Mrs. Roosevelt To Speak Feb. 11 For Israel Bonds

Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt will speaker at a program which
appear at Cong. Shaarey Zedek will c l i m a x the synagogue's
at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, as guest drive for Israel Bonds.
Mrs. Roosevelt in- r e c e n t
years has been a world trav-
eler, spreading
the picture of
American .
democracy
wherever s h e
has gone. In-
cluded among
her travels:
have been two
recent visits to
Israel and oth-
Kovan
er areas of the
Near East.
Shaarey Zeclek's "short-term"
MRS. ROOSEVELT

Purely Commentary

Ilya Ehrenburg: Jewish Anti-Semite

One of the very powerful sermons delivered by the late Dr.
Stephen S. Wise was directed against the Jewish anti-Semites.
They have existed and continue to exist
in all climes and ages.
In our time, we have an especially
infamous Jewish anti-Semite in the
person of a Communist propagandist:
Ilya Ehrenburg. An interesting story is
told about him in Marie Syrkin's "Way
of Valor: A Biography of Golda Myer-
on," published by Sharon Books (45 E.
17th, NY 3). Miss Syrkin, whose Myer-
s-on biography already was reviewed in
this column, in her chapter "Minister
to Russia," relates the following experi-
ences Mrs. Myerson • had with Ilya
Ehrenburg:
"The Israelis had few illusions
about the possibility of establishing
Ehrenburg ties with the some three million Rus-
sian Jews. It was assumed that Jewish consciousness had be-
come extinct since the Revolution and that any Zionist senti-
ment, in view of merciless government persecution for three
decades, was long dead. To the physical destruction of Euro-
pean Jewry had to be added the spiritual loss of Russian Jewry.
"As if to drive home this realization, a diatribe against
Zionism, written by Ilya, Ehrenburg, appeared in Einigkeit,
the Yiddish Communist daily, a few days after Golda's arrival.
Lest Russian Jews misunderstand the recognition of Israel,
Ehrenburg, a perennially enthusiastic exponent of the Soviet
line, whatever that might be, proceeded to expound the familiar
thesis: there was no Jewish people. Jews in Soviet Russia and
the satellite countries had nothing to do with the Jewish State
which was solely for the oppressed of the imperialist countries.
It was ridiculous to speak of a common interest among Jews.
One might just as well speak of a common bond among red-
headed people; and more of the same.
"The day the article appeared a foreign correspondent
came to Golda for comment, which she gave without mincing
words. Only a couple of years ago Ehrenburg had noted an-
other common bond—the blood of Jews of every country which
had soaked the continent of Europe. The foreign correspondent,
a friend of Ehrenburg, suggested that Golda meet him. Golda
agreed but Ehrenburg never came. Some months later the
same correspondent pointed out Ehrenburg to her at a Czech
diplomatic reception. Golda reminded him of his offer. He
went over to Ehrenburg and came back with a message that
Ehrenburg was willing to meet Golda but was not prepared
to discuss polities. Golda sent back word that she was pre-
pared not to meet him. Nevertheless, later in the evening,
Ehrenburg came over, obviously in his cups. Correspondents
and diplomats immediately surrounded the pair. Ehrenburg
asked if Golda spoke Russian or French; Golda said she spoke
Hebrew or English. At which Ehrenburg announced: 'I hate
Jews who speak English,' to which Golda replied: 'I am ac-
customed to Jews who speak Hebrew or at least Yiddish.'
These exchanges went on, Ehrenburg speaking Russian, which
Golds understood, and Golda speaking English. The surround-
ing crowd chuckled at the firmness with which Golda stood
her ground in hostile territory."
Add to this report the revelations about the attitude towards
Jews, Zionism and Israel of Communists of Ehrenburg's ilk, in
the memoirs of Maxim Litvinov and in Pierre Van Paassen's
recent book on Russia, and there emerges a true picture of
Jewish anti-Semitism..

