co We n, e Must Find a Solution' —Ike 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 Association. Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing Co., 17100 West Seven Mile Road, Detroit 35, Mich., VE. 8-9364. Subscription $5 a year. Foreign $6. Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942, at Post Office, Detroit, Mich., under Act of March 3, 1879 PHILIP SLOMOVITZ SIDNEY SHMARAK FRANK SIMONS Editor and Publisher Advertising Manager City Editor Sabbath Scriptural Selections This Sabbath, the eighth, day of Shevat, 5716, the following Scriptural selections will be read in our synagogues: Pentateuchal portion, Es. 13:17-17:16. Pro phetical portion, Judges 4:4-5:31. Licht Benshen, Friday, Jan. 20, 5:14 p.m. VOL. XXVIII. No. 20 Page Four January 20, 1956 Writing off Zionism to Win Allies 'Dirty Work' and Pogrom Background "Dirty work" is the way the Russian anti-Israel attitude in the United Nations is described editorially by the New York Herald Tribune. The Christian Science Monitor, in an editorial entitled "Syria: The Bear Walks Softly," points to the cautious movements of the grizzly Russians and declares: "To be sure, the Soviet Union maintains diplomatic relations with Israel. But the land where the word pogrom originated and where hints of anti-Semitism reap- peared in the latter years of Stalin would have no difficulty writing off Zionism if thereby an Arab ally or two could be won from the West." The Monitor admonishes that "a little more constructive realism in the Middle East, some beginnings of cooperation and understanding between Arab and Israeli, could protect both of them against a pos- sible crushing embrace." The answer is a simple one: amity. Israel asks and prays for it, but diplomats have chosen a path of war and are reject- ing peace bids. If the Western poWers - can accomplish face-to-face meetings between Jews and Arabs, it will be the most seri- ous rebuke to the Russian bear. An editorial in the New York Post of- fers the proper warning for future action in its declaration: "There can be only dis- astrous . consequences if the Arabs read the UN censure resolution as proof that their bellicose resistance to a lasting peace settlement is paying off." The Inalienable Right to Public Discussion The Middle East's critical situation will bq. the subject of many debates in the coming months, and, inevitably, it will be injected into the approaching Presi- dential political campaign. Already, five deans of the American University in Cairo launched their campaign of intimi- dation, in a letter to the New York Times, by charging "the prevalence of Zionist. pressures." Thus, a narrow viewpoint is being pub- licized, contrary to a basic American principle of free discussion of public issues. A serious crisis exists in an area in the world where our country has an important stake; and it is vitally . neces- sary that all Americans should be fully acquainted with the consequences of a situation involving all of us. The infiltra- tion of Russia on the Middle Eastern scene aggravates the situation, and only free debate, whether it is in a Presidential or in any other year, must be encouraged. Fortunately, the Cairo deans do not d6minate the scene. Others differ with them, and we are especially impressed with this reply to the gentlemen in Cairo, from Alonzo G. Moron, president of Hampton Institute, and Thomas C. Pol- lock, Dean, Washington Square College of Arts and Sciences, New York Uni- versity, also published as a letter in the New York Times: An example of the curious use to which terms otherwise generally familiar may be subjected in matters of controversy was af- forded in a letter published Dec. 23 from the American University in Cairo. The terms in question are "bipartisan" and "Zionist." The signatories of the present letter believe that clarification is needed. A course of action which enjoys the support of the two major parties is described as bi- partisan. In the field of foreign affairs, where the essential characteristic of a good American is his citizenship — and not his party affilia- tion — the good Democrat or Republican foregoes a temporary partisan advantage where necessary for the national welfare. But this act of statesmanship in no way diminishes either his own role or that of his party in the forming of crucial foreign-policy decisions. On the contrary, true bipartisanship should mean a fuller, more intense participa- tion by the major elements of the nation in its total life. We fear that what our colleagues in Cairo have recommended, albeit unconsciously, is an Orwellian unpartisanship which, if method- ically implemented, could lead to the abdica- tion of a primary function in this democracy. We are asked to hear a plea for a bipartisan foreign policy and at the same time are told that in regard to a matter of vital concern to the American public and to other peace-loving people there should be silence. We are even advised that a moratorium on discussion of this matter be established. Where "would-be candidates and others prominent in American life have already introduced the topic we respectfully suggest that they are playing with a fire which could easily spread beyond their greatest imaginings, and we ap- peal to them to desist, so that other candi- dates will not be forced into positions still farther from the public interest" This top-inflammable subject is the Arab- Israel dispute. In all sincerity did we not have the right to expect a fuller account from the deans of the American University in Cairo of the tense situation in that area? The American public, without respect to race, creed or religion, is vitally concerned with developments in an area of the world which on historical, religious and strategic grounds means so much to the United States. The Egyptian Government has recently con- cluded an arms transaction with the Soviet