Simon E. Sobeloff,
a 'Just Judge' and
a Positive Jew
Tributes to
David Petegorsky
and Carl Sherman
THE JEWISH NE
A Weekly Review
Constructive
Effort in
Middle East
Dr. Zeitlin's
Illuminating
Report on Russia
of Jewish Events
Commentary, Pg. 2
Editorials, Page 4
Michigan's Only English - Jewish Newspaper — Incorporating The Detroit Jewish Chronicle
VOLUME XXIX—No. 21 c . zo. 27
17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.—VE 8-9364—Detroit 35, July 27, 1956
$5.00 Per Year; Single Copy 15c
Attack on Israel Feared as
Nasser's Face-Saving Tactic
Rabbi Reichert's Resignation
Recalls Similar Stand Against
Judaism Council by Dr. Franklin
Hope was entertained in Jewish ranks this week that, as
a result of the resignation of Rabbi Irving F. Reichert from the
American Council for Judaism, the anti-Israel movement will be
repudiated by other members, thereby putting an end to inter-
nally destructive Jewish actions.
Rabbi Reichert is Rabbi-Emeritus of Congregation Emanu-El,
San Francisco, and an honorary vice-president of the anti-
Zionist and anti-Israel Council for Judaism.
In his letter of resignation to Clarence L. Coleman, president
of the Council, Rabbi Reichert called upon that organization to
dissolve, or "call a halt to its obstructionist campaign against the
welfare and legitimate aspirations of Israel and its people."
Rabbi Reichert charged that the Council—formed in 1942
to combat "the rampart nationalism and secularism of Ameri-
can Zionist groups" and to "safeguard the religious heritage" of
Judaism, had abandoned its original platform to become a poli-
tical pressure group—and is today "virtually a pariah in Jewish
life."
Dr. Reichert is not the first of the Reform Rabbis who were
affiliated with the Council for Judaism to quit its ranks. Dr.
Leo M. Franklin, of Detroit's Temple Beth El, quit the Council
several months before his death in 1948, for reasons similar to
those expressed by Rabbi Reichert; A number of other rabbis
refused to be linked with the group whose activities are con-
sidered as shockingly divisive in Jewish ranks and as damaging
to Israel. (Text of Dr. Franklin's letter on Page 2)
Reviewing the history of the Council as one of 95 American
Rabbis who had created it, and as a former national vice-presi-
dent during 10 years, Rabbi Reichert pointed out that while the
WASHINGTON, (JTA) — President Nasser of Egypt, placed in a peri-
lous position by American, British and Soviet refusal to finance the construc-
tion of the Aswan Dam, may embark on a military adventure against Israel
to distract attention from his failure to carry out the highly-publicized Aswan
Dana project.
Such a possibility was taken into consideration here upon receipt of news
from Moscow that Dmitri Shepilov, Soviet Foreign Minister, had indicated
that the Soviet government would give sympathetic consideration to requests
for aid from Egyptian industry but is not inclined to provide aid for the
building of the Aswan Dam.
It was feared in Washington that after the blunt refusal by the State De-
partment to help Egypt build her projected $1,300,000,000 Aswan high dam
on the Nile, Col. Nasser would turn to Moscow for such help. The Soviet
Foreign Minister's statement confirmed the opinion of Washington circles
which said that Russia was unlikely to undertake such a heavy' financial,
technical and industrial drain on her resources as the construction of the
Aswan Dam would involve.
(The New York Times reported from Moscow that despite Mr. Shepilov's
statement, diplomats there did not rule out entirely the possibility of Soviet
aid on the Aswan project. They pointed out that Col. Nasser is expected in
Moscow in mid-August and at that time the entire question of Soviet rela-
tions with Egypt will be reviewed. Questions • of economic and possibly mili-
tary aid will be discussed.)
May Try to Save His Prestige by Exploiting Israel Issue
With no outlook of obtaining foreign aid for the dam project and, there-
fore, with no solution of his basic economic problems in sight, Nasser might
be tempted to save his prestige among his own people, as well as among the
Arabs in other countries, by exploiting the Israeli issue, it was thought here.
Reports reaching Washington leave no doubt that the withdrawal of Amer-
ican and British offers to help Col. Nasser build the Aswan Dam has already
undermined the confidence in him which prevailed in some of the Arab coun-
tries where he was considered the champion- of Arab nationalism. These re-
ports also indicate that his political enemies at home — of whom there are
many—may seize the opportunity to undermine his popularity in Egypt and
to charge him with ineffectiveness.
Some observers fear that the way out for Nasser might appear to be as
(Continued on Page 2)
(Continued on Page 8)
Jewish News Exclusive: Gunzburg Library and Hebrew in Russia
N.
