kTY

25, 1956-THE DETROIT JEWISH NEW

ai

Looks Like a Good: Crop

THE JEWISH NEWS

ta‘

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

Editor and Publisher

SIDNEY SHMARAK

FRANK SIMONS

Advertising Manager

City Editor

Sabbath Scriptural Selections
This Sabbath, the sixteenth day of Sivan, 5716, the following Scriptural selections will be
read in our synagogues:
Pentateuchal portion, Behaatloecha, Num. 8:1-12:16. Prophetical portion, Zech. 2:14-4:7.

Licht Benshen, Friday, May 25, 7:36 p.m.

VOL. XXIX. No. 12

Page Four

May 25, 1956

Expose of Major Issues in Middle East Controversy

All who are concerned that the peace
of the world should be guaranteed by
international action, through the United
Nations, pray for the success of the mis-
sions undertaken by UN Secretary Gen-
eral Dag Hammarskjold. An approach to
peace in the Middle East spells serious ef-
fort in the direction of peace for the en-
tire world. A spark ignited in that area
could mean a world conflagration.
Mr. Hammarskjold's mission was on
the verge of being wrecked by the injec-
tion into negotiations for a cease-fire of
the Jordan River development scheme.
Only those who are so blinded by preju-
dices in the matter fail to recognize the
importance of the Jordan River plan for
utilization of water power to both Israel,
and the Arab states. The New York Times
pointed out editorially that "Arabs de-
nounce as 'aggression' not only an armed
attack, but also the Israeli project to divert
the waters of the Jordan for Israeli use.
That project was halted by a United Na-
tions resolution in 1953 pending an 'ur-
gent' review of the situation. That review
has never been made, and according to
Secretary Dulles the juridical situation
therefore remains unchanged."
In another editorial, the New York
Times stated, on this question:

A plan to develop the Jordan River Val-
ley for water power and irrigation to bene-
fit the Arab states as well as Israel has been
drawn up. Eric Johnston, representing Pres-
ident Eisenhower, has been trying for three
years to get the Arabs to accept the plan,
which the United States will do much to
finance. Israel quickly agreed to it. Since
the Arabs rejected it, Israel prepared a plan
to divert Jordan River waters within Israeli
territory and started work on the project.
Syria protested to the United Nations Se- •
eurity Council late in 1953 and Israel was
requested to suspend operations "pending
urgent examination of the question."
Since then, two and a half years have
passed with the Arabs blocking any solu-
tion and the Russians abetting them in the
Security Council with their veto. The Israelis
understandably feel that there is no hope
for the Johnston plan. This is a clear case,
so far as placing the blame is concerned.

tentions are peaceful. They hope that the
world will forget that Israel has constantly
and insistently called for a settlement and
expressed its official readiness to sit down
with any Arab leaders, anywhere, any time,
to discuss any or all aspects of a peace
settlement.
"The Western powers and the UN should
. 1*
.
be aware by now of the machinations of
,...r. _ 1...j,
Arab leadership. Only the West has willingly
1%6k,f4
, ••:,,,,,,
, ,-IF
a•';
closed its eyes because it stands in constant
fear of jeopardizing the oil resources of the
Spring Brings Out the Convention Season
Near East. It has shut its eyes to the whole
social sore of the Near East—the stinking
feudalism that is its form of society and an Spiritual Narrative
open, perpetual invitation to the Communists
to meddle."
It is useless, of course, constantly to
Manuscripts selected for publication by the Jewish Publica-
pick flaws in negotiations. The major aim
is peace, and it becomes daily more evi- tion Society of America are thoroughly scrutinized. One of
dent that Israel is prepared to make con- Jewry's most distinguished scholars, Dr. Solomon Grayzel, is
cessions, to negotiate with Arab leaders, editor of the Society. The noted historian and author, Dr.. Jacob
Marcus, is chairman of the publication committee. Eminent
to establish a permanent peace arrange- R.
scholars review the manuscripts before a decision is reached to
ment in the interest of amity for all con-
them published.
cerned. But it becomes equally as evident have When
"My Jewish Roots," by Dr. Solomon Simon, was chosen
daily that the Arab chieftains, who are as one of the JPS titles for 1956, it was read critically. Its se-
keeping their peoples in subjection, are lection is a tribute to it, and it is certain to be accepted as one
less concerned with progress and with of the year's noteworthy books. Shlomo Katz caught the spirit
the improvement of the lot of their sub- of the story and rendered it into an excellent English transla-
jects than they are. with retaining their tion from the Yiddish.
With impressive charm, "My Jewish Roots" relates most
own powers.
That is why it is so clear that a solu- delightfully a story of childhood in a small Lithuanian town at
'ton can come only through the interces- the beginning of this century. Nostalgically, entertainingly, it
childhood scenes and events.
sion of the world's major powers. The depicts
Out of this delightful narrative emerges the spiritual fervor
insistence of Russia on being a "fourth
Jewish life in Eastern Europe. There are exceptionally inter-
power" in the Middle East is a major of
esting descriptions of the life of Jewry in Lithuania, in defiance
obstacle to peace. But even that could of poverty and the restrictions under which they lived in Czarist
be overcome by firm action. And that is Russia.
just what is lacking: firmness. Instead,
Every episode in this fine book relates the conflicts that
we are witnesses to a campaign of black- faced Lithuanian Jews, and the devotions to Jewish ethical
mail which has thrown the diplomats of teachings. Dr. Simon, whose "The Wise Men of Ch.elm" and a
the world into a state of fright. Only Is- number of other works previously established his splendid repu-
rael does not display fright: because her tation as an author, has performed a distinct service by outlining
people are defending their last ramparts the values which the American Jew ought to attempt to revive
American conditions. In spite of the vastly different
of freedom and they dare not be panicky; under
environments, such values become understandable in the Warm
they must retain courage because it means story related in "My Jewish Roots."

