aviv.
"Shout, 0 Israel; in panic and fear before
Egypt and curse your founders. The soil of
Palestine,Wil•.become your tomb.
"ForSeven years you have marched and we
have •restrahjed
• ourselves: you have killed in-
nocent:PeOle- and we have submitted. But today,
admit andl:*nfess. Wail and beg for mercy-
bUt thiirwik. hot help you. Now we shall reply
in dotrbIgine -aure— two shots for every one and
two killed for every one. The communiques of
yesterday and today shall be a lesson and a
warning but your final end draws near, in the
name. of Allah.
Egyptian. 'fedayeen' (the Egyptian com-
!
mando suicide squads) reached but a few kilo-
meters from your capital (meaning Tel Aviv),
they penetrated 50 kilometres inside your bor-
ders, blew up a broadcasting aerial near • your
capital. They kill and blast and put to an end
every hope of that Zionism that brought you
into being. What hope remains for you, 0 Israel?
What hove remains in your heart—that you shall
live forever?
"Behold, the Egyptian `fedayeen' will not
stop at your pseudo-borders. The decisions of
the armistice commissions, dishonoured by you,
will not stop them from repelling your attacking
forces, armed with American weapons or by
those of your other sympathizers in the Security
COuncil.
"Israel! Taste the taste of death, which you
wish us to taste. Drink from the poisoned cup
that you have served for so many years. Your
end is near, and your demise will be hard be-
cause the Arabs of Palestine have found their
way to Tel Aviv.
"Egypt has decided to send you her heroes,
the grandchildren of Pharoah and the sons of
the Arabs and Islam. And they shall purify the
sail of Palestine. Thus, prepare yourself, shed
your tears, wail and moan, for the day of your
extermination draws near. Thus we have de-
cided and thus is our faith. There shall be no
more complaints- and protests, neither to the
Security Co_uncil, to the United Nations, nor to
the Mixed Armistice Commission. There will
also be no on the borders because we de-

Ernest Bloch: 75

The latest Egyptian manifestation of un-
friendliness to the democratic nations, by.
the alignment of Israel's chief enemy with
Russia from whom Egypt now will secure
arms, is added _proof of the antagonistic atti-
tude of the Nasser regime.
Our own Government's policies, which
are undoubtedly aimed at assuring a Middle
Eastern peace, nevertheless have not been
firm enough in their striving for the elim-
ination of an arms race. The other democratic
powers are equally responsible for the chao-
tic conditions that have resulted from the
ganging up of seven Arab states on new-
born Israel. A firm position on the part of
the Big Three for peace in that area and
against the continuation of a virtual war
would have put an end to the current trou-
bles. But there was oil to consider, and a
possible alignment of the Arabs with Russia
—and the result of it all is that Israel also
may have large quantities of oil to place on
the market and that the Arabs, who have
until now clandestinely flirted with Russia,
are openly aligning themselves with the
Communists.
* * *
In spite of all the blunders made by our
State Department, we recognize the existing
indications that our Government is prepared
to follow a more determined policy of seek-
ing a peaceful solution in the Middle East.
Perhaps Secretary of State Dulles and his
staff will undertake also, privately and quiet-
ly—since such tasks do not lend themselves
to public pressure—to seek an end to blood-
thirsty propaganda and incitements to vio-
lence. The abandonment of the type of threat
that is centered in a "destruction of Israel"
policy is perhaps the major step in the direc-
tion of peace. If our government . can secure
an accession to the established fact that Israel
exists,. and will continue to exist, from the
Arabs, it can assure amity for the Middle
East and will be able to claim another vic-
tory in the direction of peace.
But in order to achieve such a triumph,
our Government must not be a party to arm-
ing the nations that seek Israel's destruction.
The established U.S.-Israel friendship and
the kinship of 5,000,000 American Jews with
the Israelis must not be impaired. We doubt
whether any well-meaning group of legis-
lators ever will become party to the destruc-
tion of a nation whose hard-earned inde-
pendence is rooted in Prophecy.

