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."