/
Dr. Simon s My Jewish Roots

their very lives. For that very reason they.
cannot and will not fail in their fight for Re-Issue of a Classic
survival.

Shades of Taft!

Thus, progress is being delayed in-
tentionally, but unwisely, to the detriment
of peace in the world and of progress in
the Middle East. It is unfortunate that
"palliatives" should stand in the way of
serious efforts to improve the living con-
ditions of all peoples involved. Perhaps
Mr. Hamm.arskjold's optimism will yet
lead to good solutions; perhaps postpone-
ment in enforcing peace is an advisable
approach. In the meantime, a plan, for
the utilization of the waters of the Jordan
River for power and economic advance-
ment, urged upon the entire Middle East
by our Government, has been shelved.
Such delays are deplorable.
* * *
What is it that motivates the actions
of the Arabs in their obstructions to prog-
ress? They are utilizing uneven frontiers
as an argument. They have grabbed at
the Jordan River plan as a reason for
threatening Mr. Hammarskj old's cease-
fire proposals. They are constantly re-
sorting to the refugee problem as an ex-
cuse for refusing to negotiate for peace
with Israel. The injustice of such actions
was described, editorially, by the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer, which stated in part:

A generation that "knows not Joseph"
is governing our nation's affairs. Its be-
wilderment is evidenced in frequent mani-
festations in the State Department and in
the White House. The latest proof of
vagueness in handling our Government's
bzu.siness was provided by President Eisen-
hower himself. When he was asked about
the Saudi Arabian policy of "barring
American Jews from the U. S. air base"
there, the President said, "Now I have
never heard this, that American Jews
cannot go into our air bases."
Shades of William Howard Taft! Had
the President known of a similar instance,
which was handled by the breaking of
commercial relations with Russia, in 1911,
by action of President Taft, he surely
would have had an entirely different
answer.
But the President also said that Saudi
Arabia has a "right to determine if an
American is persona non grata and can't
enter." This creates a problem for this
country, since the "non grata" status is
assigned in the present instance not to an
individual- who happens to be Jewish but
to all Jews. That creates an American issue
that only the President can solve: by

"It should have struck this world as
strange that Egypt and the other Arab coun-
tries agreed to the cease-fire with such
alacrity. Why, when they violated those
pacts from the day they were signed, did
they suddenly show such willingness?
"Like the Arab refugee problem which
was created by the Arabs and has been main-
tained by them as a political weapon, we'
believe this sudden accommodation has a
propaganda aim in view. - The Arabs have
tried, with the world spotlight on the Ham-
marskjold mission, to show that their in-

A battle may have to be instituted for
such an act by Mr. Eisenhower, but if
American principles are not to be defiled
it will have to be done: else, hurt will
come periodically to others, Catholics to-
morrow, Polish-Americans the next day,
and others to follow, in the wake of preju-
dice that must triumph if we permit the
weakening of the basic American prin-
ciples.

making it known that no American will be
discriminated against because of his faith.

Browne's 'Wisdom of Israel'

Another classic is being made available, at a popular price,
as a Modern Library Giant, by Random House. It is a re-issue
of "The Wisdom of Israel," edited by Lewis Browne.
When the late Mr. Browne, who, in his day, was one of
Jewry's literary giants, first edited this book, he dedicated it
to his friend, Bennett Cerf, president of Random House, "for
excellent reasons." Mr. Cerf is to be commended for his interest
in re-publishing this fine anthology.
A preface quoting from Midrash Ribesh Tov explains the
significance of the rich collection of classic thoughts gathered
by • Mr. Browne. The quotation:
"There are two kinds of readers of serious books. The first
is like unto a man who squeezes grapes with his finger tips,
extracting from them mere watery juice. When the stuff fails
to ferment, he forthwith blames the grapes. The second is like
unto a man who crushes grapes thoroughly, extracting from
them all their richness. Such a one is never moved to complain,
for the stuff he lays down will readily ferment, and he is left
with most excellent wine."
The reader of "The Wisdom of Israel" is guided towards
seeking "all the richness" in Hebraic culture.
Mr. Browne "made a point of omitting all passages which
were exclusively sectarian in interest." He defined Israel as
"a cultural tradition," and therefore quoted on principles "only
those authors who are directly linked with Israel's own intellec-
tual heritage." That is why such as Karl Marx were "necessarily
excluded."
Included, therefore, are selections from the Old Testament,
from the Prophets and from the New Testament. "Between
the Testaments" section incorporates sections from the works
of Ben Sirach, Tobit, Hillel, Josephus' "Against Apion" and
many others.
The wisdoms of the Mishna, Gemara and Midrash form
an important section of the book.
Scholars of the medieval period are well represented, in-
cluding Saadia, Hananeel, Eleazar the Great, Ibn Gabriol, Bahya,
Judah Ha-Levi, Tibbonides, Al-Harizi,. Maimonides, the Zohar
Nahmanides, Kalonymos, Spinoza, Luzzatto and many more.
We come at this point to the modern period—to the works
of Mendelssohn, Heine, Sholom Aleichem, Peretz, Ahad Ha'Am,
Zangwill, Ludwig Lewisohn, Sholom Asch, the practices and
ethics of the three forms of Judaism (Orthodox, Conservative,
Reform), Yiddish humor and many more topics.
The 750 pages of this book offer a. real treat. It is a wisely
, ,
chosen anthology, ably edited by a brilliant scholar.

-