Prof. Joseph Klausner: The Lone Pioneer

Prof. Joseph Klausner, of Jerusalem, the eminent scholar,
author of books on Jesus and Paul, is the only remaining sur-
vivor of the 200 delegates who attended the first World Zionist
Congress, in Basle, Switzerland, in 1897. Until Jan. 15, there
were two survivors. His colleague, Joseph Mirkin, died in a fall
from a window in his hotel in London, England. He had been
blind.
Interestingly enough, Mr. Mirkin held a managerial post in
the Jewish Colonization Association, which helped colonize Jews,
not only in Palestine, but in other lands. Born in Russia, he
settled in Germany 25 years ago and later became a naturalized
French citizen. He escaped from the Nazis during World War II
by going to England. His wife died shortly thereafter. His son,
Victor, died fighting with the Free French Forces.
The lives of many Zionist leaders ended in tragedy. Thedor
Herzl's personal life was an unhappy one, and his family neither
shared the joy of his labors nor the glory . of the re lization of
his life's dream. The children of other Zionist leaders tried to
find satisfaction in other dreams. Joseph Mirkin, -a pioneer in
the movement, lived to see the Zionist dream come true. But his

a

Rev. Sperry Wins Amity Award
Of Congress Women's Division

drive for bond sales among
members of the congregation is
headed by Samuel Kovan,
chairman. Abe Satovsky and
Dr. Max Lichter are co-chair-
men.
Actively participating in the
campaign, which has reached
all members of the congrega-
tion, are the Shaarey Zedek
Sisterhood, Men's Club, Young
Married League and Y o u n g
People's League.
Dr. Leonard Sidlow, presi-
dent of Shaarey Zedek, said
that the six-week drive which
began early in January will of-
ficially be concluded with Mrs.
Roosevelt's visit.

Rev. William B. Sperry, rec-
tor of Christ Church, Detroit,
has been unanimously selected
as the recipient of the ninth an-
nual Amity Award presented by
the Detroit Women's Division of
the American Jewish Congress.
Formal presentation of the
award to Rev. Sperry will take
place at the Amity Award
Luncheon at 12:30 p. m., Feb.
22, at Rainbow Terrace.
The principal speaker at the
luncheon will be Rabbi Ahron
Opher, spiritual leader of South
Shore Temple of Chicago, pres-
ident of the Chicago Council of

I lya Ehrenburg, the Jewish An-
ti-Semite . . . Publisher's 10th
Anniversary • . . Good Will
Movement Commits an Error

AJC and a member of its na-
tional executive committee.
The award is given each year
to a citizen of Michigan who
"contributes profoundly and
creatively to the betterment of
inter-group relations in the
state."
Rev. Sperry, a graduate of
New York and Columbia Uni-
versities and the General Theo-
logical Seminary in New York,
came to Detroit as director of

By Philip

Slomovitz

own life was far from joyous. Pioneering, however, carries with
it its own compensations.

*

*

*

Publishers' Splendid 10th Anniversary Record

Farrar, Straus and Cudahy just marked their tenth anni-
versary as publishers. The books to their credit justify hearty
greetings to the firm on their accomplishments.
Roger W. Straus, Jr., the firm's president, is the son of the
distinguished Jewish leader who is the national co-chairman of
the National Conference of Christians and Jews. He is an enthu-
siastic searcher for good titles and is an unhesitant sponsor of
the works of young writers. Together with his partners, Sheila
Cudahy, John Farrar and their associates, the young firm has
issued several best sellers, religious and children's books and a
number of excellent works by Jews and on Jewish topics.
Farrar-Straus-Cudahy are the publishers of Dr. A. J. Hesch-
el's latest book, "God In Search of Man." They published Rabbi
Philip Bernstein's "What the Jews Believe." They announce,
among the many forthcoming new titles, Sam Astrachan's "An
End to Dying," a novel with a Jewish theme.
We heartily greet this enterprising firm on its tenth anni-
versary.
•
•

