Purely Commentary $171,000 Israel Bond Sales Honor Retiring,

Incoming Chairmen, Stollman, and Cohn

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Restlessness and Loneliness—Daiches' Defeatism

There was loneliness in the Daiches home in Scotland—
a loneliness that nevertheless was steeped in warmth and
happiness. David Daiches, Lecturer in English at • Cambridge
University, the distinguished son of the late Dr. Salis Daiches,
who was known as the "Chief Rabbi" of Scotland, describing
"a Jewish childhood in Edinburgh," -in the charming book "Two
Worlds," (published by Harcourt, Brace & Co., 383 Madison,
N.Y. 17), evaluates Jewish living "with nostalgic affection?'
And he accepts the other world . .
In that other world, he defends intermarriage: . . . "Let
me . . . give the lie direct. to those who claim that inter-
marriage never works: I write within a month of our
eighteenth wedding anniversary, and I know of .no marriage
which has been as consistently happy and mutually rewarding
as ours."

Perhaps this distinguished scholar and brilliant writer finds
an escape from a troubled conscience in childhood recollections
that are aimed almost in their entirety as a' tribute to his
eminent father: . . . "these chapters from my autobiography
turn out to be a tribute to him. He is the hero, not I. And if
this means that the story is a tragedy, he would not have
flinched from that . . . Yet the story is tragic only if we read
it too literally. True, my father's synthesis, however brilliantly
illustrated in his own life, proved incapable of transmission to
his children, at least in the form he gave it. His ultimate
recognition of this was perhaps rueful rather than either
complacent or tragic. But he went on with his ministry to the
end, pursuing his chosen way of life with heroic dignity."
It is necessary to quote this, from the very last page of
Daiches' "Two Worlds," in view of the spiritual reminiscences—
David's devotion to Jewish studies, his defense of orthodoxy, his
_glorification of many ceremonials, the constancy with which he
stood by his father's side. But, several times, the recollections
of the Edinburgh childhood make reference to loneliness . . .
David's and also his father's! And then comes the escape!
In his unending tributes to his father, David confides to
us: "Showdowns between different generations- are never
really possible, and I learned that, too, eventually. True, my
father was innocent and vulnerable; but he had his own
dignity and his own sense of responsibility toward his
congregation."
In spite of such a difference in generations—and it becomes
especially evident only towards the end of "Two Worlds" —
David Daiches goes into detail in reviewing his father's
objections to "liberal" Judaism—the quotes around the term
that was so objectionable to the Edinburgh Rabbi being his own.
And the son, evalUating his father's attitudes, declares that
he discusses these viewpoints in detail "because it explains how
my father unwittingly destroyed for me in advance any line of
defense to which I might retreat when I came to doubt the
literal divine inspiration of the Bible and the Talmudic tradition.
The illogicality of the Liberal Jewish position was demonstrated
for me once and for all. If the individual can pick and choose
among the Biblical precepts, saying that some sound rather
attractive and worth keeping while others seem primitive and
iliperstitious, then obviously the individual is creating God in
accordance with his own ideas and the objectivity of religion
disappears. Any kind of 'liberal' religion becomes a humane
agnosticism using some of the forms of religion to find
acceptance for its ethical views. It was a sad irony of fate
that made my father's earnest and eloquent crusade against
Liberal Judaism point the way to agnosticism for me; but in
some sense that is what happened."
Thus, in- large measure, this story IS tragic. The charm
of so fine a relationship as existed between David and his father
ends with the apology for intermarriage—in the defense we have
quoted. Because intermarriage was good for David, he prescribes
it for his readers who must, in turn, wonder about the third
world—the third generation. David was attached to his father,
as his children undoubtedly are attached to him. But what is the
relationship of his children—offspring of an intermarriage— to the
legacy that comes from devout grandparents? Is David Daiches,
with all the paeans he chants to his Jewish heritage, putting an
end to Jewish survival?
The first portion of the book is an encomium for Jewish
living and practices, for the home life of a religious family.
There are some very deeply moving descriptions of the
Friday night at home, the kiddush, the synagogue services, the
festivals. In these early days of David's childhood, he tells us
in his recollections, "the two worlds . . . were not really
separate. The synagogue . . was as much a part of the
Edinburgh scene to me as the Royal Infirmary nearby, just
as my father, rabbi of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation
and virtual though not nominal head of Scottish Jewry, was
a part of the religious life of Scotland."
Family pride stands out in the book: "We were proud of
being Jewish, of course; but we were far prouder of being
called Daiches." And the pride in and love for both worlds
also is described in a telling mood: "My pride in Jewish history
and my feeling for its particular kind of sadness existed side
-by side with my attitude to Scotland . . . The Scottish mood
rose to the sound of the bagpipes or the sight of Edinburgh
Castle fading in the purple darkness; the Jewish mood came
with the elegiac synagogue chants and the plaintive melodies of
Jewish liturgy and folk songs . . . I became acutely aware of
living in two worlds, or rather of moving freely between one
and the other. Bagpipe music and synagogue melody represented
the two poles between which my sensibility moved. I accepted
this dualism as part of the nature of things, and looking back
now I wonder at the ease with which I did so."
Descriptions of the maids in the Daiches household, the
resort to a "message boy" to turn on the gas on the Sabbath,
the nostalgic stories about the people who made up that small
Jewish community combine to make "Two Worlds" very good
reading. The finest tale of all in this well-told story of a child-
hood in Edinburgh is about the peddlers—the "trebblers"—and
their Scots-Yiddish idioms. It is a chapter so full of charm and
good humor that it will delight all readers.
But charm is marred by defeatism in an otherwise excellent
book. What a pity!- Judaism is certain to survive without David,
but the Daicheses would have a better chance to survive with
Judaism.

