THE JEWISH NEWS
Two-Faced, Double-Jointed
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 twenty-second day of Shevat, 5716, the following Scriptural selections
will be read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Ex. 18:1-20:23. .Prophetical portion, Is. 6:1-7:6; 9:5-4.
Licht Benshen, Friday, Feb. 3, 5:31 p.m.
VOL. XXVIII. No. 22
Page Four
February 3, 1956
Roadblocks to Israel-Arab Peace
Israel's difficulties in the Middle East
are being brought to a head on many
fronts, and hopes are mounting that a
war, which, as David Ben-Gurion stated
a short time ago, is "not inevitable," can
be averted. The successes apparently at-
tained in UN Secretary Gen e r al Dag
Hammarskjold's discussions with Egypt's
Premier, Lt. Col. Gamel Abdel Nasser, and
with Israel's leaders who previously ac-
cepted -United Nations proposals to ease
tensions in the El Auia-Nitzana-Gaza
areas, point to the possibility of peace.
The attainment of peace, however,
must d e p end upon dispassionate ap-
proaches to the issues.
It is doubtful whether the situation
can be helped by an assertion like the one
by Iran's delegate to the United Nations,
Djalal Abdoh, who, in the course of the
discussions on the resolution adopted by
the United Nations Security Council cen-
suring Israel, quoted from the statement
of the representative of Belgium to the
effect that such a policy "could only cre-
ate a barrier of hate" around Israel and
he wondered how a_small state could, in
the long run, endure under such circum-
stances.
We question, also, the wisdom of a_ re-
cent editorial statement in the Toronto
Daily Star in which it was suggested that
certain quarters in the United States are
writing off the State of Israel as a "noble
experiment that failed."
We interpret such assertions as incite-
ments to further difficulties. Either the
civilized world recognizes, and strives for
the protection of, the basic idea that
Israel is a reality and is here to stay, or
war will indeed become inevitable.
It stands to reason that Israel does not
and can not yield to the type of pressure
which may be intended to force the young
state into an admission of failure or an
aspiration for suicide. Having over-
come the superior forces both of Arabs,
who have been blind to an historic reality,
and of British who conducted a blockade
against a people seeking a haven from
crematoria, Israel has provided an answer
that is as old as the people itself: an an-
swer of undying determination to hold
on to life, no matter what the cost in re-
taining it.
In the meantime, many factors enter
How to Help Israel
Many Americans with a sense of fair
play, regardless of race or creed, or na-
tionality background, are anxious to know
how they can help' Israel in present
dangers.
The means are manifold. Jews can--
and should—help by giving more gener-
ously than ever to the United Jewish Ap-
peal (in Detroit, through the Allied Jew-
ish Campaign) , and by buying Israel
bonds, thereby assisting in the settlement
of tens of thousands of new immigrants
in the Jewish State and aiding in the
strengthening of Israel's economy.
Non-Jews as well as Jews can be helpful
by contacting their representatives in Con-
gress and by urging them to be on guard
against any attempts to truncate Israel
or to threaten her security. They should
be on guard against misinformation in the
press, tending to harm Israel and to poison
the ' minds of unsuspecting Americans
against her. Also—all who are in position
to do so should visit Israel and witness the
young state's position as a democratic
force in the Middle East.
Israel needs help—and should be given
it by all lovers of liberty. A secure Israel
will prolong peace in the Middle East and
assure prevention of another world war.
into the situation to add to the threats
amassed against Israel. The danger to the
very existence of Israel is being clouded
by the injection of a political question, of
a charge that pro-Israelis are dragging the
issue into the next Presidential campaign.
Secretary of State John Foster Dulles has
indicated a desire for a - Democratic-Re-
publican agreement to keep the Israel-
Arab issue out of the next campaign dis-
cusSions. The anti-Israel American Friends
of the Middle East has inserted advertise-
ments in leading American newspapers
asking that "the Palestine problem be tak-
en out of domestic politics."
*
So far, this political issue was created
not by the pro-Israel elements but by the
anti-Israelis. At meetings convened to mo-
bilize support for embattled Israel, invi-
tations were extended to members of our
Government on a bi-partisan basis. There
is no question of pitting one party against
another. Both parties are on record as
recognizing- the reality of - Israel's exist-
ence. Wherein, then, do "domestic poli-
tics" enter into the discussion of the
issue?
We go along with the request that
Israel should not be turned into a political
football. Our appeal is for a just solution,
that will put an end to this issue long be-
fore the forthcoming Presidential cam-
paign.
Proof of the injustice of the charge of
partisan political pressures by "Israel and
its partisans in America" is provided in
former President Harry S. Truman's ref-
erence to "The Troubled Birth of Israel,"
in his Memoirs published this week. Mr.
Truman has been criticized for his speedy
recognition of Israel on May 14, 1948, in
a matter of minutes after the Provisional
Government of Israel proclaimed a Jewish
State.