The Good Will Movement Goes Haywire

Within a very few days, we -will again celebrate an annual
Brotherhood Week. We approach the event with solemnity, with
deep sincerity. We continue to entertain the hope that out of
such celebrations will emerge the kindest feelings among citizens
of this great land.
From the very inception of the good will movement, as
sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews,
this Commentator was associated with it, locally and nationally.
He has encouraged financial support for it. He has attended
national conferences, to assist in the advancement of the -idea.
When officials of the NCCJ, nationally and in its local arm
known as the Detroit Round Table, insisted on adhering to a
position of neutrality in matters involving Zionism and the
Jewish National Home in Palestine, we acceded to it. Even when
Israel became a reality, there was no insistence upon recogni-
tion of this new great factor in Jewish life by a movement whose
emphasis, as indicated in the organization's name, was entirely
on religion.
On the occasion of the inauguration of annual Brotherhood
Week of 1956, however, this neutrality was broken, by the NCCJ.
In its publicity kit for Brotherhood Week, it has seen fit to
include an article by Virginius Dabney, editor, Richmond (Va.)
Times-Dispatch, under the heading "Year 'Round Brotherhood,"
listing "controversies (that) have given rise to tensions" and
containing the following paragraph: "Another conflict concerns
the State of Israel. Even the Jewish people are split on this issue,
and feeling between certain groups of Jews is almost as strong
as between Jews and Arabs. Here is a divisive force which must
not be permitted to weaken the unity of the American people."
As participants in the "Year 'Round Brotherhood" move-
ment, our aspiration is to strengthen American unity. This can
not be achieved, however, by misrepresentations and distortions
of truth. The Richmond editor has swallowed some of the poison
that is being spread by a handful of Jews-12,000 out of 5,500,-
000—who are trying to create the impression that "the Jewish
people are split on this issue." This is an unthruth. Mr. Dabney
should have been presented with the true facts before he was
permitted to broadcast his statement, and we protest against the
injection of "a divisive force" into the thinking of Americans
who seek unity in our ranks.
There is unity in the ranks of American Jewry in the task
of assuring security for the small State of Israel. That is as
human an element in our lives today as the great aim of
strengthening "the unity of the American people." But people
who would deny the right to life and liberty to Israelis are not
acting in the true spirit of American ideals. We believe Mr.
Dabney's mind has been poisoned by the self-hating, self-humil-
iating, un-American Council against Judaism, whose only claim
to glory is that it has learned to hate its kinsmen and has
earned, as compensation for it, the . plaudits of Israel's enemies.
Our contention /is that they who hate their kinsmen and their
co-religionists may also hate their fellow-men, their fellow-
Americans.
We are horrified when Americans, who have access to the
facts, should fall prey to the distortions of truth by Israel-hating
Jews. We resent it when a good will movement, in which we are
partners, permits such subtle propaganda to be spread under a
cloak of American unity. Having registered our protest, we
resort to the hope that the National Conference of Christians
and Jews will never again lend comfort to Israel's enemies;
and that Mr. Dabney will seek the truth, so easily available,
so that it may make him free from the bias he surely did not
intend to spread but which he -has unwittingly supplied to the
Brotherhood Week sponsors for free nationwide circulation.

REV. W. B. SPERRY

the social service department of
the Detroit Council of Churches,
after serving previously in New
York and Massachusetts. He
since has been called to be
rector of Christ Church.
He has been closely allied
with efforts in the field of equal
rights, with specific emphasis
on equality in employment,
housing, education and public
accommodation.
Two years ago, Rev. Sperry
toured Israel and the Arab lands
with a delegation from the
American Christian Palestine
Committee. Sirice his return he
has been a zealous speaker in
pointing out the issues in the
Middle East and the perilous
position Israel occupies in that
area.
Mrs. William Burk, Women's
Division president, urges the
community to attend the lunch-
eon. Previous award winners
have been John J. Nadjuch,
H. C. L. Jackson, Louis Tendler,
Edgar Guest, W. K. Kelsesy,
Bishop Richard Emerich, Louis
C. Cramton and William T. Gos-
sett.
Judges included Rev. Emer-
ich, Alexander Fuller, Dr. Ed-
gar Johnston, Fred Olmsted,
Mrs. Alexander W. Sanders and
James Trainor. Boris Joffe, ex-
ecutive director of the Jewish
Community Council, was the
committee's advisor.

12-Year-Old Scientist
Gets Ford 'Grant'—$6

NEW YORK (JTA) — The
youngest winner of the smallest
"grant" ever made by the Ford
Foundation is, presumably, now
busily engaged in rocket re-
search. Jonathan Shapiro, 12,
is the president of a new group
—Junior Inventors. The club,
Jonathan says, is engaged in
scientific - research. But scien-
tific research, as anyone can
tell you, takes money.
So Jonathan, mulling over
his problem, marched down to
the offices of the Ford Founda-
tion here. He explained his
problem. Officials of the fund,
having considered the question
dug down into their own coffers
and announced the grant — $6.
Then the members of the club
happily trooped off to one of
their first "research projects"—
a visit to the television and
radio set manufacturing divi-
sion of the Columbia Broadcast-
ing System.

2—Detroit Jewish News

Friday, February 10, 1956