.

,

Phillip Stollman and Irwin I.
Cohn, retiring and incoming
chairmen of the Detroit Israel
Bond Organization, were ac-
corded high honors Tuesday
evening, at a dinner at Hotel
Statler.
The less than 150 people who
were present subscribed $171,000
in Israel Bond purchases, after
national leaders expressed the
regard of the Jewish commu-
nity for the efforts of the two
men in whose honor the dinner
was given.
Abraham Feinberg, presi-
dent of the National Israel
Bond Organization and a
leader in many of the most im-
portant Jewish movements in
this country, gave the key-
note address of the evening.
He outlined the economic
progress of Israel, told of the
establishment of hundreds of
new settlements, described
the building of ports and
urged uninterrupted efforts in
Israel's behalf so that the
Jewish State should not be-
come "a mere episode" in his-
tory.
Mr. Feinberg referred to the
"ominous and foreboding feel-
ing in Israel" resulting from
existing tensions, and warned
that there will be "worldwide
chaos" if Egypt attacks Israel.
He spoke of "Nasser's uneasy
posture" in the present state of

Milton Marwil
Heads Zionist
Organization

Milton Marwil was elected
president of the Zionist Organi-
zation of Detroit; at the annual
meeting, at the
Zionist House,
on Monday
evening.
The new ZOD
president f o f-
lows a family
tradition in
Zionist service,
his father, Rob-
ert Marwil,
having served
M. Marwil
as ZOD president in the late
1920s.
Abraham Borman, Max Chom-
sky, Samuel , Feldstein, Sherman
Shapiro and David M. Zellman
were elected vice - presidents.
Irving Sniderman was elected
secretary and M. Ben Lewis
was re-elected treasurer.
The following were elected
members of the board:

Rabbi Milton Arm, Morton J.
Bechek, Dr. S. A. Bennett, Louis
Berry, Harry Bradlin, Sidney L.
Brand, Charles H. Charlip, Philip J.
Cutler, Robert V. Danto, Harry A.
Davidoff, Harry C Davidson, Jules
ar, Jacob Epel,
Doneson, Albert Elaz
Robert C. W. Ettinger, Nathan Fin-
kelstein, Dr. Morey Firestone, Philip
J. Gilbert, Ruben Gold, Dr. Henry
-Goldsmith, Herbert L. Harris, Joseph
F. Hirsch, Dr. Maxwell M. Hoffman,
Abe Kasle, Ira G. Kaufman, Dr.
Louis Kazdan, Joseph Kirschmann,
Samuel Kohlenberg, Jack J. Kraiz-
man, Miss Micki Lancet, Maurice A.
Landau, Philip Langwald, Sol Lifsitz,
Louis Lightstone, Morris Mendelson,
Harry Nathan, Louis Panush, George
C. Parzen, Balfour Peisner, Nathan-
iel Pernick, Leonard L. Radner, Em-
manuel Rosenberg, Arnold H. Ros-
man, Robert H. Schwarz, Dr. I. Wal-
ter Silver, Cantor Jacob H. Sonenk-
lar, Nathan Spevakow, Wilbur S.
Stein, Benjamin Weiss, Dr. Bernard
Weston, Dr. Ted Winshall.

The following were chosen
honorary members of the ZOD
board:

Rabbi Morris Adler, Dr. Harry E.
August, Rabbi Jacob M. Chinitz,
Harry Cohen, Lawrence W. Crohn,
James I. Ellmann, Walter L. Field,
Rabbi Leon Frain, Rabbi Benjamin
Gorrelick, Rabbi A. M. Hershman,
Dr. Richard C. Hertz, William B.
Isenberg, Bernard Isaacs, Morris M.
Jacobs, Leon Kay, A. C. Lappin,
Rabbi Moses Lehrman, Robert R.
Marwil, Rabbi Jacob Segal, Philip
Slomovitz, Abe Srere, Louis Stoll
and Maurice H. Zackheim.