One of the remarkable Jewish personali-
ties of our time is currently celebrating his
75th birthday. Ernest Bloch, one of the
world's greatest composers, has earned spe-
cial attention on the occasion of his birthday
because he has risen to great heights, not
only as the creator of great compositions
that have enriched the world of music, but
also because he has made distinct contribu-
tions to Jewry.
It is his unde,rstanding of and love for
Michigan's first Fair Employment Prac-
his people that has inspired a statement like tices Commission has made a wise choice in
this one in which he has explained his selecting Sidney M. Shevitz as its chairman.
Jewish approaches:
Well trained in public affairs, possessing
"It is not my purpose nor my desire to
wide
knowledge in civic and communal pro-
attempt a 'reconstruction' of Jewish 'music,
grams, thanks to the experience he has ac-
or to base my work an melodies more or less
quired as a leader in the Jewish community,
authentic. I am an archaeologist. I hold that it
Mr. Shevitz is one of the best qualified De-
is of first importance to write good authentic
music my own music. It is the Jewish soul_ troiters for leadership in efforts involving
that interests me, the complex, glowing agitated
inter-faith and inter-racial problems. -
soul that I - feel vibrating throughout the Bible
As president of the Jewish Community
. . the naivete of the patriarchs; the violence
Council, he was in the forefront of Jewish
of the prophetic books; the Jew's savage love
affairs in our community. That brought him
of justice; the despair of Ecclesiastes; the sorrow
in close contact - with other faiths and with
and the immensity of the book of Job; the
leaders in -city, state and federal projects. An.
sensuality of the Song of Songs—all of that
outstanding leader in Labor Zionist ranks
is in me, and is the best part of me. And this
and a former president of the Zionist Coun-
is what I strive to feel and to express in my
cil, a graduate of the United Hebrew Schools
music."
There is, indeed, a, specific "Jewish ex- and a strong supporter of all Jewish cultural
pression" in his music. His "Schelomo," programs, he has earned the esteem of his
"Baal Shem," the "Israel Symphony," fellow-Jews and fellow-citizens.
We are confident that in his new post
"Trois Poerries Juif" and other compositions
are monuments to his Jewish feelings as a he will lend added glory to his own name
great artist: His birthday is a happy occasion and will render -great service to, our state in
for a' revieiff of his works and for tribute to , one of the most importeirit,iriattas aimed at

A Wise Choice

.

-

—

his efforts.

preventing discrimination in employment.

The de Solo Pools' Fine History

An Old Faith in the New World'

TA MAR

DE SOLA POOL

DR. DAVID DE SOLA POOL

"An Old Faith in the New World: Portrait of Shearith Israel,
1654-1954;" by Dr. David de Sola Pool and his wife; Tamar, is a
history of America's oldest Jewish congregation. This impressive,
600-page volume, published by Columbia University Press (2960
B'way, N.Y. 27), is more than the story of a synagogue. -It is a veri-
table history of American Jewry. The personalities, described, the
events touched upon, the relationship of the Congregation to world
Jewry, - combine,to make this a much vaster story of an entire peo-
ple rather than of a segment of it.
Centered in New York City, where the major American Jewish
events transpire, inevitably, it is unavoidable that the story of the
rise of the largest Jewish community in the world should emerge
as the story of the Jews in the community at large. Add to the pages
of the Pools' fascinating volume the story of several other com-
munities, especially those in the South, and you have a good ap-
proach to the totality of American Jewish history.
This volume forms one of the splendid literary efforts that
mark the American Jewish Tercentenary. Dr. and Mrs. Pool have
rendered a real service by compiling the facts regarding the first
Jewish congregation, the people who formed it—after their arrival
in this country, as escapees from persecution in Brazil. The back-
ground of their emigration, their early experiences in this country,
their Jewish loyalties, are part of a story of their having come here,
to "shores of hope," where they helped assure freedom for genera-
tions to come and for other faiths.
In their history, which they have illustrated with good taste,
Dr. and Mrs. Pool show how and where the "citadels of faith" have
taken root. A knowledge of the history of New York Jewry is in-
conceivable without an understanding of these developments. The
Pools, in providing the relevant facts, link them with American
historical developments and often with the major occurrences in
Jewish life throughout the world.
The development of major Jewish spiritual movements also is
outlined here, whenever they are linked with the Shearith Israel
personalities. We have, therefore, a very good picture of this
famous synagogue's contribution to Zionism. Mrs. Pool is a former
national president of Hadassah and Dr. Pool had served on the first
Zionist Commission in Palestine from 1918 to 1921.
There is an excellent account in this history of the Zionist
services randered by ,Dr. Pool's predecessor as rabbi of Shearith
Israel, Dr. H. Pereira Mendes.
While the "panorama of faith" incorporated in "An Old Faith
in the New World" is the major evaluation offered by • the hus-
band-wife authors, the personalities they introduce parade through
the book's pages in glorious formation. Advanced students in our
schools would do well to utilize the information provided' by the
Pools for a better understanding of the pioneers who contributed
towards the development of American Jewish life.
The role played by American Jews in all of the wars in which
our country was embroiled similarly is reviewed, again with em-
phasis on the participation in them of many of our heroes.
Naturally, the famous letters of George Washington to Jewish con-
gregations are quoted in the book, and the readers will learn about
the interest shown in Jewish affairs by many other Presidents—
Franklin D. Roosevelt's appeal for aid against Nazi persecution,
Harry S. Truman's aid to Israel, etc.
Those who have been puzzled over the disappearance of de-
scendants of many of the early Jewish pioneers in this country will
find a partial answer to their questions in some of the leaders
enumerated here—the N. Taylor Phillipp's and many others.
The appendices—the Shearith Israel Constitution; the Glossary;
the list of Hazzanim, Preacher's TreasurerS and Parnassim of the
synagogue; the list of "Soldiers and Patriots of the American Revo-
lution" and the honor rolls of the World Wars will be found addi-
tionally interesting.
Dr. and Mrs. de Sola Pool have earned_ our gratitude for a good
history, well written; well compiled, ,to : 'which those ; who seek
knowledge aboUt American Jewry laVe td turn . to,tinie and

again.