bloc. Is this to be the igniting device? Just what is that "fire," so incredible in its proportions as to compel a blanket of silence for free people, to halt the pursuit of truth and the search for peace through full discus- sion of the issues involved in this potential threat to the peace and security of the free world? From the Cairo letter an uninformed person might also gather that the Zionists form a mysterious underground movement in this country. Such a person would no doubt be surprised to learn that American Presidents of the last century as well as of this one have supported the Zionists. Their aspirations then were for a national homeland. Their aspira- tions now are for peace. And while Americans certainly do not have to echo Winston Churchill's "I am* a Zionist," they generally do admire the extraordinary achievements of the young state of Israel in rehabilitating her people and in reclaiming the barren mite of land which she possesses. Also familiar to all segments of our popula- tion are the frequent requests for a peaceful settlement of outstanding issues which the Israeli leaders have directed to their Arab neighbors. The replies which these requests have elicited have also become familiar. It is vitally important that matters of `American Jewry Comes of Age' Goldstein's Tercentenary Talks Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the American Jewish Con- gress, played an important role in the American Jewish Tercen- tenary celebrations. He traveled widely, speaking before many audiences and interpreting the historical significance of the celebration. H i s Tercentenary addresses now are incorporated in a volume, "Amer- ican Jewry Comes of Age," published by Bloch. In addition to his report to the World Congress, whose western hemis- phere executive he serves as chairman, Rabbi Goldstein's book contains the text of his addresses to the Zionist General Council, in Jerusalem, on "American Jewry and Israel," as well as his "Greeting to the Netherlands" delivered at The Hague. Featured also is his address on Amer- ican Jewry's European origins, given in •- Paris, and his addresses in Latin American Dr. Goldstein centers—in Jamaica, W. I., in the Virgin Islands, to the Sosua Colony in the Dominican Republic; to the Jewish community in Recife, Brazil, whence -the original 23 8etllers first came to this country; in Paramaribo, Surinam, and to the Jewish community of Curacao. Fifteen addresses he delivered in communities in the United States conclude this volume, the collective material in' which ex- cellently supplements available data on the history of American Jewry. 'Jews from 'Germany in the U.S.' From immigrants to Citizens "Jews from Germany in the United States," an interesting volume edited by Dr. Eric E. Hirshler, published by Farrar, Straus & Cudahy (101 5th, NY 3), is much broader in scope than the title indicates. In Dr. Hirshler's very able evaluation of the subject, and his resume of the metamorphoses of an important resettlement of Jews from Central Europe into the United States, he deals also with "The Coming of the Russian Jew." Thus, the theme is much more complete than the title. Noted authorities have collaborated with Dr. Hirshler in the preparation of this work, including Dr. Selma Stern-Taeub- ler, who describes the problems of American Jewish and Ger- man Jewish historiography; Dr. Bernard D. Weinryb, who writes a critical evaluation of the German Jewish immigrants; last century; Dr. 4i.dolf Kober, who reviews the influence of German Jews on American Jewry's spiritual life in the last century; and Dr. Albert A. Friedlander, who describes German Jewry's cultural contributions. Published under auspices of the American Federation of Jews from Central Europe, a non-profit organization of victims from Nazism, this volume has historical merit. It evaluates the great contributions of an important element in our community to this country's spiritual values. It is an effective study of a people and its ideals. For Detroiters there is special interest in an appended list justice to peoples, issues involving the of German rabbis and scholars who came to this country. Among fate of nations, especially those whose them are: Rabbi Liebman Adler, who' came here in 1854, to existence is threatened by war-mongerers, Temple Beth El, and Dr. Kaufman, Kohler, who came here, also to Temple Beth El, in 1869. should not be made footballs in political campaigns. But basic principles must not be sacrificed on the altar of partisanship, and any attempt to stifle free speech is an affront to American idealism. And when college deans make such an attempt, while openly attacking a Jewish move- ment, they are not only acting contrary to American ideas but they also are at- tempting to inject bias in American poli- tics. We are confident that the American _ people will reject such infusions of bigotry in political campaigns. And we are grateful to the two scholars we have just quoted for their effective refutation of a thoroughly biased appeal by Americans whose minds have been poisoned in Cairo. Rabbi Steinbach's 'Bitter-Sweet' • Prose Poems, Sonnets and Lyrics Rabbi Alexander Alan Steinbach, of Brooklyn, has the dis- tinction of having had his poetry published in the New York Times and in national magazines. He is the author of six books. His newest, "Bitter-Sweet," a collection of prose poems, sonnets and lyrics, was published by Library Publishers, (8 W. 40th, NY 18). In it, he sets 'forth philosophic ideas on man and nature, religion and humanity. It is the expression of the collective dreams of a poet. There are three sections in the book: "Heart- beats," prose poems and meditations; "soulbeams," sonnets -, and "Nocturnes," lyrics. A highly commendatory introduction was Written by Dr. William W. Edel, president of Dickinson College a leader in the American Christian Palestine Committee.