In his report, as retiring presi-
dent, Rabbi Moses Lehrman out-
lined Zionist needs and urged
unstined efforts to strengthen
the organization during the
coming year.
Leon Kay, who was a dele-
gate from the ZOA to the World
Zionist Congress in Jerusalem,
gave a report on the interna-
tional conferences.

affairs and declared that the nomic development and has
only way to prevent an Egyp- earned him the love and ad-
tian attack is by giving Israel miration of his fellow Jews."
means of preventing such an
In a brief address, Rabbi
attack.
Jacob Segal also paid honor to
Describing how Israel Bonds the efforts of David Safran in
affect the military position of the Detroit Bond drives and
Israel, Mr. Feinberg said that presented him, on behalf of the
economic investments give as- national Bond officers, with a
surance of uninterrupted indus- Jerusalem Bible.
trial developments without di-
Mr. Berry pointed out, in his
verting necessary funds towards tribute to Mr. Stollman, that
defense efforts. "The whole under his chairmanship nearly
military strength of Israel de- $2,000,000 of Israel Bonds were
pends upon productive capacity, sold here.
and Bonds provide such pro-
Mr. Stollman, in his reply,
ductive capacity," he declared. pledged his continued services
Another guest speaker at the to all Bond efforts here. He in-
dinner was Rabbi 'Max Kirsh- stalled Irwin I. Cohn as his suc-
blum, retiring national Mizrachi cessor, and Mr. Cohn, in turn,
president, who came here to called upon the community for
pay honor to Mr. Stollman.
service, declaring that "Israel is
Louis Berry, toastmaster at an insurance policy for all
the dinner, presented Mr. Jewry." He especially appealed
Stollman with a plaque, suit- to 25 of the men present to sell
ably engraved and signed by $20,000 of bonds each to assure
national Israel Bond officers, an additional immediate invest-
in' grateful appreciation of ment in Israel of $500,000.
"his stalwart championship of
Rabbi Samuel PrerO gave the
the cause of Israel and for benediction and Mrs. Norman
distinguished service as chair- Allen led in the singing of the
man of the Detroit Committee national anthems. A special -in-
for State of Israel Bonds. His troduction was given to Mrs.
key role has established an Charles Milan, chairman of the
inspiring standard of devo- Detroit Israel Bonds Women's
tion in behalf of Israel's eco- Division.

*

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411
.

Boris Smolar's

`Between You
and Me'

(Copyright 1956,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

The Domestic Scene:

The convention of the publishers of the English-Jewish press
in this country, which took place in New York, distinguished
itself by underlining the remarkable progress which the English-
Jewish press has made since the publishers organized themselves
into an Association some 14 years ago ... I was the guest speaker
at the first convention of the Association which took place in
Indianapolis and I also spoke at this last publishers' convention
• • • During the years between these two conventions Jewish
community interest in the English-Jewish press has shown re-
markable growth both locally, in each community, and on the
national scene . . . Almost all major Jewish national organiza-
tions participated in the New York convention, and their repre-
sentatives contributed heavily through suggestions which they
offered at the convention . . . On the other hand, the publishers,
in their speeches, displayed a sincere desire to see their publica-
tions make an even greater contribution to the development of
Jewish life in their own communities, as well as nationally . . . I
am often asked why there is no nationally circulated Anglo-
Jewish weekly published in the United States .. Some people
like to point out that in England—where there are only about
350,000 Jews—an Anglo-Jewish weekly with a national circula-
tion does exist and is well accepted . . . Actually, the publication
of a national Jewish weekly in the United States is not the same
thing as in England . . . There are a number of good English-
Jewish weeklies in this country that, upon close examination,
can compare favorably with the national Anglo-Jewish weekly in
England .. . Especially those who take the initiative in writing
their own editorials and expressing their independent opinions
on matters of Jewish interest . . . From personal observation and
experience I can say that no national Jewish publication patterned
on the Anglo-Jewish weekly in England would be successful in
the United States . .. Serious and costly studies have been made
in this country on the possibility of establishing an English-
Jewish weekly with national circulation .. . They have brought
out the fact that it would require an investment of $500,000 to
publish such a weekly . . . It was established that such a publica-
tion must, for the first three years, inevitably suffer heavy
financial losses before it starts to show profits.

Personality Profile:

Alexander Kahn, who reached the age of 75 this week, is
known among the top Jewish - leaders in the United States as
"Alex" .... This is because he is one of them ... He is also known
affectionately as "Alex" in Israel because of his devotion to
Palestine, which goes back many years ago when Zionism was
taboo with American Socialists . . . One of the pillars of the
Socialist movement, he had the courage to support publicly the
efforts of organized Jewish labor in Palestine although he was
not a Zionist . . . In fact, he later was chosen a non-Zionist
member of the Jewish Agency when Louis Marshall and Felix
Warburg decided to enter the Agency . . Last year he was
among those honored as founders of the Joint Distribution Com-
mittee more than 40 years ago . . The JDC, of which he is vice
president, is still his great love today . . He has performed
several important missions for the JDC . . . His opinion also
carries great weight in other national Jewish organizations . .
He is one of those public figures izl Jewish life who do not deliver
prepared speeches, but speaks fluently and impressively from the
platform without notes • . . A lawyer by training and profession,
he was candidate for N. Y. State Supreme Court Judge and for
Attorney General of New York State . • . However, he gave up
law in 1939 after he was drafted by the Jewish Daily Forward—
largest Jewish daily newspaper in the world—for the post of
general. manager . He still holds this important post which
puts him as responsible head of an influential newspaper with a
staff of more than 350 people ... He is now vice president of the
Liberal Party, of which he was one of the founders, and is highly
respected not Only among Jews, but also among non-Jews of
importance in this country.