State Department spokesmen always
acted as if Zionists "annoyed" them. It
was not a partisan issue. Now the former
President, in his Memoirs, also speaks of
having been "disturbed" and "annoyed"
by the Zionists. Since he has chosen to
write about "extreme Zionist leaders," we
must ask Mr. Truman:
In a struggle to rescue lives, does it
matter whether , a Jew calls himself an
avowed Zionist or is merely a sympa-
thizer of Zionism — a role that was
played by his "old friend. Eddie Jacob-
son" and later by himself?
Israel emerged out of travail. A third
of our people was exterminated. Hundreds
of thousands rebelled against the verdict
of the British who tried to stop the refu-
gees from leaving the scene of the murder
of their kinsmen. The leaders in the rescue
movement, those who defied blockades
on the road to life and freedom for the
survivors from Nazism, were the Zionists.
There should have been kind words for
such men . . . Now the former President,
who has been the t a r get of the anti-
Israelis, writes about "extreme Zionist
leaders." Rather than revealing a yield-
ing to the Zionists by a single political
party, we have rebukes to Zionism on a
bi-partisan basis. Would that help would
come to Israel as easily!
In spite of the obstacles that are being
placed in Israel's path, and in defiance
of the roadblocks to peace, we have con-
fidence that the serious approaches to
peace will yet be successful.
We have faith that there are enough
men of good will who do not begrudge
Israel a right to life and liberty.
We pray ardently that this generation,
which has witnessed the realization of
Biblical Prophecy, may also see the corn-
ing of peace for the Israelis and their Arab
cousins.
`Israel, the Eternal Ideal'
Rabbi Miller's Zionist Primer
Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist
Council, is praised as the "eloquent exponent" of the majestic
theme of Zionism, in Israel Ambassador Abba Eban's introduction
to his new book, "Israel, the Eternal
Ideal," published by Farrar, Straus
& Cudahy (101 5th, NY3).
It is a- deserving tribute. Rabbi
Miller's book is an excellent primer
for students of the Zionist ideal, for
those who seek an evaluation of the
background of Israel's rebirth.
Tracing his theme from the rise
of Israel, "as a result of the. author-
ity of the United Nations," Rabbi
Miller reviews manifold activities of
the forerunners of Zionism and the
Palestinian pioneers, the rebirth of
the Hebrew language, the struggle
by the new state to establish demo-
cratic ideals in the Middle East.
Rabbi Miller
The book is an appeal for the strengthening of the bonds of
fellowship between world 'Jewry and the Israelis. It serves the
valuable purpose of evaluating properly the significance of such
a bond of loyalty, in justice to the "eternal ideal" ably described
by the author.
Doctrinal Jewish Beliefs
Doctrinal Jewish beliefs, the meaning and iMportance of
Jewish holidays, Israel's cultural developments, Talmudic and
Biblical wisdom and a score of other related topics are ably
developed by Rabbi Sidney L. Markowitz, in his book, "What
You Should Know About Jewish Religion, History, Ethics, and
Culture," published by Citadel Press (222 4th, NY3).
Rabbi Markowitz, expressing amazement about "how little
we know of our own traditions, culture and background," ex-
plains that he has written his book for parents, "the inquisitive
child and curious youth, for Jews of all shades of opinion," and
also for non-Jews who seek a realistic and clear picture about
Jews and their ideals.
Jewish social, religious and political movements through the
ages—in Biblical times, Sabbatism, Frankism, Hasidism, etc., and
in our own day—are evaluated by the author, in the first part,
devoted to Jewish history. In this part, also, are described the
Prophets, American Jewry, Israel, and women in history. There
is a chapter also of "Famous Firsts in Jewish History."
The second part, devoted to Jewish religion, ethics and cul-
ture, contains chapters in "Social Life and Ethics," "Wisdom of
the Talmud" and "Modern Hebrew and Yiddish Culture."
Written for popular use, this volume will be found very
valuable by young and old, by Jews and non-Jews. Many readers
will find great value in an appended chapter on "Hebrew Names
and Their English Meanings."
This is an attractive and popular volume, fulfilling a need
for home and school.
•.•
Zionist-American Compatibility
By the Hon. ALEXANDER WILEY
U. S. Senator from Wisconsin
"There is absolutely nothing incompatible between interest
in a land overseas, interest in a worthy goal overseas and loyalty
to our own country.
"American Jewry, by its support of its co-religionists abroad,
does not in the slightest yield in its fundamental love of its own
country. Nor, of course, would the American Christian community
by any of its interests overseas.
"The late Senator Robert A. Taft told many an audience how,
early in his life, alongside his illustrious father, he discovered the
deep worth of Zionism.
"So, too, many other Americans — known and unknown — of
Catholic and Protestant faiths have seen the desirability of the
national home for the heretofore homeless people of Zion."