Dr. Zeitlin Describes. Status of Archives
By DR. SOLOMON ZEITLIN
of the persecution of the study of the Hebrew language and Jewish his-
tory in Soviet Russia. He stated that the central government had no
objection to the study of Hebrew among the Jews. He said that he
Before the First World War the Library of Baron Gunzburg was
himself appreciated the value of Jewish history and the Hebrew lan-
held to be the richest private library in the world. It contained many
guage for general civilization, and he added that if there was any
thousands of manuscripts and rare books. After the death of David
initiative among the Jews to organize schools to 'study Hebrew he
Gunzburg his family negotiated with the Jewish Theological Seminary
himself would do everything to help their undertaking. This statement
of America for the sale of the library, but negotiations were broken
which, at that time, I considered of great importance, was put in writing
off owing to the World War I.
and Lunocharsky affixed his signature to it, adding that everything
- Mr. Zlatopolsky, whose son married the daughter of Baron David
which was said in the foregoing statement in his name was correct.
Gunzburg, bought the library for the Hebrew National Library at
His promise that the central governmentwill have no . objection to the
Jerusalem, but the Communistic revo-
study of Hebrew among the Jews was
lution forestalled this acquisition.
Editor's Note: The Jewish News is indebted to Prof. Solomon not carried out. The Hebrew language
With the outbreak of the Revolution Zeitlin, of Dropsie College, Philadelphia, editor of the Jewish Quarterly remains prohibited. The Jews were not
many zealots of the Jewish Commun- Review, for the accompanying exclusive article on Russia's attitude allowed to open schools for the study
ists began to burn and destroy some of toward Hebrew and on the intactness of the famous Leningrad Library of Hebrew and the Bible.
the books of the library, but since most of the late Baron David G. Gunzburg. Dr. Zeitlin's article was accom-
• The statement in the New York
panied by a statement, dated July 14, 1928, which, on its upper left
of them were already in boxes for de- side,
carries the endorsing signature of the then Soviet Commissar of Times of July 19, 1956, that the library
livery to Jerusalem, and also because Education, A. Lunocharsky. This statement reads:
of Baron David Gunzburg had been
of the intervention of A. Lunocharsky,
"Professor Solomon Zeitlin of Dropsie College, Philadelphia, who is
Commissar of Education, and M. Gorki, engaged here in reasearch of Slavonic Josephus manuscripts, Romanov split up between the Lenin Library in
the library was saved and transferred. archives, and Jewish problems from the beginning of the nineteenth Moscow and the Saltykov-Shcidren Li-
to Moscow. When I was in Moscow in century to the revolution, to-day interviewed A. Lunocharsky, Com- Irary in Leningrad, as far as I know,
1928, I had an interview on the 14th of misar of Education.
"Among other matters, Prof. Zeitlin brought up the question of the is incorrect. During my visits to Russia
July with A. Lunocharsky, during
which, among other things, I called persecution of the Hebrew language and the study of Jewish history I saw the library intact in Moscow, and
Soviet Republic. To this Lunocharsky replied:
I made some use of it. As far as I know
his attention to the importance of the in the
" 'The Central Government has no objection to the study of Hebrew
library of the Baron David Gunzburg among
Jews. On the contrary, I myself appreciate the value of Jewish I alai the only person outside of the
for the scholarly world, and suggested history and the Hebrew language for the general civilization, as Hebrew Iron Curtain who made use of Baron
that in order that the books may be is very old and has great and rich literature.'
Gunzburg's library.
available for research they should be
" 'Furthermore,' stated the Commissar of Education, 'if there is any
I am sure that when the books and
catalogued. This he promised to have initiative among the Jews to organize schools for the study of Hebrew,
the manuscripts are catalogued they
done. On the following trips which I I myself shall do everything I can to help their undertaking.'
In his cabled report from Moscow to the New York Times on the will be a boon to scholarship. I myself
made to Russia in connection with re-
search amona the Slavonic Josephus statement by Rabbi George B. Lieberman, of Long Island, N. Y., that saw there many important documents
manuscripts, 6 I noticed that the cata- the Gunsburg Library is no longer intact, Jack Raymond, the New which, when published, will throw new
York Times correspondent, stated: "It is understood Prof. Zeitlin of the
loguing of the books had begun.
Rabbinical Studies Department of Dropsie College, Philadelphia, saw
It is worthwhile noting here for his- the Gunzburg collection in Leningrad before World War II." Dr. Zeitlin light on Jewish history, ancient as well
torical purposes that in my interview has replied to our inquiries regarding his studies with the accompany- as of the Middle Ages, and particularly
with the Commissar of Education, A. ing statement in which he states that insofar as he knows the Gunz- on the history of the Jews under the
Lunocharsky, I brought up the question burg Library has not been split up.
Czars.
Professor, Rabbinical Studies Department, Dropsie College, Philadelphia;
Editor, Jewish Quarterly Review
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